Internationally acclaimed Canadian Indie band Patrick Watson have confirmed three Canadian dates in December including; Vancouver (Dec. 10), Toronto (Dec. 12) and Montreal (Dec. 16).
Having recently played before a crowd of 100,000 at Montreal’s Jazz Festival, Patrick Watson are currently on tour in the U.S., and will head to Europe in November before returning to Canada to treat their fans to 3 shows filled with original songs from their critically acclaimed LP, Wooden Arms including the hit singles “Big Bird in a Small Cage;” and “Machinery of the Heavens,” plus many more from both the past and present. (more…)
Last night was one of the big annual nights for Canadian music. It was the Polaris Music Prize awarding.
While our favourite, Patrick Watson, didn’t take home the Prize for a second time, they did an unbelievable (and unconventional) performance of “Hearts In The Park,” when they donned backpacks with huge megaphone-tentacle-lights attached and crept through the crowd. If you thought the song sounded unfamiliar, it’s not a surprise. “Hearts In The Park” is an iTunes exclusive track.
After 10 incredible performances from 10 incredible artists, Toronto band F–ked Up were announced the winners of the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. We’re really happy for the band, think their positive messages and hardcore ways deserve all the praise they receive.
If you missed the Gala, fear not! You can check it out on Much Music at 9PM this Saturday (encore performances through October - check your local listings). Also, CBC Radio 3 are putting up Polaris podcasts this week.
Sunday night, Patrick Watson took to the stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and played a free outdoor show for over 100,000 people. It was a crystal-clear night and Sympatico/MSN captured all the magic, effects and special guests for everyone to enjoy.
The footage they’ve posted is pretty spectacular, but from what we hear it just doesn’t do the size and scope of the show justice.
You can watch the performance song-by-song, here. Check out our favourite highlights, including:
OpenerFireweed(with fire flickering off the façade of surrounding buildings, and people rustling sheets of metal high above the crowds)
Beijing(featuring Jace Lasek from The Besnard Lakes on a bike 3 stories up!)
Where The Wild Things Are (with a special guest flown in from India to do screen hand-puppetry)
and Machinery of the Heavens (featuring strings, horns, balloons and the oldest “king of the drums” in Montreal Guy Nadon).
The Polaris Music Prize Long List was revealed today by Steve Jordan, Prize Founder and Executive Director.
This is the fourth year of the $20,000 Prize which is awarded to the best full-length Canadian album, judged solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre or record sales. This marks the second year Polaris has made the Long List public. The Long List consists of the top 40 full-length Canadian records released from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009, according to an initial vote by the 181 members of the Polaris Music Prize jury. The jury consists of music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada. No music industry personnel with direct financial relationships with artists vote for Polaris. (more…)
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is very happy to offer fans a special free outdoor event for this 30th anniversary, starring the “science-fiction folk” of new Montreal darling Patrick Watson. The gifted artist will transform his atmospheric and cinematic pop into a super-concert featuring a string quartet, horns and special guests, including Lhasa de Sela and Guy Nadon… and other surprises. This Bell Special Event-broadcast live by the Sympatico / MSN portal-will be held Sunday, July 5 on the General Motors stage at 9 p.m., on the new Place des Festivals, now ready to welcome the masses to this major music bash!
If you don’t plan on attending in person, don’t fret as Bell plans to offer fans the ability to follow the concert live online!
Read the full release for all the details (via Spectra News)
From “Patrick Watson Keeps Dreams Alive” on Straight.com:
“Winning Canada’s most prestigious music award may be a big deal to critics and industry types, but it clearly means jack shit to the average Toronto meter maid. Patrick Watson of Patrick Watson—which is both a band and the winner of the 2007 Polaris Music Prize—can attest to that. Two minutes into our phone interview, he puts our Q & A sesh on hold to fight a parking ticket that’s being issued in real time.”
“The minimal piano and non-instrument-based percussion emerge and recede like Watson’s beloved tide rolling back in his mind.” says Erik Leijon in this CHARTattack review of Patrick Watson’s new release, Wooden Arms.
Internationally acclaimed Canadian Indie band Patrick Watson have confirmed three Canadian dates in December including; Vancouver (Dec. 10), Toronto (Dec. 12) and Montreal (Dec. 16).
Sunday night, Patrick Watson took to the stage at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and played a free outdoor show for over 100,000 people. It was a crystal-clear night and 
The Polaris Music Prize Long List was revealed today by Steve Jordan, Prize Founder and Executive Director.
Patrick Watson’s “