Mena Hardy
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | INDIE
Music
Press
2013-11-19 05:55:58 - The award winning southern rock soul queen Mena Hardy to be performing the 5 song EP entitled “It's Been Mean and Hard” at the famed El Mocambo. This venue has featured such famed bands as The Rollling Stones, The Ramones, Joan Jett, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blondie, The Police, Jimi Hendrix and Queens of the Stone Age.
“It's Been Mean and Hard” was written by Mena Hardy in collaboration with award winning engineer Brad Keay. The EP also features a stellar line up of world class musicians who will be graciously joining Hardy on stage at the El Mocambo. Juno award winner John Lalley, formally of Econoline Crush and Rusty, will be bringing his sonically charged rhythm to the drums. Seasoned veteran Barry Murray AKA Bazza will be contributing his soulful groove on bass. Former Jeff Healey sideman and Canada's top slide guitar player Pat Rush will be contributing his southern rock roots on lead guitar. This will all be mixed by Rick Boffo, former house sound engineer from The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern.
The El Mocambo is
owned and operated by Sam Grosso who has been concentrating his efforts into reviving and restoring the historic venue.
This release has been stirring up a buzz throughout the musical community of Toronto and is shaping up to be a very well attended event. This release party is an Industry VIP event but is also open to the public and will take place between 7:30 and 9:30pm. The El Mocombo is located at 464 Spadina Ave, corner of Spadina and College.
Mena Hardy is one of Canada's top female rock vocalists and was the runner up for the coveted rock category in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition in 2012. Two songs from her debut EP entitled “The EP”, “I'm a Loser at 17”and “The Way She Goes” , made the Canadian rock radio airwaves earning respectable chart positions. Mena has also had success in a number of license deals in film, television, and commercials. Her first placement was with "Biker TV" followed by a placement with filmmaker Frank Caruso's "Club Utopia" and most recently with Airwalk's high impact video for pro surfer star Granger Larsen. For more information visit www.menahardy.com or contact info@menahardy.com. - PR Inside
Or drinking? Maybe it’s something in the air? What is the secret of the Toronto Music Scene? We, at BeeFM, are continually approached by hundreds of musicians from all over the world.
From what we can see no city in the world has so many super-talented musicians as Toronto, preserving the tradition of Rush, Neil Young and other great musicians that came from the city. Toronto’s scene is very diverse, from Southern Rock, through Hard Rock up to Soul/R&B.
Let us present you just a few of them:
Some of the best Toronto artists we have met and you should meet too:
Collette Andrea – Indie Folk Singer/Songwriter
Twitter: @ColletteAndrea
http://colletteandrea.wordpress.com
Laugh At The Fakes – Heavy Metal Band
Twitter: @laughatthefakes
http://www.facebook.com/laughatthefakes
Mena Hardy – Southern Rock Queen
Twitter: @menahardy
http://www.menahardy.com
The Black Fever – Indie Rock Band
Twitter: @TheBlackFever
http://www.theblackfever.com/
Roveena – Adult Contemporary Pop Singer
Twitter: @RoveenaMusic
http://www.roveena.ca
Left Turn City – Hard Rock Band
Twitter: @leftturncity
http://www.leftturncity.com/
Diia –Soul/R&B Singer/Songwriter
Twitter: @MissDiia
http://www.diiamusic.com/
Air Marshal Landing – Indie Rock Band
Twitter: @AMLband
http://airmarshallanding.com
Visit BeeFM on Facebook.
Follow BeeFM on Twitter - BeeFM
Or drinking? Maybe it’s something in the air? What is the secret of the Toronto Music Scene? We, at BeeFM, are continually approached by hundreds of musicians from all over the world.
From what we can see no city in the world has so many super-talented musicians as Toronto, preserving the tradition of Rush, Neil Young and other great musicians that came from the city. Toronto’s scene is very diverse, from Southern Rock, through Hard Rock up to Soul/R&B.
Let us present you just a few of them:
Some of the best Toronto artists we have met and you should meet too:
Collette Andrea – Indie Folk Singer/Songwriter
Twitter: @ColletteAndrea
http://colletteandrea.wordpress.com
Laugh At The Fakes – Heavy Metal Band
Twitter: @laughatthefakes
http://www.facebook.com/laughatthefakes
Mena Hardy – Southern Rock Queen
Twitter: @menahardy
http://www.menahardy.com
The Black Fever – Indie Rock Band
Twitter: @TheBlackFever
http://www.theblackfever.com/
Roveena – Adult Contemporary Pop Singer
Twitter: @RoveenaMusic
http://www.roveena.ca
Left Turn City – Hard Rock Band
Twitter: @leftturncity
http://www.leftturncity.com/
Diia –Soul/R&B Singer/Songwriter
Twitter: @MissDiia
http://www.diiamusic.com/
Air Marshal Landing – Indie Rock Band
Twitter: @AMLband
http://airmarshallanding.com
Visit BeeFM on Facebook.
