THE LEBLANC NEWSLETTER ISSUE #6 (OCT. 11 2007)

In this issue:

* Humphrey & Bruce: The Love Affair Continues.
* Jane Siberry, Please Call Radiohead
* A Look Back At Canadian Albums.
* Produced by k.d. lang.
* Aussie Festivals Ban Teens.

HMV PLAYS A HUNCH

HMV Canada president Humphrey Kadaner is tickled that Bruce Springsteen’s new album “Magic” entered the Neilsen SoundScan Canadian album chart this week at #1.

“This is Springsteen’s first studio recording with the E Street Band in five years and it was well worth the wait,” says Kadaner who has seen The Boss perform throughout North America nearly 100 times.

In an effort to nail down Springsteen’s #1 slot, HMV Canada, with 117 stores nationally, had offered purchasers of the album a full refund if they didn’t fall in love with the album. As well, buyers were offered a free video and ringtone download of its lead-off single, "Radio Nowhere" plus a limited-edition lyric booklet.

HMV Canada also ran a national print campaign with ads in 15 daily newspapers. Managers of two HMV stores with the highest ratio of “”Magic” sales to overall sales in the chain will join Kadaner at the Boss' Oct. 15 show at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

With “Magic,” Springsteen scores his eighth # 1 album on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart selling 335,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. That’s his best sales start in America since "The Rising" which also reached # 1 there.

Springsteen's other American #1s include: "The River," "Born in the U.S.A.," "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band 1975-1985," "Tunnel of Love," "Greatest Hits" and "Devils & Dust."

This is Springsteen’s second #1 album on SoundScan in Canada. His first was “The Rising” in 2002 which sold 525,000 units in the U.S and 24,727 units in Canada, representing 4.7% of U.S. sales. For "Magic" the Canadian share of U.S. sales represents a robust 7.4%.

“The program was extremely successful in driving sales of ‘Magic,’” claims Kadaner. “To my knowledge we have not taken any returns nor have I been called upon to send out any letters of apology. Not only was ‘Magic’ one of our top selling CD's first week out, but it is my belief that our efforts did contribute to it getting to #1 on the SoundScan charts in Canada. We sold nearly four of every ten units (physical and/or digital) sold in Canada.”

The last time Springsteen had a new studio album was “Devil's and Dust” in 2005. It went to #1 the first week of release in many territories including the United States but in Canada it was beaten out by Il Divo. You might recall that Starbucks declined to sell “Devil's and Dust” in North America due to its political lyrics as well as Springsteen’s turndown of a Starbucks promotional campaign for the album.

With “Magic” hitting the top spot, Kadaner is donating $1,000 to the Daily Bread Food Bank. The donation is being made in memory of Terry Magovern, a friend and working companion of Springsteen who recently died and to whom a song on the album (“Terry’s Song”) is dedicated.

HMV Canada risked that some consumers would buy the Springsteen CD, burn off a copy at home, and then return it saying they were disappointed. That, says Kadaner, didn’t happen. "While there was a possibility that some consumers may have chosen to do that,” he says, “I had faith in my fellow Springsteen fans, and assumed if they liked the CD they would not copy it and return it suggesting they didn’t like it. To paraphrase Bruce, I was showing a little faith that there is 'magic' in the night.”

EMI MUSIC HAS A STRATEGY—WELL, MORE OF A VIEWPOINT REALLY

Last week EMI's new owner and top executive, Terra Firma's Guy Hands, told staff in a memo that record labels have to get more creative with digital opportunities and rely less on CD sales if they are to survive.

Labeling Radiohead’s industry model-busting pay-what-you want digital launch for its new album “In Rainbows” as a "wake-up call" to the music industry, Hands suggested that labels must now act more like venture capitalists. Rather than paying artists huge upfront advances recoupable against future sales, labels should provide funding for recording and touring in return for a share of profits. (Er, wasn’t that EMI’s strategy with Robbie Williams?)

"Rather than embracing digitalization and the opportunities it brings for promotion of product and distribution through multiple channels, the (music) industry has stuck its head in the sand,” he wrote, echoing criticisms made against major labels for over a decade.

Instead of listing a price for the 10-track “In Rainbows,” Radiohead—like Canadian singer/ songwriter Jane Siberry a few years back-- had announced on its website that it was up to fans to pay whatever they wanted for it. Its release, however, may not have set a precedent for challenging the cost of musical product. It may not even be a strong follow-up to the band’s 2003 Parlophone album "Hail to the Thief." But its launch has garnered enormous publicity.

So far, Radiohead hasn’t revealed how many people signed up for its album nor what they have been paying under the band's "honesty box" pricing policy - although sources indicate that customers seem to be choosing to pay $10 for the download edition.

It is not just Radiohead that are intent in moving forward in finding alternative ways to distribute and market music. Prince made headlines recently for being the first artist to agree a give-a-way deal with the Mail on Sunday newspaper which gave copies of his album, “Planet Earth” away with the publication. The agreement proved to be very lucrative for both parties, with the paper selling 2.8 million copies - its second-highest sale in 10 years. However, at the time, HMV's chief executive, Simon Fox, said the deal was "devaluing music.”

Paul Quirk of the Entertainment Retailers Association in Britain added, "It is an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career. It is yet another example of the damaging … culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music."

Meanwhile, the Charlatans have announced a deal with UK radio station Xfm that will allow fans to download their forthcoming new album via the station's website for free. As well, such leading artists as Nine Inch Nails, Jamiroquai and Oasis plan to bypass major labels for such direct Internet distribution.

"I've waited a long time to be able to make the following announcement: As of right now Nine Inch Nails is a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label," Trent Reznor recently posted on NIN's website."I have been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different and it gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate. Look for some announcements in the near future regarding 2008. Exciting times, indeed."

However, Interscope holds the rights to release a NIN “greatest hits” collection and a remix album "Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D" is still on the books for release this year.

What is being overlooked by many over Radiohead’s launch is that this is not a business model that can workable across the music industry nor even one that can work repeatedly for an act.

It’s a one-trick pony. It is possible, in fact, only if the act controls both its master and its publishing. Publishers and songwriters not directly affiliated aren’t going to go play along if they have songs represented. Plus it works best primarily with an established act—ironically one that have been exploited by the major label system so scorned—and where there’s a storm of media surrounding the release.

Jane Siberry, oops, Issa, please call home.

TOP 100 CANADIAN ALBUMS—PLUG #2

The list of great or even good books on Canadian music is woefully short.Each of us have our favourites. Mine are books by Canadian musicians Greg Godovitz, Dave Bidini and anything by Winnipeg historian John Einarson.There are some real stinkaroos in our Canuck library. However, I recommend Bob Mersereau’s "The Top 100 Canadian Albums" (Goose Lane Editions) coming out next week.

After getting an advance copy of this eye-popping $35 coffee table book this week, I haven't been able to put it down. I also won’t reveal any of the listings because it will take the fun away.

When I initially heard of the subject I was skeptical. Lists of favourite albums or best songs of all time are usually subjective and so inside. Everybody has their own favourites to champion often without consideration musical or historical merit.

Culled from lists from 600 industry people, Mersereau’s book will not satisfy everybody. There will be people grumbling about this or that album being left out. For example, I feel, that Canada’s West is far less represented than it should be as well as urban music is largely ignored. Still, what makes this book special is its scope as well as Mersereau's research and his interviews with many of the artists discussing their albums. Plus its superb graphics. As well, there's the novelty of seeing Canadian albums showcased in a world-class context.

CANADIAN ABORIGINAL AWARDS

With five nominations each, country singer/songwriters Donny Parenteau and Shane Yellowbird lead the list of nominees for the Ninth Annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards being held Nov. 30 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.Parenteau’s “What It Takes” CD picked up nominations for top country album and top album. As well, he is nominated in producer and songwriter categories. His song “Father Time” is nominated for top single. Yellowbird’s album “Life is Calling My Name” received nods for top country album and top album. As well, his single “Pick Up Truck” is nominated in single and video categories. As well, he is nominated for top male singer. A full list of nominees is available at: www.canab.com

QUICK TAKES

++Greg Pappas has been named GM at Koch Entertainment Canada. He had been dir. customer marketing at Sony/BMG Music Canada.

++ Nick Meinema has jumped to The Agency Group in Toronto from LiveTourArtists. He retains a strong client list including David Clayton-Thomas, Aaron Lines, Shane Yellowbird, the Wilkinsons, Brad Johner, Bryan White, George Fox, Jason Blaine and John Berry.

++ Montreal-based singer/songwriter François Lamoureux has signed a publishing agreement with Cherry Lane Music Publishing.

++ Bell Mobility has introduced a subscription music service that lets users access music for a flat fee of $15 a month. The subscription service exists alongside the carrier's a la carte pay-per-download service. Customers can upgrade any track from subscription to full-ownership at any time.

++ k.d. lang's first album of new material since "Invincible Summer" in 200l, will be released in North America by Nonesuch Records on Feb. 5, 2008 . "Watershed” will be her first self-produced album ever.

++ Loverboy’s new album “Just Getting Started” will be released in Canada Oct. 23 by RockStar Music Corp., distributed by Koch. The original lineup of Mike Reno (singer), Paul Dean (lead guitar), Matt Frenette (drums), and Doug Johnson (keyboards) has been touring for the two decades performing its ‘80s classics “Turn Me Loose,” “The Kid Is Hot Tonite,” “Working For the Weekend,” and “Hot Girls in Love.” For the past six years, ex-Streetheart bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve has filled in for Scott Smith who was tragically lost at sea in 2000.

