--SIX SHOOTER BULLETS--
Vol. 18 / No. 3
In this issue:
1. Join us in the Jon Box Sox Sock Drive.
2. Jingle Bell Bundles on sale now.
3. William Prince releases “The Spark".
4. Award noms galore for The Dead South.
5. Listen to Whitehorse’s Jingle Bell mix of "Merry Xmas, Baby (I Hope You Get What You Deserve)".
6. Rheostatics are wrapping up their Here Come The Wolves tour at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto.
7. The Strumbellas release new versions of songs from Hope with Mercedes Benz.
8. Tanya Tagaq’s book, Split Tooth, receives accolades round two, this time en Français.
9. Riit performed songs from her new album, ataataga, at Cavalcade of Lights.
10. Ring in the new year with Zaki Ibrahim. 11. Adieu to Interstellar Rodeo.
Hi everyone! How did your Black Friday go? Did you shop til you dropped? Do you have all the portable phone chargers and air fryers you could possibly need for you and all of your friends and family? Did you have to trample anyone or be trampled? Did you have to bonk anyone on the head like that football guy on the news just so you could get to the self- checkout kiosk first? I have to admit, I did do some searching around for cool sales, but really I don’t even know what to look for. I think that I may possibly be a bit out of touch with consumerism. What’s a cool Black Friday thingy to buy? Let me know.
WITH LOVE, WE ANNOUNCE JON BOX SOX, A WINTER SOCK DRIVE IN MEMORY OF OUR JOYFUL FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE.
A quick story: a few years ago, near the start of our time working with Jon Box and the Universal Music Canada team, we were doing a sock drive in conjunction with Hawksley Workman’s Winter Bird Tour. Before we had even announced it to fans, Jon had filled his office with socks and struck a deal with a sock company to fill it again. He ran further with it than we ever would have expected. He did that a lot. Jon Box was a friend, a colleague and a champion of Six Shooter artists and staff, and we miss him dearly. This Christmas, we want to honour his life and celebrate his many excellent qualities as a human by doing good in his memory.
Having socks is pretty much the gnarliest thing ever (believe it or not, I am personally wearing socks RIGHT NOW), and we want to make sure everyone gets to experience these crucial foot blankets. So, this winter, we’re collecting warm, wool or other good quality socks in both women’s and men’s sizes to deliver to shelters and other community organizations on December 20 (and hopefully again in the new year, so keep ‘em coming). You can drop off your socks, the socks you purchased to donate I mean, not those stankers currently on your feet, at the Six Shooter office (51 Bulwer St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, M-F 10am-6pm) or at the following independent record stores across the country: Soundscapes (Toronto), Blackbyrd Myoozik (Calgary and Edmonton), and Red Cat Records (Vancouver). Stay tuned on Six Shooter socials to learn about more locations as they are confirmed.
Quick question for readers who are not involved in the music industry or marketing... do you say “socials” when referring to social media? Or is that just something us industry types say, have gotten used to, and assume everyone does? This is one of the hot topics that keeps me awake at night. Hit us on our socials and let us know if you say socials.
BUNDLE UP: JINGLE BELL CD + LP BUNDLES ON SALE NOW.
Read this in a high pitched elf voice: Whether you need a single stocking stuffer or goodies for everyone on your company or client Nice List, Six Shooter Records’ Jingle Bell Bundle sale has the music and markdowns to help your holiday gift giving hit all the right notes. Ho Ho Hooraaaaay!
Ok, you can stop with the elf voice now. Did you like the “hit all the right notes” part of that little sales pitch? That part is in there because we are a company that sells music, and hitting notes is something that musicians do. And sales pitch... get it?! Because “pitch” is also a musical term! Lololol.
Are you ready boots? Staaaart shoppin’! The perfect holiday jump off is obviously A Whitehorse Winter Classic, Whitehorse’s collection of holiday originals. It has one song called "Merry Xmas, Baby," and also one song called "Merry Christmas, Baby," and guess what?! They are both cheeky! Once you’ve added that festive little joint to your cart, you should dive into our 20 year deep selection of albums by some of our very favourite artists. Mix and match either CDs or LPs for magical discounts of up to 73% on select titles. CDs also make amazing tree ornaments and/or festive earrings! They're so shiny! Let’s see you hang a digital stream on your tree, not gonna happen, bub.
Order your Jingle Bell Bundle through December 31, 2019. Cut-off for Christmas deliveries within Canada is December 9. Click here.
