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By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – This year’s Polaris Prize winner, the iconic Buffy Sainte-Marie, was as gracious a winner as she was a passionate performer. She gave a soaring performance and reminded Canada how lucky we are to have artists like her. As presenter Owen Pallett put it, “her music is angry and its love is fierce. It’s the … Continue reading
By: Elaisha Green (@elaishajade) – Toronto welcomed the final North American stop of Cirque du Soleil’s, ‘Varekai’ at the Air Canada Centre last night. Under the direction of Dominic Champagne, this perplexing production pays homage to circus-acts from juggling to trapeze. The Eurasian-themed staging mixed in with breaks of family friendly physical comedy, which fragmented the plot but kept the audience engaged and laughing before … Continue reading
By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – There were plenty of stories surrounding the lineup for the 2015 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. Some were heartbreaking, like the story of Kathleen Edwards’ stolen 1957 Les Paul Junior. Some were triumphant, like the story of headliner Arkells’ double Juno victory. Some were even controversial, like the last-minute removal of Iron and Wine due … Continue reading
By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – It seemed fitting that for the first performance during Arboretum Festival’s last day, when attendees were beginning to slowly filter into the small, industrial festival grounds between two abandoned warehouses on a tiny island in Ottawa, one audience member moved in front of the group performing and started to breakdance. It seemed fitting … Continue reading
By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – Next to the main stage, constructed out of white tape and fashioned onto a fence, were the words “Girls to the front,” spelled out large enough for a crowd gathered up close for a band to see clearly. The statement resonated, the perfect few words to catch out of the corner of the eye for … Continue reading
By: Laura Beaulne-Stuebing – The host for the second night of Ottawa’s annual Arboretum Festival, CBC’s Laurie Brown, may have said it best, between openers Organ Mood and local instrumental band Flying Horses. She told the audience gathered at St. Alban’s church near Ottawa’s downtown core Thursday night that music without words can move us “blissfully beyond … Continue reading
By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – Don’t cry for Odd Future. While this summer’s news of the hip-hop collective’s breakup may be troubling, it’s best to think of it as “divide and conquer”. Judging from Earl Sweatshirt’s sold-out, rabid crowd at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, that plan is working out pretty damn well. To say Sunday’s show was long-awaited is … Continue reading
By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – While taking in a late-afternoon set by Lowell, a black dog weaved its way through my legs. The little guy seemed to always know exactly where he was headed and trotted freely among hundreds of music fans, vendors and artists. It was the perfect snapshot and the perfect metaphor for the Wolfe Island Music … Continue reading
By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – After 20 long years, 2015 finally saw Faith No More’s triumphant return to Canada, not once, but twice. Only a few weeks after their spectacular, sold out pair of dates at the Sony Centre, the San Francisco-based five-piece announced one more date at Ricoh Coliseum on August 7th – a venue that … Continue reading
By: Daniel Gerichter (@ZenDonut) – Prince isn’t the kind of guy to toy with your emotions. Not this time, anyway. After last fall’s heartbreaking Massey Hall ordeal where dozens of fans lined up outside the venue for a concert that never happened, the purple one made good by announcing two shows in one night at the Sony Centre. Prince’s … Continue reading
