As you may well imagine, the in-box at FYIMusic is inundated daily with press releases and the like, and today we offer a clutch of meanderings, news releases, new release information, gossip and more in one large round-up. Outlined below, Guido Basso is to be honoured with a special Allan Slaight achievement award, The Fray announces tour dates, Cape Breton is now home to a CD manufacturing company, Michael Jackson turns an auction into an exhibition, J. Geills reunites for a pair of dates, The Fox in Vancouver gives a listener laser surgery, blind musicianTerry Kelly is promoting literacy, and a Somali rapper spins his thoughts on piracy on the China Sea.

GUIDO BASSO TO RECEIVE ALLAN SLAIGHT

ARTIST OF DISTINCTION AWARD
Guido Basso will be on hand to receive the Alan Slaight Artist of Distinction Award during the 8th annual National Jazz Awards on Thursday, May 14,at The Fleck Theatre, (formerly Premiere Dance Theatre) in Toronto.

Allan Slaight says, of the choice, “Guido is, quite simply one of the very best we have and is in constant demand for his amazing musicianship on flugelhorn and trumpet – but not just in the jazz world – he is also kept busy for film sessions and on many other artists’ recordings. He plays a mean harmonica too! We are thrilled to be able to present the Artist of Distinction Award to Guido on May 14.” Gary Slaight adds, “This is special for us to be able to have the say in the selection of Guido Basso for this new award. My father Allan and Guido go way back making this a rewarding and meaningful choice. He represents all that’s great about Canada’s jazz music world.”

The National Jazz Awards, presented by Galaxie, CBC’s Continuous Music Network and generously supported by FACTOR, has confirmed that the hosts of this year’s National Jazz Awards are Tim Tamashiro, an artist in his own right and weekend host of CBC Radio’s Tonic and Karen Gordon, a modern day renaissance woman – in demand as writer, radio host, film reviewer and media trainer but probably first and foremost a music lover.

Executive Director, Bill King has already assembled a strong line up of performers including The Real Divas, 2009 Juno nominee Chris Donnelly, the Mario Allard Quintet and the very talented Christine & Ingrid Jensen with sax player, Joel Miller. Mario Allard was the recipient of the 2008 Galaxie Rising Star Award of the CBC, Best Composition, during last year’s Festival International de Jazz de Montreal.

The first National Jazz Orchestra, comprised of the top students from York University, Humber College and University of Toronto, approximately 16 members-strong will play music from some of Canada’s greatest jazz composers and the chosen musicians are very excited at this opportunity to be conducted by Mike Murley, Denny Christianson, Christine Jensen and Vic Vogel.

Another new addition this year – in conjunction with and sponsored by SOCAN and the Canadian Association for Jazz Education, an all-star band, conducted by Darcy Hepner will perform a specially commissioned piece by up and coming New York composer, Darcy James Argue.

In addition to the music there will also be a multimedia slideshow, “Hamilton/New York: Portraits of Sounds” featuring photographs by Jimmy Katz, and curated by Astrid Hepner of the Hamilton Music Collective in the theatre’s lobby for the evening.
Founder and Executive Director of the awards, Bill King, says, “Once again we are focusing on the wealth of up and coming talent this country has to offer, while paying tribute to the pioneers. The orchestra has been a dream of ours and, I’m sure the music teachers in each of these schools will be justifiably proud.”

National Jazz Awards (NJA) Executive Producer, Patrick Taylor added that, “After showcasing so many hugely talented young musicians last year, we just had to keep the focus on youth – and to merge these young stars into our first NJA orchestra. While the National Jazz Awards will continue to recognize all of our Canadian jazz artists, this show will continue to support our future.”

Don’t forget to vote for your favourite jazz artists at: nationaljazzawards before the end of this month.

TERRY KELLY LAUNCHES CD/DVD TO PROMOTE LITERACY
In support of universal literacy, award-winning, singer-songwriter and renowned motivational speaker Terry Kelly will launch, on Canada Book Day – April 23rd, That All May Read – a unique multi-media learning and awareness tool that encourages a love of reading for all, through the spoken word and music.

“That All May Read is a song, video and documentary that tells the inspiring story of people who were able to overcome their reading difficulties and improve their education, job prospects and the lives of their families,” says Kelly.

What began as an inspirational song – written by Terry Kelly and John Meir and performed by Terry at the 2006 Canadian Library Association (CLA) Conference – has evolved into a music video and documentary that can now become the library community’s battle cry for the power that reading brings to us all.

The goals of That All May Read are to inspire children of all ages to read; inspire adults who encounter challenges learning to read to seek assistance; provide librarians, teachers, parents and others with tools to enable people of all ages to learn and love to read, encourage and inspire people to understand challenges faced by those struggling to improve their literacy skills and remove the stigma.

“The gift of reading has given me the gift of words that have contributed to my physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth,” says Kelly. “The thoughts and words of others have inspired me to form my own ideas and to write my own words.  It is my wish That All May Read.”

A preview of That All May Read is available at: www.terry-kelly.com/tamr

Following the national release of That All May Read, Kelly will tour Ontario schools to promote literacy through his We Can Do Anything presentation.