WILLIAM PRINCE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, RELIEVER, WITH “THE SPARK.”
For his eagerly-awaited sophomore album, songwriter William Prince begins with a single word, Reliever, which informs a collection of exceptionally rendered explorations of what, who and how peace is found. Relievers come in all forms...for Prince, it is song. For me, it is bok choy gently pan fried in sesame oil. Um, and also song (stay on topic, me).
With its emphasis on words and confidently unfussy accompaniment (I have always been moved by songs and arrangements that show restraint), Reliever puts Prince’s gift for sparking powerful emotions of both personal and communal relevance right up in your grill. Like you thought you were just going to throw on some tunes in the background while you gently fry up your bok choy in some sesame oil, then boom, William Prince delivers his masterclass in skillful simplicity, sparks some powerful emotions in your ear holes, and your now overcooked bok choy has become a metaphor for life. Heavy deavy, dude.
The story of Reliever, out Feb 7 on Six Shooter Records in Canada, begins with “The Spark.” This new song, which you can hear basically wherever you tune in – CBC Radio 2, SiriusXM North Americana, Indigenous Music Countdown, ELMNT FM or Now Country in Winnipeg or beyond – showcases William’s beautiful baritone and songcraft. Watch and listen to “The Spark” performed live in Nashville with his brand new band, here.
Reliever was produced by both Dave Cobb (Nashville) and Scott Nolan (Winnipeg). William is currently wrapping up a tour with recent first-time Grammy nominee Yola in Europe, and heading into the new year he will play his first headline show in NYC on January 15 at Joe’s Pub, as well as a big ol’ SOLD OUT celebration of Reliever’s release in Winnipeg at the WECC on February 14. Bring the one who sparks you. That’s me. Bring me. Unless you are kind of a creep. No creeps.
THE DEAD SOUTH’S SUGAR & JOY IS OUT NOW! SERVED COLD WORLDWIDE TOUR ROLLS ON!
Since we last wrote, The “Ragged and Righteous” Dead South have released their third album, Sugar & Joy on October 11, this was of course Canadian Thanksgiving so I was too busy gorging my face with Tofurkey to tell you anything about it at the time. But now that it’s American Thanksgiving, which I don’t celebrate, I have plenty of time to tell you that Sugar & Joy is everything noice. Hmm, that kind of rhymes. Not as well as spice “rhymes” with “nice”, and I would say that I generally try to avoid saying “noice”, but hey, it’ll have to do for this one. We’ve been telling you that Sugar & Joy is The Dead South’s best work yet, and guess what, everyone (Billboard, Ultimate Guitar, Paste, MOJO, Rolling Stone and plenty more people that complete the category of “everyone”) agrees. The album hit #1 and stayed in the Top 5 on Billboard’s Bluegrass since its release, and also hit #40 in Top Album Sales in America! That is pretty wild. I even saw a dude that I didn’t even know listened to any music at all wearing a Dead South ballcap the other day. I can’t remember who it was, tbh, but trust, it was surprising enough that I took note and am now telling you. Coo story, hey?
The hot streak continues with awards nominations. The band find themselves in good company with Mavis Staples and Brandi Carlile as one of this year’s Americana UK nominees for International Artist of the Year! They tied for Roots/Folk Artist of The Year at the Saskatchewan Music Awards and were nominated for Video of The Year for “Diamond Ring”
Speaking of “In Hell,” that song was officially certified gold in Canada this fall and, between us (because it’s not official yet...you heard it here first), it’s also gold in the USA.
The U.S. of freaking A! The actual South! That is an amazing feat for anyone, and especially for a bluegrass band from Saskatchewan. Of course we knew this particular bluegrass band from Saskatchewan could do it, and here we are!
After a sell-out across Canada, The Served Cold World Tour has expanded with more shows in 2020. The Dead South will perform in Poland, Hungary and return to Prague (the first show to sell out on the entire tour). New dates will continue to roll out over the next few months, sign up for The Dead South’s newsletter or anywhere you get your real news to stay up to date. If you haven’t caught on this yet, The Dead South tend to sell out every show everywhere, so being in the loop and up to date is probably a good idea if you wanna get dem tickies. Sign up here.
