Closing in on us is our favourite “midway between annual Record Store Days” day… Black Friday! Although the Autumn day doesn’t boast releases to the extent as the Spring event, there are still plenty of interesting and exciting titles fans may want to get their hands on. We will be bringing in a limited selection of some of the titles, so if you’ve got your heart set on something in particular let us know and we’ll do our best to get it in.
Check out the complete list here http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases
Some of the biggest news to hit Ditch Records in a long time is the announcement of the vinyl remasters of the complete Beatles catalog. SO GREAT!!
On November 13th each album (all 12 studio albums, Magical Mystery Tour soundtrack and the Past Masters compilations) will be available individually, or in a complete box set option ($350). Fans will also be pleased to hear that a lot of time and effort went into the remastering process to maintain the integrity of the recordings. Pure Beatlemaniacs take note, mono versions are scheduled to be out sometime in 2013.
Check out the video above to see what the crazy impressive box set includes.
Round 2! Here are a few more write ups on just some of the bands we’re most excited to see this year.
DJ Shadow
What can ya say, DJ Shadow is playing Rifflandia!! This is huge news for hip-hop and electronic music fans alike, as Josh Davis’ 1996 debut album Entroducing… was groundbreaking for the genres. Coming from California, Shadow made a name for himself by coupling forgotten vinyl track samples with head nodding breakbeats, even having the term “trip-hop” coined with him in mind. He’s gonna blow the non existant roof off Market Square!
Austra
Not just another electro-pop outfit hailing from Toronto, Austra has something other bands don’t, and that is likely Katie Stelmanis. Operatically trained, Stelmanis weaves her vibrato delicately between cinematic synth-psych and building electro-goth. Also worth noting is the twin backing vocalists, who perform an almost synchronized act of airy, fluid arm movements. For fans of Bat For Lashes or Zola Jesus.
Bright Light Social Hour
It goes without saying that anyone who wins Band of the Year (and Album of the Year…and Song of the Year…) at the Austin Music Awards during SXSW is worth checking out. And these guys definitely are! Dabbling in funky, psychedelic, BLSH boast a high-energy show, rich with retro rock. Three vocalists, ample bass lines, and more than enough facial hair to go around, you want to see this band!
Chixdiggit
A staple in the Canadian 90’s pop-punk scene, Chixdiggit has reformed and will be hitting the stage at the Victoria Event Centre. After forming a high school band based off a t-shirt idea, the three Calgary lads saved up enough cash (from t-shirt sales) to buy a drum kit, and began practicing. Over the next 15+ years the band would record, tour, move labels, break-up and reform, all the while maintaining a light hearted, Ramones-y, fun punk blare.
The White Buffalo
The White Buffalo returns to Victoria, riding high on the success of his songs featured on tv show Sons of Anarchy. Writing songs of love, loss and whiskey, with a country-blues feel, earnest and gruff, this guy can sing!
Family Of The Year
Not quite The Osmonds or Jackson 5, Welsh brothers Joseph and Sebastian Keefe formed Family Of The Year with friends Christina Schroeter, and James Buckey after moving west from Boston to California. Catchy, folk-inspired songs with a healthy dose of vocal harmonies provide a summery feel that’ll uplift all listeners.
Rich Aucoin
With two opportunities this year to see this amazing showman, there’s no excuse on missing out. Carrying quite a reputation surrounding his life set, which can include confetti and parachutes, Aucoin also proved his talents as a recording artist with his album We’re All Dying to Live, claiming upwards of 500 collaborators. Flourishing with catchy dance tunes and an unforgettable live show, this’ll be a show to see!
Trust
Looking to add some synthy electro-goth to your festival experience? Look no further than Toronto based Trust. Off the Arts & Crafts label, and following in the male/female duo vein (think Crystal Castles), these two will send chills down the spine of anyone watching with their melodic, cold wave sound.
It’s that time of year again, and the Rifflandia campaign is heating up. With LOADS of bands to check out, and the reintroduction of the Market Square venue, this year should prove to be most impressive. There’s no shortage of bands and genres to choose from, so we thought we’d help you out by giving a little background on just a few of our favourites.
Sloan
90’s Canadian pop rock is hitting Victoria in a big way this year, with the return of (Ditch favourite) Sloan! Supporting the recent announcement of a deluxe vinyl reissue of 1994 album Twice Removed, they will be playing the album in its entirety, along with other fan favourites. What more can one ask for than classic Canadiana, on an outdoor stage, with thousands of your closest Riff-going friends?