Terry Kelly has released six full-length recordings to date, resulting in seven East Coast Music Awards, and nominations for four Canadian Country Music Awards and a JUNO.   He is the recipient of the King Clancy Award, Honorary Doctorates in Civil Law and in Fine Arts from the University of Kings College and Saint Mary’s University, the Canadian Country Music Association’s Humanitarian Award and he has been appointed to the Order of Canada.

Kelly’s ability to capture in song the essence of issues close to his heart has led him to write a variety of inspirational pieces, including “A Pittance of Time.” The song was written to raise awareness of the sacrifices that have been made and are still being made by the Canadian Forces.

Past commissioned works include “The Power of the Dream” for the World Blind Union, “Ties That Bind” for the Joseph R Smallwood Heritage Foundation, “In My Father’s House” for the Lieutenant Governor’s Institute on Family Life, “Celebrate Life” for Cancer Care Nova Scotia, “Listen to the Children” for the LTTC Foundation and “Merci Louis” for the Braille 200 Foundation.

For more information on Terry Kelly and his work, visit: terry-kelly.com

NEW CD MANUFACTURER IN CAPE BRETON
Feret Hole Studios is touting itself as the first to offer CD duplicationservices in Cape Breton. Further info: (902) 842-9080

ROBYN HITCHCOCK has cancelled his Thursday night show at Toronto’s Mod Club due to illness. This is the 3rd date on his current tour that has been cancelled.

DEPECHE MODE has released a deluxe Sounds of the Universe boxed set that includes three CDs, a DVD with over 90 minutes worth of film footage, two hardback photo books, two enamel badges, a numbered certificate of authenticity, a selection of art cards…and a partridge in a pear tree. For further details link to depechemode.com

STARS COME OUT FOR HARRISON
Sir Paul McCartney joined George Harrison’s widow Olivia and the late star’s son Dhani to unveil his former Beatles bandmate’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, April 9.

J. GEILS RETURNS
Centrefold’s hitmakers the J. Geils Band are to reform for a pair of hometown shows in Detroit, Michigan this month. Frontman Peter Wolf insists upcoming shows on the 24th and 25th won’t kickstart a full reunion – but they’ve been planned to help promote his first solo release in seven years, due out this summer.

FREE DAVE MATTHEWS DOWNLOAD
Dave Matthews and Stefan Lessard announced via their Twitter accounts (@davejmatthews and @slessard) the premiere of “Funny The Way It Is,” the lead single from Dave Matthews Band’s upcoming album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Fans can download the track for free for a week at the band’s website, http://www.davematthewsband.com. “Funny The Way It Is” will be for sale at digital retailers thereafter. Dave Matthews Band kicks off its 2009 tour tonight with a show at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be on the road through October 2nd.   Visit davematthewsband.com for a full itinerary of the spring and summer tours.

LILLY ALLEN IS ALL IN A TWITTER
Lilly Allen has vowed to keep up her concert ticket treasure hunts after having fun sending fans after passes before her recent shows in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The Smile singer hung tickets on trees and billboards on the day of the show and then sent Twitter.com clues to fans – so they could find them.

Allen had no idea how fast the tickets would get snapped up.

She says, “I hid them in this sneaker shop, under some sneakers and I said, ‘Go to the sneaker shop, ask for this guy Eric,’ and as I walked out the shop – it was literally two minutes (after the post) – suddenly 10 kids just went flying past me.

“I hid some (tickets) on the G outside the Pacific Design Center (in Los Angeles)… and I sent out this clue and I waited there for about 20 minutes and this guy just pulled up in his car.” But even she was astonished at the speed of technology when she hung a pair of tickets on a tree outside the Victoria’s Secret lingerie store at trendy Los Angeles shopping mall The Grove.
She explains, “The guy at The Grove… it was literally 40 seconds from when I sent the Twitter. This guy was just walking along with his iPhone and he looked up and he saw me and he just went, ‘When did you write this?’ and I was like, ‘30 seconds ago.’ It’s amazing. It’s really fun.”

NO TURNING A DEAF EAR FOR THESE STARS
Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox and Lenny Kravitz are fronting a new campaign to raise hearing loss awareness. The trio is backing a new Hear The World initiative and will appear in print ads for the campaign, which encourages people all over the planet to sign up for free hearing tests later this month (Apr09). In the first of the ads, Stewart is photographed cupping his left ear.

SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS INVITES ARTIC MONKEYS TO JOIN HIS LABEL
Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has declared himself the biggest fan of Artic Monkeys – and has even asked the British rockers to join his record label.

Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders was ecstatic after the hip-hop star recently invited the group to his mansion in Miami, Florida.

Rap fan Helders felt it was the perfect opportunity to confront Combs about “stealing” his idea of filming video diaries in swimming pools while on tour.

But the percussionist let the issue slide – after learning Combs was actually a big fan of his band and even wants to sign the fourpiece to his U.S. label.

And Helders can now show off proof the rapper loves the Monkeys – after capturing their entire meeting on video tape.

In the footage, Combs says, “A lot of people probably don’t know this, but I am probably the biggest Arctic Monkeys fan. So when I met this guy it was like a dream come true and he’s the biggest Puff Daddy fan in the world.

