Record Store Day is an annual celebration of independent music vendors and vinyl. This is the event’s fifth year, and independent records shops from all over the world are participating, including Kamloops’s Spinners Sound Centre.

Carrie Colliton is one of the founding members of Record Store Day. For her, the day is about the culture of these small businesses and the role they play in their communities.

“We’re trying to draw attention to, and celebrate, the independently owned local record stores and their place in the community, year-round,” she explains.

Record Store Day was started by a group of record store owners, inspired by Free Comic Book Day’s celebration of comic book stores and their customers. From there it became an international holiday of sorts, with music fans lining up outside stores for the opportunity to purchase limited releases, singles and entire albums created especially for Record Store Day.

This year fans will find special releases by The Flaming Lips, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Civil Wars, Thievery Corporation, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and more. Singer/songwriter Feist also teamed up with metal band Mastadon for a special release featuring each band covering the other’s material.

Sure, you may have catalogues from your favourite artists on your iPod, but purchasing a record and listening to it on a turntable is a much more intimate experience. It seems more people are realizing this—according to Nielsen SoundScan vinyl LP sales increased by 36 per cent last year. Whether it’s the romanticism of placing a record on a turntable and listening to the crackles and pops as it plays, or the more personable appearance of a record sleeve, having a record collection is appealing to more and more people.

Colliton reached out to fans on Facebook to inquire into the phenomenon. Replies from Record Store Day Facebook fans stated that people prefer the sound and style of vinyl.

“A lot of them were adamant that the sound is just better on vinyl . . . others like the fact that they have this artefact that they could hold on to, the artwork, the lyrics, everything—they just feel a closer connection to it,” she says. “Others like the actual process of putting vinyl on the turntable and concentrating on the listening experience, which is different than listening to music in a digital form, there’s no question.”

A quote from Damon Albarn (Blur, The Gorillaz) on the Record Store Day website explains his positive outlook for local music shops:

“I think independent record shops will outlive the music industry as we know it because, long-term, their value to people is far greater, because even in our era of file-sharing and blogs, you can’t replace the actual look on someone’s face when they’re playing something they really rate and think you should listen to it too. It’s special.”

Join the world in celebrating local music stores and vinyl April 21, and keep the tables turning. This annual event takes place the third Saturday of April, but some good vinyl and good vibes are available from a local record shop any day.

While big headliners are arguably the reason people attend most festivals, smaller festivals often have a more laid-back atmosphere, more space for dancing and chilling, and offer better views of the artists without the sardine-effect of some music audiences. If you’re looking for something different to try out this summer, look into these five B.C. music festivals.

Welcome in summer on Vancouver Island at Tall Tree Music Festival, June 21 to 23. Held just outside Port Renfrew, at Browns Mountain, Tall Tree showcases live talent from genres including surf and folk rock, and electronic dance music. The ocean views and old-growth forest setting are draw enough, though the remote location also makes for a somewhat primitive festival—bring cash with you because there’s no ATM on-site.

Acts for Tall Tree 2012 haven’t been released yet, but previous artists have included Jets Overhead, Neon Steve, and LongWalkShortDock.

Another excellent festival in June is The Groove Music Festival, June 22 to 25, at the GT Paradize Adventure Ranch in Midway, B.C. According to organizer Jon Larson, the festival was created in honour of his friend, Casey Crawford, who passed away in 2009. Larson aims to continue showcasing only Canadian music talent as the festival continues to grow—this year’s docket includes electronic dance music artists Freddy J, Yan Zombie, Bryx, and Deeps.

Back on the Island, another great festival, held July 20 to 22, is the Kulth Music Festival in Coombs, B.C. This folk fest with an edge, as its name implies—Kulth is short for Kulth-Ka-Choolth, meaning jagged face—is a film festival and music festival combined. Feature films A Small Act and Sunflower Hour will be screened throughout the day and night, followed by musical acts like The Boom Booms and Georgia Murray. The electronic music stage has yet to announce confirmed artists.

If you love the atmosphere of “hippie fests” like Shambhala Music Festival, but want something smaller and more intimate check out Bass Coast, in Squamish August 3 to 6. This riverside festival is capped at 3,000 attendees, and is a weekend exhibition of the arts, dance, and yoga. Although the 2012 lineup hasn’t been released, previous artists like Dub FX, Erica Dee, Kyrian, and EPROM, shows that this festival is well worth the ticket price.

