Category Archives: Festivals

Republic Live, organizers of the Boots and Hearts Music Festival,has announced the Top 8 Finalists for the Emerging Artist Showcase presented by SiriusXM Canada. The final eight artists include Birds of Bellwoods, Eric Ethridge, James Barker Band, Johnson Crook, Leanne Pearson, Ray Gibson, Tenille Arts and Travis Wood. The finalists will be competing for a chance to perform on the Main Stage at Boots and Hearts prior to Thomas Rhett on Sunday, August 9^th, in addition to winning a single release with Universal Music Canada and an opportunity to perform on the Main Stage at Boots and Hearts 2016. Fans are invited to vote for the Top 8 Finalists at www.bootsandhearts.com/showcase. Fan votes will determine the artists’ placement in the performance line up on the Front Porch Stage in front of a panel of judges at Boots and Hearts on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Ok,

So the fine folks over at CMW (Canadian Music Week) didnt see fit to accredit my ass for the event this year. Go Figure….

It may only be May 1 but tonight kicks off one of the biggest summer’s of live music Ottawa has seen in a very long time.

CMW 2015 starts tomorrow and if you haven’t nailed down your schedule yet let me propose the following options or additions.

The 2015 lineup for North Bay’s Summer in the Park was announced this week and it’s fully loaded with plenty of Kickin it Country and Killer Classic Rock!

Last night the Where It All Began Tour (#WIABtour) stopped in at The Mod Club in Toronto.  I have to say this is one of the better one-two punches to hit Toronto in the last couple months.   Dan + Shay brought 32 year old Canaan Smith from Williamsburg, Virginia along for the ride.   I had the chance to sit down and chat with Canaan earlier in the day and that will be posted soon.  So I can’t deny that I was pretty excited for his set.  And let me tell you he did not disappoint.   So much talent packed into this guy.  Strong lyrics, outstanding vocals and a kick ass performance!

So the fine folks down at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival announced yesterday afternoon that they have decided to run a ticketed event that will help support the FREE Annual Event.   So looks like Weezer, Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven and Current Swell are set to take the stage on June 13.  Here are the official details.

Sound of Music Festival – PAID TICKET EVENT

Weezer, Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven & Current Swell

Saturday June 13 2015

ALL AGES SHOW

Fredericton Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival

The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival has signed five new international acts to add to its 25th anniversary festival line up.  All of the groups, some of the most in demand new artists on the international festival circuit, will make their Harvest début at the 2015 edition of the Festival this September 15-20.

Chad Brownlee – Photo by Trish Cassling for Sound Check Entertainment

To say that 2015 has started with a bang is a major understatement.  It took the independent Sound Check over a year to hit 100,000 readers and we hit 200,000 in just the first month and a half of 2015.

Our top stories of Q1 2015 included breaking the news of Luke Bryan in Ottawa and the 2015 Ottawa Bluesfest line-up as well as our coast to coast coverage of Dallas Smith’s Tippin’ Point Tour and Chad Brownlee’s When the Lights Go Down tour not to mention our unprecedented concert coverage from New Country 94’s welcome to Ottawa party with Dallas Smith to Florida Georgia Line and ZZ Top in Kingston. All of this and only in the first 3 months of 2015.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead from April to June 2015

So late Sunday afternoon our friends at Ottawa Bluesfest posted a teaser video, hinting at the BIGGEST headliner yet for this July’s festival.