MUSIC PREVIEW: Locals before Timberlake

MUSIC PREVIEW: Locals before Timberlake

While many in the city eagerly await Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience to descend upon the city Monday and Tuesday – with still a few tickets available – this weekend once again sees a pair of debut release parties amongst a bevy of great local talent performing around town. Given how much we’ve been hearing about […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Rockin’ New Year’s Eve!

MUSIC PREVIEW: Rockin’ New Year’s Eve!

Edmonton’s eclectic music scene always throws down some mean New Year’s Eve parties, and this year may take the proverbial cake. The biggest draw may be over at the Starlite Room, where local legends Shout Out Out Out Out are headlining. The dance-punk group featuring two drummers were somewhat quiet this year, but they’re going […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Two Bears North among cream of the crop

MUSIC PREVIEW: Two Bears North among cream of the crop

It’s a banner weekend for live music fans in the city, as a pair of extraordinary albums are being released, with parties to celebrate both of them. And celebrate we should, as both are among the cream of the crop of releases this year by Edmonton artists, in what has undoubtedly been an incredible year […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Savage Montreal invasion

MUSIC PREVIEW: Savage Montreal invasion

What is it about Montreal that the city produces such buzz-worthy artists? The studies continue with the appearance of Sean Nicholas Savage, who is in town at the Artery Saturday night. In 2011 the eclectic Montrealer took a bold step and released a trio of pop albums on Arbutus Records, each with its own vibe, […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Life beyond The Hip

MUSIC PREVIEW: Life beyond The Hip

Paul Langlois joined the Tragically Hip in 1986, just three years after the band’s founding by Gordon Downie and friends, and just one year before their historic debut EP was released. Since then, well, nobody needs an introduction to The Hip, do they? They’ve played in Edmonton at least 25 times since back in the […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Old school vs. new school

MUSIC PREVIEW: Old school vs. new school

There are a surprising number of exceptional options this weekend for being so late in the year, including the Sonic Band of the Month showcase featuring Death By Robot, and a homecoming gig for the beloved Christian Hansen. Interesting, too, is an old school versus new school rap battle. It’s Shaggy at the Union Hall […]

MORE ART, LESS POP: Art Bergmann returns to Edmonton

MORE ART, LESS POP: Art Bergmann returns to Edmonton

Art Bergmann and William Burroughs have a lot in common – they both suffered the plight of heroin addiction, and they both had the tendency to make people uneasy. They showed you sights you’d rather not see, tried to expose the unpleasant underbelly of society. And both of them did their very best to fling […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Aoki dokey to eclectic weekend

MUSIC PREVIEW: Aoki dokey to eclectic weekend

While all eyes are on Rexall Place for Sunday night’s performance by the renowned Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, the rest of the weekend promises a little something for everyone. From top electronic with Steve Aoki, to folk-rock with The Stanfields and Chris Carrabba’s new project, Twin Forks, all the way to country and […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: The show must go on

MUSIC PREVIEW: The show must go on

There’s a trio of rock bands performing in Edmonton in short order that are on the very cusp of making it very big – Strumbellas, Boreal Sons, and Belle Game. Until then, here’s one that’s already huge: the one and only Slayer, which performs Monday night at the Shaw Conference Centre (6:30 pm, $49.50 plus […]

Mr. Chi Pig at home in the city that punk built

Mr. Chi Pig at home in the city that punk built

Ken Chinn – aka “Mr. Chi Pig” – has been spotted wandering old Edmonton haunts as he prepares for SNFU’s CD release show at the Pawn Shop. He seems to be having a pretty good time. He shows up for an interview in a jolly mood, attired like a WWI pilot. First thing he does […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Up to Downtown in fab new fest

MUSIC PREVIEW: Up to Downtown in fab new fest

While Edmonton doesn’t usually host festivals this late into the fall, the inaugural Up + Downtown Music and Arts Festival is about to give it a whirl. Organizers might have positioned themselves well to ensure success during an otherwise festival-free time of year, as they’ve attracted an intriguing cadre of talent-laden regional and touring acts […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: It’s not the band I hate, it’s their fans

MUSIC PREVIEW: It’s not the band I hate, it’s their fans

Pop quiz: Name the album that was voted the No. 1 Canadian album OF ALL TIME by respondents to a Chart magazine poll. The answer may surprise any but true Sloan fans – and there are lot of them, an entire generation moved by the iconic Toronto quartet’s ground-breaking 1994 album “Twice Removed,” which contains […]