by Sheldon Birnie
Sunburnt and filthy as all get out, I’ve finally recovered here from my weekend out at Dauphin’s Countryfest. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Recovering from a wild weekend in Dauphin”
A conversation with Hayes Carll
by Sheldon Birnie
With festival season bearing down hard upon us, it is with great anticipation that we wait here for some of the world’s best singers, songwriters, and guitar pickers to come pouring in off the Hillbilly Highway and into our backyards. With performances at Dauphin’s Countryfest in June and the Winnipeg Folk Festival in July, Manitobans have no excuse to miss out on Hayes Carll. Stylus caught up with this Texas troubadour over the phone from a tour stop in Tucson, AZ.
Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Dauphin
by Sheldon Birnie
Last week, my adventure to Calgary to cover Sled Island took a turn for the worst. Southern Alberta was hit with an unprecedented disaster that forced the cancellation of the bulk of the festival (and all my coverage), as well as the evacuation of up to 100,000. My heart goes out to all the folks who are still out work and house or home. The damage is, quite frankly, staggering. But the people and local governments in the area are doing all they can to get back to normal in the face of calamity.
I’m hoping that my bad luck with weather and festivals does not hold any further, as I prepare today to hit the Highway to Dauphin Countryfest early tomorrow morning. Vehicle is secured, camping gear prepared, and press pass waiting at the gate. It’s gonna be a wild one, friends. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Dauphin”
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band brings salvation to Jazz Fest
by Daniel Emberg
photo by Cheyenne Rae
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will be hitting the stage in an hour, and the Rev is seated at a picnic table working on his band’s setlist for the night. Turning his formidable facial follicles across the street toward the King’s Head Pub, he smiles at the action on the patio. “You know,” he says, “It’s a lot of fun, but I don’t drink so I’m not much for bars except when we’re playing. You know that store Claire’s at the mall, with the earrings and stuff? If they had music there, that’s where I would hang out, is Claire’s. I just want to be where the music is.” Continue reading “Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band brings salvation to Jazz Fest”
Haunter :: Long awaited debut about to drop
by Stefan Braun
When I first heard Haunter’s long awaited debut album Rivers and Rust, I drank a case of beer and used a sewing needle to tattoo a rowboat onto my roommate’s arm. Although I don’t recommend this to every first time listener, it seemed we were doing the album justice. It was the ideal soundtrack for a summer ripe with late nights, good times and bad ideas. The album invokes feelings of a prairie highway, a car filled with friends, the sun on your face, nothing in your head, no clear destinations in mind, but unlimited possibilities. Continue reading “Haunter :: Long awaited debut about to drop”
Weekenders 06/19 – 06/25
Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Sled Island
by Sheldon Birnie
Sun’s out, guns out, and it’s time to hit the Highway. I’m heading out to check the action at Sled Island, and enjoy the beautiful sights of the Number One Highway. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Hitting the Highway to Sled Island”
Jazz Fest – (Long Lost) BADBADNOTGOOD Feature from 2012
by Shanell Dupras
Jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD were scheduled to play Jazz Fest in 2012 shortly after the release of their new album on April 3, 2012, BBNG2, which mainly features covers of artists like Odd Future, James Blake, and even My Bloody Valentine. Stylus got a hold of Alex Sowinski, the drummer/sampler, and Chester Hansen, the bassist, for an interview. Shortly before our June/July 2012 issue went to press, BBNG cancelled a number of their Canadian summer dates. We’re happy that they’re able to make Jazz Fest this year. Here is our long lost BADBADNOTGOOD feature from 2012. Continue reading “Jazz Fest – (Long Lost) BADBADNOTGOOD Feature from 2012”
Not Enough Fest
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”
Hot Todd(ie) the musical drink of choice at Jazz 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”