artist Joel Plaskett

January 6, 2012

With Bob Mersereau

Joel Plaskett is about to change the way albums are released with an ambitious new plan to unveil his latest, Scrappy Happiness. Starting January 10th Plaskett and The Emergency are going into the studio to record. But instead of doing all the songs at once, and then dropping the whole disc when its done, the band will work on one song at a time, and release it immediately. That means recording, and then putting out a song a week, digitally, for ten weeks. By the end of the run, March 27th, the album will be complete, and fans can then buy the whole thing as a physical piece.

Plaskett wants to return to the roots of rock recording, the 50's and 60's era, when singles were done, and released quickly. It's a plan he's had for awhile, first talking about it, at least to me, well over a year ago. The release of his B-sides and rareties collection last summer delayed the process a bit, but this has always been the plan for this new band album. Lucky fans in Halifax were treated to live versions of the songs just before Christmas, in a rare three-day residency at the Seahorse, and my friends who were there were thrilled with the new numbers.

You can also check out the new material on CBC. Plaskett's long-time buddy Rich "Buck 65" Terfry will premiere each song as it is released on CBC Radio 2's Drive program at 6:15 Atlantic time every Tuesday starting on the 10th. Then, each track will be available for sale and download on iTunes. Also, check into Plaskett's website, http://www.joelplaskett.com/ for info about online chats, video, and lots more buzz about the process. A national tour by The Emergency will commence in April, following the release of the whole disc. Can't wait!

http://www.cbc.ca/nb/mt/east-coast-music/2012/01/plaskett-shaking-up-music-world-with-new-album.html

When Joel Plaskett opened for Paul McCartney in Halifax a couple of years ago, he played before 50,000 people.

When he last appeared in Kitchener, it was as the opening act for the Barenaked Ladies in a packed house at Centre in the Square.

When he appeared Thursday in the Songwriter Series in the centre’s new Studio, he performed in front of a sold-out audience of about 120.

The size of the audience didn’t matter to the acclaimed Nova Scotia singer/songwriter. He gave it his all.

Plaskett’s dedication illustrated why he is an artist on the rise as his fan base continues to expand across Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Juno winner is in the midst of a tour of Ontario and Quebec with Emergency, but bandmates Dave Marsh and Chris Pennell got the night off as Plaskett played the concert solo.

Alternating among a 12-string, four-string and two six-string acoustic guitars and a hollow-body electric, the tall, lanky artist selected material from the past decade over two 45-minute sets.

For a change of pace, he played a novelty song in each set on his well-travelled, five-dollar, plastic, battery-operated lap keyboard salvaged from Value Village.

He ended with a two-song encore in response to an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Plaskett is a warm, personable performer with a voice that sounds a little like a young Jackson Brown. He is impossible to pin down in terms of style, spanning folk, country, reggae, pop and rock performed with a charming quirkiness.

His songs were variations on three major themes — songs about touring, songs about where he is from (the Halifax area) and love, including Work Out Fine (about an earless, deceased cat who taught him unconditional love).

“I feel more comfortable writing love songs as I get older,” he confided at one point.

The evening’s repertoire included Down at the Khyber and I’m Yours (“a return to the Khyber building”), in addition to A Gentle Goodbye, Make a Little Noise, Miner’s Scotland Blues, One Look, True Patriot Love, and the brand-spanking new To the Island Girls and the Harbour Boys (so new he inverted the title).

It wouldn’t be a Plaskett concert without a clutch of tripartite titles (Deny, Deny Deny, Rewind, Rewind, Rewind and Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’).

Plaskett drew an appreciative applause when he recalled appearing locally at the Volcano with his early band Thrush Hermit.

The third and final concert in the Songwriter Series takes place June 16 with the Toronto-based female trio Good Lovelies.

The finishing touches have been put on the Studio.

The acoustics have been fine-tuned, the permanent stage lighting has been installed and the crimson, velvet, floor-to-ceiling curtains make for a warm and intimate setting.

Source:  http://www.therecord.com/whatson/artsentertainment/article/503457--plaskett-gives-it-all-in-front-of-intimate-songwriter-series-crowd

ALLISTON - Joel Plaskett will bring his endearing, quirky and sometimes sentimental music to the Gibson Centre on Saturday, March 19.

Plaskett will be joined by his two-man band, The Emergency, and show opener David Myles.

"I initially booked this tour as kind of a solo acoustic tour but then I decided I wanted to bring the band out so it'll be a little bit of a mix of the two worlds," said Plaskett last week from his home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

"I'll have the guys so it'll get a little more rockin' than I'd initially anticipated which I am sort of excited about because I am working on new material. I have done a lot of solo touring in the last year and this is a way of bringing the guys back into the picture because the next record will probably be more of a band album more so than the last one which is kind of a nice way to get out and get playing again. It's gonna be fun."

In 2009, at the age of 33, Plaskett released a triple solo album titled Three, which earned him a Polaris Music Prize nomination and a number of other music awards.

Three is a concept album playing off several themes which all come back to the common denominator of three.

Plaskett has won numerous awards including several Junos and East Coast Music Awards and he has his own record label, New Scotland Records.

He was also nominated for a Polaris Music Prize for Ashtray Rock, released in 2007.

Ashtray Rock, like all of Plaskett's music, is heavily steeped in the east coast music scene but finishes with a modern, yet varied sound.

Plaskett was born in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and grew up in Halifax, where he formed his first band, Thrush Hermit.

At times hints of traditional east coast music can be heard in his songwriting and at other times the music is pure pop, folk, rock or a blend of all four.

Plaskett can also be a comical performer, sometimes making due with what he has when he is performing solo. Whether performing karaoke style when a song just can't be done acoustically or pulling out his mini duct tape-bound keyboard that he purchased at a thrift shop, utilizing the drumbeat function, Plaskett is a unique performer that will make the audience laugh and then turn on the melancholy.

Plaskett said the Ontario tour includes a lot of theatre venues, like the Gibson Centre.

He said he looks forward to merging the upbeat rock show with the intimate acoustic solo show that the theatre venues allow.

"I have done a lot of acoustic shows in venues like that but it will be a little more of a challenge brining the band in but I think it's gonna be kind of cool. I always like the challenge of curating a new show," said Plaskett.

In preparing to record an album in the fall, Plaskett said he is working through some new material.

"I've got lots of songs percolating right now," said Plaskett. "You always want to deliver the audience the songs that they know but at the same time if you don't starting playing new stuff it never reaches the point where it's good enough to record. You have to strike the balance so I imagine we'll drop a couple of new songs in every set just to keep it interesting."

Source:  http://www.simcoe.com/what%27s%20on/article/967346--joel-plaskett-the-emergency-plays-the-gibson-centre

Got to have major hang time with my pal Joel Plaskett at Folk Alliance in Memphis. Do you know Joel’s music? It’s the bomb man. He produced Dreamhouse and lives in Nova Scotia. Buy his music on vinyl or cd but by all means get it. He played guitar and sang with me at one of my showcases in Memphis for about 30 people crammed into a hotel room. Man was that ever fun. Take today to go on a Plaskett journey. YouTube and stuff a rooni. You’ll thank me.

Source:  http://poltz.com/words/2011/02/23/got-to-catch-up-with-joel-plaskett/

by Spencer StewartJoel Plaskett - Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

If the name Joel Plaskett doesn’t ring a bell, you’re probably not from Canada, where he’s known from coast to coast. The Halifax based musician’s style draws upon an eclectic range of genres, ranging from English folk to 1970s rock and roll.

After spending most of the 1990s with the alternative rock band, Thrush Hermit, Plaskett formed The Joel Plaskett Emergency, with whom he currently tours, in addition to his solo career. Plaskett’s ambitious solo project, Three,  is a three-disk album released in 2009, distributed in both CD and vinyl.

The Canadian also opened up his own Scotland Yard Studio for recording in Halifax and his own label, New Scotland Records. The Juno Award nominated musician welcomed Guitars International Magazine into his studio to chat about guitars, the art of songwriting, and his beloved home of Nova Scotia.

******

Spencer Stewart: Anything you want to see about the new album, Three?

Joe Plaskett: I’m excited that it’s out and I’m really enjoying touring it. There’s a pretty wide variety of material on it, it’s giving me a lot to dig into as far as solo shows, duo shows and band shows. The response was a lot better than I thought it would be frankly, I knew that it was a bit of a risk. I was really pleased that people actually listened to it in its entirety. I created something ambitious and people responded to it.

Spencer: Why a three CD set?

Joel: It rarely gets done, a triple record. I released it as a triple vinyl as well. Also, because I could. The theme of the record, of traveling, loneliness and return. Departure, isolation and return. I was supposed to feel like a journey. It needs to be long. It’s a lot to expect people to listen to it in one sitting. For it to serve my artistic purpose, I wanted it to be three records, like a three act play.

