VIDEO: Watch the Recap of A Tribe Called Red's 'Rez Tour' of Native Communities Across Canada

This past summer, A Tribe Called Red added "The Rez Tour" in the midst of their festival season dates, bringing a handful of free shows to communities in Ontario. This week they dropped a new video about the experience. 

A Tribe Called Red's live show is potent, powerful, and always packed. They have performed for huge crowds around the world, and in summer 2016, finally brought their work to "the audience that matters to them most."

"Our main goal was to be able to connect with our fans that we don't get to connect with face to face so much, particularly our fan-base on reservation who maybe aren't getting to our larger shows," says Bear in the good-looking 5 minute video directed by Jon Riera. Deejay NDN adds, "It's important to go to Indigenous youth now and show that we're real, that we're real people and we're accessible to these youth."

The tour included workshops, q&a with the band, and plenty of photo ops in addition to their high powered performances. It's great to get the insight into The Rez Tour and we hope there are more tours like it to come! As one fan states, "Thank you guys for bringing everyone together."

WATCH: A Tribe Called Red - The Rez Tour Recap

Samantha Crain's New Album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, is the One We've Been Waiting For

With her fourth album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, Samantha Crain has hit her stride.

Five years ago in the original RPM offices in Vancouver's Chinatown, a few weeks before the site launched, Ostwelve said to the team "do you know of Samantha Crain?" We stopped to watch the video for Santa Fe and all fell fast for her rich, almost husky croon, her sweet, inviting, folk style. We've all been fans ever since.

As a fan, while I've adored her vocal and musical style since that day, I felt as a songwriter she hadn't yet grown into her own - not something unexpected from a young artist. With her newest release, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, and now with years of touring and performing and living this life, Crain has grown up and into her voice as a writer and recording artist. The result is not only her best album yet, but one of the best albums this year. I'm excited we can finally say so - RPM was lucky to get an advance listen of the record and we've been bursting to share our praise for it.

“I don’t write protest songs in the traditional sense,” Crain told The Guardian recently, “but I’m always listening to the voices of people around me. These stories are told from the perspective of the underdog, the 99% of us that are working people. They might not be literal protest songs, but the lives of the people within these songs speak at the same volume if you listen.”

Indeed, the songs showcase nimble, poetic lyrics that tell stories of bitter circumstances, the downtrodden, and broken hearts, with a knowing intimacy that comes from the pen of an adept listener. These stories are wrapped in folk and country stylings (with an occasional synth keeping the indie cred alive and well) and despite the sombre or sad stories, they are lifted by striking imagery and elegant musicality.

Samantha Crain serenades The Dakota Tavern, Toronto, Ontario

Crain is an artist who is seemingly always on tour. Earlier this year she did a number of dates opening for Buffy Ste. Marie, she has headlined her own countless shows, and played major festivals - she is at home in front of large crowds. It was a rare treat that her current CD release tour included a stop in Toronto at the legendary but small Dakota Tavern where Crain charmed the lucky, grateful few there.

There may not be another chance to be up close for a solo performance - Under Branch & Thorn & Tree has the makings of a turning point. Catch her live show soon and get the album even sooner. If you haven't fallen for her yet, you will now: this is the album and moody, sweet summer soundtrack you've been waiting for.

Stream the Full Album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, below:

The album is also available on Spotify:

A Tribe Called Red Adds Free Shows on First Nations Reserves to Summer Tour

A Tribe Called Red's already packed summer festival tour will now be making a few stops at the rez.

The group announced today a handful of free appearances at various First Nations this summer. The stops will also include youth-oriented workshops.

"The goal is to present top quality shows directly on reserve, by partnering with communities and bringing a mobile stage and lighting on site," says the press release and we're stoked to hear they're bringing the music into the community, an initiative that's being presented with help from the Ontario Arts Council.

