R.I.P. Hamilton news anchor Dan McLean

Sadly, popular Hamilton broadcaster Dan McLean – who delivered the news at CHCH-TV for more than 30 years – has passed away at 78. He'll be greatly missed.

LINKS
CHCH-TV Longtime CHCH news anchor Dan McLean dies at 78

Nardwuar vs. David Byrne

As you might expect, Nardwuar had a few questions ready that David Byrne has never been asked in an interview – ba-boom! 

RUSH debuts new drummer Anika Nilles at the JUNOs

RUSH performed "Finding My Way" with new drummer Anika Nilles from Jeff Beck's group at The JUNOs in Hamilton. 

Harrison Kennedy getting inducted into Escarpment Blues Hall Of Fame on Tuesday

Chairmen Of The Board legend Harrison Kennedy is honoured by the Escarpment Blues Society on Tuesday night. Well deserved!

Here's the scoop...

The Escarpment Blues Society proudly presents the Hall of Fame Induction Gala Concert honouring singer/songwriter Harrison Kennedy on Tuesday, November 25th! Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre (357 Wilson St. East, Hamilton) as we celebrate the life, music, and legacy of one of Canada’s most beloved blues artists.

This special event will feature live performances, stories, and a heartfelt tribute to Harrison Kennedy as he is inducted into the Escarpment Blues Society Hall of Fame!

Come be part of history, raise a glass with friends, and honour a true blues legend whose voice and songs have inspired audiences around the world. Seating is limited, reserve your spot now for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. 

You can get tickets for the Escarpment Blues Society's Hall Of Fame gala featuring a performance by the EBS All Stars along with Harrison Kennedy and friends on Tuesday (November 25) directly from the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre right  here. Watch a few clips below. 

 

LINKS 

Harrison Kennedy site

Escarpment Blues Society site

One For The Weekend: Gordon Heavyfoot

Check out the video for Gordon Heavyfoot's update of "The Way I Feel"... and see 'em live near you!

Hamilton's Night Chill make rare daylight appearance!

Denizens of darkness Night Chill had to deal with the sun, the wind and hanging plants at Collective Arts Brewery's outdoor patio. 

You can catch Night Chill at Guelph's Jimmy Jazz club on Friday (Sept 12) and performing as part of Weirdsville Weekend Oct. 25!

Celebrate National Gorilla Suit Day with Night Ape in Hamilton, Friday

Join the members of Night Chill aka Night Ape in celebrating National Gorilla Suit Day at Hamilton's Ooey Gooeys on Friday.   

See Night Ape, Banananananana and JAL at Ooey Gooeys (107 George St) on Friday (Jan 31) at 8:30pm. $15 humans!

Catl kicks off the Farewell Concert Series @ Hamilton's Casbah Lounge, Sunday

Toronto's mighty Catl plays their final show at Hamilton's Casbah as part of the Farewell Series starting Sunday from 2 pm till late. 

CASBAH FAREWELL SERIES (NIGHT ONE)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29

The Casbah (306 King St. West, Hamilton)

A day/night of goodbyes, good vibes & good bands

Hamilton's venerable night spot The Casbah Lounge is ending it's 24-year run as music community hub in the heart of the Hammer with a Farewell Concert Series starting Sunday (December 29) with an all ages, all-day event in the Main Hall starting at 2 pm and running until 12 midnight featuring performances by Toronto's blues rockin' gruesome twosome Catl (6:30 pm - sharp!) along with Blind Mule, the Carrie Clark Trio, Chelsea Reynolds Band, Sarah Good & The Bads and GEOFF. The cover is $20 with all proceeds going to the bands. Tell a friend. 

Check the Casbah site www.casbahlounge.ca for more info, upcoming events and merch. Check out Catl tearing through their whumpin' "Hold My Body Down" at the Casbah in 2018 and "Got A Thing For You" at This Ain't Hollywood way back in 2015. Watch Catl's version of "You Got The Silver" performed at the Casbah right here. 