Spencer: What do you have in the works?

Joel: I was thinking I might try recording some singles. I’ve got a covers record in my mind called, “By All The Girls I’ve Loved Before”.   I want to do a record of all songs that women have sung. I haven’t seen the theme of what I’ve been writing at enough of a distance yet to know if they merit an album. I’ve been playing a lot of tenor guitar, and I write a lot on that.

A lot of Three is on the tenor. I’ve got a Gibson from the ‘30s. I wanted a big tenor that I could strum, it’s really lively. I play it in open C, CGCG, but then everything’s in C or I have to capo.

If I want to get into other stuff, then I’ll drop these to F and then I’ll get open F and then I can get the I and the IV, it’s an easy way to get to a variety of keys. I’ve been playing it on all my solo shoes. With the Emergency I’ve got an electric tenor, built by Andy Munro. It’s got these bass pickups he put in it, you can get all these scoopy sounds, because you can get out of phase positions, and it’s got a really unusual sounds. I play it on the new record on the songs, “Safe in Your Arms”, and “ Blue Moonlight”, and it has this really chimey sound.A Joel Plaskett 7 photo Michael G. Stewart

Joel Plaskett with his Gibson 12-string: Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

I’ve been playing a lot of 12-string as well, this one’s a Gibson, a 1967 or ’68. I’ve got a ’76 P-base. I got really into playing bass on the last record. I play Stratocaster more than anything else with The Emergency, but this is just a Japanese made one, 1982 or something. It’s not precious at all. It’s a workhorse. I’ve got an old May-Bell tenor banjo. I’m not much of a banjo player, but I’m getting into it.

On the road with The Emergency, I usually bring an acoustic, a tenor, a 12 and then my strat and some other electric guitar. I usually have a compliment of about five guitars that I use on a full band show. On a solo show, I’d usually bring just my six, my tenor and my twelve. My first guitars were Gibson RDs, a blonde and a brown one. I’m not precious about my guitars, I buy them to play, not to collect.

My favorite guitar is this guitar that I got from the [Halifax] Folklore Centre it’s called a “Bruno”. It’s got this aluminum plate on the headstock; it’s from the turn of the century. It’s a really interesting instrument. Brazilian rosewood back and sides. And it would have either been made by or Washburn or another company at the turn of the century.

Tom [Dorward] built an intonated fretboard for it and braced it so that it could handle steel strings. And then he put a bridge on it. It’s hands down the best sounding instrument that I’ve ever played. It’s really amazing. I fell in love with it.Joel Plaskett 2 photo Spencer Stewart

Joel Plaskett - Photo credit: Spencer Stewart

Spencer: Who are your influences?

Joel: I’m all over the map, but I really admire Led Zeppelin; they were the first rock band the really freaked me out as a teenager. That stuff really holds up as far as guitar goes. Neil Young is a artist who’s true to himself.

As a lyricist and melody writer, Joni Mitchell is unbelievable. Nina Simone is a big influence. The thing about her that’s so amazing is that you can’t categorize her at all. She’s not Jazz, she’s not folk, she’s totally her own thing. She should be mentioned in the same way as Miles Davis and Bob Dylan are.

Nick Lowe is kind of my more recent hero. I think he’s making some of the best music of anyone right now. His last few records are insane. Here’s a guy who’s made really cool music all his life, been true to what he does, produced some amazing records, learned a lot about his craft.

He’s a great bass player, and now he’s this great guitar player, and his singing is better than it’s ever been. He makes music for the people who care about music. And he now has a cult following and that is what I’d like to achieve.

Spencer: How was it opening for Paul McCartney in Halifax?

Joel: It was amazing, it was an incredible opportunity. We didn’t get to meet him- I didn’t expect to really. There was some chaos surrounding the show. The power blew right before we went on, the generators went. We were supposed to have about 45 minutes to get ready, we only got 15. We were line checking before 50,000 people. So, it was stressful.

But, the show went really great. We played well, I know we did, everyone said we did, but I have to say my actual memory of it was just jumping in and doing it.Plaskett_Three_album_cover

Joel Plaskett's latest CD "Three"

Spencer: How do you craft your leads to your songwriting?

Joel: I’ve always considered myself a pretty limited guitar player. There are some certain stylistic things that I’ve always loved. I love the way Bert Jansch plays acoustic guitar, I have these little hammer-on flips that I do that show up on different instruments. Jimmy Page was a huge influence as a teenager .

I have a couple of electric guitar sweeps. And then I was really into Robbie Robertson. I glean a few licks here and there. I like guitar playing that serves the song. I consider myself a writer and a lyricist before a guitar player but I’m really into guitars as you can see. I always find a different instrument leads me to a new song and to a new melody.

George Harrison’s really great because he’s always serving the song. The Beatles aren’t long winded ever! What’s their longest song? I like that- I don’t have any really long tunes, aside from “On & On & On” from my latest record. I think now with having a studio set up, I understand more the world that they [The Beatles] inhabited, because now I can really start to overdub and experiment more on my own time. I’ve never had that luxury to mess around, and now all of a sudden I do.Joel Plaskett outside his studio - Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

Joel Plaskett outside his studio in Nova Scotia - Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

Spencer: Are you enjoying the new found freedom of self production which New Scotland Records allows?

Joel: I learned so much from working with Gordie Johnson, he produced “Ashtray Rock”; that was a great experience. He also mixed my latest record, I think he’s got great ears.

Ian McGettigan, who used to be in Thrush Hermit with me, my previous band, co-produced some records with me- he’s got a natural, innate engineering sense and he’s just a fun guy to make records with because you don’t have to communicate things, you just do it.

Right now I’m just trying to use my studio to improve my discipline. I stumbled across this place, and started with an eight track tape recorder that I got when Thrush Hermit broke up. I was at the Junos the year previous and met Ken Friesen, who runs a studio in Ottawa. We were talking about this space that I’d just acquired, and he said, I know where there’s this Studer 2” 16 track, which is what this beast is. They’re pretty hard to come by now.

I don’t have a computer in here, I’m strictly analog. I have converters to transfer it if I want to take it to mix somewhere else. All my overdubs, I have to punch it in on the same track- okay, that’s it- I either have it on tape or I don’t. I have one track for electric guitar assigned on that machine, here it is.Joel Plaskett - Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

Joel Plaskett - Photo credit: Michael G. Stewart

Spencer: Tell me about your first guitar and early band experiences.

Joel: I was twelve years old when I moved to Halifax, and I met some guys, and I was just this kid from Lunenburg. My dad had played guitar my whole life, but I didn’t have any interest to learn guitar really.

Then I moved to Halifax and I met two guys, Ian and Rob, we went on to be in Thrush Hermit together, we were like thirteen, getting into rock, and Rob started playing guitar, and I thought, if I learn guitar I’ll have something to do with these guys, it was a social thing, a way to become better friends.

I don’t know if I consciously thought that, but I just felt like this is what I should do, I should learn to play guitar. My dad showed me some chords, he’s a great guitar player, he taught me all the basics. My love of British folk music comes directly from his influence.

I discovered Bert Jansch and John Renbourne from his collection. My parents were super supportive. I bought a ton of records as a teenager. I spent any money I had. We lived out in the suburbs of Halifax, and every weekend we’d walk an hour downtown so we didn’t have to pay bus fare , buy records and a couple of doughnuts and walk back. Any money I had, I was always being cheap so I could buy as many records as possible. I’d get into an artist, I’d get into Elvis Costello, and I’d go and I’d buy every vinyl record of his I could find.

So that was what lead me to playing in a band, it was a social thing. We called ourselves the Nabisco Fonzie and then we were like 13 or 14 were the Hoods and then we changed our name to Thrush Hermit when we started playing our High School and gigs, and then we were opening for Sloan all of a sudden, we found the local scene downtown and they put out some records of ours.

We went on tour and got a publishing deal with BMG in New York when were 18, We signed with Electra when we were 21. We made a record for them. It bombed. We made one more record with a Canadian label called Sonic Unyon which did really well. We broke up in 1999. But, it was all a good experience.

That band was really important and we toured a lot. I learned a lot, got to see the country as a young man, and play with my friends. When I started the Emergency, I already had a pretty good sense of what I wanted and didn’t want to do. I haven’t looked back since. The ideas of commercial success and artistic success have always been two separate things for me.

If they happen at the same time that’s great, but I don’t know if I want my life to get a whole lot busier, I’m feel like I’m running ragged, I’m making tons of music and having great opportunities. One thing I will say is the idea of fame is different in the United States, the way they treat famous people is different there. Some of the most famous people I know in Canada , the Tragically Hip, the Blue Rodeo guys, big Canadian bands, the idea of them ever appearing in the tabloids is so far fetched. Fame on a Canadian level is like, yeah, these guys are artists.