Follow BeeFM on Twitter - BeeFM
The star of vivacious, petite singer-songwriter and Southern Rock diva Mena Hardy continues to rise as the new year begins. She’s just been nominated for the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award for one of the five tunes from her debut eponymous ep, has a revamped, pro-looking www.menahardy.com website, done several radio interviews recently and her Shotgun Revolutionaries band is much in demand.
Her “I’m A Loser at 17” tune reflects Southern Rock influences infused with a modern energy and verve. And her covers of Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynard, Joplin and Hendrix among others rock the house whenever she performs at rooms such as Southside Johnny’s (3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. in Etobicoke), where her group has become a house favourite and returns Sat. Jan. 19.
To top it off, this coming Wed., Jan. 23, she makes her debut at hip downtown 7-nights-a-week live music room The Hideout at 484 Queen St. W. - Toronto Moon Magazine
The star of vivacious, petite singer-songwriter and Southern Rock diva Mena Hardy continues to rise as the new year begins. She’s just been nominated for the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Award for one of the five tunes from her debut eponymous ep, has a revamped, pro-looking www.menahardy.com website, done several radio interviews recently and her Shotgun Revolutionaries band is much in demand.
Her “I’m A Loser at 17” tune reflects Southern Rock influences infused with a modern energy and verve. And her covers of Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynard, Joplin and Hendrix among others rock the house whenever she performs at rooms such as Southside Johnny’s (3653 Lakeshore Blvd. W. in Etobicoke), where her group has become a house favourite and returns Sat. Jan. 19.
To top it off, this coming Wed., Jan. 23, she makes her debut at hip downtown 7-nights-a-week live music room The Hideout at 484 Queen St. W. - Toronto Moon Magazine
CORNWALL — A Glengarry native who launched her music career in Cornwall is returning next month to play for a hometown crowd.
Mena Hardy is scheduled to perform at La Maison for a Friday night gig in late February, along with her backing southern country band.
“I had a lot of support from Cornwall,” she says of her early days.
Hardy began singing at age five, though it wasn’t until her teen years that she picked up the guitar.
She spent most of her childhood in North Glengarry before finishing off her high school education in Cornwall and heading to Montreal for university.
“When I was done, it was the onset of the recession,” she says. “I didn’t have a lot of options.
“I decided to employ myself as a musician.”
For a while Hardy was performing in both English and French around Montreal, alongside a fellow musician. But when she decided to branch out alone, she returned to her roots.
“I went on my own, just solo in Cornwall,” she says. “I was playing my own music.”
Roughly three years ago, Hardy was ready for a new challenge, and set off for the bright lights and big city opportunities of Toronto.
“I wanted to spread my wings,” she says.
It only took a few weeks for Hardy to connect with a group of musicians known as a Mudmen, a celtic rock band.
“They decided to form a southern country rock band, and they recruited me as the front person,” she says.
With Hardy booking all the shows and taking care of details, the group agreed to perform under her name.
They’ve kept busy for the past couple of years, though the expense of touring hasn’t taken them much further than the provincial capital.
“There’s a lot of places to play in southern Ontario,” she says.
The band has recorded a couple of demos together, but Hardy’s most successful project was an EP released in 2011.
“My music was put on television and film,” she says. “I got onto radio. I got charted on the Top 100 on my first release.”
Despite the accolades, Hardy said music has become a side endeavour as she strives to support herself in an expensive city.
“I decided to keep it part-time,” she said. “It’s a very successful part-time job.”
Hardy said she doesn’t mind balancing work and music, and even the promotion and marketing that goes along with being an artist.
“I like the fact that it’s my own business,” she says.
“I get to share my experiences with other people, like my band members. When you’ve been playing with a band for two-and-a half-years, you get really tight.
“It’s really rewarding,” she says.
Like most performers, Hardy says being under the spotlight in front of an audience is her favourite part of the whole experience.
“When I get on stage, I transform,” she says.
“It’s a high you can’t replicate.”
Hardy will be hitting the stage at La Maison on Friday, Feb. 22.
“I haven’t played Cornwall in two-and-a-half, three years now,” she says. “It’s going to be interesting.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Aultsville Theatre’s winter film festival runs from Friday evening to Sunday with a full slate of six movies.
A weekend pass for the event, which includes a couple of receptions, is $100 and available at the civic complex box office or the theatre ticket office.
Individual movie admissions are $15.
The festival begins with Beasts of the Southern Wild at 7 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, Farewell, My Queen, kicks things off at 11 a.m., followed by A Separation at 2 p.m. and Searching for Sugar Man at 7 p.m.
Inch’Allah plays at 1 p.m. on Sunday, and the Queen of Versailles will end off the weekend at 4:30 p.m.
