As we work toward putting HPX to bed for another year, a few concert announcements over the past couple of weeks. Let’s get caught up, shall we?
SONIC CONCERTS PRESENTS: CLASSIFIED (w/SONREAL) IN HALIFAX, MARCH 18
(Halifax, NS) – Juno Award-winner and hit-maker, Classified, will celebrate the release of his 15th studio album, Greatful, due out Jan. 15 (Half Life Records/Universal Music Canada), with a performance at the Marquee Ballroom in Halifax on Friday, March 18.
Classified, also known as Luke Boyd, has long been making waves at home and abroad with his trademark style and sound. With each release, the rapper-producer elevates his game; sharpening word play, experimenting with new sounds, and perfecting his flow.
Riding off the Gold-certified success of his career defining 2013 self-titled album, Greatful sees a revitalized Classified going back to hip-hop’s roots with the street track “Filthy,” featuring hip-hop pioneer DJ Premier. The track and video harken back to early ‘90s cypher hip-hop in Brooklyn with sharp, witty wordplay over a simplified, catchy beat. “Filthy” is one of the hungriest tracks of Classified’s career, with the rapper settling into his niche of conscious lyrics followed with a sing-along chorus.
From classic vibes to modern day anthems, the lead single “No Pressure” is a smash in the vein of 2013’s five time platinum-selling single “Inner Ninja.” Teaming up with rap icon Snoop Dogg, Classified has created a feel-good anthem that details a wild night out and the consequences that come with it. Snoop brings his expected charisma and mellow flow to the table, working in sync with the Canadian MC’s own.
The secret to Classified’s success has always been his inherent ability to break down the barrier between the performer and the man. A dedicated family man, Classified’s charisma and approachability extends to both his on-stage and off-stage personas that engage even the most discerning hip-hop fans and critics alike. The album Greatful, is the east coast MC’s homage to his most dedicated fans who have supported him for over a decade.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets are $27.99 in advance and $32.99 day of show (including tax and service charge) and will be available at the Etixnow kiosks in the Halifax Forum and the Music Nova Scotia office (2169 Gottingen Street) and online at sonicconcerts.com.
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SONIC CONCERTS, LIVE NATION & EVENKO PRESENT
HEDLEY
HELLO WORLD TOUR
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUESTS CARLY RAE JEPSEN & FRANCESCO YATES
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
NEW ALBUM HELLO RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 6
#HELLOWORLD
(Halifax, NS) – JUNO Award winners and multiplatinum chart-toppers Hedley announce their coast-to-coast 2016 Canadian arena tour in support of their sixth studio album, Hello. Joining Hedley on all 28 dates are very special guests Carly Rae Jepsen and Francesco Yates. Dates in Atlantic Canada include:
April 7 + 8 St. John’s Mile One Centre
April 11 Moncton Moncton Coliseum
April 12 Halifax Scotiabank Centre
WATCH THE TOUR TRAILER:
St. John’s tickets are $86 for P1, $66 for P2 and $46 for P3 (including tax and service fee). Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. local time and will be available at the Mile One Centre box office, by phone at (709) 576-7657 and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Additional fees may apply.
Moncton tickets are $84.75 for P1, $64.75 for P2 and $44 for P3 (including tax and service fee). Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. local time and will be available at the Moncton Coliseum box office, by phone at (506) 857-4100 (1-888-720-5600) and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Additional fees may apply.
Halifax tickets are $82 for P1, $62 for P2 and $42 for P3 (including tax and service fee). Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Ticket Atlantic box office, all participating Atlantic Superstores, by phone at (902) 451-1221 (1-877-451-1221) and online at www.sonicconcerts.com. Additional fees may apply.