There’s also a new festival popping up on the west coast this year: Wanderlust.

This yoga-music festival is taking place in Whistler August 23 to 26 and is featuring celebrity yogis like Baron Baptise and Eoin Finn, and excellent musical acts like Michael Franti and Thievery Corporation. While this is Wanderlust’s first year in Whistler, the production company, part of the group that organizes Austin City Limits and Lollapalooza, has a proven track record of producing great events.

These music festivals are among the many popping up all over B.C. With so much great local talent, and so many ambitious event organizers targeting B.C.’s picturesque potential festival venues, there’s no need to travel long miles and spend loads of cash on massive festivals where time is often wasted waiting in line, and trying to get a better vantage point of the stage.

Tall Tree Music Festival
June 21 to 23
Browns Mountain,
Port Renfrew, B.C.
$129 advance purchase;
$159 at gate
talltreemusicfestival.com

The Groove Music Festival
June 22 to 25
GT Paradize Adventure Ranch, Midway, B.C.
$50 – $60 advance purchase;
$75 at gate;
$100 and up: VIP packages

Kulth Music Festival
July 20 to 22
Coombs Rodeo Grounds
Coombs, B.C.
Prices not yet available
thekulth.ca

Bass Coast Project
August 3 to 6
Squamish, B.C.
$195 advance purchase;
$220 at gate
basscoast.ca

Wanderlust
August 23 to 26
Whistler, B.C.
$99 to $475 USD
whistler.wanderlustfestival.com

Apocalypse, the new album by Kamloops MC Sick Steen, is a hefty 20-tracks produced and mixed by the artist. The video for the album’s “Time to React” was shot by John Hinch, and features many familiar sights from the River City.

“The hardest part was getting the shots on the red bridge in Kamloops without getting run over,” says Sick Steen.

MC Sick Steen, a.k.a. Steen Blechingberg, spent many years absorbing ski culture and musical influence at Sun Peaks. While he doesn’t spend much time on the slopes anymore, Sick Steen happily recalls his “golden years” at the resort.

“I’ve very fond memories of Sun Peaks,” he says. “My older sister lived at the hill, so I crashed either on her couch or in her closet, worked, and partied—although I didn’t know it at the time, me being up there at that time helped shape me as an artist.”

Sick Steen’s sister happened to live next door to Marc Costanzo, vocalist and guitarist for the band Len. Costanzo had a huge influence on Blechinberg, teaching him about hip hop and music theory. He also lent Sick Steen his first sampler, an E-mu SP-1200. From there, Sick Steen was hooked.

He grew up listening to music ranging from The Beatles to Nirvana. In Grade 6, he heard his first rap album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by the Wu-Tang Clan, which opened up a new world focused on lyrical composition.

“I memorized every word from that record and I thought if I can do this, then I should do this—and I did,” he says.

Rap greats such as Nas, Slick Rick, and Big L have been major influences for Sick Steen, who describes his music as rap, with elements from jazz, rock and roll, electronic, industrial, and world music. He goes with what inspires him at the time.

“I want my music to be a ride, with many twists and turns, but one that doesn’t make the listener sick after being on it too long,” he says.

Apocalypse is now available on iTunes. Despite the title, the album has nothing to do with the 2012 end-of-days conspiracy.

“If you look up the definition of apocalypse it says, ‘lifting of the veil’, or ‘revelation,’” Sick Steen explains. “It’s a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception.”

The album shows Sick Steen’s serious mastery of the English language. The lyrics are both entertaining and heartfelt, and the finished product is tight and catchy. No live shows have been announced, but Sick Steen has a busy year ahead of him.

“I’m in the process of collaborating with one of the hottest emcees in the game today,” he says. “Any free time I have right now is spent in the studio—my goal is to release four full-length records in 2012.”

That’s a serious New Year’s resolution.

In this generation of carbon-copied sounds, where many an artist wallows around in a pool of similar-sounding artists, it’s exciting to witness a musician develop a signature sound and top the charts with it.

Skrillex, or Sonny Moore, has managed to use a number of influences—from Aphex Twin to Marilyn Manson—to create a controversial musical formula. There are possibly as many Skrillex haters as there are fans, but the same can be said for a lot of really good bands. For some reason, people seem to really love Skrillex, or really, really hate him.

