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Doc Film Shines The Light on Healey’s Hideaway

Doc Film Shines The Light on Healey’s Hideaway
Canadian Blues legend Jeff Healey was a remarkable talent best known for his phenomenal abilities on the guitar. Despite being blind, Healey never let physical challenges stand in his way. As a teenager, he began performing with his high school band in Etobicoke, Ontario, before playing around the city at any Blues club that would let him play. Before long,... Read More

Sunny Skies the Key to Festival’s Success

Sunny Skies the Key to Festival’s Success
Hamilton Ontario’s TD Festival of Friends concert event, set to run August 8-10  scheduled in amongst other major festivals like Mark Higgins’ recently staged Big Fest in Kitchener and Brad Jones’ upcoming Rock the Park in London Ontario July 23rd-­26th, yet competing against big name artists like Aerosmith, Bryan Adams and Burton Cummings isn’t the festival’s biggest problem. “Our only big competition is... Read More

Ray Sasseville – Easy Rider Brings Sturgis Spirit To Merritt Bike Fest

Ray Sasseville – Easy Rider Brings Sturgis Spirit To Merritt  Bike Fest
Gangster or entrepreneur? — that’s the question Ray Sasseville poses as the title of a soon-to-be-published autobiography of the White Rock B.C motorbike enthusiast who is about to introduce the Sturgis motorbike rally concert concept to the Merritt B.C Music Grounds on Thursday August 21st to Sunday August 24th. A glance at the book’s front cover depicts a menacing looking... Read More

Big Names, Big Events Mark This Year’s Festival Schedules

Big Names, Big Events Mark This Year’s Festival Schedules
The upcoming July 1st weekend usually kicks off Canada’s outdoor concert season which will again see the staging of literally dozens of major festivals from coast to coast ranging in style from classic rock to electro -dance, country, jazz, blues and even a Ska festival in Victoria B.C. It’s a chance for music fans to see some of the biggest... Read More

MUSIC EXPRESS BOOK REVISITS A GOLDEN ERA

MUSIC EXPRESS BOOK REVISITS A GOLDEN ERA
The book we’ve been talking about in this online magazine for the past 18 months, will debut on Amazon and in your favorite book store in May when “Music Express – The Rise, Fall and Resurrection Of Canada’s Music Magazine” (Dundurn Press) finally rolls into retail. Those of you who were involved or aware of the Canadian music industry in... Read More

Days Of Future Past – Burton Cummings Continues To Shine

Days Of Future Past – Burton Cummings Continues To Shine
Burton Cummings is asked why he’s always being questioned about his past, the Deverons, The Guess Who, his past solo hits. No one it seems cares too much what he’s doing at present. “It’s people like you who keep asking those questions so I feel obliged to answer them,” he laughs chatting on the phone from his Los Angeles home.”... Read More

Nick Sinopoli – The Human Jukebox

Nick Sinopoli – The Human Jukebox
Nick Sinopoli is one proud dad. Returning from his daughter Nikki (Lemonbeat)’s convocation at York University where she graduated with an environmental studies degree, Sinopoli is beaming about his daughter’s achievements. “Nikki is going to save the world,” announced Sinopoli. “Even as a kid Nikki would decorate our fridge with “Cows Are People Too” stickers. She even pestered her high... Read More

What’s In A Name?

What’s In A Name?
It was photographer Ted Van Boort who inadvertently came up with this Rockpiles’ column idea when he called me one day to inform me The Bay City Rollers were playing Hamilton Place and was I interested in covering the show. First off, we don’t cover non-Canadian artists, and secondly, who the hell is still playing in the Bay City Rollers???... Read More

Burton Cummings kicks off the Grey Cup

Burton Cummings kicks off the Grey Cup
On a day when the Toronto Argonauts emphatically won the 100th Grey Cup final by beating the Calgary Stampeders 35-22, Burton Cummings set the tone for the festivities with a dynamic pre-game concert that was stunning in its simplicity. Cummings may not be accustomed to delivering matinee performances but in reality he can do no wrong. Supported by his faithful... Read More