CCA BULL ETIN / BULLETIN DE LA CCA

Celebrating Canadian Musicians on International Music Day

September 30, 2004 - International Music Day is an opportunity to celebrate the expansive landscape of musicians and performers from all different genres.  

Celebrated every October 1, the day is an initiative of the International Music Council, and was first celebrated in 1975, in accordance with a 1973 resolution taken by UNESCO. The Department of Canadian Heritage agreed to take a leading role in the promotion of International Music Day in 2000. For more information on official events for Music Day, see the DCH website at http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/special/arts/musique/musique_e.cfm .

Canadians have much to celebrate this year, as our musicians in all genres have distinguished themselves both at home and around the world.

• Just last week, soprano Measha Brueggergosman , a native New Brunswicker, was bestowed with the Overall Award of Excellence from the Dutch International Vocal Competition. In combination with two other awards she received at the competition, Brueggergosman won a total of $25,000 in prize money at the event. www.measha.com
• Hip hop artist K-os was recently highlighted by the American music television channel VH1 as one of “the most important new artists around.” K-os has been lauded for his socially conscious style, which serves as a breath of fresh air in a rap scene overrun by crassly commercialized and exploitative “product”. He is currently touring Canada in support of his new release, Joyful Rebellion.   www.k-osmusic.com
• In two short weeks since its release, The Arcade Fire 's new album, Funeral , has been hailed by critics as haunting and innovative. The American new music website Pitchfork Media bestowed the album with a 9.7/10, one of their highest ratings ever. Rolling Stone magazine noted “their tunes swell with regret and rage -- but they do so beautifully.” On Music Day, the band will appear at Lee's Palace in Toronto . www.arcadefire.com
• Alternative-country act The Sadies are off to Europe to promote their fifth disc, Favourite Colours (and you can't get much more Canadian than that spelling!) Released in August, the disc has received some of the warmest reviews of the band's career, including a favourable notice in the alt-country bible No Depression . They'll return to Canada at the end of October.   www.thesadies.net
• A former member of the popular band La Chicane, Val d'Or native Dany Bédar played to sold out venues all summer, before his ultimate triumph at this summer's Francofolies de Montréal. Bédar attracted the largest crowds of the festival, with more than 30,000 people crowding into the St. Catherine Street venue to hear him perform songs from his new album, Écoute-moi donc .    His song “Y'a du monde” was the summer's big hit, topping the francophone charts for four weeks. www.danybedar.com
• Three-time Juno winner for Best Jazz Album, Qualicum Beach, B.C. saxophonist Phil Dwyer released an intensely personal   album this summer with Alan Jones and Rodney Whitaker titled Let Me Tell You About My Day , based on Dwyer's battles with bipolar disorder. The trio's live performance at the Senator club in Toronto was lauded as one of the “Top Ten Moments in Jazz in 2003” by the Globe and Mail. www.phildwyer.com

For more information:

Kevin Desjardins

Communications and Public Relations Manager

(613) 238 3561 ext.11

Fax (613) 238 4849

info@ccarts.ca

www.ccarts.ca

45/04

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