News Roundup (Earl Scruggs, Max Wray, Ariana Gillis)

Local

• Spider Costello (VooDoo Chicken singer and drummer for a few local bands) will be moving to the US this month. Hamilton will miss him!
• Daniel Lanois videos from the Great Hall
• View Magazine article on Robin Benedict

World

• New Blues releases for April
• Jerry "Boogie" McCain passes
• Podcast: Nothing but the Blues #185
• Earl Scruggs Passes

Weird/Funny Stuff

• Saddest and happiest songs according to science
• Man makes guitar amps out of rotary phone, Ouija boards, and Chess Boards
• Hilarious pics: Guitar restroom, A Yummy Drum, The Last Supper
• Music related Bizarro cartoon
• Go the Blues cartoon

Blasts from the Past

• 2009: Hamilton Place Ranked as #1 Venue in Canada
• 2010: Ginger St. James@Augusta House
• 2011: Mark Vanderheyden@Pheasant Plucker

Featured Videos


Links: Max Wray, More Max Wray Stories, Video courtesy of B-TV



Links: Ariana Gillis, More Ariana Gillis Stories , Video courtesy of Ariana Gillis

News Roundup (Hall of Fame, Ariana Gillis, Podcasts)

Local

• We Got Blues Facebook Fan Page
• New Dock Holliday (Brad Soucie) web site
• Daniel Lanois to be inducted into Hall of Fame
• Festival of Friends looking into music museum
• Live Blues Burlington Facebook group

Canada

• Gordon Lightfoot to be inducted into Songwriter Hall of Fame

World

• Podcasts: Bandana Blues #425, Roadhouse #365, Nothing But the Blues Feb 15, SA Blues #156,
• Blues Hall of Fame 2012 inductees

Blasts from the Past

• 2009: Jacob Moon gets Rush stamp of approval for cover
• 2010: Shrimp Daddy and the Sharpshooters@Hooters
• 2011: Tom Wilson@Moonshine Cafe

Featured Video (courtesy of Ariana Gillis)

New Ariana Gillis CD: Forget Me Not

One thing that stands out on local singer/songwriter Ariana Gillis's latest CD, Forget Me Not, is the power in her vocals. It's a voice that deserves to be heard and almost screams out, "just because I'm young and can play infectious music doesn't mean I'm a pop star".

As always, Ariana shows great talent with incredible catchy melodies but on this offering, both her lyrics and vocals seem to have more of an extra edge to them. It's a very welcome change. There's more of a roots element here as well.

Her softer vocal side is also on display on songs such as John and the Monster and Oh the World.

The CD is available at her live shows, on Maple Music, and as a download on iTunes and cdbaby.

Below are live performances of songs from the album.





Videos courtesy of Ariana Gillis.

Links: Ariana Gillis, More Ariana Gillis Stories

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Blues News Bites (Ariana Gillis, Chris Chambers, Lee Harvey Osmond)

Local

• View Magazine: Hamilton Music Notes (Jacob Moon) 

 World

• Podcasts: SA Roots and Blues #119, Murphy's Saloon #182, Roadhouse #275, Nothing But the Blues#89, Wood Stomp Blues#18, Roadhouse #276, Nothing but the Blues #90, Murphy's Saloon #183

Featured Videos

Ariana Gillis: Samuel Starr




Links: Chris Chambers - More Chris Chambers Stories

Lee Harvey Osmond: Solitary Man

Blues News Bites (Patrick Lawton, Dan Medakovic, Mary Simon)

Local

• New Ariana Gillis Blogpost
• Pictures from John Ellison's Gala Fundraiser in Snap Magazine
• View Magazine: Caretakers Cover Story 

World

• SA Blues and Roots #117 , Nothing But the Blues #85, Roadhouse Blues # 271
• Folk Singer Susan Reed Passes

Featured Videos

Patrick Lawton: Boogie for the Doctor


Dan Medakovic: Sailing


Mary Simon: Big Sore Heart

Blues News Bites (Kim Koren, Tom Wilson, ESRB, Arianna Gillis)

Local

• Chris White CD Release/Fundraiser and Shrimp Daddy Fundraiser in March 2010 edition of Snap Hamilton
• The Blues Report Reviews Rita Chiarelli's New CD

World

• Podcasts: Murphy's Saloon #176 , Roots and Blues #113
• Snopes.com Article About Mama Cass Urban Legend

Kim Koren and Lee Harvey Osmond: Raven Heart


Video: Emerson Street Rhythm Band at McMaster


Arianna Gillis: The Cove

New Ariana Gillis CD: To Make It Make Sense

Local singer/songwriter Ariana Gillis recently released her amazing debut CD, To Make It Make Sense.

Ariana skillfully manages to make her music catchy and poppy but still have the heart of the folk/roots sound. Blueberry Ocean (originally available on a Design Hope charity CD in 2008) starts the disc off with a bang. You can't help but sing along and dance. There are exquisite quiet moments to balance things out as well. Her unique voice enhances each tune, regardless of tempo.

This wonderful disc came out in time to be nominated for Hamilton Music Awards (Female Artist, New Artist, Adult Alternative). Ariana has also recently won a Canadian Folk Music Award (Young Artist).

Joining the talented singer on the album are area performers Josh Lamothe, David Gillis (who also produces), Mark McIntyre and others. Canadian guitar great, Kevin Breit also lends his axe to a tune.

Currently, the CD can be purchased at her shows and through Maple Music. It should be available through iTunes shortly

More Ariana Gillis stories

Ariana Gillis Wins Canadian Folk Music Award

Local singer/songwriter, Ariana Gillis won Young Performer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards on November 21, 2009. Congratulations!

More Ariana Gillis Stories

Other winners include:

Traditional Album of the Year
James Hill & Anne Davison – True Love Don’t Weep (Langley, BC)
Contemporary Album of the Year
Joel Plaskett – Three (Halifax)
Children’s Album of the Year
Chris McKhool – FiddleFire! (Toronto)
Traditional Singer of the Year
Colette Cheverie - Hours Before Dawn (Charlottetown PE)
Contemporary Singer of the Year
Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick (Vancouver)
Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year
Tony McManus – The Maker’s Mark (Elora ON)
Instrumental Group of the Year
Sultans of String – Yalla Yalla! (Toronto)
English Songwriter of the Year
Susan Crowe for Greytown (Halifax)
French Songwriter of the Year
Catherine Durand for Coeurs Migratoires (Montreal)
Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year
Don Amero for Deepening (Winnipeg)
Vocal Group of the Year
Madison Violet – No Fool For Trying (Toronto)
Ensemble of the Year
The Deep Dark Woods – Winter Hours (Saskatoon)
Solo Artist of the Year
Catherine MacLellan – Water in the Ground (Charlottetown PE)
World Solo Artist of the Year
Karim Saada – La Danse de L’exilé (L’Assomption QC)
World Group of the Year
Jayme Stone and Mansa Sissoko – Africa to Appalachia (Toronto / Quebec QC)
New/Emerging Artist of the Year
The Good Lovelies – Good Lovelies (Toronto)
Producer of the Year
Joel Plaskett for Joel Plaskett – Three (Halifax)
Pushing the Boundaries
Steve Dawson – Telescope (Vancouver)

New Design Hope CD: Under Angels

Harrison Kennedy, Steve Strongman, Jacob Moon and other local artists have songs on Under Angels, a new charity CD to help "Hamilton Out of the Cold", an organization that assists the homeless.

To purchase or download tracks, check out designhope.ca

More CD Releases

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