the acorn

kelp records 20 years

CONTEST: Kelp Records Celebrates 20 Years

Break the fine china, because Kelp Records is celebrating their 20th anniversary!  Conceived in 1994 in a basement in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and named after the pulpy seaweed that populates the province’s south coast, the record label has spent the last 15 years planted in Canada’s capital of Ottawa.  Helmed by the towering and unassailable Jon Bartlett, the label’s twenty years has seen spirited highlights with 20-ish bands and artists (including The Acorn, Jim Bryson, New Country Rehab and Measha Brueggergosman, to name a few), 76 releases and endless DiY tours and events around the world.  Most recently, Kelp has grown into Kelp Music, branching out into management (Measha Brueggergosman, New Country Rehab, Andy Shauf, Evening Hymns), among other artist services.

Kelp are bringing the party to Toronto this thursday.

KELP RECORDS 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY – TORONTO (MAY 29TH)
The Acorn / Jim Bryson / Evening Hymns / Andrew Vincent / Andy Shauf / Chris Page / Andy Swan / Rhume & more…
Horseshoe Tavern, 8:30pm doors // 9:00pm music
Advance tickets – $12

Care of Kelp Records, I have one pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner.  There is only one way to enter.  Email me at chris AT indiemusicfilter.com with “KELP” in the subject line with your full name in the body.  Deadline is THURSDAY, MAY 29TH at NOON (EST).  I’ll notify the winner that day.

Video: “Misplaced” by The Acorn

the acorn

“Misplaced” by The Acorn, shot February 25th, 2011 in Sandbanks Provincial Park, Ontario.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

dale earnhardt jr. jr.

Trust your friends when they tell you about new bands.

I learned that last week while having a coffee with Amine in Venice. Among our conversations about new bands, she told me about her faves right now, Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.. She’s been championing them before anyone else and assured me that I wouldn’t be let down if I spent some time with their Horse Power EP (which you can streamhere).

Turns out she was totally right. I’d seen the name before on blogs I read and I know I probably took a listen to a track or two, but for some reason, I didn’t make a note to investigate further. This stuff is right up my alley.

Take a listen to the track Nothing But Our Love and enjoy their great video for it. This track in particular reminds me of bands like The Acorn and sombre songs from Ra Ra Riot.

The bands’ debut releaseHorse Power EP mixesfolk, hip-hop inspired drum programming and effervescent pop through a “series of chicanes, straightaways, washboards, and u-turns that when assembled make for quite the interesting ride”. While I was in LA, the band were killing it at CMJ, now deciding to follow up with a remix EP (My Love Is Easy: Remixes Pt. 1). The EP features Deastro,Kasper Bj&#-3757844; Prussia and reworking of “Vocal Chords” by Diego and the Dissidents (below). &#-3757844;Check it out on bandcamp here.

Vocals Chords (Diego and the Dissidents Remix)

Great tip&#-3757844;Amine, I owe you one.

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