Vote for Splash'N Boots

Did you know Canada..  Our favourite group (we have ALL the songs memorized from their latest cd), also Canadian Children's Group of the Year AND new stars of Treehouse TV, Splash'N Boots, are vying to have their music video air on CBC through the Great Kids' CBC Viewer Voted Song Search!  WE are SO EXCITED for them!

Public voting open now until May 8th at http://www.cbc.ca/parents/songsearch/.

With many great prizes available to voters – including a trip for four to Toronto to CBC Kids' Day in July as well as many other weekly prizes – the winner of the contest will be determined by the most number of public votes. Voting is permitted once per day, and the chances of winning prizes increases the more one votes.

So here's how the voting process goes:

1. Find the Splash'N Boots Photo... Click on the “Play” button to listen to their song.
2. Click on the “Vote” button under their image.
3. Enter your email address on the form, and then check your email for a security code.
4. Enter the security code on the form and fill out your information.
5. “Submit” your vote.

I know you will love Splash'N Boots as much as we do, give them a listen and vote today!

To celebrate, we are giving away Splash'N Boots latest DVD - Act 2 and their newest CD - Coconuts Don't Fall Far From the Tree, enter below for your chance to win, I bet they will be your favourite family group too!

Giveaway

My Butteryfly - A Capella Lullabies

Did you know Canada..  we are really counting down the weeks until the new baby gets here now, and I'm so excited to have learned about Vocal Paint.

Vocal Paint was founded by Jason Simmons and the first CD in the Vocal Paint series "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies" was released in 2011.

In 2012, "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies" received a Juno nomination for "Children's Album of the Year"!!!

We have been listening to it this past week and I really enjoy it, it's very soft and soothing, exactly what our babies need to fall asleep, especially for those middle of the night feedings.  Personally I love that it's not "cutesy", don't get me wrong, I love cutesy, silly singing for kids too, but at bed time this will be beautiful to listen to, not only for babe, but for a sleepy Mom to enjoy too.

One of my favourite songs on the CD is Edelweiss, it makes me think of the Sound of Music and childhood and fun days.  It's also such a relaxing song.  There are also many childhood songs on the CD like Hush Little Baby, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boat - all family favourites and easy to sing and hum along to.

All the songs are done in a capella, of course, the human voice is the oldest musical instrument and for centuries parents have been singing their children to sleep.  We have found this CD a real comfort to listen to and enjoy and I can't wait to share it with our new little one!

Visit the Vocal Paint website to listen to samples of the CD and purchase from iTunes or CD Baby.

We have great news for our readers as well, enter below for your chance to win a copy of "My Butterfly/A Capella Lullabies"!

Giveaway

Splash'N Boots - Coconuts Don't Fall Far From the Tree

Did you know Canada..  we've mentioned before how much we love musical group Splash'N Boots.  Voted the Canadian Children's Music Group of the Year, Splash'N Boots was first created back in 2003 in Kingston, Ontario by Taes and Nick. After graduating from Queens University in 2005 they took Splash'N Boots on the road and have been a hit ever since!

Well, today, November 8th, 2012, their highly anticipated 6th album "Coconuts Don't Fall Far From the Tree" was released!  This is really cool, over the course of seven months, the entire album - song titles, lyrics and even the album name - was written based on fan feedback via the group's Facebook page - I love this!!!

We have been listening to their new cd and it's so hard to pick which song has been our favourite.  Their first song, "Okey Dokey Artichokey!" has gotten the whole family saying it, it's too funny.  They boys even have one of their friends at school saying it!

I love how upbeat all the songs are, it makes cleaning day more fun, we listen to it while I cook dinner and it keeps my little helpers happy, it's been great.  :-)  A great one to listen to during dinner prep is "Dinosaurs In My Kitchen", it's really funny.

And they wouldn't be boys if they didn't enjoy "Don't Cut the Cheese" - lol!

It's just great songs for the entire family, the boys at age 5, don't like "baby" music as they call it, but are not ready for what's on the radio by any means, Splash'N Boots is a fantastic group for this age group to enjoy and honestly, Mom & Dad love it too. :-)

More great news, TODAY ONLY, November 8th from 8am - 12 midnight, the album will be "pay what you want". It will be a minimum of $1 for purchase. After midnight, the album will go back to regular price.  So grab this one today friends, you will not be disappointed, it is so much fun!  Visit their website for all the info.

