JULY/AUG 2016 • SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY
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SPF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Janet Adamana
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ally Sigurdson PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR Steff Shields
SOUND, PHRASE & FURY is a Canadian music magazine out to help promote musicians not usually covered in mainstream media. All music, photos and articles used are for the sole purpose of spreading the knowledge of these artists and their music. We always encourage readers to support every act through purchasing releases, merchandise and attending live shows.
July/Aug 2016
That Wild and Reckless Breeze Note from the Editor
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School of Rock 6 We profile Rock It Out! Summer Camp in this issue’s Industry spotlight
Sounds of Summer We go through this season’s top ten must-see festivals
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We’re All Ears Our artist picks for July/August
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info@sound-phrase-fury.com @soundphrasefury facebook.com/soundphrasefury
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EDITOR’S NOTE
THAT WILD AND RECKLESS BREEZE It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The weather is great, the sun is shining, the patios are always bustling and people are out and about exploring their cities and taking in everything summer has to offer. It’s no surprise that we at SOUND, PHRASE & FURY absolutely love this season. It just oozes everything we love – sun, fun, and best of all, catchy tunes that just beg us to turn up our stereos. It’s also no surprise that our summer issue is by far our favourite to put together. We get to seek out the latest and greatest albums and artists that bring that extra little bit of joy. This is also the time of year that we pack up the car, load up our playlist and hit the road to indulge in some sweet summer festivals. So from the SPF camp, we wish you the happiest and safest summer. Check out our list of top ten summer festivals in Manitoba and our picks for our favourite summer jams. See you in the fall!
We just tried to find some room to breathe Janet Adamana Editor-In-Chief
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Facebook.com/AestheticHeartPromotions JULY/AUG 2016 • SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY
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school of rock words by Janet Adamana We all know there is something really special about music. Whether you create it or simply listen to and enjoy it, there has always been something embedded into the songs we know and love that seems to speak to us and reach us in ways that other things just cannot. Throughout history there has always been something hidden in those little sound waves that really help people connect, and for a lot of youth who generally have a hard time escaping isolation and loneliness – music is their only saving grace. Griffin Jenkins, Program Manager of Rock It Out! Summer Band Camp at Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, knows this all too well. Through the Rock It Out! Summer Band Camp, kids have the opportunity to learn how to make music while learning to cope with stress and anxiety, connect with one another and ultimately become the confident, fun-loving kids they were meant to be. We sat down with Jenkins to talk about the program, the impact it has on youth, and his own experience as a past camp participant. 6 SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY • JULY/AUG 2016
SPF: How did the program come about and what sparked the idea? GJ: In 2011, my predecessor Taylor Demetrioff came up with the idea and came to Mood Disorders and really pushed for it to happen. He ran the program for the first couple of years. I was actually a participant of the first year, and so him and I formed a friendship and bonded through the camp. He moved onto a different position and I took over, so now I run the band camp, as well as a number of other youth programs. This year we ran a sports camp, run by the same model as the band camp. We also partnered with Kids etc. to do a dance camp, so we’ll be doing a one-week pilot dance camp this summer. SPF: What was your experience like as a participant of band camp? GJ: I went to the first three years of camp. I loved it. I remember the last day of the first year I thought, ‘oh man, I don’t want to go home. I want to come back and hang out more.’ It was so much fun to play music with people, learn to be in a band and meet a group of people with the same mindset as you and work on how to be better people and help other people as well as help yourself. SPF: The camp was formed for kids who have mood disorders or anxiety. Other than learning to make music, does the program teach other skills like how to cope and deal with stressful situations? GJ: The camp is open to anyone. You don’t need to have a diagnosis because everyone has mental health. Everyday we have a support group session where we talk about a variety of topics between family, school, stress, anxiety and how to set goals. This year we’re actually doing a cognitive behaviour
INDUSTRY
program within the camp to help kids learn to rework their thoughts. It just adds another layer of education about mental health. SPF: What happens in the program? GJ: There are four 2-week sessions. For the first week kids get to know each other. We do a survey to see where they’re at musically, what kind of music they like and we put them in bands. We help them learn cover songs and if there are kids who might have less-developed music abilities than others, we try to work on it and help them out. In the second week, we begin teaching them how to write their own songs. We have instructors who have written songs before and they help with basic chord structure and writing lyrics on how they’re feeling to express themselves. All that is gearing up to the final show on the last Friday of each session. SPF: Tell me about the overall impact the camp has on these kids? GJ: It’s remarkable. It doesn’t seem like a big thing at first. It’s not like at the end of camp everyone is like, ‘oh my God. I’m better now!’ But when you see them a year from now and you see that they’re on a cheerleading team. They’re now on a sports team. They’re hanging out with friends. They’re not just in their basement. They’re getting out there. They’re talking to people. This year especially, we have more people volunteering with the program who have aged out but they just want to be there. They want to help out. They say “I love the program so much and I want everyone to love it as much as I do.” It’s amazing to see. I mean, when you’re at camp it’s just us hanging out. We teach in subtle ways but the impact it leaves on them and the bonding and relationships that they gain are just remarkable.