“Arctic Monkeys are now going to be on Bad Boy in America. You know we don’t need the money. We’re just going to do this. It’s already a done deal.” Helders adds: “I knew P Diddy was going to be in Miami as he was having a party… so I thought maybe now is the time to go confront him about this. I managed to get face-to-face and he just laughed it all off and said it was a coincidence. I believe him, we built up quite a lot of trust and we got on like a house on fire.”

ANOTHER IDOL SIGNING
Atlantic Records has announced the signing of singer/songwriter Jason Castro. The Texas-based tunesmith – best known as the third runner-up on the 08 season of Fox’s American Idol – is currently working on his debut album, set for release later this year. Among his creative collaborators are Grammy Award-winning producer John Fields (Lifehouse, Switchfoot, Soul Asylum) and a number of acclaimed songwriters, including Kara DioGuardi (Kelly Clarkson, Jewel, Santana), Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall), Sacha Skarbek (James Blunt, Jason Mraz), Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), and Jason Reeves (Colbie Caillat).

MARLEE SCOTT IS NOW ROYALTY
That’s Royalty Records: Country newcomer Marlee Scott has spent her short lifetime dreaming of becoming an entertainer. After experiencing love and heartbreak, and more than a decade of musical training, Scott is ready to make a big impact on country music. She combines her passion for music, love of songwriting and desire to be a performer, into everything that she does. All things considered, Scott is a born entertainer. Her first album introduced Scott to country music fans in her native Canada, but it’s her self-titled sophomore album that promises to take her to the next level in her career.

Her album contains 10 tracks, and 9 of them list Scott as a co-writer. Her second album is packed with emotion and showcases her vast influences. Country fans are sure to love the uptempo songs that show Scott’s zest for fun, like “Five O’Clock Dance” and “You’re So Sexy”, and it’s the relationship anthem “Fight With You” that will be her first introduction to country radio in the USA. Heartbreak is represented in the album’s first track, “Reality” and touching ballads “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow” and “I Hold Your Hand” help round out the self-titled collection of songs guaranteeing that there truly is a song for everyone on this hit-packed CD.

CFOX OFFERS BIG REWARDS TO WINNING BANDS

99.3 THE FOX PRESENTS THE 30th BIRTHDAY OF FOX VANCOUVER SEEDS: Where Nickelback, Bif Naked, Default, Matt Good, State of Shock, Faber Drive, Daniel Wesley and more all got their start.

99.3 The FOX is proud to celebrate  the 30th anniversary of  The Fox Vancouver Seeds, Canada’s premier independent music competition with the launch of Fox Vancouver Seeds 2009, our biggest year yet.  Beginning today through to May 15, at 5 p.m. PT, 99.3 The FOX is accepting three original track submissions from local independent artists.

The three winning bands will all receive:
•Inclusion on 10,000 copies of the 2009 FOX Vancouver Seeds CD
•Guaranteed air play on 99.3 The FOX
•Live performance opportunities at FOX concerts
•Prizing from Long & McQuade Musical Instruments.

The winning band, chosen by the Canadian Music Industry, will receive  The FOX Vancouver Seeds 2009 Platinum Award

Including :
Consultation with The Agency Group president Ralph James

A Management Consultation Deal with Coalition Entertainment: (Managers of OLP, Simple Plan, Finger Eleven)

A Demo Recording Deal with Maple Music

Free Recording of an EP: Mushroom Studios/Hipposonic

A song doctor session with Songwriter Brian Howes (Aerosmith, Hinder, Sheryl Crow)

Mixing of a radio single by Mike Fraser (AC/DC)

Complete photo kit from PMD Photography

Tour Support from 99.3 The FOX

99.3 The FOX (CFOX-FM) is Vancouver’s rock station, featuring one of the best talent lineups in the country including The Jeff O’Neil Show, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m.   Tune in to The FOX at 99.3 FM and listen online at www.cfox.com.  99.3 The FOX is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges.   Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

SOMALI RAPPER TALKS ABOUT PIRATE DAYS
Rockrap.com turned us on to this fascinating alternative news item about aSomali rapper talking about Somali pirates and Homeland Security in Minneapolis

This is a two part series in which popular Somalian born rapper Knaan talks about the mindset of Somalians and the reason behind the pirates… This is the perspective of one who is from the war torn zones and whose family was involved in those skirmishes. he provides us with a insightful perspective from the Somali point of view..

In this video clip below, Knaan talks about why Somalia is such a ‘troubled land’.
He talks about the years of fighting and notes that Somalia has been involved with a
long struggle against anti-colonial rule. He desceribed his people as ‘uncapturable’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i67euACNhmA

In this video clip Knaan focuses specifically on the Pirate situation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrwgiprDBtA

NEVERLAND NOW AN EXHIBITION
Julien’s Auction house, based in LA, has cancelled the upcoming Michael Jackson estate sale just hours after opening the doors to let the viewing public have a chance to see the self-titled King of Pop’s treasure trove of memorabilia.

Julien’s Auctions staff spent three months clearing out over 1,000 items from Jackson’s former Neverland Estate home in California and CEO Darren Julien had stated that the plan was to auction everything off later this month. But, less than a day after his viewing gallery was opened to the public, the whole thing has been turned round. At least, for now.

In effect, Jackson gets to keep his stuff, and Julian’s gets to to loan the stuff to put on exhibition, raising the question as to whether the auction was in fact nothing more than an elaborate ruse to drum up publicity for Neverland’s weird collection of toys, memorabilia and valuables.

