102.7 The PEAK and Music BC Announce the Top 12 PEAK Performance Project Artists for BC

For Immediate Release:June 11, 2014

(Vancouver, BC)- Today at 8pm PST, the Top 12 PEAK Performance Artists were announced live on air at 102.7 The PEAK from a bustling Fortune Sound Club. The chosen artists will be joining the Alberta PEAK Performance Project Top 12 at the coveted PEAK Performance Project bootcamp in Princeton, British Columbia later this summer.

The BC Top 12 artists in no particular order are:

• The Tourist Company - North Vancouver
• David Newberry - Vancouver
• Miss Quincy and the Showdown - Fort St John
• Derrival - Langley
• Altered By Mom - Vancouver
• The Wild Romantics - Nanaimo
• Damn Fools - Vancouver
• Jodi Pederson - Vernon
• Goodwood Atoms - Vancouver
• Shred Kelly - Fernie
• Jon Bryant - Surrey
• Good For Grapes - Surrey 

The BC Top 12 will be performing live at the 4^th annual Khatsahlano Street Party Saturday July 12^th. Links to free downloads of the artist’s songs will be available on site.

The Alberta Top 12 artists will be announced on Saturday, June 21^st at 3:15pm in Olympic Plaza as part of Sled Island.

The PEAK Performance Project is designed to educate, promote, develop and launch the careers of some of BC and Alberta’s up and coming artists. It also hopes to foster the BC and Alberta music industries and create a sense of community amongst artists and music professionals. While the projects are run as separate programs in each province, there is an incredible opportunity to create bridges between BC and Alberta though the shared educational experience at the Rockridge Canyon Bootcamp. Top Prizes this year for the BC Project include a 102.7 thousand dollar top prize, $75,000 second prize, $50,000 third prize, as well as a $5,000 base camp award given to each Top 12 band to help them with their career development.

The BC PEAK Performance Project, sponsored by Cariboo Brewing, is in year six of a seven-year, $5.29 million program designed to kick-start the international music careers of 3 emerging BC artists annually. The project is administered by Music BC Industry Association and funded by 102.7 The PEAK through CRTC approved Canadian Content Development Funding.  Past winners have included We Are the City, Kyprios, Current Swell, Dear Rouge and Rykka.

For more information on The PEAK Performance Project, visit:  www.peakperformanceproject.com

For more information on Music BC, visit:  www.musicbc.org

For more information on Khatsahlano Street Party visit : www.khatsahlano.com

For interviews and other media enquiries, please contact: Jen Fritz - Fritz Media Phone: 604-626-7045 Email: jen at fritzmedia.ca

Five Alarm Funk To Release 5th Album 'Abandon Earth' on June 10th

Album Release Show At Commodore Ballroom On June 7thSummer Tour Dates Starting on June 21st

For Immediate Release:

(Vancouver, BC) - Vancouver party funk band Five Alarm Funk are set to release'Abandon Earth', the band’s fifth studio album, on Tuesday, June 10th and will celebrate with an Album Release Party at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver on June 7th. The concept album, describing the destruction of planet Earth by a giant robot, is the culmination of 10 years of relentless touring and the 10 musicians’ love for high octane, delirium-inducing dance music. And Five Alarm Funk plan to keep it going! They'll spend Summer 2014 touring Canada coast to coast and playing a number of shows in the United States in support of'Abandon Earth'.For a full listing of summer tour dates, see below.

'Abandon Earth' was recorded at the Farm Studios in Vancouver, BC. The album was produced by Ben Kaplan, whose recent credits include fellow Vancouverites Mother Mother and UK superstars Biffy Clyro. On their fifth album, Five Alarm Funk use gruff funk vocals, psychedelic rock guitars, Balkan-inspired horns, intricate arrangements, and a few well-timed explosions to tell the tale of a technological behemoth rising from the center of the Earth and unleashing a torrent of natural disasters and monsters on humanity. Although to some, the idea of doing a concept album may seem daunting, Five Alarm Funk fully embraced the challenge.

 "We wanted to try out a new writing process where it wasn't us all in the rehearsal space kind of jamming stuff out but we had a whole master plan to work with", explains vocalist Tayo Branston. "We wanted to make the music tell a story, to create images in people's heads. Once the whole concept of the album was formed we saw the different parts that we had to write music for. So then, for example, we had to come up with a way to musically represent a robot rising from the center of the Earth, bursting through to the surface, and people being terrified. Those images are what inspired the writing of 'Horrible Sound.'"

