Jim Cuddy

MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity, associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), is pleased to announce that Jim has been named as a MusiCounts Ambassador. This news comes just days before the annual JUNO Cup, the rockers vs. the NHL greats that has become a highlight of JUNO week whose proceeds go to MusiCounts initiatives.

In Jim's words,

"I am very proud to be an Ambassador for MusiCounts. Through the program I have seen a spark light up in so many kids because they got a new piccolo or a new violin and they hear a sound they never thought they could make. I feel like I represent many musicians who would love to inspire others to follow the path into the world of music."

Jim has long been a champion for music education. In the past, he has supported MusiCounts as a participant in Band Aid Grant celebrations at local schools and represented MusiCounts at fundraising events. In addition to being a driving force behind the JUNO Cup, Jim served as a member of the MusiCounts Advisory Committee for the past seven years, providing valuable artist insight and perspective on how MusiCounts can thrive in its fundraising mission to put more instruments in schools to benefit the children. Jim is a friend of MusiCounts and a shining example to other artists of how their support can help bring music to our schools. Jim joins Nikki Yanofsky as an ambassador for the organization.

Jim will be performing twice in London, ON this spring. The shows will take place on April 27 and 28 at Centennial Hall. Tickets are available now, so get yours today. Visit the Tour page for more details.

Big congratulations to Jim on his Juno nominations for Skyscraper Soul! Jim has been nominated in the Songwriter of the Year and Adult Alternative Album categories. We'll be cheering him on when the ceremonies air on CTV this April 1. Visit the Junos site for a full list of this year's nominees.

Hey Canada, comedy institution, This Hour Has 22 Minutes is airing their Christmas special on CBC this Tuesday, December 13 at 8 pm EST. Be sure to tune in to catch special guest Jim Cuddy! Until then, you can visit the 22 Minutes Facebook page for preview clips from the upcoming hour-long special. If you do happen to miss it, or just want to watch it over and over, CBC also archives past episodes on the 22 Minutes site.

Jim Cuddy has been selected as one CBC Radio's Top 50 Artists of 2011, joining a stellar, diverse list of Canadian and International artists, including Blue Rodeo friends Cuff The Duke, Ron Sexsmith, and Wilco. The countdown of the Top 50 will air on CBC Radio 2's Drive on December 30, but it's up to listeners to determine the order of that countdown.

Head to CBC.ca now to vote for Jim as your favourite artist of 2011! Voting closes on December 19, so be sure to vote before then, and the remember to tune in on December 30 to hear the results!

New merchandise celebrating Jim's recent release, Skyscraper Soul, is now available to pre-order! Head to the BlueRodeo.com Store's Skyscraper Soul section to see some great women's t-shirts, a cozy men's hoodie, a stainless steel water bottle, and more.

Please note that these items are being presold and will not ship until early 2012.  If you are including any items from the rest of the Blue Rodeo store with your purchase, please consider separating your orders so that shipment arrives in time for the holidays. Customers will be notified when shipping commences.

Exciting news for fans in Ontario: Another handful of 2012 dates for the Jim Cuddy Band have just been announced. BlueRodeo.com is hosting a presale for these shows right now, but you need to be a BlueRodeo.com member to take part. Not a member? Sign up here!

A new Alberta date has been added to Jim's Canadian tour. On January 11, 2012, the Jim Cuddy Band will be playing Red Deer Memorial Centre.

BlueRodeo.com will be holding a presale for this new show beginning tomorrow Wednesday November 16 at 10 am MST. To participate head over to BlueRodeo.com and log in to your account. Not a member? Sign up here at no cost!

One more Ontario date has been added to Jim's Canadian tour. On January 22, 2012, the Jim Cuddy Band will be playing Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

BlueRodeo.com will be holding a presale for this new show beginning Wednesday, November 2 at 11 am EDT. To participate head over to BlueRodeo.com and log in to your account. Not a member? Sign up here at no cost!

