James Blake is embarking on a North American tour this summer (well this May). He’s hitting up NYC pretty hard then Toronto but no Montreal. Maybe this will get me to finally visit TO again. Buy tickets to the Toronto show here and head to jamesblaketickets.sandbag.uk.com for the rest.

PS I hate you Toronto (not really)

8th May 2011 – Rock N Roll Hotel Washington DC
9th May 2011 – Johnny Brendas Philadelphia PA
11th May 2011 – Bowery Ballroom New York NY
12th May 2011 – (Le) Poisson Rouge New York NY
14th May 2011 – Rivoli Cabaret Toronto ON Canada
15th May 2011 – Schubas Tavern Chicago IL
16th May 2011 – 7th Street Entry Minneapolis MN
19th May 2011 – The Tractor Tavern Seattle
20th May 2011 – Doug Fir Lounge Portland OR
23rd May 2011 – Troubadour Los Angeles CA
24th May 2011 – Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood CA

Two Door Cinema Club is releasing a deluxe edition of their massively successful debut Tourist History this month (hooray!) It features the wonderful gold cover above, and a bonus second disc full of the best remixes by French Horn Rebellion, Jupiter, Moulinex, Cassian, Myd, Ted & Francis, Softwar and of course The Twelves. You can new preorder the album over at HMV. Pick it up in stores on the 18th.

In other Two Door Cinema Club news, they are touring North America with Penguin Prison this fall, and they are stopping in Montreal on October 24th. I just bought my tickets today, do you have yours yet? Penguin Prison and Two Door Cinema Club is a combination not to be missed. (Le National October 24th, 2010)

1. Kids
2. Undercover Martyn (Everything Everything) [Remix]
3. I Can Talk [French Horn Rebellion Remix]
4. Come Back Home [Is Tropical Chilla Black Edit Remix]
5. Undercover Martyn [Jupiter Remix]
6. I Can Talk [Moulinex Remix]
7. What You Know [Cassian Remix]
8. Come Back Home [Myd Remix]
9. Something Good Can Work [Ted & Francis Remix]
10. Undercover Martyn [Softwar Remix]
11. Something Good Can Work [The Twelves Remix]

NEON, HIGH FOOD & EVENKO presents Booka Shade performing live in Montreal this October at Club Soda. The group just released their latest album More! this spring, and Teenage Spaceman as it’s (second?) official single. Check out the video above, as well as the amazing Tim Deluxe Future Disco edit from the single release.

Teenage Spaceman (Tim Deluxe Future Disco Remix) – Booka Shade

Belgrave (formerly Coral Red) and Little City are performing at Bar St Laurent on Thursday, August 26th.

Brittany Kwasnik

Singer Brittany Kwasnik is one of Canada’s most talked about performing artists – and she’s just sixteen. Recently signed to Justin Time Records, also based in her hometown of Montreal, what makes this young woman’s songs stand apart in this age of manufactured stardom is the striking fact that she writes them – the words and the music – and that she’s been at it for years. Each song is part of a coping mechanism, helping her deal with an abusive childhood. And having been affected by a family member with mental illness, Brittany has started a foundation, funded by her career, to help the 22 million North American teens who live with family members who are mentally ill.

While songwriting prowess is far from unusual among performing musicians, it is for persons of her young age. She is a young woman who is determined to be faithful to her own inner calling, above all else. While Brittany is clearly heartened by the positive reaction, that’s secondary to the talented teenager, who is one year from finishing high school. She’s highly focused and her own harshest critic.

Old Crowns

All it took to grease the gears was a move across the country. Housed in a near-empty bachelor apartment on Vancouver’s east-side in January of 2009, veteran songwriter Steve St. Pierre began demo’ing a series of songs that would be the starting point for Old Crowns. A quick call-out to old friends and seasoned musicians back home in Ottawa solidified the fact that these scrawls would be in good hands for his return the following month.

It was St. Pierre’s naive ambition that started the fire, but the passion that the others brought to the table added copious amounts of fuel. Feverish writing sessions were partnered with their unbeatable chemistry that brought them on-stage and turning heads within months. With their unique blend of ‘stoner country’, Old Crowns bring together elements of folk, rock, and alternative into a package that is both familiar and refreshing. St. Pierre’s pop sensibilities and stream of consciousness style of writing complement the driving tempo supplied by Alex Seguin, the confident bass lines of Joel Soucy, and the wall of sound created by Sam Seguin’s guitar and echo-plex.

With a burgeoning local fanbase, Old Crowns began recording their debut LP in June 2009 with the Seguins at the helm in their home studio. The songs took shape while the boys continued fine-tuning their sound and finding their voice. The 10-song album, due out digitally on April 20 and on vinyl in mid-May, showcases a band capable beyond their one year of existence. Each song demonstrates the various musical sides of the band, and leaves you wondering just where this band will take you next.

And there’s no resting on laurels for this tenacious foursome. With a solid stable of supporting shows under their belts with acts like Cuff the Duke, the Wooden Sky, and the Rural Alberta Advantage, Old Crowns have their sights on set on continuing down the path that their hard work and talent paves for them. Songs will continue to be written, tours will continue to happen, and they stand to prove that greased gears will gather no rust.

Brett Caswell & The Marquee Rose

After releasing his debut LP earlier this year, Brett Caswell is announcing a string of east coast tour dates this summer. Kicking off on home soil in Barrie, Caswell will join Ottawa band Old Crowns in a number of Ontario cities and all the way out to Halifax. His folk singer songwriter tunes will blend in naturally with the east coast alt country sounds. Caswell is a truly inspired performer, whether joined on stage by his band or solo, it is an experience not to be missed.

Caswell released his first full length album, A New Balance, this spring which was recorded in a secret location on the outskirts of the Bruce Trail with Mitch C.W. Hall and Marty Kinack (Feist, Broken Social Scene, Jason Collett). Title track “A New Balance” features lap-steel from Cuff the Duke’s Dale Murray. Caswell has shared stages with the likes of Jeff Healy, The Trews, Bahamas, Zeus, and has a live show worthy of much praise.

Drawing comparisons to Ryan Adams, Ben Folds, Led Zeppelin, and Conor Oberst, Caswell’s song-writing, coupled with the energy of his live performances have earned him a large and enthusiastic regional following and feature performances at the Barrie Blues and Jazz Festival, North by Northeast Festival, Kempenfest, Canadian Music Week, and more.