Listen to Five Alarm Funk - 'Horrible Sound'

 Five Alarm Funk’s critically acclaimed fourth album, 'Rock the Sky', was released in May 2012 and was nominated for ‘Instrumental Album of the Year’ at the 2013 Juno Awards and ‘Instrumental Recording of the Year’ at the 2013 WCMAs. The band released the video for the 'Abandon Earth' track ' We All Scream' in June 2013 and it quickly became an online hit with over 23K views to date. In November 2013, Five Alarm Funk celebrated its 10-year anniversary as a band with two sold-out shows at The Imperial in Vancouver, BC.

On stage, Five Alarm Funk is an unstoppable orgy of energy. Ten musicians perform intricate and airtight arrangements with delirious dance moves and full-on head banging. Choreographed arm movements coincide with melodic climaxes, while the four percussionists create a true spectacle, not to be missed. This horn powered, percussion fuelled sonic and visual assault has brought their relentless and unforgettable live show to clubs and major festivals across Canada and the United States for over a decade. Touring around in their trusty 15-passenger van numerous times, they have built their fan base from the ground up with over 500 shows under their belt. Some upcoming highlights this summer include stops at the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Saskatoon Jazz Festival, Sunfest in London, Ontario, North Country Fair in Alberta, and Summer Meltdown in Washington State.

Don't miss out on the dance party! Be sure to catch Five Alarm Funk at The Commodore Ballroom on June 7th in Vancouver and on the road across Canada all summer long. Look for Five Alarm Funk's 5th album 'Abandon Earth' on iTunes & all other digital retailers on Tuesday, June 10th. For the most up-to-date tour schedule, please visit: www.fivealarmfunk.com.

FIVE ALARM FUNK - ABANDON EARTH RELEASE DATE: JUNE 10th, 2014 (Independent) 1.  We All Scream 2.  Newscast 1 3.  Journey To The Center Of The Earth 4.  Robot 5.  Horrible Sound 6.  Erupt 7.  Newscast 2 8.  ATTAAACK!! 9.  Higgs Boson 10. Prest-O Chang-O

FIVE ALARM FUNK UPCOMING TOUR DATES June 7 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom June 20 - Kelowna, BC - Sapphire June 21-22 – Driftpile, AB - North Country Fair June 24– Banff, AB - Wild Bill’s June 25 – Calgary, AB  - Dickens Pub June 26 – Edmonton, AB - Pawn Shop June 27 – Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Jazz Fest June 28 – Saskatoon, SK - Sask Jazz Fest June 29 – Saskatoon, SK - Sask Jazz Fest June 30 / July 1 – Winnipeg, MB - The Pyramid July 2 - Thunder Bay, ON - Crock's July 4 – Sarnia, ON - Paddy Flaherty’s July 5-6 – London, ON - SUNFEST July 31 – Revelstoke, BC - The Traverse Aug 1-3 – Penticton, BC - Boonstock

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Five Alarm Funk is: Gabe Boothroyd – Guitar Oliver Gibson – Guitar Neil Towers – Bass Tayo Branston – Drums/Vocals Tom Towers – Congas Carl Julig – Timbales Nimish Parekh – Trombone Dameian Walsh – Tenor Saxophone Kent Wallace – Trumpet

MEDIA TOOLS CLICK here for high-res - 'Abandon Earth'- album art. CLICK here for a high-res press photo. (photo credit: Johnny Liu) STREAM/POST the Five Alarm Funk track 'Horrible Sound' here (includes posting/embedding info, just click on 'Share') WATCH/POST the Five Alarm Funk video 'We All Scream' here

"Thanks to their knack for a heavy, powerful sound with a contagious groove, the guys in Five Alarm Funk have become festival favourites across the country. " - Francois Marchand, Vancouver Sun

FOR MORE INFO: www.fivealarmfunk.com

Jonathan Estabrooks To Perform With Toronto Symphony Orchestra on May 20 & 21

For Immediate Release:May 1st, 2014

(Toronto, ON) - Celebrated Canadian baritone Jonathan Estabrooks returns to Toronto on May 20th and 21st to perform with Maestro Steven Reineke and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for the TSO Pops concert Classic Broadway: Lerner and Loewe. This is Jonathan Estabrooks' second performance with Reineke, as he received rave reviews for his debut in October 2013 in a program of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The Toronto Symphony performance marks Estabrooks' first major symphony concert since the April 8th release of his critically acclaimed debut classical crossover album 'These Miles'.

