Ghost Towns is now officially released! You can procure it right here on my website, or from any of these fine on-line retailers: Bandcamp, itunes, Spotify, Google Play, Tidal, Pandora, Amazon, and CDBaby.
Photo by Yolande Cole
New EP 'Ghost Towns' Coming on July 16th!
Please join Ella Jean and Ethan Cole at the Ironwood on Sunday July 16th as they each launch brand new albums!
Ghost Towns is produced by Lawrence Nasen, and features Lawrence and Ethan, alongside Ella Jean and Laura Reid. Mixed by Arran Fisher at Acoustikitty, and Mastered by John Golden. Art work and design by Mia Rushton.
Please join as at the Ironwood on July 16th (@ 2pm) for a kick-ass afternoon of music and fun!
Music to Warm the Winter
Happy 2016! 2015 was a fantastic year of music, and 2016 promises to be even better!
The past year was busy with great jams, fun gigs and new songs; and it ended on a high note, with a December show by Moving to Montreal (Laura Reid and myself) at Market Collective. It was wonderful to be a part of this excellent music series, which was lined up by Welcome to the West. Here are some photos (by Mike Tan) of Laura and I performing on the beautiful Market Collective stage:
Laura Reid and Ethan Cole (Moving to Montreal) at Market Collective. Photo by Mike Tan.
Photo by Mike Tan.
I am very excited about the upcoming shows I have booked (both solo, and with Royal Cannonball), so I thought I would share some of the details with you here. I hope you can come out and enjoy some live music.
First up - and sorry for the short notice on this one - Royal Cannonball plays Wine-Ohs this Saturday January 16th. James, Sarah and I are super excited. Opening for us is the stunningly talented Chris Gheran. The show starts at 9pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Poster design by Jackie Bourgaize
Speaking of Royal Cannonball - we did a photo shoot a few months back with Yolande Cole. She captured some wonderful shots of us playing in Confederation Park on a sunny autumn day. Here are a couple of highlights from that set:
Royal Cannonball in Confederation Park. Photo by Yolande Cole
Photo by Yolande Cole
Royal Cannonball's following engagement will be opening for Lucky Sonne at the Palomino on Friday January 29th at 9pm. We are excited to be playing at the Palomino, and this promises to be a great show!
In February, I am thrilled to be opening for my friend Rae Spoon. Rae will be launching their brand new album Armour. Rae is one of the best songwriters and singers in this country, and I am very excited to be opening for them. For my set, I will be joined by guest stars Lawrence Nasen, Laura Reid and Ella Haggis.
Rae Spoon launches Armour at Ironwood on Tuesday February 16th at 8pm. Please join us! Tickets are $15. You can call 403-269-5581 to reserve.
Poster design by Rae Spoon. Art by Jamie Q.
Finally - I have been working on some new songs! While I don't quite have a new album ready to go quite yet - I do have a sneak peak of an early demo for you. Here is your exclusive first listen to a song that is so new, it doesn't even have a finalized name yet! For now, I'm calling it Wind.
I hope you have enjoyed this update, and I hope you enjoy the music!
Cheers,
ethan
Royal Cannonball at Frog Fest 2015. Photo by Laurie Fuhr.
Summer, summer, summer slowly turned into Fall
Hey folks,
It has been a long time since my last update, so I wanted to let you know about my next show, and also give you a recap of some summer music highlights!
I am performing a solo set this Sunday August 30th @ the Ironwood Stage and Grill, at 8 pm. I will be playing some new material that I am working on for my upcoming EP. I really hope you can join me! Admission is $15, and the show will run from 8 pm - 10 pm (so you can still get a good night's sleep before Monday!) Call 403.269.5581 to make a reservation.
Back in June, it was a great pleasure to play some music, in collaboration with the amazing Laura Reid, at Eugene Stickland's launch for his novel The Piano Teacher. Eugene packed the Blind Monk for this event, and it was a wonderful evening.
June was also a great month for Royal Cannonball (James Dangerous, Sarah Sinclair and I.) We played another great show at Mugs Pub, and then later in the month we were thrilled to be a part of Frog Fest 2015 (pictured above).
Frog Fest was one of the most enjoyable gigs I have ever played ... camping out in pristine pastoral terrain near Rocky Mountain House, with top-notch independent music going all day and night. From folk to rock and everything in between! I discovered some great new bands, met a lot of good people, and heard some outstanding sets from local bands, including No River, Fever Feel, The Ashley Hundred, The Bitterweed Draw, Pink Licorice and my super talented pal Laurie Fuhr. Not to mention delicious camping cuisine provided by Sarah and James!
