Forward Music Group has teamed up with Evolve (held annually in Antigonish, this year on August 3-5) to sponsor their second stage. And, oh, what a second stage it is! Are you ready for Do Make Say Think, Apostle of Hustle, Mother Mother, Classified, Brazilian Girls and more? I thought so. Tickets on sale now. Early bird tickets are only $76. Regular tickets are $93. Check out the website for ticket locations: www.evolvefestival.com.
Cross-country hike
Speaking of Classified, he and Jordan Croucher (just signed to Class's label, HalfLife Records) are going on the road for a whopping 38 dates all over Canada this summer. Catch them while they're still fresh at The Palace on June 15. This tour also marks a big accomplishment for Classified and HalfLife: their recently secured distribution through EMI.
"We went up and met with EMI in February told them what we wanted to do and they were feeling it," Classified says. "Basically, I can sign artists and release them and EMI will help me do it." Classified is "happy to get out on the road and play songs from Hitch Hikin' Music and at the same time excited to see what people think of Jordan's new record. We worked hard on his album and tried to make something for everyone on it, which I think we did."
The two will be touring with Mic Boyd, J-Bru and DJ IV. They're calling it the "No Dress Code" tour, after Jordan's new album, and because, as Classified says, "anyone can get into it. We just found that the dress code thing is a real pain in the ass for some people, especially people who listen to hip-hop and wear hoodies, sneakers, hats...so we wanted to make sure there was no dress code on the entire tour." Much appreciated by folks like me, who can't get out of their house pants for Queen or country.
A hodge-podge of awesome!
Next stop: Super-hot Rumourville! Population: Me! Here's a nice little tip to soothe the pain of losing Flip the Switch: Not one, but two Casualties shows (both with A Global Threat from Boston)! That's cool, right? On July 2, there will be a matinee at the Pavilion with CI and Autumn Storm (oh, hell yes) and a bar show with local bands TBA. Shows are $12 each at the door, no advanced tickets.
Doug Mason and the Certified Legends plan to blow your mind on Wednesday, June 20 at Gus' Pub (with Jud's Glasses). The Certified Legends include Doug Mason (Michael Jackson), Cliff Gibb, Dave Chisholm, Mike O'Neill and Jarrett Murphy. You may recognize some of these names from such bands as Thrush Hermit, The Inbreds, El Torpedo, Thruster, Aimless, The Sycamores and so on and so forth. If you've been waiting for some of Halifax and Dartmouth's most respected musicians to form a supergroup, your time has come.
Big congrats go out to Kev Corbett, who placed in the top 10 at the Telluride Troubadours songwriting competition. The competition is part of the annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival held every June in Colorado. Corbett will be heading there this week to compete for the grand prize, which includes a 15-minute set on the mainstage with such performers as Emmylou Harris, Counting Crows and Allison Krauss. In addition, Kev is getting ready to make a new full-length record and a live EP. Way to go!
This Friday and Saturday, check out David Myles and Jim Bryson at the Pop In Sessions taping at Common Grounds Studios. Open to all ages, the show starts at 8:15pm. Available at Music Stop, tickets are $17 adv/$20 door.
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