For the TSO Pops concert Classic Broadway: Lerner and Loewe, Maestro Reineke and company pay homage to legendary Broadway duo: Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe. The concert will feature the most memorable songs from such classic musicals as: My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi, and Brigadoon, sung with verve by a top notch cast of singers. Baritone Jonathan Estabrooks will be joined by soprano Amy Wallis, tenor Colin Ainsworth and the Toronto Medelssohn Choir for unforgettable melodies like I Could Have Danced All Night, On the Street Where You Live, If Ever I Would Leave You, Almost Like Being in Love, and so many more!

Reineke discovered Jonathan Estabrooks when a google search brought the Maestro to Mr. Estabrooks’ active social media presence and his YouTube show 'A Singer's Life'. Estabrooks is an avid user of Twitter (over 24K followers) and Facebook, making him a new breed of classical performer, using social media to connect and grow his fanbase. After raising $27, 500 USD through Kickstarter, to finance the recording of his debut album 'These Miles', Estabrooks also used social media as a way to reach out to potential collaborators on the album including Simon Cowell discovery and SONY Masterworks artist, Jonathan Antoine and New Age classical pianist/composer Jennifer Thomas. Estabrooks initially reached out to both artists about working together through Facebook and was successful in conducting cross ocean collaborations through the use of these mediums.

A native of Ottawa, Jonathan Estabrooks studied voice and opera at the University of Toronto before going on to Juilliard in New York City. With recent debuts at Carnegie Hall and elsewhere, Jonathan Estabrooks’ impressive vocal delivery has taken him around the world, actively appearing in recital, concert and opera at home and abroad. Notable performances have included The National Arts Centre Orchestra with Maestro Zuckerman, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Israeli Chamber Orchestra and alongside Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Aaron Lazar. His performances have been broadcast throughout Canada on CBC Television and he has performed for the Governor General, The Prime Minister of Canada, the US Ambassador to Canada, The Italian Ambassador to Canada and President Bill Clinton.

Jonathan Estabrooks' debut album 'These Miles' is currently available for purchase on iTunes & Amazon.com and at the Roy Thomson Hall Music Store in Toronto. Estabrooks will be doing 'These Miles' album signings immediately following all 3 upcoming concerts with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Music Hall. Look for Estabrooks in future performances with Maestro Steven Reineke, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in November 2014 and Seattle Symphony in March 2015. Please visit jonathanestabrooks.com for the most up-to-date tour information.

Jonathan Estabrooks, Featured Soloist with TSO Pops Classic Broadway: Lerner & Loewe

Tue. May 20, 2014 at 8:00 PM Roy Thomson Hall

Wed. May 21, 2014 at 2:00 PM Roy Thomson Hall

Wed. May 21, 2014 at 8:00 PM Roy Thomson Hall

FOR MORE INFO: www.jonathanestabrooks.com www.twitter.com/JonEstabrooks www.facebook.com/estabrooksbaritone

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MEDIA TOOLS CLICK here for high-res - ‘These Miles' - album art. CLICK here and here for high-res press photos (Photo Credit: Shannon McCook) WATCH/POST Jonathan Estabrooks' EPK here STREAM/POST the Jonathan Estabrooks track 'Play Me' here (includes posting/embedding info, just click on 'Share')

Gunner & Smith Hitting The Road For Solo Canadian Tour Dates

Tour Dates Starting on May 9th in Saskatoon

For Immediate Release:

(Saskatoon, SK) - Getting back to his roots, Geoff Smith, from Saskatoon band Gunner & Smith, is set to head out for a solo Canadian Tour this May. The tour is in support of the independently released Gunner & Smith album 'He Once Was a Good Man' (Release Date: February 25th) and will kick off with a full band show in Saskatoon on May 9th with a string of solo tour dates to follow in Ontario, Quebec & Manitoba. For a full listing of tour dates, see below.

Gunner & Smith began as a solo project in 2010 by folk artist Geoff Smith. The band eventually evolved into a multi-member indie country rock ensemble that traverses the rocky line between post-prairies balladeering and grit-covered rockers. Initially emerging from Smith’s one-man vision, Gunner & Smith released their first EP, 'Letter of Marque', in 2011. Featuring the lithe, lonely swaying sounds of Saskatchewan folk, country and rock, Smith quickly followed up his sparse debut release with his second EP entitled 'Compromise is a Loaded Gun' in August 2012.

