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Between writing his debut Clever Hopes album, Artefact, and the songs that comprise New Kind of Familiar, Andrew Shaver experienced his fair share of significant events—falling in love, moving to Nova Scotia, becoming a father. These are the things occupying his mind on the new record, and yet, they don't exist in a vacuum; Shaver rejects tidy narratives and time's linear arrow, and instead lets the album take shape with the same flow and verve of real life, bouncing back and forth in his lyrics between memory, the glorious, the complicated present, and anticipation.

"There was a lot of looking back on Artefact," Shaver says. "New Kind of Familiar is far more forward looking; there are songs on which I've been able to celebrate the place I'm in now - a place of stability and clarity. There's a song that deals directly with the question of death, and one about the birth of my son, or essentially, rebirth."

Bringing such a diversity of arrangements to life necessitated a crack team of close and new friends, which Shaver assembled to join him at Joel Plaskett's Fang Recording studio in Dartmouth: Eva Foote (vocals), Matthew Barber (vocals, mixing, production), Joe Grass (guitars), Afie Jurvanen aka Bahamas (guitars), Kyle Cunjak (bass), Joshua van Tassel (drums). Steve O'Connor recorded the keys after the fact in Port Hope, and Kev Foran once again played the brass from his studio in Dublin.


Join East Coast DNA host Darcy Walsh for a chat with Andrew Shaver aka Clever Hopes about acting, music, and working behind the scenes. We dive into the new Clever Hopes album, "New King of Familar" and invite you all to join the band for a celebration of the sophomore album:CLEVER HOPES ALBUM RELEASE

SHOWS

Saturday, June 22 - Dartmouth, NS - The Sanctuary Arts Centre - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/clever-hopes-new-kind-of-familiar-album-release-tickets-898840755897?aff=oddtdtcreator



Tuesday, July 16 - Toronto, ON - Cameron House (Back Room) - https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/clever-hopes-new-kind-of-familiar-album-release-tickets-898861267247?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Art Ross (they/them) and Aaron Green (he/him) come from disparate backgrounds and musical forms, meeting in the middle to comprise a band that’s tender and fierce, exuberant and gentle. Green—a veteran of the Halifax rock scene, the guitar anchor of Floodland and Hello Delaware—and Ross—a trans songwriter with an acoustic guitar—started writing songs together over text, by accident. Pillow Fite emerged publicly at the start of 2021 with its non-binary gender-subverting aesthetics already firmly in place.

Art and Aaron joined East Coast DNA host Darcy Walsh for chat about their first 3 years as a band, new content, and upcoming performances.

00:15 Welcoming Pillow Fite to East Coast DNA
34:25 Alma by Pillow Fite

"Alma," speaks to how much you learn about someone when you’re forced to spend so much uninterrupted time together and develop an appreciation for your learned coexistence. The duo — composed of Art Ross (they/them) and Aaron Green (he/him) — touches on relationship dynamics that change during joyful confinement, and how the habits and mannerisms that lovingly annoy you can bring you closer together.

Written when they had nowhere to go and nothing to do but make up songs, "Alma" finds the beauty in the quiet moments with your partner, despite the trying circumstances of sharing but one household, and what feels like 4 walls.

Pillow Fite presents moody and intimate lyrics delivered with a dreamlike nostalgia alongside inventive guitar riffs and synths - a sensibility that can leave listeners both weeping and singing along. "Alma" offers a production style that is bursting at the seams — a contrast to the times of small room confinement in which the song was written. A folk-fingerpicking style that evolved into a stomp-clap with a pumping, bouncing, drum beat, "Alma" is a nod to their first releases, such as their 2022 debut EP Flutter, which featured airier vocals and gentler sounds.

The single was recorded and produced in Halifax, Nova Scotia by Aaron Green, mixed by John Mullane (Future Dad), and mastered by New Brunswick’s John McLaggan (Parachute Mastering).

This new single follows a slew of releases from the prolific Pillow Fite, including the amped up indie rocker "Ativan," the folk-driven "Napanee," and the soft but moody "Overpass."


Album Art: Pillow Fite (Photo Credit: Nathanial Cole)



Catch Pillow Fite live near you:

June 6 The Carleton:
Crying at The Carleton: A Songwriters Circle featuring Nicole Ariana, Pillow Fite, and Terra Spencer



June 28 -July 1: INGObeach Pride Festival

(tickets on sale now)

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Singer/songwriter Petra Moriarty joins East Coast DNA for a chat about song writing, high school, future prospects., and she brought her guitar to treat us all with a performance of a couple original tunes.