• Rock for Charity is hosting a show on Saturday to benefit the upcoming Winterfest Carnaval.
SkyPeople, Rodney Rivette, the Normans and many more will be taking the stage at La Maison starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5.
• Alexandria’s cultural centre will hold a vernissage for Nadine Lamoureux and Lynne Rollin on Sunday, starting at 1:30 p.m.
The two photographers will be featuring their images from Nunavut for the next month. - Standard Freeholder
I should quit my day job, and be the guy who hires the next big thing. Mena Hardy is outstanding, her voice and energy are going to fill 3 things.
1)her shelves with music awards.
2)Her wallet
3)Stadiums
I keep telling her once she is a millionaire she has to give me some cash.
I have been following her for a while now... cant wait to see her live!!
Good stuff Mena, keep it up girl!! - ONTARIO- YOURS TO UNCOVER
I should quit my day job, and be the guy who hires the next big thing. Mena Hardy is outstanding, her voice and energy are going to fill 3 things.
1)her shelves with music awards.
2)Her wallet
3)Stadiums
I keep telling her once she is a millionaire she has to give me some cash.
I have been following her for a while now... cant wait to see her live!!
Good stuff Mena, keep it up girl!! - ONTARIO- YOURS TO UNCOVER
LOS ANGELES, CA, January 09, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mena Hardy is a Rock Singer / Songwriter born in Montreal and raised in a small town on the Quebec/Ontario border. As the daughter of Maestro Robert William Hardy, composer of the Fifth Day Suite, Mena spawned out of some serious musical influence. She began songwriting while attending Concordia University which was inspired by her History of Psychology course. She began singing professionally at the age of five and her first gig was recording children's movie songs for her father. Her desire to pursue music began in High School as an escape to the pain she had suffered borne out of the effects of poverty and her father's illness. The inspiration for most of her songs comes from the experience of living in a small town in Eastern Ontario known for high unemployment, high crime rates and teenage pregnancy which are heard in such songs as "The Way She Goes" and "I'm a Loser at 17". These songs have been aired on rock radio across Canada which came off her debut EP. Mena's debut radio single "I'm a Loser at 17" also received a nomination for the John Lennon Songwriting Competition which is a popular international songwriting contest for indie artists.
Mena Hardy is known for creating her own modern breed of Southern Rock n Roll and currently fronts a Southern Rock and Country band called the Shotgun Revolutionaries which is currently on tour. The debut single on her EP "G Force" has been licensed to Canadian film and television and gained her much attention. Mena is touring extensively this year as well as recording a new album which has received funding from FACTOR, which is funded by the Canadian Government.
As the self-proclaimed "Queen of White Trash," Mena is one of the top up and coming rock female singer songwriters in Canadian radio which is mainly male dominated. She has often been refused at certain radio stations due to this fact however will continue to release her singles and earn the respect of the music community based on her performance and song writing quality. She has also had the opportunity to open for "Lighthouse" a famed Canadian Rock n Roll band based in Canada. Mena Hardy's music has been aired on seven major rock stations across Canada.
She's no slacker: Mena Hardy was a nominee in the rock category for the John Lennon Music awards, she received an art grant from the Canadian Government, received the Artist of the Month last May on CKXS 99.1fm in Wallaceburg, ON; her debut single "I'm A Loser At 17" charted at 78 on the Mediabase Active rock charts in its first week of release, final chart success of "I'm a loser at 17" ended up at 85 (Mediabase Active Rock in Canada), final chart success for the "Way She Goes" ended up at 108 (Mediabase Active Rock in Canada).
To learn more, listen to Debbi Dachinger as she interviews Mena Hardy on Dare to Dream radio, listen via podcast at: http://www.deborahdachinger.com/interview-archives. Debbi's Dare to Dream radio show is a syndicated, multi-award winning program, featured in news sources around the world. Dachinger is a bestselling author, keynote speaker and media personality. Dare to Dream radio airs live on the following stations: Indie 100 (out of Burbank, CA), the Morning Inspiration show: Wed-Fri 9-11 AM PT, and SAT & SUN 11 AM - 1 PM PT, and syndicates on WROM Radio (Detroit), WHTB (Massachusetts) and Butterfly Radio (Florida).