Codie Prevost - Get Loud

Did you know Canada..  you'll remember a couple weeks ago we talked about Canadian Codie Prevost, a country music singer, when he drew massive attention from country music fans all over North America at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards arriving on the event’s green carpet in a very unique way -- aboard a John Deere 9410R Tractor.

We've been listening to Codie's album Get Loud, and love it!  Easy to listen to, even the kids have been singing along :-)  We really like Rolling Back To You, check it out..



Have you listened to Codie yet?  Do you have a favourite song??

If you don't already have the album, we have a special treat for one of our readers, enter below for your chance to win a copy of Codie Prevost's album - Get Loud!!!  Good Luck Canada, and be very proud of this Canadian Superstar!

Giveaway

Codie Prevost

Did you know Canada..  Canadian Codie Prevost has some big news..

CODIE PREVOST DRAWS SPECIAL ATTENTION AT THE CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (September 12, 2012) This past weekend’s Canadian Country Music Association Awards drew massive attention from country music fans all over North America. Indie music artist Codie Prevost, who grew up on a farm near Archerwill, Saskatchewan, not only had the honor of being nominated for Rising Star at the awards show for a second year running, but he was also selected to be that one special star to arrive on the event’s green carpet in a very unique way -- aboard a John Deere 9410R Tractor. John Deere, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary, was the green carpet sponsor of this year's awards program.

“This has been such a fun evening. I am so honored to be nominated for the ‘Rising Star’ award two years in a row. I have an amazing team, dedicated fans and am truly grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way. I’m a country boy through and through, and country music is such a big part of who I am”, says Prevost, enjoying the festivities at a CCMA after party.

Four time Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards “Entertainer of the Year” winner Codie Prevost, isn’t entirely new to the industry. His success thus far has seen him opening shows for the Oakridge Boys, Joe Nichols and Emerson Drive. He was invited to perform in Tours, France as part of the 2011 Country Rock Bike Festival and has been featured on ET Canada (YouTube). In 2011, with nearly 7,000 votes in his name, he won the 2011 CCMA Fanfest Contest which gave him the opportunity to perform at the 2011 CCMA FanFest in Hamilton alongside Terri Clark and Michelle Wright. Codie has performed the main stage at major country music festivals including Dauphin Countryfest, Craven Country Jamboree, VIEX and the Havelock Country Jamboree. At these events, he performed alongside such names as Reba, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson and Kevin Costner.

According to Jim Reynolds, Operation Manager at NL Broadcasting Ltd., Codie Prevost has many fans – all of whom love his music and his high-energy live performances. "Codie Prevost and his band hit it out of the park at Country 103's 2012 Summer Thunder concert in Kamloops! He really appreciates the love of his fans. His interaction with the fans before and after the concert proves that”, he says.

About Codie Prevost

Less than ten years ago, Codie Prevost started performing in small town bars for $100 a night. In 2004, he incorporated Codie Prevost Music and took out a small business loan to fund his first album, The Road Ahead.  The recording of this first album took place in Nashville and soon after its release, the debut CD won “Album of the Year” at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. In 2008, he recorded his second album called Spin 6-PAK Vol.1. A few short years later he recorded his third album Get Loud, in Vancouver, with help from producer Tom McKillip. Codie Prevost’s latest single “Last Night All Day” has hit the radio circuit and is presently on Country Music Television (CMT). Codie has four music videos on CMT, Last Night All Day, Honky Tonk Groupie, Standing Still, and Rolling Back To You. He is currently working on his fourth studio album to be released in 2013. Fans are eager to hear what the new album has to offer.

Special thanks to Evident Investigations, Codie’s Gold sponsor at the 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

Juno Awards 2012

Did you know Canada..  tomorrow (Sunday April 1st) will be a night of music during the Juno Awards, taking place at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa ON - hosted by none other than William Shatner this year!

The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. New members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame are also inducted as part of the awards ceremonies.

Amazing Canadian stars and bands are nominated like Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, Hedley, Michael Bublé, Drake, and Deadmau5 (hubbys fav!) to just name a few. Will you be watching?? Who are you cheering for??

Be sure to follow CTV's live chat during the show! (starting at 8pm ET featuring Bell Media personalities and your fellow Canadian music fans!)

And look for entertainment Bloggers like @Trina_Stewart for all the details! Use hashtag #JUNOAwards to join the conversation.

Celtic Woman

Did you know Canada.. over the past couple weeks I've been listening to the Celtic Woman CD in the car, and watched their DVD BELIEVE at home MANY times. I can't even BEGIN to tell you how much I love these women.

