Best of 2015: #ygkPlaylist for 2015
In March 2015, we set out to create a monthly mixtape featuring Kingston’s best and brightest musical talents. The #ygkPlaylist was subsequently born, and over the past nine months we’ve worked tirelessly to highlight new and familiar releases from an unbelievable number of established artists and aspiring new acts throughout the city. With so many great bands calling Kingston home at one time or another, the depth of the local talent pool has made the task of curating the monthly playlist both enjoyable and challenging.
We’ve tied-in the #ygkPlaylist with big events such as the Skeleton Park Arts Festival and Wolfe Island Music Festival, as well as used it as a platform to highlight acts frequenting small stages such as Musiikki’s. We’ve undoubtedly covered a lot of ground in its first year, and we’re absolutely excited to see the #ygkPlaylist continue to grow as a true showcase of Kingston’s finest talent.
Regular listeners may have noticed that we have yet to release the playlist for December. We held off on this month’s release as we were curating a massive playlist that incorporates our favourite tracks from all of the previous playlists we unveiled this past year. Without further delay, our Best of 2015 series kicks off with the #ygkPlaylist for 2015.
The Glorious Sons: The Glorious Sons had a huge year of touring and playing big festivals. Their latest album, The Union, earned them a nod as first time Juno nominees for Rock Album of the Year. Find them on: Facebook and Twitter.
Kyra and Tully: after three years in the making, Kyra and Tully released their fourth album titled Journey Home. The highly anticipated EP, includes performances from over twenty Kingston artists. Find them on: Facebook and Twitter.
Kris and Dee: dubbed Kingston’s “superfolk” sensations, this talented pair have released three full-length albums since 2011. In 2015 the prolific duo released their latest EP, A Great Long Game. Find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Danielle Lennon: her track “Erratic Nomad” earned her the Nan Yeomans Legacy Award at the KAC’s Juried Art Salon. She went on to perform String Theory at the 2015 Skeleton Park Arts Festival. Find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Amanda Sadler: her impressive debut EP was recorded in Nashville with renowned producer, John Willis. She played a host of local shows including Pan Chancho’s Backyard BBQ, ArtFest, etc… Find her on Twitter and Facebook.
Megan Hamilton: this CBC Searchlight nominee performed at the 2015 Wolfe Island Music Festival, debuting new songs off her forthcoming album Forty Warm Streams to Lead Your Wings. Find her on Twitter and Facebook.
Glenn Tooth: a local flute player who “aspires to a jazz thing”, he specializes in rhythmic improvisation. Glenn also plays with the Street52 and Craig Jones and the 20th Century Band. Find him on SoundCloud and Facebook.
Miss Emily: Rob Baker considers her to be a “rocket ready to take-off!”. After opening for Blue Rodeo and going on a week long UK tour with Light of Day, Miss Emily’s launch is happening as we speak. Find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Jon McLurg: a past winner of the American Songwriter magazine lyric contest, this solo act writes songs of that are inspired by truth and spirituality, which incorporate thoughts of reflection. Find him on SoundCloud and Twitter.
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Every month, we comb Soundcloud looking for sounds that are unique to Kingston. We are constantly seeking out active musicians to show off to the local community and beyond. If you’re a musician who wants to be included in a future #ygkPlaylist, the first step is to get your original music up on Soundcloud and then follow us. We promise to follow you back, listen to your work and consider it for the monthly #ygkPlaylist.