WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Herald the new season of CD releases!

You know the live music calendar is back in season when the CD release parties start happening again – that, plus legendary names in the Canadian musical world start travelling through the city, like Ian Tyson and Jim Cuddy. Friday Melanie Doane – With an 18 year career that includes six albums, one Juno award, […]

Performance art troupe Pocket Universe a door through which anything goes

When submitting a request to a performance art troupe, be careful what you wish for. Pocket Universe, which will be performing at Art’s Birthday, the big bohemian performance art “happening” taking place Saturday night at the Ortona Armory (9733 102 Street), once performed at a function put on by a kink organization in Victoria, B.C. […]

Jim Cuddy strikes the perfect balance between solo and Blue Rodeo

Jim Cuddy sure has a nice career going here. It figures, since he has such a reputation as “a nice guy,” never mind that time he got into an alleged hockey fight with Dave Bidini. That sort of thing just makes him more adorably Canadian. Cuddy can play theatres as a solo artist – as […]

Nickelback returns to rock us another time at Rexall Place May 15

The band we hate to love and love to hate is returning to the scene of the crime. In other words, Nickelback is coming back to Edmonton. The band, whose early gigs and rise to fame were based in Edmonton, or hereabouts, will perform on Tuesday, May 15 at Rexall Place with Bush, Seether and […]

THEATRE: We can have lots of good fun that is funny in Seussical

Ever wondered how radically different things would be today if Theodor Geisel had not been hired by Warner Bros. to write the “Private SNAFU” series for the war department? I do. In fact the very subject keeps me up most of the Goddamn night. Geisel and Chuck Jones got together to produce the series to […]

GIGGLE CITY: Donovan Workun funniest when allowed to be himself

The whole notion that “corporate comedy” is a brain drain that removes the best comic talent from the public eye recently surfaced with the curious case of Donovan Workun – a master comic improviser who’s so good at doing those high-paying corporate shows that he rarely performs in public as the Atomic Improv anymore. The […]

HIP HOP: Nova Rockafeller is sexy and she knows it

“Yeah, I’m cute,” Nova Rockafeller says, swivelling on a computer chair. The fast-talking local emcee is not one to mince words. “Last year I didn’t know I was cute. I was like a dirtbag, f—up degenerate kid. This year I’m adorable.” Hey, a rapper never got far with modesty. On tour with underground hip-hop legends […]

EDMONTON RADIO: Who broke the radio star?

The Buggles were wrong. Video did not kill the radio star. The radio star is very much alive, thanks to, well, radio. Commercial FM radio remains the best way to spread new music to the masses. Believe it or not. Oh, sure, MTV (and MuchMusic) created quite a number of video stars back in the […]

FROZEN FESTIVAL: Ice on Whyte to be the Works of the Winter

Winter in Edmonton is becoming a frozen funhouse mirror of the summer festival season – so that must make the Ice on Whyte Festival the “Works of the Winter.” Opening Friday at the rarely-used End of Steel Park (that chunk of land with the stranded CN caboose across the street from the Yardbird Suite), the […]

Great Lake Swimmers to play Edmonton May 6

Lost in the big news of the Black Keys concert this morning was another tour announcement by an extraordinary live band out of Toronto – Great Lake Swimmers. The folk rock quintet is set to perform at a popular local venue of late, the McDougall United Church, on May 6 as part of a cross-Canada […]

Joel Plaskett Emergency – new Canadian headliner at Winspear April 19

Like a bridesmaid to bride, it is high time for Joel Plaskett to take that leap to headlining status – and now the Nova Scotia rocker will get that chance when he and his Emergency play Thursday, April 19 at the Winspear Centre as part of the “Scrappy Happiness Tour.” The new album will be […]

The Black Keys return to Rexall Place May 12

In case you missed The Black Keys in June, the Ohio alt-rock duo will return to alt-rock you a second time at Rexall Place on Saturday, May 12, with the Arctic Monkeys in support. Tickets go on sale Friday. And in case you’re still wondering who the hell the Black Keys are, at least know […]