The show will be broadcast live on The Verge (XM channel 151) and Iceberg (Sirius channel 151). Carly Rae Jepsen is nominated for several major awards including single of the year, video of the year, female artist of the year, artist of the year and more! Scroll down below for a full list of nominees for this years SiriusXM Indie Awards nominees.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Grimes – Visions (4AD/Arbutus Records)

Japandroids – Celebration Rock (Polyvinyl Recording Co.)

Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur (MapleMusic Recordings/Fontana North Distribution)

Marianas Trench – Ever After (604 Records)

Metric – Synthetica (Metric Music International Inc.)

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (604 Records)

deadmau5 – The Veldt (Ultra Records)

Marianas Trench – Fallout (604 Records)

Metric – Youth Without Youth (Metric Music International Inc.)

Mia Martina – Burning (CP Records)

GROUP OF THE YEAR

Japandroids (Polyvinyl Recording Co.)

Marianas Trench (604 Records)

Metric (Metric Music International Inc.)

Patrick Watson (Secret City Records)

Stars (Soft Revolution Records)

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen (604 Records)

Cold Specks (Arts & Crafts)

deadmau5 (Ultra Records)

Diamond Rings (Secret City Records)

Grimes (4AD/Arbutus Records)

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ariane Moffatt (Audiogram)

Carly Rae Jepsen (604 Records)

Cold Specks (Arts & Crafts)

Kathleen Edwards (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Sarah Slean (Pheromone Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bahamas (Barchords Inc.)

Diamond Rings (Secret City Records)

Joel Plaskett (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Matt Mays (Sonic Records)

The Weeknd (XO&co.)

LIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

deadmau5 (Ultra Records)

Marianas Trench (604 Records)

Metric (Metric Music International Inc.)

Patrick Watson (Secret City Records)

USS (Coalition Music)

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Cold Specks (Arts & Crafts)

John K. Samson (Epitaph)

Josh Ramsay (604 Records)

Kathleen Edwards (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Patrick Watson (Secret City Records)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (604 Records)

deadmau5 ft. Gerard Way – Professional Griefers (Ultra Records)

Marianas Trench – Fallout (604 Records)

Metric – Youth Without Youth (Metric Music International Inc.)

Young Empires – White Doves (Pirates Blend)

MUST FOLLOW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen (604 Records)

City and Colour (Dine Alone Records)

deadmau5 (Ultra Records)

Metric (Metric Music International Inc.)

Said The Whale (Hidden Pony Records)

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Aleesia ft. Big Sean – Kiss It Bye Bye (A-Lista)

Artists Against Bullying – True Colors (Wax Records)

D-Sisive ft. Neverending White Lights – Don’t Turn The Lights Out (Ocean Records Canada)

Deadmau5 ft. Gerard Way – Professional Griefers (Ultra Records)

Whitehorse – Devil’s Got A Gun (Six Shooter Records)

MOST PLAYED INDEPENDENT ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen (604 Records)

Dallas Smith (604 Records)

Kristina Maria (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Marianas Trench (604 Records)

Mia Martina (CP Records)

BEST-SELLING INDEPENDENT RELEASE OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen – Kiss (604 Records)

deadmau5 – >album title goes here< (Ultra Records)

Marianas Trench – Ever After (604 Records)

Metric – Synthetica (Metric Music International Inc.)

Patrick Watson – Adventures In Your Own Backyard (Secret City Records)

ALTERNATIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Kranky Records)

Mother Mother (Last Gang Records)

Said The Whale (Hidden Pony Records)

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan (Paper Bag Records)

Yukon Blonde (Dine Alone Records)

BLUES ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Julian Fauth (Electro-Fi Records)

Shakura S’Aida (Electro-Fi Records)

Steve Strongman (Independent)

The 24th Street Wailers (Independent)

The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer (Independent)

CHILDREN’S ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Jennifer Gasoi (Sparkling Productions)

Kathy Reid-Naiman and Hannah Naiman (Merriweather Records)

Rick Scott (Independent)

The Funky Mamas (Independent)

Will Stroet (Will Stroet)

COUNTRY ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Corb Lund (New West Records)

Dallas Smith (604 Records)

Dean Brody (Open Road Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Doc Walker (Open Road Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