They aren't just singing, and like angels I might add, they are telling a story. Depending on your background I'm sure you've heard some stories from your Grandparents or Great-Grandparents that would relate perfectly to some of their songs. They are truly magical.






I've heard of friends using their music at weddings, celebrations and more. Their music speaks to everyone and something for the whole family to enjoy. Even my young boys enjoyed watching the DVD.  The ladies are not just singing - there's truly a show to watch with dancers, children, movement and amazing music, so well done.

I highly recommend picking up one of their products both for yourself and get one for a friend, your sister, your Mom, Aunt or Gramma. They will really appreciate it and it would make a memorable gift. I think their music would be enjoyed by all Canadians, from the west coast and especially to the east.  Though Irish, I think many of these song speak well to Eastern Canada as well.

Named Celtic Woman in order to represent the essence of a Celtic female performer, the group is comprised of vivacious, sublimely gifted young Irish women. The lineup of performers has rotated since the group began, but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has never changed.

They've just started on a new North American tour - BELIEVE. Unfortunately there is no Canadian dates, but we have a treat for our readers, you can bring the Celtic Woman home with you! We're giving away one signed copy of the CD and one signed copy of the DVD - that's two lucky winners! Enter below for your chance to enjoy this beautiful music at home.

Giveaway

Splash'N Boots

Did you know Canada.. voted the Canadian Children's Music Group of the Year, Splash'N Boots was first created back in 2003 in Kingston, Ontario by Taes and Nick. After graduating from Queens University in 2005 they took Splash'N Boots on the road and have been a hit ever since!

My boys have been loving their new DVD "Splash'N Boots Act 2: A Whole Lot of Awesome". Described as Saturday Night Live meets Wayne's World for kids, the new full-length DVD is a mash-up of over 50 minutes of infectious melodies and hilarious music videos with a plethora of skits featuring dedicated Splash'N Boots fans.

The songs are catchy, as a parent I like the boys seeing real people playing instruments and singing, so the boys know that is something they could learn to do too. We've danced, laughed, talked about what we've seen - it's truly one of the more interactive DVD's we've ever had and enjoyed as a family.  The boys sure would love to meet Lily the dog in person too. :-)

I've got to say, as an adult I roll my eyes when adults are performing for children and how fake it all feels; but without a doubt, Splash'N Boots have genuine enthusiasm and it absolutely shines all the way through and makes their program enjoyable for the whole family.  We're looking forward to seeing them on Treehouse TV in their new "Roll Play" show as well!

Something I think is really fun - currently Splash'N Boots are working on their SIXTH album and they are looking for help from their Facebook fans!! They need help to determine song names, lyrics, and even the album name! Head over to their Facebook fan page today and join in the discussions. I absolutely love that a portion of all proceeds will be going to Sick Kids Hospital as well.

We love Splash'N Boots so much that we want to giveaway a copy of their new DVD to one lucky reader! Please enter below for your chance to win!!

Giveaway

Music 4 the Missing

Did you know Canada.. Linda Little Smith's step-daughter, Tasha Marie Smith, has been missing since Dec 1st 2010. She, in support of Tasha and other missing adults, has set up a Music 4 The Missing Awareness Event for this December 3rd 2011. It's at the L-Lounge (Chyrsalid Theatre) 137 Ontario St. N Kitchener Ontario.

This is a day where the families who have a missing loved one can come together with organizations that help us the families and those that help the less fortunate. The event is FREE but they do ask that you bring a non-perishable item to be donated to the food bank.

Music artists include..

* Catherine Graham
* Eric Bolton
* Keith Tobey
* Pilot Project
* The Cartunes
* The Villagers
* Three Pennies Band

The day will start at noon and run until midnight, if you are available please head there on December 3rd to support this families along with Organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Assoc, R.O.O.F. and Out of the Cold. One missing adult is one too many.

Kiboomu

Did you know Canada.. I bet many of you have already heard of Kiboomu - they are famous for their children's apps, they provide awesome craft and recipe ideas on their site and Twitter, but did you also know they have children's music cds??






Kiboomu has a huge selection of children's cds including baby and toddler music, early learning, language arts, math songs and more.

My boys and I had a chance to try out the Learning Songs cd, full of fun songs like The Wheels on the Bus, The Circle Song, Good Morning, and our current favourite - B I N G O Phonics. It is just sooooo exciting to hear my boys singing this themselves around the house, we've spelt out BINGO with our letters on the fridge and they are recognizing the BINGO letters everywhere - this is just fantastic!

