Coming in March

Today an email reached our office from SaskMusic announcing the artists who had been selected to have tracks included on a compilation CD of Saskatchewan music due out in March -- just in time, SaskMusic notes, for Canada Music Week and SXSW in Austin.

Out of over 100 submissions province-wide, the jury selected the following artists: Volcanoless in Canada, The Deep Dark Woods, Library Voices, Carbon Dating Service, Rah Rah, Violent Kin, Shuyler Jansen, Codie Prevost, Wyatt, The Sheepdogs, Jordan Cook, Ultimate Power Duo, Karrnnel, Def 3 (pictured), Alexis Normand, Jen Lane, Jeffery Straker, Jason Plumb & the Willing and Semko/Fontaine/Taylor.

I don't know if they submitted, but missing Regina bands that come instantly to mind for me include Hot Blood Bombers, WestPort Murders and The Polymaths. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Pick of the Day: Delhi 2 Dublin

I have a story to tell. At this year's Regina Folk Festival, I arrived a little late to Victoria Park on Friday night when this Vancouver-based world-beat ts group with bhangra and celtic influences performed on the main stage, so I only caught half their set. I was backstage then, and from what I could see, the crowd was really into it. Then later I had a very nice chat with the fiddle player Kytami where we talked a bit about the band's origins in Vancouver, and their potential to become popular in large chunks of the world due to their cross-cultural appeal.

How calculated that all is, I'm not really sure. But it certainly reflects a trend that is surely only going to accelerate as society becomes increasingly globalized. For a band like Delhi 2 Dublin, who play the Exchange tonight as part of the Regina Folk Festival Concert Series, the world truly is their oyster. Here's the video for their song "Apples" off their self-titled 2007 debut album. (YouTube)

Also, at the Lazy Owl tonight there's a benefit for earthquake relief in Haiti that serves as a wrap-up to two weeks of fundraising by university students to raise money to send to the beleaguered country. Doors open at 8:30 p.m., with entertainment starting at 9:15. First up is an acoustic set from what organizers describe as "very special guests", followed by a second acoustic set by Valerie McLeod (aka Val Halla). Rounding out the evening will be a set by OYE!. $5 at the door.