MUSIC
Longshore Drift
Roy Johnstone & Steve Sharratt
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Fiddler Roy Johnstone and guitarist Steve Sharratt will launch their new CD Longshore Drift at LeFurgey Cultural Centre in Summerside October 10 at 8 pm, at Beaconsfield’s Carriage House in Charlottetown October 11 at 8 pm, and at Trailside Cafe in Mount Stewart October 12 at 1 pm.
Though Roy and Steve have worked together for ten years in various groups and as a duo for the past three years, this is their first collaborative recording. It includes seven original pieces by Roy, two by Steve and four traditional songs. They describe the CD: “Longshore Drift refers to the changing shape of the PEI shoreline due to the action of wind and waves…This recording went through a similar process, each piece evolving organically like the shifting sands, time and change distilling the essence of each piece. We hope that we’ve created something that evolves on each listening.” The recording is dedicated to the memory of fiddlers James Banks, Yvon Bourque and David Baglole.
Roy and Steve started this project in April. They went into the studio with some original pieces written, some tried and true songs, and with ideas that developed through the recording process. On the CD Roy contributes his talent on violin, viola, mandolin, dulcimer, harmonica, spoons, and feet. Steve lends his skills on guitars, mandolin, mandocello, and banjo. Together, they arranged the twelve tracks. The album was produced and recorded at Fiddlehead Productions, Roy’s studio. Cover art and photos are by Sarah Saunders.
The CD is available at Back Alley Music, CD Plus, Confederation Centre Gallery Gift Shop, in Charlottetown, at the Dunes in Brackley and other PEI locations.
www.royjohnstone.com
Changing Things
Meaghan Blanchard
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Meaghan Blanchard has recently released her first CD called Changing Things. The six songs on the recording are are inspired by Meaghan’s relationships and her Maritime environment. “You Know” is about looking on the brighter side when a relationship takes a turn for the worst. “Bonnie” was written in Mahone Bay, NS on a dock that overlooks the beautiful islands scattered across the bay. Meaghan’s favourite song on the EP is “Mothers” about breaking things off with a very sweet boy. “Great Big City” resulted from a chance conversation after a gig. “Mazie” was written through the eyes of Meaghan’s mother about an aunt with Alzheimer’s. “Smiling” is about a sad young man, a stranger, Meaghan spied at a coffee shop.
Musicians and vocalists who participated on the album include Ross MacDonald, Richard Knox, John Connolly, Ian Toms, Dave Wigmore, Serge Bernard, Jon Matthews, Thomas Webb, Katie McGarry, and Brien McCarthy.
The album was produced by John Connolly except for “Great Big City” which was produced by Jon Matthews. The project was engineered by Jon Matthews at Big Grey Sound Studio and mastered by Paul Miller at Shell Lane Studios.
The EP was released on the Sandbar Music label in September. It is now available at Back Alley and CD Plus in Charlottetown, as well as, online at www.sandbarmusic.com and at major digital retailers world wide like iTunes, Pure Tracks and E Music.
John Connolly
John Connolly
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John Connolly released his self-titled new album with a launch at the Guild in early September. This project is a follow up to the EP Soul Sessions a seven song collection of songs from the heart. The new album contains 9 tracks and was produced, mixed and mastered by Paul Milner at his Shell Lane Studios and at CBC Studio 211 in Toronto. Additional engineering was provided by Adam Gallant and Dennis Patterson. John talks about what the songs on the album are all about, “‘For O ld Times’ Sake’ gives you a nice introduction to set the tone of the album. Ian Toms shines on this track. ‘From Now On’ is a fun track about new love. I wanted ‘Miramichi’ to be a timeless story song set in the Miramichi. ‘Sunbird’ makes for good driving music. “Ramblin’’ is a very dynamic track. I really enjoy Dan Cutrona’s organ and the trio of soul singers. ‘Hard As I Try’ is one of my favourite Gene MacLellan songs. ‘Great Fire’ is a story song caught up in one giant buildup of energy. It rocks. ‘Indian Summer’ is a meditation on the end of summer. ‘Backstage’ is a song for anyone who steps out onto a stage.”
