Performance poet Jem Rolls exists only in the moment

The chief difference between stand-up comedy and performance poetry, according to noted performance poet Jem Rolls, is that “I don’t have to be funny all the time.” So it’s more relaxing for the audience if they don’t expect a punch-line every single time, he adds, and even better, “It’s more relaxing for me.” Appearing Friday […]

THEATRE: The Adulteress marks play No. 70 for Stewart Lemoine

Stewart Lemoine has written more plays than the average Albertan will see in his or her lifetime – a lot more. He’s one of our most prolific playwrights, not just in Edmonton, but anywhere in the world. The world premiere of the The Adulteress Thursday at the Varscona Theatre makes play No. 70, for those […]

Edmonton Opera stages Beethoven’s first, last, only opera Fidelio

It’s fun to imagine what Ludwig Van Beethoven was like. There are so many depictions, caricatures and stories about this frowning old composer – some of it must be true. Ornery, given to wild experimentation, perfectionist, did great work and knew it, enjoyed his fame, went deaf, music was used to torture a criminal in […]

WHAT’S SO FUNNY: Landry airs dirty laundry

It’s getting a little tiresome to see ethnic stand-up comics going on and on about their ethnicity time after time after time – but hey, write what you know, eh? Still, it seems a bit lazy. One of the best in Edmonton this weekend is the mono-named Landry, at the Laugh Shop in Sherwood Park. […]

Rush returns to Rexall Place Sept. 30

Are you Geddy-ing excited? Are you ready for a Lifeson lesson? Do you squirt Peart in your hair? OK, those are terrible. But the clues added up to today’s big announcement that Rush will be returning to Rexall Place on Sunday, Sept. 30. Tickets will go on sale “soon.” Details to come. The venerable Canadian […]

WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW: Stone Iris previews new album at the Starlite

It’s a relatively light weekend for live music, not to be unexpected after a cataclysm of revered acts gracing the stages of various Edmonton venues this week. With Coldplay opening up their North American tour with a legendary performance on Tuesday, an intimate event with Our Lady Peace at the Starlite, and Joel Plaskett at […]

PUNK CONTEST: Win Social Distortion tickets!

If you caught Social Distortion – or “Social D” as they’re known to true fans – at the last Sonic Boom event, don’t miss the venerable punk rock heroes’ return to the Edmonton Event Centre on Friday. The band is touring behind its latest release, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes – and doesn’t that sound […]

CONCERT REVIEW: Coldplay dazzles thousands with amazing tour opener

It was spectacular. It was amazing. Every other concert this year at Rexall Place will be measured against Coldplay. Edmonton got the first North American glimpse of the Mylo Xyloto world tour on Tuesday night – opening on a mammoth set cascaded in neon colors to the tune of the “Back to the Future” theme, […]

BOOK REVIEW: Personal demons make the story in A Killing Winter

One of the reasons “write what you know” is a maxim is that it works for many people. And it works in A Killing Winter – Wayne Arthurson’s second novel about a jaded journalist investigating a murder. He’s written about what he knows. But here’s the surprise: it’s not daily newspapers. And it’s not crime […]

EDMONTON RADIO: Garner Andrews, morning man of mystery

Garner Andrews can’t stand public speaking. He admits he even freaked out a little bit before delivering a toast at his brother’s wedding, and stresses “for months” over the prospect of doing a band introduction on stage – and yet he has no problem talking to 50,000 people on Sonic radio every morning. “That doesn’t […]

Blue Oyster Cult headlines Edmonton Rock Music Festival in August

Don’t fear the reaper – make a song about the original Man in Black that generations of classic rock fans will sing and laugh in the face of same. That’s how it works. We expect plenty of laughing and singing in the face of Death when Blue Oyster Cult comes to town this summer. The […]

Roxette returns to play Rexall Place Sept. 10

Now here’s a blast from the past – Roxette is coming to town. The Swedish pop duo perhaps best known for The Look – as in “you got The Look,” still holds up, eh? – will play Rexall Place on Monday, Sept. 10, backed up by a comparable Canadian blast from the past Glass Tiger. […]