The distance between your fans and the success of an artist is not that dramatic. I’d like to be successful and have an audience in the States, but the idea of chasing fame there is the least appealing thing to me ever.

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About Spencer Stewart – Music has been a constant presence throughout the life of Spencer Stewart. He has traveled across the United States working folk festivals as a photographer assistant for his father’s photography studio (Imaging Solutions), as well as pursuing his own multi-instrument interests. Music has always been there, shaping his world perspective. Stewart also writes about disappearing roadside Americana, at the Dinerman website and deals in vintage menswear. Spencer now attends Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Source:  http://guitarinternational.com/2009/12/28/joel-plaskett-interview/

Thousands come out for free Canada Games concert.Posted by Sandi Rankaduwa on Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 7:35 AMThe Joel Plaskett Emergency drew thousands of fans (including Premier Darrell Dexter) into Grand Parade Square on Valentine's Day for a free show during the 2011 Canada Games. Coast videographer Sandi Rankaduwa was there, and brings us this recap:

Source:  http://www.thecoast.ca/CanadaGamesBlog/archives/2011/02/16/coast-video-joel-plaskett-does-grand-parade

Already a leader of the Emergency, Joel Plaskett is a talented and eclectic Canadian singer / songwriter, who is musical tornado to hit the headlines for having published the ambitious Three, who put in hard line twenty-seven tracks divided into three discs, which also earned him the ' attention of Paul McCartney who wanted operner as in concerts. The disc unfortunately except for a good success overseas has not been a big attraction in Europe, perhaps because of the excessive length, and that's why Plaskett decided to publish a redux version, which summarizes some 'spirit that animated the whole the operation, although the three disks were quite different from each other. In fact his style converge diverse musical influences ranging from Tom Petty to touch the Alternative country folk rock and some religious groups of the eighties as Waterboys, the Curci and Lloyd Cole.Listening, however, gives the idea of how much passion and dedication is behind this project and above lets you see all the talent in being able to extricate Plaskett with great class of folk-rock tracks such as the initial Deny, Deny, Deny, rock songsas the overwhelming Through And Through And Through, or forays into glam rock of Run Run Run, all'incursione up in roots rock with Sailor's Eyes. Through the thirteen tracks are selected for Three To One discovers one of the best hidden treasures of the Canadian music scene, a cult artist, whose songwriting deserves serious attention and this irrespective of the premiums collected in his homeland, including the title of Best Male Artist and was nominated for a prestigious Juno Award. The real shame is that the European market has completely ignored it, compared to a project so articulate and interesting as Three. This release may redux will convey the songs easier to play, but certainly not enough to condense all of his work.Source: http://www.ilpopolodelblues.com/rev/ottobre10/recensione/joelplaskett.html

Concert Review: Joel Plaskett, David Myles - River Run Centre - Guelph, ON - November 5, 2010

On a brisk November night in Guelph, the vibe inside the River Run Centre was warm, lighthearted and electric, in anticipation of the 'Rock N' Roll show'.  Entering, stage right, with his gray suit, glasses and geeky, yet GQ style (he looked like a banker) - David Myles opened up the show with a short, but engaging set. This included some of his older songs, mixed in with a couple of tunes from his new album, "Turn Time Off" (produced by Joel).  His witty anecdotes fit right into the mood of the evening and the sold out crowd definitely warmed to Mr. Myles.

Joel took the stage after a brief intermission and jumped right into his set with a killer version of "Make a Little Noise".  He was in fine form, and mixing it up chronologically - playing plenty of tracks from "Three", but also a healthy balance of tunes from his entire catalogue.  After a few tunes by his lonesome, he welcomed his father, Bill Plaskett, on stage to join him.  Their harmonies were bang-on, it was certainly an enjoyable twist to the evening.

Some of the show highlights included "Down at the Khyber", "Every Time You Leave", "Heartless, Heartless, Heartless", "Nowhere With You", "Sailor's Eyes", "Deny, Deny, Deny" and a couple of brand new tunes - "Island Girls and Harbour Boys" and I think the other one was called "I'm Yours".

Other highlights included Joel rocking out to a back-track of "Fashionable People" playing on his iPod, the Casio styling of "Rewind, Rewind" Rewind", a rocking acoustic rendition of "Through & Through & Through" and a brilliant combined effort from Joel and Bill on "Rollin', Rollin' Rollin'" to cap the evening!  Thanks for a fantastic evening - Joel, Bill and David.  I should also mention that the RRC in Guelph is a great place to see a show.  The acoustics were fantastic and there was not a bad seat in the house.

Source:  http://jrazyblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/concert-review-joel-plaskett-david.html

Joel Plaskett returns to Ireland this November. One of Canada's finest songwriters, Plaskett will have gigs in Crawdaddy, Dublin on November 19, The Set Theatre, Kilkenny on November 20 and Roisin Dubh, Galway on November 21.

His album Three To One earned high praise upon its European release this summer. Plaskett, who was asked to support Paul McCartney last year, will be joined this time around by his father, long time musician Bill Plaskett.Source: 

http://www.hotpress.com/news/7184020.html

<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fieuBiSmykc?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fieuBiSmykc?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>Source: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fieuBiSmykc

Can you give us a brief history about yourself and how you came to be where you are.

I grew up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia then my family moved to Halifax when I was 12. I started playing music when I was 14 years old to have something to do with some friends. We called ourselves Nabisco Fonzie. When we started writing our own songs at 16 years old we changed our name to Thrush Hermit (named after a bird called the Hermit Thrush, we thought it sounded like Pink Floyd or something or Coney Hatch totally 1970's. Unbeknownst to us, with a name like that we were destined for failure in the UK!). We started touring when we finished high school, opening for our friends, Sloan. We signed a record deal with Elektra in the US in 1996. In 1999 we released our last and best record, Clayton Park, and then broke up. I had a solo record come out that same year called In Need of Medical Attention. I was 25. On the heels of the Hermit break up, I formed a three piece band called The Joel Plaskett Emergency with Dave Marsh (drums) and Timmy Brennan (bass). We made two cool records and toured Canada a lot and built up a really solid fan base. In 2004 I recorded another solo record called Ladeda and have flipped back and forth between Emergency band records and solo records. I've built up my audience through touring and playing different venues. Rock bars, tiny songwriter venues, theatres and outdoor gigs. The biggest gig was last year when The Emergency opened for Paul McCartney in Halifax to 40,000 people.

What was the idea behind your latest album Three? Was it due to it being your third solo album or was there something deeper, due to there being alot of threes included in the album in one way or another?

Three came from a few places. It was my third solo album, I was 33 when I recorded it and many of the songs came together as titles being the same word three times (Rollin, Rollin, Rollin). So I made a triple album! Thematically the records are divided into three connected themes. Going away (being left behind), being alone, and returning home. Simple but I wanted to make something sprawling that reflected the life I live and the things I think about.

You've done quite alot of touring over the years and with 2 tours of the Uk just this year, you must be pretty comfortable with moving around. So how do you actually find touring? Is it hard being away from home for so long?

Leaving home isn't getting any easier but touring is an important part of my life. Travelling can be interesting and I meet a lot of great people. I like conversations, especially in Ireland. I love performing and bringing the songs to people but there are only so many days in the year. I really focused on the UK and Ireland this year but I had to bow out of an Australian tour that started at Christmas. There's only so much that can happen at once and I want to make sure when I go somewhere that all the ducks are in a row and I'm ready to rock.

Has anything ever happened to you whilst you've been on the road over here?

not quite sure how to answer than one... I drank too much whiskey a few times but all in all it rolled pretty smoothly.

During your set supporting Barenaked Ladies you played a kids toy keyboard that cost you only a few dollars, do you like experimenting with new sounds and weird instruments?

Yeah, I like weird instruments but I'm a hack on piano. I have a variety of guitars at home because I find there is a different song in all of them. I try to find old unique instruments. I also like old drum machines. They sound freaking cool. Like JJ Cale.

My Space seems to be a big tool in the music industry these days, with artists communicating with their fans over it and some even ditching their own website and having just a My Space site, what are your opinions on My Space as a tool in the music industry?

Sure! Whatever works and helps bring people to the shows. Having said that, the internet could go away and I'd be a happy person without it.Where would you like to see yourself this time next year?

In the mirror. Yes, I'm still alive!

One last question that we ask every band, if you could be an animal out of a zebra and a giraffe which would you be and why?

Probably a giraffe. I'm tall and skinny too. Zebras are a little showy.Thanks for your time; do you have a message for your fans reading this?

