Listen to the scorching new single, “Crystal Mountains,“ on Spotify and Apple Music, or watch the official video on YouTube.
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After six years, Sleepless Nights are back. Their brand new EP, Keith Hamilton, is available via Acadian Embassy and Forward Music Group on Friday, September 15. The band embarks on a series of tour dates throughout Eastern Canada in its support. Dates are as follows:
September 14 – Fredericton, NB @ The Capital (Harvest Jazz & Blues)
September 15 – Yarmouth, NS @ The Red Knight
September 16 – Halifax, NS @ The Seahorse Tavern (early show!)
In the mid-aughts, Sleepless Nights carved out their reputation as one of the hardest working bands on the East Coast of Canada. By their final tours in 2009, when the group was put on indefinite hiatus, Sleepless Nights were playing an entire new, unreleased set of songs. There was a miffed attempt at capturing them in 2011, but no recordings were ever completed.
In June 2016, approaching the 10-year anniversary of their breakout EP, Hang Up, Sleepless Nights reconvened for a weekend of recording in Toronto at Taurus Recording with Thomas D’Arcy (Small Sins/The Ladies and Gentlemen, k-os) to archive four of those songs. With former member Matt MacDonald (The Superfantastics) joining them in studio, the band recorded Keith Hamilton – an EP that chronicles the now seasoned musicians returning to their roots.
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About Keith Hamilton…
Since the first Sleepless Nights release in 2004, there have been two constants in the band: the steadfast artistic vision and direction of Aaron Wallace, and a gentleman named Keith Hamilton.
A fixture in the Toronto music scene, Hamilton booked the Halifax band’s first ever show outside of the Maritimes. Through the years, Sleepless Nights toured with several of Hamilton’s acts. Four in fact: The Postage Stamps, The Diableros, Hamilton Tradition Company, and Beams. He has been there from the beginning, and has tirelessly stuck by the band as a booker, a musician, an actor, and a friend.
“Keith is our undeserved secret weapon. He’s our Bez. He’s the DJ Khaled of indie rock. He’s a fashion icon to future generations,” says Wallace.
“He is the unofficial twenty-second member of the band. No question,” adds Josh “Pinky” Pothier, the group’s drummer, jokingly referring to the sheer number of members the band has had over time.
Over 13 years, much has changed about Sleepless Nights. Musical styles, members, and formations, but never Keith Hamilton.
It seemed apt, then, that on what feels like a return to their musical foundation – dialed up, commanding pop rock – the band should pay homage to the other persistent thread that has followed them through their career.
Plus, who doesn’t love Keith?