00:16 Petra Moriarty interview Part 1
10:47 Ms. Evil live off the floor performance with Petra Moriarty
13:44 Use Me For Good live off the floor performance with Petra Moriarty
16:18 Petra Moriarty interview Part 2

Catch Petra Moriarty live June 8th in the Battle of the Bands show at Glasgow Square (New Glasgow, NS).Winner Opens the 2024 Jubilee on Friday August 2, receives $500 and photo session with a Jubilee Photographer

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Amy Linders (aka Amy MJ) joins East Coast DNA to chat about her first music festival as organizer., in conjunction with Hosstech Promotions/Hosstech Sound. Listen in while she gives us the details behind Lionessfest Volume One 2o24 (June 21-22, 2024)

This is an event designed to highlight women in music and music production. All acts are female led and supported by female sound and light technicians.

Lionessfest Volume One 2o24 Tickets available now:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/musicmountain/

$50 for the weekend main concert // Sat 2pm til Sunday 2am // 8 Acts + karaoke

Episode music "Down" by Katelyn Danielle ft. Cory Mercer  @KatelynDani 

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The Stan Rogers Folk Festival is a celebration of songwriters honouring one of Canada’s most prolific songwriters, Stan Rogers. The weekend-long musical adventure features a variety of genres, including folk, country, blues, soul, gospel, pop, rock, bluegrass, and world music.

Join East Coast DNA host, Darcy Walsh, for a chat with StanFest's executive director, Troy Greencorn, and artistic director, Steve MacIntyre. This year promises some exciting new additions and they've brought the news to us first hand.
Subscribe to East Coast DNA for more music + arts news and interviews throughout the year.

In its 27th season, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival (Stanfest) is announcing a major expansion move. Eight additional concerts will be staged in six communities in Guysborough County as part of the new series called the Stanfest Roadshow. The concerts will commence on Monday, July 22 and lead into the annual summer festival in Canso, Nova Scotia, Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, July 28.

"Change is good. There are various ways to grow. With the addition of the Stanfest Roadshow,
we are taking the shows to the people,” shares Troy Greencorn, festival Executive Director.

“We are also giving our passionate and loyal audience an opportunity and reason to come
earlier and stay longer. On top of that, we are creating a lot more employment for artists. This is
an innovation opportunity that was hidden in plain sight. We are excited and community
response has been over the top."

The first edition of the Stanfest Roadshow presents:

Monday, July 22 Opening Gala: Lucy MacNeil and Rankin and the Broken Reeds
Miles MacDonald Performance Centre, Guysborough

Monday, July 22 Troubadours: Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen
Seawind Landing, Charlos Cove

Tuesday, July 23 I Wish I Was in Sherbrooke Now: Max MacDonald and Dave Gunning
Sherbrooke Village, Sherbrooke

Tuesday, July 23 Troubadours: Joe H Henry
Seawind Landing, Charlos Cove

Tuesday, July 23 Irishtowners: Morgan Toney, George Hart, Kevin O’Handley, Brian Bouchie, and Gertie Grant
AJ’s Pub, Canso

Wednesday, July 24 Down Home, We Sing it From the Heart: Carl Bond, Eldon Munroe,
Shiretown, Steve MacIntyre, and Dave Gunning
St. Agnes Parish Hall, Little Dover

Wednesday, July 24 Kitchen Party: The Once
Jost Building, Guysborough Waterfront

Wednesday, July 24 La Grand Démarrage: Mary Beth Carty, Mimi O’Bonsawin,
and Les Royal Pickles
Communities Along the Bay Multi-Use Facility, Larry’s River

Shows are individually priced, and tickets are available now at: stanfest.com/tickets


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The Second annual INGObeach Pride will be held June 28-30 in Ingonish Beach, Cape Breton,
Nova Scotia and is organized by Ingonish Pride Society in partnership with INGObeach Events
and The Youth Group. Festival passes are now on sale at ingobeach.com

INGObeach Pride is back to Ingonish in The Cape Breton Highlands National Park with Rêve, Ria Mae and Lemon from Canada’s Drag Race headlining this year’s festival, Tracy & Martina hosting The Main Stage on Friday and performances by Ralph, Mo Kenney, Breagh Isabel, Good Dear Good, Ashley MacIsaac, Pillow Fite, Skunk Motel, Bradley Murphy, Moira & Claire and longtime house DJ of the former Reflections Cabaret, DJ Eddie Hedfones plus more artists to be announced.

Join East Coast DNA for a chat with festival organizer, Sara Bryden, for more details on what's to come and check out https://www.ingobeach.com/ for tickets, merch, and festival updates.Intro and outro music "Better" by 2024 ECMA Rock Recording of the Year winners Good Dear Good

Subscribe to  @eastcoastdna  for more music + arts coverage throughout the year.


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