Speed Control
Straight out of -40 degrees in Canada’s Yukon, comes the power trio Speed Control with super tight, riffheavy, harmony rock. Steeped in a jazz and classical background they have turned to their true passion – rock n’ roll.
Highlights include Atlin Arts & Music Festival, Aurora Illumination Concert Series with Sam Roberts, Folk on the Rocks, Panamania 2015, National Arts Centre’s Northern Scene, Suicide Prevention Concert in Iqaluit, and Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Speed Control were finalists for Best New Group on CBC Radio’s inaugural Searchlight competition for their song, “Tent City”. 2017 and 2018 saw Speed Control hitting the US for several tours and playing over 200 shows including opening spots for Sloan and the Sam Roberts Band.
In addition to shows of their original music, they have a passion for music education and have played concerts in 400 schools to upwards of 200,000 students. They are booked to play 200 school concerts in 2017-2018. They’ve written and recorded 50 rock anthems with schools. Along with playing festivals, theatres, and clubs, Speed Control’s signature rock camp is in high demand, working with kids from 8 to 85 and all skill levels. Speed Control also delivers workshops and performance coaching to young bands. They are youth engagement specialists!
On the road for six to seven months per year, they are known as the hardest working band in the north. They have released three recordings: The ADD Sides, FAB, and the most recent, a self-titled album recorded with Bob Hamilton producing.
Speed Control is sponsored by Yamaha Canada Music.
Links:
Website: speedcontrol.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/speedcontrolmusic/
Twitter: @SpeedControlMus
Instagram: @speedcontrol
YouTube: youtube.com/speedcontrolyukon
music video for Come This Far
music video for Deception of Reality
Live video for Tent City
(note – this is a rough cut but gives an example of the band in a festival setting)
High-res photo: Speed Control
Press: Vancouver Sun article
What Press, Sponsors and Presenters are saying:
What is Speed Control like on stage? Three thousand people of all ages and backgrounds dancing and smiling describes it best. Speed Control is a high-energy rock act that resonates with youth and adult audiences who say their music is reminiscent of the quality rock bands of the late 60s and early 70s. Fresh, energetic and engaging, Speed Control belongs on festival main stages and in soft-seat theatres where music lovers can listen and appreciate their artistry, or move to their highly danceable melodies.
The Speed Control’s Rawk Camp gives presenters the opportunity to provide their communities with top- notch music instruction that results in children and youth capable of playing songs that their friends know and love. The potential for social change exists in Speed Control and their ability to mentor and lead children and youth in a love of music, and a passion for self-expression through performance. This is ‘presenter gold’ no matter the venue.
Angela Drainville, Artistic Producer, Atlin Arts & Music Festival
Yamaha Canada Music is pleased to continue our instrument support of Speed Control and their mission to bring real rock (RAWK!) to tens-of-thousands of school children each year. We want to get kids excited
speedcontrol.ca
Speed Control
about playing music and for them to want to know what it feels like to play music together. Speed Control’s infectious energy and positive message will be something the kids will remember for their lifetime- a real key learning moment and experience for them.
Steve Butterworth, Yamaha Canada Music
When audience members – in the middle of the performance – approach me and say, “Please bring them back!”, I take note – and that’s what was happening when I presented Speed Control this year. I started writing to their manager about next season while this season’s show was still underway!
John Miller, Artistic Producer, Stratford Summer Music
The 11 songs on [Speed Control’s third album] certainly hold their own compared to the rest of the crop of melodic modern rock bands trying to break it big. Very much in line with such charting acts as Jimmy Eat World, the group plays super tight, riff-heavy harmony rock such as This Time or the title track Still Standing with the occasional mid-tempo ballad such as the impressive Are We Too Late.
Stuart Derdeyn, Arts Reporter for The Province and The Vancouver Sun
Speed Control was a highlight at the OSAC Showcase. Our Arts Councils saw the enthusiasm and humour the guys brought to the stage and saw how that could work in their own communities in developing and expanding audiences.
Kevin Korchinski, Executive Director, Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils
We believe the Rawk Camp in Burns Lake is the most successful event for young people we have presented in our community. The members of Speed Control are excellent musicians and great teachers, who quickly developed a positive rapport with Rawk Campers.
John and Sandra Barth, Lakes District Arts Council