++Nine Canadians will be inducted into The Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Nov. 6 at this year’s annual convention in Ottawa. The Hall of Fame recognizes Canadians in private broadcasting or related industries who have achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards.

The inductees are:

* Raynald Brière, RNC MEDIA Inc. (Montreal)
* Bruce Hogle, retired (Edmonton)
* Harvey Glatt, retired (Ottawa)
* Fred Latremouille, Rogers Broadcasting (Vancouver)
* Donald Lawrie, Retired, Brechin (Ontario)
* Robert (Bob) Lockhart, Retired (Fredericton)
* Rai Purdy, posthumously
* Paul Reid, posthumously
* Phyllis Yaffe, Alliance Atlantis (Toronto)

++ Organizers of Mackay Folk Festival Springfest, and the Wintermoon Festival in Australia have banned under 25s from attending. Underage drinking has been an on-going problem. First, organizers implored parents not to dump their kids at the festival gates, and also asked teens to camp with their parents (Please, stop laughing!!).

However, drunken teens at the Mackay Festival blasted music at full volume from the back of campers until local police were called. Now all under-25s are banned unless they get permission from organizers.

++ Songwriters seeking covers should subscribe to SongLink International, published by U.K. music veteran David Stark since 1993. It offers song plugging leads in all genres throughout the UK/Europe, USA/Canada, and Australia. Leads are e-mailed monthly with interim updates. Songlink also publishes a bi-monthly magazine as well as a SongLink CD twice a year.

Contact David Stark at: david@songlink.com or visit: http://www.songlink.com.

Journalist/broadcaster/researcher Larry LeBlanc has been a leading figure in Canadian music for four decades. He has been a regular music commentator on CTV’s “Canada A.M” for 35 years, and has been featured on numerous CBC-TV, CTV, YTV, Bravo! MuchMusic, MusiMax, and Newsworld programs in Canada; VH-1, and EEntertainment in the U.S.; and BBC in the U.K.

Larry was the co-founder of the late Canadian music trade, The Record; and the Canadian bureau chief of Billboard for 16 years.

To be added to his email list, write: LJLE@aol.com.

MAYBE TODAY – LENNY SOLOMON BAND

CD Review by D.M. Wells (copyright 2007)

I had the great pleasure of making the musical acquaintance of Massachusetts-based Lenny Solomon with his “Global Warming Blues” entry on the 2005 Songs for a Better Planet compilation disc, produced by Toronto festival director and musician Brian Gladstone.

Although Mr. Solomon has a penchant for creating solid blues music with a lyrical social conscience, Maybe Today (2007) is a multi-flavoured, 14-song collection encompassing dreamily reflective folk ballads (“Maybe Today” and “Why”), dance-friendly country shuffles (“Spare Change, “Friendly Rock”), upbeat soft-rock melodies and rhythms (“When No One’s On the Run”, “Island of Misplaced Souls”) and fusions with a Dylan-like blues foundation (e.g. “It’s Snowing”). The mellow “Other Side of the Street” has a Tom Petty/Neil Young influence to it, and speaking of the latter, Mr. Young included Lenny’s “Let’s Go to Mars” track from this CD on his Living with War Today “Songs of the Times” website listing. It was #2 on the now-2000-plus songlist in September/07.

The fully competent Lenny Solomon Band is comprised of Lenny on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica, Don Barry on bass and vocals, Dennis Gurgul on drums and Bill Gibbs on lead guitar and vocals. Maria Breen and Leah McKinnon-Howe provide extra vocals on the aforementioned “Let’s Go to Mars”. These players are all experienced veterans who have gained the wisdom of playing music as a team rather than trying to outdo each other with their individual talents. This naturally leads to a thoroughly pleasant listening experience.

There are numerous songs that encourage repeated listens, particularly “The Flood”, a gentle but powerful ballad that features both electric and acoustic guitar-picking. The world-weary "It’s Snowing” and “Maybe Today” (the title track) are also favourites of mine.

Overall, the CD has a country-rock feel to it (with just a slight vocal twang) and an intellectual edge, to boot, so if that’s your musical preference, you’ll love this recording, particularly “Nashville Star” and the closing, live-off-the floor “Players in the Band” (care of bassist Don Barry).

To read about the Lenny Solomon Band's interesting musical background, visit their website at www.solomonband.com.

BECKI SUE & HER BIG ROCKIN' DADDIES! - OCT. 12 and 13/07 GIGS

Hey, Blues Fans!

Becki Sue & her Big Rockin' Daddies! will be at Jazzbones on 6th Avenue in Tacoma's North End this Friday night, October 12th! Come on out for some great blues.....!

On Saturday, October 13, we will be at The Tulalip Casino in Marysville, WA, from 5-8 p.m.

NEWS FLASH: We recently entered the "Blues Artist On The Rise 2008" competition put on by The Blues Festival Guide (thru Sonic Bids).

http://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=11362

They are picking 13 finalist bands, one every other week, over a five-month period, with the first winner two weeks ago being The Tyrone Vaughan Band (Jimmie's son). Becki Sue & her Big Rockin' Daddies! are this week's winners! Stay tuned!

www.bigrockindaddies.com
www.myspace.com/bigrockindaddies
www.myspace.com/tboyneal

GABRIELA MONTERO @ GLENN GOULD STUDIO (TORONTO) - NOV. 16/07

Roy Thomson Hall presents

GABRIELA MONTERO

Friday, November 16 at 8 PM, GLENN GOULD STUDIO

Tickets on sale to FriendsFirst members today (Oct. 11) at 10 AM;
to the Public on Friday, October 12, at 10 AM

Tickets $29.50 / 416-872-4255 or buy online at www.roythomson.com or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Toronto, ON (October 11, 2007)

“I have rarely come across a talent like Gabriela's. She is a unique artist.”- Martha Argerich

Pianist Gabriela Montero is a brilliant force in the music world, combining her considerable gifts in both the classical and improvisation realm. She will perform a selection of her Baroque-inspired improvisations at Glenn Gould Studio on November 16 at 8 PM (please contact Roy Thomson Box Office for tickets and information).

Gabriela Montero’s debut EMI CD, Gabriela Montero, consisted of one recital disc of Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt, and a second disc of her extraordinary improvisations. From Bach and Mozart to Bruckner, improvisation played as essential a part of a musician's life as it does today for Gabriela. It was in this spirit that Gabriela's follow-up CD, Bach and Beyond, consisting of improvisations, was made. Her latest recording, Baroque – released October 9 on EMI CLASSICS - delves into her unique ability at Baroque-inspired improvisations.

Gabriela has appeared with orchestras across the world from South America and the USA, Europe, Japan to the Far East, with engagements including the New York Philharmonic with Lorin Maazel, NDR Hannover and Boston Philharmonic with Benjamin Zander and the Philharmonia Orchestra. She works regularly with Gustavo Dudamel, especially with the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra “Simon Bolivar”, performing all five Beethoven concertos.

In recital Gabriela has appeared at the Wigmore Hall in London, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Orchard Hall in Tokyo, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Herkulessaal in Munich, Musikhalle in Hamburg, and appears this season at the Cologne Philharmonie as part of the Cologne Musiktriennale 2007, the theme being “improvisation”.

Gabriela has appeared at the Roque d'Anthéron, Radio France Montpellier, Schleswig-Holstein, MDR Musiksommer, Penderecki, and Radio Canada Chopin festivals. She has been invited annually to participate in the Progetto Martha Argerich Festival in Lugano, and in Martha Argerich's Buenos Aires Festival.

Gabriela Montero is interested in breaking down any barriers associated with classical music. She is popular with the media, having been profiled on "60 Minutes", and along with her impressive performing credentials, can also be seen playing in clubs, soliciting melodies from the audience to turn into classical improvisations.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Gabriela gave her first public performance at the age of five. At eight she made her concerto debut with the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra “Simon Bolivar”, conducted by Jose Antonio Abreu; she was granted a scholarship from the Venezuelan government to study in the US, and rapidly gained recognition there as well as in Europe and South America. At twelve she won the Baldwin National Competition and AMSA Young Artist International Piano Competition, performing Tchaikovsky’s first Piano Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

A former student of Lyl Tiempo, Andrez Esterhazy and Professor Hamish Milne at the Royal Academy of Music London, Gabriela has won international accolades including the Bronze Medal at the 13th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1995.

GABRIELA MONTERO
Friday, November 16 at 8 PM / GLENN GOULD STUDIO
250 Front Street, Toronto, ON
Tickets $29.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or buy online at www.roythomsom.com
or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office

- 30 -

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Liz Parker, Publicity Manager / Ph: 416 593 4822, Ext. 318 / email: liz.parker@rth-mh.com
THE CORPORATION OF MASSEY HALL AND ROY THOMSON HALL
60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2H5

MARTY MURRAY @ JORDAN HOUSE (JORDAN, ON) - SATURDAY, OCT. 13/07

Hey, everybody.

Just to let you all know, I'll be playing out at the Jordan House in Jordan, ON, this coming Saturday night, starting at 9 pm. It will be my first time there in many years and my first time as a solo act at that establishment.

For more upcoming dates and/or to listen to song clips from my debut CD, Ghosts, click on the link below.

