www.gonzomagazine.ca

Community Service Announcement. Help for Haiti Fundraising Concert

Jan 29, 2010 Culture, Music

Community Service Announcement. Help for Haiti Fundraising Concert

A terrible disaster has struck the country of Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Relief efforts are ongoing, but much, much more needs to be done. To assist in the raising of funds for this relief effort, a Fundraising Concert will be held at the Kelowna Community Theatre, on Sunday, January 30, 2010 from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
Music will be provided by 20 different of local musicians and musical groups who are all donating their time and energy to this cause. Each individual or group will play for 20 minutes, with each one starting on the half hour.
There is no set admission fee for this concert, everyone is invited to come and enjoy the music and donate what they can to assist the victims of this tragedy. The Canadian Red Cross will be set up in the Theatre Lobby to take donations for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Many thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Kelowna Community Theatre for their help and assistance, and to Kelowna City Council for the donation of the cost of the theatre rental.
This will be an afternoon and evening of very entertaining music, and with the help of the citizens of Kelowna, it is hoped that $20,000 can be raised on Sunday. With the federal government fund-matching program, this could turn into $40,000, all of which will go directly to the Haitian relief effort.
See attached document for presenter and performer details.

Contact:
Greg Murphy
250-769-5982
bg_murphy@shaw.ca

Nomfusi Shines A Light On Roots and Blues

Jan 29, 2010 Music

Press Release: 18th Annual Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
August 13-15, Salmon Arm Fair Grounds

It’s what you’ve come to expect at Roots and Blues. Awe-inspiring world artists whose performances and words fill the air with such honesty and intimacy that they leave your heart full. Such is the power and presence of Nomfusi, a petite South Africa woman with larger than life vocals and an inner light that shines brighter than a supernova.
Summoning super-hero strength that has helped to transform the heartbreak of losing her mother to AIDS as a young child into a calling that emanates joy and hope in all of her songs, Nomfusi’s message of love will engulf you. Described as a refreshing blend of Sophiatown (African jazz from the 60’s) and classic Motown, Nomfusi’s live performances are earning her a following throughout her homeland and on the international circuit. She has been invited for appearances at many prestigious festivals in North America and Europe in 2010 which will, no doubt, further expand her fan base to epic proportions. Take a look at Nomfusi’s remarkable journey in five stirring YouTube clips of interviews and performances at www.myspace.com/nomfusi.
With attendance cresting the 34,000 mark in 2009, Roots and Blues has become known as an innovative and exciting kaleidoscope of music, traditions, and cultural expression, bringing exceptional artists like Nomfusi from around the world to the Interior of BC. For three fun-filled days each August, six outdoor stages are home to a multitude of acts, many highly renowned and some less familiar. All represent the best that live music has to offer.
The 18th Annual Roots and Blues Festival takes place August 13 – 15th at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. Pick up your Earlybird Member Passes before February 19th and save at prices you won’t see again this year – just $90.00 for adults, $68 for seniors and $55 for students. For more information on the line-up and festival, log onto www.rootsandblues.ca
You can also check out some great clips of the Festival and some of its past performers at www.myspace.com/rootsandblues and www.youtube.com/user/ROOTSnBLUES2009. This year’s Festival will feature the same high caliber line-up as in previous years and offer something for every musical taste. Other artists already booked include Five Alarm Funk, Watermelon Slim and the Workers, Old Man’s Beard, Joe Louis Walker, John Nemeth, Julian Fauth, and a whole lot more.

