Port Cities (band)

Port Cities is a Canadian band based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Formed in 2015, Port Cities is composed of Dylan Guthro, Breagh MacKinnon, and Carleton Stone —each already a singer/songwriter with an established solo career. The band signed with turtlemusik/Warner Music in 2016 and released its debut album in 2017.

Port Cities
OriginHalifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Genrespop
Years active2015-present
Labelsturtlemusik/Warner Music
Associated actsGordie Sampson, Donovan Woods, Andrew Austin, Neon Dreams, Ria Mae, Mo Kenney
Websitehttp://portcities.ca/
MembersDylan Guthro, Breagh MacKinnon, Carleton Stone

History

Guthro, Mackinnon, and Stone met in 2011 at the Gordie Sampson Song Camp, an annual event in Cape Breton that gathers promising songwriters from across Nova Scotia.[1] There they formed a three-way friendship that soon led to various collaborations in the context of their individual musical lives. Eventually they were writing and playing together often enough that the idea of forming a band arose naturally.[2]

"We just thought, there’s such a great chemistry between us, why not try to join forces and do something that’s bigger that any of us could do on our own?” said Carelton Stone in a 2015 interview.[3]

Port Cities officially launched in 2015. In 2016, the band was signed to turtlemusik/Warner Music; their debut album was released in February 2017.[4]

As individual musicians, the three members of Port Cities had collectively released six solo albums prior to the band's first release.[1] As a group they write songs to take advantage of each member's strength and experience as a vocalist, often employing two- and three-part harmonies in their music.[2]

In 2016, Port Cities won Casino Nova Scotia's third annual Artist in Residence competition, which awarded them $20,000 to assist them in their ongoing musical development.[5]

Also in 2016, the band released its first two songs, "Astronaut" and "Back to the Bottom." The debut album, produced by Gordie Sampson, was released February 10, 2017.[2] On February 23, 2017, their debut single "Back to the Bottom" reached #1 on CBC Radio 2. [6] That same year, Port Cities took the lead at the 2017 Nova Scotia Music Awards, winning five, including Entertainer of the Year, Digital Artist of the Year, Group Recording of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year, and Recording of the Year. [7]

In February of 2018, Port Cities released their single “Idea of You”. [8] That spring, they toured across Canada,[9] as well as Germany[10] and the United Kingdom.[11]

Port Cities were among the 2018/2019 Allan Slaight Juno Masterclass Winners, Canada’s premiere artist development program selected by a “super-jury” of music industry leaders, allowing them to transform their careers with crucial tools and invaluable experiences. [12] Of the four master class participants, Port Cities was chosen to perform at the 2019 Juno Gala Dinner and Awards on March 16. [13]

Their most recent single is titled “Montreal”. [14]

On Friday, September 20, 2019, the band stated keyboardist and singer Breagh MacKinnon of Port Cities would be leaving to pursue “new creative opportunities” and that they would miss her. The three original band members are set to release one final song together in October of 2019 and will have three final shows with MacKinnon in December 2019. Guthro and Stone have confirmed that they will be continuing as a band under the name Port Cities and that they would be taking the fall to decide how to best move forward.[15]

Band members

Discography

Albums
  • "Port Cities" (2017)

Singles
    • "Sorry" (2019)
    • "Montreal" Famba Remix (2019)
    • "Montreal" Tep No Remix (2019)
    • "Montreal" (2018)
    • "Half The Way" Germany Mix" (2018)
    • "Idea Of You" Corey Lerue Remix (2018)
    • "Idea Of You" (2018)
    • "Where Have You Been" (Acoustic) (2017)
    • "Sound Of Your Voice" Tawgs Remix (2017)
    • "Back To The Bottom" Neon Dreams Remix (2017)

