Bobby McFerrin more than a happy song he wrote
A remarkable thing happened when Bobby McFerrin did an audience participation bit at the Arden Theatre about 20 years ago – and it had nothing to do with “Don’t Worry, By Happy,” the smash hit song he released in 1988 that defined this unassuming jazz singer forever, for good or ill. Singalongs aren’t remarkable, of […]
Taylor Scott brings ‘soul jam’ to Blues on Whyte
For a jaded music fan who thinks most of what passes for artistic talent these days is pretty average, hearing Taylor Scott is like hitting the jackpot. This unassuming kid from Cheyenne, Wyoming is a monster. He’s phenomenal. He can do soul, funk, R&B and shred like a metalhead, and you’ll rarely hear a white […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: More new records than ever!
Do people even get excited about CD release events anymore? No, they do not. Seems like there’s at least two a week around these parts. Apparently now anyone can make a CD on those fancy home contraptions. What a world. You know, back in the day – said the old man yelling at the kids […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Jonathan Richman new wave before new wave was cool
It’s not often we get a visit from one of the architects of rock ‘n’ roll – one of the builders of the mighty bridge between punk music and folk music that we all travel on so easily and take so much for granted today. Old-timers remember the gaping canyon that once yawned between the […]
Cancer benefit planned for Kirby, Queen of the Edmonton Music Scene
You probably won’t find any Edmonton musician who hasn’t been touched in some way by Kathy Kirby – far better known as just “Kirby” – and in her fight against recently-diagnosed cancer, it’s also no surprise how quickly the music community has banded together to help. The “Be Here Now” benefit for the beloved local […]
Jesus Christ Superstar cancelled
There will be no Second Coming in Edmonton this summer: The Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular has been cancelled. Tickets purchased for the July 6 date of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical at Rexall Place, which was to star John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, as King Herod, are available at the point of purchase. Online […]
The smalls have Nickelback connection
Not a lot of people know this, but the smalls – now reunited after 14 years – came within a hair’s breadth of working with Chad Kroeger. Long before the Nickelback mastermind was cast as the Spawn of Baal, he expressed love for Edmonton’s favourite alternative metal band, after the smalls’ critically-acclaimed album “My Dear […]
Demi Lovato to make splashy debut in Edmonton
Disney sure knows how to pump out the pop stars. The next show sure to please the girls of Edmonton completely is Demi Lovato, who got her start on Barney before starring in “Camp Rock” and “Sonny With a Chance,” among others. She performs for the first time in town at Rexall Place on Saturday, […]
MUSIC: Looking forward to The Gay Nineties
Topping out a big list of awesome live original music in Edmonton this weekend and beyond is a band getting a huge buzz – BUZZ, we say – from Vancouver: The Gay Nineties, playing Monday at the Pawn Shop. It would be especially awesome of this band could go on David Letterman so it could […]
