Metalworks Institute Lobby Performance Stage
Date: November 7, 2006
Time: 7:00PM

Rick Fines is one of Canada's leading blues, roots music and slide guitarists and blues historians. His song "Riley Wants His Life Back" won first place in the blues category of the International Songwriting Competition, with B.B. King one of the judges. He has won the Maple Blues Award twice and was nominated three times for the Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year Award. In 2004 Rick was nominated for the third time for Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year, as well as the Best Male Vocalist Award. His 15 years with Jackson Delta won recognition from both the Juno and the Handy Awards. Rick will be presenting his own unique historical perspective on blues and its influence on other genres of music.

Jake Gold: The Future of the Music Businessout

Metalworks Institute Lobby Performance Stage
Date: TBA
Time:

Jake Gold is one of Canada's most successful artist managers and music producers. He is co-owner of Kindling Music, an independent record label distributed by Warner Music, and of The Management Trust, through which he is best known for his role in establishing and transforming The Tragically Hip into a national icon. Gold also directs the careers of Gord Downie, Brian Byrne, Sass Jordan, Chris Koster and The Populars, among others.

"A rock and roll road warrior, Jake is both all business and all heart," said Canadian Idol Executive Producer John Brunton. "He looks for the 'feeling' in a performance. He loves the connection an artist makes with the audience. Gold has been recognized by the annual Canadian Music Industry Awards as Manager of the Year in 1991, 1993 and 1994. www.kindling.ca www.mgmtrust.ca

Dale Penner: Music Production & Engineering

Metalworks Institute Lobby Performance Stage
Date: T.B.A.
Time: 7:00PM

Producer/Engineer Dale Penner is the driving force behind Paradise Alley Productions, a combination production/artist development concept. Countless projects have benefited from Penner's award winning production, including; Nickelback's The State (Roadrunner) certified gold in America, platinum in Canada and scored 2 Billboard Top Ten singles with Leader of Men and Breathe. Recent Penner productions: Circuit (Top Sail/WEA) and JONAS (DKDD/Aquarius) who just completed a 17 date tour opening for Van Halen in support of his new release. On the artist development roster Dale is working with two amazing "rock" bands, L.A. based Sideshow and Montreal based Psychotic4. Dale’s other projects have included gold and platinum selling artist Holly McNarland, Matthew Good and Econoline Crush. www.paradise-alley.com

Joe Wood: Digital Distribution

Metalworks Institute Lobby Performance Stage
Date: T.B.A.
Time: 7:00PM

Joe Wood is an energetic and knowledgeable industry success story. His entrepreneurial skills have carried him through the past 25 years from his own label, Rosedale Records to integral positions with both the Canadian Country Music Association and the Canadian Independent Music Awards. Currently, Wood is the president of RDR Music Group which is also an independent representative for Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS), a method of distribution created by the Canadian company Musicrypt. DMDS was developed in light of the inevitable movement away from compact discs to newer, digital mediums in the music industry. The major record companies now have the ability to send major releases to radio stations in a safe and efficient manner that ensures each station receives a copy of the single at the same time. Says Wood “For radio, it means no wrestling with envelopes, and poly wrap, no searching thru piles and piles of CD’s stacked up on a desk. They now receive an email to let them know that the new “Shania” single has been sent out, or the latest “Alicia Keys” is on line and ready to be downloaded”. Over the past few months, artists such as Shania Twain, U2, Gordon Lightfoot, Fefe Dobson Allan Jackson, Dido, Lonestar, Luther Vandros and Kenny Chesney have all utilized this burgeoning technology for the transmission of their music. A particular interest for Wood lies at the heart of the indie start-up project; much of his company’s website is dedicated to briefing independent projects on how to break into the industry. Wood’s dedication to independent artists shines through in each task he undertakes. www.rdrmusic.com