Awards and achievements
  • 2019
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Nomination - Digital Artist of the Year[16]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Nomination - Songwriter of the Year - "Montreal" (Dylan Guthro, Breagh MacKinnon, Carleton Stone, Thomas Salter)[17]
  • 2018
    • Slaight Music Juno Masterclass Winners[18]
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best Folk Artist/Band (Gold)[19]
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best Pop Artist/Band (Silver)[20]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Nomination - Digital Artist of the Year[21]
    • ECMA Award Nomination - Pop Recording of the Year – Port Cities, Port Cities[22]
    • ECMA Award Nomination - Song of the Year – Port Cities, “Back To The Bottom”[22]
    • ECMA Award Nomination - Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year – Port Cities[22]
  • 2017
    • CBC Radio 2 2017 Charts Most Online Votes - #14 “In The Dark”[23]
    • CBC Radio 2 2017 Charts #1 songs of 2017 - #14 “Back to the Bottom”[24]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Winner Best Album - "Port Cities"[25]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Winner Best Group Album - "Port Cities"[25]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Winner Best Pop Album - "Port Cities"[25]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Winner Entertainer of the Year[25]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Winner Digital Artist of the Year[25]
    • Music Nova Scotia Award Nominee Video of the Year - "Trouble" (With Dave Sampson)[26]
    • SOCAN #1 Award - Back to the Bottom[27]
    • #1 CBC Radio Top 20 (February 23, 2017) - Back to the Bottom[28]
    • #1 Spotify Canada “Viral 50” Chart - Back to the Bottom[29]
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best Music Video - “Astronaut” (Gold)[30]
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best Artist / Band Most Likely To Make It Big (Silver)[31]
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best Pop Artist/Band (Silver)[32]
  • 2016
    • Casino Nova Scotia Artist In Residence 2016 Winners[33]
    • Top 25 CBC Searchlight Competition[34]
    • Slaight Music Juno Masterclass Finalists[35]
  • 2015
    • Voted The Coast “Best of Halifax” - Best New Artist / Band (Bronze)[36]

References
  1. "Port Cities". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. July 17, 2015.
  2. "Port Cities features 3 friends with great vocal blend". Ottawa, Ontario: CBC/Radio Canada. August 16, 2016.
  3. Thompson, Aly (January 14, 2015). "Halifax musicians put solo careers aside, join forces for new band 'Port Cities'". Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax Metro News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  4. "New Music: Port Cities Self-Titled Release 'Port Cities' - The East". Theeastmag.com. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. Dingwell, Rebecca (August 4, 2016). "Tunes at our 'fingertips': Halifax musician Dylan Guthro spotted on streaming chart". Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax Metro News.
  6. https://www.cbcmusic.ca/posts/18122/radio-2-top-20-feb-23-common-deer-jamiroquai-debut
  7. http://musicnovascotia.ca/content/announcing-2017-music-nova-scotia-award-winners
  8. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2018/02/16/port-cities-idea-you
  9. https://canadianbeats.ca/2017/02/10/five-questions-with-port-cities/
  10. https://heilewelt.tumblr.com/post/174781889378/in-photos-and-words-port-cities-berlin
  11. https://sonicshocks.tumblr.com/post/165963865933/live-review-port-cities
  12. https://junoawards.ca/winners-announced-fourth-annual-allan-slaight-juno-master-class/
  13. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/port-cities-juno-master-class-1.5043693
  14. http://exclaim.ca/music/article/port_cities_premiere_ode_to_new_love_with_montreal
  15. https://www.capebretonpost.com/lifestyles/local-lifestyles/ports-cities-member-leaving-for-new-creative-opportunities-355738/
  16. http://musicnovascotia.ca/content/list-nominees-announced-2019-music-nova-scotia-awards
  17. http://musicnovascotia.ca/content/list-nominees-announced-2019-music-nova-scotia-awards
  18. https://junoawards.ca/winners-announced-fourth-annual-allan-slaight-juno-master-class/
  19. https://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/best-folk-artist-band/BestOf?oid=18679095
  20. https://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/best-folk-artist-band/BestOf?oid=18679095
  21. https://nsmw.ca/music-nominees-2/%5B%5D
  22. "2018 East Coast Music Awards Nominees Announced! - East Coast Music Association". Ecma.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  23. "Radio 2 Top 20, Dec. 21: fan favourites of 2017". Cbcmusic.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  24. "Radio 2 Top 20, Dec. 28: the #1 songs of 2017". Cbcmusic.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  25. Thorne, Tara. "Your 2017 Music Nova Scotia award winners". Thecoast.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  26. "Cape Bretoners nominated for Music Nova Scotia Awards - Cape Breton Post". Capebretonpost.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-05. Retrieved 2018-01-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "Radio 2 Top 20, Feb. 23: Common Deer, Jamiroquai debut, Port Cities No. 1". Cbcmusic.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  29. "Spotify Chart Canada Daily - Viral - 2016-07-10 - Spot On Track". Spotontrack.com. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  30. "Best Music Video". Thecoast.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  31. "Best Artist / Band Most Likely To Make It Big". Thecoast.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  32. "Best Pop Artist / Band". Thecoast.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  33. "Port Cities - Casino Nova Scotia - Ticket Info". Ticketatlantic.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  34. "Meet the Top 25 regional finalists from Searchlight 2016". Cbcmusic.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  35. "TOP 10 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR SECOND ANNUAL ALLAN SLAIGHT JUNO MASTER CLASS - The JUNO Awards". Junoawards.ca. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  36. "Best New Artist / Band". Thecoast.ca. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
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