An attorney for the auction house refused to comment on the decision, other than to state “everyone is happy”. A Rolls Royce limousine, the gates of the Neverland Ranch, bumper cars, a tour bus and iconic Jackson stage gear, including his famous diamond-studded glove, were among the highlights of the proposed auction. Jackson’s lawyers claimed certain items, including a carousel horse with an inscription from Elizabeth Taylor, are irreplaceable and that the singer had not signed the auction contract.

NEW SOFTWARE CREATES ‘MUSIC REVOLUTION’
“If you could change the key signature and tempo of all the music in your iPod or other media players, you could create an endless variety of the same songs”, says Phil Adams of TXR Enterprises. Adams goes on to say, “This would make it impossible to
play out your favourite music. It also would make it feasible to make your favourites that you have already played out sound as good as new again!

Each musical composition has a key signature and the tradition is to record a composition in one key signature out of 12 possibilities. Listeners are stuck with that key for that composition forever. But, MusicStretcher allows the user to change the key to any (or all) of the 12 possible keys according to their desire. Each key signature corresponds to a different frequency and touches each person at a different level of being. Because of this, when an old favorite is transposed to a different key, it produces strong emotions that seem alien when comparing it to previous emotional responses to the composition. “You’d have to replay it a few times to figure out what you’re feeling, old music renewed,” says Adams.. MusicStretcher transforms old music and brings into being new emotional experiences. Users can also change the tempo (how fast/slow the music is played) to any speed desired.

The MusicStretcher software program allows you to do all these things and more. Users can try it for free and read more information at www.noplayout.com.

MusicStretcher software does the equivalent for music that a magic color wand would do if you could point it at your house, car, clothing, shoes, furniture, lover(s) and change their color or color-scheme into anything you wished.

Features:
1. Renew old music, played out favorite songs and tunes; make them sound as interesting and as touching as when you first heard them.

2. Keep the favourites you have not played out yet from playing out ever. With the endless variations created by changing key signature and tempo you will never be able to play out your music again!

3. The software is also a cross-media conversion tool. You can convert mp3, mp4, mp4a, MPEG-4 and all other unprotected media types in to any media type you wish. So if you change the key of one of your favorite songs that was originally in mp4 formant, you can save it as mp4 or mp3, mp4a, MPEG-4 or any unprotected media type.

About The “MusicStretcher”
Phil Adams, owner of TXR Enterprises in Los Angeles, California ‘accidentally’ played out most of his favourite music; Therefore he invented MusicStretcher Software to renew all his old favorites into many varieties. Having an entrepreneurs mind, Adams quickly realized that his idea might possibly start a new trend in music. Visitors can try it free at www.noplayout.com. Lifetime license-keys can be purchased for $19.98.

For more information contact: Phil Adams, TXR Enterprises, 326 N Western Ave., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90004, phil@musicstrecher.com, 213-631-0658,

BRITS ABROAD
The British music industry has grown its share of the U.S. and Canadian music markets, according to a report from U.K. trade body the BPI.

U.K. artists have increased their market share in North America for the fourth year in a row, the report states. The market share of album sales in the U.S. rose from 8.5% in 2007 to 10% in 2008; in Canada, British artists made up almost 15% of album sales, up from 12.5% in 2007.

The British acts performing strongly in 2008 in North America include established bands such as Coldplay and Radiohead, alongside breakthrough artists Duffy, Leona Lewis, Estelle, Adele and the Ting Tings. Robert Plant’s “Raising Sand” (Rounder) collaboration with Alison Krauss was also a big seller.

“Britain’s creative industries consistently excel on the world stage – with British music chief amongst them,” said BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth in a statement. “After the U.S., we are the biggest exporter of repertoire, and in the U.S. itself the U.K. is the second largest source of repertoire after U.S. home grown artists.”

Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends” (Capitol) was the No. 1 U.K. artist album in the U.S. in 2008, while Leona Lewis had the top-selling single track download with “Bleeding Love” (Syco/J). Anglo-Australian rock veterans AC/DC had the No. 1 U.K. artist album in Canada last year with “Black Ice” (Columbia), according to the BPI report.

“Revenues generated from sales abroad are crucially important for new acts, with U.K. labels reinvesting an estimated 20% of their revenues back into A&R,” added Wadsworth.

QUAD AND 8-TRACKS ARE ALL THE RAGE…AGAIN
We found the following on the always off-the-wall Boing Boing website recently. It’s written by one of a growing number of audio buffs who are scooping up quadrophonic albums in whatever format they can find them in at junk stores, yard sales and in pop’s basement collection.

Quadrophenia: “New” 4-channel versions of classic rock albums
Posted by Richard Metzger, April 4, 2009 2:26 PM | permalink

Richard Metzger is the current Boing Boing guest blogger

The last time I was guest blogger here at Boing Boing, I innocently waded into a war of the words by doing a post on audiophile SACDs and DVD-A surround sound mixes of classic albums. But for those of you who care –not you haters– I recently –not so innocently– noticed that certain lovely people were putting up their own homemade DVD-A versions of four channel rips made from 70s quadraphonic 8-tracks, reel to reels and in rare cases, LPs on the various torrent trackers. Most of these mixes haven’t been heard for years, by anyone and they’re awesome!

