Chi Pig Scholarship in the Works for Victoria School of the Arts
It would be cool to go back in time and tell Mr. Chi Pig (Ken Chinn) that there would one day be a scholarship in his name at his old Alma mater, the Victoria School of the Arts. Would he have believed you – in his darkest hour? Maybe. Before he died in 2020 at […]
Edmonton Jazz Legend Leads Yardbird Suite’s 65th Anniversary
P.J. Perry was 15 years old when he played the original Yardbird Suite in 1957 – and now all these years later he’s back again to celebrate the local jazz club’s 65th anniversary. This is what dedication to the Edmonton music scene looks like. “I can assure you I never thought at 80 I’d be […]
INTERVIEW: Mr. Downchild Answers Three Questions Ahead of Edmonton Show
Donnie Walsh, founder of the Downchild Blues Band in 1969, doesn’t do many interviews anymore, but agreed to answer some email questions in advance of the band’s appearance at the Edmonton Blues Festival in Hawrelak Park on Friday, Aug. 19, part of The Longest 50th Anniversary Tour Ever. Q: I interviewed you at least once […]
WHAT’S GOING ON: Road Trip!
Pack your bags, load up on the liquids, and gas up your truck – it’s time for a trip out of town. Not too far, what with gas prices what they are, eh. Let’s stick to Alberta. First up is the perennial favourite Blueberry Bluegrass Festival July 29-31, in Stony Plain, Alberta, just 41 km […]
INTERVIEW: Bif Naked Triumphs Over Adversity – Again
Bif Naked possesses superhuman optimism to go with her hard-won success. Like that time she got breast cancer – she was a little young for it when she was diagnosed in 2008 – and thought she might die. She says, “People were like, oh, the Grim Reaper’s in the air. And I’m like, phh, hey, […]
REVIEW: Hamilton Brings Fantasia of American History to Life in Edmonton
The experiment was to see if one could understand and enjoy Hamilton without knowing any of the backstory – other than that it was created by and stars a guy whose name I can never remember (Lin-Manuel Miranda, had to look that up) and has something to do with the American Revolution. The answer is […]
Our Lady Peace Helps Pussy Riot on Brave New Song
Putin’s got his hands full enough without having to worry about some Russian feminist protest band raising hell. After years of persecution, arrests, and even prison for their outspoken views, Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova and the band Pussy Riot are currently and relatively safe in Los Angeles, USA, making a living in the music business, on […]
WHAT’S GOING ON: Festivals for the Rest of Us!
Big news about the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival: It’s back. Of course it is. The theme revealed for the 41st annual festival this week was “Destination Fringe” – a theatrical travelogue boasting 27 venues filled with 160 different productions, running Aug. 11-21. Tickets go on sale Aug. 3. This is by far my favourite […]
WHAT’S GOING ON: Comments on an Edmonton Events List, Whither YEG Live?
CLICK THE LIVE LYNX BELOW TO BUY TICKETS TO THE FOLLOWING EVENTS! May 19: Just for Laughs with Rick Mercer and more, Jubilee Auditorium Excellent comedy featuring some of Canada’s finest improvisers May 19: Avril Lavigne, Rogers Place Pay attention to this artist. Why, you ask? Read old unhinged essay on Avril Lavigne’s songs here: […]
WHAT’S GOING ON: Arcade Fire Returns to Edmonton, Beck to Open
Contrary to some reports, Canada’s premier alternative big band has not broken up – Arcade Fire is still going strong. It’s just that Will Butler – brother of frontman Win Butler – has left the band. Don’t worry, there still seem to be lots of musicians left. Extra horn players, at least. The band returns […]
INTERVIEW: Corb Lund Calls Cultural Appropriation on Commercial Country
Corb Lund sounds as country as country ever was – all while criticizing some of the mainstream country stars he shares airspace and some of his audience with. Sound familiar? I think George Strait’s 2003 song Murder on Music Row deals with this. Also almost every story about Corb Lund. It might be tempting to […]