Following the announcement of Jim's 2012 solo tour earlier this week, two more shows have been added to the schedule, in Belleville and Peterborough.

The BlueRodeo.com presale for Belleville begins Monday, but the Peterborough presale has just begun, so log in to your BlueRodeo.com account now to get your tickets. Don't have an account? Create one here!

For more details and a look at all of the Jim Cuddy Band's upcoming dates, check out the Tour page.

We're pleased to announce an exciting new batch of dates for the Jim Cuddy Band! This Canada-wide tour will kick off in early 2012 and hit major cities from Nanaimo to Montreal.

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, October 19, BlueRodeo.com has got your presale tickets for some of this tour's best seats.

Head to the Tour page for a complete list of dates and exact presale start times and then this Wednesday, log in to your BlueRodeo.com account to participate. Not a member yet? Sign up here!

Jim Cuddy, along with a star-studded lineup of Canadian musicians, will be performing at Foodstock. The festival is being held as a fundraiser and awareness campaign for a preposed mega quarry that will destroy acres of farmland. In addition to great live performers, 80 of Canada's best culinary talents will be cooking for the public using local produce from Melancthon Township.

This promises to be an event not to be missed. More information and tickets can be found at the Canadian Chefs' Congress website.

A bunch of exciting new East Coast dates have been announced this week for the Jim Cuddy Band. Happening right now, BlueRodeo.com is hosting exclusive presales for these new shows. You need to be a BlueRodeo.com member to take part, but it's free and easy to join. Sign up here!

Head over to Jim's Tour page for a complete list of dates and links to the presales.

Jim's been all over the place in the last few weeks in support of his latest release, Skyscraper Soul.

Don't worry if you think you might have missed something because we've got a bunch of links to Jim's recent special appearances, interviews and performances after the jump.

Canada AM on September 16 (Performances and Interview)

Explore Music (Video Interview)

CBC Radio 2 – Inside The Music (Jim's Playlist)

2011 Canadian Country Music Awards – The Jim Cuddy Band with The Heartbroken (Audio Performance of "Everyone Watched the Wedding")

Now Talks (Video Interview and Performances)

It's here at last: Jim's new album, Skyscraper Soul, is available now. If you haven't already picked up your copy, head to your favourite local record shop today, or order it from our online store now. Remember, the two-disc Deluxe CD Edition is a JimCuddy.com exclusive.

We've given fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Skyscraper Soul over the last couple months, with blog entries from Jim, his bandmates and others who worked on the album, photos from the recording sessions, and intimate video glimpses of the creative process. Don't worry if you haven't been keeping up. The entire countdown calender is still available here.

If you don't listen to Drive, the afternoon show  hosted by Rich Terfry on CBC Radio 2, this is the week to start! Jim will be on the show tomorrow, (Tuesday, September 27) to discuss his new album, Skyscraper Soul, and he'll bring the JCB with him on Friday (September 30) for an interview and performance.

Drive airs Monday to Friday at 3:30 pm (4 in NT). For more information, please visit CBC.ca.

Update: This presale is now over.

Head's up Newfoundland! Jim has booked a six-date run through your fair province in support of his new album, Skyscraper Soul. Kicking off November 10 in Corner Brook, and wrapping up in Labrador West on November 27, most of these dates will be intimate shows that see Jim perform as part of a trio, backed by of Anne Lindsay on violin and Colin Cripps on guitar.

The BlueRodeo.com presale for these shows has just begun, so make sure you're logged into your account and head to the Store now to get your tickets! Don't have an account? Create one now at no cost!

UPDATE: This contest has now closed. Congratulations to our winners!

The Jim Cuddy Band will appear on the September 26 episode of CTV's Canada AM, and we've got 15 pairs of tickets to give away to the taping. To enter, just email help@JimCuddy.com with the answer to this question: Which group did the Jim Cuddy Band team up with to perform at this week's CCMAs?

On Wednesday, September 21, we'll randomly draw 15 winners from those who answer correctly and contact those winners with the details. Please note: this prize is for tickets to the taping only, so you must be able to get yourself to Toronto bright and early on the morning of September 26 to see the show.