Bangarang, Skrillex’s fourth EP, still borrows from Moore’s library of signature sounds—creepy chipmunk vocals, grinding bass, and huge dub step drops. Ellie Goulding, 12th Planet, Kill the Noise, and yes, The Doors are all featured on the album, though they’re all barely recognizable. Skrillex has a knack for taking vocals and melodies, and shredding them to create a more distorted song that sounds as if it’s ripped on nearly too many energy drinks. Bangarang is definitely going to be club-friendly.

“Breakin’ a Sweat,” featuring bits by The Doors, including Jim Morrison’s electronic music prophecy, is one of the better tracks on the album. The song builds, then drops where you’d expect it to, and blows “Light My Fire” out with some skinny white-kid swagger.

“Bangarang” may feel a little nostalgic to fans of the film Hook. The title was the battle cry of the lost boys. The song aims to appeal to 1980s children, ending with, “Hey-yo, I’m eating Fun Dip right now.” Those were the days, right? It’s a light song, with heavy sound that will have kids shaking to the ground.

One track sounded out-of-place, and was surprising considering that it was a collaboration with 12th Planet and Kill the Noise. “Right on Time,” with its overused synths and relentless beat, sounds fit for a high-school rave.

Whether you like it or not, Bangarang is a tight, well-produced album. The tracks jump around a little from trance to dub step, all with a heavy hand of glitch, but they all carry Skrillex’s signature sound. With a solid tour schedule, and artists lining up to be remixed by him, Moore has a bright future in the next generation of music.

Nero, comprising Joe Ray and Daniel Stephens, has been charging the dance scene since their first single “Innocence” in 2010. While the duo has been mixing for about seven years now, the past two years have been especially productive for them. Mixing tracks by everyone from La Roux to N.E.R.D to Beyonce, the UK boys have shown they know exactly what modern clubbers want.

Nero started out in mainstream trance and dance sound, and has graduated to the trendy world of drum ‘n’ bass and dub step. While some of their tracks lean to one genre or another, it’s really their combination that sets them apart. One excellent example is the track “Promises,” which plays between drum ‘n’ bass, then switches into heavy undulating bass.

Nero’s success may also lie in the diva talent of Alana Watson. She’s not an official member of the band, but delivers vocals for the majority of Nero’s songs and performs live with them.

The band recently did a tour of the United States and Canada to celebrate the album Welcome Reality, which was released in August of 2011. While some shows had rave reviews, the performance at Club 9one9 was a bit lacklustre for the price of the ticket—$45. Understandably it’s hard for someone spinning on the decks, mixing tracks, and drinking beer to put up much of a performance. A DJ’s music has to speak for itself. But when you pay well above the average ticket price for a well above average dance music producer you expect a little extra. Perhaps a larger venue with a better layout and sound system would have provided this.

Regardless of this one experience, Nero’s laying down some of the best dub step tracks right now, and this is something they deserve full adulation for. The “Feel So Close” Calvin Harris remix, and especially “Promises” featuring Alana tracks are must-listens for any dub step fans.

Dub step is a trendy genre right now, which is arguably both a good and bad thing. As it becomes more commercialized, ticket prices will increase and shows will get bigger. On the upside, the popularity of the genre will support the number of fiercely amazing producers managing to constantly find new and exciting ways to twist and wobble sounds. Nero will be great if they consider only touring with the full band, including Alana, and if they keep pouring out tracks like the ones out now they’ll be around for a long time.

Austra’s debut album Feel it Break, which came out in May this year, is a dark take on synthy-pop music with haunting and austere vocals combined with punchy drums, deep bass, and glittering synthesizers. The highlight of the album is singer/songwriter Katie Stelmanis, an opera-trained vocalist with distinction and range. Her voice is definitely the fingerprint of this band.

Austra, which used be the punk band Galaxy, also features the talents of drummer Maya Postepski and bassist Dorian Wolf. The band enlisted the mixing expertise of Canadian sound engineer Damian Taylor (Bjork, UNKLE, the Prodigy) to produce Feel it Break, an album with serious popularity potential.

The most recognizable song on the album, “The Beat and the Pulse” has stirred the interest of CBC Radio 3, among many music fans. The catchy bass and synth underline Stelmanis haunting vocals. “Lose It” is one of the more upbeat-sounding tracks featuring Stelmanis opera range, and needs to be on a snowboard or ski video somewhere—it would sound great.