Here are all ATCR's remaining summer tour dates:

07/23 Peguis First Nation, MB - Peguis Multiplex 07/24 Brandon, MB - Brandon Folk Music & Art Festival 07/25 Hamilton, ON - Pan Am Cultural Celebration (Pier 4 Park Bayfront) * 07/31 Montreal, QC - Osheaga Music & Arts Festival 08/01 Maliotenam, QC - Festival Innu Nikamu 08/12 Toronto, ON - Nathan Phillips Square 08/13 Six Nations of the Grand River, ON - Six Nations Community Hall * 08/15 Sudbury, ON - Up Fest (Durham Playgrounds) 08/21 Moose Factory, ON - TBA * 08/23 Thunder Bay, ON (Lac Des Milles Lacs First Nation) - Fort Williams Historical Park * 08/25 Sault Ste Marie, ON (Batchewana First Nation) - Rankin Arena * 08/27 Manitoulin Island, ON (Wikwemikong First Nation) - Thunderbird Park * 08/29 North Bay, ON (Nipissing First Nation) - NFN Administration Office * 09/17-20 Victoria, BC - Rifflandia Festival

* free show

The Red Ride Tour Rides Again

Four years ago, Cris Derksen and Kristi Lane Sinclair toured across Canada and dubbed it the "Red Ride Tour." The "two-er" followed the next year, and now they've established a yearly event - Red Ride 4-Way is crossing Turtle Island next month and picking up lots of other artists on the way.

Electro-cellist Cris Derksen  and acoustic-grunge singersongwriter Kristi Lane Sinclair are long time friends and collaborators. For last year's Red Ride they added the eclectic violinist Laura Ortman to the line-up. This time, they'll be joined by different artists in different cities as they make there way from West to East Coast, including Jasmine Netsena, Iskwé, George Leach, Nick Sherman, Jennifer Kreisberg and once again Laura Ortman.

It's practically a touring festival of some of the best Indigenous artists we all know and love. Get started with this Red Ride 4-Way playlist and see all tour dates below.

May 16: Pats Pub, Vancouver, BC  Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair w/ guests

May 17: Kootenay Co-op, Nelson, BC  Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair Jasmine Netsena

May 18: tba, Edmonton, AB  Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 20: Ironwood Stage & Grill, Calgary AB  Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair Iskwe Jasmine Netsena

May 21:Vangelis Tavern, Saskatoon SK  George Leach Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 22 : The Artful Dodger, Regina SK George Leach Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 23: Pony Corral, Winnipeg MB  George Leach Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 24: The Apollo, Thunder Bay ON  Nick Sherman Cris Derksen Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 26: G101 Gallery, Ottawa ON  Cris Derksen Laura Ortman Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 27: Barbeside and Tonic, Peterborough ON Cris Derksen Laura Ortman Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 29: The Great Hall, Toronto ON  Cris Derksen Laura Ortman Kristi Lane Sinclair

May 30: Cafe Aleatoire, Montreal QC  Cris Derksen Laura Ortman Kristi Lane Sinclair

June 1: Cameo Gallery, Brooklyn NY Cris Derksen Laura Ortman Kristi Lane Sinclair Jennifer Kreisberg

A Tribe Called Red: Fall Tour Dates 2012

What does A Tribe Called Red do after rocking a solid tour across Europe? They kick ass on another solid tour across North America. Check out their North American tour dates and peeps the latest video from the boys.

Don't miss A Tribe Called Red in one of these cities during the next month. We're glued to our computers because we've heard from a little birdie that they're going to be releasing new tracks and mixes that they recorded while they were across the pond - stay tuned to their tweets for that.

That was a great couple of days at home. Good recharge. Time to start our Canadian tour. See you soon Winnipeg!!!

