Continuing with the Protest theme. The Island stage was set with an eclectic panel of Protest Artist. Among them, Sarah Harmer, and the front man of Protest music, Billy Bragg.  Both played in turn amongst Leonard Sumner, and Lisa LeBlanc. I will touch more on Lisa LeBlanc in another post. Billy Bragg has been a protest…

Hillside Festival had a strong protest theme this year, and many artists had a lot to say.  Irish Mythen  an Irish born singer/songwriter who moved to permanently to Charlottetown, PEI, Canada in 2009, touched on religion, equalities, ethics, and gender equality. Relating to the Happy Hillsiders on many levels. Maythen, telling the most unique stories, there…

Another highlight of Hillside Festival were The Barr Brothers. Originally, an improv-based rock trio called The Slip. Becoming The Barr Brothers was result of a 2004 small Montreal show. A rainstorm and a fire that started inside the venue. They took to the street continued the concert, and gave a jacket to a waitress that is…

One of the highlights of Hillside Festival, was The Franklin Electric. Montreal based band The Franklin Electric is pop-alternative meets classical. Touring constantly since winning a Nashville songwriting competition against 8000 other artists, they have travelled  from Canada to Australia. These lads have a pop singer songwriter sound, with the trumpet, as a ‘secret weapon’…

Canadian Mexican Musician Boogat added a Latin Hip-Hop vibe to Hillside. Winning both the ‘Felix Award’, for ‘World Music Album of the Year’ 2016, and a Juno, it’s clear to see and hear how his Paraguayan and Mexican music roots fuse together, to create the Boogat sound. Born in Quebec City, originally singing in French, then moving…

A few weeks ago, I was at another #happyhillside at Hillside Festival in Guelph, Ontario. This memory making place never seems to disappoint. Always something to do, to see, and to hear. With a protest theme this year, the likes of Billy Bragg a well known protest songwriter, we were given moments to think of…

A couple of weeks ago I was on assignment with the photography club, at the St. Francis Centre. St. Francis was formerly a church, built in the 1800’s, restored recently and made into a multi-use community arts, cultural and performance venue. The stand out features are the octagonal church spire, Gothic arched stained glass windows, and original…

A few weeks ago a very dear friend was in town on a cross Canada tour. They grow some very kind, and musically talented souls in Brogo, NSW, Australia. Daniel Champagne, known for his unique Finger Style Percussive guitar playing, first stop was at Silence Sounds,  in Guelph, Ontario. This tucked away creative space in Guelph,…

Just before Christmas 2016, I was asked to photograph an East Scarborough band, named Port United Band. Merging Pop, Rock, and Reggae, Port United can play for any crowd, of any age. Including old favourites, new top 40 and a few medley/mashups, that are sure to get you singing along; and dancing the night away. A…

  Stereoclypse  invited me into to the rarely seen world of the rehearsal side of band culture. They let me be a fly on the wall, to photograph and video them while they rehearsed in a West Toronto Studio. Capturing the lobby, shared lounge area, and the rented room, I pieced together the story of their…