It’s a quadraphonic treasure trove out there, I tell you: Joni Mitchell’s “Court and Spark,” and “Hissing of the Summer Lawns.” Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn”(!), “The Worst of the Jefferson Airplane” and “Volunteers” (which uses totally different takes from the stereo LP), Jeff Beck’s “Wired.” Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” “Band on the Run,” “Venus and Mars Rock Show” and “Wall and Bridges” (mixed in quad, I am assuming, by Phil Spector –what would “#9 Dream” sound like in Quad? Heaven?). “Bitches Brew.” “Aqualung.” “Atom Heart Mother” and “Wish You Were Here.” “Music from the Big Pink” and a King Biscuit Flower Hour recording of the Rolling Stones in 1973 in full glorious 4-channel surround with the audience in the rear speakers.

Here’s a review of Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” in quadraphonic sound. It’s amazing to hear the way they mixed the automobile sounds pinging from speaker to speaker. You really feel like you’re in traffic!

http://twingokraftwerk.com/news/autobahn-dts/200403-autobahn-dts-review.html

HELLO OPERATOR HAS NEW ALBUM, TOUR
After a few months working on new songs for their upcoming full length album, Hello Operator are now embarking on a cross Canada tour and releasing the new single and video for Take Me Away, the third single release off their debut EP The Breaks. The video was immediately added to Much Music and Much More Music and the single hit radio earlier this week.

The bands’ EP The Breaks has received support on all fronts, including spins on Sirius Hits 1, XM Radio’s The Verge, Z103 Halifax, and FREQ Winnipeg. Hello Operator’s EP, The Breaks, also spent over two months on the CMJ Top 200.

Hello Operator Tour Itinerary
April 29th – Waterloo, On, Maxwells
May 6th – Debert NS, Debert Legion Hall – ALL AGES
May 7th – Louisdale, NS, Louisdale Parish Hall – ALL AGES
May 8th – Charlottetown, PE, Murphy Community Centre – ALL AGES
May 9th – Halifax, NS, The Pavilion – ALL AGES
May 10th – Glace Bay, NS, The Savoy Theatre – ALL AGES
May 14th – Ottawa, On, Mavericks – ALL AGES
May 15th – Montreal, QC Cafe L’inco – ALL AGES
May 16th – Kitchener, On, The Gig – ALL AGES – Supernova.com presents
May 17th – Hamilton, On, Absinth ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
may 21st – Barrie, On, Barrie Performing Arts Centre – ALL AGES
May 22nd – Toronto, On, Mod Club – ALL AGES
May 23rd – London, On, The Music Hall – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
May 24th – Owen Sound, On, The Harb – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
May 25th – Cobalt, On, The Classic Theatre – ALL AGES
May 26th – Timmins, On, Pub 147 – ALL AGES
May 28th – Thunder Bay, On, Black Pirates Pub – ALL AGES
May 29th – Dryden, On – Dryden Regional Conference Centre – ALL AGES
May 30th – Winnipeg, Mb, The Pyramid – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
June 4th – Regina, SK, O’Hanlons – 19+
June 5th – Saskatoon, SK – Odeon events cenntre – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
June 6th – Calgary, AB – the den – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
June 7th – Edmonton, AB, Jet Nightclub – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
June 12th -Vancouver, BC – Croation Cultural Centre – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents
June 13th – Langley, BC – The Venue – ALL AGES- Supernova.com presents

MOBY GETS PERSONAL
Yup, now he’s writing directly to his fans to explain himself and his new album. Here’s what he has to say…
hi, so, on june 29th / 30th i’m releasing my next album, ‘wait for me’.

i recorded the album here in my studio on the lower east side (although ’studio’ always seems like an overly grand word for a bunch of equipment set up in a bedroom). in the past i’ve worked in large and small studios, but for this record i wanted to record everything at home by myself.

i have some friends singing on the record. they’re great singers, but unless you live in fort greene or washington heights you might not know about them, as they’re relatively unknown (working with friends is almost always nicer than working with rockstars).

i started working on the album about a year ago, and the creative impetus behind the record was hearing a david lynch speech at bafta, in the uk.
david was talking about creativity, and to paraphrase, about how creativity in and of itself, and without market pressures, is fine. it seems as if too often an artists or musicians or writers creative output is judged by how well it accommodates the marketplace, and how much market share it commands and how much money it generates.

in making this record i wanted to focus on making something that i loved, without really being concerned about how it might be received by the marketplace. as a result it’s a quieter and more melodic and more mournful and more personal record than some of the records i’ve made in the past.
it’s also, for better or worse, all homemade, in that i recorded it at home with my friends and drew the artwork with a black sharpie on copy paper.

the first single (if you can call an instrumental with no vocals that we’re giving away for free a ’single’) is called ’shot in the back of the head’, and i’m happy to announce that david lynch has done the video for it. i sent him the music and said, ‘please do whatever you want’. so he sat down and drew some animation that is very dark and beautiful. david lynch is my favorite film director, and i’m really happy to have him as the first video director on ‘wait for me’.