Debbi Dachinger's "Dare to Dream" radio show is a syndicated, multi-award winning program. It's been featured in online news sources around the world. Author of the three-time bestselling book "Dare to Dream: This Life Counts," Debbi is often heard as an interview guest on other radio and TV shows; in addition, Debbi is an inspirational keynote speaker and a spokeswoman on panels. "Dare to Dream" radio enlightens and entertains listeners in an exciting paradigm that intertwines metaphysics with a talk show format. It's a show that's needed as people are moving towards new ways of living and doing business and desiring tools to make their passions, goals and dreams come true. "Dare to Dream" is very popular with a large listener following (2.7 million listeners per episode). Hear "Dare to Dream" radio live worldwide or on by podcast: http://www.deborahdachinger.com (and on iTunes). - 24-7 Press Release
MENA HARDY – “The EP”
I declared Mena Hardy a ‘DISCovery of the week’ last month and in response she sent me her new ‘balls to the wall’ EP entitled, whimsically, ‘The EP’. This, ladies and gentleman is a gal with rock and blues in her soul. Don’t let her age catch you off guard – “I’m a Loser (At 17)” http://youtu.be/DvVGSS9odpY indicates that she’s a freshly minted juvenile delinquent – there’s an old soul in this agile mind, if not in body, and she’s quite adept at turning a lyrical phrase as well as a face-shredding guitar solo. I do not do gushing hype, but I gotta say that Mena Hardy is the best parts of Bif Naked (“Living It Up”), Bonnie Raitt (“The Way She Goes”), Sass Jordan (“I’m In All Over”) and Lita Ford (“I’m A Loser”) rolled into one. If she can find a label and a high profile producer to take her to the next level, it’s only a matter of time before Hardy will be leading the next charge in guitar-driven rock. Look out, boys…she’s gonna kick your asses.
http://www.menahardy.com - Jamie Vernon
MENA HARDY – “The EP”
I declared Mena Hardy a ‘DISCovery of the week’ last month and in response she sent me her new ‘balls to the wall’ EP entitled, whimsically, ‘The EP’. This, ladies and gentleman is a gal with rock and blues in her soul. Don’t let her age catch you off guard – “I’m a Loser (At 17)” http://youtu.be/DvVGSS9odpY indicates that she’s a freshly minted juvenile delinquent – there’s an old soul in this agile mind, if not in body, and she’s quite adept at turning a lyrical phrase as well as a face-shredding guitar solo. I do not do gushing hype, but I gotta say that Mena Hardy is the best parts of Bif Naked (“Living It Up”), Bonnie Raitt (“The Way She Goes”), Sass Jordan (“I’m In All Over”) and Lita Ford (“I’m A Loser”) rolled into one. If she can find a label and a high profile producer to take her to the next level, it’s only a matter of time before Hardy will be leading the next charge in guitar-driven rock. Look out, boys…she’s gonna kick your asses.
http://www.menahardy.com - Jamie Vernon
I have said this before. “Indie” is not a genre. It’s a stop on the musical path to artistic self-discovery. Alright, I never said it quite like that before, but the point remains the same.
Many independents are simply striving to rid themselves of the designation in favour of the next rung on the showbiz ladder, but the experience is for most, necessary and invaluable. Free to explore their creative vision unbound by the shackles of corporate intervention, this is where artists can develop that musical identity that shapes their career. If not, it’s time for something with a dental package.
The following acts have either arrived at, or risen above the level of those elite few who are divinely blessed to earn their living at that which they were destined.
1. Andria Simone: Imagine early Amy Winehouse with better hair. Andria is what I call an “open-heart” songstress. Exposing the vulnerability nestled between playful shrugs, the sassy singer-songwriter unabashedly commands the stage like the R&B divas that inspirited her.Her EP, Nothing Comes Easy, is a remarkable debut that ends like her live shows: All too soon. She’s set for a repeat performance at Toronto’s famed El Mocambo on May 3rd, but she’ll be touring soon, so lookout folks. You’re in for some home-cooked, bluesy retro-soul, sandwiched between two slices of Canadian funk! Tasty.
2. Delhi 2 Dublin: DJ Tarun Nayar needed something special for the Vancouver Celtic Festival on St Patrick’s Day in 2006. With a Punjabi father and Irish mother, he turned a combination of live musicians from two polarized cultures into the most unlikely, but positively electric musical acts. Sanjay, Andrew, and Ravi bring percussion, electric guitar and sitar to Sara Fitzpatrick’s rousing violin. I caught their act at Saint Rocke in L.A., and the blend of electronica, Bhangra beats, and celtic melody was undeniably contagious. Their new album, Turn Up The Stereo will make you do just that, but if you get the opportunity to see them live, seize it.
3. JP Saxe: At 20 years-old, no one around him questions why he has no plan B. His number one fan, a.k.a. “Dad” cultivated his son’s talent by “getting out of his way”. Soul singer Erin Hunt says “JP was just born a singer-songwriter, and he embodies it. Quality music just flows from him.” Saxe credits his passion to his grandfather, renowned cellist Janos Starker, who dedicated himself to improving the world through the gift of beautiful music. Intent on carrying on the legacy, JP just released his first EP, Acoustic, and is working on the album this summer as he closes in on a distribution deal.Remember his name.
