Nova Scotia singer/songwriter Rose Cousins returns with her third album We Have Made A Spark (February 28, Outside), the successor to her exquisite 2009 release The Send Off . Named Contemporary Singer of the Year at the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Cousins delivers beautifully crafted songs of depth and intelligence in a voice of crystalline purity, even as the weighty subject matter -- notably on new lead track "The Darkness" -- digs into stark, shadowy emotional recesses. "It takes a deep breath and a bucket of courage to face the [...]

ARTIST: The SWAG Report 86 with freebie mp3 downloads for songs by artists like OMNI, Run Dan Run, Wale, Rose Cousins, Cut Copy, High Dive, The Weeknd and more! So much more! DATE: 12-16-11 WRITER: Don Loder Izza mos' wondaful time o' da year Junky! How're ya keepin' ova dere, ya reprobates? Thing're goin' great 'ere, 'at's fo' sure. Nothin's slowed down'is week - in spite o' da fac'dat [view more]
![Acoustic Waves with Craig Cardiff and Rose Cousins [November 6, 2011]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/posts/3844547_lg.jpg)
Here are the photos from the Acoustic Waves Series that took place at the GCTC on November 6, 2011. Playing at the show was Craig Cardiff and Rose Cousins . It was a lovely Sunday evening with acoustic folk/pop/rock music by these two musicians. I was very surprised that alot of people came out on a Sunday night to see both acts. Rose Cousins and Craig Cardiff was just simply amazing live. [...]

The lovely people at The Blackbox Concert Series and GCTC are giving away a pair of tickets for Craig Cardiff with Rose Cousins on November 6, 2011. All you have to do is fill out this form with your name and answer this skill testing question. What is the name of the musician where Rose Cousins was a guest on the album "Three"? (Hint: Watch the Youtube on the bottom) One lucky winner will get a chance to see this show on November 6th. [contact-form-7] If [...]

Double the Rose = Double the Lovely. Halifax's Rose (Cousins) joined Boston's Rose (Polenzani) for a few songs on her new album The Rabbit . Here's a sample of the double loveliness the record has on offer - Living In A Country. MP3:: Rose Polenzani - Living In A Country WEB:: www.rosepolenzani.com
Named Contemporary Singer of the Year at the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Rose Cousins and her quite wonderful second album The Send Off deserve a serious second look -- and listen. Released just a year ago, the album flew under the radar for most below the border -- a shame considering the exceptional quality of the work, as exemplified on "I Were A Bird." [...]
Diamond Joel Plaskett unleashed his most ambitious work to-date last year with his 3-disc, 27-song, epic Three. With the help of Ana Egge and Rose Cousins on accompanying vocals, Plaskett found himself with another album shortlisted as the best full-length Canadian release of the year; the other album was Ashtray Rock from Plaskett's full-band project [...]
Today's song comes in from Toronto-based singer/songwriter/producer Royal Wood and his second full-length album A Good Enough Day , released via Canadian Dead Daisy Records in 2007. The album follows-up on Wood's 2004 debut LP Tall Tales , and has since been followed-up by a 2009 EP titled The Lost and Found EP . This past November, Wood supported the latest EP with his first headlining tour through Western Canada, accompanied by Atlantic Canadian singer/songwriter Rose Cousins ; Cousins, along with Ana Egge , served as the backing vocal tandem on [...]
Singer-songwriter Rose Cousins brings her rich voice and emotional lyrics to the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Gone, Gone, Gone is another number from the pride of Nova Scotia, Joel Plaskett , and his 3-disc magnus opus Three . Released in March of this year, Plaskett's 3rd full-length solo effort captured his 2nd Polaris nomination, however I'm not completely convinced this album should be considered a solo-album proper. For myself, the backing vocals (I use the word "backing" loosely as the vocals are essential to many of the numbers), from Ana Egge and Rose Cousins, are often the most memorable pieces of the songs. I'm not trying to take anything away from Plaskett, [...]