MADE IN VANCOUVER FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 13-27, 2010

Jan 29, 2010 Culture, Music

For immediate release:

I HEART VAN ART
PRESENTS
MADE IN VANCOUVER FESTIVAL
FEBRUARY 13-27, 2010

February 4, 2010 ( Vancouver , BC ) I Heart VAN ART and the Yaletown Business Improvement Association is proud to present MADE IN VANCOUVER, a fifteen-day festival that will showcase the talents of Vancouver-based musicians, visual artists, dancers, buskers and performance artists.
MADE IN VANCOUVER will take place in Yaletown (Hamilton and Mainland Street between Drake and Nelson) on February 13-27 from 12Noon to 10pm.  Each day will have a different artistic theme from “Visual Arts Monday” to “Live Theatre Thursday” to “Funky Friday”, just to name a few.  Some of the artists who will be featured on the Main Stage ( Hamilton Street between Davie and Drake) include:

•February 13:  THURSTY (a Chin Injeti project) with Omar Khan (funk, soul, R&B, freestyle)
•February 14:  DJ Bles-sed
•February 15:  Caroline Weaver; Steve Hornung (live painting)
•February 16:  Ride with the Tide and Celluloid Social Club presents short films
•February 17:  Drive Dance Centre Freestyle Jam
•February 18:  Cara Yeates (fringe showcase/one woman theatre show)
•February 19:  Sean La La (funk, soul, DJ set)
•February 20:  The Painted Birds, Tea, The Left, Ben Sigston, Goodbye Beatdown
•February 21:  Elias (rock); Carmine and Camille (pop); String Magazine Fashion Show
•February 22:  Nessa V (singer/capoeira dancer)
•February 23:  DJ Czech (DJ/beatboxer); Spandy Andy (comedic dancer)
•February 24:  Wreck Beach Canada Live ( Wreck Beach Artists)
•February 25:  Hybrid Movement (acrobatics/martial arts); Karisma (dance/circus)
•February 26:  Foundation Radio (a collective of poets, musicians and artists)
•February 27:  Dianna David (multi-disciplinary performer); Herbal Bass (world, house); NaRai (R&B)

For a more detailed schedule of events, please visit www.iheartvanart.com

About I Heart VAN ART:
I Heart VAN ART is a new organization created by local artists Charity Zapanta and Dianna David.  The purpose of the organization is to uphold the value of Arts and Culture in the Greater Vancouver area and elevate Vancouver ’s Arts and Culture presence in the world.

For interview requests with Charity Zapanta and/or Dianna David, please contact:
Teresa Trovato
Gold Star Publicity
604.897.1939
teresatrovato@yahoo.com

GOD MADE ME FUNKY BRINGS NUFUNKTONIA TO WESTERN CANADA!

Jan 28, 2010 Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 28, 2010
GOD MADE ME FUNKY BRINGS NUFUNKTONIA TO WESTERN CANADA!

Toronto, ON – Canada’s own God Made ME Funky (GMMF) are bringing their infectious mix of R&B, hip-hop, funk and rock on tour to Western Canada. The Juno nominated, Toronto based 10-piece band are set to give several funkalicious performances throughout Alberta and British Columbia. The band is also part of the Ontario House line-up of performances during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics!
GMMF guarantees to showcase their unique and impressive “NuFunk” sound that will have audiences buzzing and bouncing long after the show ends. The band is currently promoting the release of their fourth album, Welcome to Nufunktonia, which was released across Canada last year. With the recent addition of Canadian Idol winner Melissa O’Neil as their female vocalist, and the upcoming Olympic performances adding to their already impressive roster, GMMF continues to prove their diversity and distinctive mark within Canadian music.
On top of the upcoming tour, PHATT al will share his national pride this month with the rest of Canada in an upcoming Ontario Tourism television advertisement. The energetic MC will perform the popular “There’s No Place Like This” theme song, which will launch during the Olympic games. In doing so, he will join fellow Canadian musicians Keisha Chanté, Molly Johnson and Alex J. Robinson who have all been featured in the national ad campaign.
The bands’ signature live show will rock audiences to their core! With original songs that blend into impressive and creative covers, (from Sexy Back to a Michael Jackson medley) and back again, anyone who has the opportunity to see the band’s live show is in for a fantastic time. Any performance by the band allows their audience to feel like they’re at a personalized dance party!
Hot off the presses is the band’s funky new video for “So In Effect”, featuring Toronto dance crew Moon Runners. Check it out online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD6v8C7Z0XE

