‘Sea Shanty TikTok’ brings the music of late Canadian folk artist Stan Rogers To 250% increase in steams

January 26, 2021 Music Express

Sea Shanty TikTok’ brings the music of late Canadian folk artist Stan Rogers to millions of new listeners Ranked by CBC as one of Canada’s Top 100 songs of all time, the late Stan Rogers’ “Barrett’s Privateers” (Borealis/True North Records) is experiencing a very 2021 renaissance thanks to the delightful Internet corner we all needed: ‘sea shanty TikTok.’ The trend... Read More

Universal Music Canada Hires Craig Mannix As Senior Director, Urban Marketing

January 26, 2021 Music Express

Industry vet Mannix tapped to lead UMC’s newly created domestic urban marketing team committed to Black Music Universal Music Canada (UMC), the country’s leading music company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig ‘Big C’ Mannix to the role of Senior Director, Urban Marketing. With an impressive track record and decades of experience across almost every facet of the music business,... Read More

Up Close And Uncomfortable With Greg Godovitz

January 20, 2021January 21, 2021 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp It was 14 years in the making but Goddo lead vocalist, bassist Greg Godovitz has finally released his latest book, “Up Close And Uncomfortable” a sequel to his highly successful literary debut, “Travels With My Amp” But unlike the autobiographically slanted original, “Up Close And Uncomfortable” contains a potpourri of irreverent anecdotes and escapades focusing on Godovitz’s... Read More

VIP ME Initiative, Ed Sousa’s Latest Fund-Raising Initiative

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp As the COVID-19 continues to hamper Ed Sousa’s attempts to raise funds for his Ronald McDonald House charity, he is still creatively engineering different ideas to generate much-needed capital. Titled VIP ME, Sousa is initiating an opportunity where members of the general public can receive personal videos from a select group of musicians offering anything from personal... Read More

Andy Kim Christmas Special Raises Over $190,000 For Crew Nation, CAMH Gift Of Lights And Food Banks Canada

January 19, 2021January 20, 2021 Music Express

ANDY KIM CHRISTMAS SPECIAL RAISES OVER $190,000 FOR CREW NATION, CAMH GIFT OF LIGHTS AND FOOD BANKS CANADA Performances included Andy Kim, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger & Roch Voisine, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder & William Prince The 16th Annual Andy Kim Christmas Special, presented... Read More

Internationally Acclaimed Guitarist, Composer & Producer JESSE COOK Releases Stunning Version of “Say Something”

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 Music Express

Jesse Cook Releases Stunning Version of “Say Something” — The Multi-Platinum/Gold & Award-Winning Artist Offers New Take on A Great Big World’s 2013 Hit Watch “Say Something” via YouTube Here Multi-platinum/gold selling and award-winning artist Jesse Cook wants to “Say Something” this year with the release of his new single — available now! “It’s not often a song stops you... Read More

PETRIC’s Prairie Flashbacks

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 Roman Mitz

With over 14 million online streams and eight charting singles, including three Top ’20s, PETRIC has made quite the statement since forming back in 2014. The Winnipeg country trio, comprised of brothers Tom and Jason Petric, along with long-time friend Jordan Day, have just released their first full-length album “Flashbacks”. The new record is really a mix of flashbacks and flash-forwards, as... Read More

The Tragically Hip Donate Over $40K To The Unison Benevolent Fund Through The Sale Of “Courage Masks”

January 13, 2021 Music Express

Fans And Supporters Can Continue To Purchase The Reusable, Non-Medical Cloth Masks HERE Toronto, ON (January 13, 2021) – Unison Benevolent Fund – the country’s leading music industry charity, providing counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community – would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to The Tragically Hip for their generous donation of over $40,000 (and... Read More

Much Lauded Downchild Keyboardist Dies

January 9, 2021January 10, 2021 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp Downchild Blues Band keyboardist Michael Fonfara passed away Friday, January 8 after a two-year battle with cancer, he was 74 years old. A top-notch session musician who performed with a number of major bands and artists during his prolific career, Fonfara notched credits with the likes of Lou Reed, Rough Trade, Electric Flag (with Buddy Miles and... Read More

Billy Newton-Davis Re-introduces Himself

January 6, 2021January 8, 2021 Keith Sharp

Billy Newton-Davis – by Xander By Keith Sharp Before there was Drake, before there was The Weeknd, Toronto enjoyed a thriving R&B/soul music scene. If you hung out at venues like Club Blue Note, The Bamboo Club, Grossman’s Tavern or the Montreal Bistro in the mid-1980’s you would recognize names like George Olliver, Liberty Silver, Jackie Richardson, Molly Johnson, Micah... Read More

Nominations for the 20th Anniversary INDIES are Now Open!

