Artist Spotlight – Dana Gavanski

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Ashley Jones

Posted by Dana Gavanski on Friday, 27 March 2020

Dana Gavanski was born with a desire to sing. Growing up in Vancouver to a Serbian family, she was immersed in the culture of kafana music and began to root her vividly emotional expression in vocal resonance. In her final year of university in Montreal, she picked up the guitar left by her ex-partner and decided to re-learn. Gavanski prefers to focus on the simple, organic tones the guitar has to offer and keep the main focus on her unique sound.

love affair with music began with her voice. Born to a Serbian family, Given this gateway into her guitar-playing, it’s not surprising Gavanski prefers to shun the hyper-technical aspects of the instrument and instead focuses on its simple, organic tones.

Dana released her first EP Spring Demos in September 2017, which Dana describes as ‘whatever was coming out of me. A flood.’ Following Spring Demos, YESTERDAY IS GONE reflects Dana’s aim ‘to make something bigger, more thought through’. Steeped in determination and uncertainty in equal measure – ‘I just wanted to write a good song’ – the album took shape after she returned from a writing residency in Banff, Alberta. Rooted in the intimacy of folk songwriting, it explores a different sonic texture and as a full band, Dana co-produced her record with Toronto-based musician Sam Gleason and Mike Lindsay. Yesterday Is Gone is Dana’s attempt to ‘learn to say what I feel and feel what I say’ through her own beguiling sound, with each component meticulously placed and yielding a deeply sincere response to the chaos of human emotion.

https://www.facebook.com/danagavanski/photos/a.778231759005376/1412889622206250/

“Yesterday is Gone, my debut album, came into the world at a strange time,” says Dana, “I never expected to be unable to tour it until at least a year after its release but I’ve silently accepted it. I’m happy to hear of the ways it is reaching people. To read beautiful and thoughtful comments from friends and strangers. Also, in many ways, not being able to do so many things I was used to has shown me how excited I was about getting on the road and in turn, has helped me realise I should work on not taking things for granted.”

Artist Spotlight – The Wind Whistles

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Ashley Jones

Music is an essential part of our lives, with that in mind I have been looking into local bands from BC. I recently came across an Indie-folk-rock duo The Wind Whistles from Vancouver, British Columbia. I recently came across their new album, which was released early September, and I am glad I did. It’s been on heavy rotation during my downtime amidst the pandemic, and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Check out their recent album Sail Away, on Spotify, YouTube or bandcamp.com

Posted by The Wind Whistles on Sunday, 21 June 2020

The Wind Whistles duo consists of Tom Prilesky (vocals, guitar) and Liza Moser (vocals, bass). They have recorded four albums, with musical styles that span anti-folk, roots revival, twee, pop and alternative rock, and americana, with lyrical themes about death/revival, empathy for living things, and DIY culture. Many of their artistic creations are delivered in fun and endearing ways using animal characters and paying tribute to friends and family. Their studio albums featured supporting musicians from their friends in The Greenbelt Collective, Bad Fate, Supermoon, The People Verses, The Dirty Beat, Suzuki Jacuzzi and more. Although the band only consists of two people, their live performances do not lack in any way. Their upbeat and engaging energy made their audiences feel heavily involved in the experience and allowed for an intimate setting. The Wind Whistles were most active between 2006-2010, touring extensively across Canada and in Europe. In the decade following a hiatus from performing live, they have produced a farewell album called ‘Sail Away’, again enlisting musical help from their community. I personally believe it was an amazing way to bring their journey to an end, you can feel the love they have for their music and it is an album that is timeless and can be enjoyed for years to come.

https://www.facebook.com/thewindwhistlesband/photos/a.156421896048/10157902532356049

RESCHEDULED – Sebastian Bach 31st Anniversary Tour

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Ashley Jones

Acclaimed vocal powerhouse Sebastian Bach has announced the newly rescheduled dates for the 2^nd leg of his highly anticipated 30^TH Anniversary Tour celebrating the album “SKID ROW,” which was originally set to start later this month. Today, BACH has revealed the tour will take place this fall starting on October 28^th and running through December 15^th with special guests STITCHED UP HEART.

Don’t miss Sebastian Bach, November 2nd, 2020 at the Commodore Ballroom. Tickets are still available!

BACH’s 30^TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR, taking place now this coming fall, will commemorate the groundbreaking, platinum selling 1st album, “Skid Row,” which he’ll be performing in its entirety along with other classic hits.

Released in the winter of 1989, SKID ROW’s self-titled record is one of heavy rock’s most successful debut albums, landing in Billboard’s Top 10 and going on to sell millions of copies around the world. The record transformed the band from local New Jersey quintet into a global phenomenon whose rebellious attitude and jaw-dropping talent set the bar and tone for rock music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. SKID ROW’s singles, “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You,” are among the decade’s most recognizable rock anthems that still receive heavy airplay on radio stations across the country. The group again achieved commercial success with its second record Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.

SEBASTIAN BACH is recognized globally as a vocalist, television star, actor and beyond! Bach hit the spotlight in the late 1980’s as the iconic frontman for mainstream heavy metal / hard rock act SKID ROW. Since his departure from Skid Row in the mid 90’s, SEBASTIAN BACH still remains one of the most relevant rock figures in pop culture today, with over 20 million records sold, three solo records, network television appearances on AXS.tv, MTV, VH1 and CMT, guest appearances on “Gilmore Girls,” “Trailer Park Boys,” “Californication” and other popular television shows, and several acting stints on and off Broadway. BACH’s last album, Give ‘Em Hell, impressively, landed on the U.S. Top Hard Rock and Top 200 Billboard charts, proving his prowess decades after his initial debut. BACH’s critically acclaimed Harper Collins memoir “18 And LIFE on Skid Row” was released on December 6, 2016.

The Railway Residency

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Ashley Jones

Don’t wait any longer to enjoy a live show! Starting tomorrow, October 14th 2020, the Railway Stage & Beer Café will be hosting the Railway Residency with Jon Bryant. Every Wednesday until November 4th, from 7:00pm-10:00pm, you can enjoy live music by the Halifax born native with a modern bar program featuring 24 craft taps, rotating cask brews and a menu of soups, salads and Italian-style pressed sandwiches.

Jon Bryant is a true artist whose popularity within the international music industry is growing and certainly leaving a lasting impression with his unique musical style of haunting-ambient dream-folk and singer/songwriter roots. At the start of his musical career, Jon Bryant’s single “Deaf” was selected as the iTunes single-of-the-week and his debut album the featured singer-songwriter album. Bryant followed up his online success with his follow up album “What Takes You” in 2012 and numerous TV sync placements while touring throughout North America and Europe. In 2016 Jon Bryant released the highly anticipated dream-folk album “Twenty Something” featuring the production of Alex Newport (Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, Mars Volta and City and Colour), Nygel Asselin (Half Moon Run) Jordan Wiberg and Rick Parker (Lord Huron, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). Not only does his unique Jeff Buckley-esque vocals and compelling songwriting command attention, but his lively, emotional and energetic stage presence also pull his audience in and make his art and presence unforgettable.

Tickets are very limited as they are sold by table, with only 7 tables available for each event. You can purchase tickets here for $80.