New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Six-time JUNO Award-winners
Arkells are #1 at Alternative
Radio in Canada this week with their current single "YEARS IN THE MAKING", released via Universal Music. "YEARS IN THE MAKING" is the first release from the band since their 2018 acclaimed album, RALLY CRY and marks their fourth #1 at Alternative Radio. Earlier this month,
Arkells also released an acoustic version of the track, recorded physically apart, but together in spirit.
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
Arkells were informed that a number of school graduates were using "YEARS IN THE MAKING" for their graduations - a song described by lead singer Max Kerman as a way to "encourage us to find ways to embrace the bumps in the road, because all of our challenges are ultimately there to help us work towards the dream - whatever that may be." As a part of the STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE broadcast, the multi-network, fundraising effort in response to the pandemic that aired on April 26,
Arkells surprised shining star (and
Arkells fan), Ava Harrison, who is finishing her degree this spring and just finished her final exam. Watch the video HERE.
For the last six weeks,
Arkells have been practicing physical distancing with their "Flatten The Curve"
Music Class, a daily music lesson on Instagram Live that anchors around a one song lesson and beams in other band members, fans, viewers and a host of surprise guests on the fly each day. Original sheet music is posted to socials each morning ahead of the class. In addition to fans joining the class/chat from all over the world, past notable guests include: Olympian
Tessa Virtue, Toronto Maple Leafs players Mitch Marner, Tyson Barrie &
Morgan Reilly, Lights, broadcast legend Ron MacLean, Sam Roberts, Joel Plaskett, Shad, Frank Turner, Haviah Mighty, The Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois, and recent young guest and now viral sensation, Dylan (see TIME feature HERE). Since the class began,
Arkells and their fans have raised over $50,000 for Food
Banks Canada, generously donated by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) as part of their ongoing commitment to contribute to COVID-19 relief.
Also this month,
Arkells partnered with the YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford and raised over $15,000 to support the launch of their new virtual programming via a limited edition, custom designed throwback t-shirt.
About
Hailed by The
Globe and Mail as "the right kind of band for this decade,"
Arkells are widely considered one of the most passionate, exuberant and in-demand live bands working today. As radio mainstays, sport-sync shoe-ins and curious students of culture,
Arkells have remained ever present - building awareness and personal community experiences around their live shows and new music at every turn.
The most emblematic example of this being The Rally,
Arkells hometown concert that sold 24,000 tickets and hailed as one of the biggest domestic shows in the country. To follow came North American and international headline touring that included their first sold-out concert at Scotiabank
Arena and a stop later that year at Toronto's premiere summer venue - Budweiser Stage - which sold out in 1 day. Arkells' touring over the last year has cumulatively raised over $100K for charity, via the band's partnership with Plus1, and the band has sold over 100,000 tickets domestically.
