News

The Western Canadian Music Association award nominations are in. And not one - but three of our Minty comrades' releases are up for awards!

Carolyn Mark - Nothing is Free
(Outstanding Solo Roots Recording)

The Evaporators - Gassy Jack and Other Tales
(Outstanding Rock Recording)

Immaculate Machine - Fables
(Outstanding Independent Album)

And, Mint is up for an industry award - Independent Record Label of The Year. We've got our fingers crossed for our friends. And, if you happen to be in Edmonton October 16 - 19, be sure to pop by and say hi. Our Ramblin' Ambassadors and Buttless Chaps shall be performing at the WCMA festivities. Hot dog!

Psst... Have you heard, Mint Records is at it again, preparing to release more untamed albums into the wild.

May 15, 2007 - Nick Krgovich (of P:ano) shall be celebrating the birth of his latest vinyl creation titled, One Woman Show. This 7" features three savoury experiments in pop.

May 15, 2007 - The Awkward Stage and Young and Sexy or The Young and Sexy and Awkward Stage share the glory in the first of our upcoming Double A Side 7" Series.

May 15, 2007 - The Choir Practice, our very own vocal collective of indie pop bliss, shall greet the world with their first collection of songs.

June 12, 2007 - Immaculate Machine's Fables a followup to Ones and Zeros shall magically appear on record store shelves. (Want to get at it NOW? Fables shall be available on itunes early, like May 30th early!)

July 3, 2007 - Carolyn Mark, knows it and will be telling Canada, Nothing is Free. The album will be released in the USA September 18,2007!

What about Bella, you ask? No One Will Know, their Mint debut CD, will be hitting also on September 18, 2007!

So there. It's out. Now, go tell your friends!

Immaculate Machine do not speak Mandarin, but they certainly can sing it. After being teased about their French EP by CBC Radio 3 personality Grant Lawrence, the band went back to the studio with their friend Marie (pictured with Brooke, at right), who translated “Dear Confessor” into Mandarin and taught it to them phonetically. Brooke, Kathryn and Luke then went to the CBC Studios and personally presented the song to Grant. According to Brooke, they don't know precisely what they're saying but those fluent in Mandarin have told them it is quite well done.

...and Immaculate Machine have a surprise for you too. You can download, “Wo Xiang Tanbai” right here, for free!

May 29th is a big day for us at Mint Records. Not only is our Fancy New Website up and rolling (Hooray!!), but today, our pals at itunes are offering Immaculate Machine's single, "Jarhand" for FREE!! Get it here. It's the illustrious single of the week!

Then, on May 30th, download all of Fables on itunes, it's specially priced (and you'll have it two weeks earlier than your friends). If you'd like a physical copy of the CD/LP for your collection, visit a record store (It's out on June 12th), or if you live in the woods, order it from our friends at Maple Music.

Vancouverites! Be sure to visit us at Red Cat Records (4307 Main St.) on June 1st; we're having a little advance listening shindig and showing off some Immaculate artwork by the band's resident artist, Caitlin Gallupe. Afterwards, we're marching across the street to The Main for some late night eats and a performance by Victoria's Vincat!

If you're busy that night, stop by the Ukrainian Hall (805 E. Pender) for the CD Release Party on June 16th. Immaculate Machine, Meatdraw and Victoria, Victoria will be there. We'll be there. And you should be there too.

To celebrate Nardwuar's 20th Anniversary on CiTR, on the evening of November 2nd, there will be a special free, all ages gig. Come see Nardwuar's band, The Evaporators, plus The Tranzmitors, The Pack A.D. and Kid Kordene at the Sub Ballroom in Vancouver.

ps: This is all happening AFTER Nard's 20 hour Interview Marathon on CiTR. Beginning at 9:00 on November 1st, Nardwuar is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of his Vancouver Radio Show (1987-2007) on CiTR 101.9 FM with a 20 hour, "Live on the Air" Nardwuar Interview Marathon. You can tune in and listen online here.

Who: Nardwuar, The Evaporators, The Tranzmitors, The Pack A.D. and Kid Kordene.

What: Nardwuar celebrates his 20 years on CiTR with a free all ages show.

Where: The UBC SUB Ballroom, Vancouver, BC.

When: Friday, November 2nd at 7:30pm.

Why: Just baking a cake just wouldn't cut it.

Yes, that's right folks, just a few days until Immaculate Machine's Fables is on those record store shelves on Tuesday, June 12. If you haven't had a chance to preview the record, the entire thing is available to stream here. Thanks Quicktime! And, our pals at Pitchfork are up on the Immaculate fun too, here's what they've said so far. We know, we know, Ian Danzig said it first, but, hooray for Tuesdays indeed!!!

Normally, we celebrate the holidays with our annual Mint Records Ridiculously Early Xmas Party (Remember last year? Nardwuar hauled up members of Franz Ferdinand and The Cribs). This year, we've changed things up. On December 14th and December 15th, The Mint Records Just in Time for Xmas Party will take place at the Railway Club with an unprecedented number of bands performing.

Have you heard of our friends Bella? Well, they're taking Vancouver by storm and just finished recording their first Mint full length album coyly titled, No One Will Know. Well, this is just in - Bella's No One Will Know shall be out on September 18th.

In other Bella news, the band's early 2007 pre-album version of Camelot is being featured by Seattle designer Lizzie Parker on her website and will be a key tune for her upcoming Spring 2008 collection, to be launched at Seattle Fashion week in October 2007!

Be sure to check out Bella's free show on Main Street on June 16th. If last week's renegade performances were any indication of what's to come; Bella will probably be performing on the back of a truck! We'll keep you updated with further details. Fun!!

Somebody let us in on the surprise. Now, everyone knows that The Choir Practice will be performing the national anthems for Monday’s Canucks game. If you were unable to score front-row tickets, the band will join you in your living room at 7:00pm on Sportsnet. So you’ve been warned; go pick up those hockey game snacks!

Our resident rocktologist/cremationist Shane Nelken is preparing to pack up the van for another tour. This time, The Awkwward Stage is heading South of the Canadian boarder to play in fine cities such as Seattle (home of the world's largest glass of orange juice), San Francisco (home of the world's largest baseball glove) and many, many more! Click here for The Awkward Stage's complete tour schedule.

Also Shane will be on MuchMusic's Going Coastal this Sunday for part II of his appearance... Stay tuned for Part III yet to come! And don't forget to check out the latest CBC Radio 3 Podcast (#108) for another dose of rock 'n' roll advice on Dear Shane.