4. Marla Joy: This girl is a swag-machine onstage, probably because her pipes are so ridiculous. She’s like a soul-salad of Aretha, Otis Redding and Tina Turner. Marla has appeared with icons like K.C and The Sunshine Band, The Temptations, Mary J Blige, and Prince. Two years ago, Seventeen magazine called her their “Artist to know”, and those girls are 19 now! So, the release of her new EP Perfectly Flawed, is perfectly timed. Produced by Grammy winner Syience, it’s launch next month will make a lot of people wonder where she came from, and where she’s been. Right here, baby! Right here.
5. Mena Hardy: Here’s a no-nonsense, axe-grinding, singer whose boots were made for rockin’. Part Janis, Part ZZ Top, can she be our next Rock Queen? This era needs one, and Mena’s got the fierceness, and the passion. With her band, The Shotgun Revolutionaries, she creates her own brand of southern-style rock, with hits I’m a Loser at 17 and The Way She Goes, and she’s just getting started. Among last year’s winners in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, she’s rolling her experience into her new EP, featuring collaborations with Runed front man, Sane, and ex-Econoline Crush drummer, John Lalley. Hardy gives a lot on and off-stage, all just for the opportunity to do it again. She has her sights set on an eventual tour, and I for one, would buy a ticket. But I’d prefer a free one. Just sayin’, Mena.
6. Scarlett Jane: Manager Jake Gold has a knack for uncovering talent, and he has once again struck, umm…gold, with this delightful duo. Andrea and Cindy draw on their travels and ethnic roots to create the genre they dubbed “Folk-noir”. Sometimes referred to as the Everly Sisters, or the musical offspring of Stevie Nicks and Blue Rodeo, their silky harmonies and instrumental synchronicity almost make you forget that you are looking at two exceptionally striking ladies. Almost. They pride themselves on work ethic, heartfelt songwriting, and staging performances that connect with their audience. An audience which is growing by the minute as they promote their album, Stranger, on a massive tour across Canada and Europe. Their cross-genre appeal extends to fans of country, rock, and people with ears and eyeballs.
7. Tyler Wilson Band: Fate sat me next to Tyler on a flight, and his Neil Young biography sparked the convers - Metro News
Toronto's Southern Rock Queen Mena Hardy to release new EP, "It's Been Mean and Hard". Features a new line up with Pat Rush, John Lalley and Barry Murray and is real Southern Rock that is all her own!!
(OPENPRESS) "It's Been Mean and Hard" is a breakaway from the typical highly processed sound of most of today's offerings. "It's a more organic sound combining the old school approach of engineering with today's current state of the art digital technology", says Bradford Keay Engineer/Producer. Hardy and Keay have been hard at work in the studio for the last year.
They were assisted by powerhouse guitar player Pat Rush, a southern rock mainstay for the likes of Johnny Winter, .38 Special, Molly Hatchet and was Jeff Healey's right hand man for over 12 years. They were also assisted by drummer John Lalley, formally with Rusty and Econoline Crush, who brought his uncensored rhythm and feel to the drums. Rounding it all out is the infamous Barry Murray aka Bazza on bass who needs no mention of his past accomplishments.
Mena Hardy is one of Canada's top female rock vocalists and was the runner up for the coveted rock category in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition in 2012. Two songs from her debut EP entitled "The EP", "I'm a Loser at 17"and "The Way She Goes" , made the Canadian rock radio airwaves earning respectable chart positions. Mena has also had success in a number of license deals in film, television, and commercials. Her first placement was with "Biker TV" followed by a placement with filmmaker Frank Caruso's "Club Utopia" and most recently with Airwalk's high impact video for pro surfer star Granger Larsen. For more information visit www.menahardy.com or contact info@menahardy.com. - The Open Press
link to live interview tuesday july 7th, click hour 2
https://secure.ckut.ca//cgi-bin/ckut-grid.pl?show=2%252C07%253A00&action=showaudio - McGill Radio
The Blueberry Hill Bistro may be best known for its dinner menu and seemingly endless wine list, but owner Chris Williams is hoping to make a mark in the local music scene by hosting a weekly live music event every Wednesday evening.
Alexandria songstress Shannon Hardy took the stage in front of a capacity crowd last Wednesday, armed only with her guitar and her powerful voice.
Hardy entertained the crowd by playing some of her original songs, as well as a vast variety of covers and even took requests from the audience.
"I was so pleased with the turnout," said Hardy after her performance. "Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves."
Hardy will be returning to Blueberry Hill to take part in the St-Patrick's Day festivities on March 17 at 10 p.m. She will also be performing at the Atlantic Hotel in Alexandria on March 26.
This week's live entertainment will feature Neil Emberg, lead singer of the Celtic band Hadrian's Wall.
Raised in Glengarry County, Emberg has spent the last decade and a half touring around North America with the band.