WHITEHORSE SHARES JINGLE BELL REMIX
I know I already mentioned Whitehorse and jingle bells and such a bit earlier in this newsletter, but I just can’t get enough of the holly jollies, so here I go again. We’ve given a fan favourite from A Whitehorse Winter Classic a fresh holiday makeover. Check out the JUNO nominated, “Merry Xmas, Baby (I Hope You Get What You Deserve)," now with 100% more sleigh. Remixed by Gus van Go, aka DJ Santa, a frequent Whitehorse collaborator, the 2019 edition of “Merry Xmas, Baby (Jingle Bell Mix)” can fix any holiday playlist emergency. Listen here.
A Whitehorse Winter Classic is now available in beautiful gold platter vinyl edition. Order by December 9 to ship within Canada in time for Christmas. That’s in 10 days! Click here to get yours!
RHEOSTATICS WRAP HERE COME THE WOLVES TOUR IN TORONTO.
Rheostatics are a part of the fabric of our musical lives here at Six Shooter. The band, which celebrated their 40th anniversary this fall alongside the release of their new album, Here Come The Wolves, has been on tour in Ontario this month. The final stop is in Toronto at Danforth Music Hall on December 6, we will definitely be there, and we hope you’ll join us.
Here Come The Wolves finds Rheos trusting in their complicated formula to soaring and thrilling results. This band has some incredibly dedicated and even more incredibly patient fans, and we were so thrilled to introduce the world to one of them via this fascinating and open-hearted story in the Globe and Mail. Meet one-time Six Shooter intern turned Houston lawyer (that’s the usual career path for our interns) Robin Clarkson and hear about why she’s stuck with them all these years here.
If you haven’t yet seen the official video for the title track, directed by the team behind the Anthropocene documentary Jennifer Baichwal and Nick de Pencier, click here.
THE STRUMBELLAS RELEASE NEW LIVE VERSIONS OF “SPIRITS” AND “WE DON’T KNOW.”
Thanks to Mercedes Benz Garage Gigs series, we have new live versions of The Strumbellas’ massive hits “Spirits” and “We Don’t Know,” both from the album Hope. You’ll recall “Spirits” bagged the JUNO Award for Single of the Year in 2017, not to mention a long list of radio successes, late night performances and more. It was, and is still, played all over the place all the freakin time! The song went triple platinum in Canada! Hope went gold! Aaaaah! You can find The Strumbellas on tour in Canada starting in January. Click here to listen to the tracks.
TANYA TAGAQ’S CROC FENDU NOMINATED FOR PRESTIGIOUS QUEBEC BOOKSELLERS PRIZE.
Croc fendu, the Éditions Alto French translation of Tanya Tagaq’s bestselling and award- winning novel Split Tooth, is nominated for Quebec’s most prestigious book prize! Send your best, Frenchiest wishes to Tagaq, as her powerful and remarkable debut is considered for the Prix des libraires du Québec. And watch the film, Angry Inuk, while you’re at it. Do it. You’ve got time. I realized last night that I subscribe to 4 different streaming TV services, and pretty much only have time to watch half an episode of any show in a given week before I fall asleep on the couch. But I still had time to watch Angry Inuk, so you do too!
RIIT UNLEASHES NEW ALBUM ATAATAGA.
This October, Riit released ataataga, an electropop collection in Inuktitut. What did you do? Jk, it isn’t a contest. The album received a NNNN review from Now Magazine (how many Ns did whatever you did get? Jk, jk), Riit was recently profiled by Flare Magazine’s “How I Made It” series (which Flare series were you featured in? Jk, jk, jk), which features impressive young women leaders in arts, science and activism, and Riit talked about her life and work on eTalk. The album features guest vocalists Zaki Ibrahim, Polaris Music Prize short-listed artist Elisapie, and Nunavut pal Josh Q. The album also shines some light on Nunavut songwriters that have come before, with covers of Northern Haze and Panniqtuuq songwriter Susa Aningmiuq. “One of the best things you’ll hear all year,” according to CBC q host Tom Power. You can watch performances of new songs from her
CBC First Play Live session here.
Watch the video for ‘qaumajuapik’ here.
STEP INTO 2020 WITH ZAKI IBRAHIM: NYE @ NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE.
If you’re planning ahead, but not that far ahead really, mark December 31 down to see Zaki Ibrahim and her inimitable cavalcade of singers, dancers and performers at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. Everywhere Zaki goes, she leaves a trail of astonished, inspired audiences. We can’t wait to see what Zaki has in store for 2020, so we will probably stay up past midnight just to check it out. I hope she doesn’t blast off any fireworks (other than metaphorical musical fireworks), because my dog is very scared of fireworks.