On Sunday, September 25 at 6 pm, Jim will be at the Drake Hotel in Toronto for a conversation with Michael Hollett, editor and publisher of NOW. Jim will answer questions and perform a few songs from Skyscraper Soul.

Tickets for this intimate event are available at NOW's offices (Monday - Friday, 9 to 6), online and at the door on September 25. See you there!

Mark your calendars: Jim will be the special guest on the September 25 edition of My Playlist, a regular segment on CBC's Inside The Music. Previous guests have included Robbie Robertson, Daniel Lanois and Sarah Harmer.

Inside The Music airs Sundays at 3pm on Radio Two, and again at 9pm on Radio One.

The CBC and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT) are proud to announce three remarkable performances on the 26th Annual Gemini Awards, airing on September 7.

The one-hour live gala will include performances by Jim Cuddy, City and Colour, and Deborah Cox with Kellylee Evans. Jim, a fan favourite, has been a constant keystone for Canada's music industry, with a career spanning over two decades. Debuting at the Geminis, Jim will perform a new song from his third solo album, Skyscraper Soul, set to release on September 27, 2011.

Don't miss out on your chance to be in the studio audience. Get up close and personal with your favourite performers from TV and music by purchasing a general admission ticket to the gala broadcast for $30 + HST. Check out www.facebook.com/SCENE and email contests@academy.ca for details and to purchase tickets - standing room only. A limited number of tickets will be available so act fast!

The 26th Annual Gemini Awards will air live on CBC for a special one-hour broadcast, from the CBC studios in downtown Toronto, at 8 pm EDT (8:30 NDT). Fans can also experience the show from a unique perspective online, alongside digital host Tom Green, in the Tom Green Room. The live stream begins at 7 p.m. EDT at cbc.ca/live and will be available On Demand as a digital companion to the television broadcast.

The 26th Annual Gemini Awards are also available on Twitter by following @CBCLive and #geminiawards and/or @thegeminiawards.

Just announced: The Jim Cuddy Band will team up with nominees The Heartbroken for a very special performance at this year's Canadian Country Music Awards at Hamilton's Copps Coliseum on September 12.

The CCMAs will be broadcast live on CBC, beginning at 8:00 pm EDT, and will be re-broadcast on CMT Canada at 10:00 pm EDT the same night. For more information on the CCMAs, please visit CCMA.org. Tickets to the show can be purchased at Ticketmaster.

Skyscraper Soul is now available for pre-order on iTunes Canada. Available in standard and deluxe versions (featuring two iTunes-exclusive bonus tracks), pre-order the deluxe version to receive an instant download of the album's first single, "Everyone Watched The Wedding".

Today we're pleased to reveal the tracklist of Jim's forthcoming new album, Skyscraper Soul, due in stores September 27.

The standard CD edition contains 14 songs:

1 Skyscraper Soul
2 Regular Days
3 Everyone Watched the Wedding
4 Still Want You
5 Wash Me Down
6 Watch Yourself Go Down
7 Don't Know That Much
8 Banks Of The 49
9 What Is So Wrong
10 Ready To Fall
11 Water's Running High
12 How In the World
13 City Birds
14 With You

While the JimCuddy.com exclusive deluxe edition features a second disc containing four demo recordings:

1 Regular Days - Demo Version
2 Skyscraper Soul - Demo Version
3 Everyone Watched The Wedding - Demo Version
4 Still Want You - Demo Version

Skyscraper Soul is available for pre-order here. 

Next Monday, August 15, the Jim Cuddy Band will be in Toronto to tape a forthcoming televsion special for CMT Canada, during which they will debut songs from Jim's new album, Skyscraper Soul. While taping is closed to the public, we've got 10 pairs of tickets to give away to this very special event.

To enter for your chance to see the show, all you need to do is head to Jim's page on Facebook, "like" it if you haven't already, and then post a comment sharing your favourite Jim Cuddy memory. Tell us the first Jim Cuddy song you heard or about the best JCB show you've seen, it's up to you and just that simple!

