There was a point at which Gage Averill pondered giving up on his passion project, which would eventually become the comprehensive box set Alan Lomax In Haiti.

Averill, now the dean of arts at the University of British Columbia, was putting in a full nine-hour workday before coming home each night and then spending another 10 hours ensconced in his headphones, poring over 1,500 recordings amassed by Lomax — the famed American folklorist and field collector — in the 1930s.

With the support of his wife and young daughter, Averill worked obsessively to select and sort the material for the eventual anthology, which includes 10 CDs, a DVD and a book. He also contributed full-colour liner notes, song transcriptions, translations and essays.

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Scratch Records is one of 10 struggling independent record stores in Vancouver. The shop, which moved from its long-time location on Richards Street on Sept. 11, is the size of a pillbox when compared to the open-concept warehouse style record shops of our rainy neighbour to the south, Seattle. Although the shop has moved to a smaller location, owner Keith Parry can hardly afford the high rent that Canada’s most financially unliveable city demands—so he hosted illegal shows after hours, breaking his lease agreement, to help pay the bills.

BC Spirit Festivals will bring together artists, cultural organizations, creative industries and local citizens to celebrate the spirit of British Columbia. Featured activities will include visual arts exhibitions, public museum programs, publications, media arts, dance, music and theatre productions.

Ashton and Rama Cheromaya have travelled North America supporting themselves with their music.

They are members of the folk group Sweetwater Revolver and the bluegrass band Over Under Yonder.

Since moving to Salt Spring earlier this year they have performed as the bluegrass duo Old Roots, New Blooms and have impressed music lovers enough to buy their locally recorded CD.

Odds front man Craig Northey was called on for his skills, both at the mike and in the recording studio, for Music Saves II, a video intended to inspire by showcasing disabled and able-bodied musicians, illustrating the power of music and its potential positive impact on people’s lives. In addition, it’s intended to raise funds and awareness for the Vancouver Adapted Music Society (VAMS), which supports and promotes musicians with physical disabilities, and the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund.

“VAMS and music therapy, they are all things that give people a leg up,” says Northey.

“You need music like you need food or water or anything to keep yourself alive. Those with physical challenges, this just makes it accessible,” he adds.

Singer-songwriter Cuba, who is based in B.C., earned the trophy for best new artist for his self-titled third album. He was also a nominee in the category of best male pop vocal album.

Last spring, the same record saw Cuba nominated for his third Juno Award for best world music album.

Cuba also shared in Victoria native Furtado’s Latin Grammy accolades, having co-written more than half the songs on her Spanish-language album Mi Plan, which picked up the award for best female pop vocal album.

Each year CRS offers a special event for subscribers and the general public. This Sunday (Nov. 14), they will bring the National Broadcast Orchestra (NBO), risen from the ashes of the disbanded 70-year-old CBC Radio Orchestra, to the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt, under the direction of Alain Trudel.

In November 2008, as Canadians said goodbye to the CBC Radio Orchestra, the NBO was established to carry on the legacy, with most of the same musicians on board. Under Trudel, the orchestra’s mission is to perform, record and broadcast orchestral music for all Canadians, and to champion the work of Canadian artists at home and abroad.

The concert, part of a series of artistic events serving as fundraisers for Shooting Stars, will help the organization get another step closer to raising $100,000 for charities assisting people living with HIV/AIDS in and around Vancouver.

“It’s very much a variety concept,” Shooting Stars Foundation executive director Kendra Sprinkling said. “The format is a combination of all types of artistic genres, and this year we have every type of music you can think of involved in the show. It’s an evening that has a lot of emotional ups-and-downs, so you go on quite a lovely roller-coaster ride.

“It really is a top-notch show, and the generosity of the performers just blows me away.”

The goal of Face the Music is to hold up to ten workshops with touring artists, who, along with coming to the City to play concerts, will also attend the workshops that will help grow interest, education, professional development, business investment and overall community involvement in the arts.  They also want to build media attention towards the project with the idea of building business support and increasing tourism in the City.  In addition to this they wish to further enhance the visibility of Fort St. John as the Music Capital of the North.

It was announced Monday that Vaccaro will compete against Vancouver acts Said the Whale and Kyprios for the $100,500 top prize. The second-place competitor will receive $75,000 and third place will be awarded $50,000. The three finalists will perform Nov. 18 in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom, when the final order of winners will be announced on stage.

Local artists will be announced at a later date. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1 and there are a variety of workshops involving the themes of racism, diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion in music. Listen to a sample of music at www.coldsnapfestival.com.

The Island Celtic Festival, which started on Hornby Island years ago and now travels to other Island communities is coming to Ladysmith in 2011.

“I offered this year to do it here,” said Bryan Henderson, a local artist who also has an interest in Celtic music. “I think we have the infrastructure and the support to pull off a good Celtic festival.”

The event starts on a Friday evening April 29, 2011.

“People just play tunes,” said Henderson, in presenting information about the festival to Ladysmith town council Oct. 18. “The next day we are arranging for workshops all day long.”

The bearded balladeer’s breakout CD Nice, Nice, Very Nice nabbed the awards for independent album of the year, roots solo recording of the year and songwriter of the year. Mangan follows up this hat trick with a mostly sold-out cross-Canada tour later this month.

Always a class act, Mangan texted his acceptance speech from New York City: “Wouldn’t you know it? I’ve been to the WCMAs the last four years, been nominated and almost won, and the year I win I’m not there. It’s as ironic as a black fly in your chardonnay!”

See also: WCMAs honour Robert Kerr and Bill Henderson chats
See also: BreakOut West 2010 Big Success

It’s a great market for independent artists who have achieved excellence, and with the help of Title Sponsor Astral Radio, show producers Shelly Vida and Mark Greenhalgh hope to find those extraordinary BC bands.  “One of the most exciting things for me personally is to interface with the artists themselves… this is what it’s all about.

Each year we see new names and hear new music, that is hugely satisfying. It really is magic.

The Breakout West 2010 Festival and Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) blast into the Okanagan’s biggest burgh this weekend. Big-name acts from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Yukon showcase at nine city venues, plus there’s the big gala going down on Sunday night at the Kelowna Community Theatre celebrating winners in categories ranging from country recording of the year to talent buyer of the year.

“This is year eight for the Breakout West travelling festival and awards,” says Rick Fenton, executive director of the Western Canadian Music Awards.

“It started as the Prairie Music Awards, then the Yukon, Northwest Territories and B.C. were invited in, and it meant more of everything — artists, industry associations and so on.”