Ruby Slippers for July 5 7-8 pm Let's hear it for the hometown talent!

Hey everybody,

I don't know what it is about the summer, but you don't have to look far to find amazing bands playing awesome tunes and much of it is local!

It was with that in mind that I got busy and found some incredible stuff just for you that you may never have otherwise heard.  Chances are good this will inspire you to start your own search for new artists and become a music locavore* 

Enjoy!

Novocaine for the Soul...EELS  (not local but a good way to start)

Leopold Street...The Paper Kites  (Melbourne, Australia)

Mirror...Brunswick Project  (check them out on Soundcloud...writing a song a week for a full year)

                                            (and our first local band) *

What You Want...Bombay Bicycle Club  remixed by our very own  Darcys

Just Movement...Robert DeLong

Home is Where...Diamond Bones *

The Happy Parade...Oscillation * 

You Slow Time...Basement Love *

Slaves...Eye The People *

Down The Spinney...Blackdog Ballroom * (Richmond Hill...close enough)

If You Feel Loved...Sexy Mathematics *

Mirror...Strawman *

Danse Cave...Still Life Still *

Into The Deep...Arietta *

If you have a band you would like to hear on the show, please shoot me an email. 

So much music, so little time

And as always, thanks for listening

* Music locavore= committed consumer of local music

Ruby Slippers June 28 7-8 pm Happy Canada Day weekend!

Hey everybody,

It's another glorious looooong weekend, and the weather will be, well, the weather.  But will it stop us from partying on? No sireebob.  Looks as if Dwayne Gretzky will be at Yonge and Dundas Square, which would be a great start to the hols, after, of course, listening to the show.

Which, by the way, includes Lighthouse who you can then go see in Aurora on Sunday (with CIUT's favorite sons, the Bloody Five)

Ahem, on with the playlist.

Operation...KingKhan and the BBQ Show  (summer= BBQ, get it?) (Montreal)
I'm Only Happy When It Rains.....Garbage 

Paper Thin...Humble Wolf

It's Time...Imagine Dragons (covering Imagine Dragons..that part confuses me)

Andrew In Drag...The Magnetic Fields

Wrong Side of Town...Rouletta

iBELIEVE (Krystal Love B Mix)...Septembryo (Calgary!)

Black and White Mountains...Snowblink  (Toronto by way of San Francisco)

Good Enough (Cyndi Lauper cover)...The Acorn (Ottawa)

Legs Give Out...We Are The City (British Columbia)

One Fine Morning...Lighthouse (hip hip hurray) (Toronto)

Mama Tried...The Dirty Nil (Hamilton)

Resuscitate...Wintersleep (Halifax, NS)

Shut It Down...Kut U Up

Heavy Metal...White Rabbits

Clouds Catch Fire...Fever Fever

So this is it. The final version! Hurray!

Have a rip snorting good weekend, and play safe.

And as always, thanks for listening.

The Playlist is in the mail....(later that same night) Ruby Slippers June 28

Hey everybody,

I am still working on the playlist, and it ought to be done later tonight.

But...
If you are looking for stuff to do this long weekend (other than sparklers, coolers, hotdogs, etc.)
check this out.

And the best part for those who like a pop or two, the GO train takes you to the event.

http://musiclynk.com/ai1ec_event/dance-in-the-park-festival-aurora/?instance_id=18753

Dance In the Park Festival, Aurora

musiclynk.com

Celebrate Aurora - Dance in the Park! Date: Sunday, June 30 Location: Town Park Time: 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. 2 p.m. A band of 150 Guitars celebrating Aurora's 150th birthday! 2:30 p.m. The Bloody Five 3...

Back soon with the list!

Ruby Slippers for June 21 7-8 pm

Hey everybody,

After last week's show with the Bloody Five, I now admit to having to take a deep breath and think about how to come up with an interesting playlist this week. After asking four artists and their bands  what they would like to hear, it just reinforces to me that there is an infinite amount of inspiring and amazing music and never enough time. So with that in mind, here is the tentative list for this week.

Enjoy!