MUSICIAN KAREN FOWLIE TO ROCK ATHLETES & FANS DURING 2010 OLYMPICS

Jan 27, 2010 Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUSICIAN KAREN FOWLIE TO ROCK ATHLETES & FANS DURING 2010 OLYMPICS

Vancouver: January 26, 2010 –Karen Fowlie will be performing live during the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes through Lions Bay on February 4th and will give solo showcases at the 2010 Olympics Plaza of Nations Stage on Wednesday February 17th and Wednesday February 24th from 4:15 to 4:55pm. Karen then hopes to inspire Canadian athletes to bring home the gold by giving a concert to remember with the Perkins 354 band at Athletes’ Village in Whistler on February 27th at 4:00pm. She is currently available for interviews and public appearances upon request.
Karen is a veteran performer who has captivated audiences at festivals and venues across the country since 1997. She settled in Vancouver in 2005 and quickly established herself as a prominent and influential member of the local music scene. Karen has appeared at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, the North Vancouver Sunny Sundays Concert Series, the Art in the Garden Festival, the Wild at Art Festival and headlined the Copper and Fire Festival.
“Pushing the Edge”, Karen’s debut CD, has had notable success.  It’s an exciting Alt. Country/Rock collection of upbeat songs which delve into the deepest recesses of human emotion.  One of the album’s most poignant tracks, “Tell Me,” examines childhood bullying and its effect on conflict in adulthood. To back this song, an independently-produced music video was released this past summer. “Tell Me” then garnered Karen AN ACCOLADE FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA ATTORNEY GENERAL and obtained national exposure in 7-11 and Wal-Mart stores. Another track from the album, “Happy,” was SELECTED TO REPRESENT MUSIC FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA in the 2008 Trade mission to Japan. Music from the CD has also been added to two compilation CDs (Music BC’s “Make A Case Against Racism”) and the 2008 Vancouver Artist’s Collective Association (VACA) compilation.
Karen’s songs continue to be in demand. “Love Letters to Evelyn,” a World War II love story, was added to the Wild at Art Festival compilation CD,   Karen’s holiday song, “Christmas Is Tomorrow,” was included on Rave On Studio’s compilation CD “A Very Vancouver Christmas III,” and was promoted by the Vancouver Province this last Christmas as one of the chosen songs on their “PROVINCE PLAYLIST”.
Listen for Karen’s newest single “Fire” as it is being released to Hot A/C radio stations across Canada February 2010!
Pushing the Edge is distributed through Adagio Music/Ioda Alliance, and is currently available through karenfowlie.com,  iTunes.com and other online vendors.

“Rising Star” – Vancouver Province
“You’ve got to hear this girl’s voice!” – CFUV Radio Victoria
“Karen Fowlie is a pearl in the Sea to Sky corridor” – Sonia Lebans, Wild Art Festival President

Learn more about Karen Fowlie:
http://www.karenfowlie.com
http://www.myspace.com/karenfowlie
http://www.youtube.com/karendasingah
http://www.twitter.com/karenfowlie

NoodleHead Productions is an Entertainment/Cyber PR and Multimedia Publicity Consulting Firm with an international artist, celebrity and corporate clientele. For more information, interviews, booking and/or licensing please contact Lisa Wartur at 604.767.8099 or email lisa@noodleheadproductions.com

Kelowna Secondary School Music Department Shines a Spotlight on a Generation of Young Musicians

Jan 22, 2010 Culture, Music

Kelowna Secondary School Music Department Shines a Spotlight on a Generation of Young Musicians

