100 Years of Calgary Cowboys almost worth making the drive

While Edmonton feels much more like an authentic wild frontier town than Calgary at this point in our shared history, Calgary will always be the cowboy capital of Canada. So we’re OK with the announcement of a cool cowboy gig happening only in Cowtown, featuring the legendary Ian Tyson paired with area Canadiana country star […]

FREE STUFF: Win Hedley tickets!

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED By far the most interesting contestant to emerge from Canadian Idol was Jacob Hoggard. Playing the classic class clown, the B.C. singer had punk mojo, disco moves, rock showmanship, and while not the best voice of 2004’s sorry crop of wannabes, it didn’t seem to matter, plus he got better – […]

Heavy issues at Edmonton Jewish Film Festival: Lest we forget

This town sure has a lot of film festivals. Hot on the heels of the Global Visions Docs and the Oscar shorts series from the Edmonton International Film Fest folks, noted local filmmaker Josh Miller is once again leading the charge as the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival kicks off Sunday at the Citadel Theatre’s Ziedler […]

Lily Tomlin to perform at River Cree Casino May 11

For all this talk about stand-up comedy being such a male-dominated art form, there sure are a lot of powerful female comics – many from a time when women weren’t even allowed to vote. Not really. But Lily Tomlin can use that line in her act if she wants, and she’s probably got better old […]

Media celebrity Mark Scholz to prove his musical mettle in Blue Montegos

When faced with a media celebrity in a band expecting to be taken seriously, some observers cross their arms and frown and say things like “OK, Mr. Bigshot, this better be good.” It comes from the feeling of the unfair advantage that all non-musical celebrities have: an already established name airlifted into a comparable level […]

THEATRE: Yuppies with kids behave badly in God of Carnage

If life has taught us one thing, it is this: If you want to anger someone, all you have to do is accuse them of being passive-aggressive. Want to piss them off even further? Show them you can dish out the “passive-aggressive” label, but can’t take it. This sure-fire method will have you pushing the […]

WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Puscifer a Tool with a punchline

This weekend’s live music offerings feature a little bit of everything, from a Juno Award-winning folk songstress (Amelia Curran on Saturday), to a rapper all the way from Pittsburgh (Mac Miller, right, on Friday), to one of Vancouver’s best indie pop bands (In Medias Res, Friday) – and of course ther’s another record release, this […]

Barry Allen and the Rebels to play oldest CD release in Edmonton history

Edmonton rock ‘n’ roll legend Barry Allen, who’s getting set to play his first gig in 22 years with Barry Allen and the Rebels at the Century Casino on Saturday night – maybe their last gig ever – has this to say: “It was easier back then.” Yeah, yeah, heard it before, grandpa and – […]

Musical theatre invasion continues with Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages and Billy Elliot

Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cheree, a sweep is as lucky as lucky can be – and that’s what musical theatre has done to popular culture: a clean sweep! Thanks a bunch, Bono, South Park dudes, Glee, Steven Spielberg, Green Day and lest we forget, Cats! Segue gracefully to the big announcement Wednesday that […]

Big Wreck returns to rock Edmonton Event Centre with Albatross May 4

It’s about time Big Wreck came back. Everybody else has – plus we still hear a lot of Big Wreck music on the radio. They must’ve done something right. The melodic rock band whose distinctive riffs are powered by guitar whiz Ian Thornley is back after a 10 year “hiatus” with a bang – a […]

GIGGLE CITY: Wayans Brothers keep it personal

For all the complaining that stand-up comics do about being stand-up comics, it can be a road to the big-time. Just ask the Wayans Brothers – this amazing show-biz family from Brooklyn that used comedy to escape poverty. Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, White Chicks and the TV series In Living Color are just some […]

Henry Rollins to speak his mind at the Myer Horowitz Theatre June 6

“Don’t do anything by half. If you love someone, love them with all your soul. When you go to work, work your ass off. When you hate someone, hate them until it hurts.” “Hope is the last thing a person does before they are defeated.” “I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not […]