Castlegar Sunfest 2014

Hanging out with Craig!

Happy Sunfest!

I am pretty pumped about Sunfest this year, why? Well because it is my first Sunfest! I have officially been living in the Kootenays for 11 months + 1 week (I am just twenty-one days away from a full year)! This is one of the last events that I can say that I have not been part of. 

One really cool part of Sunfest was the Craig Mortiz show last night at Kinsman Park. He took Mountain FM by storm yesterday when he came in. The lovely Jenny Fines interviewed him because I was on my lunch break at the gym. Apparently Craig is not on Kootenay time! Between the country boy and country fan-girl giggles they had a great chat about his upcoming album and his last appearance here in the Kootenays years ago for Trail Silver City Days. I do not normally post other peoples interviews, but Craig Mortiz is the exception to the rule.

His show was awesome! Lots of dancing from my partners in crime, couples and of course the kids! Enormous productions provided the awesome light show and killer sound that had everyone on their feet. Craig Mortiz and his band were the stars of the show though; I would have to say the highlight moment for me was when they covered John Micheal Montgomery's "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" one of my all-time favourite country songs. I'm not a dancer, but I let a small child lead me around the grass dance floor for that one! 

Castlegar's own Lisa Nicole was even there jamming to Craig's tunes!

Here the song we featured on Mountain FM from Craig Mortiz, played for the first time on rock radio it is called "Ready to Roll".

This one really stuck out to me during the show... it is the "booty call song" (formally known as "Only When Your Lonely").

Craig Mortiz was the highlight of Sunfest Friday for sure!

I am really excited to go check in on our Mountain FM "Kiss My Glass" contest that is running as I type this blog up over at the park. The last person with their lips to the glass will win $600 cash from Adam's Windows and Doors! 

Sunfest continues tonight and tomorrow at Kinsman Park in Castlegar! I'll update with the results of "Kiss My Glass" a little later today :) 

Update: Our four finalists split the "Kiss My Glass" $600 prize after keeping their lips locked on the glass from 9am until 6:50pm! Big thanks to Adam's Windows and Doors!

I treated the Street Team to deep-fried oreos and we enjoyed a TON of amazing food vendors. Kootenay Kettle Corn and Filipino food were my guilty pleasures today; along with handfuls of salt water taffy. It is a good thing Sunfest weekend is not every weekend that is for sure! 

Lisa Nicole on Mountain FM’s Morning Rocks

Today I ended my two-day stint co-hosting Morning Rocks on Mountain FM with John Helm; the lovely Jenny Fines was away celebrating her birthday.

Lisa Nicole joined us on the morning show in anticipation of her big show on Saturday night at the Old Theatre in Castlegar. Fresh off winning two Kootenay Music Awards a couple of weeks ago at the 3^rd annual ceremony, Lisa Nicole will be putting on quite the show with opening act Jason Thomas Saturday, May 24^th. Get your tickets now!

Click here to check out Lisa Nicole on Facebook.

FYI Lisa Nicole took home two Kootenay Music Awards on Friday May 9^, 2014 at the Spiritbar in Nelson. She was voted to have the “Album of the Year” for It Got Ugly and was voted “Best Roots, Country” or Folk Artist as well.

Not in Castlegar this weekend? Lisa Nicole has a bunch of BC and Alberta tour dates coming up this summer! Check them out here.

Here is Lisa Nicole's video for  It Got Ugly.

Kootenay Music Awards--- Voting Now Open

One of the elements I like most about my job is how involved I get to be in our amazing community here in the Kootenays. Over the past nine months living here in the Koots I have gotten to take part in amazing community events big and small, working with the Kootenay Music Awards has been a new experience for me working behind the scenes in a new way--- crafting a website.

Usually my involvement with the community involves chatting things up, attending, greeting and socializing with people. Building the website for the Kootenay Music Awards is a totally new thing for me because unlike the social and promotional aspect of events that I am used to the website has been all me. Lots of alone time and communication from the directors of the Kootenay Music Awards have led to the website you now see. I am very proud of it. Even though I did not code it and worked it all out with the power of Wix, I still absolutely love it.

After getting the basics going for the submission period in March the website had to go through another face lift to enable voting and linking up all the Soundcloud accounts. I can now happily tell you that voting is open for the KMAs until April 30th. I hope you have a chance to check it out and vote! While you are at it let me know what you think; I would love to hear your feedback.

I am a huge fan of Canadian Music. At this time last year I was totally inspired by working at the East Coast Music Awards with our Nova Scotia Community College’s Radio ECMA. It was a fabulous time! If you ever have the opportunity to volunteer with grass-roots level organizations do it! The experience is so rewarding. I love seeing people gain hype and fame from these events, it makes you feel like you have met famous people before they were big deals. You get to be super trendy and cool; it is like you are in the loop on the next big thing.

I hope I can post up some interviews in the coming weeks so you can hear from the people who made the tunes nominated this year for the 3^rd Annual Kootenay Music Awards! Until then, keep up with the KMAs by visiting www.kootenaymusicawards.biz! 

The Kootenay Music Awards will be presented May 9th at the Spirit Bar in Nelson!

March 21, 2014 New Music: “Heaven Knows” and “Fair is Fair”

We have some new tunes on Mountain FM just for you. Two new songs this week and they are goodies. The first we will talk about is from The Pretty Reckless and it is called “Heaven Knows”. This video is NSFW!

Sexy, dark and goth you will find yourself singing this one later in the day. This is the first The Pretty Reckless track that we have added here on Mountain, what do you think?

