MUSIC PREVIEW: Garth still here

MUSIC PREVIEW: Garth still here

Unbeknownst to many (ha ha), Garth Brooks continues his epic stand in Edmonton with more shows this weekend, including gigs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Rave reviews abound from anyone and everyone who saw any of last weekend’s efforts, not only for Garth himself, but the entire band as well. Check for ticket availability here. For […]

PLAYBILL: Hello, Buttercup

PLAYBILL: Hello, Buttercup

I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, from Waterloo to Afghanistan, in order categorical! Whoops, wrong operetta … the one Opera NUOVA is doing down at the Capitol Theatre in Fort Edmonton Park this weekend […]

Garth Brooks raises hell in Edmonton

Garth Brooks raises hell in Edmonton

The feeling at Rogers Place for Garth Brooks was electrifying on Friday night. “It’s a once in a lifetime concert!” said one couple among 20,000 fans; there was another older couple who drove all the way from Oregon for the first of an amazing NINE shows in Edmonton – and it truly was. After 21 […]

Ah, Romance! welcome as spring breeze

Ah, Romance! welcome as spring breeze

“In spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,” burbled Tennyson in 1835. Apparently, so does the fancy of Edmonton’s accomplished Plain Jane Theatre Company, whose latest offering Ah, Romance! A Revue of Song, Dance and Other Passionate Musings, is on stage at the Varscona Theatre until Feb. 25. The Plain Janes, […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Billy Talent braves the Shaw

MUSIC PREVIEW: Billy Talent braves the Shaw

Something has to be done about the horrible sound in the Shaw Conference Centre. It hurts the ears, and more importantly, it hurts the bands that hurt the ears. Unless they have a good soundman, a rock band that likes to play loud can sound like a wall of mud. The kick drum echoes off […]

Garth Brooks moves to Edmonton

Garth Brooks moves to Edmonton

Garth Brooks loves to be on top. Just ask him. He’s moving to Edmonton – temporarily – taking up a nine-show residence in Rogers Place starting Friday, Feb. 17. Drinking game! Chug a beer for every Garth Brooks sighting around town. No one has ever done nine shows in a row at our hockey arena […]

REVIEW: Kinky Boots a really good shoe

REVIEW: Kinky Boots a really good shoe

Back in 1983, a punk princess in goofy makeup, bargain basement wardrobe and disordered hairdo told the world that Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. The world listened. Cyndi Lauper’s music and fizzy personality was bright, happy and upbeat. She became the queen of the newly emerging MTV, went on to reign in every nook of […]

Jazz marries classical in Obsessions

Jazz marries classical in Obsessions

So a string quartet and a jazz combo walk into a bar, hit it off, fall in love, and spend the rest of their lives making beautiful music together. It happened almost exactly like that for the Obsessions Octet, a uniquely original Edmonton group playing the release for its third CD, Steppin’ Up, Thursday at […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Hoyer homecoming

MUSIC PREVIEW: Hoyer homecoming

Unless you’re Blue Rodeo, big acts seem reluctant to schedule tours at this time of year, especially through our part of the country in what is supposed to be the depths of winter. So while it’s a pretty light weekend star-wise, there’s a little bit of everything going on somewhere: Reggae, some metal, some hip […]

Edmonton folk singer on a roll

Edmonton folk singer on a roll

Maria Dunn will use some of the $8,000 she won for the Edmonton Music Prize to travel to Ottawa in April for the Juno Awards – where her album Gathering is nominated for Traditional Roots Album of the Year. “It warms my heart,” Dunn says of the recent double honour, and this is no faint […]

USS makes Edmonton happiest city on Earth

USS makes Edmonton happiest city on Earth

If you didn’t know any better, you might think USS was from Edmonton. The mutual love affair between this city and the Toronto duo officially named “Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker” has existed since at least 2008 when they first started playing here. USS got huge airplay on Sonic radio, which also launched the radio career of […]

AGLC lifts ban on underage musicians

AGLC lifts ban on underage musicians

Coming soon to a bar near you – younger bands. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission announced on Friday that the regulation prohibiting minors from performing in licensed taverns has been removed, effective immediately – and after only 10 years of being the biggest pain-in-the ass rule for musicians not old enough to drink but […]