Apr 28, 2010- 2:43 PM
She is up for four awards — the most of any artist — at the seventh annual Music and Film in Motion (MFM) awards ceremony, being held May 1 at the Great Hall at Laurentian University.
Awards will be given out in 10 categories for musicians and filmmakers from northern Ontario.
The mandate of MFM, a non-profit organization based in Sudbury, is to help develop a vibrant music and film industry in all of northern Ontario.
“It is my first time being nominated for these awards,” Blais said. “I have been away from Sudbury for years. It is really nice to have gotten this attention at home.”
Blais will perform at an MFM showcase at the Townehouse Tavern April 30, at about 10:30 p.m.
“I will have Josh Turnbull, a drummer with me. He is originally from Sudbury. Then I perform Saturday at the Great Hall at the MFM awards ceremony with their house band.”
Most musicians nominated for the awards, including Sudbury artists Sarah Craig, and Shift (formerly Konflit), will perform at the two venues.
Blais was nominated for best songwriter, best album and twice for best vocal performance.
Her last CD, Two Pieces, was recorded half in Australia and half in Taiwan in October 2008.
It is my first time being nominated for these awards.
Faye Blais,
musician
She will be releasing her new album, Here in the Shade — A Night at Sing Sing, at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, on May 14, at 8 p.m.
The album was recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, Australia, and features eight fresh tracks performed solo, live on acoustic and electric guitars and piano.
She said the album is more sombre in tone from her previous works, but she does manage to lighten it up at times.
“I will have some samples of it in Sudbury. It is a CD and DVD combination.”
The DVD portion includes a behind-the-scenes reel and photo gallery for a view and portrayal of the artist, along with a full lyric and photo booklet.
Blais noted that it can be downloaded at iTunes May 1 and a hard copy can be ordered through her website at www.fayeblais.com.
Blais has been busy on tour lately, touring both the west and east coasts.
“I was out at the west coast from January to March, playing from Vancouver to Los Angeles on the Cherry Pickin’ Tour with Jacquie B. from Edmonton and Sarah Burton from Toronto.”
Blais said they were in Vancouver during the Olympics, but were too busy performing gigs to get to see any of the events.
“We played five shows in Vancouver at Café Montmartre and The Main on Main Street, among others. Then we headed south along the coast playing Seattle, Washington State to Bend, Oregon. Then we played both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
“The crowds were great at the Silver Lake Lounge in LA,” she added. “It was a good turnout.”
She admitted some of the other gigs were less packed, but attributed that to the tour being designed to break new ground with American audiences.
After the west tour, which also included a stint of performances on VIA Rail, Blais and Burton headed east for a series of solo performances backed up by a band.
After her CD release in Toronto, she said she would be performing in the Toronto area in May and June.
But she will be back to her hometown.
“I will return to Sudbury to launch my next west coast tour at the beginning of August,” she noted. “I will have an Australian band with me — Jungal, three Australian female musicians.”
Blais said there was a possibility she also might return to the city in early July for a performance, though details were just being arranged.
Tickets for the awards ceremony are $15 for non-members of MFM and $10 for members in advance, and $15 for everyone at the door.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with performances beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets for the April 30 showcase at the Townehouse are $8 at the door.
Phone 674-9954 or visit www.thinknorth.ca
