Musicians
Billy Talent Launch Charity Trust with Limited Edition Gold Plaques
Billy Talent Launch Charity Trust with Limited Edition Gold Plaques Billy Talent promo shot — photo credit: Dustin Rabin.After years of giving back, Canadian rockers Billy Talent have launched their own charitable trust.The band, which are celebrating their 25th anniversary, if you include their previous incarnation Pezz, announced the appropriately…
Martha Wainwright Headlining Woody Guthrie’s Widow’s Huntington Disease Benefit
Martha Wainwright Headlining Woody Guthrie’s Widow’s Huntington Disease Benefit The late Marjorie and Woody Guthrie — photo credit: HDSA.When folk icon Woody Guthrie died in a New York City hospital on October 3, 1967, from the complications of Huntington’s disease, his widow Marjorie ensure a continued battle against the inherited neurological ailment…
Canadian Musicians Rally on Behalf of Humboldt Tragedy Victims
Canadian Musicians Rally on Behalf of Humboldt Tragedy Victims Several Canadian musicians are offering their talents and services to raise money for the survivors and surviving families of the recent tragic and fatal bus accident involving the Humboldt Broncos Junior A hockey team and supporting staff that occurred on April 6. A new web site,…
Gary Slaight Juno Awards Program Exclusive Interview
Gary Slaight Juno Awards Program Exclusive Interview Gary Slaight receives the Humanitarian Award at the Juno Gala Dinner & Awards, March 24, Vancouver — photo credit: CARAS/iPhoto.The benevolence demonstrated by Gary Slaight, this year’s Humanitarian Award recipient at the Juno Awards last month, and the Slaight Family Foundation over which he…
Hip Hop Artist Emmanuel Jal Among Winners Of 2018 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent
Hip Hop Artist Emmanuel Jal Among Winners Of 2018 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent Emmanual Jal — courtesy photo.Sudanese-Canadian hip hop artist and former child soldier Emmanuel Jal is one of three recipients of the 2018 Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent, established in 2012 by the Human Rights Foundation (HRF…
Q&A: Author of The Tragically Hip Book Says Earmarking for Charity Is What You Should Do
Q&A: Author of The Tragically Hip Book Says Earmarking for Charity Is What You Should Do Author Michael Barclay with his new book on The Tragically Hip — photo courtesy of ECW Press.The Tragically Hip might at least be pleased that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Michael Barclay’s new book, The Never-Ending Present (ECW Press), about the…
Jay-Z Tells Letterman Trump is Great For America and Explains Why
Jay-Z Tells Letterman Trump is Great For America and Explains Why Jay-Z used his recent appearance on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman to explain why Donald Trump being the president of the United States of America might help turn the country around and empower young people in the next election. Letterman prompted the rapper…
Q&A: Rosie & the Riveters New Album Ms. Behave Tailor-Made for #MeToo Movement
Q&A: Rosie & the Riveters New Album Ms. Behave Tailor-Made for #MeToo Movement Rosie and the Riveters (L to R): Allyson Reigh, Alexis Normand, Farideh Olsen — photo credit: Crystal Skrupski. Few bands mesh the political with the personal, the altruistic with the artistic, quite like Rosie & the Riveters. With their honeyed vocal harmonies,…
John Prine Donates Net Proceeds from Album Pre-Orders to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund
John Prine Donates Net Proceeds from Album Pre-Orders to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund Legendary folk singer and songwriter John Prine is releasing his first album of new material in 13 years with a magnanimous gesture: the proceeds of every pre-ordered copy of Tree of Forgiveness bought through the PledgeMusic website prior to its April 13…
Musician Rich Aucoin Touring U.S. by Bicycle to Benefit Mental Health
Musician Rich Aucoin Touring U.S. by Bicycle to Benefit Mental Health Rich AucoinNext time you encounter an interview with a touring musician whining about the rigours of the road, spare a thought for Rich Aucoin. On March 23, the Halifax-based dance/rock artist began a 15-date U.S. jaunt in support of his new Hold EP. On the tour, originally called F#$…
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt to Perform Charity Song at March For Our Lives
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt to Perform Charity Song at March For Our Lives Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tony Award-winning actor Ben Platt cut charity song Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tony Award-winning actor Ben Platt will perform their new charity song “Found/Tonight” at the March For Our Lives rally in Washington D.C. this…
Lady Gaga's Foundation Selects Five Schools to Receive Financial Gift to Improve Mental Health Programs
Lady Gaga's Foundation Selects Five Schools to Receive Financial Gift to Improve Mental Health Programs Lady Gaga, seen here teaming with Prince William for the Heads Together mental health initiative — screencap via Heads Together YouTube channelAs a result of the Mental and Emotional Wellness Innovation Challenge, five schools from across America…
MusiCounts Provides $725,000 Worth of Instruments to 80 Schools
MusiCounts Provides $725,000 Worth of Instruments to 80 Schools Kids at Vancouver's Sir Alexander MacKenzie school receive $10,000 worth of instruments from MusiCounts — photo credit: screenshot. MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS, the organization behind the Juno Awards…
Q&A: Arkells Frontman Max Kerman Puts Himself in the Shoes of Refugees
Q&A: Arkells Frontman Max Kerman Puts Himself in the Shoes of Refugees Arkells promo shot — courtesy of Universal Music Canada. Canadian rock act Arkells have become one of the country's biggest bands since forming a dozen years ago. So big, in fact, they've created their own music festival at a stadium in their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, just…