High Valley (Open Road Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

DANCE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Daphni (Merge Records)

Felix Cartal (Dim Mak Records)

Massari (CP Records)

Mia Martina (CP Records)

Rosette (Ultra Records)

ELECTRONIC ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Crystal Castles (Last Gang Records)

deadmau5 (Ultra Records)

Grimes (4AD/Arbutus Records)

Purity Ring (Last Gang Records)

Zeds Dead (Ultra Records)

FOLK/ROOTS ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Del Barber (Six Shooter Records)

Kathleen Edwards (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Lindi Ortega (Last Gang Records)

Rose Cousins (Outside Music)

The Wooden Sky (Black Box Recordings Inc)

FRANCOPHONE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Canailles (Grosse Boîte)

Fanny Bloom (Grosse Boîte)

Lisa LeBlanc (Bonsound)

Peter Peter (Audiogram)

Radio Radio (Bonsound)

JAZZ ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Cory Weeds (Cellar Live Records)

Elizabeth Shepherd (True North Records)

Emilie-Claire Barlow (Empress Music Group Inc.)

Peter Appleyard (True North Records)

Susie Arioli (Spectra Musique)

METAL ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Bison b.c. (Metal Blade Records)

Derelict (Independent)

Devin Townsend Project (eOne Music Canada)

Mares Of Thrace (Sonic Unyon Records)

Scythia (Independent)

POP ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Carly Rae Jepsen (604 Records)

Craig Smart (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Dirty Radio (604 Records)

Kristina Maria (Lupo One / Fontana North Distribution)

Marianas Trench (604 Records)

PUNK/HARDCORE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Cancer Bats (Distort)

METZ (Sub Pop Records)

Nu Sensae (Suicide Squeeze)

Propagandhi (Epitaph)

White Lung (Deranged)

RAP/HIP-HOP ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Cadence Weapon (Upper Class Recordings)

D-Sisive (URBNET)

Kid Koala (Ninja Tune)

Madchild (Madchild)

Shad (Black Box Recordings)

ROCK ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Big Wreck (SRO Anthem)

Japandroids (Polyvinyl Recording Co.)

Matt Mays (Sonic Records)

Monster Truck (Dine Alone Records)

Our Lady Peace (Coalition Music)

SOUL/R&B ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Cold Specks (Arts & Crafts)

Rochelle Jordan (Independent)

The Slakadeliqs (Independent)

The Weeknd (XO&co.)

Zaki Ibrahim (D6/IQRA/Red Ink)

WORLD ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

A Tribe Called Red (Masalacism)

Sagapool (Distribution Select)

Sultans of String (Independent)

The Battle of Santiago (Followed By Thousands)

The Souljazz Orchestra (Solidarity)

INTERNATIONAL GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

fun. (Fueled By Ramen)

Mumford & Sons (Glassnote)

The Black Keys (Nonesuch)

The Lumineers (Dualtone / Dine Alone Records)

The xx (Young Turks / XL)

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amanda Palmer (8 Ft. Records)

Calvin Harris (Ultra Records)

Cat Power (Matador)

Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)

Ty Segall (Drag City)

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR

fun. – Some Nights (Fueled By Ramen)

Mumford & Sons – Babel (Glassnote)

Taylor Swift – Red (Big Machine Records)

The Black Keys – El Camino (Nonesuch)

The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone / Dine Alone Records)

INTERNATIONAL SINGLE OF THE YEAR

Calvin Harris – Feel So Close (Ultra Records)

fun. – We Are Young (Fueled By Ramen)

Mumford & Sons – I Will Wait (Glassnote)

Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Big Machine Records)

The Lumineers – Ho Hey (Dualtone / Dine Alone Records)

INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alabama Shakes (ATO Records / Fontana North Distribution)

Calvin Harris (Ultra Records)

fun. (Fueled By Ramen)

Tame Impala (Modular Recordings)

The Lumineers (Dine Alone Records)

INTERNATIONAL VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Calvin Harris – Feel So Close (Ultra Records)

fun. – We Are Young (Fueled By Ramen)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop (Macklemore)

Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Big Machine Records)

The Lumineers – Ho Hey (Dualtone / Dine Alone Records)

SIRIUSXM EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR (English)

Bahamas (Barchords Inc.)