I Remember You (Live)...Sebastian Bach and friends ( Didn't finish it last week...this is for you, Jay!)

Ace of Spades (Motorhead cover)...The Bloody Five  (too good to miss)

Because I'm Awesome...The Dollyrots
C'mon...Go Betty Go

Lafaye(Scissor Sisters Remix)...School of Seven Bells

Eyes of a Stranger...The Payolas (..and this is for Tomi)

Harps...The Sea and Cake

Bloodrush...Royal Canoe

Rachel Marie...Digits

Fifty/Fifty...The Luyas

Soupe Au Lait...MonMon

Romance at Sala Rossa...Plumes (playing June 21 at the Tranzac)

Home is Where...Diamond Bones

My Beloved Monster...EELS

Just finished reading the autobiography of Mark Oliver Everett of the EELS. Quite a story, put it on your summer reading list.

As always, thanks for listening.

And on the Topic of Music in the Schools

Hey folks,

During the pre show huddle with the awesome guys from Bloody Five, the topic of music in the schools came up.  The response was instantaneous and passionate that music is a very important part of students' lives in so many ways.  We didn't have a chance to really get to that discussion during the show, but here are my views. 

Music makes you smarter.  It exercises parts of the brain not only in the act of performance but also as one listens.  Just look at the kids who study music at school, with teachers outside of school and later play with their peers.  These are the kids who can relate to one another through that shared experience.  These are the kids who can focus on learning and playing through practice after practice and then in the moment of an actual performance.  They have, through music, become part of a community requiring cooperation, patience and finally pride as they play together for family and friends.

In a society where money, sports and academics define  success in life, music provides another avenue to succeed and be part of the group. Who among us doesn't remember trying to find ourselves as teens? I can honestly say one of the most memorable moments of my life was going to the end of year concert for schools across the GTA at the legendary Massey Hall.  I still get shivers down my spine remembering all those students singing the national anthem in four part harmony to a packed venue to start the show.  And that was just the warm up. At the end of the show (which flew by way too quickly) there were throngs of kids from every background imaginable chatting and smiling with family and friends, proud of being part of the night, and joining together in music.  There was no competition,

posturing or put downs.  There were just the kids and their music.

I believe that it is our responsibility as the older generation to ensure the one coming up has the building blocks to make this world a better place.  Every child (and young adult) deserves food, shelter, an education and a safe place to grow into the adults we know they can be.  As much as a healthy body is a right, so is the opportunity to find ways to express themselves through language, art and music.

Don't let the school programs wither and die.  Fight for the students' rights to have qualified teachers, instruments that are playable, and a chance to experience the rewards of hard work, persistance and cooperation. 

Keep music in the schools.

Thanks for listening

C'mon! This is the Last Hurrah for NXNE! Sunday June 16 YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Hey everybody,

Check out your guide for the last day of this amazing, overwhelming, inspiring week of music, art and movies. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the remaining showcases, and with a more humane number to chose from, you can actually catch quite a bit without running around like a loon.

But for my pick to end this biased guide...

Yonge and Dundas Square......Ludacris.  I'm just sayin'

Hope you had fun and see you next time on CIUT Ruby Slippers Radio.

(Now I can play dead for a few days)

Keep Calm and Party On Day 4 of the NXNE Music Extravaganza

Wow, everybody,

For Saturday of this year's festival, it's tough to make pics.
Sorta went with my gut on this one, but you can't miss regardless of where you are.

Here goes...

Bruise Cruise... lots of fun on the water with We Are Wolves and Odonis Odonis'

Danforth Music Hall...Northcote, Dinosaur Bones, Paper Lions and Wintersleep. Get there early

The Great Hall... for the name alone, Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys

Handlebar...Ocean City Defender and the Penelopes

The Horseshoe...Fucked Up with a great line up!

Rancho Relaxo...Papermaps and the Cautioneers

Silverdollar...Gregory Pepper, International Zombies and Shannon and the Clams (want to see more of
                     this band)

Silverdollar Side Stage...Henri Faberge

And of course all the movies, artwork, and Yonge and Dundas Square you can squeeze in!

Last installment tomorrow!
Cheers