With the start of 2012 and a brand new year, we here at SIN felt that we had some notes of thank you, pats on the back, and some milestones that we wanted to acknowledge within the community we work in.

2011 was a year that was full of changes and struggles in the independent music community, with economy changing and shifting, and venues closing making it harder on touring bands in many ways and learning to adapt as a once full and bountiful scene struggles to survive has been hard on us as well as the artists we represent. As with all change, the strong will survive and so far we are still here!!! We don’t plan on going anywhere and we look forward to the coming year with a fresh enthusiasm and appreciation for those we are fortunate enough to work with on all sides of the spectrum.

From Leanne:

Some of the opportunities that our artists were accepted for this past year say so much about the quality of their music and the strength of their performance.

All Else Fails at Boonstock ~ July 1st 2011

Like All Else Fails opening for City of Fire, 3 Inches of Blood, & Cancer Bats and an appearance at Boonstock Music Festival. Versus the Nothing opening for Bison BC, Die Mannequin, State of Shock and Hinder and they also marked 2 U.S. tours in 2011 spending close to 14 of 18 months on the road touring.

We got to work with bands like Kill Matilda, Stone Iris, Harmful Effects, The Ruined,Quartered, Inside it Failed, Centrefold, The Senticsphere, Chasing Amee and many more that I will probably remember I should have mentioned by tomorrow.

Photo Credit: Suzanne Sagmeister

In November we celebrated our first anniversary as SIN Agency and with Versus the Nothing as their booking agents, and I believe it’s personally my third year working with them and teaching them you don’t mess with the master of pranking! I win! Twice now!

November also saw our very 1st Annual Blank-Fest Calgary that had 12 amazing bands, one incredible venue and so many unbelievable people giving it up for our cause! It’s about the homeless, nothing more nothing less. Thank you to all the bands, The Blind Beggar Pub (Adam and Garry and staff), QR Zap, Axe Music, Stampede Six.com Photography, The Mustard Seed, Kenn Rowell, Asher Media and the Calgary fans and media that supported us.

Photo Credit: Tyler Branston, Branston Photography

In December we shared a first anniversary with All Else Fails on our roster, one helluva year full of excitement, pride and laughter, including the ever awesome Studio Space video blog that spoofs everything and everyone and I constantly anticipate their antics and breakthroughs with equal passion.  Also in this past year we found an unholy but oh so awesome alliance with AEF and Branston Photography… what we have seen (insane live performance shots, Zombie profile pic and the infamous YOGA pic) so far is only the beginning of what is to come and I can’t wait!

Photo Credit: Suzanne Sagmeister

This past summer we added Broken Ride to the full time roster, breaking new ground for us with our first radio friendly rock band, with a passionate performance and goals we are excited to share. Join the ride or step aside!! Watch for the doors they are going to kick in this coming year with tours in the works crossing borders for the first time.

There are so many to thank for the past year that I’m afraid to start naming names because I know I will forget some that should most definitely be mentioned! If I miss mentioning you please know that if it wasn’t nearly midnight and the end of another long work day, you would have not been forgotten.

First my partner Skilly for putting the Indestructible in SIN, for listening to my rants and raves when I hit that wall I can’t bash through and making me laugh when I’m so mad or frustrated I didn’t think it possible.

To Jon Asher of Asher Media Relations for being amazing at what he does, for putting up with our antics and for being a really awesome friend too.

To Hayley Hitchcock the intern we worked to death until we lost her to school. To our new interns Shayne and Krys…. Do NOT talk to Hayley. We are awesome to work for… honest!

To all the support bands that come out to rock the house with our touring bands on the road, thank you!!!!!! Your support is unbelievably valuable and you are appreciated more than you will ever know.

