Author: Editor

Words by Gil Carroll 

Photos by Kelly Campbell, Julia Hardy, and Sam Sarty

The Winnipeg Folk Festival really brings out the sunshine in people.  For the 44th year in a row, the WFF brought together a community of free-spirited, peaceful and enthusiastic folks at the beautiful Birds Hill Provincial Park. Nearly every moment of the WFF, which took place from July 5-9 in sun-filled, beautiful and all-encompassing nature, made  you feel good inside. Continue reading “44th Annual Winnipeg Folk Festival – Festival Report & Photos”

By Max Hamilton

It would be easy to imagine that a band as tight as Odd Outfit is single-minded in their approach to their work.  But this is a group of strong players with strong opinions and varied backgrounds, and among the four core members there doesn’t seem to be a singular vision that dominates and directs their artistic sensibilities.  In talking about the roots of their music and musical experiences, perspectives were shared less frequently than a willingness to listen and to understand each other’s point of view.   Continue reading “Odd Outfit”

 

by Chris Bryson

 

With the success of her full-length debut, Emotions and Math, and an appearance in  the April edition of Rolling Stone in an article titled “10 New Artists You Need to Know”, Margaret Glaspy’s career has been on the upswing. This week she’ll be in Manitoba to play the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Continue reading “Margaret Glaspy : Winnipeg Folk Festival”

By Maddy Cristall

There are good concerts, great concerts, excellent concerts and then there are concerts like this. Mavis Staples is a 77 year old R&B, soul and gospel singer from the iconic band with her family members, The Staples Singers. She is a civil rights activist who sings powerful songs about marching in DC and the injustice towards marginalized people. Her voice is the perfect canvas for evoking emotion, she transports people with her tender lyrics and volcanic pipes. She has been singing professionally her whole life and her voice only seems to be improving, she is a rare and truly special artist. Continue reading “Mavis Staples at Winnipeg Jazz Fest :: She Took Us There”

By Olivia Norquay

Krimewatch is the toughest band I’ve ever heard. The New York band’s 2016 Demo, released on vinyl by Lockin’ Out records, sits at under five minutes and incorporates fast, heavy hardcore punk with some thrashy elements (a.k.a. divebombs). I don’t usually care that much about new releases, but the new(ish) Demo manages to be reminiscent of early East Coast hardcore while still maintaining a contemporary and accessible sound. Sonically, Krimewatch inhabits the space between Boston’s Dame and Toronto’s Triage. Continue reading “Krimewatch :: Demo”

By Colton Siemens

The aggressive and visceral vocals that makes FRIGS one of the most promising young bands coming out of the Toronto scene are those of Bria Salmena. At some points, it sounds as if she’s swallowed a handful of gravel on their new singles “Trashyard” and “Chest”. This powerful and raw voice is backed up by sludgy post-punk that puts graveyard chills into listeners. Last year they put out their first EP, SLUSH, under the FRIGS moniker. They recently dropped two new singles leading up their soon to be released LP. I spoke to vocalist Bria Salmena about FRIGS and what we can expect for the future. Continue reading “Frigs”

Garageland is a CKUW summer tradition. Tune in to CKUW on Saturday’s June 17 and 24 starting at 9 am to hear tales of explorers searching for treasure through the back yards, lawns, and garages all over Winnipeg. Garageland contributes to community building which is what CKUW is all about. We interviewed Kent Davies of CKUW’s Peg City Groove and Amaetuer Hour about what makes Garageland so special. Continue reading “CKUWHO :: Garageland”

Sadly, The Last Temptation Of Chris is the final album from Winnipeg’s wannabe goths, Surprise Party. It’s fitting of course, that these last songs would be riddled with the highest voltage electro keyboard riffs, the hollowed old time Barbershop-eque vocals and lyrics to set one’s teeth on edge. Continue reading “Surprise Party – The Last Temptation of Chris”

By Samuel Swanson

Pinhead from Hellraiser. Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Bicycle Face from Winnipeg.

Right?

“I always felt like it has a touch of the whimsical, or people will think it’s funny, but I never really knew it had such a dark kind of association,” laughs guitarist Ava Glendinning. Continue reading “Whimsical Bicycle”

By Ava Glendinning

Former mayor of Winnipeg Glen Murray has turned his considerable talents toward mastering the craft of instrumental indie pop. Just kidding. But the band that carries his namesake, comprised of bassist/guitarist Sam Koulack, keyboardist Jon Askholm, and drummer David B. Warkentin, will soon have Winnipeggers associating the name with more than just politics.   Continue reading “Talking Pop-litics with Glen Murray”