London's Pretty Cool

Episode 60: Holy Ghost!

Holy Ghost is a tattoo and barbershop located in the heart of OEV at 724 Dundas St. Holy Ghost is your one-stop-shop to feel brand new with a fresh haircut and some new ink without having to move more than a few feet!

In this episode, we speak with Jameson Donaldshaw, owner and head barber of Holy Ghost. We speak with Jameson about the origin of the name, why tattooing and barbering go together so well, what it was like opening a business in the heart of the pandemic, why it's important to create a welcoming shop, why he decided to become a barber and much more! 👻⁠

More Holy Ghost:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyghostldn/?hl=en

Lavish is known for putting on amazing events, such as drag shows, burlesque shows, themed dances and so much more. With a fantastic club and rooftop patio, Lavish is a safe space in the city for people to be who they are and enjoy their nights out!

In this episode we talk with Kelly Roy, Lavish's social media coordinator and co-owner of Mum's Entertainment, about what Lavish is, some of the amazing events that are put on there, how it is a safe space in London and how the city is in need of more spaces like it, her favourite memory from her time with Lavish and much more!

More Lavish:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishlondonca/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAVISHlondon/

Exhibits and engaging learning experiences allow children to explore history and heritage, investigate science and social relationships, and celebrate art and culture. The London Children's Museum helps children ignite their curiosity and play their way to a life of innovation and creative discovery.

In this episode, we speak with Mira Noordermeer (Marketing and sales manager) & Vanessa Eastmure (Exhibits & Collections Manager) about all things Children's Museum!

We speak about London having the first children's museum in Canada, the exhibits at the museum, programming and special nights, moving to their new space at 100 Kellogg's soon and what that's going to look like, seeing some cool artifacts and much more!

Episode 57: Dan Brodbeck

Dan Brodbeck Juno award-winning and Grammy nominated Canadian record producer.

He has worked on many local artist's albums, such as Ivory Hours and Texas King, as well as some of the top artists like The Cranberries

Dan is also a mixer/engineer and recording engineering professor and the coordinator of the Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College.

In this episode you will hear about what it's like getting a job in the music production industry, getting a job at Fanshawe and working his way up to coordinator of the MIA program, working with local bands, why he decided to stay and work in London instead of moving to Toronto or a larger music hub, winning a Juno and being nominated for a Grammy, advice for people interested in becoming a producer and so much more!

More Dan:

Website: https://www.danbrodbeck.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbrodbeck11/?hl=en

More London's Pretty Cool:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

The first Home County took place in 1974 and has had a festival in Victoria Park every year since then, other than covid, and now they are back for the 48th year!

The founding festival organizers came up with the name H.O.M.E. County in 1974, as an acronym for Huron, Oxford, Middlesex, Elgin - the four counties in southwestern Ontario surrounding the city of London and area.

In this episode, we speak with this year's festival manager Darin about what is to be expected at this year's festival, the history of the festival, some of his favourite memories throughout the years, the emerging artist stage, and local talent on the bill and much more!

This year the festival is running July 15th-17th!

More Home County:

Website: https://homecounty.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homecountyfest/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeCountyFest/

More London's Pretty Cool

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

Heeman's is a family owned and operated business that has been serving London and surrounding area since 1963. Heeman's is the place to go for all your gardening and berry needs!

In this episode we get the origin story of Heeman's, what it's like working for a family business, BERRY SEASON (on now) and pick-your-own, how they started making cider and mead, best times to check out the greenhouse, how you can spend a whole day there and not get bored and so much more!

Have a listen when you're driving out to the greenhouse! Or crack a cider and listen! Or put it on when you're planting your new goodies! Or listen to it while making your strawberry jam!

More Heeman's:

Website: https://heeman.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heemans/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heemangreenhouses/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heemans?lang=en

More London's Pretty Cool

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

Episode 54: Grooves Record

In this episode we spoke with Andy, Bonnie and Danny from Grooves Records all about this London hotspot!

If you like music, you have heard of, but more likely have visited Grooves Records. Grooves is your go-to stop for all your new & used vinyl, CDs & music DVDs, magazines, books, cassettes, record players & accessories needs!

We talk all about how owner Troy started the shop, the rise of vinyl in the past couple of years, starting their own label 'Grooves Records Records', why people who start working at Grooves never seem to leave, Record Store Day and all that goes into it, the future of Grooves and so much more!

More Grooves Records

Website: https://groovesrecordstore.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovesrecords/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovesrecordstore/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/grooves_records

More London's Pretty Cool

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

Emma is the marketing and administration manager and one of the worker owners at London Brewing Co-op

The London Brewing is a worker co-operative brewery located in Old East Village. All of their beers feature Ontario grown ingredients (most coming from within 117km of the brewery) creating a truly local brew. London Brewing carries many different varieties of beer, from a London Organic Lager to the famous Downtown Coconut Brown (Emma's personal favourite), so there is something for everyone!

London Brewing, while known for their beer, is also one of London's best live music venues! London brewing hold two live shows a week, Friday Night Live and Sunday Acoustic Aftertunes, featuring some of London's best musicians!

In this episode we talk with Emma about the history of the brewery, how she became involved, what a co-op is, the brewery being sustainable and using local ingredients, her favourites, and creating collaboration beers with amazing local bands and organizations.

We also talk about how beer is not the only thing the brewery offers! London brewing hosts so many events from euchre nights, trivia nights, pop up shops, drag shows, live music and more!

More London Brewing:

Website: https://www.londonbrewing.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonbrewingca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LondonBrewing

More London's Pretty Cool

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

Episode 52: Mik Stevens of Flourish and Grow

Mik Stevens is a multidisciplinary artist, working under the name Flourish & Grow to share her art. Mik's art forms range from embroidery, hand-dying fabric, beading and screen printing.

In this episode we talk all about how Mik became interested in art, what it's like to turn your art into a business, what she was inspired by to create her pieces, the anxiety collection and why she started it, her favourite art form, what it's like seeing her art displayed in different ways, her music video break out role and much much more!

More Flourish and Grow:

Website: https://www.flourishandgrow.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourish.n.grow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishandgrowshop/

More London's Pretty Cool:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]

Richard Gracious is a local musician that you have likely seen on stage, singing and/or playing guitar with bands like Bad Teeth, Mountain of Wolves, Wolf Saga, Charlie Weber and much more.

Richard's life has always been surrounded by music, growing up in a musical family and attending local arts schools Lester B. Pearson and Central Secondary School - which led him to the MIA program at Fanshawe College.

When he's not writing and playing his own music, he's recording local talent with his record label Forest City Records.

In this episode we speak with Richard all about how he got started in music, if arts school helps, what it's like playing in multiple bands, his label Forest City Records, turning his songs into a musical with the Re:Opening festival at the Grand Theatre with the show One Year, playing in a pit band, what to expect from him in 2022 and so much more!

More Richard:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardgracious/

Forest City Records: https://forestcityrecords.ca

All routes lead downtown playlist: https://www.downtownlondon.ca/discover-businesses/our-stories/all-routes-lead-downtown-richard-gracious/

More London's Pretty Cool:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ

For business inquiries: [email protected]