Watch out for Austra in 2012. If the stars align right they’re sure to making festival appearances across Canada. For now, plug into Feel it Break and enjoy.

With the mercury dropping outside, there’s no better time to snuggle up in front of the fire and spend more time listening to new music!

Kamloops quintet Blackdog Blue has been pleasing Kamloops crowds for six years now, and with the release of a new album, titled 3, they’re set to keep on going.

The band, comprising Dennis Hayes, Renea Denis, Corey Yamaoka, Darrell Hanna, and Uli Scheck, celebrated the album’s release this fall at The Blue Grotto. While 3 has stuck close to Blackdog Blue’s roots, it features a more contemporary sound, and production polish.

“When we first started out we had a blues, classic rock format,” says Hayes, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for Blackdog Blue. “As a songwriter I wanted to become more contemporary—you’ll see more of an evolution in songwriting.”

3 touches on sounds reminiscent of The Allman Brothers, and even Elton John. It’s a versatile album with a number of excellent songs, especially appealing to a classic rock or blues-rock audience.

Recorded for the most part at Perry’s Recording Studio in Kamloops, Blackdog Blue went to Small World Studios to finish production, and gain insight from leading Kamloops musicians/producers Henry Small and Kris Ruston.

A lot of work went into the building of 3, with Hayes spending a couple hundred hours writing, arranging, and developing the songs before heading to the studio. While he can’t pick a particular favourite on the album, Hayes explains there are a few that have special meaning for him.

“I think my songs are like my kids, I like them all for different reasons,” he says. “I have my political rants in songs like, “‘Burn it Down,’ ‘Talk About Love,’ lyrically, has a strong message for empowerment of women, and ‘Give Me Strength’ was written for my wife’s birthday.”

Blackdog Blue has been a Kamloops favourite for many years. They bring a lot of talent and energy to their performances and their fan base in Kamloops is growing steadily. Their Music in the Park closing performance drew approximately 1,500 people, and Hayes says the band can barely keep up with show requests.

“We’re almost at the point where we’re turning down as many gigs as we’re getting,” he says.

The album does an excellent job of combining contemporary sound, and excellent lyrics with lead vocalist Denis’s bluesy singing. It’s a great listen!

Music Diva

The snow is here, you’ve had a few turns and it’s time to get into the full swing of winter fun at Sun Peaks. Resort life is all about a work-play balance, with an emphasis on play, and there’s no better night out than at a local hip hop show!

Kamloops MC Auk—Austin Ingram—is bringing hip hop to Club Mackdaddys on Dec. 16. The Velocirap-Tour, featuring Rushden and Diamonds, KutMasta Kurt and DJ Weezl, is one of many MC Auk is throwing around the Interior in the next month. He says it’s finally time he organized his own events.

“I’ve been doing this for a while, but just recently started promoting,” Ingram says about his progression from MCing to organizing. “I thought, ‘I should be doing this myself.’”

MC Auk has been regularly hosting events at Pogues Mahones in Kamloops, and the Sturgis North Pub in Salmon Arm. Sun Peaks is a new venue that MC Auk is very excited about.

“I’m getting a tour going, and want to hit up some ski hills,” he says.

One wouldn’t normally associate Kamloops with hip hop, but it’s a genre that’s becoming more popular in the desert city, according to MC Auk.

“It’s been more on the underground,” he says, “But it seems like people have started getting more into hip hop lately.”

He says it hasn’t been easy getting local shows going, as most nightclubs aren’t interested in hosting hip hop shows, because of the negative things they associate with the genre. MC Auk says there’s a different mentality that comes with hip hop.

“It’s different than the metal community, because in hip hop there’s no band, there’s no team mentality. There’s a lot of ego.”

The Velocirap-Tour unfortunately doesn’t feature Kamloops hip hop. The artists performing are quite well-known, and will be a good inspiration for the potential in hip hop here.

Rushden and Diamonds is a comical hip hop group from Vancouver. Their debut album 2010 came out last September.

KutMasta Kurt is an American producer well-known for his “Enth E Nd” Linkin Park remix featured on the 2002 album Reanimation. He’s also done work with Kool Keith and Masters of Illusion.