Dear fans, You keep me cool. Thanks, Joel

Source:  http://awesomejimmie.blogspot.com/2010/10/joel-plaskett-interview.html

Joel PLaskett may be some way short of being a household name in the UK but in his native Canada he's a minor deity.  His entire back catalogue is imbed with the bite and hook of the best AM rock, most notably the superb Ashtray Rock and its anthemic centrepiece 'Drunk Teenagers'.  Last year, Plaskett released the epic triple album Threes.  However, for every double (or triple) album, there are those who quibble that better editing would have produced a fantastic single album.  Here, PLaskett stays ahead of the grumbling by distilling Threes down to a more manageable single disc titled Three To One.

To Plaskett's credit, there are no bonus tracks or remixes to entice fans into shelling out again for the single disc.  The adjusted running order also benefits from hindsight, pushing the fantastic 'Deny, Deny, Deny' front and centre.  With its acoustic guitar, sprightly fiddle and call-and-answer harmonies, it's as infectious as a song can get.  'Through & Through& Through' and 'you Let Me Down' keep up the momentum before settling down into the tender 'Rewind, Rewind, Rewind'; of the quieter moments it's only rivalled by the downright lovely 'One Look'.  In three words:  brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

by Mark Grassick

Congratulations to Joel Plaskett on his recent nomination at the Molson Canadian NSMW 2010 for Producer of the Year!

Condensed introduction to Canuck indie rock stalwart In his native Canada, Plaskett can reasonably expect people to consume a triple album in one go:  Three To One is culled from a triptych originally released in Canada as Three.  Plaskett's Brendan Benson/John Wesley Harding-ish fare is never unpleasant, and every so often outright charming, as on "Precious, Precious, Precious".  Even in this abridged form, however, Plaskett's oeuvre serves mostly as an illustration of how long those winter evenings back home must be, if his compatriots have room in their lives for six sides of this.

Andrew Mueller

Source:  Current Issue Uncut Magazine

Nova Scotian Joel Plaskett has a silly number of music awards as one of Canada's best songwriters.  This new release has Plaskett selecting thirteen tracks from the original North American, triple disc release, Three.  Don't think you're getting ripped off, though, as these tracks truly are the best of the bunch.  With eighteen years of music making behind him, Tree To One is Plaskett's most ambitious work to date and features a first-rate line up of guests including his father Bill Plaskett, fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Rose Cousins and Joel's band The Emergency.  From start to finish Three To One is indie rock at it's best.  From 'Deny, Deny, Deny,' with it's buoyant beats Celtic inspired violins, thumping horns on 'Through & Through & Through,' the gritty riffs of 'Run, Run, Run' through to the romantic, east coast folk-themed 'Sailors Eyes', Three To One is only once chapter of the Three story, but it is story that is exquisite, genre-defining and one that should be listened by all.

Lauren Keogh

Source:  Tourtimes magazine Issu 63, 16 July - 13 August 2010

Nova Scotian singer songwriter releases personally selected thirteen tracks from his award winning triple album for European release.The original notion emerged when Plaskett noticed he had three songs coming together where each title was one word repeated three times:  the hillbilly stomper Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'; the soulful electric-piano ballad Rewind, Rewind, Rewind; and the aching folk-pop of Gone, Gone, Gone, "I was like, well, I've got these songs that roll in threes," says Plaskett.  "Maybe I should do a whole album of songs where every song title is the same word three times".

The album is packed with infectiously catchy songs that blend pop rock and folk elements.  Already massively popular in Canada this album should do the same for him over here.

Source:  http://2fm.rte.ie/blogs/ep/2010/09/joel-plaskett-deny-deny-deny.html

CFL party will rockPublished Saturday September 11th, 2010Local acts will share stage with top Canadian bands during 3-day Touchdown Downtown Festival

by Brent Mazerolle

The Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic host committee has unveiled the final musical line-up for the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian Touchdown Downtown street festival.

The concerts, to be held on the main stage on Main Street in front of Moncton city hall, will star headliners the Trews and Joel Plaskett and the Emergency, joined by area acts Old School, Calico Jacks, The Divorcees, Vishtèn, El Fuego, Classified, The Stanfields, Chris Colepaugh, and Two Hours Traffic.

The festival, which will run the Thursday to Saturday Sept. 23 -25, is being held in conjunction with the week of festivities celebrating the first ever regular season CFL game in Atlantic Canada.

The Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic game is being held at the Stade Moncton 2010 Stadium on September 26 between the home team Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos.

"We are so excited about the acts we have been able to confirm for the touchdown downtown festival," host committee co-chairman Brent Scrimshaw said yesterday.

"The best part about it is that it is all free of charge to the general public as part of the Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic Celebrations."

The Touchdown Downtown Festival, presented by the Times and Transcript, kicks off on Thursday, September 23rd at noon. The festival will run again Friday from noon until 11 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

There will be opportunities to test your football skills, the CFL Hall of Fame will have an exhibit, and both the Argos and the Eskimos will have hospitality zones set up for the event.

Main Street from Church Street to Mechanic Street will be closed for the festival, while significant happenings will be taking place at the Marché Moncton Market and at the bottom of Botsford Street as well.

The entry to the Downtown Touchdown Festival will be at the Scotiabank branch on Main at the foot of Church Street, where the Scotiabank Fan Experience will offer interactive activities, trivia challenges and CFL exhibits.

The next stretch of Main Street will have a variety of trade booth exhibits and more interactive activities, with a number of large corporate sponsors like Reebok and Pepsi joining local companies in getting involved. All of that will also run up the first block of Botsford Street, while on the lawn of city hall the Argonauts will host a carnival of the sort found there each Canada Day.

The Argonauts, meanwhile, will be taking over the Old Triangle pub as their Double Blue Headquarters for the duration of the festival. The Spirit of Edmonton organization will have its hospitality zone in a giant tent at the Marché Moncton Market on Westmorland Street.

Meanwhile, the fun-loving Calgary Stampeders booster club is coming to the party even though the Stamps aren't playing in the Touchdown Atlantic game. Breakfast will be on them Saturday morning, Sept. 25 in front of city hall, while the Argonauts organization will be back there at lunch with a barbecue.

"The ability to bring these amazing acts to the downtown festival and offer entertainment from these bands free of charge on the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian main stage couldn't have happened without the amazing support of our corporate partners for Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic," Scrimshaw said.

Musical acts confirmed for the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian Touchdown Downtown Festival presented by the Times & Transcript:

Thursday, Sept. 23

On the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian Main Stage (beginning at 6 p.m.)

Old School

Calico Jacks

The Divorcees

Vishtèn

Friday, Sept. 24

On the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian Main Stage (beginning at 7 p.m.)

El FuegoClassified

Joel Plaskett and the Emergency

Saturday, Sept. 25

On the Lotto Max, Molson Canadian Main Stage (beginning at 6 p.m.)

The Stanfields

Chris Colepaugh

Two Hours Traffic

The Trews

Source:  http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/1213871

Noteworthy: Joel Plaskett and The Emergency

by Ann on September 7, 2010

Band: Joel Plaskett and The EmergencySongs to pique your interest: Fashionable People, Work Out Fine, Come On Teacher, A Million Dollars

Why? Because I discovered them at the back of a Scott Pilgrim book. Normally when I randomly find a new artist I didn’t know about, I’ll be happy if I walk away with one or two new songs. With these guys I feel like I’ve found a gold mine.

It’s like you’re hanging out with your best friend in his basement and he’s telling you what dumb story happened to him today, only he’s got a guitar and sometimes a back up band. And then he’ll sing you a sweet song without being too sentimental, will sneak a smile out of you, and then make you say WTF?

And he keeps winning nominations for best album, songwriter, single…you know. Just though, in Canada.

Go on, listen to your new best friend.

Source:  http://blog.reviewartists.com/2010/09/07/noteworthy-joel-plaskett-and-the-emergency/

"A folk 'n' roll-indie collision that brims with energy." - The WordCanada has produced some of the world's most enduring songwriters and Joel Plaskett is being hailed as one of the best.

In the late spring last year Sir Paul McCartney asked Nova Scotian Joel Plaskett to open his show at Halifax Common. Joel had just released a new album to rave reviews and  would soon have a mantelpiece full of Canadian music awards – 'Best Adult Alternative' at the Juno's, 'Best Solo Male' at the Indie Awards,  nominated for the Polaris Prize (for a second time) and a clutch of Canadian Folk Music awards.

"Celtic strummers…Nimble power-pop…Clever vocals… and earthy drama."  - **** Mail On Sunday 

The album that won him so many plaudits at home will have a special release for the UK and Europe in July.  From the original triple-album, 'Three', Joel has personally selected thirteen tracks and the resulting collection is  'Three to One'. Joel supported the release with  a headline club tour, an appearance at this year's 'Great Escape' and as special guest to Jools Holland on his outdoor summer concert series.

"Plaskett makes his case to follow names like Young, Lightfoot and Cohen."  Chart Attack

Joel now returns to the UK this September in support of the new single 'Through & Through & Through' (Sept 27th) and will be touring the UK as special guest of The Barenaked Ladies.

