Music Therapy Ride 2015 Announces High Valley & Shaun Verreault as Celebrity Riders

$99 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION RATE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 8th

For Immediate Release:
July 31, 2015

Vancouver, BC - The 14th Annual Music Therapy Ride is pleased to announce that Canadian country music sensations High Valley and Wide Mouth Mason's Shaun Verreault will join this year's ride as Celebrity Guests! The 2015 Ride is set to take place on Saturday, August 29th and registration is now underway with the early bird rate of $99 available until August 8th. Riders can register now at musictherapyride.org. 

The 2015 Music Therapy Ride will be rolling down the Sea-To-Sky highway again this year with the Vancouver Motorcycle Police Drill Team providing a presidential escort for the 14th year in succession. The ride begins at the Edgewater Casino in Vancouver and ends at the Garibaldi Lift Co. in Whistler for a BBQ lunch and live auction. Howard Blank will return as head auctioneer this year and some of the items up for auction include: a 1-week Mexican vacation in Baja, a Raymond Weill contemporary dress watch, a Las Vegas vacation package for 2, collectable autographed guitars and much more! For a full-listing of auction items, please visit: musictherapyride.org/auction

The money raised from the Music Therapy Ride is used to help create new music therapy programs and expand and bring well deserved attention to existing programs. It is also used to support the building, maintenance and continued use of mobile recording studios designed specifically for music therapists called Bandwagons. These mobile studios contain recording software, sound processing equipment and a variety of musical instruments. To date, the Music Therapy Ride has funded the creation of 3 Bandwagons and assisted music therapy programs all across BC.

As a result of thirteen years of dedication, support and generosity, the Music Therapy Ride has raised over $750,000 for the Provincial and National Music Therapy Trust Fund. Recipients of funds raised from the Music Therapy Ride have included:  BC Children’s Hospital, Saanich Peninsula Hospital, The Surrey School District, BC Children’s Hospital, Canuck Place, the Gardens at Qualicum Beach, Shuswap Middle School, Salmon Arm Secondary School, George Pearson Centre, BC Women’s Hospital, The Mosaic Learning Centre and many more.

Last chance early bird tickets are only $99 until August 8th and include breakfast, BBQ lunch in Whistler, live auction, custom t-shirts and more. Reservations for the 2015 Music Therapy Ride can be made at: musictherapyride.org.

FOR MORE INFO: musictherapyride.org
Twitter: @mtrbc
Instagram: @musictherapyride
Facebook: www.facebook.com/musictherapyride

MEDIA TOOLS
Download High-Res Photos of MTR 2014 (Photo Credit: Ron Sombilon)
Download High-Res Photos of Bandwagon

For more info on High Valley: www.highvalleymusic.com
For more info on Shaun Verreault: www.widemouthmason.com

VANCOUVER INDIE-ROCKERS DERRIVAL RELEASE NEW EP 'DEPARTURE & ARRIVAL' ON AUGUST 21st

TOUR DATES STARTING ON AUGUST 29th
WATCH 'CANVAS' VIDEO PREMIERE ON EXCLAIM!

For Immediate Release: 

(Vancouver, BC) - Vancouver indie-rockers Derrival are excited to announce the release of their brand new EP 'Departure & Arrival' on Friday, August 21st and are marking the occasion with the premiere of their kick-ass video for feature track 'Canvas' on Exclaim.ca today. Watch the video (featuring Monsters! And Power Rangers!) here. Derrival are also hitting the road for a string of Western Canadian dates, starting on August 29th in Kelowna and will play a release show in Vancouver on September 25. Full tour schedule is listed below.

These days most people don't know whether they're coming or going and that constant state of motion is how Derrival characterizes themselves, and is ultimately where the band name comes from. Derrival combines synth-heavy elements of bands like Phoenix and Chvrches with guitar driven hooks and melodies reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club and Young The Giant. The band was formed in 2009 in Langley, BC, when the band members were still in high school and they've been on a steady upward trajectory for the past six years, releasing fresh content regularly. Derrival released 'Youth Captured', a 6-song EP in 2013 and they’ve also released a single, a two song 7”, and a music video that has over 14,000 views on Youtube. Since graduating high school, they have each pursued different post secondary studies to develop the skill sets of a record label for independently releasing their own music, making them more than just another band taking the DIY route.

