Photo: Miles Storey/Torontoist

We thought it would be appropriate to organize Canada’s first bicycle powered dance parties in conjunction with International Car Free Day. On this day, the wonderfully creative folks from grassroots organization Streets Are For People encourage their fellow Torontonians to take over a parking spot (at $2/hour) and throw a “Parking Meter Party”. So we set up our pedal powered sound system right on Queen Street in Toronto on September 21, and hopefully it gave people some ideas about what Toronto could become if the city finally came to its senses and created a pedestrian zone.  Here is some video coverage of the day by NOW Magazine’s ‘Ecoholic’ columnist Adria Vasil.

Photo: HiMY SYeD / photopia

Do you like cycling? Do you like music? Want to make history? Come power Canada’s first Pedal-Powered Dance Party! Join us as we celebrate International Car Free Day by presenting Canada’s first pedal-powered dance party at the Evergreen Brick Works in the Don Valley on Saturday, September 20. Bring your dancing shoes and your bike, come pedal away to power the sound system for a song or two. Then get your friends to do the same so that you can bust a move.

“Serious” cyclists interested in doing 20 minutes or more of non-stop sustained cycling are most welcome but might want to register in advance by contacting Johan Hultqvist at itsjohan[at]gmail.com / 416-533-8663 ext1
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On September 20, we will be organizing Canada’s first bike powered dance party at the beautiful Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto’s Don Valley.

We will be building “generating stations” that you can hook your bike to. Then all you have to do is pedal away to make sure the music doesn’t stop. This free, environmentally and kid-friendly, pedal powered party happens in conjunction with a Sustainability Fair at The Brick Works and, since it’s a Saturday, the weekly Farmer’s Market will be loaded with local goodies. In other words, it’s going to be a lot of fun, but we do need help as it’s a big production that will require a lot of work and money.

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We’re back on the road! The first leg of the Mr. Something Something summer tour kicks off in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on June 18 (click here to see the rest of the tour dates). We look forward to seeing you on the dancefloor.

This dance show features new works by choreographers Marc Boivin (Montreal) and Mr. Something Something’s own Jennifer Dallas (Toronto) and a short film with unique footage from recent KemiCollective work in Lagos, Nigeria. With music by members of Mr. Something Something.

May 22-24, 8pm. $15-$20

The Winchester Street Theatre (80 Winchester Street, Toronto) www.danceworks.ca

It’s official: “Deep Sleep” was the #1 World Music Album of 2007 on the Earshot “International” Chart, which means that it got more airplay on Canadian college & community radio than any other world music album last year. Not bad for an album released in October! Big thanks to all the radio programmers, hosts and DJ’s who kept/keep spinning our tunes.

As you may know, half the band is currently in West Africa.
Larry is drumming away in Ghana while John & Jen are in Nigeria to perform at an international dance festival. But it’s not all work; Johnny recently got a chance to hang out with Femi Kuti (son of the late Fela Kuti, King of Afrobeat) before Femi’s show at legendary Afrobeat venue The Shrine, and presented him with a copy of Deep Sleep. Happy new year from Lagos!

Check out this nice little article in the December issue of EXCLAIM!

For three weeks straight, “Deep Sleep” has been #1 on the Earshot “International” Chart as well as Chartattack’s “World/Folk” Charts.

four out of five in Toronto’s NOW Magazine!