Source:  http://www.theluminaire.co.uk/live-music/December/2010/1291/JOEL%20PLASKETT

Joel Plaskett – Three To Oneby Rhys Evans on 31. Aug, 2010 in Record Reviews

As far as the story goes, as he reached the ripe old age of thirty three and a third Haligonian songsmith Joel Plaskett sat down and wrote Three, a triple album. Three Discs, three booklets, 9 songs per disc (3×3). Even the original release date for the record 24/3/09 was divisible by three. Oh, and of course it was his third solo album. The album garnered Plaskett his second Polaris prize nomination in 2009 (his first being for Ashtray Rock in 2007). Already established as something of a cult hero thanks to his early 90s band Thrush Hermit, Three has only served to raise Plaskett’s profile in his native land. With an awareness that a triple album might be an intimidating introduction for some listeners, Three has become Three to One for the UK release, bringing together 13 of the full albums tracks on to one disc.

Opener ‘Deny, Deny, Deny’ kicks things off with a sprightly pop swing, guitars jangling and fiddling that moves it towards the more bluegrass territory. Forthcoming single ‘Through & Through & Through’ follows, a rock’n’soul outing with parping horns and boy/girl call and response lyrics. ‘Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’’ is a footstomper built on a frenetic banjo line and more call and response with Anne Egge and Rose Cousins. It isn’t all bluster though, ‘New Scotland Blues’ finds Plaskett playing solo, picking out delicate melodies on his guitar, while ‘Safe in Your Arms’ demonstrates the kind of downbeat melancholy that should make fans of Eels or Beck’s Mutations and Sea Changes albums take notice.

Three to One is intelligent pop music writ large melodies that get stuck in the head for days afterwards, set the toes tapping, and accompanied by some neat turns of phrase and a sense of humour. It may not be revolutionary, or particularly original (a fact Plaskett acknowledges as the keyboard boogie-woogie rhythm starts up on album closer ‘Wishful Thinking’) but there is an easy charm and feel-good familiarity about Plaskett’s songs, and Three to One serves as a fine introduction to his lovingly crafted work.

Source:  http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/08/joel-plaskett-three-to-one/

Halifax Pop Explosion Day Five: Joel Plaskett, Rich Aucoin And Eric's Trip

10/22/07 5:30pm

by Shannon Webb-Campbell (CHARTattack)

ChartAttack sent Shannon Webb-Campbell to hunt down music at the Halifax Pop Explosion. Here's her day five report:

The final leg of this year's HPX had platonic indie couples up with the birds for the annual Just Friends Brunch at Gus' Pub. Over a vegan breakfast, hung over hipsters ordered a side of The Just Barelys, Their Majesties and Brent Randall And His Pinecones with their soy milk-whitened coffee.

Post-show, some folks opted to trek back home for an afternoon catnap, while others tickled their bookish hearts and made their way down to Saint David's Church for Canzine East. Presented by Broken Pencil Magazine, the Halifax Pop Explosion and preservation ink slingers The Anchor Archive Zine Library, the pedantic patrons forked over a five-dollar cover for an all-day event of small press, comics, indie records, crafts and handmade goodies. The Ink Storm Screen-printing Collective provided an integral workshop for any musician aspiring to master the craft of affordably making merchandise.

Later that evening, David Myles had a thing or two to say about merch, as the lanky tunesmith warmed the stage at St. Mathew's Church for Joel Plaskett's highly anticipated performance. According to the recently engaged songwriter, whose family members were in the pews, his brother was proudly sporting a David Myles T-shirt.

"I've got CDs and merch for sale at the back if you feel this performance is not enough," Myles said with humble honesty.

Myles has gone the distance, as the ex-pat New Brunswicker recently caught wind that he was nominated for three Nova Scotia Music Awards. His Things Have Changed release has earned him nods for male artist songwriter, songwriter and folk recording of the year.

He closed his set with the quintessential coming of age mantra, "When It Comes My Turn." Off to the side of the stage, Plaskett sat cross-legged, tapping his foot in time to the rhythm. After a brief intermission, Halifax's sweet homewrecker took the stage with an acoustic rendition of La De Da's "I Love This Town."

Plaskett arrived earlier in the day from Dallas and was wearing a turquoise cowboy-style dress shirt. He was quick to give thanks to the organizers of the festival for inviting him to play, as it was 15 years ago when his beloved teenage band Thrush Hermit first took the stage here.

Plaskett dipped into the back catalogue — including songs from Down At The Khyber, In Need Of Medical Attention and Clayton Park — and eventually launched into tracks from Ashtray Rock, his 2007 Polaris Music Prize-nominated album, halfway through the set. His father, Bill Plaskett, joined him on guitar for "Soundtrack For The Night" and the latest album's title track.

Part of the way through the teenage anthem, I quietly packed up and made my way to the Marquee Club for CBC Radio 3's showcase. While finding my way down Gottingen Street, I was warmly greeted with a hug by Rebekah Higgs, the avant-garde musical chameleon whose self-titled album was recently re-released by Outside Music.

Higgs wasn't the only musician at the over-capacity venue, as ex-pat Newfoundlander Cherie Pyne (who had come from Montreal for a showcase at Ginger's Tavern the night before), local folkster Thomas/Richard, songbird Jenn Grant and mod-rockers The Stance were either soaking in the sets of Vancouver's Mother Mother upstairs or Rich Aucoin in Hell's Kitchen below street level.

Aucoin recently returned home from a cross-country tour with his brother's project, The Hylozoists. According to brother Paul, their mother asked if he could join the band. It seems that Aucoin is doing just fine without the aid of his mama bear, as the cross-country cyclist decked himself out in an ivory suit and festive accoutrements. Drummer Joel Waddell and the frontman were wrapped up tight with Christmas lights around their shoulders. In traditional Rich Aucoin fashion, he synched his Personal Publication LP to "How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

"Upstairs, the love fest continued with Mother Mother kicking out the jams with tracks from their Tune-Up disc. Montreal's Land Of Talk kept the boozy kids dancing, as the anticipation thickened for Eric's Trip's Pop Explosion reunion. Unfortunately, I could only stay awake for the opening tracks from the Sonic Youth-inspired band. Perhaps it's just me, but it seems that the dip into nostalgia was all too much to take in again and again. Hopefully, next year's HPX will be less about honouring a passage of another calendar year and more about the latest contemporary musical buzz.

Source:  http://chartattack.com/news/44694/halifax-pop-explosion-day-five-joel-plaskett-rich-aucoin-and-erics-trip

Joel Plaskett. Rootstock returns to Jackson-Triggs Winery this weekend. This year, some of the best and brightest Canadian musicians will be taking the stage, including Joel Plaskett (pictured), Sarah Slean, Hawksley Workman, and the evening's host, Steven Page.

Some of Canada’s best and brightest stars will be playing Niagara this weekend.

Jackson-Triggs Winery’s second annual Rootstock event will see Joel Plaskett, Sarah Slean and Hawksley Workman take the stage, hosted by Steven Page, the former Barenaked Ladies frontman.Plaskett, fresh off a European tour, said he’s excited to be sharing the stage in the songwriter’s circle.“It’s a fun way to spend the evening with fellow musicians and friends,” he said.Plaskett said he’s also looking forward to spending the day in Ontario’s wine country. While he’s been to a small winery in his native province of Nova Scotia, he’s never had the chance to experience one in Niagara-on-the-Lake.This has been a big year for Plaskett, who won a 2010 Juno Award in the adult alternative album of the year category for his latest release, Three. The themed album was released as a triple-album, something Plaskett refers to as “fairly ambitious.”“There were a lot of songs all connected thematically so I conceived it as a triple album,” he said. “I kind of got carried away with the songs and released it in that fashion because I could and because I felt there was a story to tell.”While he admitted that releasing a triple album has bought him some time, Plaskett said he is constantly writing and will probably start work on a new album once he finishes his next tour opening for the Barenaked Ladies.Tickets for Rootstock are $61 and can be purchased by calling 905-468-4637 ext. 2.  For more information, visit www.jacksontriggswinery.com.

Source:  http://www.niagarathisweek.com/what%27s%20on/article/864854--rootstock-returns

Joel Plaskett's album, "Three," was voted one of the top 10 Pop Rock albums of 2009 by Exclaim.ca and Exclaim! Magazine readers from across Canada.  Every year, Exclaim! polls their readers to find out about the music that rocked their world. You can read what fans had to say about the album by following the link below.

