MIDNIGHT SHINE:
Northern band making festival debut in Toronto, Ottawa
Attawapiskat, ON (September 8, 2016) — Northern Ontario rockers Midnight Shine are heading “south” to Toronto and Ottawa to make their festival debuts in both cities:
Toronto: TURF (Toronto Urban Roots Festival)
Friday September 16 @ Lee’s Palace
Opening for: Dwayne Gretzky plays The Tragically Hip
Doors 8:30pm
Toronto: TURF (Toronto Urban Roots Festival)
Saturday September 17 @ Battle of York Stage
2:20pm – 3:20pm
Ottawa: CityFolk Festival
Sunday September 18 @ City Stage
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Midnight Shine is mentioned by Mark Monahan, the Director of CityFolk, as one of his personal picks, in this video right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhCVCJDIIWM
Midnight Shine’s agent, Ralph James of United Talent Agency, is looking forward to bringing the band back to Toronto: “Midnight Shine had a tremendously successful Canadian Music Week back in May, and now audiences will get to see them on festival stages in both Toronto and Ottawa for the first time.”
Also while in Toronto… Midnight Shine will be recording their next single for rock radio, with an expected October release date. More info about this, very soon…
ABOUT MIDNIGHT SHINE
Not many bands play their very first show opening for legendary Canadian rockers. Then again, not many bands are quite like Midnight Shine.
When singer/songwriter Adrian Sutherland from Attawapiskat was invited to open for Trooper in 2011, there was one condition: he had to perform with a band. So he pulled together Zach Tomatuk from Moose Factory (guitar/vocals), Stan Louttit from Moose Factory (bass/vocals), and George Gillies from Fort Albany (drums/vocals), and MidnightShine was born.
The Northern Ontario foursome has been together ever since, with a winning combination of energy, experience, and passion, and distinct style that seamlessly blends roots, classic and modern rock. They’ve so far released two albums – Midnight Shine and Northern Man – that are quietly making ever-widening ripples among fans, industry, and media, and creating an impressive and compelling sonic identity that is turning heads.
Midnight Shine’s outstanding first single, Since You Been Gone, was featured on rock stations across Canada. CBC Radio programmed it into their rock channel, and the National Aboriginal Music Countdown saw it climb to #2 on their Top 40 chart. Renowned music journalist Alan Cross selected it as one of his favourite new tracks, citing the band’s “rootsy rock-pop” style.
Since You Been Gone also caught the attention of Ralph James, one of Canada’s best and most renowned booking agents. “I heard one track and thought, if these guys play live as well as they sound on the recording, I think we’re on to something here,” says James. “And they do.” Ralph has since signed the band to his roster at United Talent Agency (formerly The Agency Group), and is now one of Midnight Shine’s biggest supporters and industry champions.
Midnight Shine was invited to showcase at Canadian Music Week in 2016, and their presence created a massive media buzz. The result was 165+ stories, including a sit-down interview with Wendy Mesley for CBC’s The National, front page of the entertainment section of the Toronto Star, live performance and interview on CTV’s Canada AM, two Canadian Press stories with photographs, featured video on Daily Vice, full stories in the National Post, Metro News Canada, Hamilton Spectator, Winnipeg Free Press, Calgary Herald, and many more. Media outlets across Canada, from Victoria to Charlottetown, picked up their extraordinary story – quite possibly making Midnight Shine the first ever “indie” band to garner coast-to-coast media coverage before even setting foot on tour…
Midnight Shine’s material is anchored by Sutherland’s captivating vocals, eloquent lyrics, and enigmatic personality. At the heart is a strong sense of melody, attributed to Adrian’s background as a solo artist, used to crafting songs on acoustic guitar. Setting MidnightShine apart from other rock bands is the depth of Adrian’s exploration of his Cree culture, tradition, and life in the North. Hailing from the remote community of Attawapiskat, his experiences are reflected in the songs – making Midnight Shine’s music all the more meaningful, while at the same time, universal.
They’re a ‘must-hear’ band you’ll take a real shine to.
Listen to Since You Been Gone here:
Listen to Northern Man here:
Midnight Shine graciously thanks The Canada Council for the Arts for travel support to attend TURF in Toronto and CityFolk in Ottawa. www.canadacouncil.ca
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FOR BUSINESS & PUBLICITY:
RoseAnna Schick, RAS Creative
FOR BOOKINGS:
Ralph James, United Talent Agency