GOODBYE INTERSTELLAR RODEO (2012-2019).
Thank you, Edmonton, for eight great years. After much consideration, we have decided to put Interstellar Rodeo on hiatus, at least for the time being. What it boils down to, essentially, is climate change causing really bad thunderstorms every year. Just kidding (except for the climate change part, that’s no joke), we were able to handle the rain like champs, and so were our wonderful audiences. What it actually really comes down to is time, and growth. As you may well have noticed above all the good things happening at Six Shooter, our record label and artist management companies have grown significantly in the last couple of years, with several high profile signings, a prolific cavalcade of new releases, big projects, and international tours in the works. We really believe that our artists are the greatest, and that they deserve our full attention during this extremely busy period of unprecedented opportunity. A music festival is a very significant undertaking even for a company that focuses solely on producing such events. For a small (but mighty!) company like ours to produce Interstellar Rodeo year after year, especially while doing all the other big stuff our company does, well, it has certainly been very fun and exciting, but we’ve also had to make a tough business decision.
“Interstellar Rodeo is my love letter to my home town,” says one Rodeo Boss, Shauna de Cartier. “It is without a doubt my favourite weekend of the year, and it’s agonizing to me to let this go. But I’m incredibly excited about the other projects we have in front of us. 2020 is the twentieth anniversary of Six Shooter Records (aka 202020), and I want and need to give it my full attention. We are revamping the website (interstellarrodeo.com) to become an archival document of awesomeness, with all the artists we’ve presented, the wines we’ve offered, and downloadable pdf’s of all the posters. We’ll also feature memories shared from friends and fans about the festival. If you want to contribute your own memories of Interstellar Rodeo, please tag our socials or use our hashtag #iRodeoYEG, or just send it to us directly."
Thank you to our volunteers, our sponsors and supporters, the City, our families, the artists, and most of all, the fans for making this a truly memorable event. Next time you are listening to one of your favourite Six Shooter artists and some lightning strikes, please think of our cool festival.
We've curated the last Interstellar Rodeo playlist just for you. Click here to listen to it on Spotify.
TOUR DATES
THE DEAD SOUTH
USA SERVED COLD TOUR
Presented by LiveNation Ones To Watch and SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction
SACRAMENTO, CA: Ace of Spaces, Dec 2*
PORTLAND, OR: Roseland Theatre, Dec 4+
SEATTLE, WA: Showbox Sodo, Dec 5+
SPOKANE, WA: Knitting Factory, Dec 6+
GARDEN CITY, ID: Revolution Concert House, Dec 7+
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: The Depot, Dec 9#
GRAND JUNCTION, CO: The Mesa Theatre & Club, Dec 10#
DENVER, CO: Mission Ballroom, Dec 12#
LINCOLN, NE: The Royal Crove, Dec 13#
KANSAS CITY, MO: The Truman, Dec 14#
RED DEER, AB: A Frontier NYE, Bo’s Bar & Stage, Dec 31
CLEVELAND, OH: House of Blues, Jan 5 2020#
BUFFALO, NY: Asbury Hall at Babeville, Jan 6 2020#
BOSTON, MA: House of Blues, Jan 7 2020#
BROOKLYN, NY: Warsaw, Jan 9 2020#
PHILADELPHIA, PA: Theatre Of The Living Arts, Jan 10 2020#
SILVER SPRING, MD: The Fillmore Silver Spring, Jan 11 2020#
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA: Elevation 27, Jan 12 2020#
CINCINNATI, OH: Bogarts, Jan 14 2020#
LOUISVILLE, KY: Mercury Ballroom, Jan 15 2020#
