Pride Celebrations continue north of the City at 90s Nostalgia Divas & Drag Queens at Improve Canada in Vaughan tonight!🌈
The outdoor affair combined live music and Drag together for one special night. Queen of the North herself and Judge-Host of Canada’s Drag Race, Brooke Lynn Hytes came out as well – pardon the pun – plus RuPaul’s Drag Race/Canada’s Drag Race Alumni including Utica, Denali, Pythia, Adriana, Tynomi Banks and more. Season 13 RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner Symone originally was slated but was removed from the list last week. On the Music side, R&B Singer Estelle, Kiesza, Dev, Simone Denny, Rêve, Robin S and Charvoni of Black Box, among others graced the stage.
You’ve probably heard Beyoncé‘s amazing new single “BREAK MY SOUL” which took inspiration from Robin S’ “SHOW ME LOVE“. Queen B even sent her some flowers yesterday to thank her for paving the way.
We were so thrilled to see the brilliant Kiesza, who makes a triumphant return to the stage after recovering from a traumatic brain injury a few years ago. She’s such an inspiration and weve met her a few times at events, and she’s always so lovely. Her Blockbuster Hit “HIDEAWAY” remains the benchmark of Dance Pop done right and we can’t wait to hear new material.
So happy seeing DEV after so many years! She looks amazing as a Blonde and she’s back! You might remember her for #1 Smash “LIKE A G6“, plus hits “IN THE DARK” and “BASS DOWN LOW“. It’s been years as well since we’ve seen her, and we’ve missed her Music!
Some Snaps from today and over the years:
So curious to see if they’ll be bringing back their annual 90s NOSTALGIA show again this Fall. We had so much fun last year! More on that here.
Learn more about 90’s NOSTALGIA here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Often when we think of fundraisers, we think of generating money towards research and cost of medical procedures. Sometimes however, we forget the peripheral costs involved for families and in the instance of children awaiting vital organ transplants, it is important to note the financial, in addition to emotional impacts involved. The loss of salary for some parents taking time away from work to care for their child, plus the stresses of making mortgage payments, travel expenses, car payments, gas, groceries, etc. are an extra-challenging reality for those families impacted. 16-time Grammy winner David Foster is on a mission to aid financially those families requiring assistance in these cases.
Taking place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, the David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala and Concert drew a star-studded line-up of guests to the purple carpet tonight, headlined by a performance from international megastar Stevie Wonder as he zipped through his greatest hits before a lucky, intimate audience. Together with a line-up which included the likes of Michael Bolton, Kiesza, Howard Dell, Peter Cetera, Brian Williams, Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, an astonishing tally of $6.5 million was raised this evening. The foundation’s goal is to raise $30 million total by its 30th anniversary come 2017.
Also this evening, two Visionary Awards were handed-out. Gregg Saretsky, President & CEO of WestJet (one of this evening’s major sponsors), received the award for National Business Leader of the Year. The National Humanitarian Leader of the Year went to Simon Keith, who has the distinction of being both an organ donor advocate and the first professional athlete in the world to play a professional sport after undergoing a heart transplant.
Although being advised with confidence David Foster and Stevie Wonder would walk the purple carpet to speak to media, alas only a few outlets had the chance to speak to the duo before they were ushered off. We did however, have the pleasure of chatting with a few of the evening’s stars and this is what they had to say about the foundation.
Former Chicago frontman and acclaimed vocalist Peter Cetera: “Whenever I can help and it happens to coincide with my schedule, it’s a wonderful cause. And when you can work music into it, that’s important”, says the Idaho resident who will be on tour this fall, with a stop soon in Niagara Falls.
Actor Howard Dell, who has starred on Young and the Restless: “I came to be involved three years ago in Victoria, BC when I met David and started to learn about foundation. Luckily, David and I got to perform at the gala – the start of a singing career in hibernation for 15 years!”. “Having gone through a transplant suffering financial burdens of it, etc. when you see the foundation come in and alleviates the burdens, it’s a tremendous relief for the parents.”. Dell also is a huge fan of Steven Wonder and sang a couple lines of Overjoyed, expressing his excitement for the evening’s main attraction.
International hit-recording artist Kiesza: “I’ve always known about foundation since childhood. I’m a huge David Foster fan, so it’s surreal being involved with it. It’s helping save children’s lives and acknowledges the families, the siblings. It’s about all the people affected by the situation. It’s really a ‘miracle’ foundation like they say.”. The singer tells us her next album will be an “evolution”, building on some elements of her debut disc, Sound of a Woman.
To learn more about the David Foster Foundation and how you can contribute, click here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Nominees for the 2015 JUNO Awards were announced earlier today at Danforth Music Hall. After already what has been a smashing year internationally for Toronto Band MAGIC!, it all comes back full circle as the Quartet lead the way at the 2015 JUNO Awards with five nominations including Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Breakthrough Group of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Pop Album of the Year.
Not far behind with four nominations apiece were Canadian Dance-Pop Queen Kiesza getting nods for Single of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Dance Recording of the Year and Video of the Year thanks to the success of her hit Single, Hideaway. Canadian Icon Leonard Cohen also received four nominations: JUNO Fan Choice, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Adult Alternative Album of the Year.
Up for International Album of the Year is a star-studded list including One Direction, Sam Smith, Katy Perry, Lorde and Taylor Swift.
The Breakthrough Artist of the Year Category also boasts an eclectic mix of new Talent including massively-popular Shawn Mendes, Glenn Morrison, Jess Moskaluke, Kiesza and Mac DeMarco.
Confirmed to perform thus far at the Ceremony include Hedley, Shawn Mendes, Kiesza and The Arkells. Rush will be receiving the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award.
The 2015 JUNO Awards take place Sunday, March 15, 2015 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.
See the complete list of Nominees here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
International Pop Sensation Kiesza is currently in-town promoting her long-awaited major label Debut, Sound of a Woman. Originally from Calgary, the Dancer/Singer/Songwriter/Model at once joined the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves. Since exploding onto the Pop Music Scene with breakout hit Hideaway, the 25-year-old isn’t turning back and has established herself a huge European following, hitting number one in the U.K. with that Track. The Single was a Top Five Hit here in Canada also.
Kiesza is on a two-day Canadian Press Tour which sees her making a slew of Radio and TV appearances. In addition to taping interviews for Global‘s The Morning Show and CTV‘s The Social, Kiesza hit-up the Top 40 Radio Circuit today including a visit to The Roz & Mocha Show at the break of dawn. Rocking her signature up-do and channeling some serious vintage ’90s Versace, Kiesza stopped for photos and autographs with Fans. Despite her Handler insisting on one Photo only with Billy and me , she still made time for everybody!
Kiesza last visited Toronto this June for the MuchMusic Video Awards and pretty much had Music Bloggers in a frenzy with her phenomenal dancing and powerful Soprano. Even Perez Hilton was singing the praises of this Canadian Songstress.
After slowing things down on second Single Giant in my Heart, she takes us back to the ’90s with a modern Electronic sensibility on fantastic new Single, No Enemiesz!
Listen in full below:
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(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Universal Music Canada)
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