i mixed the record with my friend ken thomas. he’s an amazing mixer/producer, and he’s worked with everyone from sigur ros to throbbing gristle to m83. mixing the record with him was really nice, as he’s creatively open to trying anything (like recording an old broken bakelite radio and running it through some broken old effects pedals to see what it would sound like. it’s on the record as a :45 second long track called ’stock radio’). and as a geeky technical aside, we mixed the record using purely analog equipment in true stereo, akin to how records were mixed in the late 60’s(some of the songs sound pretty amazing in headphones, if i do say so myself…).

ok, that’s it.

oh, one last thing, i’ve worked hard recording and arranging the album as a cohesive body of work. i fully understand that most people listen to individual tracks here and there, but i ask that you listen to the album from start to finish even just once.

thanks,
moby

APRIL 16 IS GREEN DAY
Following the release of the ringtone, “Know Your Enemy,” the first single from Green Day’s upcoming eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, will launch worldwide tomorrow, The video, directed by Matthew Cullen of Motion Theory, will premiere in Canada on MuchMusic’s flagship “MuchOnDemand” at 5pm ET on Friday, April 24th and will be exclusively available on MuchMusic and MuchMusic.com for the first 24 hours. The video will also premiere on April 24th on all of the MTV / VH-1 properties on air and online worldwide, making it the first global cross-channel video premiere for the channels.

21st Century Breakdown, which will be released by Reprise Records worldwide on May 15th, is the best-selling trio’s first studio album since 2004’s two-time Grammy Award-winning punk-rock opera American Idiot, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, spawned five hit singles, and went on to sell more than 12 million copies worldwide, including more that 900,000 copies in Canada. In a recent feature, Rolling Stone called 21st Century Breakdown “even more ambitious than American Idiot” and “a record of die-hard punk ideals…tightly scripted, continually ascending classic-rock excitement.”

CHECK WHAT’S COMING FROM SONY MUSIC
Britney Spears / For The Record (DVD) -Release Date: April 14

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=JvPsceHT

In ‘Britney: For the Record,’ MTV follows Britney Spears, the world’s most-gossiped-about megastar, through every step of her storied 2008 comeback. Go backstage at the VMAs, step up to the mic in the recording studio and get into the thoughts of Britney Spears as she prepares for her return to the spotlight.
Bob Dylan / Together Through Life -Release Date: April 2,

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=SK9YT3I2

Together Though Life, produced by Jack Frost, was prompted by the composition of a new song, “Life Is Hard,” which was written for a forthcoming film by French director Oliver Dahan (La Vie En Rose). Bob Dylan’s latest studio album was recorded late last year and features 10 new songs including “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’” and “It’s All Good.” This will be the 46th release from Dylan, following his Platinum album Modern Times which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in 2006.

Jason Michael Carroll / Growing Up Is Getting Old – Release Date: April 28

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=Uv6ypGqb

A chart-topping debut album and back-to-back Top 5 singles with “Alyssa Lies” and “Livin’ Our Love Song” helped establish Jason Michael Carroll as Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2007, and Carroll is on the airwaves now with his latest hit, ‘Where I’m From,’ the first single from his new album, Growing Up Is Getting Old. The disc reunites Carroll with noted producer Don Gehman (Hootie & The Blowfish, John Mellencamp, Nanci Griffith, R.E.M.) who helmed Carroll’s debut disc, Waitin’ in the Country, which hit No 1 on the country charts in its first week of release.

Paul Potts / Passione – Release Date: April 28

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=3pwRT2t0

The beloved victor of “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2007 who touched so many hearts with his enchanting voice, is set to release his sophomore album. His debut album, One Chance, has sold over 2.7 million albums worldwide, and his 2008 tour was sold out across the US. Passione features 11 tracks overflowing with his passionate, inimitable style combined with impeccable technique.

Ciara / Fantasy Ride -Release Date: May 5

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=kPlsFpoK

Multi-platinum star Ciara returns to the scene with her high energy third album Fantasy Ride. Having sold over seven million albums world wide since her debut Goodies and follow-up The Evolution, Ciara raises the stakes with Fantasy Ride. Packed with energetic beats, dynamic production and provocative lyrics , Fantasy Ride secures Ciara the top spot as a superstar performer. Featuring production by Justin Timberlake, Rodney Jerkins, Tricky, Polow Da Don and Danja, Fantasy Ride includes appearances by Missy, The Dream, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Chris Brown, and T-Pain.

The New Cities / Lost In City Lights – Release Date: May 5

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=ZIstft6V

Blending the timeless tastiness of classic synth-pop to the intensity and dynamics of modern punk and the irrefutable rump mobilization of recent dance-rock insurgence, the New Cities are primed to bring their own form of urban renewal to the Canadian pop-music scene. The band’s debut single from the album “Dead End Countdown”, released to radio Feb. 23 was an instant smash hit earning it CHUM FM’s Emerging Artist Of The Month and garnering huge out of the box adds at CKOI Montreal, Virgin 999 and CHUM FM Toronto. The New Cities have already been across the country opening for many big name bands including Simple Plan, Sum 41, Hedley, Mobile, Metric and illScarlett to name a few and making their mark on the Canadian Concert Circuit.