Top Pop Rocks - http://bit.ly/bErbJA

Congratulations to Joel Plaskett for his recent nominations at the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards, "The Indies". Joel is nominated for CHARTATTACK.COM FAVORITE ALBUM and FAVORITE SOLO ARTIST.  The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 13 at 8:00 p.m. at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto. The Indies acknowledge, promote and honor achievements of Canadian and international artists in the independent music sector. Tickets for this event can be purchased for $20 at Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.ca. For further details and voting procedures visit the Indie Awards website at www.indies.ca

BARENAKED LADIES ARE BACK – ALL IN GOOD TIME!

CANADIAN HEADLINE TOUR ANNOUNCED  

January 21, 2010, Toronto, Ontario - Barenaked Ladies, Ed Robertson (guitar/vocals), Jim Creeggan (bass/vocals), Kevin Hearn (keyboard/guitar/vocals) and Tyler Stewart  (drums/vocals) , announce today their Canadian headline tour with special guest Joel Plaskett.

“We're looking forward to another cross Canada tour” said Ed Robertson. “It's a new chapter for the band, but we'll be bringing the whole songbook with us! We'll be playing our favourites from the last 20 years, as well as songs from our new record. The only known cure for spring fever is a Barenaked Ladies show. We look forward to seeing you there!”

In addition to the tour dates listed below, the band will also be performing at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on February 20th as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic celebrations. This show will be free to all.

The Canadian tour dates are:

April 6th            Victoria, BC                              Save On Foods Centre

April 8th            Calgary, AB                              Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

April 12th          Saskatoon, SK                        Sid Buckwold Theatre @ TCU

April 13th          Regina, SK                               Conexus Arts Center

April 14th          Edmonton, AB                       Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

April 17th          London, ON                            John Labatt Centre

April 20th          Kingston, ON                          K-Rock Centre

April 24th          Halifax, NS                               Metro Centre

April 28th          Hamilton, ON                         Hamilton Place Theatre

April 30th          Montreal, QC                         Metropolis

May 1st             Oshawa, ON                           General Motors Centre

Every online ticket order will include one download of the new album All In Good Time (available March 23rd ), plus an exclusive limited bonus track.

Tickets go on sale on January 26th to members of the brand-new “Ladies Room” Fan Club and to the general public on January 29th. For details on the fan club, VIP packages, or to buy tickets, please visit www.barenakedladies.com.

The first single from All In Good Time, “You Run Away” was the #1 Most Added track both in Canada and the US last week. The single will be available February 2nd.  The album All In Good Time will be available on Raisin’ Records/EMI Music on March 23rd in Canada.

Over the course of the past twenty-one years, Barenaked Ladies have racked up 8 Juno Awards and multiple Grammy nominations, sold more than 14 million albums worldwide, written a plethora of hit singles (including “One Week,” “Pinch Me” and “If I Had $1000000”) and amassed an international fanbase whose members number in the millions.

http://barenakedladies.com/ 

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media ConsortiumBrings Vancouver 2010 to Canadian Communities withFive-City ‘CTV Olympic Celebration’ Event

-- Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, St. John’s and Quebec City to host free community celebrations featuring top Canadian musical acts and interactive sport zones –

TORONTO (January 14, 2010) – The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are coming to five Canadian communities this February as part of the CTV Olympic Celebration – a free, one-day festival-style event taking place in Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, St. John’s and Quebec City during the Games. Created by Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, the events are yet another initiative by the Consortium that delivers to Canadians a unique Olympic Games experience.

On Friday, Feb. 26 at the St. John’s Mile One Centre & St. John’s Convention Centre Sam Roberts Band will be performing with special guest The Joel Plaskett Emergency. The event will feature interactive Olympic- and Paralympic-themed sport zones, cultural pavilions, hospitality zones, and large video screens showcasing CTV’s and RDS’s live coverage of the 2010 Winter Games.

For more information, visit CTVOlympics.ca/Celebration or RDSolympiques.ca/Celebrations.

Performances and Ticket Sales for Thrush Hermit Fans

If you started out as a Thrush Hermit fan, we have great news for you.    In its near-decade of existence, Thrush Hermit evolved from suburban East Coast teenagers churning out hyperactive inside-joke noise to one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands. Always valuing camaraderie over careerism, Joel Plaskett, Rob Benvie, Ian McGettigan, and Cliff Gibb will briefly reunite for a string of shows in March 2010, a stint that promises to be a meltdown of nostalgia, thrills, and proof that the Hermit can still help the masses Learn to Party.

Special Advance Ticket Bundles ( bundle prices vary ) include one general admission ticket and one very funky Thrush Hermit T-Shirt!  You can take a look at these styling Tees on the  Maple Music website ( http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876 ).

THRUSH HERMIT TOUR DATES

 Thu, Mar. 18th Thrush Hermit, The Manhattan Club Moncton, New Brunswick

TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876  Fri, Mar. 19th Thrush Hermit, The Paragon Theatre Halifax, NS

 TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876  Sat, Mar. 20th Thrush Hermit, The Paragon Theatre Halifax, NS

 TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

 Tue, Mar. 23rd Thrush Hermit, Starlight Club Waterloo, Ontario

TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

 Wed, Mar. 24th Thrush Hermit, Red Dog Tavern Peterborough, Ontario TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

 Thu, Mar. 25th Thrush Hermit, Capitol Ottawa, Ontario

TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

 Fri, Mar. 26th Thrush Hermit, Lee’s Toronto, Ontario

TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

 Sat, Mar. 27th Thrush Hermit, Lee’s Toronto, Ontario

TICKETS: http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=6876

Hey Folks,I’m very pleased and humbled to announce a great bunch of nominations for the upcoming East Coast Music Awards in March. This community has been insanely supportive and when I set out making a triple record I did ponder the serious possibility of it being “career suicide”. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. Despite this being a “solo” record, the Emergency (Dave Marsh, Chris Pennell and Peter Elkas) are a big part of my rock and roll live show so I’d like to thank them for their involvement this year. A big congratulations to Dave for his smokin’ record “The True Love Rules” ( http://www.reverbnation.com/davemarsh ) being nominated for both Rock Recording and Male Solo Recording of the Year. I’m as proud of my involvement in that record as I am my own. Also a big thank you to Rose Cousins, Ana Egge and my father, Bill, who all play a big part on Three. Rest assured, this isn’t going to my head. I still have to make the bed everyday and White Fang really could care less about who I am as long as I give her a midnight snack.Yours truly,Joe Plastic

You can view the complete list of nominations here and there are a bunch of great artists and friends in the running this year so congratulations to them all.Here are my nominations.

Entertainer of the YearFACTOR Recording of the Year (Three)Male Solo Recording of the Year (Three)Single of the Year (Through & Through & Through)Single of the Year (You Let Me Down)SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (for Through & Through & Through)Pop Recording of the Year (Three)Video of the Year (Through & Through & Through) directed by RT!

Congratulations Joel!  It was a double win for Joel Plaskett at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.  Joel was the only multiple award winner with his wins of contemporary album of the year and producer of the year. 

Congratulations to Joel Plaskett who took home four Music Nova Scotia Awards over the weekend at the Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music Week.  Joel’s hit album “Three” won Pop/Rock Artist/Group Recording, Album of the Year, Male Artist Recording and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year. Congrats Joel !

CBC’s 2009 Bucky awards have just been announced and Joel Plaskett has been nominated for 5 awards!  And now it’s the fans who get to decide who wins!   Fans can vote now in the awards' nine categories on CBC Radio 3's website at http://radio3.cbc.ca/.  Fans have to have an account with the website to vote, however, but it's easy to sign up and it's free. They'll be able to vote in each category once per day until voting closes at midnight on Sunday (Nov. 8).

Joel is nominated for BEST SONG: Classified featuring Joel Plaskett — "One Track Mind" and— "Through & Through & Through", BEST LIVE ACT, BEST LYRICS in  "Through & Through & Through" ("I'm the Berlin Wall, I'm a communist/You're a wrecking ball in a summer dress") and BEST VOCALS with Classified featuring Joel Plaskett — "One Track Mind".

We are delighted to announce that Joel Plaskett has been chosen as the Nova Scotia winner for CBC Radio 2’s Great Canadian SongQuest.  Joel will be writing about the beautiful Cabot Trail and on November 23rd you can tune in to CBC Radio 2 for the final result!  Congrats Joel!

Nominees for the fifth edition of the Canadian Folk Music Awards were announced in Ottawa, and this year leading the pack is Joel Plaskett with four nominations! Joel has been recognized for Contemporary Album of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year and the Pushing the Boundaries Award.

The mission of the Canadian Folk Music Awards is to celebrate and promote Canadian Folk Music in all its forms. The Canadian Folk Music Awards Gala will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2009, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau, Québec. Please visit their homepage at http://canadianfolkmusicawards.ca for ticket information.

CBC Radio 2 SongQuest

Love to hear Joel Plaskett write a song about Wolfville, the Cabot Trail, Carter’s Beach, Halifax or the Annapolis Valley?  Well now is your chance to get your voice heard.  Head on over to CBC Radio 2 at http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/ to place your vote for Joel Plaskett and the Nova Scotia city/town you’d like him to write about!

