~~~ TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT ~~~

WAX MANNEQUIN & THE KETTLE BLACK head east and west!   Check out these dates, Canadian fans – they will be so many places!

Wax Mannequin says this:

“This summer I’ll be embarking on the most ambitious cross-Canada tour that I have done in the past decade… thanks to the mightily industrious Nick Johannes (aka The Kettle Black) who booked this behemoth almost single-handedly. We will be travelling together in a used delivery van that we bought off of marketplace. We will deliver equal measures of salvation and retribution to each club, gallery, theatre, livingroom, laundromat — in every hovel, town, municipality, metropolis — with a seamless, heavy-as-f*ck, audio-visceral extravaganza. ”

Advance tickets available soon.

EAST

July 8 – Fredericton – The Cap

July  9  – Bathurst – Black Pug Live – w King Cod

July 10 – Moncton – Xeroz Arcade/Bar – w Schoondog Saints + Cursed Arrows

July 11 – Halifax – Gus’s Pub – w Cursed Arrows + Testing Fate

July 12 – New Glasgow – Mordoors Pub – w  Brynn Currie

July 14 – Charlottetown – Baba’s – w The Devils Punchbowl

July 15 – Sackville – Ducky’s Pub

July 16 – Saint John – Callie’s – w Balaclava

July 18 – Montreal – AND Art Space

July 19 – Ottawa – Avant Garde Bar

(Home for a rest… unless)

WEST

July 30 – Sudbury – Lounge 390 – w Lightmares

July 31 – Sault Ste Marie – Unnecessary Noise Studios – w The Floor Between Us

Aug 1 – Thunder Bay – The Foundry

Aug 2 – Winnipeg – Handsome Daughter – w Cantor Dust

Aug 4 – Regina – The Club – w tba

Aug 6 – Calgary – Vern’s – w tba

Aug 7 – Lethbridge – The Slice = w Berserker

Aug 8 – Cranbrook – The York – w Death Quilt + Mantra

Aug 9 – Salmo – Erie Creek Brewing Co – w Rad Dog

Aug 11 – Grand Forks – 4th Street Studio

Aug 12 – Kelowna – DunnEnzies Downtown – w Mr. Awesome

Aug 13 – Kamloops – Bridgeview Theatre – w Dywane Regretsky

Aug 14 – Vancouver – The Cobalt – w Invasives

Aug 15 – Roberts Creek -  Gumboot Cafe

Aug 16 – Powell River – The Alley

Aug 19 – Victoria – Little Fernwood – w Lily Fawn Electric

Aug 21 – Comox – Masonic Hall – w Pranatricks

Aug 22 – Chilliwack – Chill House Studio – w Aster Dawn

Aug 23 – Prince George – Omineca Art Centre – w Rabbit Soup

Aug 24 – Edmonton – Blakbar – w Grim Stone

Aug 26 – Prince Albert – The Spice Trail

Aug 27 – Saskatoon – Black Cat

Aug 28 – Winnipeg -  King Cob Market Pub

Aug 29 – Gorham – Tumblestone Festival

Have you heard yet about Souwesto Gothic?  A podcast regaling us with Southern Ontario lore?  Have you noted its connection to our own dear folklorist Henry Adam Svec?   Do you find yourself, once again, hovering in that strange space between truth and theatre?  Who’s voice was that?  Was that interview factual?   Is Ron Leary growing garlic scapes?   Why is that woman in the distance so angry?

Whether the podcast inspired the album, or the album inspired the podcast, you will get to hear the sincere commitment to country music performed by Henry Adam Svec and his giant band this Saturday June 13th, at the small and whimsical “La Poche” in Guelph.  And in classic form, as old eccentric songwriter friends, the show will feature Jenny Omnichord.   We’ll start at about 8pm.   Not to be missed.

Check out Souwesto Gothic here:

https://www.souwestogothic.com/2532107

The album lives on streaming platforms, and most if it, in EP form, can be found here:

https://thetalbottrailboys.bandcamp.com/album/souwesto-gothic-ep

Wax Mannequin Is playing many Ontario dates in June (and more shows coming this summer – stay tuned!)

Label Fantastic!’s Bird City and Pink Moth play near (some of) you!