Take care and cheers,

Marty

www.myspace.com/martymurraysingersongwriter

DUKE ROBILLARD BAND @ GEORGE'S ROADHOUSE (SACKVILLE, NB) - OCT. 20

Aliant Mobility Sounds Fantastic and Tantramarsh Blues Society (the other TBS) Present the Legendary DUKE ROBILLARD and his Band at 9 PM, Saturday, October 20th @ George’s Roadhouse in Sackville, NB.

Tickets are $10 in advance (at Ducky’s) and $12 at the door.
Special Student Price (only available at the door, ID required): $6

Here’s a quick quiz: What do Bob Dylan, Jay McShann, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Hammond, the late Jimmy Witherspoon, Dr. John, Maria Muldaur, Roomful of Blues, and the Canadian band, The Rockin’ Highliners, all have in common?

Answer: Duke Robillard

Guitarist. Bandleader. Songwriter. Singer. Producer. Session musician. And one-man cheering section for the blues, in all its forms and permutations. And every one of those names has shared recording studio space or stage time with a man who is a legend in the blues community.

The W.C. Handy Awards have named Robillard "Best Blues Guitarist" two years in a row (2000 and 2001), B.B. King says Duke’s "one of the great players", and the Houston Post called him "one of God’s guitarists." And the New York Times says Robillard is "a soloist of stunning force and originality."

None of that goes to Robillard’s head. He’s still on the road, still playing as many as 250 dates a year. And still proving, night after night, that his true talent is bringing people out to hear the music, appreciate the show, and dance to the blues.

Duke had his first band in high school — he was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island— and he was fascinated from the beginning by the ways in which jazz, swing, and the blues were linked. In 1967, he formed Roomful of Blues, and the band was tight enough and tough enough to accompany two of its heroes, Big Joe Turner and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, on record and in live appearances.

Always ahead of his time, Duke’s first band pre-dated the renewed interest in jump blues by more than a decade — and almost 20 years later, in 1986, when he recorded with jazz sax master Scott Hamilton, he recorded a collection of classic big band tunes from the ’30s and ’40s, thus skillfully pre-dating the neo-Swing craze of the mid ’90s.

Roomful of Blues — which still continues, a quarter of a century later — gave Duke his first exposure to a wide public, and when he left after a dozen years, he played briefly with rockabilly king Robert Gordon, then cut two albums with the Legendary Blues Band (a sterling collection of former members of Muddy Waters’ band). He led his own band until 1990 and replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

In 1993, as he was about to sign a world-wide recording deal withVirgin/Pointblank, he met Holger Petersen, head of the Canadian independent label Stony Plain, at a folk festival in Winnipeg. In conversation, he mentioned he wanted to record a complete album of blues, without the r&b and jazz influences of his work to date. Petersen was interested; Virgin gave the go-ahead, and the resulting album, Duke’s Blues, earned rave reviews. It was so successful, in fact, that Virgin soon licensed the record from Stony Plain and released it around the world (except in Canada, where it continues in the Canadian company’s catalogue). In the years since, his relationship with the Canadian label has been astonishingly fruitful.

As a solo artist, he has released five records with the label — including his latest "all-blues" outing, Living With the Blues, to be released in early 2002. Just as remarkable have been the projects he has produced (and played on) for Stony Plain, including two albums with the late Jimmy Witherspoon, two with Kansas City piano king Jay McShann, comeback CDs for Billy Boy Arnold and Rosco Gordon, a swinging confection with the Canadian band The Rockin’ Highliners, and a superb album of guitar duets with jazz legend Herb Ellis.

As if this growing catalogue was not enough, he has found time to share studio gigs with Bob Dylan (the Daniel Lanois-produced Time Out of Mind sessions), RuthBrown, the late Johnny Adams, John Hammond, Pinetop Perkins, and Ronnie Earl, among many others. He now has his own 24-track studio in his home, and he has become deeply involved in graphic design and photography, as well as record production.

Duke Robillard is a man in command of a full range of creative talents — unique in the blues, and rare in the music industry as a whole. He is, in fact, a complete artist at the height of his power.

Weblinks

Please visit Duke’s website at: www.dukerobillard.com.

Please visit TBS’s website at www.mta.ca/tbs

For reviews of Duke’s music, please visit: www.allmusic.com

Misc.

For our out-of-town friends, you can book your tickets with a Visa card by calling Duckys at 536-1344.

BLUES ORBITERS THIS SATURDAY!

Engel's Pub
Sat., Oct. 13 @ 7:00 PM
113 5th Ave S. in Edmonds, WA

Right in the heart of downtown Edmonds, Engel's is a great local club with a really friendly and fun atmosphere. With an early start time, you don't need to be sleep-deprived to catch a full night of stellar Blues Orbiters blues! It's easy to find--just a half block from the "turn-around" on Fifth Ave. in downtown Edmonds [WA].

We're looking forward to rockin' and swingin' the blues at Engel's! Hope to see you there!


Brian Lee Conrad Ormsby Dan Taylor Roger Smith Ron Baker Blues Orbiters

www.bluesorbiters.com

NIAGARA RHYTHM SECTION'S SATURDAY NIGHT "MUSICAL IMPROV" SERIES

What: Niagara Rhythm Section's Saturday Night "MUSICAL IMPROV" Series

This week's featured guests: SAT. Oct 13th

MARTIN ALEX AUCOIN, PAUL MARTIN & DAVE LEPRICH

Where: The Anchorage, 186 Ricardo St., Niagara-on-the-Lake, 905-468-2141

When: every Saturday night - 10:00 pm - 12:30 am - no cover

This week we welcome back Martin Alex Aucoin and Paul Martin. These guy have serious credentials: "Man, he can outright play" is what you hear about Martin Aucoin. He doesn’t just play, he lets you hear what he’s saying. Martin has played keyboards in numerous bands around Toronto, including Johnny Max, Morgan Davis, and Jack DeKeyzer, before moving to Nashville in 1990. He then toured with BJ Thomas for a year and a half. He also played on recording sessions for George Strait, Garth Brooks, Confederate Railroad, and John Michael Montgomery. He has played live with Larry Carlton, Tony Joe White, Bo Diddley, Ricky Van Shelton, Alan Jackson, Alex Harvey, the Drifters, Mark O'Connor, as well as having a 4 year gig at the Grand Ole Opry with Jimmy C. Newman, the great Cajun singer. Despite all that, he's a real down-to-earth guy and we had a ball last time he was here.

As an added bonus, we've also got Paul Martin, known for his work in The Blushing Brides and The Dylan Tree. He always wows us with his superb guitar playing, great singing and a huge library of classic rock tunes you forgot you ever knew.

Also, sittin' in for me on bass, we've got the amazing Dave Leprich.

_____________________________________

Coming this fall: "Live @ the Ank", a live CD compilation recording of the Niagara Rhythm Section (NRS) and our various guests over the last 3 years.

Other upcoming dates of note:

Friday, Oct 19th - NRS with Cleveland Fats @ the Canal Bank Shuffle, Thorold
8:30 pm start @ the Legion upstairs

Plus more musical improv coming up @ The Anchorage, NOTL

The Niagara Rhythm Section (Goldberger, Grisbrook, Norris, MacKay & Nelson) with special guests:

Oct 20 - Guitars that ate yo' momma with Neil Chapman (amazing rock guitarist/personality)Oct 27 - Ed Kopala (more "Guitars that ate yo' momma")
Nov 3 - Mark Rutherford
Nov 10 - Maria Aurigema (Female Guitars that ate yo' momma)
Nov 17 - Mark Lalama
Nov 24 - Gayle Ackroyd & Ed Kopala
Dec 1 - Bruce Longman (Momma eatin' guitars and great tunes)
Dec 29 - John Mays (of Fathead)
Dec 31 - 2nd annual New Years Eve extravaganza - tickets on sale soon!
Jan 5 - Chuck Jackson

______________________________________________________________

Load up your ipod with our music at: www.stevegoldberger.com/downloads.html

MQM PRESENTS ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN SHOW - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11/07

Metal Queen Management (MQM) presents:

From Other Planes, Fake Reality & A Match for the Curious

http://www.fromotherplanes.com
http://www.fakereality.net
http://www.myspace.com/amatchforthecurious

@

Rock N Roll Heaven
1660 O'Connor Road, Toronto, ON
Eglinton E & Victoria Park

October 11 - Doors at 9 pm

Metal Queen Management
http://www.metalqueenmgmt.ca/

NOTICE TO CANADIAN FEMALE MUSICIANS/FEMALE-FRONTED BANDS

I am producing/hosting a multi-genre radio show called "Iron Maidens", which focuses on music composed and/or performed by females (male sidemen allowed) with the steely determination to compete against their male peers in the music industry. It airs on CKCU 93.1 FM (from Carleton University in Ottawa) on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

I'm getting deluged with CDs from American female musicians andwould love to get my hands on some Canadian material! If you have a CD or .mp3 songs you'd like to get some airplay for, you can mail or transmit them to me at the following:

D.D. Rocker
c/o #2-327 Catherine Street
Ottawa, ON K1R 5T4

Email: ddrocker@yahoo.com

www.geocities.com/irocktheblues
http://rockinthebluesfromcanada.blogspot.com
"Rockin' the Blues from Canada"

"VIMY RIDGE IS CALLING" - THE NEW SINGLE FROM THE SON ROBERTS BAND

The Son Roberts Band is releasing a special single to commemorate Remembrance Day.

The single, “Vimy Ridge is Calling”, draws attention to the loss of life that Canadians sustained during World War One at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Moreover, the song shines light on the broader issue of how wars continue to exact a horrible toll on Canadian men and women to this day.

