User Friendly Olympic Concert Schedules

As a public service for all music lovers in Vancouver and curious Olympic visitors, I've created 8** (**as of February 1) simple print-outs of mostly free concerts in Metro Vancouver and Whistler. If you've even taken a brief glance at the host of websites featuring this information, you'll know that it was really decentralized. [belated note: and some websites are just awful.] This is a way for you to glance quickly at what's going on in a given day and make a choice about whom to see.

Many local Canadian talents are highlighted, including Mother Mother, Elliott BROOD, Great Lake Swimmers, Arkells, Sam Roberts Band, Jill Barber, Matt Mays, Jenn Grant, Stars, .. and the list goes on and on and on.

If this is helpful to you at all, please forward them on with a link back to the blog. All of the information courtesy of their respective websites.

If you would like a Word document forwarded to you, please email me at brendahlee [at] gmail [dot] com.

Print out #1: Cultural Olympiad (Free AND paid concerts)
Print out #2: Surrey 2010 Celebration Stage (Free)
Print out #3: Whistler Live! (Free)
Print out #4: LiveCity Vancouver (Free)
Print out #5: Richmond O Zone (Free)

Print out #6: Free CBC Events
Print out #7: Atlantic Canada House (Free)
Print out #8: Robson Square GE Plaza (Free)
Print out #9: Ontario Pavilion (Free)

Compilation: Canadian Indie Highlights (a compilation list-- there are shows on here which are not on other schedules, including Alberta House and Saskatchewan Pavilion)

Photos of Pop Montreal 2009

This year I went to my first Pop Montreal.
It was a fun experience.
Here is a photo slide show of who I saw this year at the fesitval.

For reviews click here.

Matthew Barber Tour AB & BC

Via Facebook update:

Just a reminder that Matthew will be playing The Theatre Centre in Toronto tonight August 12 at 10pm. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. This will be Matthew's last Toronto show for some time.

For those in the west, Matthew will be making his way out Alberta and BC for some solo dates that preview a lot of his new material from his forthcoming album.

Matthew Barber Solo Tour:

Thursday September 24
Communitea Cafe
#117 1001 6th Avenue
Canmore, Alberta
T1W 3L8
Tickets $15 / $18 at door
www.thecommunitea.com

Saturday, September 26
CKUA Presents
Matthew Barber, w/ Lindsay Ell, and Jody Glenham
Liberty Lounge, Mount Royal College
Calgary
Doors 8 pm
Advance tickets $13, plus applicable service charges, and will be available at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ca) and Megatunes, as of Tuesday, Aug 4th @ 10 am.

Sunday, September 27
Matthew Barber, w/ Treelight Room, and Lindsay Ell
The Habitat, 248 Leon Ave
Kelowna
Doors 8 pm
Advance tickets $10, plus applicable service charges, and will be available at Leo's Video (2680 Pandosy Street. 250-861-8437), and The Habitat. On sale Tuesday, Aug 4th.

Monday, September 28

Matthew Barber, w/ Jody Glenham, and Rose Ranger
The Media Club, 685 Cambie Street
Vancouver
Doors 8 pm
Advance tickets $14, plus applicable service charges, and will be available at www.mediaclub.ca/tickets , and Zulu Records, as of Tuesday, Aug 4th.


News on the new album coming soon!

Hey Ocean! plays free concert

Via a Facebook update, Vancouver-based Hey Ocean! announced a free concert in their hometown for Car Free Day. That's this Sunday, June 14th, at 6:45pm. The concert will take place in the middle of the street around the intersection of Main St. @ 16th St.

The band also announced that this will be drummer Dan Klenner's last performance with the band. As for who will be taking his place, no word yet.

On another note, they're still looking for entries for their T-shirt design contest.

Halifax: Totally Wicked Music Festival

Saturday, June 13 at the Khyber Club, 1588 Barrington, 10pm, $5

This Saturday, starting at 10pm at the Khyber Club, you are promised three things: ridiculous band names, high energy all night, and an unbridled, raw, rock and roll experience. The Totally Wicked Music Festival II is a one night only show where heaps of talented artists come together to form (also one night only) band personas.

Artist Eleanor King is organizing the second installment of this festival, from which she says we can expect “organized spontaneity.” In her invitation to contributors, she recalls her experience with the first festival, “The result was one of the most memorable nights of performance art rock that I can remember, with bands like Rat Salad and Puddin' taking the stage for the first and only time.”

Luckily, the second coming of the festival won’t be much different.

The Liquorstore Hurries, 1x1, and Caramel Axe are just a few of the ridiculously named bands gracing the stage. And although band names can sometimes out-do bands themselves, Saturday will still be a focus on the eclectic sound that Halifax has to offer.

And with the limit of one song per band, if you don’t like what you’re hearing, then grab a drink and by the time you’re back there will be a new act!

Interim Director for the Khyber Arts Society, Daniel Joyce guarantees a unique experience, “people will go up on stage, play a song, and then rejoin the crowd.”

The interaction that TWMF offers makes chances pretty good you’ll run into a few local celebrities before the night is done. 

With a punk band one minute and an acoustic act the next; the festival will no doubt be one of the most condensed showcases of talent Halifax has seen in a while. Don’t add it to the list of crazy things you regret missing – be there at 10pm this Saturday.

Concert Review: The Stills

The Stills at The Starlite Room (Edmonton), with guests Gentlemen Reg, May 12

To my grandkids, this will be known as the day that Awesome came to town.

It was on May 12, and was freaking freezing, because hey, it's Edmonton. I was the first in line with my younger sister and my mom. We got in and grabbed seats. Normally, I go all out and push my way to the front, close enough to probably be spit on, but my mom isn't exactly spry enough for that. The opener was Gentlemen Reg, who I haven't really heard of, but put on a great performance. Definitely worth looking into.

Then, The Stills arrive. Yellow/Orange glow sticks on mic stands and amps, smoky atmosphere, no overhead lighting, all set the mood for the opener, "Snakecharming The Masses", with Dave Hamelin doing double duty on a drum (after, he goes back to guitar and vocals), Tim Fletcher's vocals just soaring though the music. Moving on to favourites from previous albums ("Still In Love Song", "In The Beginning") , to selections from the newest album ("I'm With You", "Everything I Build", "Panic", "Don't Talk Down") , it was great and I didn't want it to end. A great repertoire onstage and an energetic performance, I'm definitely going to be in the front the next time they're in town.

May 8 - 9 shows in Vancouver this upcoming weekend...

Upcoming shows in the Vancouver area @ the Biltmore:

Friday May 8 - Immaculate Machine with guests Strange Magic and Lakefield
Saturday May 9 - Early show - Cloud Cult with guest Say Hi To Your Mom
- Late show (11pm start) - Glory Days with guest Fake Shark Real Zombie

These will be great shows so if you're in the area, The Biltmore is at 395 Kingsway near Main Street.

Biltmore Cabaret website is here. Go check it out or get a Geo Straight and check out page 63. Rock on with NXEW.