Holly McNarland "Run Body Run" and NXNE Contest

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Métis singer-songwriter Holly McNarland's new album Run Body Run, her first since 2007's Chin Up Buttercup, is set for release in June. To celebrate, she is running a contest that there will be 11 winners for! Not bad odds - so get your entry in there!

To enter, submit a short 200 word (or less) essay or two minute YouTube video about one Holly McNarland song that impacted your life and why. Personally, Numb was a fixture in my high-school soundtrack, but that's me!

The top 10 entries will be selected by Holly herself, posted on her blog and will each win a pair of moccasins from Manitobah Mukluks, hand-written (by Holly) lyrics of the song they entered the contest with and a signed/numbered copy of her new album.

One grand prize winner will really score with:

  • the 1st signed copy of the new album
  • transportation for winner and a friend to Toronto for NXNE Festival
  • a hotel in Toronto for 2 nights
  • 2 festival passes to NXNE
  • 2 pairs Mukluks from Manitobah Mukluks
  • meet and greet during soundcheck of Holly's NXNE showcase at The Rivoli
  • pre-show dinner for 2 at The Rivoli Restaurant.

Sweet, right? For more info visit hollymcnarland.net and send your entries to songcontest@hollymcnarland.net.

While you're thinking about Holly songs of the past you love, also check out this preview of Dig a Little from her upcoming album Run Body Run.

8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings Complete Lineup

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The third annual 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings festival features a long list of Aboriginal performers taking to various stages next month in Winnipeg. Check out the lineup and enter their contest to win tickets!

The 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings festival is a series of music nights in Winnipeg boasting a long list of Aboriginal performers from all over Turtle Island.  Kicking off on Friday, May 4th, this festival will cover 8 days in the month of May and showcase 34 artists in several venues across the city.

Métis music man Dustin Harder (of The Dusty Roads Band), who created and programs the festival said about the various genres in the festival:

"We’ll be mixing it up every night with everything from blues and roots to rock to instrumental to folk and country to heavy metal and hip-hop. So there will definitely be something for everyone."

This year's edition of 8 Days In May. Eh! will feature artists such as: BODM (Bruthers of Different Muthers)Burnt Project 1Don AmeroDrezusDustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band, Leanne Goose, LorenzoWab KinewCris DerksenGabriel AyalaJason Burnstick, and Kristi Lane Sinclair just to name a handful!

If you happen to be in the Winnipeg area for the month of May, it is highly suggested you head out to one or all of the many events and get a dose of Indigenous music in your ears via the 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings.

You can also enter to win tickets! Head to 8daysinmayeh.polldaddy.com and to find answers to the contest questions, check out 8daysinmayeh.com.

Official festival line up:

Friday, May 4th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 220 Nothing But The Blues Ross Neilsen Band from New Brunswick Neufeld and Kidder from Manitoba Dusty Harder and the Dusty Roads Band from Manitoba

Saturday, May 5th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 220 Singer/Songwriter Night Katie Murphy Band Sonia Eidse Jessee Havey with Damon Mitchell Segweh Don Amero Marcel Desilets (Tweener)

Friday, May 11th -  The Marlborough Hotel (Regal Beagle) - capacity 280 Roots, Hip-hop, Country and Folk Pop Tweener (Nick Sherman(ON) Lorenzo JJ Lavallee Band Little Hawk John J. Cook(SK) Mariachi Ghost – members from S. America

Saturday, May 12th - Le Garage - capacity 100 Fresh, Light, Americana Mid Century Modernaires JD Edwards Band Dustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band Nick Sherman (ON)

Friday, May 18th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Country and Alt-Country Tweener David St Germain Holly Vee Leanne Goose – Inuvik Alaska Cameron

Saturday, May 19th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Heavy Rock/Metal All Aboriginal Artsists. Brothers Of Different Mothers – Juno Nominee 2012 King Sleeze Split Crooked Fargo, Arizona

Sunday, May 20th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Experimental classical Gypsy Jazz and Hip Hop Gabriel Ayala – US. Tim Butler(Acoustic) Chet Breau Drezus

Friday, May 25th - Pyramid Cabaret - capacity 300 Final Gathering: A taste of 8 Days in May.Eh! Lorenzo, Little Hawk – 8pm Drezus - 8:30pm Segweh - 8:45 Sonia Eidse - 9:30pm Katie Murphy 9:55pm Big Dave McLean Acoustic Duo - 10:15pm Burnt Project 1 C.D Release - 11pm Dustin Harder and Dusty Roads Band With Sherry St. Germain - 12:30am Mariachi Ghost - 1:15

Saturday, May 26th - Venue to be announced Special 9th Day of May.Eh! Host (Ray St. Germain and Wab Kinew) Performances by: Sierra Noble Jason Burnstick David St Germain Dustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band Wab Kinew, Little Hawk, Lorenzo (Perform "Good Boy") Ray St Germain Tentative (C.R.Avery with Guests)

For more information check out 8daysinmayeh.com.

For tickets, inquiries & info please email 8daysinmayeh@gmail.com

You can subscribe to the events by iCal here by clicking this link: http://www.manitobamusic.com/8daysinmay.ics

Win Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers New CD

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We love Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers and their new album Under the Water Tower. We also rather like haiku. Thus, we're bringing them together in our Gary Farmer Haiku Contest! Enter now.

A copy of the new Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers' CD Under the Water Tower and RPM swag bag could be yours!

To enter, all you have to do is comment with an original haiku below. The only caveat is that the wee poem be inspired by Gary Farmer.

Perhaps it is his role of Nobody in Dead Man, or Ray Delaronde in Blackstone, or the sweet bluesy sound of one of his harmonica riffs that will inspire you. But wherever you find your inspiration, write your own 5-7-5 Gary Farmer homage in our comments below and you'll be entered to win!

Check out the interview with Gary by RPM's Marika Swan, watch the video below of the band at Portland's Waterfront Blues Festival, and download Make a Change to get the ideas flowing.

Enter by 5pm PST Friday April 20th.

Win 2 Tickets to the 'Music is the Medicine' Documentary Film Premiere

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The Derek Miller documentary film Music is the Medicine premieres at the imagineNATIVE festival next week - and RPM has two tickets to give away!

On Sunday October 23rd, RPM co-presents the premiere of Music is the Medicine at the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre in Toronto, ON.

The revealing documentary follows critically acclaimed Mohawk blues artist Derek Miller as he strives to elevate his already esteemed career.

RPM is giving away two tickets for one lucky fan to go the screening! Here's how you can win:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favourite Derek Miller song.

That's it! On Thursday October 20, RPM will randomly draw a name for those who leave a comment and notify the winner by email.

 

Music is the Medicine [Official Trailer]

Music Is The Medicine Trailer from Make Believe Media on Vimeo.