Photo by Eric Parazelli

Premier Gala de l’ADISQ: The First Winners

Story by Eric Parazelli | Thursday October 25th, 2018

The marathon of Félix awards began on Oct. 24, 2018, with the Premier Gala de l’ADISQ, as well as the Industry Gala, in Montréal, where a total of 41 trophies were handed out.

Among the winning SOCAN members was, of course, rap sensation and winner of the 2018 Prix de la chanson SOCAN, Loud, who walked away with the Most Successful Artist Outside of Québec Award. He recently won the Breakthrough and Urban Music honours at the Montréal SOCAN Awards Gala and, during his winner speech at ADISQ, he thanked SOCAN for its support during the past year.

Hubert Lenoir, Gala ADISQ, Premier, 2018Hubert Lenoir, co-winner of the 2018 SOCAN Montréal Gala’s Breakthrough Award, won the ADISQ Album of the Year, and the Critic’s Choice Award for his superb Darlène. Philippe Brach won Album of the Year – Alternative for Le silence des troupeaux and Galaxie won Album of the Year – Rock.

Arcade Fire’s latest album, Everything Now, won the band the award for Album of the Year – Anglophone, and The Barr Brothers won Concert of the Year – Anglophone. Jordan Officer’s Three Rivers was chosen as Album of the Year – Jazz, and the musician also gave a performance during the ADISQ gala, which was televised on Télé-Québec. On the folk side of things, Tire le coyote won his first Félix for Désherbage, while Pierre Kwenders won Album of the Year – World Music for Makanda, at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time. Yoan won the same prize in the country music category for Depuis longtemps, and Martin Lizotte walked away with the trophy in the instrumental category for Ubiquité. The Félix in the roots category went to De Temps Antan, a first award for the band.

In addition to Jordan Officer, several SOCAN members performed during the Premier Gala, hosted by Marie-Mai and Yann Perreau: there was a beautiful duet by Beyries and Gabrielle Shonk, an energizing song by Émile Bilodeau, an uptempo Latin number by Boogat, Dumas’ irresistible dance groove, as well as Mara Tremblay’s luminous performance.

This 40th annual celebration of Québec’s music industry will conclude Oct. 28 with the televised Gala, which will once again be hosted by comedian Louis-José Houde, and broadcast on ICI Radio-Canada Télé, live from the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier of Place des Arts.

For a complete list of the Premier Gala and Industry gala winners, visit the ADISQ website.

Photo by Brad Ardley

ShoShona Kish to receive WOMEX Professional Excellence Award

Story by Howard Druckman | Friday October 26th, 2018

For her role in the ongoing revolution of uplifting Indigenous communities and their culture – using the medium of music as an agent of change, to awaken our humanity, and to help us connect – ShoShona Kish will receive the 2018 WOMEX (World  Music Expo) Professional Excellence Award. The award ceremonies will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, on the Canary Islands of Spain.

The importance of the work of such artists, from within Indigenous communities, to change perceptions and de-construct stereotypes enacted by mainstream popular culture cannot be over-estimated, and ShoShona Kish is one of those artists: a singer, a musician, and a visionary.

SOCAN member Kish is half of the duo that co-fronts the band Digging Roots – along with her fellow member, husband Raven Kanatakta. Their musical style blends folk-rock, pop, blues, and hip-hop, and they have collaborated with musical colleagues such as Tanya Tagaq and DJ Bear Witness, of A Tribe Called Red.

On Oct. 27, 2018, the day before the awards ceremony, Kish will be interviewed by the Executive Director of Folk Alliance International, Aengus Finnan, during the WOMEX conference that precedes the awards.

Photo by Stanton Photography

“The Hockey Song” to be inducted into Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Story by SOCAN | Thursday October 25th, 2018

Enduring anthem “The Hockey Song,” written and originally performed by iconic Canadian singer Stompin’ Tom Connors, will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) in a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Released in 1973, the beloved song is celebrating its 45th anniversary, as a staple tune played throughout North American NHL arenas, and at every Toronto Maple Leafs home game.

The quintessential Canadian song about the quintessential Canadian game, “The Hockey Song” is the most well-known example of Connors’ ardent nationalism. In Tom’s typical novelty-song style, his three verses correspond to the three periods of a hockey game, delivered in the style of a play-by-play announcer – endearing it to fans and players alike. Stompin’ Tom was often invited to perform it at NHL games, and his song became not only a hockey theme, but also an unofficial Canadian anthem.

“The Hockey Song” has been recorded by Corb Lund, George Canyon, The Good Brothers, and Avril Lavigne, and Connors’ original version reached No. 29 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart on March 23, 2013, a few weeks after his death.

“This year, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is partnering with events that share a connection with the songs we’re inducting,” said Vanessa Thomas, Executive Director of CSHF. “There’s not a more fitting stage to celebrate Stompin’ Tom’s ‘The Hockey Song’ than at an NHL game.  We’re very excited to see the crowd’s passion for the song, and to honour this classic into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

On Oct. 27, Tom Connors Jr. – son of late Stompin’ Tom Connors – and family will be presented with a plaque recognizing the song’s induction. The CSHF will present the plaque before the Maple Leafs versus Winnipeg Jets game at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Chart-topping, award-winning Canadian artist Tim Hicks will also perform “The Hockey Song,” live, before the game.