FRINGE OF THE PICKS: Locals expected to rise to the top
According to a highly scientific study tracking the statistical average quality of Fringe plays over the last 20 years or so, a full sixty per cent of Fringe plays are now at the level of “not bad,” up significantly from past ratings of “OK.” It’s what you say to a friend asking about that play […]
The Weeknd, Band of Skulls to play Edmonton in September
The Twitter-sphere, Blog-o-verse and Facebookopolis are abuzz today with news that one of Canada’s hottest new indie acts – The Weeknd, a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye – is coming to town. His cinematic music, which has been “going viral” on social media, performs at the Edmonton Event Centre on Wednesday, Sept. 26. Tickets are $40 and go […]
ANNOUNCING: Marianas Trench and Maya Angelou in October
Pop quiz: What modern pop-rock band sort of sounds like Nickelback and is named for the deepest point of the Earth’s oceans? If you answered Marianas Trench, you’re probably already hip to the Vancouver band’s impending tour, coming to Rexall Place Monday, Oct. 29. With Down With Webster in support, tickets go on sale Friday. […]
Seven ways the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is like Disneyland
Well, there goes another folk festival – into the inevitable Four Strong Winds, whose annual performance at the end of the event marks the beginning of fall in Edmonton. Suckers! Longtime festival-goers – especially longtime festival-goers with kids – may notice certain similarities between the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Disneyland. It’s eerie when you […]
REVIEW: Arrested Development turns folk fest into rock concert
We don’t “put our hands in the air and wave them like we just don’t care” at the folk fest. Hmmph, the very idea! We do it because we DO care. It’s just that kind of a shiny, happy event. There was no better band to illustrate this phenomenon than Arrested Development, which turned Saturday […]
FOLK FEST: Guitar heroes teach amazing lessons in Master Class
“Master Class” is definitely the correct name for the guitar session that took place at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival on Friday night. Martin Simpson, Oscar Lopez, David Lindley and Amos Garrett are what you’d call jaw-dropping good. Beyond technical mastery, these guys have pushed the boundaries of guitar across tuning, style, genre and ethnic […]
REVIEW: Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam defies the laws of physics
You can really summarize any Cirque du Soleil show by calling it an amped-up adult circus, a collection of incredible and joyous athletic feats punctuated by complete lunacy. Quidam, which runs through Sunday at Rexall Place, is no different. The stunts that are performed leave you spellbound, and then they usually crank it up a […]
Flawed folk fest ticket system needs an overhaul
The “Weekend Pass” for the Edmonton Folk Music Festival may soon be on the endangered species list. One of the historic appeals of this festival is that it’s a place you can go every year to see an astonishing variety of music over four days for a reasonable amount of money in a fairly hassle-free […]