The first single from the 'Departure & Arrival' EP,'Original Script', was released in 2014 and led the band to winning a highly coveted top prize in the 2014 BC PEAK Performance Project. With the release of the EP on August 21st, Derrival are leading with feature track 'Canvas'. The video for 'Canvas' was directed by Sean Depner and shot by Manuel J. Ibanez. The creative video follows the exploits of a role reversal "Manzilla" set on destroying a city that ultimately gets saved by the band in the best way possible! The video is a nod to the band's love of the Power Rangers in their youth. "We all loved the Power Rangers when we were kids," explains lead vocalist Adam Mah. "So, we're basically living out a childhood fantasy with this video. How awesome is that?!"

Derrival's new EP 'Departure & Arrival' will be available online at iTunes and all other digital retailers on Friday, August 21st. Derrival will be touring in support of the EP starting in Kelowna on August 29th. The band will release their first full-length album in 2016 and have plans to tour throughout North America in 2015/2016.  Please visit derrival.ca for more info and the most up to date tour listings.

DERRIVAL // WESTERN CANADIAN TOUR DATES
August 29 - Kelowna, BC - Fleetwood Public House
September 1 - Red Deer, AB - Fratters Speakeasy
September 2 - Edmonton, AB - Wunderbar
September 3 - Saskatoon, SK - Capitol Music Club
September 4 - Calgary, AB - Broken City
September 5 - Banff, AB - Elk & Oarsman Pub
September 25 - Vancouver, BC - VENUE

DERRIVAL - 'DEPARTURE & ARRIVAL' TRACKLISTING
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 21st, 2015 (INDEPENDENT)
1.  Shoes Grow Smaller
2.  Romanticized
3.  Canvas
4.  Original Script
5.  The Knife

Derrival is: Adam Mah • Vocals/Rhythm Guitar // Glen Jackson • Lead Guitar/Vocals // Dan Kozlowski • Drums // Deven Azevedo • Bass/Vocals // Shane Stephenson • Keys/Vocals

FOR MORE INFO: www.derrival.ca
Twitter: @derrival
Instagram: @derrival
Facebook: www.facebook.com/derrival

Yukon Rockers Speed Control Release New Video + Hit The Road For Summer Tour!

Watch Video For Brand New Track 'This Time':

For Immediate Release:
July 6, 2015

(Vancouver, BC) - Yukon rockers Speed Control are a band like no other. Not only are they a killer rock band, they're also youth music educators with their popular RAWK Camp sessions, and are probably the most in shape band you know. The guys really like to work out! So, it makes perfect sense that they filmed their new 'This Time' live performance video inside of a gym. In the Speed Control universe anything is possible. The release of the new video also marks the start of the band's summer tour which they've named FLEX TOUR 2015 (of course). The tour dates in July and August are a mix of Speed Control's youth RAWK Camps and regular live show dates, including a stop in Toronto for a performance at PANAMANIA for the ParaPan Am Games. See below for the full tour schedule.

Since the release of their debut album F.A.B. back in 2013, Speed Control have been hard at work getting 'er done! The band has toured countless times across Canada playing shows and educating youth with their RAWK Camps nationwide. The band have also been spending lots of time at the gym, working hard to be the most buff band out there! All 3 members of Speed Control recently competed in the Northern BC Body Building Championships and they plan to continue their fitness regime while on the road this summer. Follow the band on Instagram @speedcontrol to get all of their on tour updates! Upon the completion of the tour at the end of August, the band will head back into the studio to finish their second album due out in late 2015.

Check out Speed Control's brand new video for 'This Time'and don't miss the band on the road this summer at school gyms, rock clubs and fitness clubs all across Canada! For more information and the most up-to-date tour schedule, please visit: www.speedcontrol.ca