DJ Weezl hails from Edmonton and has some mad scratch skills. He’s toured all over and has also done work with Kool Keith.

The Blackalicious show at Club Mackdaddys in 2009 was amazing, so hopefully this show will draw an equally lively crowd. Cover for the Dec. 16 show is $5—it could be the best $5 you ever spent.

The past few years have brought on a Canadian folk revival, and there are many bright stars coming out of the works. Amy Cunningham’s one of them, and her new album To the Stars We’ll Return is brilliant.
Cunningham’s knack for music is in her genes. Her grandfather used to sit in for Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash when they played in Toronto, and Cunningham herself started singing at a young age, taking up guitar when she was 14, performing in a college band, and more recently, opening for Craig Cardiff and Sam Roberts.

To listen to Cunningham’s music today, you’d think she was born on the West Coast of Canada. Her music frequently recalls oceanic metaphors, and the songs share a lot of West Coast sentiments.

To the Stars We’ll Return is Cunningham’s debut album, and she’s currently promoting it on the road. Cunningham’s putting it all out there—the album’s a search of the self and the struggle to be present, with undertones of environmental sustainability issues and travelling.

This folk album has a touch of country and soul added to the mix. “Take me Away” has a beautiful instrumental accompaniment to Cunningham’s voice, which reminds the listener a bit of Jewel, with a touch of Dixie Chicks twang, but sounding exactly like neither. “We are the Ones” is an upbeat-sounding song with lyrics that seem influenced by the Dalai Lama, “may you understand your diving plan/ may your heart be full right where you are.” The song will be featured in an upcoming documentary, Community Connections, by British Columbian filmmaker Chris Carter.

Cunningham performed in Kamloops and Ontario this fall, and will play in Nashville, Tenn. before performing in Hakuba, Japan. It seems like word’s caught on—watch out for this bright star.

Who says you can’t party outdoors in November?

Kamloops is about to host the Decentralized Dance Party (DDP) Tues., Nov. 8, and it’s all business—and bananas.

What is a DDP? It’s an outdoor flash mob dance event featuring a van-load of boom boxes tuned to the same station, broadcasting genre-spanning dance tunes. Why should you get involved? Do you really have anything better to do on a Tuesday night in November in Kamloops? Most importantly, it’s a lot of fun and a great way to stave off the pre-winter blues. The event is free.

Tom and Gary, known only on a first-name basis, are the founders of DDP. They started the parties in 2010—and one of the best known DDPs was held during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where over 10,000 people got together in costumes to dance and celebrate.

So far, Tom and Gary have thrown events in major cities all across Canada. The 2011 Strictly Business Tour has made its appearance in Calgary and Victoria, and, as long as fundraising meets the group’s expense requirements, the tour will continue to the end of 2011.

Currently, DDP is having difficulties with Facebook, which is affecting its exposure. Gary explains that their entire roster of event listings was erased when Tom and Gary tried to change their group name from “Tom and Gary’s Dynamic Dance Party Delivery Service” to “Tom and Gary’s Decentralized Dance Party”. As such, no one can view event posts, which Gary says affects their fundraising efforts.

“They (Facebook) deleted the events for this tour and the American tour,” he says. “This is trouble for our fundraising, because all the URL links are broken.”

The team, which also includes the Elite Banana Task Force, a group of friends dressed in banana suits that help with the radio transmission during the events, and, as Gary says, “Keep an eye on things,” is also currently seeking sponsors to help promote and fund the tours.

It does sound a bit crazy—a dance party in the middle of the city, with no formal security, has worried police and city officials. But to date, the parties have been safe; no major incidences reported. The parties are for all-ages, and the focus is on lowering inhibitions, dancing, listening to music, and having a great time. Drugs and alcohol are not condoned. As the DDP website claims, “People drink a lot at most parties because most parties are boring and drinking is therefore necessary to loosen up and have fun.”

While DDP events end at 11 p.m., in accordance with city noise laws, they look anything but boring. Gary points out that he believes the dance music they play has a lot to do with the atmosphere at each event.
“It’s been a crazy social experiment,” he says. “We play just upbeat music; if we started playing heavy metal it would be a different environment.”

Should life have to be so serious? On Nov. 8 exchange your laptops and textbooks for business attire—DDPs current theme—and join in on Canada’s party revolution.