INTERVIEW: Nelly Furtado goes everywhere, finds herself

INTERVIEW: Nelly Furtado goes everywhere, finds herself

There’s a good reason why Nelly Furtado isn’t a bigger star than she ought to be. It’s because this has all been just a “hobby” for her. The singer admits as much during a recent interview to pump up interest for her show at the Jubilee Auditorium on Tuesday, part of a big round of […]

Why Blue Rodeo never wears out its welcome

Why Blue Rodeo never wears out its welcome

How many times have we seen Blue Rodeo in Edmonton? Given at least one visit for each album plus eight folk fest appearances over almost 26 years, the conservative estimate is that they’ve played here 23 times. Does that sound right? Could be more if you count solo appearances from the two frontmen Jim Cuddy […]

Come on down! The Price is Right to hit Edmonton

Come on down! The Price is Right to hit Edmonton

Why has this not been in Edmonton before? We love shopping! Part of a successful series of touring TV game shows, the “Price is Right” is coming to town – at the Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday, March 10 – and we get to play. Tickets go on sale Friday. This is a for-real game show, […]

TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS: Toys, candy, family, four ghosts

TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS: Toys, candy, family, four ghosts

If you haven’t found the true meaning of Christmas by now, you’re probably not going to find it in a Christmas show – but that doesn’t stop them from trying. Edmonton sees the same set of Christmas shows every year, year after year, in one similar form or another, and people keep flocking to them […]

It’s funny because we all do it – the magic of relationship comedy

It’s funny because we all do it – the magic of relationship comedy

If we’ve learned anything about comedy, it’s that the more universal the topic, the better. As an astute observer of comedy once said, “Everybody knows what a vagina is.” You sniggered there, didn’t you? Of course you did. “Vagina” is a funny word. So is “penis,” for that matter. There’s a lot of material there. […]

Nelly Furtado returns to Edmonton in January with new album, new sound

Nelly Furtado returns to Edmonton in January with new album, new sound

You know who we haven’t seen around these parts for a while? Nelly Furtado. She’s coming back to Edmonton, first time since 2007, to play the Jubilee Auditorium on Tuesday, January 15, touring behind her new album, The Spirit Indestructible and the new hit single therein, Big Hoops (The Bigger the Better). Tickets go on […]

Alice Cooper revisits Nightmare, Obama re-elected – coincidence?

Alice Cooper revisits Nightmare, Obama re-elected – coincidence?

Alice Cooper is one of a number of rock stars expected to be bummed out by Obama’s re-election – but at least he’s taking it in good humour. He tweeted before the election, “If I’m #elected I promise the formation of a new party A third party, the #WildParty!” And afterwards, “Did I win?” Contrast […]

REVIEW: Rock of Ages succeeds despite, or maybe because of, cheesy music

Going into Rock of Ages, the latest Broadway Across Canada production to set up shop at the Jubilee Auditorium, I had a real fear that this was going to be one of those shows that I would be tempted to leave at the intermission (I quit halfway through Cats; I don’t care how popular that […]

ROCK MUSICAL: Rockers to rock in Rock of Ages

If there’s a rock ‘n’ roll heaven, it might include a part in Rock of Ages. It may seem that way for rock singer Universo Pereira, who landed the plum role of hard rockin’, hard livin’ rock legend Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages despite having no theatre experience whatsoever. But he was a rock […]

Shakespeare’s words replaced by body language in Alberta Ballet’s Othello

It’s going to take some serious body language to render Shakespeare without words – as the cast of Alberta Ballet’s production of Othello should know well by now. That’s the ballet for you. No dialogue. What would Shakespeare have thought about such a thing? Playing Friday and Saturday at the Jubilee Auditorium, Othello stars Kelley […]

Blue Rodeo to hit Edmonton in January for 25th anniversary tour

Here’s another band hitting a milestone that reminds us how old we’re getting – Blue Rodeo has been at it for 25 years, and will celebrate with what is expected to be a night of pure, sweet nostalgia on an extensive cross-Canada tour. Two nights in Edmonton, actually. The band plays the Jubilee Auditorium January […]

CAN-CON CONCERTS: Great Big Sea, Burton Cummings announced

Here’s another Canadian band whose continued existence has caused its Generation X-aged fans to exclaim, “Oh, my gosh, we’re 40!” – Great Big Sea. Yes, it has been 20 years since we first fell in love with these guys in college, and everyone’s favourite Newfoundland Celtic pirate-rock band is hitting the road to celebrate passing […]