Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Dave Skene
The first step is always the hardest. You feel like an alien in your own body, adrenaline races to your brain, there’s a sharpening sensation as each nerve flips on, your mind, not knowing what to expect, takes everything in as your heart thumps in your chest like a big bass drum. Continue reading “Not Enough Fest”
By Michael Elves
It may have seemed like Maylee Todd came out of nowhere when she released her engaging, challenging – and suitably adventurous – Choose Your Own Adventure on Do Right! Music in 2010, but the fact of the matter is the Toronto artist had been building towards her solo debut for a half-decade and the genre-hopping and blending on display in CYOA came from a playful spirit honed in the service of groups as disparate as Henri Faberge & The Adorables, Woodhands, and The Bicycles. With Henri Faberge & The Adorables in particular Todd was already choosing her own adventure as she noted in our interview that “that was like the first official band that I was in and that band was just about really making music with your friends and the idea was to play an instrument that you don’t usually play so it was a bit of a challenge but so much fun too.” Continue reading “Hot Todd(ie) the musical drink of choice at Jazz Fest”
by Sheldon Birnie
Northcote is the musical project of Victoria-by-way-of-Regina’s Matt Goud. With the recent release of his self-titled, sophomore album, Northcote expands on his trademark sound with a more confident, more fully realized LP. Backed by the largest band he’s ever taken on the road with him, Northcote is blazing a trail down the Hillbilly Highway, from one end of Canada to the other. With stops in Winnipeg and Calgary for Sled Island upcoming, Matt took a few minutes out of a traffic jam in Quebec to talk to Stylus about the new record, the Highway, and attending boarding school in Dauphin, MB. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Northcote comes a knockin’”
by Sheldon Birnie
The barren landscape before you is obscured in a thick, pungent haze as the red orb of the sun begins to climb the horizon. The earth beneath your feet is charred and oozing, like the flesh on a burn victim’s face. The air is still, but your head buzzes with the terrible knowledge that something cataclysmic has just transpired. Only you can’t remember what it was. The only sound that can be heard is the ringing drone where your eardrums used to be. Are your ears bleeding? Yes. Yes they are. Continue reading “Shooting Guns :: Motherfuckers Never Learn”
By Kabir Kaler
The word of the day is immunity in the new zombie survival game Dead Island: Riptide. One point I should make is I haven’t played the prequel, so pay that in mind since that may reflect the score of this game. Continue reading “Kontroller – Dead Island: Riptide”
by Sheldon Birnie
Blake Berglund is a Saskatchewan songwriter with a keen eye for detail and the work ethic of his cowboy forefathers. With a full summer of bookings looming ahead, Stylus caught up with hard hustling troubadour on a break from seeding at his family farm in Kennedy, SK, to talk about touring, songwriting, his background in hard rock and country, and contemporary roots music. Our conversation stretched on for longer than anticipated, but here’s the bulk of what Blake had to tell me. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Blake Berglund, Real Deal”
The boys headed down to Austin to take in the craziness it delivered.
Here’s all the photo coverage by our resident Art Director, Andrew Mazurak
By Janet Adamana
“I’m nailing shards of hope together to put something over my head” bellowed a short, bearded young man, whirling around the stage of an empty theatre in Cleveland. The vocalist was surrounded by his band mates and best friends, he had his hoodie up, spewing his heart out into a small silver mic. “You know here it’s always raining, and it happened again, it happened again…” I will always remember the day I first heard pop punk band, The Wonder Years, and the moment they changed everything. Continue reading “The Wonder Years :: Setting their sights on the Greatest Generation”
by Sheldon Birnie
A new website is holding official launch parties across the country this weekend. PinballSessions.com is set to deliver Canadian music fans live, unique recordings from various artists of interest, in a similar manner that Daytrotter delivers regular, fresh lives sessions to listeners in the States. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Pinball Sessions set to launch”
by Scott Wolfe
Skate 4 Cancer (S4C) is an incredible event that plays host to various activities that all ages can enjoy, while supporting a good cause. The Forks skatepark has played host to Skate For Cancer, an event organized to raise money and increase cancer awareness, now into its fifth year. The event is the brainchild of Toronto’s Rob Dyer. Upon meeting Rob, Jay Fulmore, a local Winnipegger, adapted the idea to include a massive daytime event. Continue reading “Skate 4 Cancer 2013 :: Great music, great cause”