— A Tribe Called Red (@atribecalledred) October 31, 2012

A TRIBE CALLED RED - FALL 2012 TOUR DATES

Nov 2nd – Winnipeg @ Aboriginal Music Week (buy tickets)

Nov 3rd – Regina @ The Exchange (buy tickets)

Nov 4th - Saskatoon @ Amigos Cantina (tickets at the door)

Nov 7th - Edmonton @ Temple (buy tickets)

Nov 8th - Calgary @ Hi-Fi Club (buy tickets)

Nov 9th - Vancouver @ Fortune Sound Club (buy tickets)

Nov 11th - Victoria @ Sugar Nightclub

Nov 17th - Brooklyn @ Glasslands (buy tickets)

Nov 19th - Philadelphia @ Fluid Nightclubs Mad Decent Mondays

Nov 22nd - Washington @ U-Hall

DOWNLOAD: Christa Couture - "You Were Here in Michigan"

We have a download of You Were Here in Michigan from RPM's own Christa Couture from her newly released album The Living Record.

RPM's own Christa Couture has endured her share of hard work and hardships to complete her latest project The Living Record. A survivor of cancer and the passing of her infant son, Christa has turned these dark moments into her own musical medicine. This week we have a download of her song You Were Here In Michigan which captures the moment this medicine inspired her on the road at an artists' retreat. We're very happy to have Christa on our team and even happier to be sharing this first single off her album with you.

Christa is also heading out on a cross country tour so be sure to check out her show dates here: http://www.facebook.com/events/291501224290697/ 

DOWNLOAD: Christa Couture - "You Were Here in Michigan"

To listen to and support the rest of The Living Record, head to christacouture.com

Don Amero Hits the Road with New Album

On the heels of an APCMA nomination for Best Pop CD, Métis singer-songwriter Don Amero is set to release a new album - Heart On My Sleeve - and launch a Canadian tour to support it.

The title reflects a new direction for Amero in eleven original songs, and two bonus tracks,  that he produced himself in his own Winnipeg studio. Amero Nation Talk in Don Amero's Heart is "On His Sleeve" with New CD:

“I feel like this album is quite a bit different from my previous releases, and in some ways, a brand new start for me,” explains Amero, one of Canada’s rising musical stars. “While I’ve worked with some amazing producers in the past, I just felt it was time to put more of my voice into the recording.”

So Amero went back to where it all began for him six years ago, when he self-produced his debut album. He spent the past several months in his own recording studio tucked away in the back of his community church, working diligently to complete the songs featured on Heart On My Sleeve.

“My thought has always been that as an artist, you need to evolve and grow. With this recording, I’m very happy with where I’ve come from and where I’m going,” he says. “When I listen to the songs, I feel like I’m being more honest than I’ve ever been before, hence the name Heart On My Sleeve.”

The Best Pop CD nod isn't the only APCMA Amero is up for - he also garnered nomination for Male Entertainer of the Year and Best Single. One of the most hard-working musicians in Indian Country, his star is sure to continue rising with Heart On My Sleeve.

Catch Don Amero at one of the Heart on My Sleeve Canadian tour dates:

Thursday September 13th – Toronto ON The Sister @ 9:30pm 1554 Queen Street $10 at the door

Sunday September 16th – Acton ON The Roxy Theatre @ 7:30pm 6 Mill Sreet East $10 at the door

Thursday September 20th – Halifax The Music Room @ 7:30pm 6181 Lady Hammond Road $15 advance / $20 door

Saturday September 22nd – PEI Old Belle River @ 8:00pm 1828 Trans-Canada Highway Tickets TBC

Monday September 24th – Wolfville NS Al Whittle Theatre @ 7:30pm 450 Main Street $10 advance/ $15 door

Wednesday October 10th – Whitehorse YK Old Fire Hall @ 7:30pm 1105 First Avenue $15 advance/ $20 door

Friday October 19th – Brandon MB Lorne Watson Hall @ 8:00pm U of B Music Suite $15 advance/ $20 door

Wednesday October 24th – Winnipeg MB Special concert – details to be announced

Follow facebook.com/donameromusic and twitter.com/donaldamero to keep up to date on the latest news from Don Amero.

A Tribe Called Red Calls the Shots

These days, it's hard to keep track of one of Indian Country's favourite contemporary electronic music producers A Tribe Called Red as they take leaps forward into renown and reputation. They've just released a new video, announced summer tour dates, and are celebrating one of their member'sThre3Style.

