Sunspot Concert Previews, Show Cancellations, And Much More!!

I wasn't expecting to start today's post like this, but we have THREE cancelled concerts for this weekend, for different but understandable reasons. First, local hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison will not be playing at The Mike Case Memorial Stage at The Trading Post tonight due to the rain forecast in Sault Ontario (the stage is very much outdoors), as per the Facebook event page. Disappointing to see Tym's summer-ending weekly string of shows there end like this, but hopefully we see him again soon! I'm not going to rush a September concert schedule of his onto our listings, as the venue's Facebook page strongly hints that they only book live music in the summer season (re: late May-the end of August), but we'll let you know if he announces anything there for September. Meanwhile,  local southern hard rock quintet Fort Creek have cancelled their planned (and already late notice) concerts tonight & tomorrow night at Reggie's West.

The band cited "an unfortunate medical issue with one of the guys" on their Facebook page yesterday. The shows were only announced on Monday, and thusly would have led off this post, but they will still hold their planned merchandise giveaway on Facebook. Hopefully all's well with the laid-up band member, and that Fort Creek are back on stage before you know it! Now, we have previews of a pair of still-on shows, a new video, and some assorted updates, so here's what you should know!

As part of the returning Michigan Paranormal Convention at the Sault Michigan Kewadin Casino this weekend, Madison, Wisconsin hard rock trio Sunspot will make their local concert debuts TONIGHT & TOMORROW NIGHT at The Rapids Lounge! A rare touring band from outside of Michigan to play a regular lounge weekend set there, Sunspot self describe themselves as "party rock from weird Wisconsin", but they have more than their fair share of heavy and power pop-leaning songs with very distinct and creative subject matter befitting MiParacon, so definitely check them out to hear that Sunspot has in store! These concerts are not explicitly tied to the convention, so you don't need a wristband or special admission to get in, and general attendees who aren't into the paranomal can come out. As such, there is no cover charge, a 21+ age limit, and a 9:00 PM start time.

And as usual, please respect any and all social distancing measures at Kewadin Casino and/or The Rapids Lounge to ensure everyone has a safe time, and mask up where required! I'm not a huge paranormal follower, but MiParacon is always stacked for ghost and alien aficionados, so be sure to check out the huge itinerary of stuff happening in Sault Michigan at the above links, and of course, give Sunspot a warm welcome east to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! They're a creative, diverse, and often heavy band, don't bypass them this weekend, and here they are live in concert!

Next up, here's a new video from Heavy Lies The Crown guitarist Ted Olson's YouTube channel this week, namely of another new instrumental song of his named "Pulse"! The video features heavy use of a filter that mirrors the screen in flower and circular patterns (it's hard to explain), but just as a content disclaimer, a sped up clip of a dead & decomposing fox is also included from 1:59-2:21, so don't look at the screen or skip past it if you think that may upset you. The song has a very slow ominous build into a heavy prog-metal breakdown (coinciding with the start of the fox clip, FYI), and musically, this is a nice change of pace that ends on a brutal note! Give it a watch below, but again, be cautious.

Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter news items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist or event name:

 

• According to photos in James Hopkin's SooToday article on Sunday, last week's Entomica Insectarium summer social fundraiser at The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ontario was kinda/sorta held outdoors. Rather than have everyone inside the museum, the bands performed just inside the open hangar doors with attendees enjoying the music outside at patio tables by the waterfront, an aspect never made clear in pre-event advertising. Fun optics that allow for more open spaces re: social distancing! There are a couple of photos of The Josh Norling Jazz Quartet's set in the photo album as well, but James didn't get any of other bands.
• In late schedule clarifications for this weekend's Northern Vibe Festival in Ophir, local punk supergroup Jonesy Land will reportedly be playing tonight at 9:00 PM, and local Foo Fighters tribute band The Soo Fighters will reportedly be closing the Saturday night bill at 10:00 PM. My sources are frontmen Dustin Jones & Jules Cote's respective personal Facebook pages (it's all we have, alas). I wish a proper schedule had been released, but these at least fill in a couple of late blanks! Hopefully someone films some videos this weekend!
  
• Sault Michigan hard rock band Tarnished's music video for their song "Metalyn" was submitted by director Jay London for this year's Soo Film Festival as one of seven music videos on this year's program. I believe the music video was added after the schedule was made up, but it looks to be part of the Tunes & Toons show at The Soo Theatre on Sunday, September 19th. Congratulations to Jay and Tarnished on this great exposure, and if you're in the E.U.P., consider checking out The Soo Film Festival for lots of diverse independent films!
  

 

That's all for today, but stay tuned for a new news post of some kind by Monday! Thanks everyone!