“The Battle of Vimy Ridge got sold to Canadians as a great nation-defining victory. But for many who studied its aftermath, it was just another waste of lives in pursuit of some other country’s agenda. This Remembrance Day, we should remember how to avoid war and follow our own path in the world”, says band namesake Son Roberts.

To distribute the new single "Vimy Ridge is Calling", The Son Roberts Band is experimenting with different forms of technology and needs your assistance to help determine which format suits your individual needs best. We need your feedback on this matter.

"Vimy Ridge is Calling" can be sent to radio by 1) a downloadable MP3 link, 2) a computer memory stick, or 3) a traditional CD.

Please respond asap and let us know which format you prefer. If you choose memory stick or CD and have changed your mailing address since receiving a copy of the band's debut release, You Don't Know Yet, include your new address.

Media Contact:

Bluestime Productions
416-467-1454
gken@look.ca

www.sonroberts.ca

CARTOON MONSTER CREATES A BRILLIANT LOGO FOR "IRON MAIDENS"!

Visit Harold A. Duckett ("Cartoon Monster") for more artwork, animation and music at:

www.cartoonmonster.tv


"Iron Maidens", hosted by D.D. Rocker, is heard live on CKCU 93.1 FM in Ottawa, ON, every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

www.ckcufm.com

HELP PRESERVE HISTORIC CHURCH FOR SASHA (OF MULTIVITAMINS)

Vote to preserve the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (No. 7) in Chicago, Illinois.

www.partnersinpreservation.com

We are trying to get a renovation grant for the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois, from the MasterCard company and for that we need your vote. All you need to do is to go to website above, quickly register and cast your vote. That's it.

Nobody pays me to do this; I just want this beautiful building to be preserved for my kids and their kids, and for all people.

Remember, you can vote EVERY DAY. This will increase the chance of winning. The contest ends October 10, 2007.

Thank you very much. God bless you.

Alex (Sasha) Zvodinsky

(of Multivitamins)

"YOURS TO REMEMBER" - THE BRONSON BENEFIT - OCT. 11/07 (OTTAWA, ON)

www.bronsoncentre.ca

"MAKING NECROPHILIAC" - A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY - OCT. 10-12 - OTTAWA

BY MAUREEN CHAUME AND GUY DEL VILLANO

MAKING NECROPHILIAC

A ragtag group of players puts on an avant-garde show tune, called "Necrophiliac". With eight original tunes by Ottawa entertainer Guy Del Villano, lyrics by Maureen Chaume, and a story to die for, Making Necrophiliac is an evening of music, laughter, tears ... and a few wicked chuckles.

OCTOBER 10, 11 and 12

318 Lisgar St., at Bank Street (upstairs)

Doors open 7:30; show at 8!

TICKETS: $20 at the door or in advance.

info: 613-234-2949; email: makingnecro@yahoo.ca

WebPage:

http://web.ncf.ca/fm557

http://www.myspace.com/makingnecro

THE FUNKTION - GREENFIELD'S PUB (OTTAWA) - OCT. 20/07

THE ABOVE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT TUCSON'S - SEPT. 23/07

BY D.M. WELLS

The FunKtion will be at Greenfield's Pub http://www.greenfieldspub.ca/ (900 Greenbank Road @ Larkin Drive, Ottawa, ON - 613-823-9900) on Saturday, Oct. 20. If you haven't been to Greenfield's recently, things have certainly changed! Big state of the art PA and lighting system! Big dance floor (yup, you will be dancing!) and lots of great eats and cold drinks! Greenfield's has recently changed management.

If you haven't seen The FunKtion yet, please come and join us, as we have lots of celebrating to do!

Admission: $8 9:00pm.

Trivia Time again!

The first two people who can send me an email, with the correct answers to the questions below, will be added, with a guest, to our VIP list!

So, two winners - four people in total...

Ok..

1) Stevie Wonder penned a number one hit for Smokey Robinson & The Mircales. Name that tune! (I've seeen lots of people dancing to it at our shows!)

2) Which Sam & Dave song was voted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, which was established to honor truly timeless recordings? This song was also named, in 2007, as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll" by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

HINT.. we don't cover this song..

2a) Which Sam & Dave song does The Funktion cover?

An album by the same name, it reached the #1 position during its 19 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts in 1966 and was an RIAA certified Gold album.

Good Luck! I'm looking forward to including 4 people on our VIP List!

Don't forget, you can hire The FunKtion for corporate events too!

We will be hosting the New Year's Eve Party at Tucson's (Bank & Hunt Club) in Ottawa.
http://www.tucsonsblues.com/

WOO - HOO! The joint will be bumpin' Baby!

If you can't make it out to the show on Oct. 20 but know someone who may be looking for a great evening out, please forward on.

Thank you for your continued support!

http://www.thefunktion.ca/

Click here to view (sort of) a video of Funktion performing at Tucson's in Sept./07:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-7438402551734428499

WASHINGTON BLUES SOCIETY - BLUES BASH/MARK WHITMAN FUNDRAISER

This is a reminder that we have a Washington Blues Society (WBS) Blues Bash on Tuesday, October 9, at 7 pm, at the Hwy 99 Blues Club in Seattle.

Highwayninetynine.com.

This month we have Nick Vigarino as our acoustic set and The Mary McPage Band as the electric set. So come out for an early evening of great music and help support our local bands. This is free and is for members and non-members of the Washington Blues Society.

Also – in case you haven’t heard, Mark Whitman is ill and has been hospitalized. The first in a series of fundraisers, to help with medical expenses, was held on Sunday, October 7, at the Hwy 99 Blues Club at 6 pm. Slated to appear were the Sammy Eubanks band, Tom Erak, Scotty Harris, Lissa Ramaglia, Justin Kausal-Hayes, and many more. It’s $5.00, or more, if you want to give more. Or you can always give money to the Musician’s Relief Fund and say that you want it to go to Mark.

The address for the WBS is PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127.

Joy Kelly
(Membership)

www.wablues.org

THE LEBLANC NEWSLETTER - ISSUE #5 (OCT 5, 2007)

By Larry Leblanc

In this issue:

* The Autumn of Joni
* Dear CRIA
* Loreena’s Court Victory
* Long John Baldry--A Good Read
* The Three Grumpy Old Men Tour
* Gary Slaight Honoured
* EMI Sleeps Around

THE FIRST LADY OF STARBUCKS

So Joni Mitchell isn’t retiring after all. In 2002, after issuing the two-CD Travelogue that revisited her catalog with orchestral backing, Joni had announced she'd had enough of "the corrupt cesspool, the pornographic pigs of the recording industry” and that she would record no more. Skeptics will note that Mitchell, 63, first spoke of retirement in 1970 during a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The Lady of the Canyon and writer of the ‘60s-defining "Woodstock” recently signed a two-album deal with the fledgling Hear Music label, operated by Starbucks Coffee Co., and the Concord Music Group. In its first week, Shine, her first collection of new material since Taming The Tiger in 1998, sold more than 40,000 units. It debuted at #14 on the Billboard Top 200, her highest debut ever. In Canada, it debuted at #13 and sold 4,872 units.

In a statement, Mitchell described her 10-song album as "as serious a work as I’ve ever done.” As she told The Word magazine in April, "I'm not interested in escapist entertainment when the planet is at red alert. We're busy wasting our time on this fairy-tale war when nobody's fighting for God's creation. I realized I wasn't ready for retirement."

Shine is one of several projects keeping Mitchell busy. “The Fiddle and the Drum,” a ballet based on her music of which she is the co-creator/artistic director, premiered in February with the Alberta Ballet in Calgary. A film of the ballet, produced by Joe Media Group in association with Bravo! and filmed at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary, debuted at the Sunshine Theatre in New York on Sept. 25. It will premiere in Canada on Oct. 22 on Bravo! As well, a mixed-media art exhibition of Mitchell’s work entitled "Green Flag Song" opened at the Openhouse space in New York on Sept. 25. The exhibit ends on October 6.

Finally, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock has released River: The Joni Letters on Verve Records. This, the second Mitchell CD tribute of the year, features performances of her songs by Mitchell as well as by Leonard Cohen, Tina Turner, and Norah Jones. That Mitchell made a deal with the Starbucks-affiliated label shouldn't come as a surprise. In 2005, Mitchell allowed Starbucks to issue a compilation of her music, chosen by Bob Dylan, Prince, and Elvis Costello. As well, she assembled a 18-song compilation of her favourite music – tracks by Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Leonard Cohen and the New Radicals — for exclusive release via Starbucks outlets. Hear Music launched in June with the release of Sir Paul McCartney's 21st solo album, Memory Almost Full, ending his near 45-year association with Capitol/EMI.

Starbucks plans to sign 9 more established artists by the end of 2008. Its next release is James Taylor’s live CD/DVD set, One Man Band, in November. Under the joint venture, Starbucks handles artist signings while Concord handles marketing, and promotion. Hear Music is distributed worldwide by Universal Music Group and is available at traditional music retail, Starbucks stores and online simultaneously.

Hear Music can expand its artist portfolio because major labels aren’t dangling big advances in front acts like McCartney or Mitchell any more and aren’t likely to even service their music on a priority basis. The trimming of their rosters in recent years has led to a wave of veteran artists being made available to independent labels and distributors for direct signing, licensing or distribution deals. Hear Music is the latest to take advantage.