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INDUSTRY
SPF: What’s your favourite success story from the program? GJ: There were a couple of kids who were just mean and angry. Irritability and anger can sometimes be a symptom of depression so these kids were getting kicked out of class, not being able to focus and just angry all the time. All of a sudden they would come to camp and be angry the first day but once we had a chance to talk they’re like, ‘I’m really pissed off because no one understands me, but you guys understand what I’m going through.’ They would imSPF: What are some of the big changes you’ve mediately flip over and turn into these super fun loving kids who just want to hang out. seen over the past couple of years? GJ: In the first year, there was just one 2-week session. The next year it grew to 4 weeks, and since Rock It Out! is open to Manitoba then the number of people who have started to come out has grown. The amount of support from youth aged 12-17. Sessions are two sponsors has continued to grow and it’s amazing to weeks long and run between July 4 – see how a little idea of giving kids something to do August 26. To register, e-mail griffinj@ for the summer has turned into a major program mooddisordersmanitoba.ca or phone for our organization. SPF: So the kids get to break out of their shells. GJ: One of the girls who went for three years, she was super shy. She didn’t really talk to anyone but this year she has been talking to someone at The United Way about her story. She actually presented at a luncheon recently about her experience and how important this program is to her. It’s amazing just seeing someone go from having super social anxiety to wanting to tell everyone about her story because she is so happy about it.
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sounds of
Summer compiled by ally sigurdson
The legendary Folk Fest, huddled in Birds Hill Park needs no introduction. Every folk artist and fan waits all year for this festival – and it’s very easy to see why. For four days, you can indulge in 58 different bands and artists on nine different stages. In the evening, you can head over to the campsite and party until the sun rises over Popes Hill. Get ready to get your Folk on!. Line Up: Ryan Adams, The Head and the Heart, Milky Chance, Lord Huron, Colin Hay, The Paper Kites, The Staves, Loudon Wainwright III, Basia Bulat, San Fermin, Sam Roberts Band, Alan Doyle, Lisa Leblanc, The Funk Hunters, Noam Pikelny, The Wild Reeds and many more. 10 SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY • JULY/AUG 2016
Winnipeg Folk Festival July 7 - 10 Birds Hill Park winnipegfolkfestival.ca
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Nothing beats summer in Winnipeg. Patios in the sunshine, a cold beer by the beach and finally getting a tan back! Summer in Winnipeg is wonderful. For us at Sound, Phrase & Fury, the best part of summer is all the live music we get to experience. We’ve compiled the Top Ten Summer Music Festivals in and around town to keep you happy and listening all summer long!
If you are unable to head out to Birds Hill for Folk Fest, fear not! The Soca Reggae Fest is a fantastic Caribbean music celebration, and is located right in the heart of Winnipeg in Old Market Square. Grab a lawn chair and a buddy you like ever-somuch, and enjoy a fantastic blend of local and international reggae. Line Up: Glen Williams Duo, D.B. & Deadbeats Blues Band, Ras Tamils, Idrissa & The Peacemakers Band, Carabello, Cilly Cyb Fung High, Hi Life Steel Orchestra, Parasdize Soca Reggae Band, Kaya, Demo Punisha, Kid Adoja Kapone, Glen Washington, Nigma Soca Calypso Singer and more.