When it came time to record their first full length album 'He Once Was a Good Man', Gunner & Smith headed to The Avenue Recording Studio, located above Saskatoon's legendary music venue Amigo's Cantina. Joining the band in the studio were recording engineers Jordan Smith and Scott Neufeld along with The Deep Dark Woods’ Ryan Boldt at them helm in the producer’s chair. In addition to producing the album, Boldt also makes several appearances playing on the album. Upon releasing the album in February of this year, Gunner & Smith played a showcase at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, MO and then embarked on a successful Western Canadian Tour in February and March. The band also released the dark and gritty video for their song 'Towns' to coincide with the tour dates.

Watch the Gunner & Smith video for 'Towns'

Don't miss out on your chance to see Geoff Smith from Gunner & Smith on his solo tour in May!  Gunner & Smith (full band) will be performing in Toronto in June at the NXNE Festival & Conference. Full details, along with the most up-to-date tour schedule are available at: gunnerandsmith.com.

GUNNER & SMITH MARCH 2014 TOUR DATES May 9 – Saskatoon, SK - Vangelis (full band) May 15 – Barrie, ON - The Clarkson Pub May 16 – St. Catharines, ON - The Mahtay Café May 18 – Brantford, ON - The Station Coffee House and Gallery (afternoon show 2-4pm) May 20 – Waterloo, ON - Queen St. Commons May 21 – Windsor, ON -  Phog Lounge May 22 – Toronto, ON - Not My Dog May 23 – Ottawa, ON - The Daily Grind May 24 – Montreal, QC - Grumpy’s May 25 - Kemptville, ON - Dandelion Festival May 28 – Sudbury, ON - The Speakeasy May 29 – Sault St. Marie, ON - Café Natura May 30 – Thunder Bay, ON - The Apollo May 31 – Winnipeg, MB - Arlington Attic

“Gunner & Smith put forth honest roots rock with a compelling amount of grit, given a special sparkle” - Saskatoon Star Phoenix

 “Gunner & Smith carry a full, hard-hitting sound that is both expansive and lush” – Ominocity.com

MEDIA TOOLS CLICK here for high-res album art CLICK here and here for high-res press photos (Photo Credit: Matthew Smith) WATCH/POST Gunner & Smith 'Towns' video here STREAM/POST Gunner & Smith track 'Towns' here (includes posting/embedding info, just click on 'Share')

FOR MORE INFO: www.gunnerandsmith.com

Vancouver Band Real Ponchos To Release Debut Full Length Album on May 6th

Cross-Canada Tour Kicks Off in Vancouver on May 2nd!

For Immediate Release:
April 3rd, 2014

(Vancouver, BC) - Vancouver's Real Ponchos are independently releasing their debut full-length album 'Since I Let You Go' on Tuesday, May 6th. The album, produced by Jesse Gander at The Hive Creative Lab before it closed in July 2013, is a follow up to their acclaimed 2013 self-titled EP. Upon the release of 'Since I Let You Go', Real Ponchos will embark on an epic Cross-Canada Tour starting with an Album Release Party in Vancouver on May 2nd at The Anza Club. Full tour details are listed below.

Real Ponchos blend country, roots rock and jam band influences to deliver tried and true tunes that won’t let you down. The tasteful beats of drummer Emlyn Scherk and the solid lines of acoustic bassist Michael Wagler ensure the band is locked in and ready to ride. Guitarist and singer Emile Scott propels the boys onward with his soulfully strummed acoustic guitar and clear, sailing vocals while guitarist and singer Ben Arsenault weaves through the landscape with striding, clean electric guitar lines and settles in with his scraggly vocals. Songwriting duties are shared between Arsenault and Scott, with Arsenault’s country hurtin’ tunes finely balanced by Scott’s bright and driving melodies. Add to the mix rustic harmonies and you’re in business with Real Ponchos.

Real Ponchos have firmly established their reputation as a real deal live band in their two and a half years of gigging in Vancouver, Victoria and throughout BC and Alberta. Vancouver natives Scherk, Arsenault and Scott have a long musical history that shows in their tight bond onstage. Arsenault and Scherk previously played together in Montreal based alt-country band, Martyr & Pistol, while Scott and Arsenault have been making music together off and on since their high school days. These three long time buddies have united with fellow Vancouverite Wagler to round out the crew. As Arsenault states, “Emile and I ran a radio show over the loudspeakers in the hallways of our high school, playing Grateful Dead and Tom Waits. Eventually we started jamming, hanging out in each other’s basements with bottles of Jim Beam. And now we’ve evolved into a committed band. I guess it’s a function of the creative fire burning and growing over time. Emlyn and Mike, who are both schooled jazz guys, have really elevated our laid back style and sealed the deal on the full band vibe.”