He recently released his first solo album entitled, "Rise and Follow." Emberg produced the album himself with help from David Gossage and Montreal-based engineer/producer Paul Johnston. The album, which took the better part of a year to complete, features musical guests from all over the world, thanks in part to internet and satellite studio capabilities.
Emberg is known for his crowd-pleasing live performances that showcase both his Celtic roots and his slightly more serious side - with a wide variety of love songs.
Fresh off a weekend of shows in Montreal and Syracuse, New York, Emberg will be taking the stage at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10 at the Blueberry Hill Bistro, located at 16 High Street in Vankleek Hill.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 - The Review
ALEXANDRIA -- A local singer who's making a splash on the Montreal music scene has her sights set on the future.
Shannon Hardy has sung from the time she was a youngster accompanying her father, composer Robert Hardy, on various recordings he completed. As a kid, she studied piano, then guitar, even playing stand-up and electric bass with the Glengarry District High School concert band.
But as passionate as she was about music, she felt it would remain a hobby.
"I actually studied psychology, with a minor in marketing," said the 2008 Concordia University graduate. "I thought music was a phase in my life.
"But in 2007 I met Maxim at the Concordia Music Project and we've been working together ever since."
Maxim is Maxim Allenbright, one half of Allenbright and Hardy. Since they officially joined forces as a duo in December, 2008, they've had a steady line-up of gigs throughout the Montreal area. They've played at venues like Club Soda and Les Trois Minots, as well as others in the downtown core like Grumpys and Ye Olde Orchard. Lately, their show has been venturing into Ontario at Vankleek Hill's Blueberry Hill Bistro.
Upcoming gigs include Alexandria's Georgian House on Jan. 21, and Schnitzel's on Feb. 5.
Hardy is also doing a solo show, Tribute to Love, at Knox Fine Dining in Moose Creek on, appropriately enough, Feb. 14 -or Valentine's Day for lovebirds.
"I love it," she gushed about how she named the show herself. "It's so cheesy, but I'm so looking forward to it.
"It's an acoustic show, just me and my guitar."
The duo has its own myspace site at www.myspace.com/allenbrightandhardy, in addition to a Facebook group.
Initially, they started out as more alternative rock, she said, but decided to abandon that genre and move towards an acoustic style.
"Our music is like a more Canadian and modern version of Simon and Garfunkel music," she describes. "There's no drums or bass, but a strong melody."
Allenbright and Hardy -or Hardy solo, for that matter -perform a blend of both cover and original material.
Both are also fluently bilingual, something which bodes well for the Montreal and international markets.
"Being bilingual has really broadened our market," says Hardy. "It's helped to make us distinct."
Things have been going so well, in fact, that she quit her job as a Hooters Girl this past September to focus on music.
"You can't really intimidate me on stage. It's hard to embarrass me!" laughs Hardy, who was also a Bud Light Lime Girl.
Although Montreal is "very, very competitive" for music acts, Allenbright and Hardy has developed a strong following.
"Since we started booking gigs, things have really taken off for us," said Hardy. "I think Allenbright and Hardy is probably going to explode this year."
Plans are in the works for them to record an EP as a duo early this winter, something she will also be doing for a solo project in Toronto next month. Then it's a matter of marketing it and touring.
"We have an agent in Montreal, so we're going to be doing some tours around Quebec City, and hopefully over to France this summer," she said.
"We're also being contacted by different festivals in eastern Ontario right now.
"You got to give them goose bumps . . . that's what we really strive for when we play our music. - Standard Freeholder
ALEXANDRIA -- A local singer who's making a splash on the Montreal music scene has her sights set on the future.
Shannon Hardy has sung from the time she was a youngster accompanying her father, composer Robert Hardy, on various recordings he completed. As a kid, she studied piano, then guitar, even playing stand-up and electric bass with the Glengarry District High School concert band.
But as passionate as she was about music, she felt it would remain a hobby.
"I actually studied psychology, with a minor in marketing," said the 2008 Concordia University graduate. "I thought music was a phase in my life.
"But in 2007 I met Maxim at the Concordia Music Project and we've been working together ever since."
Maxim is Maxim Allenbright, one half of Allenbright and Hardy. Since they officially joined forces as a duo in December, 2008, they've had a steady line-up of gigs throughout the Montreal area. They've played at venues like Club Soda and Les Trois Minots, as well as others in the downtown core like Grumpys and Ye Olde Orchard. Lately, their show has been venturing into Ontario at Vankleek Hill's Blueberry Hill Bistro.
Upcoming gigs include Alexandria's Georgian House on Jan. 21, and Schnitzel's on Feb. 5.
Hardy is also doing a solo show, Tribute to Love, at Knox Fine Dining in Moose Creek on, appropriately enough, Feb. 14 -or Valentine's Day for lovebirds.
"I love it," she gushed about how she named the show herself. "It's so cheesy, but I'm so looking forward to it.
