In this edition:

• Download a new Broken Social Scene track from Forgiveness Rock Record, due May 4
• Imagine Concert to bring Woodstock-influenced festivities to Downsview Park in July 2010
• Bob Ezrin brings together 40 Canadian musicians for Haiti benefit cover of 'Wavin' Flag' by K'Naan
• Constantines stop by Daytrotter
• The Carps' Jahmal Tonge offers solo EP for free download
• New project from Daniel Romano coming soon?
• The Meligrove Band ready their long overdue follow-up to Planets Conspire
• Sade turns down collaboration with Drake
• Video from The Bicycles show at Wavelength 500
• The RAA reissued on limited edition blue vinyl
• Woodhands featured on CBC Radio 3 Artists Series Podcast
• Alexisonfire forced to cancel their Olympic show after barricades collapse
• Olenka & the Autumn Lovers enter the studio
• Canadian Interviews sits down with Basia Bulat

Plus videos and/or songs from Woodhands, Caribou, Ian Kamau, Elliott Brood, Constantines, Owen Pallett, Grand Analog, Great Lake Swimmers and more.

Download Broken Social Scene's new song 'World Sick'
Forgiveness Rock Record released May 4 through Arts & Crafts.

Secret Haiti Benefit Single in the Works
Producer Bob Ezrin is at the forefront of a secret Haiti benefit collaboration that was recorded last week in Vancouver amidst the chaos of the Olympic Games. While the identities of the guest contributors are still a mystery, the song they'll be working on is K'Naan's 'Wavin' Flag,' which was previously selected as the official anthem of the 2010 World Cup. According to the Globe and Mail, approximately 40 Canadian artists have come together at the last minute to make the recording possible - which leaves every musician in the Vancouver area last Thursday as potential contributors.

Ian Kamau - 'Love It Here' (Grab his full mixtape here).

Caribou - Odessa

Imagine Concert
Promoters Artie Kornfield and David Kam are planning on bringing "the largest event in the 40 years since Woodstock" to Downsview Park on July 10 and 11, 2010. The pair are looking to hold a two-day event that they hope will attract upwards of a million attendees. No acts have been confirmed yet, though the creators divulged a few of the invites they'd already sent out: Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga and (unfortunately) Nickelback.

Organizers have stated that details of the proposed event will be made public by mid-March, and have revealed that the event is part of a larger charity initiative entitled the Earthship Summit Festival, which was pioneered by Kam and numerous charity partners including the Red Cross, Amnesty International and Save the Children. John Lennon's 'Imagine' is the inspiration for the name of the event - a song which Kam hopes to re-record three times after having (apparently) received the blessing of Yoko Ono.

There are an unquantifiable number of variables that could inhibit Kam & Kornfield's utopian music festival from actually happening. News of the festival was originally reported by Torontoist, who provided links to multiple websites indicating that this thing is legitimate. At this point I'm still not convinced, but a few confirmed acts and confirmed city approval should be enough to sway me.

Elliott Brood - Live from Vancouver - Feb 14, 2010

Constantines - 'Young Lions'

Constantines Stop by Daytrotter
Less than a week after their headlining slot at night four of the Wavelength 500 festival, The Constantines stopped by The Horseshack in Rock Island, Illinois to record four tracks for the wonderful people at Daytrotter. The live-off-the-floor session features three alternative versions of tracks from Kensington Heights and 'Sub-Domestic' from 2003's Shine a Light. Though I fear sounding like a broken record for having said this so many times before, you really should sign up at Daytrotter. With massive archives featuring hundreds of artists and a new sessions recorded and uploaded daily, Daytrotter is one of the best places on the web for free and legal mp3s.

Free Solo EP From The Carps' Jahmal Tonge
While it looks like I'm going to have to sit around and wait for The Carps' debut album to materialize, drummer/singer Jahmal Tonge has at least partially filled the void by offering a collection of songs called To Mitigate Friends & Lovers for free download via Bandcamp. The five-track EP is a truly DIY effort that features Tonge playing all instruments as well as handling mixing and production duties.

Southern Souls presents: Grand Analog - 'I Play My Kazoo'

Southern Souls presents: Grand Analog - 'Her Daddy (Don't Like Me)'

- The Meligrove Band took to their website to announce that they have finished their new album, and are currently "talking to labels and stuff now." You have a good shot of catching some new material if you head to their CMW showcase at the Garrison on March 13, or perhaps to Peterborough for their March 24 show with the recently-reunited Thrush Hermit. TMB also hinted at the possibility of a forthcoming documentary film about the band, though details are few and far between at this point.

- Daniel Romano of Attack in Black has posted a pair of songs for stream on his solo myspace page. Based on the names in the band members section of the page, it looks like this is the same project that I checked out at the El Mocambo in January (featuring Daniel's brother, aunt and father, as well as Bruce Peninsula's Misha Bower). Romano's myspace also notes that Workin' for the Music Man is coming soon, though no further details have been offered at this time. Best bet would be to keep an eye on You've Changed Records for the latest updates on the project.

- Exclaim picked up on a pair of news stories involving rapper Drake last week. First, news of Sade turning down a collaboration with Drake for his forthcoming debut album Thank Me Later, followed by Drake spilling the beans on Kanye's eagerly anticipated follow-up to his synth-heavy opus 808s & Heartbreak.

Owen Pallett - 'Fantasy' (Live at the Black Sheep Inn)

Great Lake Swimmers on Le Cargo

- Woodhands are the latest artist to be featured on the CBC Radio 3 Artists Series Podcast, which features the duo talking about their new album and playing a collection of songs by other artists. Download: MP3 or M4A.

In addition, Woodhands spoke with ChartAttack this week about the boom of drummer Paul Banwatt's "sideproject" The Rural Alberta Advantage, and what sort of compromises have been made in light of scheduling conflicts between the two bands.

Speaking of the RAA, it looks as though their debut full length is being given the reissue treatment yet again, this time by the lovely folks at Paper Bag Records. The reissue will include 300 pressings on 180g blue vinyl with a hand silk-screened cover sleeve - check here for further info.

- At last week's Wavelength 500 festival, The Bicycles reunited for a mindblowingly infectious set at Sneaky Dee's (check out my photos here). For those that couldn't make it out or couldn't get into the show, Justin at NxEW has you covered - check out the full video stream (split into 5 chunks) at youtube, or download the video files in MP4 or OGV via archive.org.

TWM Minilogues: Corduroy

- Basia Bulat sat down with Canadian Interviews for a lengthy chat, the full transcript of which is available for your browsing pleasure.

- Alexisonfire took some heat this past week for cancelling their Olympics show in Vancouver after their ravenous fans pressed forward and broke a crowd control barricade during the first track of their set. Roughly twenty people were injured before the venue was rapidly evacuated, and the band has since issued a statement regarding the mishap.

- Via Facebook, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers recently revealed that they'll be entering the studio this week to record the much anticipated follow-up to their self-titled 2008 debut.

Lead photo of the Bicycles at Dee's during WL500 by Matthew McAndrew.