Despite Mitchell’s stature, Shine isn’t going to be a mega-seller. Consider that her previous album, Travelogue, in 2002 has sold only 72,000 copies in the U.S. and 9,000 copies in Canada. Her sales base—even with the Starbucks hookup—is quite small. Even with substantial media coverage, McCartney's album has only sold 500,000 units in the U.S. and 31,000 units in Canada to date, according to Nielsen Soundscan. Three weeks ago, with only 200 copies sold, it slipped off Canada’s album chart. However, McCartney and Mitchell provide Starbucks with significant media and favourable retail positioning at a time when the coffee chain is undergoing a slowdown--a 32% drop in its share price over the past year due to stiffer competition from McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts--while providing its customers with quality music by artists they have grown up with.

Caffeine-crazed consumers have made Starbucks a modern day success story after Howard Schultz founded the company over two decades ago. Starbucks has gone from 165 stores in 1992 to 12,000 locations worldwide. In its most recent fiscal year, its revenue totaled $7.8 billion. Its long-range goal is to have 40,000 stores worldwide. Starbucks opened its first Canadian store in Vancouver in 1987. Today, there are 680 stores in Canada. While its music initiatives seem to appeal to the fast-lane set who define their very existence by the green logo on their cardboard cup, Starbucks-- selling an estimated 3.6 million albums in North America in 2006-- is offering a convenience model in music to people taking a moment out in their lives to have a cup of coffee. Unlike other merchants that carry music as a smaller component of their overall business, Starbucks does not use music as a loss leader. If its 44 million customers weekly want to pick up CDs by such veteran acts as Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Carole King, Dave Matthews, Etta James, Sly & the Family Stone or by such newcomers acts as Low Stars, and Antigone Rising, they can pick it up there. No matter the CDs cost more--$2-$6 in Canada on titles widely available elsewhere to $22.95 for Starbucks’ in-house titles.

Starbucks' beginnings in music began in 1995 when its Seattle store managers made compilations for customers. In the next three years, the chain released 36 titles. In 1998, Starbucks showcased the artists performing at the Lilith Fair festival. A compilation, featuring such Lilith acts as Sarah McLachlan, Liz Phair, and Lucinda Williams was sold at tour stops and select Starbuck locations. In 1998, Starbucks became a significant music retailer with the acquisition of San Francisco-based five-store Hear Music chain, acquired for $10 million. It led to a significant expansion of its music operations. It was, however, its 2004 alliance with Concord Records on Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company that catapulted it into the ranks of major music industry players.

This week Starbucks and Apple rolled out a new iTunes service in New York and Seattle that lets customers buy and download music. The service will be rolled out in San Francisco in November followed by Los Angeles in February and Chicago in March. Starbucks plans to have the service operating in 25% of its U.S. stores by the end of 2008 and in all U.S. stores by the end of 2009. Canadian and international rollouts will follow. From Oct. 2 to Nov. 7, Starbucks is giving away 50 million free digital songs to its U.S. customers to promote the iTunes service. Some 10,000 of its U.S. stores are handing out an estimated 1.5 million "Song of the Day" cards per day. Thirty-seven artists are featured in this campaign, including Bob Dylan, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Annie Lennox, and Band of Horses. Meanwhile, Starbucks has dropped plans to roll out CD-burning kiosks beyond its Hear Music Coffeehouse outlets in Miami, San Antonio, Santa Monica, and Bellevue, Washington that each carry about 5,000 music titles.

DEMONOID AFTERMATH: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CRIA

In the aftermath of the recent decision of the popular Dutch-based BitTorrent tracker Demonoid not to service Canadian-based users because of “a threatening letter” from a lawyer at the Canadian Recording Industry Assn., “a former music buyer” has posted an open letter to CRIA summarizing what’s wrong with the music industry and how it alienates its customers.

As well, the letter is pertinent with the US record industry winning a key victory in court this week after a Minnesota single mother, Jammie Thomas, 30, was found guilty of copyright infringement and ordered to pay $220,000 to six music labels. This is an important test case because it is the first time that a consumer has elected to forgo settlement and argue the case before a jury. Thomas was accused of the illegal sharing of more than 1,700 songs on peer-to-peer network Kazaa. The charge was later cut to 24 songs. This is written by a heavy metal fan, but many people will identify with his frustrations with the music industry:

To Whom It May Concern at the CRIA:

I have been an avid music collector for many years and have approximately 1000 CD’s in my collection, not counting albums that I have purchased over the internet and own only digital copies of. I purchase approximately 30-40 new CDs per year. However, thanks to your recent decision to block Canadian users from accessing Demonoid, I have decided that I cannot continue to support this backwards, dysfunctional industry with my money any longer, and as such, I do not plan on purchasing music ever again if it means that one penny goes to your organization.

I listen to heavy metal music, a form of music that “the industry” stopped supporting many years ago, so I have a hard time feeling any sympathy. Sites such as Demonoid have done far more to promote the music I love than your organization or the industry in general has ever done. I can find out about new artists and new releases from artists that are never promoted. I can listen to music from artists that have never been played on the radio, will never be shown on MuchMusic or MTV, and never have a review or even mention of their new album written about in the local newspaper. From listening to this music, I can make an informed decision if I wish to purchase the album or not, as I am not going to gamble $15-20 on something that I haven’t heard anything off of before. 25 years ago, I primarily learned about music from friends who dubbed a copy onto a cassette tape, where I could listen to it and make a decision if I wanted to buy the tape for myself. Now, many years removed from school, my “gang” of friends to share music with has shifted from cassette tapes and the school cafeteria to sharing mp3’s online. I listen to some things that I don’t like, and consequently, I don’t buy those albums. What I do like, I buy, or at least I used to, before your decision intended to stop me from hearing new music.

The industry cries that record sales are down, and blames this all on internet downloading. I won’t be so naïve as to say that internet downloading has no impact on the sales. Down-loading has certainly stopped me from making the stupid purchases where I heard one single that I liked and bought an entire album only to find out that the rest of the songs are crap and the CD sits collecting dust on my shelf. But for every CD that I didn’t buy based on those premises, there are 2 or 3 other CDs that I did buy because I heard of them for the first time on a site like Demonoid.

In the meantime, the music industry itself needs to recognize that they are to blame for sagging record sales. For years, they have been marketing recycled crap, and people are getting tired of it. On the odd occasion that something fresh and new accidentally slips through and gets radio play, the music industry immediately signs a seemingly infinite number of clone bands that makes the “new, fresh” sound boring almost instantly.

It seems the music industry doesn’t even care about making or promoting good music any more. Instead, they market a young, pretty face that can dance provocatively and lip-synch well, and push this on the radio stations to play while getting the tabloids to print large pictures of their breasts. If bands like AC/DC or Motorhead were to emerge today, they would never be successful; not because of poor record sales due to downloading, but due to the fact that they’re ugly, so the record company wouldn’t promote them, if they picked them up at all. In the meantime, they’re falling all over themselves to promote Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, or any teenage tramp that can be airbrushed to look sexy. The record labels cry about downloading cutting into the profits of the sales of albums. They put out “greatest hits” albums by 20-year olds with 2 or 3 albums under their belts, released with one new track to try and sucker the fans that already have both albums into spending another $20 for one new song, or re-releasing a 3-month old album with a “previously unreleased bonus track”. Then they can’t understand why people aren’t buying them, and cry foul that people are downloading the one new song instead.

I know not only the record companies are crying. Artists that have been around long enough to have enough clout to get a cut of the record sales are concerned about their cut, like Metallica, that also clamor that “downloading is evil” and then go on to sell over 9 million copies of their last album instead of 9.1 million. Boo hoo. Meanwhile, many younger, smaller artists favor downloading, because they know it’s the only way that people will get to hear the music and in turn come out to see their shows, because the record label sure as hell isn’t promoting them. But they can’t say that out loud, can they? If they do, guess which band is going to get dropped by the label? So tell me, what does the CRIA do to promote metal? Oh, right, you’ve got a link to the top 50 “metal” albums in Canada, which after a quick glance at the top ten this week includes punk acts like Dropkick Murphys, Finger Eleven, and Billy Talent, and rock acts like Nickelback and Queen, but very little that resembles heavy metal. (Perhaps you should ask the Celtic punk band, Dropkick Murphys, what they think of being labeled as “metal”.)

And also tell me, without Demonoid, where would I have found out about bands like Evile or Dublin Death Patrol and made a decision to purchase their album online (because no record store that I have found in Canada carries either one). And god forbid the CRIA would care about the promotion of Canadian talent, such as longtime recording artist Annihilator, which released one of the better albums of 2007. However, I have yet to see their new album sold in any store in Canada, including HMV’s flagship store on Yonge Street in Toronto, and I ultimately had to buy a copy from a UK website. Considering the only place I had heard about this album was having downloaded it from Demonoid, do you really expect anyone to make this kind of effort to buy an album without ever having heard it?

The record labels and CRIA have gone to great lengths to tell us that downloading and sharing music is killing the music industry. Open your eyes and you will see that the music industry dinosaur has already been killing itself for years, and by resisting technology rather than embracing it and using it to their advantage. “Oh, but they have”, you try to insist, pointing to the sites devoted to selling music in mp3 format online. I notice that most of the metal bands I am interested in are still not available through these services. I also notice that buying an entire album ends up costing as much, if not more, than if I went to buy it in the store, even though there are no longer costs of materials or shipping that have to be paid for, and once again, I fail to come up with any sympathy for the music industry. I hope the music industry does die, because I know that music itself will not die, so, with the corrupt aspects of the industry gone, only then might music once again flourish.