"It's an acoustic show, just me and my guitar."
The duo has its own myspace site at www.myspace.com/allenbrightandhardy, in addition to a Facebook group.
Initially, they started out as more alternative rock, she said, but decided to abandon that genre and move towards an acoustic style.
"Our music is like a more Canadian and modern version of Simon and Garfunkel music," she describes. "There's no drums or bass, but a strong melody."
Allenbright and Hardy -or Hardy solo, for that matter -perform a blend of both cover and original material.
Both are also fluently bilingual, something which bodes well for the Montreal and international markets.
"Being bilingual has really broadened our market," says Hardy. "It's helped to make us distinct."
Things have been going so well, in fact, that she quit her job as a Hooters Girl this past September to focus on music.
"You can't really intimidate me on stage. It's hard to embarrass me!" laughs Hardy, who was also a Bud Light Lime Girl.
Although Montreal is "very, very competitive" for music acts, Allenbright and Hardy has developed a strong following.
"Since we started booking gigs, things have really taken off for us," said Hardy. "I think Allenbright and Hardy is probably going to explode this year."
Plans are in the works for them to record an EP as a duo early this winter, something she will also be doing for a solo project in Toronto next month. Then it's a matter of marketing it and touring.
"We have an agent in Montreal, so we're going to be doing some tours around Quebec City, and hopefully over to France this summer," she said.
"We're also being contacted by different festivals in eastern Ontario right now.
"You got to give them goose bumps . . . that's what we really strive for when we play our music. - Standard Freeholder
check www.myspace.com/allenbrightandhardy for clips - McGill University Radio
Alexandria's Shannon Hardy will play for a hometown audience next Thursday evening with a live muscial performance at the Alexandria Restaurant.
Since graduating from Concordia in 2008 with a Bachelor of Psychology, the 25 year old has been making a name for herself as a singer/songwriter. Performing both as a solo artist and as a duo with her musical partner, Montrealer Maxim Allenbright, the dark-haired songstress has already performed in the area, including a recent show at the Blueberry Hill Bistro in Vankleek Hill. "That was my first full length solo show," she says. "The place was packed. The show was three sets. I started at 7:30 and was only supposed to play until 10. But right at the end, it just filled up."
That show was especially memorable because Miss Hardy's musician father, Robert Hardy, was in the audience.
"I remember growing up, my father would tell me about tall the famous musicians he used to play with," she says. "It became my dream too."
Unlike many people of her generation, she did not grow up listening to such pop fare acts as the Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys. She says that her influences are such luminaries as Janis Joplin, Robert Plant, Joe Cocker and Freddy Mercury.
She describes her work with Mr. Allenbright as a kind of Simon and Garfunkel duo that is more modern and more Canadian. They are looking forward to making an EP together in the new year in Montreal.
Meanwhile, her father is preparing for a springtime trip to Toronto, where he will attend the world premiere performance of the Fifth Day Suite, a symphony he helped compose with co-writer, Willard Riley.
Miss Hardy performs at the restaurant at 127 Main Street south from 5:30 - 8:30pm on Dec. 17th. - The Glengarry News
Alexandria's Shannon Hardy will play for a hometown audience next Thursday evening with a live muscial performance at the Alexandria Restaurant.
Since graduating from Concordia in 2008 with a Bachelor of Psychology, the 25 year old has been making a name for herself as a singer/songwriter. Performing both as a solo artist and as a duo with her musical partner, Montrealer Maxim Allenbright, the dark-haired songstress has already performed in the area, including a recent show at the Blueberry Hill Bistro in Vankleek Hill. "That was my first full length solo show," she says. "The place was packed. The show was three sets. I started at 7:30 and was only supposed to play until 10. But right at the end, it just filled up."
That show was especially memorable because Miss Hardy's musician father, Robert Hardy, was in the audience.
"I remember growing up, my father would tell me about tall the famous musicians he used to play with," she says. "It became my dream too."
Unlike many people of her generation, she did not grow up listening to such pop fare acts as the Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys. She says that her influences are such luminaries as Janis Joplin, Robert Plant, Joe Cocker and Freddy Mercury.
She describes her work with Mr. Allenbright as a kind of Simon and Garfunkel duo that is more modern and more Canadian. They are looking forward to making an EP together in the new year in Montreal.
Meanwhile, her father is preparing for a springtime trip to Toronto, where he will attend the world premiere performance of the Fifth Day Suite, a symphony he helped compose with co-writer, Willard Riley.
Miss Hardy performs at the restaurant at 127 Main Street south from 5:30 - 8:30pm on Dec. 17th. - The Glengarry News
Dateline:
TORONTO
Matthew Brown
LISTEN TO HER LATEST TRACKS (WITHIN ARTICLE)
Alexandria-based musician Shannon Hardy recently celebrated her 26th birthday in style - at a Toronto recording studio with well-known producer Mark Zubek.
