JUST ANNOUNCED
We’ve had lots of exciting new Massey Hall show announcements in the past week or so. Daughtry will be stopping in at Massey Hall with their Break the SpellTour on March 24. The band will be showcasing tunes from their latest album Break the Spell including “Crawling Back To You” and “Renegade.”
Then in April Death Cab for Cutie hits the Massey Hall stage on April 19. The concert should be pretty special as the band will be performing on stage with members of The Magik*Magik Orchestra. Magik*Magik Orchestra is, in fact, a modular orchestra who love collaboration and whose mission it is to “attract new listeners and participants to the orchestral experience.” As you can imagine, we think this is pretty cool – and obviously so does Death Cab For Cutie. You can get a feel for the kind of activities the Orchestra gets up to by checking out the “Watch and Listen” section of their webpage here.
We’re excited to welcome back Matt Andersen – this time to the Massey Hall stage as the Special Guest for Buddy Guy. Matt Andersen (who performed two sold out shows at the Gould last winter) is one busy guy; he just showcased at the Maple Blues Awards last night (where he *UPDATE was also nominated forwonthe Entertainer of the Year and the Acoustic Act of the Year awards,) will be performing at the ECMAs, is taking the stage at the Glastonbury Festival, and is recording a new album at Levon Helm’s studio (fun one degree of separation: Levon Helm plays two shows at Massey Hall in March with Lucinda Williams). For more about what else this New Brunswick artist in high demand is up to, check out this article on the Daily Gleaner. Buddy Guy performs at Massey Hall – with Special Guest Matt Andersen – on April 8.
PERFORMANCES
Lisa Lampanelli (Saturday): Everybody is talking about Ricky Gervais’ cutting quips on the Golden Globes awards show this weekend but the real “Queen of Mean” will be performing at Massey Hall this Saturday. Counting among her fans the untameable Howard Stern, you can read all about the loveable insult comic’s less mean side as she discusses her new puppy, Parker, with The American Dog magazine.
Bahamas with Special Guest Doug Paisley (Thursday): Bahamas arrives at Glenn Gould Studio this Thursday for a performance sure to impress. His raw yet sweet songwriting makes him a real diamond in the rough – see for yourself in this recent In-Studio performance over at National Post’s Ampersand. Special bonus: Roots-folkster Doug Paisley is Special Guest for the evening – for a taste, check him out over on NPR Music or on Myspace.
Royal Wood with Special Guest Hannah Georgas (Friday): You loved him last year in his stellar performances at Glenn Gould Studio, this year we bring the charismatic and innovative singer-songwriter to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (on the grounds of the CNE) for a presentation that will knock your argyle socks off. Super fun extra: Hannah Georgas appears as Special Guest on the bill. You can check each of them out in advance at their (individual) Concerts on Demand over on CBC – Royal Wood (at our own show at Glenn Gould Studio) is here and Hannah Georgas can be heard performing live at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver here or as part of this year’s CBC Radio Song Questhere.
Barenaked Ladies with Special Guest Jenn Grant (Friday): Barenaked Ladies, a part of the Canadian music tapestry, perform at Massey Hall this Friday. Their new album, All In Good Time, is their first as a four-piece and has been met with mass critical acclaim. Of their latest material and recent performances, Ed Robertson says “It’s a little more raw and rough. It’s a little more rock. Yeah, I think there’s a little more space for everybody to step out and shine.”. Ed Robertson, Tyler Stewart, Kevin Hearn, and Jim Creeggan (the four-piece BNL) welcome as their special guest, the charming Jenn Grant (who performed at Glenn Gould Studio last year).
Women’s Blues Revue (Saturday): This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Toronto Blues Society who present with us the Women’s Blues Revue, now in its 24th year. It must be said, there are some seriously amazing women in blues here in Canada and we are so proud to be a part of celebrating that and invite you to join us for the party! Here’s a really neat thing: Rita Chiarelli, performing in this year’s Revue, recently took a “pilgrimage to the birthplace of the blues” – Angola Maximum Security Prison. Bruce MacDonald directs a compelling documentary about her determined journey called Music From the Big House, check out the site for more details and the trailer here.
Bellydance Superstars: Bombay Bellywood(Monday): The Bellydance Superstars will take over the Queen Elizabeth Theatre next Monday with their energetic take on “fusion” bellydancing. Featuring the company’s first male dancer, Samir (formerly of Cirque du Soleil), and a cast of brilliant female dancers “[d]ecked out in yards of swirling silky Technicolor-hued fabric,” the bellydancers bring to Toronto their interpretation of Bollywood dancing in what promises to be a performance full of life, beauty, and creative expression.
JUST ANNOUNCED
In the spring we announced that soprano Angela Gheorghiu would be gracing the Roy Thomson Hall Stage on April 7, and now we are thrilled to announce the full complement that will join her – Conductor Steven White and none other than the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra. The concert – a program of opera arias – is the long-awaited Toronto debut of Ms. Gheorghiu and is sure to be a beautiful night of music.
Maceo Parker takes the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on February 10. Parker has musical history with James Brown, George Clinton, and Bootsy’s Rubber Band. This is one funky show that is not to be missed. The sultry Lizz Wright is set to deliver her signature R&B at Glenn Gould Studio – including material from her new album – on February 20.
