The Novaks are on the road promoting the release of their third radio single from last August’s self-titled debut, and pushing the soulful rock tune “I’ll Give You a Ring” will keep their family and friends back home anticipating they’ll do just that. “We’re planning on spending as little time in Newfoundland as possible. Summer touring is definitely in the plans,” says drummer Elliott Dicks, while travelling through Ontario. “There’s not really much for us to get done at home right now.”
On this tour, Dicks and band mates Mick Davis, Chuck Tucker and Mark Neary have met a positive response headlining their first cluster of Ontario shows, with additional stops with label buds Matt Mays & El Torpedo and even a festival date at Ottawa’s Tulip Festival. Look for them to build on their increasingly stellar local reputation on May 21 with the Alewives.
Flight attendance
In-Flight Safety crashes Toronto’s Edgefest II on July 16—offering attendees a much-needed sigh of emo relief. The quartet, currently resting after extensive national club touring, represents the east coast on the festival’s second stage with additional up-and-coming acts including The Meligrove Band and Magneta Lane. Daydreamy lamentations of the modern, uber-sensitive male are left to the main stage likes of Yellowcard, The All-American Rejects (currently listing July 8 as a Halifax date on their website) and Matchbook Romance.
Rock of ages
You only turn 30 once, and for globetrotting folker Gabe Minnikin it’s as good an opportunity as any to get together with family, friends and fans. The former Guthries multi-instrumentalist and vocalist ends his third decade May 19 at Stage Nine.
@body alt:“You’re only as old as you feel,” says Minnikin, enjoying his final days in his 20s. “I might have an old soul, but I feel fine.”
He’s put together a big-band concept for the show, a reflection of his personality and how he wants to spend his big day. He’ll be playing with an eight-piece group of familiar friends, with appearances from his sister Ruth, as well as Brad Conrad, Brent Randall, Benn Ross, Pete Gorman and Amy Murray, among others.
“I just like parties,” he says. “And I like music, so it’s a music-themed party.”
This will be one of Halifax’s last chances to catch Minnikin for a while; he plans to return to England following the release of his upcoming album. Details on the August release are forthcoming.
Tickets, please
When it comes to shows, the words “rescheduled” and “postponed” usually equal “cancelled.” But that’s not the case for Mobile and Stabilo’s dual headlining performance slated for The Attic earlier this month. The show will indeed go on—now at The Marquee Club on June 3, with tickets on sale at CD Plus locations. … Victoria’s Immaculate Machine returns to Halifax on June 29 at The Seahorse. Fans of the band will also know that keyboardist/vocalist Kathryn Calder is responsible for the same duties with The New Pornographers —a band even Pitchfork Media likes. … And finally for show announcements, surging Nashville rock ’n’ roller Will Hoge is back in the city headlining for the first time after supporting The Trews on back-to-back dates this past November.