Soca Reggae Festival July 8 - 10 Old Market Square socareggaefestival.ca
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FESTIVAL SPOTLLIGHT
MTS Super Spike July 15 & 16 Maple Grove Rugby Park superspike.ca
Love sports? Love live music? Excellent! Then Super Spike is the event for you. For two whole days you can drink, play volleyball, and jam out to twelve different bands in the sunshine. It is Western Canada’s biggest beach/outdoor volleyball tournament, mixed in with a two-day concert series, taking on a fantastic festival atmosphere. It is one of the hottest parties of the summer, and to top it all off, all funds raised go to support Winnipeg-based National Women’s Volleyball Team. Do some good while getting your groove on - not a bad way to spend your summer! Line Up: The Sheepdogs, Poor Young Things, The JD Edwards Band, The Proud Sons, Kenaston, Ras Tamils, Leanne Pearson & Papa Mambo
Central Canada’s largest electronic music festival is back, and better than ever. Summer of Sound is one of the most popular concerts/festivals in Winnipeg, and for good reason. An evening of EDM with some of the genres biggest and best names, surrounded by a fantastic atmosphere. July 17th is dedicated to celebrating electronic alternative music, and we’re excited to see all of you there! Line Up: The Chainsmokers, 3LAU, Seven Lions, Tritonal, Shaun Frank, Lost Kings and local acts TBA 12 SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY • JULY/AUG 2016
summer of sound
July 17 Adrenaline Adventures
If you’re up for a road trip, we highly recommend making the drive to the Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival. Brandon Fest makes up a large part of the promotion and support of all arts in Western Manitoba, and every year they show off and highlight some of the amazing talent the province has to offer. With two days of music, arts and crafts, family activities and a full list of vendors to choose from, this festival is one of Manitoba’s best – and one you shouldn’t miss.
Brandon Folk, Music & Art Festival July 22-24 Brandon, Manitoba brandonfolkfestival.ca
Line Up: 2 Dope Boys in a Cadillac, Allison Brown and Uncle Dan Henschell, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, John K Samson and The Winter Wheat, Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Eve, The Small Glories, Jess Rae Ayre, Sol James, Mitchell Mozdzen, Matt Zimmerman, The 204, The New Customs, The Young Pixels, Logan Jax Oxenham and more.
Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition August 11 - 14 The Cube memetic.ca
The Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition (also known as MEME) is Western Canada’s leading electronic music and digital arts festival, with four days of concerts, workshops and performances throughout downtown Winnipeg. This festival is the one for you if you’re a fan of creativity in music and audiovisual art. Branching from techno, to dub, house to experimental, your ears AND eyes are in for a treat this August. Line Up: Danger Bay, Ghost Twin, Joe Silva, Riddim, Tubescreamer, US Marshall & more. JULY/AUG 2016 • SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY
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After three successful years in Edmonton and last year’s Winnipeg debut, Interstellar Rodeo is back with three whole days of a musical blend of rising stars and well-known names. From Serena Rider to The Strumbellas, it’s an excellent weekend of music. Food vendors will be lined up and to top it off, you’ll be able to sample some fantastic wines. (Music and wine? Yes PLEASE.) Lead by Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson, you’ll have the Interstellar Rodeo chance to check out different collections August 12-14 from Winnipeg’s finest independent The Forks wine merchants and have it served to interstellarrodeo.com/Winnipeg you with a smile. Line Up: Blond(e) Goth, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Serena Ryder, Skydiggers, Begonia, Wilco, Sam Outlaw, Sykamore, Wintersleep & more
Winnipeg BBQ & Blues Fest
August 19 - 20 Burton Cummings Theatre winnipegbbqandblues.ca 14 SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY • JULY/AUG 2016
If there is anything we love more than music, it’s food, so combining both is a dream come true. Taking over Smith Street in front of the Burton Cummings Theatre, you’ll have the chance to listen to some of the best blues performances, from near and far. If that wasn’t enough, a huge part of this festival is the “Pit Masters” barbeque competition, in which a $10,000 cash prize is available to masters of the grill. Come on out, have a drink, some good quality BBQ and listen to some of our local best - and some famous blues names. Line Up: Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Doucette,Tinsley Ellis Band, Cecile DooKingue, Big Dave McLean and more.
