Hard to believe summer is drawing to a close... not so hard to believe that with all the shows in between-- Mac DeMarco, Mother Mother, Five Alarm Funk, Home County Music & Art Festival, Aidan Knight, Elephant Stone, Said The Whale-- it's taken us this long to wrap up NXNE 2013.
Every year the Unofficial Radio 3 Listener Picnic gets bigger and better. In 2013, we think we set the bar to a new height, thanks to a listener-turned-blogger NoLongerLurking, who brought the bar, and CBC Radio 3 Host Grant Lawrence, who brought the music. We were way overdue for a female performer to join the musical alumni that's included Wayne Petti and the Matinee. The honour went to Windsor's own Crissi Cochrane. Don't believe this song; she will try to break your heart with her lovely voice and thoughtful composing. Watch for her new album, Little Sway, out this fall.
And watch for the popularity of Toronto's Inlet Sound to spread like ripples on a pond. Led by Michael Wexler's vocals and a heavy dose of mandolin by Steven Gore, the quintet creates music just like their name: folk-rock as bright and sparkling as sunlight on water.
The last time we saw singer-songwriter Adrian Glynn, he was up a tree with Zach Gray of the Zolas. This time his feet were planted on the ground, but there's nothing flat about Glynn. Multi-talented-- he's a writer and actor as well-- he's also a member of The Fugitives. If you're not familiar with Glynn, check out the solo foot-stomper "Mother Mary," and The Fugitives' "Bigger Than Luck."
And then we got married. We couldn't have asked for a better wedding band than Fernie, B.C.'s Shred Kelly. One of our best discoveries of 2011, we've been fans ever since, especially since on of us is a known banjo junkie. The Shreds never fail to deliver a great show, even when competing with a drum band on the other side of the park hill.
Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images AND Eric Adams On Special Assignment