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 Music Express

Canadian Music Week announces the 20th Anniversary Canadian Independent Music Awards – presented by Jim Beam® Live Streamed on Friday, May 21st, 2021. Submissions are now open: Part concert and part awards, the 2021 Jim Beam® Indie Awards are a celebration of new music and the artists who inspire the independent spirit, both nationally and internationally. Submit your nomination(s) today for a chance... Read More

Toque Band Wears Many Hats

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp Toque: A close-fitting knitted or crocheted cap having no brim or a brim that is folded up to create an extra layer of fabric for warmth. A rock band consisting of four Canadian musicians destined to celebrate the best in Canadian music. Two of those Toque band members; lead vocalist/guitarist Todd Kerns and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Brent Fitz are... Read More

Gerry Marsden: British Invasion Stalwart Passes Away

January 4, 2021January 5, 2021 Keith Sharp

Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1964 (Gerry Marsden at centre, bottom row) By Keith Sharp & Best Classic Bands Staff Gerry Marsden, the singer who led the Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers, died January 3, 2021, at 78. The news was reported by Pete Price, a friend and broadcaster. “It’s with a very heavy heart after speaking to the family... Read More

Justin Bieber Announces New Single + Video “Anyone” Arriving New Year’s Day

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 Music Express

Global superstar Justin Bieber will ring in the New Year with yet another gift for fans across the world. Today, Bieber announces his new single “Anyone” – co-written and produced by Andrew Watt with a visual directed by Colin Tilley – set for release at 12am EST on January 1, 2021. Fans tuned in to Bieber’s livestreamed New Year’s Eve concert presented by T-Mobile will have the chance to hear “Anyone”... Read More

2020: That Was The Year That Was! And Music Lives Lost.

December 31, 2020January 4, 2021 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp There’s no two ways about it, 2020 was a crap year. Who could have predicted that this COVID-19 pandemic could do so much damage on a global scale? The entire live music scene shuddered to a halt, major festivals cancelled, key live venues forced to restrict their attendances and then closed altogether, musicians and music industry personnel... Read More

Classic Rocker Leslie West Dies From Heart Attack

December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 by Best Classic Bands Staff

Mountain (L to R): Felix Pappalardi, Leslie West, Corky Laing By Jeff Tamarkin Leslie West, best known as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist of hard-rock progenitors Mountain, died today (Dec. 23, 2020) due to cardiac arrest. West, who was in Palm Coast, Fla., at the time of his passing, was 75. On Monday night, Dec. 21, West’s brother, Larry West... Read More

Pajama Party Provides New Year’s Eve Alternative

December 22, 2020December 23, 2020 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp Okay, so you are wondering what you are going to do on New Year’s Eve 2020! No clubs to go to, all the regular outdoor gatherings restricted and you can’t handle Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen’s CNN television countdown. So, courtesy of ace fund-raiser Ed Sousa you can tune into his `New Year’s Eve’ Pajama Party, to... Read More

Christmas Special Caps Spoons Innovative Schedule

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp While other bands and artists have spent this year-long pandemic sitting on their hands, Burlington Ontario’s The Spoons have executed a number of performances playing to restricted audiences, mainly for charity events. Their latest creation is simply called The Spoons Holiday Special and is a pre-taped performance of the band playing Christmas favourites from home with a... Read More

Loverboy Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of their Debut Album

December 19, 2020December 21, 2020 Keith Sharp

Mike Reno of Loverboy – Photo by Ted Van Boort By Keith Sharp Former co-manager, the late Lou Blair called it the half-million-dollar review! A glowing review of Loverboy’s U.S debut single, “Turn Me Loose” in the U.S. tip sheet `Friday Morning Quarterback’ announcing that the lone surviving new single from the 1980 Christmas period is “Turn Me Loose” by... Read More

Snotty Nose Rez Kids Drop Official Music Video For “Where They At”

December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 Music Express

LISTEN/SHARE WHERE THEY AT HERE “With fierce rhymes committed to the cause of decolonization, Snotty Nose Rez Kids simultaneously nod to the contemporary hip-hop sound they employ and to environmental issues directly affecting Indigenous people.” – Complex “kinetic and cartoonish chemistry similar to Flatbush Zombies, as well as a bold confrontation of white supremacy with classic hip-hop tropes.” – The... Read More

Category: News