Denver: Origami Crane, 8 year old Jaden, playing amazing guitar in Denver.

Here is a very young Violet Femme, a force to be reckoned with.

Erin McCallum sings the Blues

Erin McCallum is a blues singer from Ontario with a big voice and a band with a big sound.
When Erin McCallum first heard Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog", she sensed something very special. She heard a sound and delivery that she identified with immediately, and continues to channel both in the studio and live performance.

A relative newcomer to the music scene, McCallum is making great strides employing that basic approach - true to the long-established roots of Blues - as basic as her own vision of the genre. And people are starting to take notice. Establishing a sound revolviing around that voice - a captivating alto tenor - and ably supported by Trevor MacKenzie on guitar, Ron Lombard on bass, and Joe Pace on drums, Erin has twice been nominated for an Ontario Independent Music Award ("Best Blues Band")

Erin has just released her second CD Feel This, that features a mix of various Blues stylings, while remaining within the musical territory staked out with her first offering 5 a.m. Blues. McCallum uses the platform of the 11 selections - all written and arranged by the artist from thought to finish - to cover a range of topics; and not all of them the usual Blues variety.

With her strong vocals front and centre, MacKenzie's first-rate guitar serving as the soloing focal point and Lombard and Pace holding down the bottom end. McCallum leads the band through various musical excursions. Feel This is sure to surpass the acceptance of 5 a.m. Blues, that captures the imagination of DJ's and listeners in over 50 countries.

Here is a powerful ballad from Erin

Suzie Vinnick - Butterflies and Sunflowers

I had the pleasure of seeing Suzie Vinnick perform at the Vancouver Folk Festival this summer.
Suzie has amazing stories to tell alongside her wonderful voice and guitar playing, a true Canadian treasure.
I also was lucky enough to catch her on CBC Canada Live as I was driving home one night.
Her Hornby Island Blues Odyssey concert was recorded by the lovely folks at CBC's Canada Live at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay. It is available for your listening pleasure from the CBC website!! You can listen to the songs individually or click on play all tracks to hear the concert in its entirety. Hooray CBC and kudos to all her musical compadres that took part in the show - Rick Fines, Diana Braithwaite, Chris Whiteley, Rita Chiarelli, Doug Cox, David Gogo, Dave Harris, Bill Johnson, Big Dave McLean, Gary Preston and Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne!

Beth Southwell touring in the Okanagan!

Beth Southwell is going on tour in the Okanagan between August 16- 21st 2009.
Beth Southwell is touring with bahiyyh and performing at house Concerts on August 16, Voodoo's in Penticton on August 17, and Parks Alive! in Kelowna on August 20th.
I am so excited to be performing in a new environment. I currently am Artist in Residence at Starbucks in Vancouver on 14th and Main Street and perform there every two weeks on Tuesday night between 8:30-10pm. So it is great to get out into the big wide world and explore, performing along the way.
I have just recorded a 6 song ep with Bahiyyih in support of our tour and am thrilled with the results of it. We just put them all together last night.
Please visit my myspace account at http://www.myspace.com/bethsouthwell and check out my songs.
Thanks for reading and make sure you take a moment to talk a bit about what you are up to. Its inspiring to see what people can do.
Beth

Inanna Sisters In Rhythm express their ties with earlier traditions.

Inanna Sisters In Rhythm is a percussion and vocal ensemble that explores the heritage and rhythms of West Africa, through original arrangements and compositions invoking ancient traditions of the drum. Inanna was originally created by the participants of a drum class in Alna, Maine eighteen years ago. Since that time, Inanna has recorded and released five, full-length albums and has performed at numerous percussion festivals and community events.

Inanna is deeply dedicated to the education and cultivation of peace and sharing among cultures through the power of music. The ensemble plays African percussion instruments such as the Djembe, Kpanlogo, Doundounba, Kenkeni and Sangba, and other hand-crafted percussion instruments such as the Balafon (an African Xylophone), kalimba (thumb piano), shekeres and a variety of bells and other small instruments. Frame drums, found in almost every culture and the ancient instruments of women drummers, are now a staple in Inanna’s sound.