Sincerely,

“A former music buyer”

"CH-CH-CH-CHANGES" AT CTV/CHUM

Following CTV Globemedia takeover of CHUM being greenlighted in Ottawa, and following a number of senior executives at both CTV and CHUM leaving, a corporate reorganization was announced this week. Susan Boyce is president of CTV Globemedia’s array of conventional, specialty and digital platforms, charged with programming and scheduling. Ed Robinson is now executive VP of programming at CTV. Also at CTV, Scott Henderson is now VP of program communications; while Mike Cosentino has become senior VP of program scheduling. In a move that raised some music industry eyebrows, MTV's Brad Schwartz, senior VP and GM of youth and music now oversee MuchMusic, MuchMoreMusic, MuchVibe, MuchLoud, MuchMoreRetro, PunchMuch and Razer. David Kines now reports to Schwartz as senior VP of youth and music. Finally, Jordan Schwartz, senior VP/GM of CTV's entertainment group has added Star!, the FashionTelevision Channel and SexTV, to his portfolio responsibilities that also includes “eTalk”.

LOREENA COURT VICTORY

Britain’s High Court sided today (Oct. 5) with Canadian singer Loreena McKennitt over her privacy action against former employee Niema Ash, who had signed a confidentiality agreement agreeing not to publish a book on McKennitt. This follows a judgment by Justice Eady in the Court of Appeal in 2005, which found that McKennitt's privacy had been intruded upon and that the duty of confidence owed to her by Ash had been violated. Ash had self-published a book, Travels with Loreena McKennitt, about McKennitt in 2005. After a 10-day High Court trial in late 2005, certain passages of the book were restrained by order of Justice Eady. A settlement was announced on Oct. 4th, 2007, in the High Court before Justice Eady. A statement read in Open Court made it clear that Ash undertook to the Court not to publish a new version of the book or any other information about McKennitt. Ash also agreed to make a payment of costs. However, Ash later published a second edition of the book. McKennitt took the view that, even in its amended form, the book still intruded on her right to privacy and that it fell foul of the injunction granted by the Court at the end of 2005. She started a second set of proceedings. Ash has now agreed that she will not publish Travels with Loreena McKennitt any further, nor publish or disclose any other information about McKennitt. She has also agreed to make a contribution in payment of court costs.

“At the end of this long process, privacy law has been developed and built upon”, says McKennitt.

IT’S NOT LARGE; IT’S LONG

Canadian author Paul Myers’ new book, It Ain't Easy: Long John Baldry and the Birth of the British Blues (Greystone), is a terrific overview of the career of the influential British blues performer. Myers, who lives in Berkeley, California, did two years of research into Baldry’s life. He secured interviews with family members, including Baldry’s 27-year partner, Felix "Oz" Rexach, his siblings, Margaret and Roger, and such artists as Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Mick Fleetwood and Rod Stewart.

I owe much to Baldry-- nicknamed "Long John" because of his six-foot-seven height -- who died in Vancouver General Hospital after fighting a chest infection. It was through John I met my wife, Anya Wilson. He coaxed her to leave Britain and come to Canada to work with him. In the U.K., Anya had worked as a radio plugger on behalf of John—promoting his "Let The Heartaches Begin” to # 1 in 1967—as well as working with T. Rex, David Bowie, and Paul McCartney. Her former fiancée, Pye Records’ producer/songwriter Tony McCauley, wrote “Let The Heartaches Begin” and, incidentally, co-wrote the Foundation’s #1 hit, “Baby Now That I’ve Found You” about Anya.

One of the founding fathers of British Rock, Baldry grew up being fascinated with American blues legends like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. He performed with such influential bands as Blues Incorporated and Cyril Davies' R&B All Stars in the 60s. He also fronted the Hoochie Coochie Men, which included Rod Stewart, who later joined John in Steampacket, which also featured keyboardist Brian Auger and singer Julie Driscoll. After a brief period with Bluesology (with Reg Dwight (aka Elton) on keyboards), Baldry became a solo act. In the book, Stewart states he wouldn't be where he is today if Baldry hadn't spotted him singing at a railway station and asked him to join the Hoochie Coochie Men.

Elton John partially lifted Long John's name for his own stage name. Baldry also talked him out of getting married at one point. The experience inspired “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” Stewart and John teamed up to produce Baldry’s best albums, 1971’s It Ain’t Easy, that featured "Don't Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock n' Roll” as well as its 1972 follow-up, Everything Stops For Tea, both for Warner Bros.

Living in Canada for over 20 years, Baldry recorded for Capitol Records-EMI and Stony Plain Records. He did voiceovers and received a Grammy nomination for narrating a Walt Disney Music recording of The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

THE THREE GRUMPY OLD MEN TOUR

Seventy music fans will travel from Toronto to Vancouver for three days (Nov. 10-13) by VIA RAIL train while being serenaded by cowboy balladeers Ian Tyson, Tom Russell and Ramblin' Jack Elliott (joining in Winnipeg) in a private section of a 1950's stainless steel train. Sleeper accommodations and meals are provided. The cost per person is $2,689.00. Russell will appear at an informal kick-off party at Hugh’s Room in Toronto on Nov. 9. A press release on www.rootsontherails.com states: “If you play music, write songs or just love listening: join Ian, Tom and the whole Roots on the Rails crew and an amazing cast of characters for an unforgettable trip on one of the great railway journeys in the world.”

Russell, a veteran of such train ventures, will fare well; Ramblin’ Jack will keep the stories flowing, but septuagenarian Tyson confined in a small space for three days with possibly over-refreshed fans? I know country radio station PDs still talking about hi fan meets in past years.

QUICK TAKES MOVERS AND SHAKERS

++ Neville Quinlan has been appointed managing dir. of Peermusic Canada. He had been GM since 2005.

++ Allan Reid becomes the GM of Maple Music Recordings, effective Oct. 15th. He is currently senior VP of A&R at Universal Music Canada

++ Shawn Marino has been appointed dir. of A&R / Content at Universal Music Canada. He had been the International Manager. Further additions to the A&R department are planned.

++ Folk Alliance has opened an office in Ottawa at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals offices. Erin Barnhardt is the new coordinator.

++Michael Murray is the new Popular and World Music Officer at the Ontario Arts Council.

++ Stephen McGrath now heads media and artist relations at Arts & Crafts.

++ Nettwerk CEO Terry McBride and Insight Production Company CEO/president John Brunton are the newest inductees to the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. They will be awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award at a gala March 6 in Toronto.

++ Gary Slaight, president/CEO of Standard Broadcasting, is the recipient of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ 2007 Gold Ribbon Award for Broadcast Excellence. He will be awarded the honour Nov. 5 in Ottawa.

++ Shaye manager Sheri Jones takes issue with a recent profile of the vocal act in the Toronto Star. She points out that the group’s namesake, Shaye Martirano, did not die of cancer as was written. She died in a car accident in 2002. Jones claims that EMI Music Canada has not dropped the act nor have they “thrown in the towel” despite Tara MacLean’s departure. If you are counting, MacLean is now expecting her third child.

++ Chantal Kreviazuk is in Ethiopia to help raise awareness about the African AIDS crisis. This is not Kreviazuk’s first overseas trip with War Child Canada. She visited Iraq in 2001 to film the charity’s award winning documentary, “Musicians In the War Zone.”

++ Record collectors should be aware that the Canada Revenue Agency has won a federal court order requiring eBay Canada to turn over the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of all high-volume sellers on its website. It wants to find out whether those individuals or companies are reporting the income they make from online sales.

++ EMI Music and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts have joined forces in a multi-phase music program to provide guests in North America with music and entry to exclusive live events and concerts. This will later expand to other countries. Through Fairmont President’s Club, members will have the ability to access EMI artist’s music exclusively via CD or digital downloads. As well, Fairmont Fit will supply participating guests with pre-loaded digital music players featuring tracks by EMI artists to sweat to.

++ Universal Music Canada has signed a partnership deal with Montréal-based singer Gregory Charles. His debut for the company will be a French-language album, Loin, being released Oct. 23. It features a duet with French star Chimène Badi.

Journalist/broadcaster/researcher Larry LeBlanc has been a leading figure in Canadian music for four decades. He has been a regular music commentator on CTV’s “Canada A.M.” for 35 years, and has been featured on numerous CBC-TV, CTV, YTV, Bravo! MuchMusic, MusiMax, and Newsworld programs in Canada; VH-1, and EEntertainment in the U.S.; and BBC in the U.K. Larry was the co-founder of the late Canadian music trade, The Record; and the Canadian bureau chief of Billboard for 16 years.

To be added to his email list, write: LJLE@aol.com.

JAMES COTTON BAND @ HEALEY'S ROADHOUSE (TORONTO, ON) - OCT. 12/07

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Oct. 5/o07)

For an incredible 63 years, legendary harmonica player JAMES "SUPERHARP" COTTON has toured all over the world, recorded 21 albums with some of the most famous blues players who ever lived, and been nominated for 5 Grammy Awards, winning one for the Muddy Waters album, Hard Again, in 1977.

COTTON, as he's been known since he was a child, grew up in Mississippi working the cotton fields he was nicknamed after, but spent his evenings listening to Sonny Boy Willamson's radio show. He would emulate Williamson's sounds on his own 15-cent harmonica that was given to him as a youngster. COTTON's uncle took him to meet Williamson at the radio station when he was only 9 years old, and Sonny Boy was so impressed with COTTON's playing, that he started to bring COTTON to shows with him as an opening act, letting him play outside on the steps to the crowds coming in, because he was too young to be allowed into the juke joints.