In February and March, Bird City and Pink Moth are joining forces for some beautiful small intimate shows at some of the coolest DIY venues in the area

First, on Fri. Feb. 20 you’ll find them in London @honeydipbar: Steven Lambke, Bird City, Pink Moth, and Shawn Durant. Doors 7pm

Sat. Feb. 21 in Guelph @lapoche: Bird City and Pink Moth

Saturday, March 07 in Brantford @zBtfd Records: Eamon McGrath / Drew Smith / Bird City / Pink Moth // 1pm

And if you miss all of these, but still want to catch Bird City, there is a rare return from Great Aunt Ida – you can catch her and Bird City at The House of Miracles in Cambridge on Monday April 13th

A few days ago, I didn’t know a new album was coming out on Label Fantastic! today.

But this had to happen.  AMC Gremlin, and more specifically the creator behind the name, Andrew Collins, is not a stranger to LF!   We excitedly released his previous project Skeletones Four many years ago.  He is an old friend.  And a favourite creator.   When I found out a couple days ago that this album was coming out today, I asked permission for us to bring it in under our umbrella, to celebrate in the wonderful unexpected and much appreciated surprise that it is.

AMC Gremlin has a special way of creating a timeless warm sound that holds a familiarity that could easily be from an early 2000s homerock tape from a basement in Guelph, for those of us who carry a nostalgia for that.   But the reality is it’s all the new songs you were missing, songs that come with a heart-on-sleeve story arch that resonates with the big feelings that come from navigating a difficult world, but also an instrumental soundtrack that can carry you happily on a walk down the block, when you don’t find yourself needing to think to heavily about where you’re going.   It can be nice to be met with the music of an old friend – it can be nice to have a whole new album to pour into, while being brought back to some of your favourite feelings that friend has brought before.   I’m happy for this surprise and it’s place in our group here at LF!   Welcome back Andrew, and welcome AMC Gremlin!

Check out the album here:

https://amcgremlin.bandcamp.com/album/return-to-cloud-city

Pink Moth is back!  A couple of years ago we were pleasantly surprised by a Pink Moth children’s album dedicated to Ray’s daughter Jessa, but it’s been a decade since Label Fantastic! helped supported Pink Moth with “Eclipsed” and we couldn’t have been more delighted when we discovered this new album was in the works.   And it’s finally here!  It’s dark and haunting, but with the slick synthy key-hooks we’ve come to look for from Pink Moth.   Ray’s ethereal voice shines front and center, bringing us through depths of haunting feelings, invitations to join Pink Moth in the night, out in a stormy ocean, from the horizon to the end of the world.  There’s a lot of room for these feelings these days, and Pink Moth has given us a perfect soundtrack.   Give it a listen over at Pink Moth’s bandcamp!

pinkmoth.bandcamp.com

Credits:

Released October 2, 2024

Written, performed and produced by Ray Cammaert.
Studios: the Tinshop, Attic Analog, Old South, Vaughan Public Library.

Mixed and mastered by Andy Magoffin at House of Miracles, Preston.
Pre-mix file prep by Andrew Collins, Montreal

Magpie is definitely not new to Guelph, but it may be new to you!  It’s new to LF!  But this album is ready to win you over – with four talented and distinct contributing singing-songwriters, and a five member band who have their own various respective projects, Magpie is one of those bands that just fills a room with warmth pulling from all directions.  At some moments it feels like classic late 90′s/early 2000s east coast group legends like “The Guthries”.   At other moments, like a cousin of Julie Doiron, or Great Aunt Ida.  Then, moments later you’ll hear the influences of your favourite old country records and you’re teleported to the spirit of the Sadies.  There are guitar riffs, singing saw, and flute!  It changes and changes again.  A family formed of friends.  An instant old favourite, and one we’re glad to welcome to the group!   Welcome, Magpie!

Check out the album here:

https://therealmagpie.bandcamp.com/album/concessions

And the Artist page here

In early 2000′s fashioned, LF! has released a burn disc that is the 21-track magic of “Jenny Omnichord’s greatest hits”!  She polled the collection of fans who responded on facebook, and put together the list.  Don’t agree that they’re her greatest hits?    Something missing?  Something you don’t want on there?   Reach out!   She’s handwriting the back covers, and burning the discs, so she can probably make a modified version for you.  If you’re a big fan.  Let her know how big of a fan you are and we’ll go from there.  The CD art is four overlays of the four full-length JO albums.  Hold the cover up to the light, it’s like stained glass!  Jenny is making the overlays in her basement using a heat press, acetates, and SCIENCE!  As homemade as a burned disk can get.   Reach out to Jenny to get your copy of Jenny Omnichord’s greatest hits today!