Jezabels
This Australian four piece is making waves in North America, and Victoria will soon have the pleasure of hosting. Boasting a high-energy show, with strong female vocals and plenty of new wave vibes, this will prove to be a show not to be missed. Should fit in nicely leading up to Best Coast and Cake.
Reggie Watts
Adding an element of humour to the festival this year, Watts beat-boxes, raps, and sings, all the while working his loop pedal. Branding his own form of improvised musical comedy with a range in topics from theology to pop culture, this is another unique talent you don’t want to miss.
L-Vis 1990
Although hard to peg in terms of genre, there’s no doubt this show will get your feet movin’ and your head bobbin’. As one of the head honchos behind the Night Slugs label, James Connolly uses his expertise as DJ producer to integrate a variety of styles to create his own electro-pop sound. Old-school instrumentals, 80’s synths and plenty of bass to keep that dance floor stirring.
Antlers
What started as the lo-fi, folksy solo project of New Yorker Peter Silberman, morphed into full band, vast chamber pop, and most recently, took on a more electronic based sound, this band confirms they are capable of doing it all. Dynamic and building, regardless of the style, Silberman’s slick falsetto shimmers throughout the atmospheric ambiance.
Horse Feathers
Dragging their cellos, violins and acoustic guitars up from Portland, this group will definitely satisfy the ears of Metro Theatre onlookers. The soft, higher range vocals of front man Justin Ringle meld well with the guitar plucking folk style and present a slightly somber, introspective sound. Put them in the ranks of other bearded folksters like Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine.
Fucked Up
Aggressive hardcore punk a plenty with the return of Toronto’s Fucked Up to Victoria. Heavy guitar, and hooky, textured layers fuse together to create rock solid arrangements, topped with scorching, rasping vocals. If the epicness of their latest album, David Comes To Life – an 80-minute concept album on love, loss and redemption – translates into their live set at all this should prove to be one helluva show to see.
Tickets to this year’s stellar lineup for Ska Fest have just gone on sale. This year’s schedule boasts another great selection of artists across the reggae/ska/rocksteady spectrum.
Complete festival passes are $144.50 – check our ticket listings for individual shows.
Leroy ‘Heptone’ Sibbles
Legendary reggae vocalist & bassist Leroy Sibbles rose to fame fronting the Heptones. Starting in the 60s, the Heptones went on to influence the entirety of reggae & rocksteady music, producing countless hits. A massive event for reggae fans in Victoria!
Toots & The Maytals
This legendary reggae group plays the inner harbour on Tuesday July 10. For nearly forty years, Tots & his crew have defined what reggae means to multiple generations. This is not a show to be missed.
Katchafire
Hamilton, New Zealand’s kings of laid-back summer reggae vibes, Katchafire have a strong Victoria following that is no doubt stoked to see them return for another Sk Fest.
FREESHOWS
As always, Ska Fest brings a handful of killer events that come at no charge… this year, Tequila Mockingbird, Blackberry Wood, Natural Flavas, Blitz The Ambassador, Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, Easy Big Fella, Bachaco & Monkey will all play free shows.
Summer music festivals are the place to be in 2012, and our friends at Surge Ahead & The Zone are putting on a doozy!
Rock of the Woods, held at Glenora Farm in Duncan, is a full weekend jam packed with great music (of course), camping (fun!), dancing (obviously), and possibly some volleyball. Musical highlights include Rococode, The British Columbians, Pickwick, and of course MANY more!! AND, if you’re lucky you might have a chance to win a pair of tickets…that’s right, we’re GIVINGAWAY 2 pairs of tickets (camping included). 2 PAIRS (that’s 4 free tickets!)
Your options for entering the draw are as follows: – email the store [ditchrecords@shaw.ca] with your contact info and answer this skill testing question: What is Dan Kosub’s favourite summer jam? (hint, the answer can be found by visiting the Rock of the Woods facebook page www.facebook.com/rockofthewoods or website www.rockofthewoods.com) – drop by the store and put your name in a box…
We really gotta hand it to the Victoria Victoria Jazz Society this year – the 2012 Jazz Fest lineup is stunning! We’ve enjoyed the last couple of jazz fests, but wow, we’re extra excited for this year. The things that jump out are Destroyer & Janelle Monae – it’s really nice to see Jazz Fest stretching out to incorporate outside sounds to its programming. We have tickets for many of the Jazz Fest events… below are a few things to watch out for…
Janelle Monae
A Kansas City native, Monae is the quintessential renaissance woman in 2012. Her recent album ArchAndroid tapped funk, jazz, New Orleans vibes & cabaret energy, folding it all up into an amazing splash of modern urban pop. THink james Brown meets Andre 3000 meets Erykah Badu. Her reputed live show at the Royal Theater on June 28 is highly anticipated.