Rainbow trout Music Festival
August 19-21 St. malo, MB rainbowtroutmusicfestival.com
For those who love a drive and are itching for some grassroots independent music, Rainbow Trout Music Festival is for you. Totally volunteerrun, this music festival was sprouted out of the pure love and passion of promoting local music. The fest features three full days of music from every genre under the sun (rock, electro, hiphop, jazz, folk, garage and funk, to name a few). The weekend is also full of camping, dancing, swimming and enjoying a damn good time with friends. Line Up: Duotang, Beth, Basic Nature, Mise en Scene, Odanah, Begonia, Pop Tart, Orlando Gloom, 3 Peat, Blimp Rock, Well Sister, Leaf Rapids, Palm Trees, Holy Void, Smoky Tiger, William Prince, Ultra Mega, Heartbeat City and more.
Running from now until September, Assiniboine Park is offering spectacular jazz music open to the public for FREE every Sunday afternoon, starting at 3pm. (Yes, you heard us, FREE.) Made possible by the fantastic support from The Richardson Foundation, all of Winnipeg is able to go enjoy the sights and sounds that jazz music and the outdoors have to offer. So, find a buddy, a picnic basket and a cozy blanket to relax on and spend your summer the RIGHT way. Line Up: Helen White, Dave Lawton, Janice Finlay, Jay Harrison, Rosemarie Todaschuk Quartet, Shannon Kristjanson, Grant Jones, Bill McMahon & Klowak Cummings Group &
Jazz in the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden All summer Assiniboine Park assiniboinepark.ca
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we're All ears These artists have landed on our radar - and now we can’t stop listening. 16 SOUND, PHRASE, & FURY • JULY/AUG 2016
compiled by Janet Adamana
RECOMMENDS
A Story Told Alt-Pop
Charleston, West Virginia
With emotionally charged storytelling that’s chock-full of energetic rock melodies, it’s hard not to get caught up in the songs of A Story Told. Soon after the release of their debut EP in 2013, the alt-pop quintet have been quickly climbing the ranks of the independent rock scene. Releasing EP after EP, and landing highly-coveted spots at the Pittsburgh stops of both the 2015 and 2016 Vans Warped Tour, the boys have clearly been busy paving their way and its definitely paying off. Their latest album, Keep Watch, offers 10-tracks for emo and alternative lovers with a soft spot for simply catchy pop.
facebook.com/astorytoldband - astorytoldband.com
It’s a rare and wondrous occasion when you come across a vocalist with the kind of voice that just oozes raw emotion and commands your body to send chills all over. Begonia (aka Alexa Dirks) is one of those soulful gems. Offering a beautiful blend of jazz, R&B, folk and pop, Begonia leaves your body dancing and your heart swooning. Already a seasoned musician, Dirks is best known of her work in Juno Award winning group, Chic Gamine. It comes to no surprise that her new musical endeavour is another noteworthy offering.
facebook.com/hellobegonia hellobegonia.com
Begonia Soul-pop Winnipeg, MB
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photo by: Rachel Boese
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RECOMMENDS
owl Kill Pop-rock New Jersey
One listen to Owl Kill and you’ll be transported right back to the golden age of pop-rock (aka the early 2000s). Melding catchy pop elements akin to the unforgettable kings of the era, The Starting Line and Taking Back Sunday, Owl Kill offers up a new age take on the classic pop-rock sound. Their latest EP, Self Management, features 5 peppy addicting tunes that’s sure to make your sweet summer playlist that much sweeter.
facebook.com/owlkill - owlkill.com - twitter.com/owlkill
In sportswriter Red Smith’s famous quote he said there is nothing to writing, you just open a vein and bleed. Although he was taking about writing columns, if there was one modern musician that encapsulated this simplistic, yet oh-so truthful formula for writing damn good music, it’s Elessar Thiessen. One listen and you’re immediately moved, swallowed up into Thiessen’s world full of honest poetry and alluring tunes. The singersongwriter, takes the genre back with his stripped down take on emotional pop. Channelling soul, alt-rock and funk, Thiessen presents 12 moving tracks sure to be on your iPod’s most played list. &
Elessar Thiessen singer-songwriter Winnipeg
facebook.com/ElessarThiessen - elessarthiessen.com
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