The quality of the live sound, as facilitated by Calgary Show Services, was close to the best I've ever heard at an outdoor festival. And there's nothing like a woodwind wake-up call parade through the woods to get your day started splendidly. Check out this write-up about Frog Fest, from Beat Route magazine.
In July, I had an amazing week at Sorrento Centre in B.C, leading a playwriting course. It was a great week in a beautiful place - and it was nice to get back into a theatrical frame of mind. I also presented a talk on spirituality in Rock n' Roll music, which was very well-received.
Last week, at Loft 112 (one of my favourite places to play), I had an amazing time playing a show with my brilliant friend Ella Jean. Here is a clip of us playing my song Orange Crush Lover, as well as a clip of us playing Blackfoot Truckstop, which we wrote together. Both clips are courtesy of Chris Matteo.
There you have it ... just a sample of the many activities I've been getting up to. Stay tuned to this blog for more music, coming very soon!
All the best,
ethan
Coffee, Searchlight and Gigs Aplenty!
Hello Everyone!
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who listened and voted for me in the CBC Searchlight Competition. Although I did not make the National Shortlist, I am pleased as punch for have made it as far as the third round - thanks to your lovely support. The Searchlight Competition continues on, with many talented artists still in the running, so stay tuned, and keep up the support for independent musicians in Canada!
In other news, I wanted to share with you this short film - written and directed by the incredibly talented Miranda Wolfe, and starring Miranda and myself.
If you like the music in the film, you can listen to the full track here. You can also check out Miranda's amazing photography website here.
I have some exciting gigs coming up, and I hope you can come out and enjoy the music! Here's a rundown of the next few shows:
*Ralph Boyd Johnson with Ethan Cole Friday May 8th 9pm Wine-Ohs Cover $10
*Ethan Cole live at Kawa Friday May 29th 8pm Kawa Espresso Bar No Cover
*Book Launch - Still No Word by Shannon Webb-Campbell. Special Guest Ethan Cole. Saturday May 30th 8pm Loft 112 Cover $5
March Music
I am back from a productive songwriting retreat in the mountains and ready to play some fun shows! All the details can be found below this great picture of Laura Reid (amazingly talented violinist, and member of the awesome band Northwest Passage) and I playing at Cafe Koi.
With Laura Reid at Cafe Koi. Photo by Steven Begrand.
I just got back from the inspiring environs of Canmore, where I wrote three news songs for my next album. Thanks to the Smiths for the wonderful accommodation, and thanks to Puma for being a great feline roommate during my mountain sojourn.
Now I'm excited to get back to playing live music! Here is what's coming up this week and beyond:
At Wine-Ohs this Thursday March 19th at 8pm, it's a songwriters circle with Amelie Patterson and Karen Romanchuk. I am very excited to be sharing the stage with these two amazing Alberta-based songwriters! Come on down and enjoy some great original tunes from Amelie, Karen and myself. Cover is $10.
Then on Friday, I'm absolutely stoked to be the musical guest on Past Your Bed Time with Renee Amber and Andrew Phung. Come down to Loose Moose for this 10:30pm show - hilarity will definitely ensue with Andrew and Renee, two of the funniest, most engaging performers in Calgary. Tickets are $10 - available at loosemoose.com or at the door.
On Tuesday March 24th at 8pm, I am delighted to be back at the Ironwood with Lawrence Nasen. Cover is $15, and reservations can be made by calling (403)269-5581. Rumour has it there will be piano and lap steel and banjo and covers of the Velvet Underground!
If you are in the mood for some theatre, the Good Fences Community Tour begins tomorrow. This play, created by the Downstage Ensemble (of which I am a member), is a compelling exploration of the relationship between the Agriculture and Energy sectors in Alberta. I wholeheartedly recommend catching one of these performances if you can. For tickets and details, visit downstage.ca.
On Saturday April 11th, I hope you will join Royal Cannonball as we crank up the tunes at Mugs Pub (1330 15 Ave SW). The show will begin at 8pm and go all night. It will be an absolute blast! James, Sarah and I hope you can join us.
Thanks for reading my blog, and be sure to check back here soon for more upcoming events and shows.
Best regards,
ethan
new year, new gigs
Here is the lowdown on my upcoming live shows in Calgary! Hope you can make it out!
Royal Cannonball. Photo by Rhon De Real.
I am thrilled to be starting off 2015 with a stripped-down acoustic set at the Ironwood Stage & Grill - Tuesday January 13th at 8:00pm. Come on down, have a beverage, and enjoy the show, at one of Calgary's best live music venues! Featuring James Dangerous and Sarah Sinclair ($10). To make a reservation: 403-269-5581 / reservations@ironwoodstage.ca.