Hamilton singer/songwriter Stefan Gnyś' Horizoning album resurfaces

Stefan Gnyś pressed up only 12 acetate copies of his Horizoning album in 1969 which will finally be getting wider circulation on Nov 15. 

Here's the scoop from We Are Busy Bodies' Eric Warner...

This release project is anything but linear. 

After quitting my job at MySpace and backpacking around Europe, I began a post-graduate degree at Humber College where I met Stefan Gnys daughter. You’d potentially think this is where the story automatically turns into where the album comes together, but for that add another 14 or so years. I learned about Stefan’s music through music editor and all around knowledgeable person Tim Perlich several years ago. Originally destined for reissue on another label, this incredibly rare album recorded in 1969 is set for re-release on November 15. I’m not sure if I can officially call this a reissue because it was never released in the first place. 

Stefan Gnyś – Horizoning (LP/Digital - out November 15)

Stefan Gnyś (pronounced G’neesh) recorded what would have been his first album Horizoning, at Heidebrecht Recording Services in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada on April 21st 1969. Ten tracks were cut in a day-long session that Stefan had perfected over the previous 12 months, with the songs Horizoning and English Oaks having been inspired by a trip to the UK and Europe during the eventful summer of 1968. Twelve acetate copies were ordered, of which Stefan kept two, the rest given to family or sold at gigs. Subsequently, 300 copies of a self-financed vinyl 45 pairing Horizoning and Evangeline were pressed by RCA Custom Record Division and duly sent to radio and sold at concerts, which went down extremely well and led to more live dates. Needless to say the 45 soon sold out but this was as far as his recorded legacy went, as in 1970 Stefan went to university, then got married and started a family while he embarked on a life-long career as a teacher. Music however remained a constant in his life.

Remembers Stefan...

"On the recording of these 10 songs in 1969, there were only two players: myself and a good friend, David Van Duzen. I did the vocals and rhythm guitar, but with a personally developed picking style that was distinctive and apart from straight strumming. 

"By the time David was in his early 20s in 1969, he was already an accomplished musician—a guitarist extraordinaire! He played lead and was a vocalist in rock groups playing the popular hits of the time. When it came to his amazing solos, he could play his electric guitar behind his back, behind his head and even play the strings with his teeth! Dave was also a talented bass player who added a wonderful lower register to my songs. He also sang harmony in the chorus of ‘Evangeline’. 

"We recorded in a small, well-equipped studio called Heidebrecht Recording Service in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The recording engineer was also the owner. All ten songs were laid down in one day (April 21, 1969) with David adding his guitar licks and bass runs on separate tracks."

This release should really be regarded as a ‘found’ sound recording as it is only because Stefan retained two personal acetate copies that it exists at all. Those two copies were used as the audio sources for this release. The album comes with the largest format vinyl insert the label has ever produced painstakingly detailing every aspect of the album and its inspiration. 

You can pre-order the long overdue proper release of the Horizoning album by Stefan Gnyś via Bandcamp right here.  Listen to a few tracks below. 

The Fleshtones tear up Hamilton's Corktown Pub, September 28

Good news! Lou Molinaro is bringing The Fleshtones to Hamilton for a show at the Corktown Pub on Sept. 28. Get tickets here.

Watch The Shakers play Larry's Hideaway & CHCH-TV in 1981

Straight outta The Hammer, here's Tim Gibbons, Dave Rave, Rick Andrew & Claude DesRoches in action at Larry's and CHCH-TV.

Catl returns to rock the Casbah in Hamilton, Saturday

If you're in Hamilton on Saturday, don't miss Catl with the Carrie Clark Band and Rocket & The Renegades. Get tickets here.

