February
21, 2006
For
Immediate Release
Great
Big Sea’s Alan Doyle to host CARAS’ Songwriters’
Circle as part of Juno Weekend festivities
Martha
Wainwright, Ron Sexsmith and more to perform at this intimate
afternoon concert
Halifax,
February 21, 2006 — The Canadian Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is pleased to announce that Great
Big Sea’s Alan Doyle will host some of Canada’s
finest songwriters at the Songwriters’ Circle
being held at Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Dalhousie Arts Centre on
Sunday, April 2, 1pm.
For
almost fifteen years Great Big Sea has been one
of Canada's most successful groups. This is in no small part due
to the inspiring songwriting of Petty Harbour, Newfoundland native
Alan Doyle. With a range that spans from sensitive
ballads such as “Something Beautiful”
to rousing crowd pleasers like “When I Am King”,
“Ordinary Day” and “Consequence
Free,” his songs always deliver a unique charm
that has earned countless fans. In addition to his writing for
Great Big Sea, Doyle has collaborated with artists such as Gordie
Sampson, Chris Trapper, and Russell Crowe. He has also recently
branched out to writing for television and film soundtracks.
As
host of the Songwriters’ Circle, Doyle
will spend the afternoon in an “up close and personal”
concert with 2006 JUNO Award nominee for New Artist of the Year
(sponsored by FACTOR) Martha Wainwright and 2006
JUNO Award nominee for Songwriter of the Year (sponsored by SOCAN)
Ron Sexsmith. The writers will reminisce about
the creative process and recollect the challenges and successes
of song writing as they come together on stage to share their
songs and stories (additional artists to be announced at a later
date).
After
delivering tantalizing hints of her songwriting talent on two
critically acclaimed EPs, Martha Wainwright has
finally delivered her self-titled, debut album. Offering a stunning
collection of honest and beautiful songs, she has proven herself
to be an artist of uncompromising ability. In the past, she has
graced recordings by Linda Thompson and Geoff Muldaur, as well
as albums by her brother Rufus, her father Loudon and her mother
and aunt, Kate & Anna McGarrigle. Now focused on taking her
rightful place at centre stage, Wainwright has
drawn comparisons to the likes of Tori Amos and PJ Harvey.
Over
the course of his career, Canadian singer-songwriter Ron
Sexsmith has earned worldwide acclaim from both critics
and musicians such as Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and John
Hiatt. With nine albums released to date, Sexsmith’s
popularity continues to grow, recently seeing him earn such awards
as Critics’ Choice Major Independent Album Of The Year Award
at both the 2002 and 2003 Canadian Independent Music Awards and
Songwriter of the Year (sponsored by SOCAN) at the 2005 JUNO Awards.
Proceeds
from the Songwriters’ Circle are in support
of MusiCan, CARAS’ music education program
that provides musical instrument grants and scholarships to young
Canadians.
Tickets
are $35 and go on sale Friday, February 24 at noon (AST). They
will be available at the Dalhousie Arts Centre Box Office, by
phoning (902) 494- 3820 (toll free 1-800-874-1669) or online at
www.artscentre.dal.ca
Songwriters’
Circle is sponsored by the Canadian Music Publishers
Association (CMPA) and the Society for Composers,
Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) in association
with C100 and CTV.
About
CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L'academie
canadienne des arts et des sciences de l'enregistrement (CARAS)
is a notfor- profit organization created to preserve and enhance
the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute
toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus
of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to
showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through television
vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on the
35th annual JUNO Awards, visit the Canadian Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences (CARAS) web site at www.junoawards.ca.
The 2006 JUNO Awards will air live on CTV, on Sunday, April 2,
2006.
Sponsors
for The 2006 JUNO Awards include FACTOR, Canada’s Private
Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department
of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”,
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Province of Nova Scotia,
the Halifax Regional Municipality, Events Halifax and Radio Starmaker
Fund. Broadcast sponsors for the event are General Motors, Pantene
Pro-V, Doritos and Nice ’n Easy.
About
MusiCan:
Many Canadian superstars have lent tremendous support to the CARAS
Music Education Program, providing inspiration and vision to thousands
of students. Band Aid grant presentations have been made by
54•40, Alanis Morissette, Audrey de Montigny, Doc Walker,
Great Big Sea, Hawksley Workman, Jane Bunnett, Jann Arden, Jelleestone,
Jim Cuddy, Jimmy Rankin, Jully Black, Kalan Porter, Kathleen Edwards,
Keshia Chanté, Matt Mays, Nickelback, Remy Shand, Ryan
Malcolm, Sam Roberts, Sarah Harmer, Shania Twain, Shaye, Susan
Aglukark, The Ennis Sisters, The Tragically Hip and others.
Including
this year’s grants, CARAS will have donated over one million
dollars to music programs, impacting 75,000 young Canadians from
coast to coast.
MusiCan
is supported by various initiatives such as the platinum selling
Juno nominee compilation CD, annual contributions by EMI Music
Canada Inc., SONY BMG Music Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada
and Warner Music Canada Ltd., as well as Songwriters’ Circle
sponsored by CMPA and SOCAN, Juno Cup, FACTOR, MIAC (Music Industries
Association of Canada) and individual and corporate contributions.
For
more information on MusiCan and to find out how you can lend your
support, please visit www.carasonline.ca.
MusiCan©
is a registered trade-mark of Gemini Solutions Ltd. -www.musican.com.
Web
Links:
JUNO Awards: www.junoawards.ca/songwriterscircle
CARAS: www.carasonline.ca
Great Big Sea: www.greatbigsea.com
Martha Wainwright:
www.marthawainwright.com
Ron Sexsmith: www.ronsexsmith.com
CMPA:
www.musicpublishercanada.ca
SOCAN: www.socan.ca