Destroyer
Dan Bejar released one of 2011’s best records – Kaputt saw him move from his traditional stripped down post-Dylan aesthetic into the warm, loungey climes of yacht-pop. Tapping Steely Dan & Boz Scaggs, Bejar essentially reinvented himself – his Jazz Fest appearance will be the first since the release of Kaputt. SHould be a great show.
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Wayne Shorter’s name is synonymous with many big moments in jazz history. From playing alongside Herbie Hancock as part of one of Miles Davis’ infamous quintet lineups to forming the legendary Weather Report, Shorter is a pivotal figure. Easily the biggest jazz name this year, this is a must for jazz fans of any age.
Jill Barber
Jill Barber’s smokey, soulful voice has made her one of Canada’s most revered jazz-pop singers. 2011’s Mischievous Moon featured some of Barber’s best work to date, packed with loungey pop & smouldering torch songs. Her cute-as-hell delivery & range (Pasty Cline-esque country rears its head here & there) makes her live show one to check out.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Robert Randolph’s swampy mix of blues, jazz, funk, gospel & rock combined with his virtuoso pedal steel guitar skills make for one hell of a live show. His Family Band is an impressive mix of sessioners & on stage they run from groove to groove building a powerful
Jose James
Jose James returns to Victoria after his brilliant 2010 appearance. James’ 2010 album Black Magic featured production from Flying Lotus & saw James adventure through a brilliantly diverse set of r&b hybrids, from left-leaning jazz vamps to more traditional jazz standard fare. A powerfully diverse vocalist, this will be one of Jazz Fest’s sleeper shows.
HERE IS THEFULLLIST OF TITLESTHAT WE HAVEREADY TO GO FORTOMORROWMORNING…
Abba – Voulez-Vouz: Extended Dance Remix 12″
Alexis On Fire – Math Sheets Demo 10″
Animal Collective -Transverse Temporal Gyrus 12″
Arcade Fire -Sprawl Ii 12″
Arctic Monkeys -R U Mine? 7″
Atmosphere & The Uncluded 10″
Battles – Dross Glop 4 12″
Beach House – Lazuli 7”
Black Angels – Watch Out Boy I’d Rather Be Lonely 7″
Black Keys – El Camino Lp + 7Inch + DVD + CD
Black Prairie -Vol. 1-Singers: Portland 7″
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl 2LP
Blitzen Trapper – Hey Joe 7″
Bonnie Prince Billy- Hummingbird 10”
Bowie, David – Starman 7″
Brad – Water’s Deep 7″
Bragg, Billy & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions (3CD/DVD)
Brown, James – Live At The Apollo 7″
Buckner, Richard – Willow 7″
Bush, Kate – Lake Tahoe / Among Angels 10”
Byrds -It’s No Use/I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better 7″
Calexico – Flor De Muertos DVD
Captain Beefheart – Diddy Wah Diddy/Who Do You Think You 2X7″
Childish Gambino -Heartbeat Single 7″
Clark Jr.,Gary -Vol. 1-Presents Hwul Raw Cuts 12″
Cohen, Leonard -Live In Frederiction 12″
Cult- For The Animals 7″
Davis, Miles – Forever Miles LP
Death From Above 1979 – You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine LP
Death Grips – The Money Store LP
Deerhoof/ Of Montreal Split 7″
Del Rey, Lana -Born To Die/Blue Jeans Remixes 7″
Destroyer – Destroyer’s Rubies LP
Devo – Live In Seattle 1981 – LP
Doomrider/ Sweet Cobras Split 7″
Dr. John – Locked Down LP
Earle, Justin Townes – Nothing’s Going To Change 7″
