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Levon Helm

Juno Week, Lucinda, & Ray LaMontagne in
the Buzz: March 1-7

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  March 1, 2011



JUST ANNOUNCED

The line-up for OVATION: Celebrating Classical Music at the JUNO Awards has now been announced! The special event, which takes place at Roy Thomson Hall on Tuesday, March 22, is a celebration of JUNO Award nominees and winners past and present in classical music categories and will feature Peter Oundjian, TSO Music Director, as the host of the evening. Artists and Ensembles who will be performing include Measha Brueggergosman, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Gryphon Trio, Amici Ensemble, Winona Zelenka, Anton Kuerti, Lara St. John, Angèle Dubeau & La Pietà, and Duo Concertante.

And more in Juno Week news: additional artists have been added to the bill for Juno Songwriters’ Circle which takes place on Wednesday, March 23 at Massey Hall. We already knew that the charming Johnny Reid was to be the host for the evening and now we can also let you know that the following songwriters will take the stage for this exciting event: Luke Doucet, Sylvia Tyson, Royal Wood, and Lynn Miles. More artists will also be announced soon.

We also announced just last week that Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs will be hitting the Massey Hall stage on May 30. The group’s latest recording, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise, just won the Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Folk Album even though, according to Paste Magazine, RCA didn’t originally like the album. Ray LaMontagne will also be featured in an episode of VH1 Storytellers this season; of the line-up for the show’s 15th Anniversary Season, Executive Producer Bill Flanagan says, “VH1 Storytellers started with artists like Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Ray LaMontagne. These are the greats of this generation.”

PERFORMANCES

Levon Helm’s Ramble on the Road with Lucinda Williams (Friday & Saturday): Levon Helm returns to Massey Hall – this time for two nights and with none other than CONTINUE READING >

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New Massey Hall Show Announcements and More in This weeks Buzz: Nov. 16-22

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  November 16, 2010

JUST ANNOUNCED

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 >

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The Buzz: July 6-12

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  July 6, 2010

JUST ANNOUNCED

Yesterday we announced a performance at Glenn Gould Studio by Chilly Gonzales to take place on September 14. This is the very same day that his latest album Ivory Tower, drops as does the feature-length film of the same name (featuring Tiga and Peaches). It all makes you wish the “most wonderful time of year” Staples commercials were on and September was around the corner right? If you don’t know who Chilly Gonzales is, allow this performance to be your education. Prerequisite information required: Gonzales made waves in Paris last spring after earning the world record for the longest solo concert (no less than 27 hours, three minutes, and 44 seconds long). Also – check out Chess Cat vs The World over on the Chilly Gonzales website: possibly the most democratic board game you’ll ever play on a Canadian musician’s website.
 

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The Buzz: June 29-July 5

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  June 29, 2010

PERFORMANCES

Levon Helm & John Hiatt (Tuesday): For many, music is an integral part of one’s Canadian-ness, as will be demonstrated this Thursday across the country at a variety of Canada Day concerts. We’re (naturally) very proud of our Neil Youngs, Joni Mitchells, Bruce Cockburns, Rushes, Broken Social Scenes and Arcade Fires but we also hold a special place in our hearts for our friends granted the status of “honorary Canadian” through their musical prowess.

Like modern songstress Neko Case, Levon Helm is one of Canada’s proudest imports. Levon Helm begins his Canadian music career as part of the legendary Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks (which would later be renamed Levon and the Hawks after Hawkins left the group). That, alone, would be enough to gain Helm a place in the hearts of musically inclined Canucks but there’s more! Levon and the Hawks would go on to be the backing band for Bob Dylan in order to facilitate the complicated (and controversial) process of ‘going electric’ (you may recall this from our Massey By the Decade post for 1964-1973.) Levon did leave the Hawks temporarily but returned shortly thereafter before the newly rechristened group, The Band, hit it big with albums like Music from Big Pink and then later, of course, as stars of (the album, film, and generally awesome event) The Last Waltz.

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The Listening Booth: June 28, 2010

Posted by Stephen McGrath in  Listening Booth  on  June 28, 2010

“The impossibility of sainthood” is how Robbie Robertson once explained the meaning behind The Weight. In this classic track The Band immortalize a handful of people in their lives and created one of their best-known songs. In anticipation of tomorrow’s Ramble on the Road that stops at Massey Hall, today’s Listening Booth features this clip of Levon Helm’s Ramble with Mr. John Hiatt accompanying.

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The Buzz: March 16-22

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  March 16, 2010

bruce_croppedJUST ANNOUNCED
Last week Luminato announced the 2010 Music Program for the ten-day festival in June. Together with Luminato, we’ll be bringing you the third installation of the Canadian Songbook – this time celebrating the music of Bruce Cockburn with a new and exciting twist: Mr. Cockburn himself will be on stage. A medley of other fine musicians (including Hawksley Workman and Colin Linden) will join Cockburn to celebrate the occasion. Tickets to Luminato events go on sale in April. You can check out what the Toronto Star wrote on the latest Luminato announcements here.

We’ve also just added a second performance by Royal Wood on Saturday, April 10. Can’t make it to the first concert on April 1, now here’s a second chance to check out the man who CBC Radio 3 calls “an artist whose time is at hand to be heard”. Enjoy some Royal Wood flavoured audio video over here.

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Massey Hall By The Decade: 1964 – 1973

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Scene  on  March 15, 2010

In the lower level of Massey Hall you’ll find ‘Centuries,’ a fully-stocked bar you can visit pre-show and at intermission of most performances. The room is filled with artefacts illustrating the admirable history of Massey Hall, perhaps most notably the “Decade Panels” that line the entrance corridor to ‘Centuries.’ Starting with 1894-1904, a panel is present for each decade since Massey Hall opened. The panels feature news articles, photographs, programmes and other paraphernalia that aim to give a slice of life at Massey Hall from that period in history. In this column, we look at each decade and highlight some of the items included in these panels. Of course, for a more in-depth look, next time you’re at Massey for a show, head on over to ‘Centuries’ and check them out. This week, we take a look at 1964 – 1973, the eighth in a series of eleven tributes to Massey Hall’s glorious history.

NY-live-at-massey-hallMassey Hall 1964 – 1973
This decade panel perfectly represents the true turning point both in popular music in general and at Massey Hall specifically.

Folk music is clearly in the forefront of the Toronto scene. Many performances during this time were from now-legendary folk stars such as Stompin’ Tom Connors, Ian and Sylvia, Anne Murray, Cat Stevens, and James Taylor (who we just saw perform on the Oscars). Joni Mitchell “captivate[d] a packed Massey Hall” and Neil Young performed his epic 1971 concert which recently became available as audio and video recordings. CONTINUE READING >

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The Buzz: Feb 23-March 2

Posted by Stefania Paterak in  The Buzz  on  February 23, 2010

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Yannick Nézet-Séguin

PERFORMANCES THIS WEEK
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (Wednesday): Last weekend, on Valentine’s Day, Robert Everett-Green wrote an article in the Globe and Mail entitled “Love at first downbeat” about one Yannick Nézet-Séguin of Montreal, the now celebrity conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Nézet-Séguin recently made headlines for his debut at the Met conducting Carmen. Here’s your chance to see him, his new orchestra, and pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet at home in Canada on the stage of Roy Thomson Hall. The Toronto Star says it “is likely to be one of the most exciting symphony concerts of the season,” and with good reason. CONTINUE READING >

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