Winnipeg music & culture since 1989
by Sheldon Birnie, photo by Andrew Mazurak
Tyler Sneesby sashays into Parlour Coffee on a warm July afternoon wearing a sharp denim outfit and brand new, bright white sneakers. We order Americanos, his hot and mine cold pressed. We are here to discuss, with great anticipation, the opening of Winnipeg’s newest — and certainly one of its most ambitious — live music venues, Union Sound Hall. Continue reading “Union Sound Hall :: Winnipeg’s newest live music venue set to open its doors wide”
by Sheldon Birnie
Deer Tick, the pride of Providence, Rhode Island, just announced a new album to hit the streets this fall. The band will also be hitting the Highway in support of Negativity, their aptly titled fifth studio full length. This tour includes a stop in Winnipeg on October 16 at the West End. I, for one, am pumped. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Deer Tick announce new album, Winnipeg stop in October”
The name of this band smacks of a sequined frontman singing in front of his anonymous players, while the lengthy title of their album underlines the potential of a collaborative approach. Continue reading “John Jerome & The Congregation – Ask Not What I Can Do For You, But What We Can Do Together”
Little Dreams, more or less, is a laid back look at life as Ian Thomas’s generation knows it and remembers it being. Continue reading “Ian Thomas – Little Dreams”
Loud, an instrumental duo based in Vancouver, has been together since 1996. Echo and Flow is just their second album. Continue reading “Loud – Echo and Flow”
by Sheldon Birnie
Shred Kelly‘s unique brand of foot-stompin’, banjo driven roots boogie has been getting crowds up and off their feet for years now. On Monday, July 28th, the Fernie based group makes a stop-over in Winnipeg to play the Windsor. Stylus caught up with Sage McBride (vocals, guitar) on a short tour stop in Nova Scotia to talk about touring, getting stuck in Alberta’s floods in June, preparations for their new record, and their experience with the CBC Beetle. Continue reading “Shred Kelly :: Bringin’ their banjo boogie to the Windsor”
by Andrew Friesen
Although the grove of cottonwood trees beside Brandon’s Keystone Centre may not look like much from the outside, hidden within is the home of one of the best musical celebrations on the Prairies. Located in the heart of this province’s second largest city, the 29-year-old Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival has slowly made a name for itself as a worthwhile stop on the folk circuit for both artists and fans alike. And despite it’s decidedly urban location (the site is bounded by a hockey arena, a high school, and a car dealership), the festival “under the trees” feels decidedly rural and intimate – the sprawling Winnipeg Folk Fest this is not. Continue reading “Brandon Folk Festival gears up for 29th year”
by Sheldon Birnie
Monday night’s packed show at the Park Theatre was one of those perfect stops along the Hillbilly Highway that at once make you feel so glad that you’re wherever you happen to be at, while at the same time igniting (or rekindling) an “aching wanderlust” to hit the road at once. Backed by Winnipeg’s own Scott Nolan and Joanna Miller (who also opened the night), the crowd at the Park was treated to a magnificent performance from one of the best songwriters (and a dang entertaining performer and storyteller, to boot) in the biz, Mary Gauthier. Continue reading “Hillbilly Highway – Mary Gauthier, Scott Nolan, Joanna Miller @ Park Theatre”
Mulligrub’s Pre-Grub EP has been my go to soundtrack for morning coffee and planning my day. Continue reading “Mulligrub – Pre-Grub EP”
You might recognize Rory Verbrugge as the drummer for Prog-Metal group Jarhead. Continue reading “Rory Verbrugge – Rory Verbrugge”