[UPDATE] Who knew when we published this story this morning that when today's Polaris Prize long list nominees were announced, A Tribe Called Red would be among them! Congrats fellas - the recognition is well deserved. - Editor

Yes, Cayuga DJ Shub has recently earned the reputation of Canada's top party rocker, according to Redbull Thre3Style - a title won in Halifax late last month. DJ Shub also won the top spot at the DMC DJ Battle in 2008, becoming the first Aboriginal DJ to win the DMC Battle. I think the author speaks for Indian Country when he says, bigups Shub - keep killing it! To quote a Justice vs. Simian track, "We, are, your friends! You'll never be alone again!"

Aside from pioneering the Aboriginal Canadian electronic music scene and establishing the presence of Indigenous players as a serious force in the game, A Tribe Called Red has been busy. Bear Witness has been creating a series of videos set to Tribe's music which acts as a commentary on myths and misconceptions regarding today's Canadian, "post-colonial" identity, unveiling both truths and untruths through visual art. Media artists like Bear Witness are an emerging breed and hold a unique talent to be watched closely in the near future. As this exciting field evolves, its people motivated to push like Bear that are evolving it.

Busy is good, because busy means you'll have a chance to see A Tribe Called Red on tour with electronic music favorite Javier Estrada in a town near you. Check these dates including the Winnipeg Jazz Festival below, and don't forget to watch Bear Witness's latest video, part 1 of the Javier Estrada Trilogy, Soprano Azteca.

June 19 Winnipeg – Winnipeg Jazz Festival June 21 Edmonton – The Works Festival June 22 Ottawa – Special Event June 23 Peterborough – Ode’min Giizis Festival June 29 Montreal - Parc Jean Drapeau June 30 Toronto - Hard Rock Café July 01 Gatineau - Piknik Electronik July 08 Ottawa – RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Aug 03 Montreal – Presence Autochtone Aug 10 Toronto - Planet Indigenous

Kudos to these guys for staying in touch with, and contributing to contemporary narratives about #decolonization and Indigenous rights while pushing the electronic music scene through thoughtful fusions and modern dance floor remix revelations - but mostly for still managing to have fun while they do it:

Cab ride wind breaker fun. With @djshubinstagr.am/p/LiWPm-M2_6/

— Dee Jay NDN (@deejayndn) June 6, 2012

Cris Derksen and Kristi Lane Sinclair on 2-Er

Electro-cellist Cris Derksen and smokey-folky Kristi Lane Sinclair are pairing up for the second year in a row on a Canadian tour - The Red Ride 2-Er.

With a kick-off party that took place in Vancouver last night, half-Cree Cris Derksen and Haida Kristi Lane Sinclair are now on their way to Toronto and back bringing their mix of music and style to Banff, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg (as part of 8 Days in May, eh!) and Regina.

In a recent interview with Music CBC, the girls talked travel and touring with Kim Wheeler. Like "What is the one thing you cannot live without on the road?"

Cris: Always pack a swimsuit, you never know when you're gonna be in a hot tub or by a lake, and sometimes wearing your undies in said scenarios just doesn't work! Also, swimming is great for stretching those car muscles after sitting for hours and hours. Kristi: Dry shampoo! Most days we would have to spend the whole day in the car and then perform right after. The ability to go from greasy to glam is a pretty awesome option!

Check out the full interview here: http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2012/5/QA-Cris-Derksen-Kristi-Lane-Sinclair-talk-travel-and-touring

And check out the Red Ride 2-er dates:

May 18 Banff AB. House Show! Tanglewood Cabin,208 Beaver St 7pm $10 May 19 Edmonton AB. The Empress. 9912 – 82 Ave 3pm May 23 Ottawa ON. The Mercury Lounge w/ guest Bear Witness. 56 Byward Market Sq. early show. 7pm-10. $8 May 25 Toronto ON. Red Revue @ The Sister. 1554 Queen St W. 9:30pm May 26 Winnipeg MB. 8 Days of May Eh! Marlborough Hotel Hall. $35 May 28 Regina SK. Artful dodger. Doors 7pm Show 7:30. $15

Event details on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/345143342205544/

Win Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers New CD

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.