Once again featuring a state-of-the-art stage production, the 2016 tour will be Hedley’s most impressive show to date, with staging elements that will bring the band closer to the fans than ever before. “Playing live is who we are, and going on tour is the ultimate way for us to interact with our fans,” comments frontman and creative force Jacob Hoggard on the upcoming tour. “We’re about to unveil the most spectacular tour we’ve ever embarked upon. We can’t wait to connect with each and every one of our fans, in person…and to pull some pretty amazing tricks out of our sleeves. We have amazing fans and we can’t wait to share this with them.”
Having sold close to 500,000 tickets in Canadian arenas since 2010, Hedley have quickly and quietly become one of the most successful touring acts in the country. In 2013 alone, the Wild Life tour sold 150,000 tickets across Canada.
Hedley have produced five consecutive multiplatinum albums to date – Hedley (2005), Famous Last Words (2007), The Show Must Go (2009), Storms (2011), Wild Life (2013) – explosive hit radio singles, multiple JUNO and MMVA trophies and almost a million albums sold. In 2015, they continue along this path of pop music supremacy with the release of their sixth studio album, Hello. The album sees frontman Jacob Hoggard with writing, producing and creative direction credits, and features classic Hedley pop gems along with adventurous new sounds, proving that Hedley are back and ready to once again conquer radio airwaves and arenas coast to coast. The hit single and title track “Hello” is taking over the airwaves as the number one most added pop track at radio three weeks in a row.
Supporting Hedley on the Hello World Tour is pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen, whose infectious “Call Me Maybe” was one of the biggest hits in the world in 2012. Returning to the charts in 2015, Carly Rae’s latest album E·MO·TION features the hit singles “I Really Like You” and “Run Away With Me”. Rounding out the incomparable pop lineup, Francesco Yates is only 20 years old but his debut single “Better to Be Loved” has already rocketed him into stardom, and was quickly followed by the swoony ballad “Call”.
VIP packages are available now at hedleyvip.com. The packages include exclusive merchandise, a meet and greet with the band, and for the first time ever, an intimate one song acoustic performance at the meet and greet. VIP package holders will also be entered to win one of ten mysterious and very exclusive “Golden Tickets”. Check the site for details.
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SONIC CONCERTS PRESENTS ROYAL WOOD
AT ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH, APRIL 28
(Halifax, NS) – JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter Royal Wood will perform at St. Matthew’s Church in Halifax on Thursday, April 28th, 2016 in support of his upcoming album Ghost Light, which is slated for release on April 22nd from MapleMusic Recordings. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
There are various explanations for the term ‘ghost light’ in relation to the world around us. There is the supernatural narrative – that every theatre has a ghost, and that when the light isn’t lit, the darkness provides a chance for the dead to haunt us. And then there is the Royal Wood version of Ghost Light. The kind that lets someone truly shine from within– raw, honest and open…. and that’s why he has named his new record after this mythical glow.
“This album for me was a full return to writing and recording simply for the joy of creation – like when I was a kid. A true letting go and allowing,” says Royal. “I jumped around from instrument to instrument in the studio; playing piano and guitar solos, bass, keys, percussion, anything and everything I could get my hands on.” In fact, Royal played on almost 90% of the record, with a few artists like Hannah Georgas and Felicity Williams (Bahamas) adding their special blend of talents along the way. It was recorded in both Los Angeles and Toronto, with Bill Lefler and Royal at the production helm.
The result is an album that exudes raw emotion and emanates a feel of the songwriters of the sixties and seventies. Without modern day studio trickery like auto-tuning and digital perfection, the album is warm, inviting and completely forthright. “I felt like on this album, I snuffed out the external Ghost Lights, and allowed my internal light to glow instead,” says Royal, “this allowed the spirits of my past, present and future into the room to guide me along my artistic path.” The first single ‘Long Way Out’ exemplifies this definitive focus of the record. It’s gripping and melodic and screams with sincerity.