Theo Tams / Give It All Away – Release Date: May 19

Publicity Photo: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=vgigBAHj

When asked about the title of his debut album Give It All Away, the singer-pianist from Coaldale Alberta Theo Tams admits “In a way I feel that’s what I’ve done with this record.” The 2008 Canadian Idol Winner is not following the standard Idol formula in releasing his debut album. With a musical background, previous writing experience and a strong desire to put out an album he was truly proud of, Theo was given the gift of time to be more involved in the process to create a debut that truly reflects him as an artist rather than rushing the process. “I wanted to find and write songs that I could be confident with and encapsulated all I wanted to say on my first record, not only lyrically, but stylistically as well” and that’s what he’s done on Give It All Away.

Kenny Chesney / Greatest Hits II – Release Date: May 19

Album Artwork: http://filevault.sbmg.ca/filevault.cgi?key=xlMoKaHC

Having won the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year Award each of the past four years, Kenny Chesney knows something about Country Music!

This compilation includes one new song, “Out Last Night,” which Chesney co-wrote with Brett James during the Christmas holidays. Additional cuts include “I’m Alive” (duet with Dave Matthews), “Anything but Mine,” “Be as You Are,” “Beer in Mexico,” “Down the Road” (with Mac McAnally), “The Good Stuff,” “I Go Back,” “Living in Fast Forward,” “Never Wanted Nothing More,” “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problems,” “Summertime,” “There Goes My Life,” “When the Sun Goes Down” (with Uncle Kracker), and “Young”. As a special treat the booklet includes personal stories and photos from Kenny’s private collection.

Additional April & May Releases:
Simon and Garfunkel / Live 1969 – April 14

Bob Dylan / Before The Flood – Legacy – April 14

Bob Dylan / Dylan & The Dead – Legacy – April 14

Bob Dylan / New Morning – Legacy – April 14

Bob Dylan / The Basement Tapes – Legacy – April 14

Chairlift / Does You Inspire You – April 21

Ben Folds / Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella! – April 28

Jason Carroll / Growing Up Is Getting Old – April 28

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Angels & Demons – May 12

Various / Country Heat Summer BBQ – May 12

Tracy Byrd / Collections – May 19

Kenny Chesney / Collections – May 19

Olatunji / More Drums Of Passion & Drums Of Passion – May 19

Dave Brubeck / Time Out – May 29

Johnny Cash / BP Title 2009 – May 26

Miles Davis / Sketches Of Spain 50th Anniversary – May 26

Michael Jackson / Off The Wall Legacy Edition – May 26

Charles Mingus / AH UM – 50th Anniversary – May 26

Various / WOW Gospel Essentials 2 – May 26

Various Artists / The Best Of The Sopranos – May 26

June at a glance:
311 / Uplifter

Chevelle

Dave Matthews Band / Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Franz Ferdinand / Blood: Franz Ferdinand (dub)

Kasabian

Incubus

MC Mario

Brad Paisley

UP COMING TOUR DATES…
The Fray
April 13, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis

June 23, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre

August 5, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – U.B.C. Thunderbird Arena

The New Cities
April 17, 2009 – Jasper, AB – Atha B

April 20, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – Media Club

April 21, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – Media Club

April 23, 2009 – Nanaimo, BC – Mt. Benson Legion

April 24, 2009 – Victoria, BC – White Eagle Hall

April 25, 2009 – Port Alberni, BC – The Academy

April 26, 2009 – Kelowna, BC – The Habitat

April 28, 2009 – Calgary, AB – SAIT

April 29, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Louis’ Pub

April 30, 2009 – Regina, SK – The Exchange

May 1, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – The Park Theatre

May 2, 2009 – Thunder Bay, ON – Black Pirates Pub

May 6, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Babylon

May 8, 2009 – St. Catherines, ON – L3 Nightclub

May 9, 2009 – Milton, ON – St. Paul United Church

May 12, 2009 – Quebec City, QC – Le Cercle

May 13, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Cabaret Musee Juste Pour Rire

May 14, 2009 – Chicoutimi, QC – Le Bunker

May 15, 2009 – Laval, QC – Theatre Maison Des Arts

May 16, 2009 – Trois-Rivieres, QC – Le Complex

May 20, 2009 – Riverview, NB – Dan Bohan Center

May 21, 2009 – Truro, NS – Marigold

May 22, 2009 – Sydney, NS – Smooth Herman’s

May 23, 2009 – Halifax, NS – Pavilion

May 24, 2009 – Charlottetown, PEI – Irish Hall

May 26, 2009 – Kingston, ON – Bar None

May 27, 2009 – London, ON – Call The Office

May 28, 2009 – Guelph, ON – Club Vinyl

May 29, 2009 – Hamilton, ON – The Casbah

May 30, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The MOD Club

May 31, 2009 – Chatham, ON – Encore
Leonard Cohen
April 19, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place

April 21, 2009 – Victoria, BC – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

April 25, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

April 26, 2009 – Calgary, AB – EPCOR Center, Jack Singer Hall

April 28, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre

April 30, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

May 19, 2009 – Hamilton, ON – Copps Coliseum

May 21, 2009 – Quebec City, QC – Pavillon de la Jeunesse

May 22, 2009 – Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre

May 24, 2009 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre

May 25, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre

May 26, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre
Kings of Leon
April 21, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