Bend Sinister (File Under Music)

Cookie Duster (MapleMusic Recordings / Fontana North Distribution)

Eight and a Half (Arts & Crafts)

Fine Times (Light Organ Records)

Great Bloomers (Nevado Records)

Half Moon Run (Indica Records)

METZ (Sub Pop)

Poor Young Things (Bumstead Productions)

Whitehorse (Six Shooter Records)

SIRIUSXM EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR (French)

Louis-Jean Cormier (Simone Records)

Julien Pilon (Penoram)

Lisa Leblanc (Bonsound)

Canailles (Grosse Boîte)

Les Vestons (Disques Jupiter)

Julien Sagot (Simone Records)

Tremblay (Sphère Musique)

Sarah Toussaint-Léveillé (Disques Orage)

Gazoline (Ambiances Ambiguës)

Écho Kalypso (Les Disques Inconnu)

The post 2013 Canadian Music Independent Awards Announce Nominees and Performers appeared first on BestFan Blog.

SEAM, like Union Duke (who we featured just 2 weeks ago) was 1 out of several bands I was exposed to in a classroom at Ryerson University, and 1 out of very few that impressed me enough to care afterwards.

Led by Sean Sroka on guitar and vocally fronted by Jeff Campana, the band belts out Jason Mraz and Paolo Nutini inspired tunes, the kind of music that I’d like to think as music you can take ‘on-the-go.’ Both Sroka and Campana can both strap guitars to their backs and Campana can start singing his heart out while the two walk down the street. Of course, there’s also Ron Miller on bass and Davey Setton who, although in charge of drums and percussion, is known to lend his voice for some back-up vocals too. It’s mellow,  it’s upbeat and full of energy, and the music itself sounds like a really good time.

The band has been active for about 1 or 2 years now. Despite this short amount of time, and the fact that most or all of its members are still full-time college/university students, the band his made good use of their talent and time, and have already made a name for themselves. To date, SEAM has already played in numerous festivals and huge events that catered to thousands of people. This includes the Hamilton Music and Film Festival where they opened for Steven Page (former lead singer of The Bare Naked Ladies). Then in July 2011 and once again in July 2012, the band was invited to play during Mississauga’s official Canada Day celebrations which featured Fefe Dobson, Shawn Desman in 2011 and Carly Rae Jepsen and Dragonette in 2012. They have also opened up for fellow Canadian natives iLL Scarlett, a band that has gained international recognition.

Having accomplished so much already, there’s no doubt that SEAM has so much potential to really grow musically. With more love and support from audiences, SEAM is sure to make it to the same level as other successul Canadians like City and Colour amd Carly Rae Jepsen.

So, if you’ve liked what you’ve learned about these guys, and finally want to hear some music, check out their music video for “If We Were” off of their recently released EP Sketches (now available on iTunes). The video was just released just a month ago so it’s still cooling after having spent time in an editing suite. Make sure you also check out the links following the video below.

SEAM‘s official website

SEAM on Facebook

SEAM on Twitter

SEAM on YouTube

SEAM on MySpace

The post Toronto Soundscapes: SEAM appeared first on BestFan Blog.

 

As promised in 2010 – we’re back for a Farewell Tour. We know that this tour doesn’t reach all of you, and this list is sure to cause some disappointment, but know that we have done our best to fit what we can into this window of time. December 2012 is the only time that all 5 of us aren’t committed to something in our personal or professional lives. An entire month!!!!

We couldn’t be more excited to get on the road and travel and hit the stage one last time – most importantly we wanted to keep our promise to you guys. We’re going to be playing till the venues try to kick us off the stage. We’re talking 20+ songs a night.

 

Although tour dates have been revealed, any ticket info and the like have yet to announced but we’re sure that those will follow shortly. Once again, here are the tour dates:

12.03 – London, UK @ O2 Academy Brixton
12.07 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Via Funchal
12.11 – Sydney, AUS @ Hordern Pavilion
12.12 – Melbourne, AUS @ Festival Hall
12.19 – Edmonton, AB @ Shaw Conference Centre
12.20 – Calgary, AB @ Big Four Building
12.22 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
12.26 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
12.27 – Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy

 

The post Mystery Behind Countdown Clock Revealed: Alexisonfire Farewell Tour Dates appeared first on BestFan Blog.