The highly anticipated short-list for this year's Polaris Music Prize was released this week, viewable here . I chose to ignore this until today as I was quite disappointed that my prediction regarding the Japandroids ' Post-Nothing was completely incorrect. However, I am now over it and would like to highlight one of the artists that did make the cut this year. Deny, Deny, Deny can be found on Joel Plaskett 's second Polaris short-listed album Three . This particular version of the song was recorded live in the Fuel [...]

Concert Review: Joel Plaskett, Massey Hall, Toronto, Saturday, May 23, 2009 Massey Hall is arguably the most famous stage in Toronto. The acoustics are spectacular, and the majority of the seats have excellent site lines. Opened in 1894, and designated as a Heritage Property in 1975, Massey Hall has hosted such venerable performers and dignitaries such as King George V and his wife Queen Mary, Winston Churchill, the Dalai Lama, Luciano Pavarotti, George Gershwin, Oscar Peterson, and Bob Dylan among many, many others. Many famous live albums [...]

Toronto - Joel Plaskett and his band The Emergency played Massey Hall last Saturday night. It was a great show shock full of feelgood east-coast rock. The unassuming Mr. Plaskett is on tour promoting his latest album Three . He was joined on guitar by his father Bill Plaskett, as well as fellow singer/songwriters Ana Ege and Rose Cousins. "Rock and roll's wrapped 'round me as tight as a noose." - Joel Plaskett The show started just after 8 pm and was [...]
I had a chance to not only interview, but also catch Melissa Ferrick live twice last week. She's doing a solo tour in support of her new album, Goodbye Youth, which officially dropped on 9/10 at her Bowery Ballroom show (also available today on iTunes). The set is divided into two parts: Melissa plays the [...]

As loyal readers know, the Ack is on is way back to the motherland (Ay yo Shane, Ack went to Japan? No, Halifax), and although he's been doing a fine job getting updates posted from the road, it's left me minding the fort. Or, more precisely, the hill. Well yesterday being a holiday here in Canada, I didn't have much time to spend on the hill, but it seemed a good oppertunity to disscuss something I've been meaning to post on: CBC's East Coast Sessions . Some time ago, CBC Television (Canada's federally-funded broadcaster [...]
I'm sort of lost for words today. one love (2006) all these years i have been waiting all those lies that you have told all these days that flow together i will stay alone all these nights i lay not sleeping meet each sunrise tired and blue all my dreams of our love keeping my heart stays safe at home all your words close to me precious i'll take with me to heaven above do not spend your days ungracious and [...]
All right, if you ask nicely, I'll give you another slick table previewing tonight's events for the In The Dead Of Winter festival. It's ok, you don't have to feel obligated to be nice, I'm going to give you the preview anyway. The Ack is jealous of my html table skills, so I'm showing them off again. Anyway, no doubt you read my review for Wednesday nights show at the Italian Cultural Centre and it has inspired you to check out some of the action for yourself. Well check on checkers... [...]

The In The Dead of Winter festival is called that for a reason, I mean it's January 31st, we're right in the heart of winter. However, the weather for the festival's openning night was more like the dead of winter in Vancouver rather than Halifax. A balmy 4 degrees and constant rain might not ordinarily be ideal weather for an evening out, but compared to the -15ish temperatures we enjoyed the last week or so, it isn't so bad. Plenty of folks agreed with me too, as when we arrived at the venue (I was joined [...]

I mentioned this yesterday in my review for The Sleepless Nights new album, but I'll mentioned it again: music is often an invaluable aid in getting one though the darkest days of winter. The folks that put on the In The Dead of Winter Festival here in Halifax know this, in fact, unless I'm way off base, it's exactly why they put on the festival. This year's edition of the festival is shaping up to be a good one, with plenty of solid acts scheduled, both local and otherwise. The festival is taking place January [...]