Students of Kelowna Secondary School Music Department will be heating up the stage February 2nd and 3rd in the presentation of Encore! 2010, the vibe and jive of live music at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
More than 200 musicians from Kelowna Secondary School and the Night Owl Orchestra will be stepping out onto the stage for two-nights of musically charged entertainment.
Jam-packed with live music, guest artists will be joining the students on stage each night that includes Okanagan Symphony Music Director and Conductor, Rosemary Thomson on Tuesday, February 2nd.
On Wednesday, February 3rd, Jazz Café founder and vocal jazz sensation Anna Jacyszyn will be lending her sultry voice to perform with the award-winning jazz ensemble from KSS.
“The students have blossomed over the past year as they have worked hard to prepare for this event. They rehearse regularly and have entered into competitions that has given them the edge in performance,” says Neil Wong, Music Director of the Kelowna Secondary School Music Department.  “We’ve been putting these concerts on for well over 17 years. This program is designed to give the students an experience to perform on stage, to a live audience and to showcase their remarkable skill,” he says.
Competing in several competitions over the last year has prepared the students for the upcoming concerts. Placing first and bringing home gold medal standing in their respective categories, they received first place for their Jazz Combo, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Band 11 & 12, Combination Choir, Top Choir and Top Male and Female vocalists at the BC Interior Jazz Festival.  In total, the students brought home 11 awards and an invitation to compete at Music Fest Canada.
Last spring, the Senior Concert Band brought home a gold medal at the Okanagan Concert Band Festival held in Penticton in addition to receiving a superior rating and invitation to compete at the National Music Festival in Ottawa.
“This year we’ve added the R&B ensemble and have invited two guest musicians to perform with the students including Rosemary Thomson, Music Director of the OSO and Anna Jacyszyn, jazz vocalist to share their experience and a chance for the students to perform with industry professionals”, says Sheila French, Music Director of the Night Owl Orchestra.  “We’re thrilled to have them both perform with us,” she says.
Audiences will be entertained with a musical tapestry differing each night from vocal jazz, rhythm & blues, concert choir, orchestral and classical repertoire that will showcase the panache of a new generation of musicians.
To soak in the talent and range of music, tickets for Encore! 2010, the vibe & jive of live music are affordably priced. Funds raised go towards purchasing equipment, music and festival fees to further the educational value for students at Kelowna Secondary School Music Department.

Join MCs Mike Roberts of CHBC on February 2nd and Marion Barschel,  host of Day Break on CBC Radio One on February 3rd. To attend the two-day concert, tickets for adults are just $20 or $15 for one night. Tickets for students and seniors are $13 for two nights or $10 for one. Tickets are available at the Kelowna Secondary School office located at 1079 Raymer Avenue in Kelowna, or at the door night of the shows.  For more information call 250.762.2805 ext. 264.

CANADIAN ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Jan 21, 2010 Culture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, January 4th, 2010

Penticton Honda Centre presents
CANADIAN ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP:
FINAL TWO ROUNDS
FRI – SAT, MARCH 12th & 13th, 2010
south okanagan events centre

Doors:  6:30pm ~ Show:  7:30pm
Tickets on sale Friday, January 8th, 2010 @ 10am
Tickets available at SOEC Box Office, Wine Country Visitors Centre,
Charge by phone at 1-877-763-2849

Order online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
Tickets: $30.00, $25.00 (incl. GST)
Kids: $15.00 any seat in the house
(plus FMF and service charges)

FIRST ARENACROSS EVENT FOR SOEC
Penticton, BC: Global Spectrum Facility Management and the Penticton Honda Centre are excited to announce the very first Arenacross event to be held at the South Okanagan Events Centre.
On Friday and Saturday, March 12th and 13th, 2010, rounds 8 and 9 of the Canadian Arenacross Championship will hit the dirt on the first indoor motocross track ever built for the SOEC.
Tickets are available on Friday, January 8th at 10:00am at the SOEC Box Office, the Wine Country Visitors Centre, charge by phone at 1-877-763-2849 or online at valleyfirsttix.com.
Adult tickets are priced at $30.00 and $25.00 and kids can sit anywhere in the house for only $15.00!
Over 200 top professional and amateur riders are expected to enter from across North America, including some familiar faces from the Okanagan. Come see the South Okanagan Events Centre like you’ve never seen it before, fun for the whole family!
You don’t want to miss the final two rounds of the CMRC sanctioned Canadian Arenacross Championships this March at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