Zubek came across a song of Hardy's while listening to CKUT 90.3 FM, a Montreal-based radio station. He quickly hunted down the eastern Ontario songstress and expressed his interest in working with her.
"The first song that I heard by Shannon was a French song called 'Thomas' and the next was an English one," said Zubek. "It's a very rare thing to find a musician that is so incredibly talented in two languages."
Listen to 'Thomas' - click here
Hardy boasts a lengthy repertoire that consists of both English and French originals as well as classic cover songs by artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, and James Taylor.
"When Mark contacted me, I was already working with a Montreal-based producer and I was a little hesitant about making a switch," said Hardy. "But after looking into his credentials and some of the other artists that he has worked with, it was a very easy decision."
Surrounded by music since birth, Shannon is heavily influenced by the success of her father, Robert Hardy, who while living in England had the pleasure of sharing a stage with such notable musicians as Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Jerry-Lee Lewis, and even toured with Rod Stewart as an opening act. He now lives in Alexandria and works as a classical composer.
A three-year veteran of the Montreal music scene, Shannon Hardy is now looking to expand her musical horizons and has been taking everything "a little more seriously."
"When I was younger, I thought that music would be a phase for me," Hardy recalled. "But after a few years, I have realized that it is my passion, my purpose."
Hardy recorded her first song at the age of five, when she sang back-up vocals on a song called "Smile It Away," composed by her father, and made her first lead vocal appearance on another Robert Hardy masterpiece entitled "Magic All Around."
At the moment, Hardy is focusing on sharing her talent with as many music lovers as possible by playing countless shows and festivals in cities across Ontario and Quebec. Plans are also in the works to record a full-length album in the near future.
Shannon will be performing live at the Blueberry Hill Bistro, at 16 High Street in Vankleek Hill, on Wednesday, March 3 at 8 p.m.
Listen to 'G-Force' - click here
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - The Review
Dateline:
TORONTO
Matthew Brown
LISTEN TO HER LATEST TRACKS (WITHIN ARTICLE)
Alexandria-based musician Shannon Hardy recently celebrated her 26th birthday in style - at a Toronto recording studio with well-known producer Mark Zubek.
Zubek came across a song of Hardy's while listening to CKUT 90.3 FM, a Montreal-based radio station. He quickly hunted down the eastern Ontario songstress and expressed his interest in working with her.
"The first song that I heard by Shannon was a French song called 'Thomas' and the next was an English one," said Zubek. "It's a very rare thing to find a musician that is so incredibly talented in two languages."
Listen to 'Thomas' - click here
Hardy boasts a lengthy repertoire that consists of both English and French originals as well as classic cover songs by artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, and James Taylor.
"When Mark contacted me, I was already working with a Montreal-based producer and I was a little hesitant about making a switch," said Hardy. "But after looking into his credentials and some of the other artists that he has worked with, it was a very easy decision."
Surrounded by music since birth, Shannon is heavily influenced by the success of her father, Robert Hardy, who while living in England had the pleasure of sharing a stage with such notable musicians as Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, Jerry-Lee Lewis, and even toured with Rod Stewart as an opening act. He now lives in Alexandria and works as a classical composer.
A three-year veteran of the Montreal music scene, Shannon Hardy is now looking to expand her musical horizons and has been taking everything "a little more seriously."
"When I was younger, I thought that music would be a phase for me," Hardy recalled. "But after a few years, I have realized that it is my passion, my purpose."
Hardy recorded her first song at the age of five, when she sang back-up vocals on a song called "Smile It Away," composed by her father, and made her first lead vocal appearance on another Robert Hardy masterpiece entitled "Magic All Around."
At the moment, Hardy is focusing on sharing her talent with as many music lovers as possible by playing countless shows and festivals in cities across Ontario and Quebec. Plans are also in the works to record a full-length album in the near future.
Shannon will be performing live at the Blueberry Hill Bistro, at 16 High Street in Vankleek Hill, on Wednesday, March 3 at 8 p.m.
Listen to 'G-Force' - click here
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - The Review
Discography
"The EP" released August 2011
"It's Been Mean and Hard" released December 2013
Photos
Bio
Mena Hardy is one of Canada's top female rock vocalists and was the runner up for the coveted rock category in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition in 2012. Two songs from her debut EP entitled "The EP", "I'm a Loser at 17"and "The Way She Goes" , made the Canadian rock radio airwaves earning respectable chart positions. Mena has also had success in a number of license deals in film, television, and commercials. Her first placement was with "Biker TV" followed by a placement with filmmaker Frank Caruso's "Club Utopia" and most recently with Airwalk's high impact video for pro surfer star Granger Larsen. For more information visit www.menahardy.com or contact info@menahardy.com.
Links
