Music — Randy Bachman tells the CBC that recording the new Sept. 7 Bachman & Turner album with former BTO bassist Fred Turner was a return to yesteryear, using analogue studio equipment and keeping things simple. He says the inspiration behind Bachman-Turner Overdrive in the early ‘70s was “the simplicity of Creedence Clearwater Revival, the simplicity of the Stones, Zeppelin, and Cream, that sort of thing, “adding that†this new Bachman-Turner album is sort of me going back to our favourite vibes 
The Western Swing Authority – an all-star 7 piece band that plays a classic songbook in the style of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, and inspired by great bands like The Time Jumpers and Asleep at the Wheel – could well be Canada’s most successful Country act outside of Canada.  Latest stats provided by publicist Cameron Tilbury has the WSA getting play on 67 Radio stations in 16 countries…
Toronto-based integrated entertainment company Wax Records and affiliated Windup Records
have their wheels spinning in high rotation to keep up with one of their busiest falls ever. Currently working Elias’s latest single, All We Want, from their Lasting Distraction album, the Vancouver atmospheric rock act is up for 2 Casbys in the New Indie and Favourite New Artist categories and make an appearance on the Sept. 20 awards show.
Also on the Wax priority list are up-coming, new and recent releases from Finger Eleven, American teen actress turned singer-songwriter Emily Osment, Thriving Ivory, and recent signings’ Alyssa Reid, Age of Daze, THESET, and Adriana Lombardo…
Biz — Is the music industry waiting in vain to see the Conservatives live up to the Springtime promise of pushing Bill C-32 through Parliament when the House reconvenes on Sept. 20? The Harper government announced that an all-party committee would be struck over the summer months to debate elements of the reform bill, which had its 1st reading back in June. In fact, the only debate about the bill has been outside the House and now insiders suggest the lack of consensus from stakeholders, negative media coverage, and a clubhouse-sized menu of priorities (the economy,immigration, gun registry, long-form census et al) could sink the bill for another time and eternity. There’s also a strong whiff of election fever in political circles. Taxpayers may not wish to get stuck with another $300m bill but in Stephen Harper’s ‘Do as I say and I’ll do what I please’ democracy it’s a moot point…
The CRTC has ordered cable operators to devote at least half of $130 million in subscriber revenue they collect annually for community TV broadcasts to shows whose ideas come from ordinary Canadians. As well, the commission wants local members of the community to participate in all aspects of the shows’ production, whether in front or behind the camera. Access to the broadcasting system must be as open as possible, especially for people who are new to the production of television programming, CRTC vice-chairman Michel Arpin said in the regulatory ruling. The new regs take effect Sept. 1, 2014
The prestigious Berklee School of Music has been investing in young Canadian musicians with national auditions being held for the equally prestigious Slaight Family Scholarship.
Slaight, president and CEO of Slaight Communications, created the scholarship created the scholarship several years back for Canadian students who demonstrate outstanding musical merit and potential. With tuition, housing, fees, and the required laptop covered, this year’s Slaight scholar will enter Berklee, the world’s largest college of contemporary music, this September. Previous recipients include singer-songwriter Samantha Schultz, in 2009, and guitarist Lucian Gray, in 2008. Slaight, whose daughter Ali is a Berklee student with a successful music career in Canada, also serves on the college’s board of trustees.
Canadian enrollment at Berklee has almost doubled since 2005 to 84 students, making it the third most represented country, behind Korea and Japan.
Bill King, the unofficial king of all things jazz in Toronto, has re-assembled his foot stompin,’ roots rhythm n’ blues Rockit 88 Band. Rockit hosts an official launch party for the release of the Sweet Sugar Cane album, at Hugh’s Room on Sept. 21. Expect a line-up for this 2-set launch for an album that I’ve had the pleasure of living with for several weeks now. Separately, I’m including a video of King with Stacy Bulmer handling This Is Goodbye, a righteous song written by Bill and his longtime sweetie Kris and included on the 1st Rockit 88 Band album.
