Music fest dips toe in comedy
Posted on June 7, 2016 By Mike Ross Comedy, Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
The original Drunk Young Punk is coming back to the stompin’ grounds from whence he came – to perform at Edmonton’s biggest club-hopping music festival this fall. Kids in the Hall’s Bruce McCulloch, who went to Scona High in Edmonton (he says he doesn’t remember much), will return as one of the headliners at the […]
REVIEW: One drummer down, show must go on
Posted on June 6, 2016 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music, music
The Lamb of God concert in Edmonton was a classic demonstration of how the show must go on – even with one drummer short. Shortly before opening band Corrosion of Conformity was set to take the stage at the Shaw Conference Centre Sunday night, drummer Reed Mullin reportedly suffered a seizure after “prolonged, extreme and […]
REVIEW: New Lemoine an absurdist delight
Posted on June 3, 2016 By Colin MacLean Entertainment, Front Slider, Theatre
I’ll bet you didn’t know there was a tiny, forgotten kingdom, called Cynthia, near Lodgepole, Alberta. It’s only about 50 acres but it functions as a real principality. There’s a King, a Chancellor of the Interior and a small population of Cynthonian citizens. The kingdom was discovered by a Canadian census taker in 1956. All […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Pride, in the name of love
Posted on June 2, 2016 By Mike Ross Archive, Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
“Pride” has come to mean so many different things since it was shortened from “Gay Pride.” It’s pride for your own sexual identity, be you gay, bi, trans, somewhat curious or simply straight and supportive of the rights of all of the above in a lengthening cluster of LGBTQQIP2SAA consonants become so unwieldy that only […]
Wickham gives the skinny on 64 folk fest acts
Posted on June 1, 2016 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
Every year the entire media of Edmonton assemble for a spring ritual – to hear Edmonton Folk Music Festival producer Terry Wickham talk about who’s coming to the festival this year, and to show us why we should care. He cares. That makes a big difference. Every year, he educates the press on another crop […]
Prince still Sexy MF in musician’s memory
Posted on May 31, 2016 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
Local soulman Jeff Hendrick has picked an interesting tune to pay homage to Prince at the tribute show on Friday. It’s one of the late great artist’s best songs (from among many), from one of his best albums (among many): the 1992 release whose title was the symbol Prince once changed his name to (long […]
Twenty One Pilots to headline Sonic Boom
Posted on May 30, 2016 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
This year’s edition of Sonic Boom has revealed a solid line-up of acts that don’t easily fit into any musical genre save for “alternative” – which is apparently the whole idea. Twenty One Pilots tops the bill for the annual music festival happening in Borden Park Sept. 3-4. The duo, which doesn’t so much defy […]
Varscona Theatre REBORN!
Posted on May 29, 2016 By Colin MacLean Entertainment, entertainment, Front Slider, Theatre
A packed house of enthusiastic friends and supporters helped raise the curtain on Edmonton’s newest theatre on Saturday night – the new Varscona. The curtain is more than a metaphor. For the first time in its history the Varscona actually has a curtain – a large, voluptuous wine coloured velvet drape that splits apart to […]
Burger Baron has beef with Twitter Troll
Posted on May 28, 2016 By Mike Ross Dining, Entertainment, Food, Front Slider, Life, news, TV and Radio
Most local media people agree that the Bogus Burger Baron Twitter Takedown of Graham Hicks was EPIC. Even Hicks himself liked it. The Edmonton Sun columnist had written up the venerable burger joint in a March 2016 piece rating Edmonton’s best fast food burgers: “The patties were reminiscent of ’60s TV dinner steakettes. The vaunted […]
Nickelback to headline Alberta Fire Aid Benefit
Posted on May 26, 2016 By Mike Ross Entertainment, Front Slider, Music
A who’s who of the cream of Canadian country and rock artists are banding together to raise money for Fort McMurray fire victims. Many of them have deep connections to Alberta. Announced yesterday, Nickelback (from Hanna, Alberta) will top a bill that also features Alberta legend Ian Tyson, along with Blue Rodeo, Randy Bachman, Corb […]