Play me a memory: CBC’s Bosendorfer sold to the ESO

Play me a memory: CBC’s Bosendorfer sold to the ESO

Some have called it Edmonton’s most-recorded piano, and as CBC Edmonton’s house keyboard for close to 30 years, the claim may have some merit. But when the broadcaster announced earlier this year that it was axing its local recording unit, it realized there wasn’t much point in keeping its magnificent seven-foot Bosendorfer that had been […]

CAN-CON CONCERTS: Great Big Sea, Burton Cummings announced

Here’s another Canadian band whose continued existence has caused its Generation X-aged fans to exclaim, “Oh, my gosh, we’re 40!” – Great Big Sea. Yes, it has been 20 years since we first fell in love with these guys in college, and everyone’s favourite Newfoundland Celtic pirate-rock band is hitting the road to celebrate passing […]

Local writers get generous time at Edmonton’s LitFest

Literary festivals in Canada aren’t usually known for great local representation. Edmonton’s LitFest – opening today and running through Oct. 28 at venues around town – is the exception. The ratio between visiting writers and local ones is a lot higher than one would find at any of the other major literary festivals in the […]

Bounty hunter turned opera singer Carl Tanner to sing Aida in Edmonton

How opera singer Carl Tanner didn’t wind up as a country star is anyone’s guess. He’s from Virginia. He grew up with country music. His dad worked as the custodian at the church his family went to every Sunday, and where young Carl sang church music with a big, booming voice more mature than his […]

You don’t need gore to make a great horror film at Dedfest 2012

Who’d have thought eating an olive could be so fraught with contradictory emotions? There’s a scene in a creepy new film called “Berberian Sound Studio” where actor Toby Jones is forced to eat an olive, pit and all, and his face conveys so many different thoughts, feelings, and possibilities that it has to rank as […]

CONCERTS: The Tragically Hip returns to Edmonton in January

The Tragically Hip will be returning to Edmonton in the new year. The band is set to play Wednesday, Jan 23 at Rexall Place, it was announced Monday, part of yet another extensive cross-Canada tour that doesn’t seem to include Calgary. Oh, Calgary! First you get mistaken for Edmonton by Justin Bieber, and now this. […]

VERY A-MUSE-ING: Scalpers thwarted by paperless tickets

VERY A-MUSE-ING: Scalpers thwarted by paperless tickets

There is still joy in Mudville, for Muse has not sold out – failing to leave scores of disappointed fans, who were not crying that they got buggered by the scalpers yet again. Not this time – thanks to “paperless tickets.” Screw you, scalpers. After seats to the British trio’s Feb. 3 show at Rexall […]

Heavy metal poet bridges modern with medieval in new book

Death metal and poetry don’t usually hang out together – except in the personage of former Edmontonian Catherine Owen. She’s not only an award-winning Canadian poet, well respected by many – which is an accomplishment in the fractured world of Canadian poetry – she’s also a heavy metal goddess who’s played bass in bands such […]

WAR ON GRAFFITI: Tagger’s distinctive style leads to charges

WAR ON GRAFFITI: Tagger’s distinctive style leads to charges

Edmonton police used information seized during a June raid at the Paint Spot art gallery to get a warrant to search a graffiti suspect’s home. According to the public court document used to get the warrant submitted by Const. Ryan Katchur, who identifies himself as the Northeast division graffiti resource officer, investigators appear to have […]

CKUA begins big move with $5 million Alberta Culture boost

CKUA begins big move with $5 million Alberta Culture boost

Not since Fort Edmonton picked up stakes has there been such a fuss over a simple change of address. CKUA’s big move has begun! Celebrating the station being transplanted six blocks East from the decrepit Alberta Block to the smashing new refurbished Alberta Hotel, a 1963 Lincoln convertible packed with dignitaries arrived with great fanfare […]

Keep it weird, Bob! We love you for it!

The thrill in seeing Bob Dylan again comes from the powerful aura of uncertainty that surrounds him at all times. What is he going to do this time? What’s he going to do when he performs with Mark Knopfler at Rexall Place on Tuesday, Oct. 9? Maybe trade guitar solos? That would be a riot. […]

EIFF REVIEW: Hellish brunch meets Armageddon in hilarious It’s a Disaster

If the idea of a Sunday “couples brunch” makes you want to kill yourself, then It’s a Disaster is for you. Even if it doesn’t, this darkly delicious black comedy has so much going for it that you won’t want to miss the brunch almost literally blowing up. The premise is simple: shortly after a […]