Saskatoon’s The Sheepdogs have been nominated for the Independent Album of the Year at this year’s Western Canadian Music Awards. The awards will take place on September 20th in Brandon, MB. Their album The Sheepdogs’ Big Stand is nominated alongside great Canadian talent The Waking Eyes, Hot Panda, Shout Out Out Out Out and Library Voices. The band will play at the University of Brandon’s festival kick off Rock the Block on September 17th alongside Default and Mariana’s Trench, and during the awards festival on September 20th with Winnipeg singer/songwriter Romi Mays. More information on the WCMA’s here: http://www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca
The Sheepdogs released The Sheepdogs’ Big Stand in April of 2008 and critics have been tripping over their lips ever since. The album has also been nominated for an XM Verge Album of the Year award and topped campus radio charts across our great country and the US. The band is currently gearing up for the release of their 3rd LP, still untitled due out late fall 2009. The band has shared stages with the likes of The Arkells, Matt Mays and el Torpedo, and Tricky Woo. The band will set out on a Canadian tour in September including a breif residency at Toronto’s infamous Dakota’s Tavern. Bio, download link, and tour dates are below.
MINI BIO
Sporting the long hair and the scruffy beards of their musical forefathers, The Sheepdogs create old school rock and roll that moves and grooves. Taking their cues from the Allman Brothers, Creedence, Humble Pie, and the Stones, these prairie boys have a sound that is completely faithful to their 70s rock roots, while remaining thoroughly original and fresh. Powerful vocals, a twin guitar attack, stacked harmonies, moody keys and steady grooves all blend together to form an engaging batch of originals. After securing the reputation as the most exciting band to see in their hometown of Saskatoon (and being voted favourite local band by the readers of Planet S magazine), The Sheepdogs have taken their show on the road, playing over 100 shows in the last year across Canada. They have appeared at notable festivals such as Junofest, the Western Canadian Music Awards, and the Red Gorilla festival in Austin, TX. They have independently released two full-length albums Trying to Grow and The Sheepdogs’ Big Stand. With no intentions of letting up, The Sheepdogs will be releasing their third album in late fall 2009 and heading back on the road to tour across Canada and beyond.
TOUR DATES
Sept. 17 @ University of Brandon, BRANDON (*Rock the Block w. Default)
Sept. 20 @ Western Canadian Music Awards Ceremony, BRANDON
Sept. 23 @ Dakota Tavern, TORONTO
Sept. 25 @ Townehouse Tavern, SUDBURY
Sept. 26 @ Two Doors Down, BRANTFORD
Sept. 27 @ Moonshine Café, OAKVILLE (afternoon show)
Sept. 28 @ Arlene’s Grocery, NEW YORK
Sept. 29 @ The Parkside Lounge, NEW YORK
Sept. 30 @ Dakota Tavern, TORONTO
Oct. 2 @ The Seahorse, HALIFAX
Oct. 6 @ The Red Dog, PETERBOROUGH
Oct. 7 @ Dakota Tavern, TORONTO
Oct. 9 @ Black Pirates Pub, THUNDER BAY
Oct. 10 @ The Times Change’d, WINNIPEG
LINKS
http://www.myspace.com/thesheepdogs
http://www.westerncanadianmusicawards.ca