COTTON went on to busk on Beale Street in Memphis, then met Howlin' Wolf and played with him all over the south. By the age of 15, he had his own radio show in West Memphis and was discovered by Muddy Waters at a concert one night. He ended up touring in Waters' band for 12 years, then put together his own band and has never looked back.

COTTON has played with or opened for The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Steve Miller, Freddie King and B.B. King, among many others.

In Canada for only two shows, THE JAMES COTTON BAND comes to Healey's Roadhouse in Toronto before embarking on a month-long west-coast American tour. Still playing regularly, COTTON is a piece of American blues history and a living legend.

THE JAMES COTTON BAND plays Friday, October 12, 2007, at Healey's Roadhouse, 56 Blue Jays Way. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance at http://www.ticketbreak.com/ or $25 at the door.

Visit his website at http://www.jamescottonsuperharp.com/.

T request a photo or an interview, please contact:

Karen Pace
Pacemaker Productions

416-918-6525
karen@gokarenpace.com

EXCERPTS FROM ALABAMA BLUES PROJECT NEWSLETTER - SEPT. 29/07

September 4 – October 12

Willie King Partners with the Alabama Blues Project,
Bringing the Blues to Aliceville Middle School

The Alabama Blues Project (ABP) is partnering with internationally renowned bluesman Willie King to present a six-week long "Blues in the Schools" Artist Residency at Aliceville Middle School in Pickens County, Alabama. Pickens County native Willie King has twice won the Living Blues Magazine “Blues Artist of the Year” award and is the recipient of an Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) Fellowship award. The unique residency is made possible by the Black Belt Arts Initiative, a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts that targets underserved schools in the Black Belt Region of the state. Aliceville Middle School, like so many of the Black Belt schools, currently has no art or music instruction as part of its regular curriculum. The residency will end with a final performance at the school at 8 am, on Friday October 12. This performance is open to the public and will feature Willie King, Caroline Shines, Debbie Bond and the students of Aliceville Middle School.

Click here to read more!

October 3-6

Blues Singer Martha Redbone performs at the Moundville Native American Festival, in Moundville, Alabama

The Moundville Native American Festival takes place at The University of Alabama's Moundville Archaeological Park and celebrates the heritage and culture of Southeastern Indians. For the returning Native Americans whose ancestors were forcibly removed from their region to Oklahoma in the 1800s, the festival, with over 20 ancient earthen mounds serving as a backdrop, is a true homecoming in both a physical and spiritual sense. Take for example, award-winning blues artist Martha Redbone. From her mother's side, Martha received her Choctaw/Shawnee/Cherokee heritage. Her father is an African American with Native ancestry and her grandfather actually once lived in the town of Moundville. And yet, through all her travels, she has never "returned home" to Moundville or seen the mounds, a legacy left by her ancestors.

Martha Redbone, who has played with such greats as Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton and Floyd Westerman, is performing on the festival's Native American Stage on Saturday, October 6, prior to the homecoming football game at UA that same day. Billboard magazine says she's "Stunning - the kind of artist who sets trends." Her debut album, Home of the Brave, won "Best Debut" at the prestigious Native American Music Awards. Martha is committed to bridging cultural and ethnic gaps. You can hear it in her music. She even took her name from her heritage.

"Redbone is a southern term for being black and Indian", Martha explains. "I grew up being teased about it." Now she tours the country blending the sounds from her background into a musical fusion. Her latest album, Skintalk, has been described by Performing Songwriter magazine as, "part Neville Brothers, part Aretha Franklin, part tribal powwow." For more information, call (205) 371-8732 or email bgilbert@bama.ua.edu.

http://www.alabamablues.org/

JOHNNY MAX @ NRS SAT. NIGHT "MUSICAL IMPROV" SERIES - OCT. 6

Niagara Rhythm Section's Saturday Night "MUSICAL IMPROV" Series

This week's featured guest: SAT. Oct 6th , JOHNNY MAX

Where: The Anchorage, 186 Ricardo St. Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL), ON, 905-468-2141

When: every Saturday night 10:00 pm - 12:30 am - no cover

This Saturday we welcome back, by popular demand, the legendary Johnny Max. If you've never seen Johnny, you must come down and check him out. Johnny is a soulful singer whose respect and passion for all types of music is evident. He is also a brilliant entertainer who has audiences thoroughly enjoying each show. Johnny Max has built up a solid reputation as one of those guys who gives 110% and is one of the most action-packed and satisfying entertainers around. Johnny takes to performing like a fish to water, a perpetual motion machine, galvanizing his spicy blend of Stax/Volt, Atlantic, Funk, and Blues into frenzied heights, often propelling himself into the audience’s eager arms. Not only is he a great singer and story teller, he's hilarious! He calls us the "Stevie MacGee Gees + Dave" (as in Grisbrook, Goldberger, MacKay and Dave). For more info on Johnny:


www.johnnymaxband.com

Coming this fall: "Live @ the Ank", a live CD compilation recording of the NRS and our various guests over the last 3 years.

Other upcoming dates of note:

Friday, Oct 19th - NRS with Cleveland Fats @ the Canal Bank Shuffle, Thorold, ON

Plus more musical improv coming up @ The Anchorage, NOTL

The Niagara Rhythm Section (Goldberger, Grisbrook, Norris, MacKay & Nelson) with special guests:

Oct 13 - Martin Alex Aucoin, Paul Martin & Dave Leprich
Oct 20 - Guitars that ate yo' momma with Neil Chapman (amazing rock guitarist/ personality)
Oct 27 - Ed Kopala (more "Guitars that ate yo' momma")
Nov 3 - Mark Rutherford (delightful keyboard player)
Nov 10 - Maria Aurigema (Female Guitars that ate yo' momma)
Nov 17 - Mark Lalama
Nov 24 - Gayle Ackroyd & Ed Kopala
Dec 1 - Bruce Longman (Momma eatin' guitars and great tunes)
Dec 29 - John Mays
Dec 31 - 2nd annual New Years Eve extravaganza
Jan 5 - Chuck Jackson


Load up your ipod with our music at: www.stevegoldberger.com/downloads.html

FRANKYE KELLY @ BAY AREA CHRISTIAN CONNECTION - OCT. 5/07

I would love the pleasure of your company at my concert this Friday, October 5, 2007, right here in Oakland [CA]. The concert series began August 24,2007 with the very talented Khalil Shaheed and his group. It will conclude on November 16, 2007. I have the honor of being the only female performer.

The location is the Bay Area Christian Connection
810 Clay Street, corner of 8th and Clay
Oakland, CA 94607
There are lots of restaurants and plenty of parking in the area.

The name of the concert series is entitled "Bless The Kats". Performing with me will be:

On piano - Glen Person
On Bass - Mike Bacile
On Drums - Marlon Green
On Woodwinds - Charles McNeal

I am also very honored to have the wonderful multi artist Avotcja as my special guest.

The concert begins at 8:10 PM and ends at 10:45 PM with a 20 minute break. I will be singing jazz and blues with some surprises. The tickets are $10.00 at the door. If you want to reserve a seat(s) or need more information, please call (510) 275-9178.

Please listen to KPFA 94.1 FM at 10 AM on Wednesday morning and to KPOO 89.5 FM on Friday at 1 PM for more details on the concert.

I hope to see you there. Please go to my website www.frankyekelly.com for more information on upcoming concerts.

Peace and Love,


Frankye

URBAN TALES - DIARY OF A NO

PRESS RELEASE

HI THERE:

A few months passed until Urban Tales and their label gathered the decision for a final date to release the so long-awaited album, Diary of a No. So, the official date for the release of the album is:

15 of October for Portugal

22 of October for the Rest of the World

This album is quoted by the members of the band as "a risky work covered of sad songs and many melancholic environments... We hope that Urban Tales' (UT) message fits in with everyone who will listen to this first work".

Named as Diary of a No, we think that this can be the first step for a major career of this young band that, since the beginning, has always tried to show quality and responsibility in every one of its performances.

Produced by Bruno Fingers, Ricardo Espinha e Marcos César, this album will include several guests: Melo D, Johnny Icon (Icon and the Black Roses), André Brito (Spinous), Tiago Hollow (witchbreed), Jon Van Dave (Shadowsphere), Luís (Enchantya), Marina Cldas (journalist of RTP2 and RTPN), Claúdia Dias, among many others.

This Portuguese band now joins its strengths to the worldwide label, Burning Star Records (with distribution in all the world: USA, Turkey, France, Japan, UK, etc., etc), while in Portugal the album will be delivered by three different labels : Zona Musica (one of the biggest mainstream labels in Portugal, Recital Records (the biggest metal label in Portugal) and for the Azores Island PJ's Management.

Diary of a No's first luxury edition will have 1 CD and a DVD (containing a documentary, 2 clips, more than 300 photos and lots of comic things). The second and normal edition also will count with a great surprise for all UT fans and friends.

