What do you get when you spend ten days at Vancouver’ Warehouse Studio with talent like Alan Doyle? Well, when you ask him, he will tell you all about his appropriately named album A Week at the Warehouse. With an old school way of making this record, he had his whole band, (affectionately named “the Beautiful, Beautiful Band”), set up within the studio to do full recordings together. This created a fun environment for the musicians to record in, and an interesting space for the album to grow from.
Barenaked Ladies Keep It Kooky at NAC
Growing up, the Barenaked Ladies were sort of a staple for Canadian rock radio. Their songs were hook driven, contagious and just peculiar enough that you couldn’t avoid them. And for someone like me that was both a good and bad thing.
NAC Fans Sweet On Delta Sugar
November 18, Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar played the NAC Fourth Stage, and the intimate setting leant itself to a great show for the 10 piece band. Samantha is exploring a new sound, taking Delta Sugar from a 5 piece to a 10 piece, and it works! Samantha’s roots/soul/blues sound has just been taken up a couple of notches.
Jesse Cook brings unforgettable show to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre
Canada’s King of the rumba flamenco Jesse Cook took centre stage at the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall on Tuesday night delivering a show not soon to be forgotten. This was my first experience seeing Jesse live and it didn’t take more than one song to solidify his spot on my list of best live performances I’d seen this year.
Sass Jordan Racine 25th Anniversary Tour
Completed in an autobiographical format, Sass Jordan recounts her history through song and an interesting account of her personal experiences in the music industry. It was a great way to spend an evening.
Jim Cuddy Announces Canadian Tour + Forthcoming Solo Album
Jim Cuddy will release his fourth solo album, Constellation, on January 26. More details and pre-order information will be released very soon, but earlier this week it was announced that the Jim Cuddy Band will embark on a 30-date cross-Canada tour in support of the new album in February 2018!
Kelly Prescott comes home for performance at NAC
Ottawa based country singer/songwriter brought her show home for an intimate performance at the National Arts Centre last week.
Barney Bentall Still Gives us Something to Live For
Barney Bentall recently played the Azrieli Studio as part of the NAC Presents program, an initiative aimed at bringing Canadian talent, emerging or established, to the national stage. Donning his harmonica, guitar and hat, he was joined by two talented musicians, Eric Reed on mandolin/guitar and Anne Lindsay on violin.
Funky Grooves with The Julian Taylor Band
Beautifully blended soulful blues, rhythmic R&B, modern rock riffs and rootsy folk make the Toronto based, Julian Taylor Band (JTB) experience something worth putting your busy life on hold for; even if it is just for a few moments.
The Music of The Night takes over Ottawa as The Phantom of the Opera explodes into the NAC
Anyone who knows me knows that musical theatre has been my passion for as long as I can remember. That fire was lit when I first saw the Phantom of the Opera with Colm Wilkinson at Toronto’s storied Pantages Theatre. Last night we were invited to the National Arts Centre to watch Cameron MackIntosh’s new production of The Phantom of the Opera and it was spectacular.
