Bandcamp Friday Suggestions - October
We are very excited to bring back our wildly popular “Bandcamp Friday Suggestions” feature! In case you haven’t heard, Bandcamp brought back their wildly popular “Bandcamp Fridays,” where on the first Friday of each month they will be waiving all their service fees on the sale of music. They have committed to doing this for the rest of 2021.
Today, the Cups N Cakes volunteers have selected some releases they feel you should support today. If you have the means, please spend some money on independent Canadian musicians today!
Mo’s Pick
Shane Ghostkeeper has been working on a solo country-folk album alongside his regular gigs of acting and co-lead vocalist with his wife Sarah Houle in the Calgary-based band Ghostkeeper. His latest single “One More Name” is a fun rollicking tune that’s making me pretty excited to hear the full album. The single is also in the running on the Indigenous Music Countdown. Head over there to show him your support!
Shaun’s Pick
Far and away one of the most invigorating live acts in Calgary, Gone Cosmic is a prog rock supergroup comprising backing members of Chron Goblin and Witchstone, overlaid by the searing vocals of Abbie Thurgood, formerly of The Torchettes. They're hard at work on their second LP, but in the meantime, grab a copy of their first offering, it's full of hearty stoner-rock workouts, replete with mind bending time signatures and epic run times.
*Editor’s Note - Shaun also crafts his own music under the name - The Great Speckled Fritillary. Check it out below.
Jeff’s Pick
Owen Davies is the most tragically underrated artist in Canada. His atmospheric indie-rock has an uncanny ability to transport you to another place. You’ll get swept away by sun-kissed reverb while flashes of smokey country and gentle folk permeate through an indie-rock sound like no other. He is miles ahead of counterparts in Canada that have become household names. Pasta On The Moon is a live EP that he’s been sitting on for over five years. Overdubs exist on the recording but it is very much a time capsule to 2015 and features the same band that played with him for his debut album, Mystic.
Buy them both… heck! Buy his whole discography.
Justin’s Pick
A monstrous EP by Calgary brutalizers Stench of Death, full of filthy bog monster growls, and savagely barbaric riffs. If you like that Old School Death Metal sound, this EP and band is for you.
Branton’s Pick
POSTDATA, led by Paul Murphy of Wintersleep, released their new album this year. The tracks are at times upbeat, exposing, soothing and emotionally stirring!
Julie’s Pick
A charming slice of prairie-centric outsider folk, The Shakey Elevators are built on ramshackle finger-picking rhythms, Shakey Wilson’s wavering croon, and mind-bending fantasies of leaving main street behind for an epic intergalactic voyage. They call it “space barn country” or “co-op rock,” and The Shakey Elevators slide themselves into a cracked-vinyl booth seat to bump elbows with Neil Young on one side and Daniel Johnston on the other. Serve this record up next to your 10th cup of coffee, and it’ll hit the spot.
*Editor’s Note - Julie is one third of The Garrys. They just released a brand new album that demands your attention.
Noreen’s Pick
There’s a lot more to Calgary than just rodeo’s. There’s the raddest party punk band The Moröns! That’s pronounced MOR-OWNS just so ya know. This newest release makes me wanna rent a room for the night... At the Marriot! Let’s Go! Woooooo!
*Editor’s Note - Noreen is part of a fantastic up & coming punk band call The Knot No Howz. Check out their latest single below.
Krystle’s Pick
Please check out Colin Carbonera’s single! Silky smooth pop that will leave you riding the highs and lows of these trying days, 20/20 vision plays with the idea of pop music with the addition of introspection and self-discovery into woven beats and catchy harmonies. Both real and spacey, Colin makes you tap your foot while grasping onto every word he sings. Released in August of this year, it’s ironic that nobody could have had the vision for what 2020 was going to be.
*Editor’s Note - Krystle started releasing music in 2021, this is her first of two singles released so far.
Earl’s Pick
Arriving onto the Alberta scene from a time distant from our own comes the only time-travelling New Wave band, Chairman. Chairman blend synths and electric guitars, female and male vocals, as well as a heavy dose of fun to their varied brew. Chairman is riding high on the release of their new ep, Demonstration II, which has seen the band explore new sonic landscapes as well as new time periods.
*Editor’s Note - Earl crafts music under the name Earl Donald, check out his latest single on Bandcamp.
Joel’s Pick
It is what is says on the box: modular synth improv. This is basically "lofi hip hop radio - beats to study/relax to" for thin white nerdy goths. I mean all of this very lovingly. Everything from the tones, dynamics, phrasing and energy is tight tight tight. Let this scratch your weird music to focus on work to itch.
Sean’s Pick
Listeners of Inside the Artist's Studio will know that I'm a huge fan of Christo Graham; his record "Turnin" is one of my favourite things I've listened to this year, and has been on near constant repeat in my house during the pandemic. When I interviewed him for the show, we talked a lot about making music with your family, which is a subject close to my heart; since then, I've gone on to record an EP for my mom, and Christo has announced this wonderful record he recorded with his family commemorating the general store his parents ran in Bishops Mills, Ontario. Both the singles have the same great songwriting and vibey production as Graham's other work, and the whole record is hot off the presses today.
*Editor’s Note - Sean has just set up the Pre-Order for his brand new EP due at the end of October.