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Sloan Do 20th Anniversary Tour, Skip Maritimes

Sloan is set to release its 10th album, Double Cross, on May 10th. The release also marks the 20th year that the band has been together (and holy hell do I feel old now.) The band has scheduled a North American tour to commemorate this auspicious event, but we’ve noticed that Maritime dates are conspicuously absent from the itinerary. Huh. I guess if you’re around any of these other cities during these dates, you can check them out – they will be playing hits from all 10 albums, and everyone loves hits, and whatnot. May 25 Cleveland OH at

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JazzFest Does the Salter Shuffle

Yesterday, allnovascotia.com reporter Paul McLeod reported that the Halifax Jazz Festival will officially be moving to the Salter Block this summer.As you might recall, the fest was being bumped from its Spring Garden and Queen St. location because it was deemed the site for the new Halifax Central Library. While organizers had been weighing a […]

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The Kindness Killers do The Country Twist

The small town of Peterborough, Ontario is known for a few things; Trent University, the pervasive smell of oatmeal, and the Pig’s Ear, which hosts the best bar trivia night in Canada (no foolin’!). What you might not know is that it also boasts a fine tradition of folk and country music that includes musicians like Willy P. Bennett and Washboard Hank. The Kindness Killers is another Peterborough-based band that dutifully tips its hat to the old masters while adding a modern spin. “We’re really interested in applying the form of pre-Nashville country songs and applying it to contemporary

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Hey Rosetta! added to M-Fest Lineup

The August megaconcert M-Fest has announced its full lineup today. In addition to Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Broken Social Scene, Diamond Rings and Surfer Blood, the day-long concert will feature Hey Rosetta!, Carmen Townsend, Glory Glory and In-Flight Safety. The concert is taking place Sunday August 7 at Alderney Landing and doors open at 1pm. Tickets are available now through Ticketpro.ca, their outlets, and by phone at 1-888-311-9090. Advanced Tickets are $39.50 (+ $5 ticket service fee) and day of show tickets are $44.50 (+ $5 ticket service fee). Cheap!

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Friday Five: Rekkid Edition

HERE IS EVERYTHING, RIGHT NOW1. Detroit Cobras – “I Wanna Holler (But the Town’s Too Small)” The Detroit Cobras and their brand of soul classics/garage moxie are coming back into my life in a big way recently. You can listen to them every day, regardless of mood, locale or sobriety, and the music is bound […]

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Grab bag

In some ways, the Halifax punk band The Graboids isn’t that different from the subterranean worm creatures from Tremors that form its namesake. Just as those snakey grubs stubbornly rammed the walls of Reba McIntyre’s bunker, so this foursome—Adrian Bruhm, James O’Toole, Michel Ungurain and Brian Carson—seeks to break through the usual punk tropes with […]

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Cursed Arrows

There’s something eerily prescient about Cursed Arrows’ third full-length album The Madness of Crowds. Although Jackie and Ryan Stanley composed most of the songs prior to their move here last October, the music is an urgent and appropriate backdrop for the early months of 2011. The album addresses themes of violence and desolation, environmental degradation […]

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Long Live the Queen Full Lineup and Schedule

SISTER Here’s the full lineup for the Long Live the Queen Festival, happening this May long weekend (May 19-22.) Street fairs! Brunches! Hip-hop! Round robin thingys! Bands/full schedule below. Get tickets from Taz Records and Obsolete Records as well as at longlivethequeen.ca Thursday, May 19th Obsolete Records 3pm (Free Event) Chief Thundercloud + Jay Crocker North Street Church 6pm ( $18 Adv / $22 Door ) Old Man Luedecke + Kite Hill + Klarka Weinwerm + These Hands + Gianna Lauren Gus’ Pub 10pm ($8 Adv / $10 Door) Play Guitar + Sean Nicholas Savage + D’Eon + Deadhorse +

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Sappyfest Lineup Lookin’ Gooooooood

gimme The initial acts for the Sackville, NB love-in Sappyfest have been announced and so far the list pleases me immensely. Most exciting is the inclusion of Toronto’s Bonjay. Bonjay makes amazing stream-of-consciousness dancehall and prominently features the singing/mumbling/rapping of the jaw-droppingly cool Alanna Stuart. Actually, just stop doing whatever you’re doing for a second […]

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30 Day Song Challenge: An Angry Song

Wow, I’ve really fallen off the wagon with this….as Bryan Adams once said, “Please forgive me?”In honor of tomorrow’s exciting concert event, today’s entry in the 30 Day Song Challenge – a song that you listen to while angry – features the awesome power of the Pixies’ classic rant against vacuous college kids, “U-Mass.” It’s Frank Black at his most straightforwardly snide. It’s got the biggest brassiest power chords ever. It’s got the use of the c-word. Nothing about this song is small and that’s the best part about it. Best paired with air-punching, kicking, whiskey and a good

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