Stay tuned with this band named as "the revelation band of 2006" already with airplay in national and international radio, TV, and embraced by all Media. Urban Tales have many surprises for you.

http://www.theurbantales.com/

http://www.burning-star.net/

http://www.zonamusica.pt/

www.myspace.com/recitalrecords

www.myspace.com/urbantales

www.youtube.com/urbantales

Urban Tales

TOUR:

15 September Live @ Midas Rock Fest (PT)

22 September Live @ Transylvania Bar (IT)

2 November Sporting The Old Dead Tree(FR)

Live @ Blá Blá Club (PT)

3November Sporting The Old Dead Tree(FR)

Live @ Music Box Club (PT)

30 November Live @ Milan (TBA) (IT)

1 December Live @ Lisbon (TBA) (PT)

January Gig Live @ Spain (TBA)***Urban Tales First Album coming soon 15 October.***

Feel Free to add any date.

Add Urban Tales for support acts too.

DOFASCO HAMILTON MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTS DANIEL LANOIS

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Jean-Paul Gauthier (905) 383-4005

Dofasco Hamilton Music Awards

Presents

DANIEL LANOIS

with

BRIAN BLADE

Live in Concert

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Hamilton Place Theatre

Doors at 8PM, Show at 9PM

1 Summers Lane

Hamilton, Ontario , Canada

TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY AT 10AM!!!

Tickets will be available at all Ticket Master Outlets,

Copps Coliseum Box Office, by calling (905) 527-7666 or
online at www.ticketmaster.ca beginning
Wednesday October 10th at 10AM.

Hamilton: Dofasco Hamilton Music Awards & Festival is proud to present Daniel Lanois with Brian Blade, Saturday November 17th at Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton , Ontario , Canada . Lanois’ is performing in Hamilton in support of his debut film, “Here Is What Is” that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Toronto ’s Winter Garden Theatre was completely sold out for the premiere as were two live performances. Fans can expect an incredible performance in Hamilton ’s state-of-the-art soft seat theatre, as Lanois will be introducing new songs that are featured in the film and on his next solo album.

The Hamilton concert will be Lanois’ last live performance of the year. Lanois will spend the balance of 2007 in the recording studio with Brian Eno and U2.

Lanois fans will also have the opportunity to see the film “Here Is What Is” which will be screened at Silver City Ancaster (Famous Players) on Thursday November 15th at 7PM.

Also at this year’s Dofasco Hamilton Music Awards, Lanois will take the time to give a keynote address to students at the annual Career Day Music Conference. Details regarding the conference will be made available later in October.

Tickets and packages (film and concert ticket) will be available at all Ticket Master outlets, Copps Coliseum box office, by calling (905) 527-7666 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca beginning Wednesday October 10th at 10AM. Tickets to see the film will also be available (subject to capacity) at Silver City Ancaster (Famous Players) the evening of the screening. All advance tickets must be purchased through Ticket Master.

- # # # -

Please visit www.daniellanois.com/hereiswhatis for the following items:

· High Resolution Photographs
· Trailer of “Here Is What Is” (beta sp version available upon request)

To arrange an interview with Daniel Lanois and to obtain a betacam sp of the trailer of “Here Is What Is”, please send request and credentials via email to:

Jean-Paul Gauthier
September Seventh Entertainment
jpg@hamiltonmusicawards.com
Office: (905) 383-4005

SEATTLE RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL - OCT. 5-6/07

Hey, everybody.

Come on down to the Mainstage this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 5th and 6th, for a great time and a good cause. For Friday's show, the soulful vocals of Phyllis Talley have been added. She has been compared to Chaka Khan!! This is going to be a funky good time. You can pick up tickets thru ticketmaster or at the door. We hope to see ya. Peace, Love, Happiness, and have a great weekend.

John Lee

P.S. My Thanks to Mike Lynch for this version of my promo piece. Mike is a fine harp player and editor of the Jet City Blues blog. Check it out. It's fun, informative and full of useful tidbits. [See the link below.]

From: Mike Lynch
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 7:44 AM
Subject: Seattle Rhythm & Blues Festival

Blues fans,

Here's a show I think you might be interested in:

The Seattle Rhythm & Blues Festival

By John Lee

On October 5th and 6th 2007, the Mainstage Comedy and Music Club (formerly Chicago’s), located in the heart of Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood, brings together a showcase of Seattle talent rarely seen in this day and age. Josephine Howell, Paul Richardson, The Red Hotz (aka The Red Hot Blues Sisters), The John Stephan Band, and The Crossroads Band, adds up to soulful and funky good time with something for everyone.

Friday, October 5th, features Josephine Howell, Paul Richardson, and an opening act to be announced later. Josephine Howell is a renowned actress who was recently featured in Intiman Theater’s productions of “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and “Black Nativity.” She is also a singer of the highest caliber. Josephine is unrivaled in the gospel and jazz styles. This lady can really chirp. Paul Richardson has been a mainstay in Seattle soul music for many years. Mr. Richardson is one of the finest keyboard players anywhere, and always astounds with his consummate musicianship.

Saturday, October 6th, features The Red Hotz, 2006 nominee of the Washington Blues Society for Best Band. Fronted by the powerful and soulful vocals of Suze Sims and the razor sharp guitar of Teri Ann Wilson, the Red Hotz are always a crowd pleaser and keep the audience rockin’ at every stop along the way. They are a groove, no doubt. John Stephan is an excellent guitar player and a great songwriter, who spent many years with the legendary Isaac Scott’s band. John and his group of journeyman pros give it their all at every performance.

Closing out The Seattle Rhythm and Blues Festival will be The Crossroads Band, winners of the BB Award for Best Band from The Washington Blues Society in 2005. Nationally renowned artist, photographer, and writer Phil Chesnut sums up Crossroads up very well: “The members of this veteran five piece band all carry long pedigrees from other top Seattle bands of the past, finally culminating into this superb blues ensemble.”

A portion of the proceeds will go to Tipitina’s Foundation to assist New Orleans musicians cope with life after Hurricane Katrina. The proceeds will be given to Tipitina’s Music Office Co-op to help create business development and job skills training.

Come on down to the Mainstage October 5th and 6th for some great music, tasty food, top-notch libations, and to benefit a worthy cause. It will be a funky good time for sure!

When: Friday and Saturday, October 5th and 6th 8:30pm
Where: The Mainstage Comedy and Music Club - 315 1st Ave North Seattle , Wa . 98109
Phone: 206-217-3700
Cover: $12.00 each night or $20.00 both nights

Mike Lynch
206-419-7953
http://www.myspace.com/harmonicaplayboy
http://jetcityblues.blogspot.com

TOO SLIM & THE TAILDRAGGERS - OCT./NOV. GIGS AND MUSIC NEWS

Gigs for October 2007:

Friday 5th - Club Crow - Cashmere, WAhttp://www.clubcrow.net/

Saturday 6th - Jazzbones - Tacoma, WAhttp://www.jazzbones.com/

Monday 8th -Pats BBQ - Salt Lake City, UThttp://www.patsbbq.com/

Wednesday 10th - Zoo Bar - Lincoln, NEhttp://www.zoobar.com/

Friday 12th - Kapers Hardware House - Watseka, IL

Saturday 13th - The Trouser Mouse - Kansas City, MOhttp://www.trousermousebar.com/

Tuesday 16th - Slippery Noodle - Indianapolis, INhttp://www.slipperynoodle.com/

Wednesday 17th - Brandon Casey's - Kankakee, IL

Friday 18th - Bay City, MI - Indian Barry's w/ Quinn Keonhttp://www.indianbarrys.com/

Saturday 20th - Mojalaki Golf Club - Franklin, NHLink to show

Wednesday 24th - TBA -

Thursday - 25th - Montana Avenue Alive at The Depot - Billings, MT - 7 p.m. showMagic City

Blues

Friday 26th - Millers Crossing - Helena, MTmillerscrossing

Saturday 27th - Recycling Foundation Annual Fund Raising Event - Spokane, WA

Gigs for November 2007:

Thursday 1st - Rockfish Grill and Brewery - Anacortez, WAhttp://www.anacortesrockfish.com/

Friday 2nd - Wild Buffalo - Bellingham, WAhttp://www.wildbuffalo.net/

Saturday 3rd - Aladdin Theatre - Portland, OR - Too Slim and the Taildraggers "Guitar Slingers Ball" Too Slim and the Taildraggers with Special Guests - Henry Cooper, Big Monte, and Nicole Fournier for a night of Blazin Guitars!http://www.aladdintheater.com/

Sunday 4th - In Store at Music Millennium 3 p.m. - East 3158 E Burnside - Portland, OR (32nd & Burnside) 503-231-8926

Sunday 11th - The Love Ride - Pomona CA with headliner - Greg Allman - Todd Smallwood - Jay Leno MCLove Ride PosterFlyer

Tuesday 20th - Too Slim and the Taildraggers with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra - Fox Theater Grand Opening - Spokane, WATickets

New Years Eve Show at The Triple Door in Seattle - Too Slim and the Taildraggers with the Spokane Jazz Orchestra Horns - Two Shows more info to come.....


The Fortune Teller riding the Billboard Charts

The Fortune Teller CD been charting on the National Billboard Blues chart for the last two months. Thank you for all of your support in making this possible.

Too Slim's song to be included in Love Ride Compilation Disc

Too Slim's song titled "TheFortune Teller" is going to be included on a compilation CD produced by Todd Smallwood with the likes of: Andy Summers (The Police), Mick Fleetwood Band, Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Brian Ray (Paul McCartney), Jeff Healey, Jackson Browne, and more to come.........

Thank you so much for always supporting Too Slim and the Taildraggers.

Best Regards,

Nancy Langford

Too Slim and the Taildraggers

STELLAR CAST BLUES SHOWCASE - OCTOBER LINE-UP OF CO-HOSTS - IRENE'S

www.irenespub.ca