ASHEVILLE, NC: The Orange Peel, Jan 16 2020~
RALEIGH, NC: The Ritz, Jan 17 2020~
CHARLOTTE, NC: The Underground at the Fillmore Charlotte, Jan 18 2020~
CHARLESTON, SC: Music Farm, Jan 20 2020~
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL: House of Blues - Orlando, Jan 21 2020~
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Revolution Live, Jan 23 2020~
TAMPA, FL: The Orpheum, Jan 24 2020~
ATLANTA, GA: Buckhead Theatre, Jan 25 2020~
w/ Scott H. Biram*
w/ Elliott BROOD+
w/ The Hooten Hollers~
w/ Legendary Shack Shakers#
IRELAND AND UK SERVED COLD TOUR
DUBLIN, IE: Vicar Street, Feb 18 2020
BELFAST, UK: Ulster Hall, Feb 19 2020
GLASGOW, UK: O2 Academy, Feb 21 2020
NEWCASTLE, UK: O2 Academy, Feb 22 2020
MANCHESTER, UK: Manchester Academy, Feb 23 2020
BIRMINGHAM, UK: O2 Academy, Feb 25 2020
PORTSMOUTH, UK: Portsmouth Guildhall, Feb 26 2020
BRIXTON, UK: O2 Academy, Feb 27 2020
NOTTINGHAM, UK: Rock City, Feb 28 2020
EXETER, UK: Great Hall, Feb 29 2020
EUROPE SERVED COLD TOUR
BORGERHOUT, BE: De Roma, Mar 24 2020
UTRECHT, NL: TivoliVredenburg, Mar 25 2020
HAMBURG, DE: Docks, Mar 27 2020 **SOLD OUT
COPENHAGEN, DK: Amager Bio, Mar 28 2020
OSLO, NO: John Dee, Mar 29 2020
STOCKHOLM, SE: Debaser Strand, Mar 30 2020
BERLIN, DE: Columbiahalle, Apr 1 2020
HANNOVER, DE: Capitol, Apr 2 2020
LEIPZIG, DE: Werk 2, Apr 3 2020
PRAGUE, CZ: Palac Akropolis, Apr 4 2020 **SOLD OUT
VIENNA, AU: Gasometer, Apr 5 2020
ZURICH, CH: Volkshaus, Apr 7 2020
MUNICH, DE: Tonhalle, Apr 8 2020
FRANKFURT, DE: Batschkapp, Apr 9 2020
SCHIJNDEL, NL: Paaspop Festival, Apr 10, 2020
COLOGNE, DE: E Werk, Apr 11 2020
PARIS, FR: La Cigale, May 12 2020
STRASBOURG, FR: La Laiterie, May 13, 2020
LAUSANNE, CH: Les Docks, May 14 2020
MILAN, IT: Serraglio, May 16 2020
MADRID, ES: Moby Dick Club, May 21 2020
VALENCIA, ES: Sala El Loco, May 22 2020
BARCELONA, ES: La Nau, May 23 2020
RHEOSTATICS
LONDON, ON: London Music Hall, Dec 3
BAYFIELD, ON: Old Town Hall, Dec 5
TORONTO, ON: Danforth Music Hall, Dec 6
RIIT
TORONTO, ON: Harbourfront Centre, Dec 13+14
SAM OUTLAW
NASHVILLE, TN, USA: Mollapalooza 2019, Dec 9
TANYA TAGAQ
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO: Colorado College, Celeste Theatre, Jan 31
PHOENIX, AZ: Musical Instrument Museum, Feb 2
DENTON, TX: University Union Lyceum UNT, Feb 4
EDMONTON, AB: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Winspear, Feb 22
ST. CATHARINES, ON: FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Apr 28
OAKVILLE, ON: Ontario Presents: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Apr 29
BRAMPTON, ON: Ontario Presents: Rose Theatre Main Stage, May 1
KINGSTON, ON: Ontario Presents: The Grand Theatre - Rosen Auditorium, May 2
WILLIAM PRINCE
MANCHESTER, UK: Gorilla, Dec 3 w/YOLA
LONDON, UK: Islington Assembly Hall, Dec 4 w/YOLA
OTTAWA, ON: National Arts Centre, Dec 20
ROCHESTER, NY: Good Luck, Jan 13
NEW YORK, NY: Joe’s Pub, Jan 15
WINNIPEG, MB: West End Cultural Centre, Feb 14
WINNIPEG, MB: West End Cultural Centre. Feb 15
WHITEHORSE
TORONTO, ON: Horseshoe Tavern: Devin Cuddy’s Family & Friends Country Classic, Dec 8
SASKATOON, SK: The Broadway Theatre, Jan 24
REGINA, SK: Regina Folk Festival Presents: Winterruption, Jan 25
WHITNEY ROSE
AUSTIN, TX, USA: SXSW 2020, March 13-22 2020
INDIO, CA, USA: Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2020, April 24-26 2020
MOLNDAL, SWEDEN: West Coast Country Festival 2020, July 4 2020
ZAKI IBRAHIM:
TORONTO, ON: New Years Eve at Nathan Phillips Square, Dec 31
OTTAWA, ON: National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage, March 7, 2020
xoxoxo
Six Shooter
Title Track: from William Prince’s "The Spark”, the first song released from his upcoming album, Reliever.