Manitoba rapper Patrick Skene has been around for a number of years now, making hip-hop for the backpackers and the heads, like 2010’s mondo-catchy yet conscious“Tens of Dollars” off his album Skid Row.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Feb 2, he’ll be releasing People are the Worst at the Lo Pub with the Greg MacPherson band and DJ Co-op in tow. Given that the album is already out on Marathon of Dope and is killer (incl. a Monks sample, wtf!?) it should be one hell of a show.
Continue reading “First Class Riot: To Pip, People are the Worst”
Hillbilly Highway – A Bud with Ben W
by Sheldon Birnie
Local jack-of-all-trades Ben Wytinck is a busy guy. Between working full-time as a sound technician, playing drums in hard boozing Bad Country and rural wedding-social superstars Arnie, he’s also carving out quite the name for himself as a singer-songwriter to be reckoned with. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – A Bud with Ben W”
Jóhann Jóhannsson – Power of Dynamos
By Taylor Burgess
Among the DJ Hedspin and Big Fun craziness which is happening this weekend, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival is is beginning its forward-thinking series. This year’s festival is featuring Stylus favourites Tim Hecker and Jóhann Jóhannsson, among many other established experimental composers. Continue reading “Jóhann Jóhannsson – Power of Dynamos”
Hillbilly Highway – The Roadside Church of Yoakam
by Sheldon Birnie
Guitars. Cadillacs. Hillbilly Music. Four short words, and Dwight Yoakam lays out the prerogative of every would-be country crooner since the days of Hank Williams. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – The Roadside Church of Yoakam”
Disintegration Records :: Building a Formidable Indie Community in Winnipeg
Winnipeg-based Disintegration Records officially launched this past September, with the release of Greg Macpherson’s Disintegration Blues. The tightly knit label is also home to local acts Nova, Haunter, Slow Dancers, and Cannon Bros, whose full-length Firecracker/Cloudglow is Disintegration’s second release. Continue reading “Disintegration Records :: Building a Formidable Indie Community in Winnipeg”
Hillbilly Highway – A cold road indeed
by Sheldon Birnie
Boy, it sure is winter now, here in Peggritty. Undeniably so. For anyone who’s checked the listings in our great city lately, while there are certainly shows to be seen, the frequency and breadth of selection has certainly withered considerably since the dog days of summer or the last minute rush of autumn. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – A cold road indeed”
15 Minutes with Chad VanGaalen

By Victoria King
While Chad VanGaalen may refer to himself as a “joke” of a singer-songwriter, tour relatively little, and gain the reputation of being a “notorious homebody,” he’s still working with one of the biggest and best record labels in the world. After the success of his 2004 release Infiniheart on Flemish Eye Records, Sub Pop jumped on board the crazy psycho-eclectic and talented musical train of VanGaalen and they’ve been going steady ever since.
Hillbilly Highway – Party on, Garth
by Sheldon Birnie
It’s a shitty day in Winnipeg, and all I wanna do is listen to Garth. I know there’s some good shows coming up, some local talent to profile, but I only wanna write about Garth. There’s a whole world to explore on the Highway today, but all signs point to Garth. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Party on, Garth”
First Class Riot; Big Fun Nearly Under the Sun
As we’ve mentioned at Stylus, Big Fun Festival is approaching quickly. The last weekend of January is when it’s happening, venues all over the Exchange is where it’s happening. Exciting times if you’re in that whole indie/folk scene here, or if you’re curious to check any of it out. Continue reading “First Class Riot; Big Fun Nearly Under the Sun”
Secondhandpants :: Suspendering disbelief across the galaxy
Secondhandpants, Winnipeg’s finest Science-Folktion duo has become somewhat of a local institution. Many will know them from the Winnipeg Fringe and Folk Festivals, where they regularly appear as the featured act in a gigantic jukebox, often stealing attention from the main stages they appear next to. Continue reading “Secondhandpants :: Suspendering disbelief across the galaxy”