Teenage Head band memorabilia on display at Hamilton's Beckett Fine Art

Teenage Head's exhibit at Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton opens September 5th and runs through September 23rd 

As part of gallery owner Tom Beckett's Love Hamilton! celebration of the Steel City art and music,  Hamilton's Beckett Fine Art will be showing rarely seen Teenage Head photos, posters, art work and related memorabilia from the band's own private collection. Hopefully we'll finally get to see those platform shoes that Steve Mahon was making in wood shop while attending Westdale Secondary School. My original pencil sketch of Teenage Head frontman Frankie Venom for the cover of the University of Waterloo student newspaper Imprint from 1980 probably won't be part of the exhibition but you can see it below. Beckett Fine Art (196 Locke St. S, Hamilton) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. The exhibit is free. For more information, check out the Beckett Fine Art site right here. 

It's been 43 years since Teenage Head rocked Heatwave back in 1980... get a copy of their performance on vinyl right here. 

Men landed on the moon... the Beach Boys played a curling club in Hamilton

Yep, the Beach Boys (shown with Hamilton mayor Vic Copps) played a 4-song set at Wentworth Curling Club on July 21, 1969!

R.I.P. Bill Lawrence, longtime host of CHCH-TV's Tiny Talent Time

Sadly, TV personality Bill Lawrence – best known for hosting Tiny Talent Time – has passed away at 91. He'll be greatly missed. 

That time Pink Floyd played Hamilton's Ivor Wynne Stadium in 1975

Yes, believe it or don't, here's some footage from Pink Floyd's unlikely appearance in Hamilton, Ontario on June 28, 1975. 

Happy Birthday Gary Louris!

Celebrating the birthday of Jayhawks singer/songwriter Gary Louris with a few tunes backed by The Sadies in Hamilton. 

Ray Robertson launches new novel in Hamilton on Thursday

Ray Robertson will be reading from Estates Large and Small at Hamilton's The City & The City Books on September 22 at 7 pm.

Listen to Ray chat about his new book on CBC's The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers right here. Don't forget to boogie!

R.I.P. Gord Lewis of Teenage Head

Sadly, Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis was found dead Sunday in his Hamilton apartment, the apparent victim of a homicide. 

LINKS

Toronto Star Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis found dead

CBC News Teenage Head's Gord Lewis found dead in Hamilton apartment, guitarist's son charged with murder

Hamilton Spectator Hamilton's Gord Lewis of Teenage Head remembered for music that defined lives

CBC Radio Hamilton promoter Lou Molinaro remembers Gord Lewis

Happy Birthday Diana Panton!

Celebrating the birthday of fabulous Canadian jazz singer Diana Panton with a live trio session tonight at 7pm. See link below. 

Here's the backstory on Diana's Live in Session Concert Series:

Last March was the last time our trio had the opportunity to play together. It was mere days before I was scheduled to board a plane for the JUNOs in Saskatoon (Reg too) and then on to Paris for March Break, but co-vid had other plans...

We had hoped to record a new album in August 2019, but the loss of those dear, along with co-vid protocols, postponed that project. Since then, given my pandemic circumstances, there has been little music in my days until these sessions we present to you now.

Re-uniting with Reg and Don in this intimate setting gives you a glimpse into what our studio sessions are like (though granted a bit more nerve-wracking with the camera rolling). As per usual, there is little talking and a lot of focus. I am reminded how grateful and blessed I am to work with these two - whom I value both as musicians and human beings. I'm equally thankful for Chad at Inception Sound Studios for all that he does to help us sound our best and to Francois and Jennifer at Leading Pictures for documenting this reunion.

As an independent artist, I normally use revenue from gigs to help finance our upcoming recordings. Of course, this year has meant no performances. I know these have been tough times for so many. As such, we hope these free concerts bring some smiles and solace. If you value the music we create and if you have the means, your donation would be greatly appreciated. Funds raised will help us record our new album this August. For those interested, here's the link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/dianapanton

Most importantly, thank you for lending your ears and your hearts to these musical offerings.

Musically,

Diana

Watch the Diana Panton Trio's Love Songs Session virtual concert followed by the previous Cheerful Session performance below.