Laced with rustic harmonies and driving melodies, 'Since I Let You Go' was recorded live off the floor, showcasing the tight band sound and adventurous jams that the Real Ponchos have become known for in their live shows. With choice pedal steel and organ overdubs, the record provides a deep listening experience with stand-out country-tinged tracks like 'Outta This Place' and 'Just Like a Slow Burn'. The album also features a full band composition on the long, Grateful Dead inspired jam, 'Along The Way'. Real Ponchos are both country and psychedelic - a band that can command a roaring dance floor with high energy alt-country stompers AND throw down some sweet, transcendental jams!

 Listen To The Real Ponchos track - 'Outta This Place'

Real Ponchos’ debut album 'Since I Let You Go' will be available on iTunes and other fine digital retailers on Tuesday, May 6th. Look for the band on tour across Canada starting on May 2nd in Vancouver, BC. For the most up-to-date tour schedule, please visit: www.realponchos.com

REAL PONCHOS - 'SINCE I LET YOU GO'
RELEASE DATE: MAY 6, 2014 (Independent)
1.  Intro
2.  Aged in Oak
3.  Outta This Place
4.  It’s Gonna Happen
5.  Since I Let You Go
6.  A Fistful of Beans
7.  Just Like a Slow Burn
8.  Deep Dark Pool
9.  Along the Way
10. Buenas Vibras
11. Take Me Back Home

REAL PONCHOS CROSS-CANADA TOUR DATES:
May 2 – Vancouver, BC - Anza Club (Album Release Show)
May 7 – Lloydminster, AB - The Root
May 8 – Regina, SK - McNally's Tavern w/ The Slim City Pickers
May 9 -  Sasktoon, SK w/ Gunner & Smith
May 10 – Gimli, MB - Ship and Plough Pub w/ Adam Young
May 15 – Oshawa, ON - Moustache Club
May 16 –  Toronto, ON Tranzac Club w/ Emily Jill West and Snoqualmie
May 17 – Ottawa, ON -  Pressed Café w/ Wooden Horseman
May 20 – Toronto, ON - 3030 Bar
May 21 – Sackville, NB - Ducky's
May 22 – Fredericton, NB - Roxstone Café
May 23 – Halifax, NS - Carleton w/ The Band Before Time
May 24 – St Andrew’s, NB - Red Herring
May 27 – Charlottetown, PEI - Baba’s
May 28 – Moncton, NB - Plan B w/ Alex Madsen of The Divorcees
May 29 – Montreal, QC - Barfly w/ The Johnny Cash Machine
May 30 – Montreal, QC - Cagibi w/ Ghost Lights
June 4 – Winnipeg, MB - Garrick Hotel
June 5 – Brandon, MB - Lady of the Lake Pub
June 6 – Lethbridge, AB - Owl Acoustic Lounge,
June 7 – Regina, SK, The Lancaster Pub
June 9 – Calgary, AB - The Ironwood
June 12 – Kelowna, BC - Fernando’s
June 13 – Victoria, BC - Logan’s w/ As The Crow Flies
July 11 and 12 – Horsefly, BC - Arts on the Fly Festival

FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.REALPONCHOS.COM

 “…introspective, irony-free roots music, with twangy, distinctive vocals and Jerry Garcia–like leads from Ben Arsenault, and vintage Asylum Records-style vocal sincerity from rhythm guitarist Emile Scott” - Georgia Straight

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MEDIA TOOLS
CLICK here for high-res - 'Since I Let You Go' album art.
CLICK  here and here for a high-res press photos. (Photo Credit: Tayu Hayward)
STREAM/POST Real Ponchos track - 'Outta This Place' here (includes posting/embedding info, just click on 'Share')
WATCH/POST Real Ponchos acoustic performance of 'Just Like a Slow Burn' here

For additional information, product or to request an interview:
Jen Fritz | Fritz Media
Phone: 604-626-7045
Email: jen@fritzmedia.ca
Twitter: @jen_fritz | @fritz_media