By Chris Bryson
The Big Fun festival has been going on since 2012 and has become a beloved staple and growing fixture of the Winnipeg music scene. Since its inception, the multi-genre festival has been evolving and changing. It is now comprised of four members, and covers 14 shows over 5 days at multiple different locations. Continue reading “Big Fun”
By Max Hamilton
Before it had opened its doors for the first time, the West End Cultural Centre was already different than most venues. For one, the intention of the Centre’s founders was never to make a buck off the place, and to this day it remains a not-for-profit, charitable organization. It began as just an idea, one that, as work began on the run-down church at the corner of Ellice and Sherbrook, drew interested and generous citizens out to volunteer their time and expend their energy on refurbishing the building. Some stayed on for months after the first show was held, which was headlined by the folk group Spirit of the West. That was thirty years ago as of October twenty-first, an anniversary which the West End celebrated with a tribute show to that band. Continue reading “West End Cultural Centre :: 30th Anniversary”
By Allegra Chiarella
No Matter Where You Go, There You Are is the title of Canadian rock band 1971’s upcoming debut album – as well as a favorite saying of former bassist, Cameron “Cran” Cranston, who passed away earlier this year. The band’s three remaining members have decided to pursue separate paths in his absence, but will reunite this December for one final show where they will release the full-length album, as a tribute to their bandmate and friend. Continue reading “1971 :: No Matter Where You Go, There You Are :: A Tribute to Cameron Cranston”
by Kaitlyn Emslie Farrell
It’s early in the morning, too early. You drag yourself out of the house into the smoke filled city streets of Winnipeg. Summer is burning it’s way out across the country. Nothing but the quiet lull of traffic is to be heard as there hasn’t been enough time for humanity to consume their coffee intake just yet. Whether going to school or going to work, you have somewhere to be. As the days go on these mornings get darker, and colder. The smoke clears and invites a mist of frozen water to crystallize on your scarf as you continue to go, still needing to be somewhere. Continue reading “Prairie Punk Perspective”
By Chris Bryson
On Friday, September 22 Solhounds headlined a show at the Good Will to an eager group of rockin’ fans, and Stylus was there to check it out. Continue reading “Solhounds Live at the Good Will Social Club”
By Kaitlyn Emslie Farrell
On Sunday, September 20 at one of our local music hotspots, the Good Will Social Club, I had my first Slim Twig experience. It was your typical Winnipeg Sunday, with a cool breeze and most people at home dreading the fact that Monday was approaching. A few music lovers dragged their butts out to catch some tunes. Continue reading “LIVE BAIT :: Slim Twiggin’ at the Good Will on a Sunday”
by Zach Fleisher
We’re rolling down Hazel Street in Winnipeg Beach and I can already feel it; the calm tone of an acoustic guitar, gentle laughter among close friends and the always refreshing breeze of Lake Winnipeg. As we walk up to the deck and into the sunroom of 228 Hazel, I notice folks in hushed tone of conversation; local recording artist Claire Bones is currently recording a track in the main cottage room, doubling as a makeshift recording haven and I’m told that we all need to whisper in order to continue our conversation. Continue reading “Real Lovin’ :: Real Love Winnipeg”
by Zach Fleisher
In putting this piece forward, I have to acknowledge a fundamental bias in my writing a review for a Paul McCartney show; I’m a Beatles fanatic. I grew up listening to the Fab Four (though I didn’t actually listen to Sgt. Pepper side to side until five years ago) through drives from end to end of the Canadian prairie. In grade five, I fell asleep every night listening to Abbey Road on a CD with only one track for the entire album and no way to change which song I was listening to. As often as I would fall asleep to the gentle and soothing tones of “Something,” I did make the consistent effort to listen until the medley of broken songs at the end, which more often than not proves to the be the enduring legacy of Paul McCartney’s musical career.
by Matthew Dyck
Stumbling on Vikings’ yet to be released recordings was kind of like spotting an offshore ship I wasn’t meant to see. Despite playing to large crowds at The Lytics’ CD release show, and opening for touring acts Twin Shadow and Poolside, Vikings have remained almost entirely off the Internet’s radar as the electro-pop trio gathers a following through word of mouth alone. So, naturally, I was curious why an act so catchy would purposefully keep such a low profile. After a daylong blizzard, vocalist Josh Youngson and brothers Dave and James McNabb braved the snow to have coffee with Stylus and reveal their secret strategy to take over your eardrums in 2013 – well, maybe not so secret anymore. Continue reading “Vikings :: Ready to Make Landfall”
