MUSIC: Alterra sticks to its Guns, Crue
Not every local band gets to work with a pole dancer who once performed with Motley Crue. There’s always a little bit of temporal vertigo that comes from hearing young rock musicians inspired by music that was made before they were born. Edmonton’s Alterra – not to be confused with the power company or a […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Canadian country, California vibes
Welcome to the Hotel Edmontonia! Such a lovely place, such a lovely face. Plenty of room at the Hotel Edmontonia, any time of year … except maybe at this particular busy time if you’ve come into town for the Country Music Week! Building up to the CCMA Awards Sunday night at Rexall Place – and […]
Foreign Musician Fee Fracas: It’s not the end of the world
What’s a guy gotta do to get an LMO exemption around here?! There’s a good pick up line next time you’re in your favourite local bar or coffee shop – where you probably be seeing a lot more true blue Canadian live music now that sneaky government fees on foreign workers have been imposed. Employers […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Sonic Boom to end summer with a bang
This year’s edition of Sonic Boom, the first to span two days, has grown into one of Edmonton’s most renowned music festivals – and organizers have brought in some serious heavy hitters to keep it that way. Saturday begins with REND, the band that won a local competition among Sonic “Bands of the Months” to […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Danzig remains a heavy hitter
This weekend’s heavy hitter award goes to the one and only Danzig, which slams its way into the city with an appearance at Union Hall on Sunday night as part of the 25th “Anniversary Of Danzig” tour. Yes, Union Hall, formerly the Thunderdome, formerly Goose Loonies, formerly whatever else it used to be called. The […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Folk fest earns indie cred
The best action isn’t always on the main stage at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Take, for example, Carolina Chocolate Drops. They performed at Interstellar Rodeo last year, and received rave reviews from everyone. The old-time string band from North Carolina, who perform with banjos, jugs, kazoos, bones, quills, a cello and a beatbox, perform […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: The Taste of Music
You may know it for the food, but this year’s incarnation of The Taste Of Edmonton is pulling out all the stops in its musical lineup as well. Thursday night starts off with a bang, as Vancouver’s Hey Ocean! takes center stage, whose catchy melodies will surely whisk you away to a laid-back beach. The […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Party all nite, rock every day
Many of the kids who flocked to KISS back in the day now have kids of their own – which is why Friday night’s triumphant return of the aging painted wonders at Rexall Place is expected to be a real family affair. If you’re getting painted up – and hey, who isn’t? – keep in […]
So much for the rivalry: Edmonton helps Calgary
The outpouring of support from Edmonton’s arts community to flood-ravaged Calgary and area has been truly inspiring. You’d think that ridiculous inter-municipal rivalry didn’t exist at all – even if it was hockey season. The latest gig announced in a number of local charity events features Corb Lund with Jr. Gone Wild , Sunday, July […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Chains that bind us
The weekend begins with a bang Thursday, with a pair of standout acts slamming into the city. First, at Rexall Place, the legendary Alice In Chains. Born in the thick sludge of the Seattle grunge scene, the band rose to international fame in the early 1990s with songs like “Would?”, “Them Bones”, “Rooster”, and “Down […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Something for everyone at Boonstock
The region’s musical focus turns to the North this weekend with Boonstock occurring just outside Gibbons for four amazing days of sound and fun in what’s looking to be the best weather of the year so far. Like many local festivals, they may not have the massive headliners that you’re used to seeing if you […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Primus to get trippy
It turns out you didn’t actually have to decide whether to see Mumford and Sons or “xx” on Wednesday night – you could’ve gone to both shows, what with the Rexall curfew and a late set time for xx. Though maybe your bank account would’ve said differently. This weekend there’s a few shows worthy of […]
