WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Sizzle your nizzle, f’shizzle

You might be tempted to think that the best music in town this weekend will be taking place in the venue with the best air conditioning, but sadly, there’s no real evidence to back that up. It’s fair to say, though, that any of these indoor venues are likely a better bet than the outdoors. […]

Live at the Winspear announces worldly line-up

They don’t call it “World at Winspear” anymore, but they might as well. The annual winter concert series – now named Live at the Winspear – is all over the map in more ways than one. It starts with on Wednesday, October 10, at the Winspear Centre, naturally, with Angelique Kidjo, the outspoken African singer […]

Dog Whisperer to share canine secrets at the Jube in November

Come on, Lassie, come on girl, time for walkies! Time for your bath! Ow, stop it, Lassie. No, Lassie, no! Put Timmy down! Oh, God … If this harrowing scene sounds familiar, then your beloved hound may need a session with …. the Dog Whisperer. Yes, the dog people of Edmonton will be out in […]

COMMENT: Eskimos Ladies Night a flop even before it happens

The Edmonton Eskimos have 10 chances a year to lure as many as 60,000 people at a time to Commonwealth Stadium. In a league that lives and dies on gate revenue, they can’t afford to blow their chances to get bums in seats – and yet, somehow, they do. The Edmonton Oilers need only to […]

Let’s talk anarchy: Oi Polloi makes first Edmonton appearance

Oi Polloi frontman Deek Allen has seen a lot of shit in his three decades with Scotland’s eminent anarcho-punk band – and he’s had about enough of it. “We started to make a few stipulations in places about the places we stay (on tour),” he says. “We don’t want to stay in places that are […]

CLASSICAL MUSIC: 17-year-old concert pianist an ‘old soul’

Asked what kind of music he likes outside of classical, piano wunderkind Jan Lisiecki doesn’t hesitate, “I love Pink Floyd.” Good answer, kid. He says it “takes him back.” So what’s more amazing – that a teenager loves Pink Floyd, or that a teenager has reached international fame as a master concert pianist? On stage […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Aboriginal comics write what they know

The aboriginal comics featured at “Red, White, and Hilarious: A Night of Aboriginal comedy” at Yuk Yuk’s Wednesday night are expected to devote good chunks of their time to being aboriginal – saying things a non-aboriginal comic could never get away with. At least not without getting a Pilsner bottle thrown at him. Featured at […]

What’s in a name? Edmonton doesn’t have a clue

Edmonton can’t be the only city that has such a boneheaded habit of badly naming and then constantly renaming its festivals, buildings and streets. On July 10, organizers of the Capital Ex festival released the six choices to replace the name Capital Ex, which had in turn had replaced Klondike Days. They are: – EdFest […]

REVIEW: Bill Maher laughs with us, at them

There was a time when Bill Maher’s jokes were so shocking, he had to warn the audience. “I’m about to start talking about religion,” he would say, “and it’s usually right about now that some of you get up to leave.” But the guy used to star on a show called Politically Incorrect, too. These […]

OK, we admit it! The Calgary Stampede rocks

It would be hard to find anyone who doesn’t think the Calgary Stampede is a WAY better party than Edmonton’s Capital Ex. It’s probably not even in the same league. Well, maybe some foolhardy people on the board of directors of Capital Ex think so – but that’s probably about it. And surely, almost everyone […]

Skrillex gig finds a home at the Shaw Conference Centre

Electronic dance music fans can stand down from red alert – the Skrillex gig has been saved. Bumped from the St. Albert Kinsmen Park venue after being denied a permit, the show will now take place on Friday, July 20 at the Shaw Conference Centre. All previously held tickets will be honoured, no need to […]

REVIEW: Julius Caesar an old story full of surprises

In the program for Julius Caesar, now playing at the Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Hawrelak Park, director John Kirkpatrick is quoted, “I have decided to set the play in a world/time period of my own imagination…” It’s a pragmatic and serviceable idea given William Shakespeare’s constant – and anachronistic – references to “clocks,” something which […]