Sinead O’Connor returns to Edmonton folk fest

Sinead O’Connor returns to Edmonton folk fest

Some people told Terry Wickham it was “very brave” or him to book Sinead O’Connor at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival this summer – her first appearance since 1997. But as the producer said during Wednesday’s annual line-up announcement – revealing an eclectic bill ranging from Of Monsters and Men to Brandi Carlile – Sinead […]

Three Days Grace returns to Edmonton in November

Three Days Grace returns to Edmonton in November

Three Days Grace has come a long way from being that band with that song about hating everything about you. Nihilism sells, of course, and the Ontario band has been riding high on I Hate Everything About You ever since it came out in 2003 – and now is announcing a major Canadian headlining tour […]

Tail Creek Festival moves to the Shaw

Tail Creek Festival moves to the Shaw

No creek, no mud, no rain – but almost all the live music will remain for the Tail Creek Mud & Music Festival, now moved to the Shaw Conference Centre for the Canada Day Long Weekend. With Limp Bizkit (above) headlining on Friday, June 26, and Billy Talent (below) and Bad Religion topping the bill […]

Mad hatters mar their music

Mad hatters mar their music

There is no good reason for a musician to wear a hat on stage – unless they’re sensitive about being bald, or protecting their head from the elements, or keeping their hair out of their eyes, or if it’s part of a costume or uniform. Other than that, BEWARE: it’s a sure sign they’re going […]

Apocalyptica: Heavy metal on heavy wood

Apocalyptica: Heavy metal on heavy wood

We might like to imagine that it was us clever North Americans who came up with the awesome idea to play Metallica songs with cellos – or that we had the shameless determination to make it more than just novelty. But no, Apocalyptica is another fine Scandinavian import. Part of the rich legacy of music […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Rainmaker Rodeo to shine

MUSIC PREVIEW: Rainmaker Rodeo to shine

All right, you Rainmaker Rodeo people – we need you to live up to your name! It’s dry as a popcorn fart around here. You can’t even make a good bonfire because of the fire restriction that’s been in place for weeks, and not only that, singing voices are hoarse throughout the land. We’re parched, […]

The 8 Best Kids in the Hall characters

The 8 Best Kids in the Hall characters

Most real comedians will admit – grudgingly – that great minds sometimes think alike. This is why the case against Saturday Night Live for allegedly ripping off This Hour Has 22 Minutes shouldn’t hold up. The bit is about the “Prophet Muhammad” being a particularly difficult Pictionary clue. This joke is obvious in light of […]

Road trip! Stevie Wonder to play Calgary

Road trip! Stevie Wonder to play Calgary

OK, Calgary, we’ll trade you Madonna straight across for your Stevie Wonder show. “Throw in McDavid and we’ll think about it,” came the reply from one Calgary entertainment journalist. Maybe not. Anyone up for a road trip? Wonder plays the Saddledome on Sunday, July 12 as part of the Calgary Stampede. Tickets are $90 to […]

What happened to BT?

What happened to BT?

The dark cloud over the sudden cancellation of Breakfast Television – city TV’s news-talk-variety show that’s run every weekday morning in Edmonton since they were called the A-Channel back in the 1990s – at least seems to have a small silver lining. BT is gone, the majority of its staff laid off, part of a […]

MUSIC PREVIEW: Marystown wants it both ways

MUSIC PREVIEW: Marystown wants it both ways

With the steel howling like a lonely train, a rough ‘n’ ready four-four wheel drive, a rasp of whiskey and smoke and sturdy like blue jeans on Ford trucks comes another worthy contender in the Edmonton indie folk country rock world: Marystown, playing Saturday night at the Pawnshop. One should look carefully at bands labelled […]

Dead Venues doc honours Edmonton’s fallen clubs

Dead Venues doc honours Edmonton’s fallen clubs

“One day your pet’s going to die. One day your club’s going to close. Nothing lasts forever, and that’s too bad.” Leave it to Jr. Gone Wild founder and Edmonton music legend Mike McDonald to deliver the stinging slap of truth – deftly summing up the heart of a new documentary about Edmonton’s music scene. […]

Kraftwerk kommt zu Edmonton!

Kraftwerk kommt zu Edmonton!

Before electronic music became a thing, before DJs became “performers,” there was Kraftwerk – the famed German electronic group that set the bar for all electronic music to follow. Now there is great rejoicing that the group is coming to town. Kraftwerk launches a short North American fall tour in Edmonton, of all places, at […]