Players and vocalists on the album include Rich Knox, Ross MacDonald, Ian Toms, Chris Corrigan, Dan Curtona, Remi Arsenault, Mark Palmer, Amoy Levey, Cecile Levey and Nevon Sinclair.
The album is available at Back Alley Discs and CD Plus in Charlottetown. You can purchase the album at www.sandbarmusic.com and it will be available soon at other online retail outlets like iTunes, Pure Tracks, E Music along with Rogers and Bell Mobile.
www.sonicbids.com/johnconnolly
Out With The Old, In With The Dudes
Syracuse Me
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Charlottetown band Syracuse Me has just released a 6 song EP, Out With The Old, In With The Dudes, following 2 earlier demos. The pop-punk group has toured extensively in the Maritimes and eastern Canada. Members of the band at present are Adam Stanley, vocals; Kyle Gallagher, guitar and vocals; Jordon Walsh, guitar; Mark Duffy, drums and Mark Peyton, bass. They describe their music as pop-punk/hardcore. The quintet has had its fair share of ups and downs, line change ups, and “great times.”
After their summer ’08 tour, Syracuse Me quickly hopped in the studio with Andrew Wiseman (In This Style) to record their new EP. Halifax based indie label, Takedown Records, worked side by side with Syracuse Me to get this EP out. The EP hit stores in Atlantic Canada on September 29.
The EP was scheduled to be launched at the Winsloe Lions Club in September. Locally the EP will be available at Back Alley Music, and they are working on Atlantic Canada distribution.
www.syracuseme.com
Back Where I Belong
Janet MacEwan
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Janet MacEwen’s CD Back Where I Belong is now available at The Showcase Gift Shop in Confederation Centre, Charlottetown, from Janet at www.janetmacewen.com or at CD Plus and Back Alley Music in Charlottetown.
Nova Scotia native Janet MacEwen is known to Island audiences from her performance as Marilla Cuthbert in Ann of Green Gables.
Janet MacEwen recorded Back Where I Belong in Toronto, Ontario, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Edmonton, Alberta. Singer-songwriter Alfie Zappacosta produced this adult contemporary, soft jazz CD and brought some of the best session players in the country together to play on the album. It features new releases from Zappacosta as well as covers of his well known songs.” Canadian born Lisa-Catherine Cohen with co-writer David Pmeranz contributed the new release “It’s All Alright.” Other covers on the recording are “Something I Thought I’d Never Do,” by Judy Barrona and Jeffrey D. Harris, Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” and “Please Leave Me Love” by David Warrack. There are two original songs by Janet MacEwen.
Musicians on the CD are keyboard player Silvio Pupo, drummer Blake Manning, B3 player Dennis Keldie, accordion player Claudio Vena and bass player Russ Boswell.
Prince Edward Island Hip Hop Volume I
Various Artists
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Eric Broadbent and Rob Banks (Practical Academics) have recently released a 20 song compilation of PEI hip hop artists. The compilation features artists such as ECMA nominee and PEI Music award winner Eric Broadbent, other ECMA nominees, and PEI Music award nominees Practical Academics, Ern Dogg, John Michael Kelly, Tech Thai, DJ Ghost, Megadeph, Perfect Combination, Tyler Carmody, Fatt Matt, Jakt and J. Kun. The two producers hope that this project will ensure a broader Urban category at the music awards this year, expose some new artists, and encourage more artists to participate in the PEI hip hop scene.
The Nine Lives of L. M. Montgomery
Original Cast
The musical The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery, which enjoyed its world premiere season at Kings Playhouse this past summer, becomes available this fall as an original cast album, with an expected release date of October 7.
The disc features most of the songs created for the show by composer Leo Marchildon and lyricist Adam-Michael James, including audience favourites “An Epoch In My Life,” “More Important Things” and “Character Analysis.” There’s also a bonus “Character Themes Suite,” in which Marchildon paints delicate musical portraits of Montgomery’s eight fictional heroines.
With a 80 minutes of music, the album is an audio journey through Montgomery’s lifetime, with Scottish reels of the 1880s to the Big Band stylings of the early 1940s, and is designed both as a companion piece for fans of the show and an opportunity for the uninitiated to discover it on their own.
The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery cast album is slated to be available through The Anne of Green Gables Store, as well as other Island and online retailers. Visit ninelivesoflmm.com for a list of merchants.