June 2012 Archives

Wednesday June 27, 2012

'Just Biding My Time', A Tribute to Gene MacLellan - on Atlantic Airwaves, Saturday June 30, 2012

Posted by Glenn Meisner

On this Saturday's edition of the program we have a very special concert called 'Just Biding My Time' a tribute to Gene MacLellan.
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Last January, The City of Charlottetown, Music PEI and CBC teamed up to present a concert celebrating the life and music of folk singer Gene MacLellan at the Zion Presbyterian Church in Charlottetown. "Gene MacLellan was a songwriter who experienced tremendous success and wrote from the heart," says Music PEI Executive Director Rob Oakie. - "Islanders are very proud Gene chose to call PEI home and this concert, which has been three years in the planning, is a unique celebration of his songwriting by some of the East Coast's most loved artists." The line up of Artists taking part included Lennie Gallant, Ron Hynes, Dennis Ellsworth & Haunted Hearts, Meaghan Blanchard, John Connolly, Scott Parsons and of course, Gene's daughter Catherine MacLellan
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They were backed by a house band featuring some of the Island's finest players - Reg Ballagh on Drums; Ross MacDonald on bass; Chris Gauthier guitars and backing vocals; Johnny Ross piano; and Thomas Webb pedal steel.


"Gene MacLellan's music continues to inspire many of our talented Island artists and is enjoyed worldwide," says Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Henderson. "This event is a fitting way to celebrate his music and our province's cultural heritage and artistic talents."

Wednesday June 20, 2012

Levystep - Chris Martin and The Trouble Shooters - on Atlantic Airwaves, Saturday June 23, 2012

Posted by Glenn Meisner

On this Saturday's edition of the program we'll have a feature on Halifax based rockers Levystep and their debut release 'These Times' - and a feature on another Halifax group, rock n' rollers Chris Martin and the Trouble Shooters.
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Rarely has a new band delivered an album with more emotional punch than LevyStep's 2012 debut release "These Times". Musically inventive and lyrically compelling, this collection of songs is one of the most anticipated albums of 2012. Hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia the band has a distinctive sound that has earned them an enthusiastic fan base as well as the respect of many music industry professionals. The group believes in and enjoys relentless touring, which is quite evident when witnessing one of their live performances. The album "These Times", was recorded and produced by former Our Lady Peace guitarist Mike Turner, in Toronto, ON. A national tour is currently in the works. The band is super stoked to hit the road to make some new friends and see some old ones.
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The Trouble Shooters are living proof that rock n' roll is alive and well, and that a blues band can be deliver good times for all. Singer/guitarist Chris Martin jumped on the Halifax scene as a solo blues artist in 2003. Not long after that, he met up with a rhythm section that had their roots in hard rock. Rob Fris, a prolific drummer who has played in countless bands, Stu Hayward, a bassist/renaissance rocker, and razor-sharp guitarist Mike Nahirnak teamed up with Chris to form The Trouble Shooters. The band has a sound that blends Texas blues with 50's rockabilly. Their influences come from legends like Chuck Berry, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Muddy Waters, and The Stray Cats. The band grew as members Colin Boyd (tenor saxophone/piano), Tyler Crane (tenor saxophone), and Adam Nelson (baritone saxophone) joined to take the band to where they are now. The Trouble Shooters have been rockin' Halifax for 5 years- playing The Seahorse Tavern, The Paragon Theatre, Tribeca Bistro, The Rodeo Lounge, as well Dooly's in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. They have also been known to appear at regularly at festivals and in support of charity events.

Thursday June 14, 2012

Morgan MacDonald - Modern Grass - Atlantic Airwaves, Saturday June 16, 2012

Posted by Glenn Meisner

On this Saturday's edition of the program - a feature on Nova Scotia singer songwriter Morgan MacDonald and his debut release Back To The Wilderness - and a feature on the Modern Grassand their new release High On A Mountain
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With his sincere and creative music Morgan MacDonald gains fans each day. The Chronicle Herald says "...heartbreakingly beautiful ... incredible talent as a lyricist."
Morgan MacDonald makes his home in Chester Basin on Nova Scotia's south shore. As a teacher who has traveled and taught in Europe, Asia and Canada, he is a deep thinking young man who has a profound understanding of his place in the world as well as a keen observer of the life around him as is evidenced in his music. He also has a good understanding of why he makes this music and what he expects to get out of it. Morgan's debut EP recording 'Back To The Wilderness' was recorded in Riverport NS and Toronto with production by JUNO nominated producer Paul Aucion.
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The Modern Grass was born in early 2011 and is already kicking up dust in the Canadian music scene with a successful Canadian tour and a debut album nominated for Music Nova Scotias' Best Country/Bluegrass album of the year. The MG is acoustically inspired jazz, bluegrass, gypsy, blues, classical and folk music. The Quintet pays tribute to a number of musical traditions, but leaves plenty of room for innovation and improvisation. Complex arrangements translate seamlessly, and Terrell's down home songs and lyrics are a sharp and comforting contrast to the tasteful, yet avante garde musicianship. The Modern Grass is a breath of fresh air. The Modern Grass features violinist extraordinaire Donald Maclennan, (TZE, Mishras Dream, Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers) hard driving Double bass player Adam Pye (Laura Merrimen, The moonshine Ramblers, The Bluejam Grass Band), Halifax premier resonator guitar player, Andrew Sneddon (Laura Merrimen, The moonshine Ramblers, The Bluejam Grass Band), the fastest banjo picker this side of the Mississippi, Dan MacCormack, and Tom Terrell. Terrell has released 4 full length Albums and 1 Ep, all of which were released through his own label. With his trademark harmonica and guitar sounds and incorporation of blues, jazz, country and soul, Tom Terrell has built a distinctive musical persona.

Wednesday June 6, 2012

Heather Green - Jamie Gatti's Riot Squad - Atlantic Airwaves for Saturday June 9, 2012

Posted by Glenn Meisner

On this weekends' edition of the program we'll have a feature on Heather Green and her new recording Your Last War - and a feature on Jamie Gatti's Riot Squad and their new album Warped.
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The Halifax indie music scene has a reputation as a great place for aspiring performers to work on their craft. Its reputation for it's openness and collaborative nature have caused many who may have been just passing through to pause for a while, maybe even stay and get involved themselves. Such was the case for Heather Green. She arrived here from Southern California in 2009. "I met all of my musical friends at the Company House and kind of just developed relationships" she says." It just became this amazing amalgamation of these people that were so talented that I got to hang out with, spend time with and tour with." One of those talented people was Dan Ledwell who stepped in to work with Heather and produce her latest CD, Your Last War.
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Jamie Gatti is a bass player who grew up in Great Village, Nova Scotia, but he's not just any bass player. with his abilities in playing all musical styles from classical to jazz, rock, Celtic and theater, many consider him to be one of the greatest bass players in this country, or anywhere else for that matter. He's also a very humble man. When you see him on stage, he's usually the guy tucked in toward the back on the right hand side of the drummer, quietly going about his business of laying down the groove and creating the foundation for the other players to build upon. Over his career of thirty plus years, he's played with a who's who in music including long affiliations with the RCMP Band and the Barra MacNeils. At one point he even auditioned for a spot with the Rolling Stones, and almost got the gig. But that's another story. Jamie is also a composer and arranger, and a few years ago, along with some of his closest musical friends, he formed a group called The Riot Squad. They're about to release their first CD next week. The album is aptly titled Warped. The members of the Riot Squad are Jamie Gatti bass/composr; Chris Mitchell sax; Rick Waychesko trumpet; David Burton drums/composer and Geordie Haley guitar.