Yesterday was the final day to catch some free music in Burlington, Ontario as the 37th annual Sound of Music Festival wrapped up with Canadian rock legends Loverboy. My family and I have been attending SOMF for the past 5 years and LOVE bringing the family down to enjoy the weekend. As a family we have made it a point to try to make it every year. This year however I was flying solo and had a chance to spend a couple of days at the event and I have to say I couldn’t be happier with the time spent. This is one of those festivals that is so diverse in music it has something for everyone. With so many fantastic artists on the stage this weekend here is what we were able to cover.
NXNE 2015 – The Noisy Locomotive, The Wild Romantics, Birds of Bellwoods, Shawn William Clarke, Sarah Burton
Friday June 19th at The Cameron House
It was Birds of Bellwoods that brought us to The Cameron House on Friday night but once we arrived we were happy to stick around. We caught the very end of The Wild Romantics set and we were sad we hadn’t arrived in time to see all of the Friday acts. According to Birds of Bellwoods, The Noisy Locomotive were fantastic!
Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes and Sam Hunt at The Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
It’s been a while since I’ve been a “regular” concert goer. But last night that’s exactly what I was. Standing in line, crowded in with lawn seat crowd I was still a happy camper.
Sam Hunt was on stage when I took my “seat”. He played all of my favourites from “Montevello”. No surprises here but definitely no complaints. Nice banter with the crowd.
Small Town Pistols: Pistology CD Release Launch
After a couple of minor delays Small Town Pistols held their CD Release Party for “Pistology” on Tuesday night at The Gibson Guitar Lounge. Amanda and Tyler were in fine form and the small crowd of around 100 were happy to see the band.
Autumn Hill Drops Anchor – June 16th
If you have been listening to Canadian Country radio over the last say 2 or 3 months then you have defiantly heard the hit single BLAME by the very talented Autumn Hill. My wife and I actually listened to this album together and we were both in awe of how solid it was from start to finish.
Pistology & Kids with The Small Town Pistols
Having a chance to chat with two young veterans (weird combo I know) of the Canadian Country music world I have to admit was a bit intimidating. Tyler & Amanda Wilkinson have been chatting on the phone about music for the last 20 years and I am sure it can sometimes get a tad boring. But let me tell you they brought it to this one and can’t thank them enough for the time spent with us. New babies, new album, new shows! We talk it all.
In Conversation with Dean Brody
If you’re a fan of country music and you just so happen to live in Canada you know the name Dean Brody. And if you don’t you must have been living under a rock for the last 12 years. Dean has been crossing Canada bringing his twang from the small watering hole to the big arena shows for the last 12+ years. We had the chance to chat with Dean and discuss his new album Gypsy Road along with his upcoming Road Trip with fellow Canadian Paul Brandt. Enjoy the read.
We talk Summer Tour & New EP with Wes Mack
We had a chance to catch up with Wes Mack last week before he kicked off the Canadian leg of the Shania Twain Lets Rock This Country Tour. The first night of the tour was June 6th in Seattle Washington and then carries across Canada for 14 dates and Wes is along for the ride. Let’s just say he might be a little excited.
A Thousand Horses – Southernality
We had a chance to sit down with A Thousand Horses this past weekend while they were in Toronto in support of Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour. The fellas release Southernality TODAY! Here is all the good stuff….
Toronto, ON (June 8, 2015) – Get ready for more music from Republic Nashville’s A Thousand Horses. After one of the fastest starts in Country music history, the band will release their highly anticipated debut album Southernality on Tuesday, June 9.
The album’s title – a mix of the words Southern and personality – is meant to evoke a state of mind and a way of life, and fans have enthusiastically embraced the vibe. They’ve helped A Thousand Horses pull off one of the most memorable debuts in recent history with the first single “Smoke” setting records on the way to the top of the charts.
“Smoke” is about a woman whose presence lingers even when she’s not around. The song immediately stuck with fans in much the same way. A Thousand Horses set a record for highest charting debut single at No. 28 on the Mediabase country songs chart. They also became the first group (of three members or more) to send their debut single to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart since December 2008.
“It’s been mind-blowing,” lead singer Michael Hobby said. “It’s overwhelming and crazy to see the reaction from country radio, from fans loving it and all the people we’re meeting being out on the road. We’re very grateful, it’s very humbling and unbelievable.”
Southernality, produced by Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton) can be purchased at iTunes and all other major retailers. A Thousand Horses will celebrate the release with a number of appearances this week. The band, which includes Bill Satcher, Zach Brown and Graham DeLoach, will perform at the CMT Music Awards on June 10, where they are nominated for Group Video of the Year, and will perform at CMA Music Festival on June 11 and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 14. The band also is out on the road with Darius Rucker’s SOUTHERN STYLE TOUR this summer.
The group mixes the Southern rock sounds they fell in love with growing up in eastern Georgia and South Carolina with the storytelling tradition of country music to make songs that stick in the mind. The mix has proven appealing to fans of both, as well as critics. All Access said of the band and their album, “I defy you to put this in your car, start listening and not like it. The first single, ‘Smoke,’ is a runaway hit, sounds terrific on the radio and is selling big. Not convinced? Go see them live.” Rolling Stone Country said “the Horses are bringing musicianship back to a stale format” and USA Today named them a 2015 “Artist to Watch.” They also recently made their television debut on TODAY immediately followed by two performances on FOX and Friends.
The band’s next single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial,” is available for purchase at iTunesand will impact country radio on June 29.
SOUTHERNALITY Track Listing:
1. “First Time” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher and Patrick Davis)
2. “Sunday Morning” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Graham DeLoach, Zach Brown and Rich Robinson)
3. “Smoke” (Michael Hobby, Ross Copperman and John Knight)
4. “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial” (Michael Hobby, Corey Crowder, Neil Mason and Cale Dodds)
5. “Heaven is Close” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher and Graham DeLoach)
6. “Travelin’ Man” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher and Jaren Johnston)
7. “Back to Me” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Graham DeLoach and Westin Davis)
8. “Southernality” (Michael Hobby, Corey Crowder and Neil Mason)
9. “Tennessee Whiskey” (Michael Hobby and Bill Satcher)
10. “Hell on My Heart” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Graham DeLoach and Zach Brown)
11. “Trailer Trashed” (Graham DeLoach)
12. “Landslide” (Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher and Zach Brown)
13. “Where I’m Going” (Michael Hobby, Brad Warren, Brett Warren)
For more information about the band or to purchase tickets, visithttp://bigmachinelabelgroup.us7.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ada70aba29278f3df16e674a4&id=9fdb669ecc&e=d0b05407d3 and follow @athousandhorses on Twitter and Instagram.
Riot Fest Toronto – 5 Acts We’re Excited to See
Riot Fest is gearing up to announce the second wave of bands on June 16th but before we get there, we’d like to talk about 5 acts from the current wave that we’re excited to see.