Recently, a mysterious countdown clock has made an appearance onAlexisonfire’s website. During the time that this article was being typed, the clock stood around 4 days, 13 hours, and 16 minutes on August 4th, 2012. This means that the clock will reach zero by August 9th.

There is no clue yet what exactly this clock is counting down to, but we can only assume that we may finally get more news, or even actual tour dates, for the band’s aforementioned farewell tour.

Check out the website for yourself to see the clock countdown. Make sure you check back on Thursday to see what lies after the clock hits zero!

The post Countdown Clock on Alexisonfire Website appeared first on BestFan Blog.

Green reportedly told Spinner: “We’ve actually been starting to talk about doing some final Alexis shows because when we did play our last show nobody knew it was our last show. Well, we knew it was our last show with me. But the guys sort of thought they were going to keep going and try something else and then Wade got asked to join Gallows and that was sort of the end of Alexisonfire,” he continues. “So we talked a long time ago about maybe doing just a couple shows to celebrate what Alexis was as opposed to have it fizzle out like it did.”

Aside from those words, there is no news or other information at the moment that gives any clue as to when and where these shows will happen. Dallas Green, however, also had this to say about these prospective shows: “It’ll probably be a bunch of shows, probably be a bunch of nights at a smaller place. It would be more about celebrating what we had and what we did and what we accomplished.”

While you wait for more news regarding the band’s farewell shows, take the time to watch the music video for one of their last released singles, “Born and Raised.”

The post Dallas Green: Alexisonfire May Play Proper Farewell Tour appeared first on BestFan Blog.

City and Colour, the one-man band fronted and backed by Dallas Green, put on nothing short of an amazing show at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario last night. Originally scheduled for February 15, the show got postponed to March 28 due to “unforeseen circumstances” at the time. But it was well worth the wait!

Green played 16 songs, some acoustic, and some with a 4-man-band backing him up for the heavier songs, like “The Death of Me”, “Fragile Bird” and “Sorrowing Man”.

Half way through the set, right before playing “Body In A Box”, Green took a moment to ask the audience to put their cameras away. “I like to have one song in the night where you’re not trying to remember it so hard that you forget to experience it right now… Just because you can record every moment doesn’t mean that you have to.” Sure enough, not a single flash went off during the whole song.

After that, the focus immediately switched from the singer to the audience. If you’ve heard the song “What Makes A Man”, you know that Green has recorded two different vocal melodies at the same time . To perform this live, Green asked the audience to sing one of the melody lines (“what makes a man”) while he sang the other (“I think I know”). The result was an engaging duet of 1600 audience members and 1 rock star.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hear “Save Your Scissors”, the very first single off the album Sometimes. However, “Comin’ Home” was part of the encore set. Overall, it was great to hear many of the new songs from Little Hell performed live, especially since they have much more instrumental back up than Sometimes (which was just vocals and acoustic guitar).

Dallas Green was the frontman for Alexisonfire before the band announced its breakup last year, but he has released three solo albums as City and Colour. The most recent release, Little Hell, has earned the singer four nominations at this Sunday’s Juno Awards, including Artist of the Year and the Juno Fan Choice Award.

The post Concert Review: City and Colour in London, Ontario appeared first on BestFan Blog.

On Sunday night in downtown Toronto Lady Gaga kicked off the 2011 MMVA’s and stunned the crowd with her live performance of “The Edge of Glory”. Far East Movement then took to the stage and performed their hit single “Like A G6″. Dev and Snoop Dogg joined in for “Bass Down Low”, and “If I Was You (OMG)”.

Earning her first MMVA award and rocking the main stage was Fefe Dobson, who gave the performance of a her life while singing her hit single “Stutterin”. Another fellow Canadian to make an appearance at the MMVA’s was Avril Lavigne who also gave a fantastic performance of “What The Hell”. Down With Webster, The Black Keys, City & Colour, Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez, Simple Plan and Fefe Dobson all gave lights out performances. Then to top off the night fans got a double dose of Gaga and watched her perform “Born This Way”.

Click more to catch some of the performances from this years 2011 MMVA’s!

The post Recap of the 2011 MMVA Performances appeared first on BestFan Blog.