CBC Radio 2 ‘s Great Canadian Song Quest contest is where Canadians have the chance to share their passion, and nominate their favorite locations in the country to be celebrated in song. Canadians get the deciding vote on who writes and performs the songs from among Canada's finest musical icons and emerging stars. The end result is an incredible cross-country playlist, with 13 brand-new, original songs for Canada's playbook. Each artist will compose and record an original song, inspired by the locations chosen by Canadians from each province and territory.

NOTE: Voters have from today until Friday, Oct. 23, at 12 a.m. ET, to choose from a shortlist of the most popular places from each province and territory, and the artists they'd like to see create the song for those locations, by visiting http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/ . Once voting closes, the final 13 artists have four weeks to compose and record an original song, inspired by the most popular Canadian location from their province or territory. 

Vote Joel Plaskett for Entertainer of the Year

Voting is open to the public to vote Joel Plaskett Bell Aliant Entertainer of the Year at this Year’s 2009 Music Nova Scotia Awards.  Voting is at http://public.bellaliant.net/MNSEntertainer2009 and ends soon. This vote is open to the public - tell all your friends!

Joel Plaskett nominated for Four Canadian Folk Music Awards

Pop Montreal Review!

On and On and On

September 15th marks the launch of Joel Plaskett's iTunes Originals! You can get your very own intimate and unplugged iTunes Originals of songs like "Deny, Deny, Deny", "Heartless, Heartless, Heartless" and more - only available at the iTunes Store !

Joel Plaskett iTunes Original Link

LINK: http://ax.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.itunes.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fid%253D330091446%2526s%253D143455

Ana Egge, who sings on Three (along with Rose Cousins), has a new video for her song Morning, from her stellar album Road to My Love.  Check the video out by clicking here. Ana and Rose will be joining Joel and his father Bill at the Polaris Award ceremony this Monday in Toronto.

Lucky Joel Plaskett has been nominated for the Echo Songwriting Prize for his song Through & Through & Through.  There are four other cool songs nominated too.  You can listen to them all and vote for your favorite by clicking here. The prize is presented by the fine folks at SOCAN.

Dave Marsh and the True Love Rules are playing in Lunenburg NS tomorrow night (Tuesday Sept 15) at Rumrunners Restaurant with Skank Williams.

On Wednesday, Dave returns to the drum kit with Joel and the Emergency when they play the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton.

Come one come all...

Honestly, there isn't anything else we can say about Joel, Three or his inclusion in the Short List. We've talked about him for years and watched him grow as an artist. As native Nova Scotians, we are proud of his music, proud of him and certainly proud to know him ... Read More

by HEROHILL

Congrats to Joel Plaskett and Dave Marsh on their 2009 Music Nova Scotia nominations!  Dave just received his first solo nomination(s) for Alternative Artist/Recording and for Musician of the Year for "The True Love Rules".  Joel received Music Nova Scotia nominations for Entertainer, Album, Male, Pop/Rock, Songwriter and Video.  For more information about the event and nominees, you can go to music Nova Scotia at http://www.musicnovascotia.ca/ .

Voting is almost closed for this year's Verge Music Awards, and we are putting the word out to everyone who has yet to vote to go on line to http://www.thevergeonline.com/vmaand vote " JOEL PLASKETT " for ARTIST OF THE YEAR, and " THREE " for ALBUM OF THE YEAR. Please pass this info along to other fans, friends and family and make sure you get your vote in by the end of the week and show your love to Joel! Thank you for your support!

A memorable weekend at the Edmonton Folk Festival.  Good friends and great shows by The Wailers, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Old Man Leudecke, Great Lake Swimmers, Skydiggers and on and on...  Shared the stage with Johnny Flynn, Danny Michel, David Francey, Jill Barber, Ben Sures and more.  Wrote this cranky goofball song on Sunday morning just before my second 11AM !? workshop.  A work in progress and no doubt the melody is stolen but what can you expect after 3 hours sleep...

Mainstage on Sunday night was exciting with a crowd that looked to be around 20 or 30 thousand people.  Sun was down and the lights were on.  3 songs in 11 minutes.  Nothing but the hits...

Andy from the Skydiggers snapped this photo:

Shows coming up:

August 19th : Cape Cod Melody Tent - opening for Great Big Sea

August 20th: Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY

August 22 and 23rd: Ottawa Folk Festival

Hope to see you at one.

Joel

That's when Joel Plaskett, armed only with his acoustic guitar, showed up for a quick three-song interlude that had more charisma and flavour than most of the evening combined.

Plaskett, even by his lonesome, can rile up a crowd like no one else, and on Nowhere With You and Wishful Thinking, the entire hill became one big, dancing singalong.

As Plaskett waved goodbye to thunderous cheers and applause, one was left wishing the Halifax rocker would've been able to just keep on going - there was just too much potential there.

Hey All,

I'll be playing at the Edmonton Folk Festival this Friday, Saturday and Sunday on various stages and song circles.   My father, Bill, will be along for the ride and we're play our hearts out.  Watch out folk.  Here's a video of us picking last time we hit town filmed by the folks at Vue Magazine.

Hope to see you there.

Joel

New Glasgow was epic!

Thanks to the 700 (!) people who showed up in Springhill last night to sing along and make a really memorable show.  It was a real honour to be invited to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Anne Murray Centre and to get to meet Anne Murray!  Nice to play a town I'd never made it to before.  Pre-show  the staff at JB's tavern served up a great plate of pan fried scallops while Merlin, McLeod and Martin entertained us with Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash tunes.  Thanks to the excellent David Myles for opening the show and to my dad, Bill, for keeping the guitar picking rolling as I reached for cheat notes to Lying on a Beach verse three.

This Friday I pick up the electric guitar again and rock it with the Emergency at the New Glasgow Jubilee.   Dear sunshine, please stay...

Hope to see you there!

Joel

hey All,

We had an amazing time opening for Sir Paul McCartney on the Halifax Commons last weekend.  Thanks to Macca for the invite and his amazing performance and thanks to all of you who clapped your hands and sang along at our biggest hometown gig of all time.  

This Thursday I'll be playing an acoustic show at the Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario with Peter Elkas accompanying me.  The first show has sold out but a second show has been added earlier in the evening.  On Saturday, the Emergency joins us and we rock a band show in Surrey, BC at the Fusion Fest.  Western dreamz.  Hope to see you there.  Here's photo of the Commons on Saturday taken by faithfullyrich on Flickr.  That's me super sized on the screen.  

Hey All,

I was thrilled to find out about Three making the short list for the Polaris Prize today.  I was sitting in the Avenue Diner in Calgary about to have breakfast when the phone rang with the good news.  So happy to be nominated again and amidst such great company.  You can see the whole list of nominees here.  

Recent shows have been so fun.  Calgary- cookin'.  Mariposa- magic.  Sudbury- stellar. Orillia- Oh Really Ya!  Alderney- always on my mind.            St John- all night long.  St John's - Newfoundfans!

WE ARE OPENING FOR SIR PAUL McCARTNEY THIS SATURDAY ON THE HALIFAX COMMON! 

Oh Darlin.

- Joel

Joel Plaskett has been receiving rave reviews for his shows, his musicianship and his innovation with his latest release Three, and fans now have the opportunity to make their voices heard at the 2009 XM Verge Music Awards. Fans can show their support by heading over to http://www.thevergeonline.com/vma/voting.php and voting Joel Plaskett for Artist of the Year and Three for Album of the Year.

Despite best efforts on the part of "Paul maniac" Brent Randall (see http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95480637365, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stTjeyXK_Tc, and probably more), who really and truly put in a superior effort, the Canadian artist who will open for Paul McCartney when the ex-Beatle plays in Halifax on the 11th of July is a Berlin Wall...

...a cannonball...

It's Halifax's Joel Plaskett.

Read More at THE HOUR - Full Article
by Dave Jaffer

The Joel Plaskett Emergency will be accompanied by singers Rose Cousins and Anna Ege and Plaskett's father, Bill Plaskett, at the gig, according to CBC Radio 3.

Plaskett reportedly told CBC Radio 3 he's "pretty damn excited" about opening for Macca. Yeah, we bet! ...

Read More at CHARTATTACK - Full Article

Paul McCartney - okay, okay, Sir Paul McCartney - has personally selected Joel Plaskett to open for him at McCartney's only upcoming Canadian show, going down July 11 in Halifax, at the Halifax Common. Plaskett told CBC Radio 3 he's "pretty damn excited."  ...

Read More at EXCLAIM - FULL ARTICLE
By Greg Pratt

Paul McCartney has chosen Halifax indie band Joel Plaskett Emergency to open for his July 11 concert in the city.