Then on Monday January 26th, I'll be playing a special set at the wonderfully intimate Cafe Koi, with awesome ambiance and amazing Asian-fusion dishes. The show will begin at 8:00pm. (Voluntary Cover). Due to the smaller size of the venue, you might wish to make a reservation with Cafe Koi - 403.206.1564.
On Friday February 20th, it's an 8:00pm show at Kawa Espresso Bar, featuring incredible coffee and one of the best beer selections in town.
The following Friday, February 27th, finds Royal Cannonball (pictured above) playing a 6:30pm supper-time show at Cafe Koi. Come and enjoy some fantastic live music - performed by James Dangerous, Sarah Sinclair and myself. We will serenade you with our original compositions, as well as some classics, played on banjo, mandolin, clarinet, glockenspiel and guitar.
Check back here for regular updates on further upcoming shows! This promises to be a plentiful year of music from yours truly. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
Hazlewood Pines CDs will be available at all live shows.
Hope to see you out there!
ethan
Photo by Miranda Wolfe.
November Times
Mid-November already? Holy smokes. I am long overdue for a music update, so here goes:
I am very excited to be playing at Wine-Ohs, Thursday November 13th. I will be opening for Nature Of. Can't wait to open for this awesome band at one of Calgary's best live music venues. Come on down and check it out ... more details here!
My song Josephine has been short-listed (in the International Category) for the Australian Songwriting Contest. I am thrilled to have made the top thirty, out of thousands of entrants.
Since Hazlewood Pines dropped on August 16th, it has been spun several times on CBC radio, as well as on CKUA and CJSW. In September, I was on the CKXU Folk/Roots/Blues chart in Lethbridge.
Recently I was thrilled to play the Art Beat Stage at the Calgary Drop-In Centre. What an amazing experience ... I felt very welcomed and I hope to play there again soon.
The other weekend I played for the Calgary Public Library's One Book, One Calgary launch with my new band, Royal Cannonball. Look for more Cannonball gigs coming soon! James Dangerous, Sarah Sinclair and I will be serving up delicious helpings of mandolin, banjo and glockenspiel.
In the meantime, I hope to see you down at Wine-Ohs on Thursday!
All the best,
ethan
Music Video for Cocoa On The Sideboard!
Check out my new music video, Produced and Directed by the amazing Elaine Graham!
From my new album Hazlewood Pines, now available on CD and Digital Download!
Thanks to the brilliant artists who helped Elaine and I in this endeavour:
Camera Operator: Esa Haataja
Camera/Production Assistant: Micky Desjardins
Editor: Andrew Hlad
Music Produced and Recorded by Lorrie Matheson
Played by: Ethan Cole, Lawrence Nasen, Laura Reid and Chris Dadge.
Album Release on August 16th!
I am very excited to announce the official launch of my new album Hazlewood Pines! Come and join me, and some very special guests, on Saturday August 16th for a fantastic evening of music.
The show starts @ 8:00PM (Doors @ 7:30PM), at the Unitarian Church of Calgary - 1703 1st Street N.W. Tickets are $10 and CDs will be available for purchase at the show.
This launch will be the culmination of an extensive creative process. The seeds of this record were sown in May of 2013, when I discovered I was the recipient of a 10k20 grant from local radio station UP! 97.7. I spent the summer and fall writing and rehearsing new material, and then recorded for two weeks in January with Lorrie Matheson (at his Arch Audio studio.) Working with Lorrie was a great experience– I learned a lot, and the intensive recording schedule was a really positive challenge for me as a singer and a musician.
I was fortunate to have a fantastic cast of supporting players on this album – in addition to myself and Lorrie, the record features Chris Dadge, Laura Reid, Lawrence Nasen, James Dangerous, Dolly Sillito, Nathan Dorozio and Evan Rothery. All of them are great musicians and fantastic people, and all contributed wonderful textures to the album.
The final phase of the process was figuring out how the album would look – and once again, I was lucky to receive help from a highly skilled artist, my friend Mia Rushton, who designed the album art. I am also grateful for the assistance of my pal Eric Moschopedis, who helped me to put together the very website you are now reading.
A shout-out goes to my friend and roommate Steven Begrand – who put up with my moments of craziness throughout the process, and whose support proved invaluable along the way. And of course huge thanks to my family, who always inspire and help me in all creative endeavours.
I am very proud of Hazlewood Pines, and very happy to be able to share it with you. I hope you can make it on August 16th, but if not, you can pre-order the album right here on my website!