I also loved that all the songs were upbeat, friendly, age appropriate - these sound like silly things to say about a childrens cd, shouldn't they all be upbeat, friendly, age appropriate - well - you would be surprised, trust me!!!! We have come across many cd's in the past that have slow "sad" songs aimed at children, older songs that have inappropriate words and messages, you really need to trust the source when it comes to children's cds.

Kiboomu is a source you can trust! Launched in January 2010, Kiboomu is a Montreal-based development company specializing in award-winning children’s music for mobile apps and album downloads that promote learning through music and fun.

We love that this Canadian, award winning company is there for our kids. We highly recommend Kiboomu for apps, music, ideas and more!!

Rock n' Roll and so much more

Did you know Canada.. these are just a few of the music industries top artists and groups who are Canadian..

• Justin Bieber
• Michael Bublé
• Buck 65
• Hedley
• Arcade Fire
• Neil Young
• Sarah McLachlan
• Drake
• Three Days Grace
• Finger Eleven
• Matthew Good
• Nikki Yanofsky

Source: Juno Awards, canadianmusician.com, Wikipedia

Glenn Gould

Did you know Canada.. Glenn Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century!

Gould performed fewer than 200 concerts over the course of his career spending the rest of his time and talents on writing, composing, conducting, and broadcasting.

Gould is widely known for his unusual habits. He usually hummed while he played the piano claiming that his singing was subconscious; he was renowned for his peculiar body movements while playing and for his insistence on absolute control over every aspect of his playing environment. For example the temperature of the recording studio had to be exactly regulated leading to a very warm room. Gould rarely shook hands with anyone and usually wore gloves. He had to sit fourteen inches above the floor and would play concerts only while sitting on the old chair his father had made. He continued to use this chair even when the seat was completely worn through - that chair is now at place of honor in a glass case at the National Library of Canada.

Among his many recognitions in 1983, Glenn Gould was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Source: glenngould.ca, Collections Canada, The Canadian Encylopedia, Wikipedia

Luminato

Did you know Canada.. coming in June is Luminato - Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity.

A 10 day event that occurs every June since it's launch in 2007. It features local, national, and international artists from a variety of genres. Some past performers and presenters include: author Neil Gaiman, R & B singer/songwriter Jully Black, rock singer Sass Jordan, founding member of Guess Who Randy Bachman and more.

Luminato embraces three key programming principles: collaboration, accessibility, and diversity.

Some performances to look forward to this year include k.d. lang, They Might Be Giants Family, the Kronos Quartet, The Joel Plaskett Emergency and more. These are FREE concerts in Metro Square during Luminato.

Let us know if you plan to go!

Source: Luminato.com, jam.canoe.ca

East Coast Music Festival

Did you know Canada..  Charlottetown, PEI will be hosting the East Coast Music Festival April 14-17.

The East Coast Music Association (ECMA) is a regional collaboration of people in the music industry of Atlantic Canada. The East Coast Music Festival started in the Flamingo Lounge in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has sure come a long way since then.

There are 400 performances will take place within three or four blocks, making a giant indoor and outdoor spring music festival - the Music Festival is often held in March but this year in April organizers are able to take advantage of beautiful spring weather.

Check out the ECMA website for the nominations and all the events.

Juno Awards

Did you know Canada..  the Juno Awards are coming up - it will be held March 27th at the Air Canada Centre hosted by Drake!

The Juno Awards are presented to Canadian musical artists and bands to celebrate their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music.

Judges are selected from different facets of the music industry for each of the 34 categories to vote. The judges change every year and come from across Canada.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Juno Awards and this year winners will receive a stunning new crystal statuette to celebrate.

Nominees for Album of the Year include..

Arcade Fire

Drake

Hedley

Johnny Reid

Justin Bieber

Looking forward to March 27th, will you be watching?

Canada Music Week

Did you know Canada.. we're coming up on Canada Music Week - March 9-13.  Canada Music Week began in 1981 and is now the single longest running multi-day Canadian music and media event. There will be more than 800 showcasing bands at 60 live music venues in downtown Toronto over the course of the 5 nights.

Canada Music Week also showcases "The Indies" - the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards. The Indies takes place Sat. March 12 in the Canadian Ballroom in the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto. There are many awards and nominations, for Album of the Year the nominees are..

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Caribou – Swim
The New Pornographers – Together
The Sadies – Darker Circles
Tokyo Police Club – Champ

Look forward to this and many other events as a part of Canada Music Week!

Source: CMW, Wikipedia