In Winnipeg Music News...Folk Fest Thursday v. Tragically Hip/Broken Social Scene/Hey Rosetta IS ON!

So the conflict between Folk Fest Thursday Edition vs. Tragically Hip @ Shaw Park just reached new epic, loyalties-will-be-test heights, with the latter event also featuring the one-two indie-rock punch of Broken Social Scene and Hey Rosetta.

Presale for the Hip/BSS/Hey Rosetta outdoor party kicks off tomorrow and the presale password is band. What to do? What to do?

Also, still-relevant-after-20-years rockers Sloan return to Winnipeg for a show at the Pyramid on May 28th.

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In Winnipeg Music News...Tragically Hip Concert Conflict; The Details CD Release

Concert conflict alert: Canadian rock luminaries The Tragically Hip is playing an outdoor show in Peg City at Shaw Park (formerly CanWest Park) on Thursday, July 7. The conflict? It’s the second night of Folk Fest.

According to several emails I’ve received over the past week, Sleigh Bells is not playing the Pyramid on May 21st, despite the gig being listed on their MySpace page.

Winnipeg indie-rock treasures The Details are staging their cd release show at the West End Cultural Centre on June 11th. Their much-anticipated sophomore album, Lost Art, hits the shelves on May 31st.

Speaking of Winnipeg treasures…folk songsmith Del Barber is playing the West End Cultural Centre on June 9th.

Indie-pop octet Library Voices are at the West End Cultural Centre on July 14th.

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In Winnipeg Music News...Neon Indian and Sleigh Bells Both Playing Here...On Separate Nights

"6669 (i don't know if you know)"

So it turns out that, despite co-headlining a string of North American dates together, noise-pop purveyors Sleigh Bells and chillwave makers Neon Indian will not be sharing the stage in Winnipeg. Instead, they will be playing separately on back-to-back nights at the Pyramid, with Sleigh Bells on May 21st and Neon Indian the night before.

Indie-folksters Tasseomancy (sisters Romy and Sari Lightman) open for Timber Timbre, May 26th at the Park Theatre.

Montreal-stationed indie-rockers Miracle Fortress return to Winnipeg for a show at the Lo Pub on May 1st.

Also, eight-piece pop act Library Voices will be there on May 4th.

And finally, this Saturday at the Lo Pub welcome The Liptonians home from their recent tour in support of their sophomore release, Let's All March Back Into The Sea.

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In Winnipeg Music News...The 2011 Winnipeg Jazz Festival

Shad! Shad! Shad!

The lineup for the 2011 Winnipeg International Jazz Festival dropped earlier this afternoon and, as in years past, it boasts an exciting, highly eclectic roster of musical acts that span/fuse many, many genres (in other words, Jazz Festival continues to be a misnomer).

Running from June 16 – 25, the ten day soiree trucks in some intriguing artists including: singular hip-hopper Shad (Pyramid on the 24th), the-previously-mentioned Blonde Redhead (Pyramid on the 20th), the still-virile Robert Plant & The Band of Joy (Centennial Concert Hall on the 21st), and post-rockers The Appleseed Cast (Old Market Square on June 18th).

And there’re a whole slew of great acts to check out (for free!) at Old Market Square: This Hisses, Nova, Les Jupes, The Liptonians, Royal Canoe, The Appleseed Cast, Paradigm Brass, The Tight Fits, The Blue Fisher Band, The Noble Thiefs, The Lytics, Moses Mayes and on and on.

Above is just a selective sampling of acts (accounting for this site's demo), so for the full lineup, please visit Jazz Winnipeg’s website here.

So...who are you most excited to see? You know my vote.

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In Winnipeg Music News...Jeff Tweedy Added To Folk Fest; Blonde Redhead @ Pyramid; Art & Activism Event

First up, a bona fide solid add to the Folk Fest 2K11 lineup: Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy is playing the festival on Sunday night. 

Indie-rockers Blonde Redhead will appear at the Pyramid on June 20th (thanks to Will for the heads up). 

And finally, a Celebration of Art & Activism is being held at the Ellice Cafe and Theatre on Thursday April 28 with all proceeds from the event and silent auction going to Agape Table and the Good Food Club. Featured musical acts include: All Our Yesterdays, The Reverend Rambler, Ben Wytinck, and Cheering For The Bad Guy (thanks to Robin for the info).

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In The Future...Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers @ Pantages; Benefit for Cinematheque @ WECC

Steve Martin.

Comedian. Actor. Novelist. Screenwriter. Playwright. Juggler. Bluegrass Band Leader. If the last entry of this impressive dossier intrigues you, check out Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers at the Pantages Playhouse on July 27^th. And tell him I said Shopgirl is a fantastic book/film combo.

On Thursday, June 2^nd a benefit for Cinematheque is going down at the WECC featuring John K Samson, Nathan, The Jaxon 3, and The Shallow End (Rod from Novillero’s new band). Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Vancouver-residing singer-songwriter Jess Hill is at RagPickers on May 4^th.

Add songstress Holly Conlan to the Sam Bradley bill at the WECC on May 16^th.

And finally…nine days until Record Store Day! See you at Music Trader. And Into The Music. 

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In The Flesh...The Rural Alberta Advantage @ The Pyramid

The Rural Alberta Advantage

The Pyramid

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Winnipeg, MB

 

Photos by Sarah Gofflot

On Thursday night at the Pyramid -- for 75 minutes or so -- Nils, Amy, and Paul (aka The Rural Alberta Advantage) turned in another of their consistently inspired performances. All three have undeniable stage presence, limitless energy, and strong intra-band chemistry – and it’s easy to see why this white-hot threesome has never brought a fourth musician into the fold. No need to mess with this magic.  

The new material was wisely peppered throughout in the set list (as opposed to coming in clusters) which really kept the energy high and the momentum continuously going forward. Naturally, the cuts off Hometowns sparked way bigger responses than their newer Departing counterparts (“The Ballad of the RAA” practically brought down the cabaret); but, it’s the less-familiar tracks that really struck a, ahem, chord: reproduced live the spiky “Muscle Relaxant” and the slow-burning “Tornado ‘87” took on dynamic and exciting forms, easily outstripping the recorded versions. 

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