LOCAL FAMILY WINERY RAISING FUNDS FOR HAITI DISASTER

Jan 19, 2010 Culture

LOCAL FAMILY WINERY RAISING FUNDS FOR HAITI DISASTER

For Immediate Release

(January 18, 2010 Oliver, BC) – Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery announced today that they will donate 10% of all wine sales from January 15 – February 15, 2010 to the Haiti disaster.

“Being a family run winery, we decided as a family that in 2010 we would become a winery that gives back to associations that are in need” stated John Ferreira, Co-Owner of Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery. “Watching the devastation in Haiti breaks our hearts and we want to do our part to help raise money to help them rebuild their country.”

This initiative is designed to have everyone get involved and feel a part of the fundraising being done by the winery. Individuals and businesses can get involved by making the choice to purchase wines from Quinta Ferreira when out buying wine. All wine sales, whether they are from private liquor stores, VQA stores throughout BC, restaurants or winery direct will all be tallied over the one month period to come to a grand total to contribute on February 16, 2010.

“We made the decision to include all of our distribution channels for this particular project so that our customers could all be a part of this fundraiser” comments Maria Ferreira, Co-Owner Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery. “Each time someone makes the decision of choosing our wine it is their way of helping us raise more money to add to the total tally.”

Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery is located in the heart of Oliver, British Columbia. Our 20 acres of vineyard and winery are located on the Black Sage Bench with a breathtaking view of the landscape and a fabulous vision overlooking the community. More information about Quinta Ferreira Estate Winery can be obtained at www.QuintaFerreira.com

“HAVE A HEART” with MICHAEL BOLTON

Jan 18, 2010 Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, January 18th, 2010

Order online at www.valleyfirsttix.com
Tickets (incl. GST):  $55.00 – All Bowl Seating
$99.00 – Cabaret Style Floor: Tables of 6 (plus applicable fees and service charges)

CELEBRATE “DATE NIGHT” AND SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL WITH AN INTIMATE PERFORMANCE BY MICHAEL BOLTON

Penticton, BC: Global Spectrum Facility Management has just confirmed an exclusive and intimate performance by Michael Bolton at the South Okanagan Events Centre in April for only a handful of Canadian dates. A portion of sales from the floor seats will be donated to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation in support of reaching the $1.7 million goal for the hospital’s new CT Scan.
For the first time, seating on the floor for an SOEC concert will be cabaret style; tables of six will create an exclusive and fun environment for concert goers. “This will prove to be a magical evening for both early and current fans of Michael Bolton, as well as couples looking for a place to dress up for some great entertainment and really enjoy Saturday “date night” all in the name of a great local cause,” said Curtis Webb, South Okanagan Events Centre General Manager.
CT Scanning is extremely critical for diagnostic examinations of the head, neck, chest, abdomen and bones and with staging cancers such as lung, liver, prostate, colon and pancreatic. The new technology available will deliver a minimum of 40% less radiation. With the new technology, head scans that currently take 5 minutes today will take 45 seconds in the future and will allow manipulations of images and instantaneously zero in on any area no matter how large or small.
In his illustrious career spanning more than 20 years, Bolton has produced 18 studio albums – a feat few artists have achieved – sold over 53 million albums, won multiple Grammys for honours including Best Male Vocalist, earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and sold out countless arena concerts. He has also paired with some of the best artists in the world, having penned hits for Barbra Streisand and KISS, shared duets with Ray Charles and Luciano Pavarotti, written songs with Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo, played guitar with B.B. King and had his music recorded on a track by hip-hop superstar Kanye West and megastar Jay-Z.
With his new record, One World One Love, a main objective was to craft a collection of memorable, uplifting songs that sounded fresh while maintaining the classic Michael Bolton vocal signature.  Equally important to Bolton was creating an antidote to the mood of gloom engulfing the planet. He says, “Every song had to make you feel good, because people have enough hardships to think about right now … ‘No heartbreak songs’ became our mantra!”
Make “no heartbreak” your mantra too – buy your tickets now for an unforgettable evening and to help reach the goal of having the hospital’s new CT Scan fully operational by the summer of 2010.

