MUSIC: The habits of Edmonton introverts
Even at North Country Fair – idyllic in its own happy, druggy, timeless way – Energetic Action felt like outsiders. “North Country Fair was our Stonehenge,” says bassist George Synnett (pictured) – and he’s not referring to the famous scene in This Is Spinal Tap. He’s talking about the famously strange Stonehenge Free Festival held […]
SONIC BOOM: What’s My Age Again?
At what point does modern rock become classic? You can be sure that none of the 13,000 fans at Northlands Park on Sunday evening were contemplating this pop culture question as two of modern rock’s most geriatric acts Blink-182 and Weezer headlined Sonic Boom 2013. They were too busy rocking out. Whatever the actual ages […]
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: Mayhem by day, Kraftwerk by night
What happens when metalheads make dance music on modular synthesizers? Noisy dance music, that’s what. When local soundman and musician Jason Borys got together with Jeremy Greenspan of Hamilton synthpop duo Junior Boys, the resulting album yielded iterative beats and dark undertones that feel like they belong at a dance party in some seedy, dimly […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Intercontinental mojo at blues fest
The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has taken over the city, absorbing any and all of the performing arts in its path. Nothing is safe, theatre, comedy, dance, not even music. A number of favorite local music venues have even been converted into what are known as “Bring Your Own Venue” theatres for the duration […]
Ben Folds to rock ESO a second time
Maybe we can make Ben Folds playing with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra a biennial event. The pop piano-meister will be back to wow his local fans a second time on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at the Winspear Centre – less than two years after he came to Edmonton for the first time. Tickets ($69 or […]
REVIEW: Big league fun at Edmonton rock fest
If there is one thing classic rock fans know how to do – apart from drinking beer – it’s how to enjoy themselves. It’s hard to imagine people at the folk fest having any more fun than the joyful fans down at Heritage Amphitheatre on Friday Night for the 2013 edition of the Edmonton Rock […]
Less old folk at the folk fest?
Not only are there a number of hip headliners that should appeal to a “youthful” audience at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival this year, the overall crowd may look a bit more fresh-faced, too. On top of the the 13,000 or so daily paid tickets that sold out lickety split, 1,000 were set aside for […]
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 […]
COOL UKE: Can we have a little guitar in the mix?
Sometimes a little guitar can lead to big things. The artist who calls herself “LP” might not be where she is today had she not adopted the humble ukulele – and there’s your joke. But it was no joke, according to the singer who wowed the crowd at Sonic Boom 2012 – a modern rock […]
