(RERUN): Soap-a-Thon to inspire imaginations

(RERUN): Soap-a-Thon to inspire imaginations

During an improv workshop held before last year’s Die-Nasty Soap-a-Thon, instructor Patti Stiles asked if there was anybody who had never improvised. I was the only one who raised my hand. Everyone else applauded! Way to make a newbie feel good, eh? All “guests” of the annual Soap-a-Thon – running this year from 7 pm […]

Photog plants roots in Edmonton Musician Project

Photog plants roots in Edmonton Musician Project

It always seems surprising when an artist moves to Edmonton from somewhere else, survives a winter or two and still decides to stay. When music photographer Erin Walker moved here from Burlington, Ontario two years ago, her friends thought she was crazy. “My parents did, too,” she says. “Everyone thought I was crazy going to […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Eye on Edmonton

MUSIC PREVIEW: Eye on Edmonton

Early September typically brings about what could be described as the eye of the hurricane: A relative calm between the frenzy of the summer music festivals and the cavalcade of autumn tours by both Canadian and international acts. It gets busy. Coming soon will be Big Wreck at Encore on Sept. 19, Lyle Lovett and […]

The Fronts radio friendly ‘by accident’

The Fronts radio friendly ‘by accident’

Saved from a lifetime of playing other people’s music, it’s a brave leap to the original for any professional musician. Professional merely means making a living at it, no day job. In most places on Earth, you can’t do that without playing in a cover band. Only the very elite of original artists get to […]

End of the Galaxy, by Chad Huculak

End of the Galaxy, by Chad Huculak

MUSIC PREVIEW: Death by Robot a good way to go

MUSIC PREVIEW: Death by Robot a good way to go

This weekend has its usual share of album release parties, but one of the most anticipated of the year may be Death By Robot at the Pawn Shop on Friday. One of the bands to watch on the local music scene for the last year or so – and confirmed by their selection as last […]

EMO-BRO: Dierks Bentley brings feelings to Edmonton

EMO-BRO: Dierks Bentley brings feelings to Edmonton

Seriously, there’s another bro-country bro coming to town?! Which one of these bros is which, anyway? And which one of these articles about bro-country is which, for that matter? Like their subjects, they’re all the same. But let us not be so hasty as we examine the evidence in the case of one Dierks Bentley, […]

Beware the Invasion of The Voice judges!

Beware the Invasion of The Voice judges!

What band at what festival recently had a song along the lines of “There is not any rest for the wicked?” We honestly can’t remember, because it’s onto the next thing already. Concert announcements are dropping like flies. This just in, the Invasion of The Voice Judges continues (Maroon 5 with Adam Levine just announced): […]

Maroon 5 returns to Rexall in early 2015

Maroon 5 returns to Rexall in early 2015

Recent news of the Maroon 5 world tour was met with great rejoicing amongst enthusiasts of finely-crafted pop music – because as anyone with an ear for music knows, for every 10 one-hit flavours of the radio this week, there is only one Maroon 5. Tickets go ON SALE Saturday, Sept. 13 for the band’s […]

End of the Earth, by Chad Huculak

End of the Earth, by Chad Huculak

REVIEW: The smalls go big at Sonic Boom

REVIEW: The smalls go big at Sonic Boom

Fears that the smalls were going to be out of place – and out of their league – for their reunion show at Sonic Boom 2014 were banished soon enough. Greatness shines through. Performing a suppertime set at Northlands on Sunday, the smalls are different, no doubt about it. Next to a weekend sparkling with […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Sonic Boom blows up real good

MUSIC PREVIEW: Sonic Boom blows up real good

The last of the city’s big music festivals takes over Edmonton this weekend, with the ever-expanding Sonic Boom spanning Friday to Sunday at Northlands. Friday the music gets underway at 5 pm with the Mounties (you may remember them from the hit Headphones in 2013). The beloved New Pornographers, who have a new album ready […]