Winnipeg's Most Kicks Off Cross-Canada Tour

The award-winning and hugely popular rap group Winnipeg's Most starts their first Western Canadian tour this month and have released a promotional video to tell us all about it.

Next week Winnipeg's Most,  along with DJ Dow Jones, will start their tour from their hometown of Winnipeg and head west from there. The boys have already sold out shows and will continue to add dates to the tour so keep an eye out if your town isn't on the itinerary yet, and let them know you want them to come to you!

Official tour dates and cities:

March 23rd - Winnipeg MB - Venue: Maquee - 18+ March 24th - Regina SK - 306 Hip Hop Skate Shop (All Ages) March 25th -Prince Albert SK - Union Events (All Ages) March 26th - Saskatoon SK - Odeon Events Centre (All Ages) March 27th - Calgary AB - Dickens Pub 18+ March 28th - Edmonton AB - Empire ballroom 18+ March 30 - Williams Lake BC - Diamonds & Dust 19+ March 31st - Prince George BC - Ramada Hotel (All Ages) March 31st - Prince George BC - Ramada Hotel (All Ages) April 1st - Dawson Creek BC - George Dawson Inn April 4th - Surrey BC - Ephin Store CD signing - - (All Ages) April 4th - Chilliwack BC - Echo Room 19+ April 5th - Langley BC - Troubadour NightClub 19+ April 6th - Nanaimo BC - The Queens NightClub 19+ April 7th - Nanaimo BC - Vancouver Event Centre (All Ages) April 8th - Campbell River BC - The Paramount 19+ More dates TBA

To celebrate and announce the tour, Winnipeg's Most  released this video - check it out:

Samantha Crain: On the Road & A Simple Jungle

Choctaw singer-songwriter Samantha Crain is on the road again - a long road that will see her performing over 20 gigs in the next six weeks and take her across the Atlantic ocean. She'll have her band in tow and her brand new 7" single in hand. 

The new single,  A Simple Jungle, gets its name from the two new songs it features, It's Simple (I'm thrilled to see this recorded after seeing Samantha perform it live last summer at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and loving it instantly) and Cadwell Jungle, both produced by famed singer-songwriter and producer John Vanderslice. Crain's indie-friendly spin on Americana continues to shine on A Simple Jungle, which also includes a live recording of the Dam Song. Amazon.com has already picked it as one of their best of 2012 and you can get your copy here.

As I write this, Samantha Crain has already started her latest tour, but the bulk of the dates are still coming up! She's on a long stretch through the States, and will also be performing in Ireland, England and France. If you find yourself in any of these towns on these dates, I highly recommend getting your ears and heart to her show!

For details on any of the below, visit samanthacrain.com.

And Samantha, come back to Canada already!

02.02.12 Cafe Nine, New Haven, CT 02.030.12 The Lilypad, Cambridge, MA 02.04.12 Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA 02.05.12 Cafe NOLA, Frederick, MD 02.07.12 Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC 02.08.12 The Evening Muse, Charlotte, NC 02.09.12 Boone Saloon, Boone, NC 02.10.12 Smith's Older Bar, Atlanta, GA 02.12.12 The Poor House Music Hall, Raleigh, NC 02.15.12 Music City Roots, Nashville, TN 02.17.12 Whitewater Tavern, Little Rock, AR 02.18.12 Fassler Hall, Tulsa, OK 02.22.12 Point Ephemere, Paris, FR 02.23.12 King's College, London, UK 02.24.12 Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK 02.25.12 Workman's Club, Dublin, IE 02.27.12 King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, UK 02.28.12 The Wardrobe, Leeds, UK 02.29.12 The Thekla, Bristol, UK 03.03.12 The Deli, Norman, OK 03.09.12 Frank, Austin, TX 03.16.12 Dan's Silverleaf, Denton, TX