Classified
April 23, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – Boss Nightclub
April 24, 2009 – Whistler , BC – Garfinkels
April 25, 2009 – Kamloops, BC – Cactus Jack Saloon
April 27, 2009 – Victoria, BC – Element
April 27, 2009 – Victoria, BC – Element
April 29, 2009 – Medicine Hat, AB – KC JAX Ultralounge
April 30, 2009 – Calgary, AB – The Whiskey
May 1, 2009 – Lethbridge, AB – Blarney Stone
May 2, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
May 5, 2009 – Banff , AB – Wild Bills
May 6, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Odeon
May 7, 2009 – Regina, SK – Distrikt
May 8, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret
May 9, 2009 – Thunder Bay, ON – C2
May 11, 2009 – Cobalt, ON – Cobalt Classic Theatre
May 13, 2009 – Waterloo, ON – Starlight Club
May 14, 2009 – London, ON – London Music Hall
May 15, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
May 16, 2009 – Whitby, ON – Johnny B’s
May 19, 2009 – Peterborough, ON – Montreal House
May 20, 2009 – Milton, ON – Hardball
May 21, 2009 – Hamilton, ON – Club Absinthe
May 22, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Ritual Night Club
May 23, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Les Saints
May 29, 2009 – St John, NB – Ozone
May 30, 2009 – Fredricton, NB – Capital Exhibition
June 5, 2009 – Halifax, NS – The Palace
Il Divo
April 28, 2009 – Halifax, NS – Halifax Metro Centre

April 30, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

May 2, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place

May 3, 2009 – Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre

May 5, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

May 6, 2009 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre

May 22, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

May 23, 2009 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre

May 25, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

May 26, 2009 – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome

May 28, 2009 – Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place

May 31, 2009 – Victoria, BC – General Motors Place
Britney Spears
May 5, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

Montgomery Gentry
May 1, 2009 – Prince George, AB – CN Centre

May 2, 2009 – Grande Prairie, AB – Crystal Centre

May 3, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Northlands AgriCom Arena

May 5, 2009 – Lethbridge, AB – ENMAX Centre

May 6, 2009 – Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral

May 7, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Credit Union Centre

May 8, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

Buddy Guy
April 22, 2009 – Hamilton, ON – Hamilton Place Theatre

April 23, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall

May 9, 2009 – Coquitlam, BC – Red Robinson Theatre

June 26, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Grounds

July 7, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis

Bruce Springsteen
May 7, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

Franz Ferdinand
May 4, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Kool Haus

Billy Joel / Elton John
May 26, 2009 -Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

May 30, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

June 1, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place

June 3, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

Julio Iglesias
May 29, 2009 – Richmond, BC – River Rock Casino Resort

May 30, 2009 – Coquitlam, BC – Red Robinson Theatre

The Derek Trucks Band
June 7, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Luminato Festival, Yonge-Dundas Square

June 23, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – Pantages Playhouse Theatre

June 25, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Francis Winspear Centre for Music

June 27, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – Centre for the Performing Arts

June 28, 2009 – Victoria, BC – Royal Theatre

Dave Matthews Band
June 9, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre

June 10, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean Drapeau

The Offspring
June 10, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – UBC Thunderbird Arena

June 12, 2009 – Calgary, AB – Stampede Corral

June 13, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Northlands

June 15, 2009 – Saskatoon, SK – Prairieland Park

June 17, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

July 2, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The Molson Amphitheatre

July 3, 2009 – St-Ephrem de Beauce, QC – Woodstock En Beauce Festival Grounds

The Fray
June 23, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The Molson Amphitheatre

August 5, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – Thunderbird Stadium

Anthony Hamilton
June 28, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The Molson Amphitheatre

Jordin Sparks
June 30, 2009 – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place

July 2, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

July 5, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

August 29, 2009 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

August 30, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre

August 31, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place

Kenny Chesney
July 11, 2009 – Merritt, BC – Merritt Mountain Music Festival Grounds

Kenny Chesney / Crystal Shawanda
July 9, 2009 – Edmonton, AB – Merritt Mountain Festival, Commonwealth Stadium

July 10, 2009 – Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede, Calgary Exhibition Grounds

Judas Priest
July 9, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The Molson Amphitheatre

T-Pain
July 9, 2009 – Sudbury, ON

July 10, 2009 – London, ON

July 11, 2009 – Sudbury, ON

Kellie Pickler
July 11, 2009 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre

August 14, 2009 – Havelock, ON – Havelock Country Jamboree Festival Grounds

Incubus
July 30, 2009 – Toronto, ON – The Molson Amphitheatre

ACDC
August 12, 2009 – Hamilton, ON – Copps Coliseum

Kenny Chesney / Miranda Lambert
August 19, 2009 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place

August 20, 2009 – Toronto, ON – Molson Amphitheatre

BROADCASTING

Vancouver’s iconic rock outlet The Fox (CFOX 99.3) responded to a listener’s plea for laser eye surgery on the station’s Hookup Hotline. By the afternoon of the same day the station had matched the listener with a reputable client of the station with a laser treatment practice and now the whole story is coming to life on the Jeff O’Neil’s weekday morning show. the Hookup Hotline chubs its market, offering concert tickets and $5K in advertising on the Corus owned station.

a and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising services, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing and children’s animation. The company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.