Hillbilly Highway – RIP Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger 1980  photo by David Landy / Winnipeg Free Press
Pete Seeger 1980
photo by David Landy / Winnipeg Free Press

Pete Seeger died early Monday morning at the age of 94. A tireless crusader for social justice, and an inspiration to countless musicians and social activists, Seeger will be missed and mourned by many. His positive attitude and ceaseless struggle against oppression in all forms, and his commitment to folk music will be remembered for years. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – RIP Pete Seeger”

Big Fun :: French Press

French Press - Press Photo

by Jenna Priestner 

Winnipeg’s French Press has evolved over the last year from Chantel Emond’s solo project to a trio. The additions to the line-up have added a spark of grunge rock to her dominantly indie-pop sound, but it’s her beautifully charming voice that carries the band and tugs right on your heart strings. Emond is always sure to have you singing along to her crowd-pleasing title track “Back on the Mattress” from her 2012 release. With a new album scheduled for production in the near future, we can be assured her songs will be brought to life in a new and exciting way. Continue reading “Big Fun :: French Press”

Big Fun / Pop Nuit :: Mahogany Frog

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by Broose Tulloch

The WSO’s New Music Festival and prog-rockers Mahogany Frog have more in common than you might think.  Like this year’s theme, “Beyond” both continue to grow and explore new directions.   Under the guidance of WSO Artistic Director Alexander Mickelthwate, the New Music Festival has added a late night component, Pop Nuit, to explore new music that blurs the lines between pop and classical.

Mahogany Frog began with prog-rock exploration of the blues (Mahogany Frog Plays The Blues) and have grown into an experimental electronic rock group exploring psychedelia, a shift that began with 2004’s Mahogany Frog  vs. Mabus.  The music of Mahogany is at once accessible and undeniably rock yet also strangely new; complex yet cohesive; making the quartet, comprised of Jesse Warkentin (guitar/keyboards), Graham Epp (guitar/keyboards/trumpet), Scott Ellenberger (bass/keyboards/trumpet), and Andy Rudoph (drums/electronics), a perfect fit for Pop Nuit. Stylus talked to Graham Epp and Scott Ellenberger about the music of Mahogany Frog. Continue reading “Big Fun / Pop Nuit :: Mahogany Frog”

Big Fun :: The Reckless Heroes

Reckless Heroes - Press Photo

by Jenna Priestner 

The Reckless Heroes have been paving their through the punk and metal scene in Calgary since 2009. The Heroes will be hitting the road soon and Kevin (vocalist/guitarist) took time out of his busy pre-production schedule to talk about the upcoming release and Big Fun Festival. You can listen in to their older stuff on Bandcamp, but chances are you’ll be hearing some fresh material at The Cavern. Continue reading “Big Fun :: The Reckless Heroes”

Hillbilly Highway – Zachary Lucky stops by for Big Fun!

photo by Christina Bourne
photo by Christina Bourne

by Sheldon Birnie

Zachary Lucky is a Saskatoon based singer-songwriter whose drive to create beautiful folk and country gems is rivalled only by his relentless commitment to the Highway. With 2012’s Saskatchewan followed quickly with 2013’s The Ballad of Losing You, Lucky released as solid a one-two punch as we’ve seen in recent years out here on the Highway. The former, a brooding folk portrait of the province Lucky calls home; the latter, a touching country ballad in the tradition of Hank Snow, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. Lucky took a few minutes to chat with Stylus before hitting the road on his latest adventure, which will see him stop in Winnipeg on Friday for an afternoon at Big Fun, before heading back West, down into the USA, and overseas later this spring. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Zachary Lucky stops by for Big Fun!”