The contest closes Thursday (August 11) at 6 pm EDT. Winners will be notified via Facebook on Friday morning. Please note: this prize is for tickets to the taping only, so you must be able to get yourself to Toronto on Monday afternoon to see the show.

Warner Music Canada recording artist Jim Cuddy is in the final stages of mixing the tracks that will make up his solo album, Skyscraper Soul, scheduled for release on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. The album was recorded in Blue Rodeo’s Woodshed Studio this past Spring.

In the spring of 2010, following extensive Blue Rodeo touring, Jim Cuddy began to write music to accompany  his wife Rena’s comedic short film Four Sisters. It turned out that some of what he’d written didn’t fit the film but on a creative roll he continued writing. Before long he had the kind of material he felt could make up his third solo album.

"When I write songs for my solo material, the songs tend to be a lot more personal than what I write for Blue Rodeo," says Jim. "I come in here and sit down with all of these instruments and work at building the ideas until a song emerges. Once I’ve demoed the track and played it for the band, we work on fleshing it out."

Production on Skyscraper Soul was handled by Cuddy, guitarist Colin Cripps and Chris Shreenan-Dyck. Jim was joined in the studio by his touring solo band, The Jim Cuddy Band (Colin Cripps, Bazil Donovan, Joel Anderson, Steve O’Connor and Anne Lindsay) and a number of Toronto's top horn players and string players. Many of the album’s songs benefit from the spontaneity of having the musicians set up together in the studio and play live off the floor.

One of the album highlights is "Everyone Watched The Wedding," the record's first single, scheduled for release on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

"I've never been much of a royalist but this song is about the royal wedding," says Cuddy. "Something about this last wedding got me. When I started reading more about it I realized that there is something about it that is very inspiring. And this was truly a gift. This song just came out. I had come in to the studio to do something completely different and within half an hour I had this song completely sketched out and that doesn't happen, usually there's more work involved."

Skyscraper Soul is available for pre-order here.

On September 27, Jim Cuddy's brand new solo album, Skyscraper Soul, will be released!

From now until then, we are very excited to be able to give you a look into the making of Skyscraper Soul, including blog posts by Jim and his band, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and even an audio stream of the entire album!

While the first blog post is available right now, the rest of this exclusive content will be revealed as the release date for Skyscraper Soul approaches.

Visit JimCuddy.com to read Jim's "First Things" blog, which you can access by clicking on the July 27 window in our skyscraper landscape.

You'll see that all of the windows on that page feature a date, which tells you exactly when the content behind each window will become available. Mouse over the windows for a sneak peak at what's to come. You can also share everything on this page with your friends by clicking on the Facebook, Twitter and email icons at the bottom of each pop up.

And if you haven't purchased a copy yet, we are still preselling three fantastic versions of Skyscraper Soul. You can preorder this album on CD, as a deluxe CD, or as a vinyl+CD package. Once your preorder is placed, you will instantly receive a link to download the demo recording of demo track "Water's Running High".

Enjoy!

On September 27, Jim Cuddy will release Skyscraper Soul, his first solo album in almost five years.

Click here to pre-order Skyscraper Soul on CD, deluxe CD, or as a vinyl + CD package now. All preorders will come with a handwritten lyric manuscript, the first 500 of which will be signed by Jim. You’ll also get an instant download of the demo recording "Water's Running High".

A note from Jim on the track "Water’s Running High":

I wrote the song for Rena’s short comedic film Four Sisters.  I was not her first choice for the music but I worked my way in by presenting her with this song which I envisioned running over the credits at the end.

Keep your eyes on JimCuddy.com for more exciting updates leading up to Skyscraper Soul’s release.

On Thursday, April 21, Jim Cuddy, Oh Susanna, and a bevy of other famous Canadians, will be participating in the Toronto To Japan - Hope Blossoms charity event at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, ON.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.