LIVE TO WORK, WORK TO LIVE: Zoning proposals good news for city artists
In the movies, artists live in studios in giant empty warehouses because the rent is low and there’s plenty of work space. They sleep next to their sculptures and paintings, and other artists ride the freight elevator up to attend their cool parties. Here in Edmonton, that would be illegal. There’s a movement at work […]
Hayloft Acres a little patch of heaven for area musical farmer
Well, said the Musical Farmer, thumbs in his armpits, it’s plantin’ time again, time again to sow the seeds of lifelong ambition and grow another healthy organic crop of positive musical vibes to reap a bountiful harvest of good gigs – and high time to take this farming metaphor behind the barn and kill it […]
LIT UP: WordCrawl to be a slam on the bus
Edmonton literary fans will soon have the chance to participate in the city’s first ever WordCrawl. Remember the Stroll of Poets from the ’90s? It’s like that, except on a bus. “It’s the love child of an orgy between a literary reading, a poetry slam, a songwriting showcase, and a pub crawl. On speed!” explains […]
Tony Bennett, daughter, perform at Winspear Centre Aug. 25
If there were to be a King of the Great American Songbook, it would have to be Tony Bennett. For unlike lesser crooners, Michael Buble, say, Tony performs without a shred of either schtick or irony, treating his music with the wisdom of his 85 years and the passion of a man half, nay, a […]
Kevin Hart brings soaring standup career to Edmonton
He didn’t get nominated for standup of the year at the Comedy Awards — much to the chagrin of Chris Rock — but Kevin Hart gets the last laugh: a Canadian extension to his hit tour, including a stop in Edmonton July 26. The standup, whose Comedy Central concert videos on Netflix have helped vault […]
k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen in imaginary Edmonton poetry slam standoff
k.d. lang vs Leonard Cohen in a no-holds barred poetry slam. Well, that WOULD be something, wouldn’t it? It’s not going to happen, but it would be something. With the great man here on Nov. 18 at Rexall and lang here Sept. 12 at the Jubilee Auditorium with her Siss Boom Bang band, this is […]
ONE HIT TERROR: John Waite loses his cool
A recent interview with John Waite did not go well. Maybe it was because he didn’t like the suggestion that he’s a one hit wonder. Why is this considered such a bad thing? Playing Century Casino Saturday night, Waite, of course, is globally known for the massive 1984 hit single Missing You. Catching the 59-year-old […]
Ladies sure all that glitters is gold in female Led Zeppelin tribute
If the lady who’s buying the stairway to heaven finds the stores are all closed – stores that sell stairways to heaven, Rona, maybe – and she can still get what she came for when she gets there, that is, heaven, then why does she even need a stairway to heaven in the first place? […]
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Great Lake Swimmers conquer prairies
This weekend features an incredible array of live music choices, including a bevy of local acts that were either nominated or took home an award at last weekend’s Edmonton Music Awards – including two-time winner Zerbin. But there’s plenty of incredible touring acts in town as well, with Big Wreck performing on Friday night, Great […]
WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Tony Woods cuts through the you-know-what
Like many African-American comics, Tony Woods plays the race card from time to time – not that there’s anything wrong with that; Chris Rock does it all the time – but some of his best material involves what people in the comedy trade might call “cutting through the bullshit.” Hey, it’s a dirty job, but […]
Local journalist wins Calgary Folk Music Festival songwriting award
Kevin Maimann never planned to be a folkie. The local journalist and sometime GigCity writer – who was recently named editor of Sun Media’s free daily 24 Hours – is a metal dude who was “just fooling around” with an acoustic guitar. Now he’s won a Calgary Folk Music Festival songwriting contest. After a finalist […]
Tedeschi Trucks Band to play Jubilee Auditorium June 22
Holy hot Texas tamale! Not since Steve Earle shacked up with that redhead firebrand Allison Moorer has there been such a power music couple as seen in the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Featuring Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, both formidable modern blues stars in their own right, The Tedeshi Trucks Band plays Friday, June 22 at […]