Joel Plaskett's rusting touring vehicle, a former Quebec Hydro truck, will be retired soon, with an impressive 495,000 touring kilometres on it. There's a new one waiting in the wings, waiting to whisk the tall man away: He's off again, first with his Thrush Hermit reunion tour, then 11 dates with The Barenaked Ladies and a short UK tour to promote the British release of Three.
"I'm trying not to stress," says Plaskett, who says that, by nature, his "mind rattles at night." But the anticipation of touring, planning sets and playing shows, is easing off: "It's part of my life now."
Not one for the couch, on his touring off-time in May, Plaskett will be back in his studio to produce a couple of tracks for part-time Parisian popstress Sarah Slean. "It's cool that she thought of me," he says. "Stylistically we're different, but it will be fun."
Solo artist first runner-up: David Myles
Solo artist second runner-up: Jon McKiel