Sony Music ~ upcoming releases!

Jan 11, 2010 Music

SONY UPCOMING RELEASES

January 19th
• Motion City Soundtrack – My Dinosaur Life
My Dinosaur Life is Motion City Soundtrack’s first studio album for Columbia Records. A leading light in the punk-pop genre, Motion City Soundtrack includes members Joshua Cain (guitar), Tony Thaxton (drums), Justin Pierre (vocals/guitar), Jesse Johnson (moog) and Matthew Taylor (bass). The album was produced by Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) and the first single, “Disappear”, has been receiving fantastic reviews on AbsolutePunk, Facebook and Myspace. www.motioncitysoundtrack.com
• Various Artists – Moses Presents Zoomer’s Choice: But I Still Believe in Love
• Gretchen Wilson – Greatest Hits Package

January 26th
• David Bowie – A Reality Tour
“YOU ’VE GOT YOUR MOT HER IN A WHIRL / SHE’S NOT SURE IF YOU ’RE A BOY OR A GIRL” – With that joyous introductory couplet from his 1974 U.K. smash “Rebel Rebel” bringing down the house, David Bowie kicks off a wild night in Dublin, Ireland, unfurling every facet of his fabulous 40-year career before a delirious crowd of devotees, as though he’s once again planted the rainbow-hued flag of victory over the forces of mediocrity and small mindedness in hard-won soil. Whether appearing as the Thin White Duke, an abandoned astronaut, or glam-rock poster boy Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie is the man who practically invented the art of self-reinvention. And he hasn’t stopped yet. Now, all 30 of the amazing career-spanning, live songs from Bowie’s 2003 A Reality Tour DVD are available on compact disc, including three superb, unreleased bonus tracks: “Fall Dog Bombs The Moon,” “Breaking Glass” and “China Girl.” Caught at the very apex of his storied career, fronting a crack band that spotlights guitarist Earl Slick, Bowie cuts loose with “Fame” (co-written with John Lennon); a thrilling audience sing-along version of “All The Young Dudes” (a huge hit Bowie penned for Mott The Hoople); “Under Pressure” (co-written by Bowie and members of Queen, including Freddie Mercury); and “Changes,” the Bowie song that all but defines the man’s career in a single word. With few exceptions, no other singer in the history of pop music has been around for this long – and sounds as exciting now as he ever did. www.davidbowie.com

• Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston: 25th Anniversary Edition
The 1985 arrival of Whitney Houston’s debut album did more than introduce a stunning young talent – it set a new standard for every young vocalist who has followed since. Featuring the timeless mega-hits “You Give Good Love,” “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love Of All” (all of them #1 singles), the album garnered multiple awards for its timeless production values and Houston’s astonishing, flawless performances. The Deluxe Anniversary Edition of Whitney Houston’s debut comes expanded with 5 Bonus Tracks, PLUS a Bonus DVD consisting of the original video clips from the album, Whitney’s first television performance, and newly recorded, exclusive interviews with both Whitney Houston and Clive Davis reflecting on their amazing 25-year journey. Holding at #1 for 14 weeks and selling over 13 million copies, this Deluxe Anniversary Edition package is an essential reminder of why the world knew that it had gained a superstar. www.whitneyhouston.com
• Barry Manilow – The Greatest Love Songs of All Time

February 2nd
• Joe Satriani – Live in Paris: I Just Wanna Rock!

February 9th
• Sade – Soldier of Love

March 9th
• Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune (Legacy Recordings)
• Broken Bells – Broken Bells