Friday, July 26, 2013

Selina Koop and The Blank new Video

Checking my email today there was a newsletter from Music BC. I decided to click on a link to the video for the song Completely, by Selina Koop and the Blank. Am I ever happy I did. What a stunningly gorgeous video to subtly  complement the music that is, Completely.




The sound is best described as "intimate yet expansive, dark yet sparkling wrapping itself around the listener to soothe, haunt, and uplift."

You can get Selina and the Blank's music at  bandcamp . Also you can support her on facebook.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Rena Jones, "The Diva of the Ambient Cello"

I love getting updates from artists whose email lists I have signed up for.
It is even better when I follow a link and I get to hear brand new music that is fresh and beautiful.  This is why I do  what I do. The excitement of hearing new music never dies.

I got such a newsletter from Rena Jones.

photo by devitree


“Multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer Rena Jones is a force to be reckoned with. At age 30, she boasts more than 30 collaborative albums, 3 full length solo albums, 20 years of classical violin study, and 12 years of cello—and she is considered one of the leading women in audio engineering today.” -- Strings Magazine





Her video "Echoes" ft Ilya Goldberg won my heart. 
It is off her new CD of the same name, Echoes.
I got this information from her website:
“Echoes” is the fifth full-length album from seasoned producer Rena Jones…


Unlike Rena’s previous releases, Rena has chosen a new path to make a truly collaborative and live studio album while still holding true to her unique take on down-tempo music.
Pulling from her years of experience as a session musician, Rena decided to work with many long time collaborators as well as world renowned artists Sophie Barker on vocals (Zero 7 and Groove Armada), Matt Robertson on modular synth (Bjork, Lamb, Bat for Lashes), Earl Harvin on drums (Seal, Air) Laura Scarborough on grand piano (Quixotic Fusion), a live woodwind section and solo violinist Ilya Goldberg (Emancipator) to name a few.

 She has several wonderful shows this year. Rena will be taking the album out on the road with a live drummer and mutli-instrumentalist Laura Scarborough on electric vibes, accordian and more.Here is what she has planned so far!

Sun Jul 28 2013
7:00p


Beloved Music Festival
Tidewater Falls, OR
Sun Aug 11 2013
4:00a


Show Box
Seattle, OR
Wed Sep 25 2013
10:00p


Art Outside
Rockdale, TX
Sat Oct 19 2013
8:00p


"It may be ambient but unlike much of the downtempo music around it’s certainly not background music" — Total Music Magazine

"The Diva of Ambient Cello" — John Diliberto , NPR

"Literally one of the best experimental artists currently making tracks. " — Women's Radio Brian Ball, Digital Bliss - Compilation review

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Summer Concerts in the Courtyard featuring Christie Rose


Christie Rose is performing at the Firehall Arts Centre as the first of a three part concert series that Jack Vickery and  Beth Southwell of Nightingale Productions  are producing with in partnership with the Firehall Arts Centre. Sunday, July 28th at 7:30pm. Spread the word, it's a lovely outdoor event in the courtyard. Christie will be joined by Noah Walker on guitar and Michael Simpsonelli on drums.



 The Firehall Arts Centre is located at 280 E Cordova Street in Vancouver.

Buy your tickets here

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The Good Lovelies, Touring UK and Canada and their 'Lie Down' video

It's hard to believe that it was in 2009 that I first got The Good Lovelies CD and fell in love with this song, Lie Down. I had it on repeat in my car. 



The Good Lovelies, (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore) are "funny and upbeat, with just a pinch of sass."
Now four years later, and they are just completing their current UK tour and they are definitely one of the hardest working bands I have seen for a while.
It seems they will only have set foot back in Canada for a few weeks and they will be off on a nationwide tour, playing as far west as Victoria in BC, and right across to St John's, Newfoundland. 
Their 2012 CD Live at Revolution is available at Amazon and features 16 beautiful tracks highlighting
their beautiful three-part harmonies, their constant instrument swapping and their witty on-stage banter.