SPEED CONTROL // SUMMER FLEX TOUR 2015
July 6-10 - Quesnel, BC - RAWK Camp, Correlieu Secondary School
July 10  - Quesnel, BC - Quesnel RAWKS!  feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
July 13 - Panorama, BC - Panorama Mountain Resort
July 13-17 - Panorama, BC - RAWK Camp, Panorama Mountain Resort
July 17 - Panorama, BC - Panorama RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
July 19 - Meaford, ON - Meaford Town Hall
July 20-24 - Meaford, ON - RAWK Camp, Meaford Hall Arts & Cultural Centre
July 24 - Meaford, ON - Meaford RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
July 27-31 - Stratford, ON - RAWK Camp at Stratford Summer Music, Royal Canadian Legion
July 31 - Stratford, ON - Stratford RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
Aug 10 - Toronto, ON - PANAMANIA 2015, Nathan Phillips Square
Aug 11 - Toronto, ON - Dead Dog Records
Aug 15 - Prince George, BC - Nancy O's
Aug 17-19 - Grassy Plains, BC - RAWK Camp, Community Hall
Aug 19 - Grassy Plains, BC - Grassy Plains RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
Aug 20-22 - Burns Lake, BC - RAWK Camp, Beacon Theatre
Aug 22 - Burns Lake, BC - Burns Lake RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
Aug 24-28 Chilliwack, BC - RAWK Camp, Chilliwack Cultural Centre
Aug 28 - Chilliwack, BC - Chilliwack RAWKS! feat. Speed Control & RAWK Camp participants
Aug 29 - Vancouver, BC - The Railway Club
Aug 30 - Vancouver, BC - The Railway Club

FOR MORE INFO: www.speedcontrol.ca

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POSTSpeed Control's 'This Time' video here (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST Speed Control 'This Time'here (via SoundCloud)
CLICK here and here for high-res press photos

The 14th Annual Music Therapy Ride Hits The Highway On August 29th!

RIDERS REGISTERED BEFORE AUGUST 1st
RECEIVE AN EARLY BIRD RATE OF $99

 For Immediate Release:

Vancouver, BC - It’s that time of year again! The 14th Annual Music Therapy Ride is ready to hit the highway on Saturday, August 29th. The ride will once again be rolling down the Sea-To-Sky highway this year, beginning at the Edgewater Casino in Vancouver and ending at the Garibaldi Lift Co. in Whistler. For the 14th year in succession, the Vancouver Motorcycle Police Drill Team will provide a presidential escort for the excursion.

The Music Therapy Ride was established by members of the Vancouver music industry in 2002 with representatives from booking agencies, radio stations, record labels, talent managers, concert promoters and recording artists. The charity ride is designed to raise funds for community-based music therapy services in British Columbia. Proceeds are administered by the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund in collaboration with the Music Therapy Association of British Columbia, awarding grants to deserving music therapists and their programs.

The money raised from the Music Therapy Ride is used to help create new music therapy programs and expand and bring well deserved attention to existing programs. It is also used to support the building, maintenance and continued use of mobile recording studios designed specifically for music therapists called Bandwagons. These mobile studios contain recording software, sound processing equipment and a variety of musical instruments. To date, the Music Therapy Ride has funded the creation of 3 Bandwagons and assisted music therapy programs all across BC.

As a result of thirteen years of dedication, support and generosity, the Music Therapy Ride has raised over $750,000 for the Provincial and National Music Therapy Trust Fund. Recipients of funds raised from the Music Therapy Ride have included:  BC Children’s Hospital, Saanich Peninsula Hospital, The Surrey School District, BC Children’s Hospital, Canuck Place, the Gardens at Qualicum Beach, Shuswap Middle School, Salmon Arm Secondary School, George Pearson Centre, BC Women’s Hospital, The Mosaic Learning Centre and many more.

A 2014 feature piece on the Bandwagon program from the Victoria Times Colonist: read story here.

Reservations for the 2015 Music Therapy Ride can be made at: musictherapyride.org. Early bird tickets are $99 until August 1st and include breakfast, BBQ lunch in Whistler, live auction, custom t-shirts and more.

MEDIA TOOLS
Download High-Res Photos of MTR 2014 (Photo Credit: Ron Sombilon)
Download High-Res Photos of Bandwagon

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jen Fritz | Fritz Media
Phone: 604-626-7045
Email: Jen at Fritz Media

Cariboo Native Madeline Taquin Returns To Canada For Tour Of BC With Madeline Tasquin Trading Co.

Listen To Brand New Track 'Free Love':

For Immediate Release:
 

(Vancouver, BC) - San Francisco/Bay Area band, the Madeline Tasquin Trading Company will be making the trek up to Canada this summer for a tour stint throughout British Columbia, starting in Vancouver on July 17 at Skinny Fat Jack's. The 20-date, 40 day tour brings Madeline Tasquin back to her BC home with her new band, to spread the word about her forthcoming full-length release set to come out later this year. To go along with the tour, Tasquin has released the first peek at her new album - a summery track called 'Free Love' - and will be posting instructions on her website on July 1st for a collaborative music video project inviting footage contributions from her fans throughout the summer.