As a group, Inanna members have studied percussion with Karamo Sabally of Gambia, West Africa; John McDowell of the Afro-jazz fusion group Mamma Tongue; Yaya Diallo, master drummer from Mali and the author of The Healing Drum; Layne Redmond , author of When the Drummers Were Women; and Famoudou Konate, one of the world’s best-known and recognized d’jembe players.

Inanna takes their name from an ancient Sumerian goddess, who held reign more than 4,000 years ago during a period when it is believed that drummers and dancers were predominantly women. The ensemble chose the name of this ancient goddess to express their ties with earlier traditions.

Check them out on myspace

Pony Up, new CD Stay Gold out now.

Pony Up have a new CD out but here is a video of one of their earlier songs.

Recorded in the spring of 2008 at the now legendary Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal, Canada, with producer Murray Lightburn (singer/song-writer/producer of the Dears) Pony Up’s latest release, Stay Gold, is without question their most cultivated, mighty and romping release to date.
Fusing the playful and satirical energy of their self-titled debut with the melancholic introspection of Make Love to the Judges with your Eyes the ladies have forged a true nonpareil of the late-indie scene.
First breaking the songs into their smaller working parts, Lightburn has reincarnated the music in his own pop-noir-romantique image, honing and edifying the group’s arrangements and soundscapes. The sonic topography has become detailed, ornate and sprawling, if not wholly epic in its scope and ferocity.
Think here of war-like Athena leading on horseback a cavalry of sirens down your aural canals to take as hostage your heart; think of the mendacious promise to which you knowingly submit, let come the deluge, let come the flame.
Stay Gold, was out in spring 2009 on Laughing Outlaw Records (Australia), is Pony Up in opulent and martial array: come in, won’t you, surrender in the sultry glow. Available digitally at www.iheartponyup.com and www.villavillanola.com and in Montreal at Cheap Thrills, L'Oblique, Atom Heart and Phonopolis.
Taken from Pony Up on myspace

Julie Crochetiere has a new CD coming out

Julie Crochetiere is a Montreal artist.

The magic happens somewhere between the groove and the melody. The essence of her lyrics and her smooth, soulful voice already had you, but you become hypnotized by the rhythm and lifted high by the song, as she brings it to you with class, passion and sincerity. As the song escapes her lips, it finds its way straight to your heart. Montreal-native Julie Crochetiere is - as always - delivering an unforgettable experience.

After a successful run with Universal pop group, ‘Sugar Jones’ and declining a second record deal, Julie still felt she was standing at a precipice. She needed to do it on her own and on her own terms. Thriving for something more, she began soul searching and her decision to start from scratch became a blessing. She wrote, co-produced and independently released her first EP, ‘Café’. Following its success, she released ‘A Better Place’, a soulful album rich with stories of past experiences and self-discovery. “It’s about overcoming struggles and being yourself.” Julie shares. “It’s about empowerment and love.”

Mirroring the impact of her live performances, ‘A Better Place’ sold over 20,000 copies in North America, and had reached the eighth highest downloaded album on iTunes Canada soul/R&B chart, behind renowned artists such as Amy Winehouse, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Alicia Keys. It produced the successful radio single, ‘Precious Love’ along with a hit video on Bravo, MuchMoreMusic and Musimax. Nominated for Best New Song and Vocalist of the Year, Julie has performed for Canada Music Week, North by Northeast, Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Toronto Jazz Festival. Julie’s highly-anticipated third album is due to release in the spring of 2009.

Her passion for writing, producing and performing continues. She recently established Play it Forward, a concert series designed to raise funds for music programs across Canada and motive children to play music. Sharing the stage with school bands and children's choirs has sparked an incredible energy among everyone involved, which in turn, has resulted in a powerful social impact in the community. The kids are inspired and gaining empowerment. “They’re working together for one common goal and they feel like a million bucks up there,” Julie says of the experience. She's grateful for the chance to collaborate with the talent that surrounds her – novice and professional – and has earned respect, loyalty and admiration. The positive response she continues to receive is a true testament to her intention with music.

Her creativity seems to flow effortlessly. Feeling most comfortable sans shoes, she sings from her soul, with confidence and class. As you're instantly drawn to Julie’s lyrics and magnetic vibe, it's an experience you won't soon forget. You'll find yourself lost in her grooves and melodies, the common link she continually seeks and always delivers.

iTunes Canada

iTunes USA
Info taken from Julies myspace page