down the way

As 2011 comes to a close, Nettwerk Music Group is excited to share a year-end recap of some significant milestones the label has achieved in Canada.

Toronto’s revered indie-folk/rock band Great Lake Swimmers saw their Juno-nominated album Lost Channels exceed 16,000 copies sold, bringing their career sales to nearly 30,000 albums in their home country. Meanwhile, Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone, whose sophomore album Down The Way debuted at #118 on the Canadian Soundscan Album Chart, saw their album surpass 10,000 copies sold in Canada, with break-out single “Big Jet Plane” exceeding 11,000 in track sales.

Nettwerk has also been focused on expanding its label roster over the past 12 months with the addition of various up-and-coming Canadian talents, including Vancouver-based folk singer/songwriter Joshua Hyslop, Waterloo sibling trio Kidstreet, Toronto-born folk/rock artist Liam Titcomb and Vancouver-based electro synth-pop fivesome Young Liars.  More information on each artist is below.

“Since its inception over 25 years ago, Nettwerk has remained committed to the flourishing Canadian music scene,” says Nettwerk President Ric Arboit. “We’ve signed some amazing Canadian talent in the past months are excited to be redoubling out efforts in 2012.”

In addition to new albums from the aforementioned label roster additions, 2012 brings anticipated releases from some of Nettwerk’s most loved Canadian artists, including 2010 Juno-Nominees Great Lake Swimmers and Vancouver’s Frazey Ford (of the Be Good Tanyas). Angus & Julia Stone will also return with new music following the worldwide success of sophomore album Down The Way, and Grammy-nominated remixer/prdoucer Morgan Page will release his new single “Body Work,” a collaboration with Canadian indie duo Tegan & Sara.

Nettwerk would like to send a huge congratulations to Angus & Julia Stone, who walked away with top honors at the 2010 ARIA Awards in Australia over the weekend. The Aussie siblings won the most coveted awards of the evening: "Album Of The Year" (Down The Way) and "Single Of The Year" ("Big Jet Plane"), bringing their total wins to five. Prior to the awards telecast, the folk duo won the award for "Best Adult Alternative Album," as well as two Artisan Awards ("Best Cover Art" and "Producer Of The Year").

Check out Angus & Julia Stone's performance of "Big Jet Plane" at the iTunes Live ARIA Concert Series from the Sydney Opera House prior to the awards ceremony above.

Both Angus & Julia have solo projects being released in North America tomorrow (Nov 9); Julia Stone releases The Memory Machine and Angus Stone releases Smoking Gun under his solo artist name Lady Of The Sunshine.

Angus & Julia Stone have officially wrapped their sold-out North American headline tour.  Before they head to Tennessee to make their Bonnaroo debut on Saturday, June 12, the Aussie brother/sister duo stopped by Philadelphia's WXPN for a special live performance from World Cafe Live. Listen to the performance HERE.

Aussie brother/sister folk duo Angus & Julia Stone debuted on the American Billboard Charts today at #19 on the Heatseeker Chart and #8 the Folk Chart with sophomore album Down The Way, nearly doubling the sales of their debut album A Book Like This just over a year ago. In Canada, the pair made their first ever appearance on the Canadian Soundscan Album Chart, coming in at #118 overall with 468 copies of Down The Way sold. They also landed at #80 on the Quebec overall chart, where over half of the total album sales in Canada came from; this continues on the success of their debut album, which has sold nearly 3,000 copies in Canada since its release in early 2009. 

This exciting North American news comes on the heels of the duo holding the #1 spot for two weeks on the Australian charts with record breaking numbers for 2010, ahead of the Gorillaz, Vampire Weekend and Lady Gaga; The Stone's went GOLD in Australia in less than two weeks. Grab a copy of the album now on iTunes or at Amazon. 

Angus & Julia Stone are currently on tour, charming sold out crowds from Australia to the UK with their enchanting live set.  The pair recently announced new North American tour dates, including a stop in Manchester, TN on June 12 for their Bonnaroo debut and their first show ever in Montreal.  A second New York City show was also just added at Tribeca’s 92Y. (Tour dates below)

With a #1 album two weeks in a row in their home country of Australia, sold out dates in Australia and the UK and global critical acclaim for their sophomore album Down The Way (out now on Nettwerk), brother/sister folk duo Angus & Julia Stone are ready to make their way back to North America in late May/early June for special shows in Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto and New York City. They’ll also head down to Tennessee for their first Bonnaroo appearance on June 12 (all dates below).

Down The Way highlights the endless talents of this brother and sister as musicians, songwriters and producers. See what critics around the world are saying:

“…a sweet and savory blend to warm the soul." - MOJO (4 stars)

"Brother Angus' acoustic guitar wraps sister Julia's whispery trill with an unhurried, disarmingly simple melody that will propel you off the couch and into the sun."
- Marie Claire "Need To Download"

"If A Book Like This compounded the prospects of their future, consider Down The Way the fulfilling realization of all expectations." – Filter

“…the musical equivalent of a walk on the beach at twilight." - Nylon

“The pair melt in to one another to create a spectral and lush backdrop”
– Clash Magazine (UK)

“Very possibly the worlds' favourite Australian indie-folk brother and sister duo”
- Evening Standard (London UK)

Aussie brother/sister duo Angus & Julia Stone have much to celebrate this week.  Their sophomore album Down The Way just debuted at #1 in Australia, with 13,501 albums sold in its first week, making them the #1 new release in 2010 in Australia, and the second highest seller in a week, behind Susan Boyle.

The album is out March 30 in N. America, and the critical acclaim has already started to roll in:

"If A Book Like This compounded the prospects of their future, consider Down The Way the fulfilling realization of all expectations." - Filter

"[Angus and Julia Stone] make the musical equivalent of a walk on the beach at twilight." - Nylon

"Brother Angus' acoustic guitar wraps sister Julia's whispery trill with an unhurried, disarmingly simple melody that will propel you off the couch and into the sun." - Marie Claire "Need To Download"

Stay tuned for more news and tour information from Angus & Julia Stone.

Watch The New Video For Angus & Julia's First Single "And The Boys" HERE

Australian brother/sister duo Angus & Julia Stone are back with sophomore album Down The Way, the follow up to their 2009 critically acclaimed debut A Book Like This. The album will be available on March 30, 2010, but Angus & Julia have premiered the first new single, “And The Boys,” out now in iTunes. 

Down The Way highlights the endless talents of this brother and sister as musicians, songwriters and producers. The self-produced album was recorded between England, New York and Australia--from an old sawmill on the riverbanks of Fowey, Cornwall to a studio in Brooklyn, to a water tank in Coolangatta to the streets of London and back to Queens. Down The Way is comprised of 13 tracks that sail across the different realms of musical themes, from folksy charm to epic orchestral grandeur, all the while emphasizing the pair’s beautifully subtle harmonies.