Sound of Lions, the five-piece female-fronted hip-hop/rock/soul act, known for their mood-driven beats and sincere lyrical content, have released their debut album “11:44”.  Encapsulating but restrained, bass-heavy yet ambient, “11:44” has wide-reaching market appeal. On rhythm, Joel (bass) and Marco (drums) create a solid background from which Christian (turntables, vocals) and Will (guitar, background vocals) are able to tease varying and challenging sounds from. All of this culminates in an environment for Whitney’s soulful voice and introspective lyrics to shine through. The album, recorded at Liverpool Studio’s by prominent Ottawa music engineer, Jay Fee, has been compared to Morcheeba’s “Dive Deep” and Adele’s “21”.  The opening song, “Blue,” builds slowly as it goes from beautiful to chaotic in four minutes. Tracks, “One” and “Passive Attack”, both of which appeared on Sound of Lions original three-song demo, have been reworked and now feature Christian’s powerful rap delivery. The album closer and title track, already a favourite at live shows, breaks hearts, with Whitney giving a Sade-like performance that mixes gut-wrenching lyrics with a captivating melody.  Sound of Lions have been tirelessly promoting the album and preparing for a busy summer festival season. A record like 11:44 has been dreamed about by UK-obsessed music fans and it’s finally delivered.

Jane’s Party is entering 2012 riding on a newly released EP, which celebrated its official release to a tightly packed Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto this past October. Sporting their signature fast-tempo foot stompers, “undoubtedly 120 bpm” bouncy grooves, Pet Sounds “oohs” and “aahs”, and even a three-piece horn section for a special number, Jane’s Party delivered on the high praises dished out by Toronto indie publications. Sticky Magazine declared that “the four-piece ensemble has the same charisma, personality and promise that […] can be compared to some of the best bands of all time, e.g., The Beatles, The Kinks, The Band” (Natalia Buia, Sticky Magazine), with other blogs such as Buying Shots for Bands, BlogTO, The Take Media, and The Panic Manual voicing similarly laudable reviews. The band even turned the heads of New York bloggers Pretty Much Amazing, who called Jane’s Party’s single, Alone Together, “absolutely contagious with a chorus that is impossible to forget”.

Jane’s Party is looking to 2012 with eager eyes, looking to spend time recording an upcoming full-length record and debuting the new songs at shows in venues across the country.

Brett Caswell & the Marquee Rose (including members of Bahamas (Nevado) and Indian Handcrafts (Sargent House)) are a unique folk rock outfit hailing from Toronto. Equipped with fiddle, guitars, keyboard, and vocal harmonies, this six-piece band offers music that tells the stories of people and places through beauty and modesty and supported by a jaw-dropping live show. The band has received a great deal of attention for their debut album, “A New Balance” released in May, 2010 including being hand picked by CARAS to play both 90’s and 00’s Juno Anniversary Decade Tribute events with members of Sloan, The Killjoys, Grapes of Wrath, Broken Social Scene, The Stills, Sarah Slean and more. Their album has been featured on CBC Radio 3 with Jay Ferguson (Sloan) and topped college radio charts. Brett Caswell and the Marquee Rose have showcased at JunoFest 2011, Canadian Music Week 2010, 2011, NXNE 2010, S.C.E.N.E., Mariposa Folk Festival, Kempenfest 2009, 2010, Barrie Blues and Jazz Festival, War Child Buskerfest, Promenade Days, Barrie Arts Awards, Music on Main Festival as well as countless shows throughout Canada, including two successful tours across eastern Canada. Brett Caswell and the Marquee Rose have also shared the stage with the likes of Zeus, Bahamas, Em Gryner, Yukon Blonde, The Wooden Sky, and more.

With a triumphant 2011 under their belt, Caswell and The Marquee Rose return to the studio in January 2012 to begin recording their much-anticipated follow up LP (mid 2012).