It has been an exciting week in the world of new shows being announced – to learn about all of the most excellent shows coming our way, read on!
We are so thrilled to have announced yesterday that Levon Helm will be returning to Massey Hall for two shows this March with his Ramble on the Road. Joining Helm for what promise to be a pair of legendary nights is one Lucinda Williams. You may recall that Helm is no stranger to the Grand Ol’ Lady of Shuter Street – not only were we fortunate to see him perform just last June, Levon Helm and the Hawks were the backing band for Bob Dylan the time he went electric at Massey Hall, garnering both “cheers” and “jeers”. For a taste of what you’re in for on this visit, check out his website for a whole bunch of good stuff in the form of audio and video to tide you over until March.
Melissa Etheridge is one accomplished artist – with fifteen Grammy Award nominations, an Academy Award, and twenty-seven millions albums sold worldwide to her credit, there’s no stopping her! Etheridge performs at Massey Hall with Serena Ryder on Friday, March 11, 2011
Yet another legend plans to hit up the Massey Hall stage: Brian Wilson brings his latest project Brian Wilson Re-imagines Gershwin along with classics from his own catalogue and of course, that of the Beach Boys. Let’s face it, the man is a genius; from Pet Sounds to Smile, Wilson has changed the way we listen to music – here we have the opportunity to see what he can do with the Gershwin standards, live. In the meantime, you can preview the album here and read about it in Rolling Stone here.
And finally, you already knew that the Barenaked Ladies (who incidentally have a rather well-known song entitled Brian Wilson) were performing November 26 at Massey Hall but this just in – the lovely Jenn Grant will be on the bill as Special Guest. Jenn Grant performed at Glenn Gould Studio last season and we are rather excited for the opportunity to see her at Massey. Check out her beautiful video for “You’ll Go Far” here.
PERFORMANCES
The Rankin Family: Acoustic Tour (Thursday): This Thursday the Rankin Family promises to get “Up Close and Personal” on their Toronto stop of their acoustic tour at Massey Hall. Join Cookie, Heather, Jimmy, and Raylene in a CONTINUE READING >
Chantal Kreviazuk (Tuesday): We mentioned Winnipeg-born Chantal last week because she has been selected to write, perform, and record one of the songs for CBC’s Great Canadian Song Quest, but today we mention the songstress because she returns to Massey Hall for a performance as part of her Plain Jane tour. Chantal has a heart that is anything but plain: she and her husband, Raine Maida, have done extensive work for War Child Canada, including participating in this fall’s Busking for Change event. More recently, Chantal recorded a song with other Canadians for compilation album War Child 10 called “People Have the Power.”
Il Divo (Friday): Il Divo takes the stage at Roy Thomson Hall, just after releasing their latest last Tuesday: a CD/DVD set entitled An Evening With Il Divo: Live in Barcelona. This performance in Toronto could well give Barcelonaa run for its money. Who needs romantic Spain anyway, when the sweet sounds of these gentlemen singing live are right here at home? CONTINUE READING >
It was at the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2008 that I first heard Jenn Grant sing. She was on one of the smaller stages at the massive, week-long festival. It was dusk, the sun was setting over the Ottawa River, and her voice stopped me dead in my tracks. Part Feist, part Patsy Cline, and all East Coast heart, Jenn’s voice and songwriting were truly unlike anything I had heard before. She moves between musical genres to create a sound that is full of intricate, subtle nuances. It is a sound that is uniquely hers. CONTINUE READING >
We’re thrilled to let you know that The Wilderness of Manitoba will be the very special guest of one Jenn Grant this Thursday evening at Glenn Gould Studio. The Wilderness of Manitoba has been compared to Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver – which, if you ask me, is quite a compliment. The folks out there in the blogosphere are pretty excited about this group too: just take a look at It’s Not the Band I Hate It’s Their Fans, who put the group on their list of Top Ten Hottest Canadian Bands 2009, and North by East West. Between the recent mad props for The Wilderness of Manitoba and Jenn Grant’s Music Nova Scotia loot (she recently won Fem
ale Artist Recording for her latest, Echoes), this show is going to be a guaranteed good time. CONTINUE READING >
Lyle Lovett – who is performing at Massey Hall on Friday – just released a new album at the end of last month called Natural Forces. The album includes a number of original tunes and some covers of numbers by the likes of Eric Taylor, Don Sanders, and Townes van Zandt. The BBC is
calling it the “most satisfying record he’s made in many a year” and “a treat from start to finish.” Lyle, we can’t wait to see you on stage crooning the artful sounds of Americana at its finest.
Speaking of stuff newly out, Jenn Grant (who plays at the Glenn Gould Studio at the end of this month) just released a video for her track “You’ll Go Far.” Jenn’s website explains that she travelled to northern Newfoundland to shoot these beautiful scenes. And while you’re on the Six Shooter YouTube channel, check out some live clips of Royal Wood – who plays the Gould in April – performing at Capital Music Hall here and here.
Stefania Paterak is the Programming Coordinator for Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
Soundboard is the official community of musicians, music fans, and friends of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Canada. It’s your behind-the-scenes source for related music news, recommendations, and rewards.