The band posted the news on its website Thursday.

On June 16, the former Beatle announced he wanted a Canadian supporting act for his show at the Halifax Common, his only Canadian tour date this summer.

Halifax-area bands scrambled to catch McCartney's ear ever since, sending tapes of their music in hopes of being chosen ...

Read More at CBC NEWS 

JOEL PLASKETT EMERGENCY (guys and dolls)  opening for MACCA!

July 11th, Halifax Commons

LETS ROCK!

Tour proper is wrapping this Friday in NFLD at the Holy Heart but more shows on the horizon this summer starting with Joel solo at the folk fest in Montreal on Saturday.  Check the shows page for more details...

Here's Stuart Jolliffe's great photo from Massey.  

Dear Truck,

Please roll.

Yours,

J.P.

When a review comes along from such an admired voice in worldwide culture, we want to share it with everyone. Perez Hilton had nothing but kind words for Joel Plaskett's new single and video " Through & Through & Through " on his website. You can read the full review at http://perezhilton.com/2009-06-17-watch-listen-no-gimmicks-just-goodness .

If you are going to be in L.A. , then you can get a slice of Joel Plaskett for yourself and hear what the fuss is about. He'll be playing on June 18th as part of the Music Nova Scotia night starting at 6:30 PM at the Hotel Cafe on 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd.

See you at the show!

The new video for Joel Plaskett's single " Through & Through & Through " is up on Youtube!  Check it out !

Congratulations to Joel Plaskett on his 2009 Polaris Music Prize nomination for his album "Three"!  The nominees will be shortened to 10 titles on July 7, and the gala ceremony will announce the Grand Prize winner on September 21.

The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honors, celebrates and rewards creativity and diversity in Canadian recorded music by recognizing, then marketing the albums of the highest artistic integrity, without regard to musical genre, professional affiliation, or sales history, as judged by a panel of selected critics and experts.  |More information can be found at http://www.polarismusicprize.ca/ .

Can't wait to go Joel's show and hear the new album live?  We'll, here's your opportunity to get a sneak peek!

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/concerts/20090424plask

Halifax rocker Joel Plaskett has just released his latest CD "Three," aptly titled, as it is a triple CD release in one package. Collectively, the album is a song cycle that chronicles a working musician dealing with the joys and traumas of life.

Broken romance, old high school friendships that have subsided and moved into awkward encounters, lost loved ones, and simple, quirky moments of everyday life are all delivered in what long-time fans will recognize as Plaskett's signature style, progressions, and rhythms.

CBC Radio 2 caught up with Joel at concert number four of a cross-Canada tour in support of his new CD at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton, NB.  It was in an unusual and special setting, an all-acoustic concert with his dad Bill Plaskett and vocalists Rose Cousins and Anna Egge.

Track Listing for this Concert

Artists

• Joel Plaskett - 6 and 12 vocals, string acoustic guitars, electric guitar, keyboard
• Bill Plaskett - acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Rose Cousins - acoustic guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
• Anna Egge - mandola, percussion, backing vocals

Congratulations to the Joel Plaskett Emergency for winning Entertainer of the Year at the 2009 ECMA Awards!  Joel has been working tirelessly with his own group, his solo projects, recordings, producing other artists and touring all over the world. 

This ECMA recognition comes on the eve of his new ambitious three album release titled "Three" on Maple Music Recordings.It is a three disc set containing 27 songs and is produced and recorded in Joel's own studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and the recording was mixed in Texas with the help of pal Gordie Johnson.

Recording artists Rose Cousins and Ana Egge - along with Joel's dad, Bill Plaskett, are all featured prominently on the new recording and will join Joel on the road for the Three Tour.  Shows in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa will also include Joel's band, The Emergency.

There are still limited Fan Offer CD Packages available at http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/jpe/tickets.asp that include advance copy CDS and tickets to the performances listed below.  Regular Advance CD purchases can be made at http://www.maplemusic.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1621&pf%5Fid=1620%2D92&lang=EN

21 April                       The Confederation Centre, Charlottetown PEI
22 April                       The Playhouse Theatre, Fredericton NB
23 April                       The Imperial Theatre, Saint John NB
24 April                       The Capitol Theatre, Moncton NB
02 May                        The Cobalt Classic Theatre, Cobalt ON
05 May                        The West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg
06 May                        The Distrikt, Regina, SK
07 May                        Knox United Church, Calgary AB  ( FAN OFFER SOLD OUT/REGULAR TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE )
09 May                        The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver BC
10 May                        The Alix Goolden Performance Hall, Victoria BC
12 May                        Habitat, Kelowna BC
13 May                        Pavilion Theatre, Kamloops BC
14 May                        MacDougall United Church, Edmonton AB
15 May                        The Broadway Theatre, Saskatoon SK
20 May                        The Bronson Centre, Ottawa ON
21 May                        La Sala Rossa, Montreal QC
23 May                        Massey Hall, Toronto ON ( FAN OFFER SOLD OUT/REGULAR TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE )
30 May                        The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax NS
See you at the Show!

Hello hello hello,

At last the Joel Plaskett East Coast "Three" tour is being announced, but before we tell the world we wanted to tell you. Here's the deal: we've put together a package with a ticket and an autographed CD, or two tickets and one autographed CD, for each of these shows:

April 21st - Charlottetown, PEI at The Confederation Centre Of The Arts April 22nd - Fredericton, NB at The Playhouse Theatre

April 23rd - Saint John, NB at The Imperial Theatre

April 24th - Moncton, NB at The Capitol Theatre

May 21st - Montreal, PQ at Sala Rossa

May 23rd - Toronto, ON at Massey Hall

You can get all the details at MapleMusic.com ( direct link http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=1623 ). These packages are on sale for a limited time. Tomorrow morning we'll also have tickets on sale for a Halifax show!

Next week packages will go on sale for Ottawa, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, and Winnipeg. If you're not able to come out to any of these dates but you'd still like to pre-order a regular copy of Three (shipping March 24th) you'll be able to do that too.

Thanks thanks thanks.

JOEL PLASKETT ADVANCE TICKET NOTICE for MONTREAL SHOW May 21^st, 2009

This is advance ticket notice of the Joel Plaskett Performance at the "La Sala Rossa" in Montreal.  Advance purchases are available to fans in packages of

A: Joel Plaskett @ La Sala Rossa

TWO TICKETS with autographed Three CD

Thursday May 21

MONTREAL QC

B: Joel Plaskett @ La Sala Rossa

SINGLE TICKET with autographed Three CD

Thursday May 21

MONTREAL QC

C: Joel Plaskett@ La Sala Rossa

TICKET ONLY

Thursday May 21

MONTREAL QC

There are a limited amount of these packages available before they go public on Saturday so we encourage you to go to the Maple Music website at http://www.maplemusic.com/dept.asp?dept_id=1623 as soon as possible!

PRE-SALE OPPORTUNITY available EXCLUSIVELY to Joel Plaskett internet fans.  Get your tickets before everyone else! Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday!

Joel Plaskett @ Massey Hall
with **autographed Three CD
Saturday May 23, 2009
TORONTO, ON

CD/Ticket package available now at http://www.maplemusic.com/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1623&pf%5Fid=1620%2D41&lang=EN. 

Joel Plaskett
Saturday, May 23rd 2009

Massey Hall
178 Victoria Street,
Toronto, Ontario

Tickets are guaranteed to be located within the first 12 rows of CENTRE FLOOR or in the first 4 rows of BALCONY CENTRE. Tickets will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so the first orders will get the best seats. Your exact row and seat numbers cannot be given at point of purchase, but will be indicated on the ticket(s) you receive in the mail. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Three is the new triple-CD from Joel Plaskett, available March 24th in Canada. With this special offer your copy ships two weeks early!

CD TRACK LIST:

DISC 1
EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE
THROUGH & THROUGH & THROUGH
YOU LET ME DOWN
PINE, PINE, PINE
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT
DRIFTERS RAUS
GONE, GONE, GONE
WISHFUL THINKING
RUN, RUN, RUN

DISC 2
SAFE IN YOUR ARMS
SHINE ON, SHINE ON, SHINE ON
SAILORS EYES
HEARTLESS, HEARTLESS, HEARTLESS
IN THE BLUE MOONLIGHT
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
BEYOND, BEYOND, BEYOND
DEMONS
NEW SCOTLAND BLUES

DISC 3
REWIND, REWIND, REWIND
PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS
DENY, DENY, DENY
ONE LOOK
OUR PLACE IN THE SUN
LAZY BONES
ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE
ROLLIN', ROLLIN', ROLLIN'
ON & ON & ON

**NOT GOING TO BE IN TORONTO AND WANT THE ADVANCE SIGNED CD?  More performance dates and information about getting the CD in advance will be posted shortly.