To the awesome venues, promoters, bookers and buyers that we have the good fortune to work with and who give our bands a home to play in on the road and at home including but not limited to: John Kriska/ Better Than Fred’s, Trevor Kain/ DV8 Nightclub, Trev @ E3 Media (we miss you), Isaac/ Dicken’s Pub, Adam & Garry/ The Blind Beggar, Bret Pollard/ Phunkin Gruuve, Bryan Grob/ Nestor’s Tavern, Joe Black/ Blackstar Productions, Elle Quintana/ Reggie’s Rock Club and Music Joint, Brad Sumak/ Red Rooster (RIP) & Corktown, John Kohn/ O’Flannigan’s, Blake Talarico/ Devil’s Gap, James/ Canmore Hotel, Shawn McLeod/ Pogue’s, Chance/ Riverfront Pub (he loves me), Mike Ash/ Distrikt Nightclub, Jason Jansekovich/ Club 515 (RIP), Derin/ Original Joe’s Avenida, Art Szabo/ Brixx, Kristina Killcrist/ Kelowna, Steve Derpack/ Haven Social Club & JCL Productions, Darryl Bowers, Lars and Deren/ Of Thorn & Vine, Zuko/ my Manitoba hero, and so many many many more that I haven’t got the room to add you all. Thanks for what you do and the help that you have given.

I’d like to give shout outs as well to some old friends and new: Alkatine, Indie 403, Dragonfly Rockstars, RockmebabyTV, Jesse Valstar from Odinfist (thanks always for the help you give), Disa Cameron and Higherground, Dreams of Reason, The SteveyRae Show, The Stepping Stone Radio & Tricky Dick Maidment… again, the list is endless!

Kill Matilda

And to start 2012 off just right we are excited to say that we have added both Kill Matilda and Stone Iris to the roster, as well as 2 new agents; Dusty and Doug to help us do more of what we do!

New tours are already booking and we will be announcing 2 N.A. tours in the coming weeks, as well as several more in the planning stages that will be rocking down new borders and taking us all further than we’ve gone before! 2012 is going to kick some serious ass, and we can’t wait to bring you the best in original SIN!

2 of my proudest moments in the past year: Ivan Moody bringing beers on stage at Boonstock to my All Else Fails boys and when following up on a recent booking with a venue I’d sent a new band to, I got the following response “They were great! Awesome energy and live show, like all the bands you send me!” That right there is why I do what I do…. the bands are so amazing!

Stone Iris

Thank you 2011, bring on 2012!!

From Skilly:

Thank you Dusty and Kill Matilda for ongoing patience and assistance to solidify a great tour experience

Leanne for not charging me therapy bills and Advil receipts and most notably keeping me sane

Ralph James, Lorainne Webb, Jay Soulliere, Jason Furman, Adam Shanfield, Paul Gourlie and Perry Gilman for helping me develop a core music scene here in Yorkton (Ralph and Lorraine you allowed Yorkton’s bigger show ever with Hinder)

John Kriska, you saved my ass several times. Trevor Kain not only has your help been greatly appreciated I now know Drayton Valley exists. A huge shout out to other kickass promoters and venues, Jason Jansekovich, Frank Loffredo, Double Decker and the other 100 I’m missing

Hinder w/ Versus the Nothing, August 2011

HINDER big thank you for being so accommodating and changing the scene here in a positive way, Versus the nothing for relocating to Yorkton part of 2011 and helping us rise to the top, All Else Fails, Broken Ride, Chasing Amee, Living In Red, Ten Second Epic, Neverest- always a pleasure, Karl Wolf- more drunk nights ahead, Pascal, Cancer Bats, Swollen Members, Econoline Crush- Trev your an amazing human being, D12 and so many more

Lastly. I thank Yorton 110% for your support. Without you Indestructible Entertainment wouldn’t have expanded nor would have SIN been created. Neil Thom, you may be the smartest man in Yorkton, Mike Wilson-you supported every show I delivered, Tanya Oliva and the rest of Indestructible staff for every hour of work and dedication (even days and weeks for you Tanya).Katie for not killing me putting hours and hours into my passion and all my kickass helpers and sponsors from Fabutan, Cab Clothing, Skin City Tattoo, Yorkton This Week, Pizza Hut and the Juiceman Kevin Krase and Booster Juice for the ultimate compliment, believing in me from day 1.

The team of Indestructible and SIN Agency assures you tours and shows will be doubled for 2K12. Keep supporting the scene world.

SIN Agency will see you all where the music lives!