Elson, Karen – Milk And Honey 7”
Empire Records – Soundtrack LP
Evans, Bill-Selections From Live At Art D’ Lugoff’s Top Of The 10″
Fallon,Jimmy – Tebowie/Reading Rainbow 7″
Farrar/Johnson/Parker/Yames – Let’s Multiply 7″
Flaming Lips/Mastodon -Spoonful Weighs A Ton 7″
Flaming Lips – Lips And Heady Fwends 2LP
Fleetwood Mac – S/T LP
Florence And The Machine – Shake It Out (Remix) 7″
Foster The People – Broken Jaw/ Ruby 7″
Garbage – Blood For Poppies 7″
Gallagher, Noel – Songs From The Great White North… 12”
Gorillaz – Doyathang 10″
Grateful Dead – Dark Star: Europe ‘72 Olympia Theatre-Paris France LP
Hazlewood, Lee – LHI Years: Singles Nudes & Backsides 1968-71 2LP
Horrible Crowes -Live From Fingerprints 7″
Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power 2Lp Remaster LP
Joplin, Janis – Highlights From The Pearl Sessions 2X10” LCD Soundsystem – Losing My Edge 12”
Little Richard -Here’s Little Richard LP
Mastodon/Feist – Mastodon/Feist Split 7″
Mc5/Afrika Bambaataa – Side By Side: Kick Out The Jams 7″
Mccartney,Paul – Another Day/Oh Woman Oh Why 7″
Mclusky – Mclusky Do Dallas LP
Metallica -Beyond Magnetic 12”
Misfits – Walk Among Us (Coloured Vinyl) LP
Mynah Birds -It’s My Time 7″
Nobunny – Maximumrocknroll 7”
O’Connor, Sinead – How About I Be Me (And You Be You) LP
Odd Future – Vol. 2- Of Tape LP
Of Monsters & Men – Into The Woods Ep 10″
Osbourne,Ozzy – Ozzy Live LP
Osbourne,Ozzy – Believer/Goodbye To Romance 7”
Paré, Jessica/ Rjd2 – Zou Bisou, Bisou/ A Beautiful Mine (Mad Men Theme) 7”
Pharcyde – Bizzare Ride Ii The Pharcyde: Singles Collection 7″ Box Set
Pussy Galore – Feel Good About Your Body 7”
Pop,Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power 2LP
Redding, Otis & Aretha Franklin – Side By Side: Respect 7″
Reed, Lou -Transformer LP
Refused -Shape Of Punk To Come Color LP
Ringworm – Justice Replaced By Revenge LP
Shabazz Palaces – Live At Kexp 12″
Sigur Rós – Hvarf-Heim LP
Simon, Paul – Graceland: 25th Anniversary Edition LP
Small Faces
Small Faces – Tin Soldier 7”
Smith,Patti – Horses Lp
Snapcase – Progression Through Unlearning LP
Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society LP
Spektor,Regina – Prayer Of François Villon (Molitva) 7″
Springsteen,Bruce – Rocky Ground 7″
St. Vincent – Krokodil 7″
Tallest Man On Earth – King Of Spain 12”
Tegan & Sara – Get Along LP
Tinariwen – Tassili LP
Tomahawk -Eponymous To Anonymous 3LP
Townshend,Pete – Quadrophenia Demos 2 10″
Ugly Custard – S/T LP
Uncle Tupelo – Still Feel Gone LP
Uncle Tupelo – March 16-20 1992 LP
Uncle Tupelo – No Depression LP
Uncle Tupelo -Seven Inch Singles (4 7-Inch Single Box)
Van Zandt,Townes -At My Window LP
V/A – Arts & Crafts 12”
V/A – Eight Trails, One Path LP
V/A – Rough Guide To Psychedelic Africa LP
V/A – Rough Guide: African Roots Revival LP
V/A – Sacred Bones Presents: Todo Muere Vol.2 LP
V/A – Smugglers Way Zine/Flexi Discs Feat. Dirty Projectors, Real Estate, Cass Mccombs, John Maus, And Villagers
V/A – Trouble In Mind 2012 Record Store Day 4 Way Covers Split 7”
Ward, M. – Primitive Girl 7″
Watt, Mike & The Missingmen/The Chuck Dukowski Sext – Sweet Honey Pie 7″
The White Stripes – Hand Springs/Red Death At 6:14″ 7″
Steven Wilson – Catalogue/Preserve/Amass LP
Wool – Lunar Momento Lost Rancho Sessions 1 LP
Xiu Xiu/Dirty Beaches – Xiu Xiu/Dirty Beaches 7”
Zomby – Where Were U In 92? LP