Singing in both English and French, Canadian-Californian songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Madeline Tasquin weaves nimbly from jazz-tinged folk to odd-meter soul, from twisted pop ballad to delicately dark fairy-tale, delivering it all with a radiant stage presence. Raised in Quesnel, British Columbia by her opera singer mother and Austrian gold-miner father, Tasquin began playing the piano as soon as she could reach the keys and developed her acute sense of harmony by singing on long car trips as a child with her mother and two younger sisters. In her teenagehood, art rock bands Primus and Mr.Bungle played on repeat alongside Rachmaninoff, Satie and Chopin. After completing a degree in Architecture in Sydney Australia, she returned to her musical roots upon relocating to Berkeley in 2006 and has since added the concert ukulele and guitar to her repertoire, next to her first love, the piano.

Tasquin honed her performance skills, and tamed her stagefright, through four years as the front-woman of the Oakland-based polyrhythmic funk/rock band Antioquia. She began her solo career in 2011 and released her debut EP Another Trip Around The Sunin 2012. The Madeline Tasquin Trading Company is a recent merger of musical minds featuring Justin Rock (guitar/vocals), Giulio Xavier Cetto(bass/vocals) and Mike “Wolf” Quigg (percussion/vocals). The group will be a part of Tasquin's new album due out later this year. The brand new track 'Free Love' will be included on the upcoming new album.

"'Free Love' is a cheeky portrayal of the raw, almost painful and totally illogical obsession of a romantic encounter with someone who's already taken and who lives hopelessly far away on the other side of a massive body of water," Tasquin explains. "Lyrically and stylistically it's not familiar territory for me, so in the spirit of embracing vulnerability, I'm excited to lead with it on the album. Visually it ties in nicely to the last track of Another Trip Around the Sun, 'Flying a Kite in my Underwear,' and I think the delicious production by Daniel Wright, sexy tremolo guitar and my doo-wop backup vocals make it a saucy addition to the soundtrack for summer 2015."

With her 4-octave range, dynamic compositions, and passion on and off the stage, it looks like 2015 is “full steam ahead” for the prolific Madeline Tasquin. Don't miss the Madeline Tasquin Trading Company on tour this summer throughout the Pacific Northwest with tour dates starting in Canada on July 17th in Vancouver. And look for Tasquin's first full-length album out later this year! For more info and the most up-to-date tour schedule, please visit: tasqu.in

MADELINE TASQUIN TRADING CO. // 2015 SUMMER TOUR
July 11-13 - Veneta, OR @ Eugene's Oregon Country Fair
July 15  - Seattle, WA @ The Royal Room
July 16 - Olympia, WA @ Rhythm & Rye
July 17 - Vancouver, BC @ Skinny Fat Jack's
July 23 - Victoria, BC @ Copper Owl
July 24 - Sooke, BC @ Concerts at Hilltop House
July 25 - Duncan, BC @ The 39 Days of July Festival (afternoon show)
July 25 - Duncan, BC @ Duncan Showroom (evening show)
July 26 - Nanaimo, BC @ The Globe Hotel
July 29 - Quesnel, BC @ The Occidental
July 30 - Williams Lake, BC @ Central Cariboo Arts Centre
July 31-August 3 - Wells, BC @ ArtsWells Festival
August 4 - Prince George, BC @ House Concert
August 5 - Dunster, BC @ Shara & Seth's
August 8 - Golden, BC @ The Golden Taps
August 9 - Invermere, BC @ The Station
August 11 - Golden, BC @ Jita's Cafe
August 14 - Salmon Arm, BC @ Lunchbox Series
August 15 - Kaslo, BC @ Langham Cultural Centre
August 19 - Detroit, OR @ Breightenbush Hotsprings

FOR MORE INFO: tasqu.in
Facebook: facebook.com/ManaMaddyMusic
Twitter: @MadelineTasquin
Instagram: @MadelineTasquin

 “…a creative tour de force.”- SF Chronicle.

“Her songs are at once delicate and exuberant, misty and adventurous, like a ride in a hot air balloon.” - Oaktown Indie Mayhem

MEDIA TOOLS
LISTEN / POST Madeline Tasquin Trading Co. - 'Free Love' 
STREAM Madeline Tasquin - Another Trip Around The Sun HERE
CLICK HERE and HERE for high-res press photos
CLICK HERE for high-res tour poster