This album marks an immense change in his life and his artistic path, delivering more and more of a letting go to the forefront of his music. The record seizes his sincerest passion for creativity and imagination. It showcases a deeper understanding of where his journey began and where he wants to take it. Ghost Light has given a new meaning to the path in Wood’s career, where unabashed creativity and performance will continue to shine and cultivate his trajectory – no matter where it leads.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets are $22.99 in advance and $27.99 day of show (including tax and service charge) and will be available at the etixnow kiosks at the Halifax Forum and the Music Nova Scotia Office (2169 Gottingen St.), as well as at www.sonicconcerts.com. Additional fees may apply.
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THE NEXT STEP WILD RHYTHM TOUR
COMES TO ATLANTIC CANADA, FEB. 29 – MARCH 3
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
(Halifax, NS) – The cast of Family Channel and Temple Street Productions’ hit series The Next Step is going to show the world everything they’re made of, announcing that The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour, presented by Monster High, will travel to 22 cities across Canada in Winter 2016 followed by international tour dates. Dates in Atlantic Canada, include:
Feb. 29 – Moncton – The Centre at Casino New Brunswick
March 1 – Halifax – Scotiabank Centre
March 3 – St. John’s – Mile One Centre
In addition to showcasing the amazing talent of The Next Step dancers, the show will also include musical performances by three stars from Family’s upcoming series Lost & Found Music Studios – also produced by Temple Street Productions and created by Frank van Keeken. The multi-market Canadian dates kick off global performances for The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour, which includes shows in Spain, England and Ireland.
TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS IN ATLANTIC CANADA ARE ON SALE NOW AT WWW.SONICCONCERTS.COM.
Moncton tickets are $51.78 (including tax and service fee). Additional fees may apply.
Halifax tickets are $53.25 (including tax and service fee). Additional fees may apply.
St. John’s tickets are $52 (including tax and service fee). Additional fees may apply.
“The international growth of the series and worldwide admiration for the cast of The Next Step made the decision to expand the national stage show to global audiences a clear choice,” said John Young, Managing Director of Temple Street Productions.
“The unmatched performances, contagious energy and personal touch that The Next Step dancers bring to the live show transfixes fans, and with the addition of three cast members from Lost & Found on the Canadian leg of the tour, we’re raising the bar on the live experience,” said Paul Cormack, Vice President, Marketing, DHX Television.
The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour brings never-before-seen dances to the stage, comprised of entirely original choreography and music from the hit series. From alluring duets and solo performances that shine a light on the superior skill level of the dancers to explosive routines that feature the full cast, the interactive show will capture the attention of the entire family. New this year, each show will include exclusive musical performances by Shane Harte and Sarah Carmosino, who star in Family and Temple Street’s new music series Lost & Found Music Studios – set to premiere in early 2016. Also from Lost & Found, DeShaun Clarke will act as host for the stage show, weaving in his musical stylings and hyping up the crowd.
In Canada, fans of the show can visit Family.ca beginning October 28 to vote on which dancers they would like to see perform together on the tour. The results of the online poll will assist in dictating the final lineup for The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour. Currently, kids can enter the “British Invasion Contest” for the chance to win a trip for four to London, England to see the live show and meet the cast!
Cast members performing on The Next Step Wild Rhythm Tour include: Victoria Baldesarra (Michelle); Trevor Tordjman (James); Jordan Clark (Giselle); Taveeta Szymanowicz (Thalia); Isaac Lupien (Eldon); Myles Erlick (Noah); Briar Nolet (Richelle) and newcomer Isaiah Peck, who will star as Henry in season four.
To immerse themselves in the world of The Next Step, fans of the hit tween drama can catch new episodes of the series every Friday at 8 p.m. AT/ 8:30 p.m. NT on Family Channel. The A-Troupe dancers are currently on a quest to be named International champions, but must overcome unexpected challenges as they approach the competition.
Commissioned by Family Channel, The Next Step is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken, Ivan Schneeberg, David Fortier and Laura Harbin. BBC Worldwide handles the international rights to the series.
