Cultural Festivals

The Argyle Gallery acquitted itself well as the ideal venue in which to present the three year old Toronto-based See Through Trio’s delightful set of jazz miniatures. The ten pieces, performed with crisp eloquence, a lightness of being, and extraordinary technical facility on double-bass, soprano sax and electric piano, ranged from a couple of hymn-based […]

To best appreciate The Hylozoists, the eight-member Toronto-based ensemble led by Halifax native Paul Aucoin, you need to see the band in a smaller, enclosed space. That way the ample sound can surround you and the rest of the audience, hitting each body with some sonic force. (Anyone who saw the band’s show with Brent […]

“Before I start”, Paul Cram, at the bar in the Holiday Inn’s Commons Room, said between sips from a cold beverage with lime slices, “it’s like an an ax blow to the head. Once up there playing, I’m fine.” This was to be no Jane Goodall lecture as the emcee quipped for the benefit of […]

A couple of ways to size up last night’s performance by renowned “blues” guitarist and singer, partnered up with tabla player, Cassius Khan. Black (she wore black) and white and sped all over. A blisteringly hot night of Delta blues – Nile Delta to be more specific. As the emcee observed in his halting but […]

Feral Bliss as part of free shows at the Main Stage Festival Tent – 2pm, Saturday July 14th, 2007 The city has just suffered through one of its long and dreary spells of fog, rain and grey. In the second straight clear day (!), the rays feel that much warmer, the breeze that much gentler […]

If there is a summer custom I already miss about the East Coast it is – first and foremost – the pleasing, communal atmosphere of the backyard barbecue. Recognizing it as being a conducive forum for convening over 100 guests, Six Shooter Records made my Saturday afternoon by hosting a selection of delegates at what […]

People on the East Coast say “if you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes”. And those, like me, who have moved to Toronto in the interests of finding employment (hey, Halifax, I tried!), find out quickly the “land of opportunity” is no different. I had initially been planning on starting the day at […]

A group of music industry big wigs, and intrigued conference delegates, took over Much headquarters Thursday afternoon to discuss the future of music for profit. While the representative from FACTOR was optimistic a new medium she can’t divulge details on will assure everyone makes money again, much of the rest of the dialogue focused on […]

Wednesday morning began with a degree of uncertainty as I awaited the reaction of my employers to the “two weeks” I communicated to them the day before. Would I be freed to stroll my second NXNE festival on my own determination, or be obliged to labor long hours to unremitting distraction? Fortunately, I was afforded […]

There I sat, surrounded by cameras, microphones, and reporters. No, I wasn’t being interviewed about my role in the ECMA weekend. I was actually sitting in the basement of the Metro Centre, stuck in the Media Room as the ECMA Awards Gala raged on outside. If you’re ever a journalist and you want to feel […]

After a night that went better than any East Coast Music Awards party-goer could have expected, I had to reason that I was in for a bit of a letdown. Although there were a few hitches, Saturday night saw the most crowds, with almost every bar packed to the brim with music fans out to […]

After what was a low-key night for the ECMAs, I set out on Friday in an attempt to see as much as I could. I was not disappointed. Simply put, when you’re sipping a gin and tonic in the Scotia Square mall at 5:30 a.m., you know you’ve had a good time. The night started […]