The Pretty Reckless is an American band from New York City, fronted by television star Taylor Momsen. Momsen played Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl, you may also remember her as Cindy Lou who in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

“Heaven Knows” is the second single from The Pretty Reckless’ sophomore album Going to Hell. At first I questioned it, but now I really like “Heaven Knows”. It is catchy and sassy. Two of my favourite things…

Viewer discretion is advised for this music video, it maybe a little too sassy. Way too sassy for work, which is where most of the staff at Mountain FM viewed it. Awkward.

The Pretty Reckless are currently touring, sadly they are not slated to come to Canada. For more about the Pretty Reckless click here.

Second, representing my home province it is “What’s Fair is Fair” from The Trews. This is the lyric video for their latest track, “What’s Fair is Fair”. Their website says they are working on a performance video for “What’s Fair is Fair”.

The Trew’s actually are from my home province, Nova Scotia. I went to university in the town they are from, Antigonish.  They formed in high school and are legends around the Nish! I am sure you have heard us play them on Mountain before; we love The Trews! I get really excited whenever I see a Trews song come up in my show logs.

The Trews latest single “What’s Fair is Fair” is no exception. Every Trews song is relatable and genuine. I am so excited for new Trews new album coming out this year!

If you want to help support The Trews latest album it is incredibly easy. They have a Pledge Music account to back their new album. When you support this talented Canadian band you are also raising funds for a great cause, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. The album has already met its goal, but if you want to be one of the first to have a copy you need to support the Pledge Music project!

Clickhere to check out their Pledge Music efforts now; some of the amazing itemsthat are specially offered for fundraising are running low in stock!

The goal is to release the album this year (2014). I can’t wait to hear more from the Trews!

More exciting new music is coming to Mountain FM! Make sure you are listening to enjoy your favourite classic rock and the best new rock!

Listen online anytime, www.mountainfm.net!

Music Monday: Current Swell - "Rollin"

Current Swell is blowing up my Facebook and Twitter feeds right now!

Why? Well, it is all because of their new, ridiculous music video for the track “Rollin”.

Take 4 minutes and 40 seconds and watch it now! Please.

Okay, you’re done; right?

Good. I am guessing you are feeling a little tired after watching that display of human physique. I am. In all seriousness, this video is pure gold and so is the song. 

If you haven’t heard about Current Swell, well put your reading pants on. Here is a little bit about the band in a few lines. Current Swell is an awesome B.C. band from Victoria who have four (soon to be five) albums under their belt. They are killer live; everyone who saw them at the Spirtbar in Nelson this past fall will rave to you about them. They have gotten major attention for their work and have opened for acts like the Beach Boys and Bedouin Soundclash. They have a little something for everyone. I am starting to feel a little like a human Wikipedia page --- read up on them here on their website or on their actual Wikipedia page. 

Back to today’s new video, “Rollin”.

Much like the band, this video is a lot of fun. I'm not sure it does much for milk sales though... 

Keep your eyes open for them hopefully they will be back in our neck of the woods soon. I’m not saying pressure them into coming to the Kootenays… but totally email them and pressure them to come back to the Kootenays. Right now they are a little busy, getting ready for some European tour dates after their trip to SXSW (it is okay, I am totally jealous of them too).

For now, enjoy “Rollin”. I am so beat (watching this after going to the gym) that I plan on spending the rest of the day celebrating  today’s big holiday… its National Napping Day.

Matt Dusk's Uber Canadian Mashup

I didn't think it could be done but Matt Dusk has made an incredible mash-up of some huge Canadian talents like Serena Ryder, Drake and half of Robin Thicke!

Matt Dusk visited our neck of the woods back in December with Melanie Doane as part of the Holiday Train. He just realeased this awesome new mash up of hit songs to help celebrate the Junos coming up at the end of the month. 

The Junos are in Winnipeg this year, you can catch them coming up on March 30th! 

Coming To Our Neighbourhood: Mounties

I am really excited for the Mounties show at the Spirit Bar in Nelson coming up in March. It is the perfect way to celebrate the countdown to my 25^th birthday. One week to the day before I turn a quarter-century-old (March 24^, 2014) Mounties will be visiting Nelson. It is going to be a great show; the Spirit Bar is always an awesome time.  I can’t wait to add Mounties to the list of talented acts I have seen in my short time in the Kootenays.

Who are Mounties?

Well they are the incredibly talented: Hawksley Workman (the man himself), Ryan Dahle (LimbLifter/Age of Electric) and Steve Bays (HOT HOT HEAT).

I must admit, I was/am a huge Hot Hot Heat fan. I can still remember the first time I heard ‘Talk To Me, Dance With Me’ on snowy morning in Nictaux, Nova Scotia when we had to stop into my grandmother’s house to let her dog out for a morning #1. Yes, I understand that it is weird that I remember that, whilst my mum took care of Missy I snuck in and absorbed some much needed Much Music time. Boom, I heard it and was addicted.

So I was beyond thrilled to hear about Mounties and even more excited to hear they are coming to Nelson. It is going to be a great show, see ya there!

The technical stuff:

March 24, 2014

Doors are at 7pm.

Opening talent: Rich Aucoin and Special Guests

Click here to get your tickets now! 

‘If This Dance Catches On’

‘Headphones’

After the Show: Matt Mays Plays Spirit Bar in Nelson

Matt Mays killed it Friday night with special guest Adam Baldwin at Nelson’s Spirit Bar. In case you missed it here is a clip of Matt playing on of my all time favourites (that we just happen to also play on Mountain FM) called ‘Tall Trees’. If you ever have a chance to see Matt Mays live I recommend checking him out.

For more about Matt Mays visit www.mattmays.com.

For more on Adam Baldwin visit www.adambaldwin.ca.

Here is my chat with Matt before the show in Nelson.