Let’s talk about the last 24 hours for a minute. Yesterday morning I came to work, as I do every day. For the most part I was expecting a relatively normal day knowing that by the late afternoon our coverage of events at the JUNO Awards in Saskatoon would be needing my attention. But at 9:30am something happened that would lead to the largest cascading cancellation event I have ever experienced in all my years in this industry.
SUPERTRAMP’S ROGER HODGSON Breakfast in America World Tour 2020
Roger Hodgson, co-founder of Supertramp, is currently on tour worldwide celebrating Breakfast in America’s 40th Anniversary. This album, released on March 29th 1979, had phenomenal global success. It hit #1 in almost every country and stayed at the top of the charts for over a year. It was Supertramp’s biggest selling album with over 25 million copies sold worldwide, of which over 1 million copies were sold in Canada. Hodgson wrote, sang, and arranged most of the enduring rock standards that made Supertramp a worldwide phenomenon. His timeless classics such as “Give a Little Bit,” “The Logical Song,” “Dreamer,” “Take the Long Way Home,” “Breakfast in America,” “School,” “Fool’s Overture,” and “It’s Raining Again,” helped the band sell well over 60 million albums.
Dorothy lands in the Capital
L. Frank Baum’s cherished tale The Wizard of Oz, is vividly brought to life by choreographer Septime Webre in this new story ballet. Audiences can expect the classic plotline they know and love, from an on-stage twister in Kansas to the explosion of colour and fantastical costumes in Oz. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City with new music composed specially for the ballet by Matthew Pierce. With visual projections creating a cinematic feel, brilliant dancing and flying monkeys, this is where Ballet meets Broadway glitz. Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet shines in this impressive production—a joint commission with Kansas City Ballet and Colorado Ballet—that is sure to please ballet aficionados and newcomers alike. (more…)
Dan Aykroyd and Friends Celebrate 50 Years of Blues
Founded in 1969 in Toronto, Downchild, formerly known as the Downchild Blues Band, is said to have paved the way for Canadian Blues musicians. The band was co-founded by brothers Donnie and Richard Walsh and most notably served as inspiration for the famous Saturday Night Live Belushi/Aykroyd duo The Blues Brothers. In fact, two Downchild songs, “Shotgun Blues” and “(I Got Everything I Need) Almost” were even covered on The Blues Brothers’ 1978 multi-platinum album Briefcase Full of Blues.
A Night at the Ballet
It has been nearly 10 years since the world-renowned Boston Ballet has visited Ottawa. Under the inspired leadership of Mikko Nissinen, their long overdue return to the National Arts Center, brings an eclectic program that encompasses a jazzy Broadway style piece, a national debut of a contemporary piece and an ensemble piece set to the music of Grammy nominated artist James Blake.
The Country Music Association of Ontario Announces Winners of the 7th Annual CMAOntario Awards
The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) tonight celebrated the talent and achievements of Ontario’s country music industry across 19 categories at the 7th Annual CMAOntario Awards in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Lydia Persaud Bring Debut Album to the NAC Tonight
As a staple of Toronto’s music community for years, if you were looking for a collaborator, musician Lydia Persaud was your go to. Now she’s stepping forward with her debut album and she leaves no mystery of her intent when it comes to the title. Let Me Show You, she says.
Released in May via Next Door Records, she’s bringing her new songs to the NAC’s Fourth Stage tonight. Ahead of the show, we had a chance to chat up her influences, putting the new album together and shifting from her work with wild cover band Dwayne Gretzky to this solo tour.
Rufus Wainright Serenades the National Arts Centre
Rufus Wainright, whom Elton John called “the greatest songwriter on the planet right now” in a Globe and Mail interview, ended his 16-country tour commemorating 20 years since the release of his self-titled LP in Ottawa on Thursday night.
Alessia Cara kicks things off in the Capital.
The National Arts Centre was buzzing, with a different than normal crowd, Saturday night when the reigning Best New Artist Grammy winner from Brampton Ontario stopped by to kick off her “The Pains of Growing Tour”. The NAC’s Southam Hall was filled with people of all ages, but mostly screaming tweens and their parents, excited to see one of their idols.
UPDATED: Live Nation Celebrates National Concert Week By Making Over 2 Million Tickets Available To the Hottest Summer Shows for Only $20
Today Live Nation revealed their fifth annual National Concert Week will take place from May 1st through May 7th and give fans the exclusive opportunity to purchases tickets for just $20 (all-in including fees). Kicking off an epic summer concert season, the offer will include over two million tickets to 2,800+ in-demand shows from Live Nation’s upcoming roster of tours across North America. The tickets will cross multiple genres for every type of live event fan, including Country, Hip-Hop, Latin, Metal, Rock, Pop, and Comedy.
