Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Victoria King
You probably remember the first local show you ever saw, right? It was probably at the Albert, Ozzy’s, the WECC, maybe even Wellington’s. It was dark and grungy, you were zitty and nervous. But as far as you were concerned, that band onstage were the best thing you’d ever seen. Continue reading “Blunderspublik :: An Homage to 90s Winnipeg”
Odesza is an emerging electronic music duo from Seattle. Continue reading “Odesza – In Return”
From the moment it passed through my hands at the August Stylus Contributor meeting, I was intrigued by Rhythm and Entertainment. Continue reading “JEFF BIRD – Rhythm and Entertainment”
by Gil Carroll
Here at Stylus Magazine, we’re proud to be celebrating 25 years of music coverage in Winnipeg. Over this quarter century, Stylus has seen editors, artists, and volunteer writers come and go, as well as changes in direction, tone and aesthetic. What were once wicked band photos gracing the cover page now are local, oftentimes abstract or subtly morbid original artwork, a change that came around in the mid 90s. Continue reading “CKUWho :: Stylus celebrates 25 years of independent music coverage”
by Harrison Samphir
Most Winnipeggers know DJ Hunnicutt (Tyler Sneesby) as the local mixmaster whose choice cuts punctuate events and parties across the city. But the Brandon-born crate digger is also a hip hop pioneer, club owner, marketing and promotions professional and cofounder of one of the Peg’s first rap crews, Farm Fresh.
The group, consisting of mcenroe (Rod Bailey) and Pip Skid (Pat Skene), released two albums in the mid-1990s – The Space EP in 1994 and Crazy Fiction one year later – on Peanuts & Corn Records. The imprint would go on to release over 40 records from local artists like Birdapres, Yy, Fermented Reptile, Frek Sho and others, and remains one of Canada’s most successful and recognized independent labels. Stylus caught up with Hunnicutt to discuss the origins of the local hip hop community, its many players, and the important legacy it engraved on Winnipeg’s cultural identity. Continue reading “nonstophiphop :: DJ Hunnicutt reveals Winnipeg’s rap roots”
On In My Dreams, the second full-length from 24-year-old Nova Scotian Mo Kenney, the talented-beyond-her-years songwriter proves herself a master of the musical kiss-off. Continue reading “Mo Kenney – In My Dreams”
A dance band in the vein of the more recent Daft Punk, Leisure Cruise are less a dance band and more a pop band that skews heavily towards wanting you to move. Continue reading “Leisure Cruise – Leisure Cruise”
by Anastasia Chipelski
After a disappointingly bleak crop of local awards at the Junos, Manitoban artists, dolled up in their finest and sipping beers at ballpark prices, got the respect they fully deserve at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Continue reading “WCMA 2014 – Manitobans clean up at home”
by Sheldon Birnie
With BreakOutWest in town this past weekend, there was plenty to see and do all over Winnipeg. But with the NHL Regular Season about to get underway, Stylus was able to get some time with Western Canadian Music Awards host, CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence, to talk about his recent “puck rock memoir,” The Lonely End of the Rink, and his own coming to terms with hockey and hockey culture by way of independent, Canadian music. While in town, Lawrence, whose old band the Smugglers were regularly featured in Stylus throughout the 90s, was also able to check out a Winnipeg Jets pre-season game, swap hockey stories with former Canuck Martin Gelinas, and jaw about beer league hockey with the rest of us. Check out our conversation below, as the puck drops on the 2013-14 NHL season. Let’s go! Continue reading “Grant Lawrence, Puck Rock & the Lonely End of the Rink”