Kanceled Centre
My opinion of the Krock has really taking a turn for the worse over the past couple weeks. Leading up to the grand opening, I maintained an optimistic outlook regarding Kingston’s newest mega-centre when the community called into question the location, building design, land purchase, transportation network, and parking scheme. I even told friends that we should re-elect Rosen in order to ensure the project didn’t get canceled, and ultimately end up costing the City more in the long run. That’s not to say I’m a big fan of our Mayor, but lately I couldn’t help but agree with his utter disgust over the serious mismanagement of the K-Rock Centre. What the hell is going on over there? Read more
Friends of Skeleton Park
Recently, Apple Crisp Records released its first CD, entitled Friends of Skeleton Park. The CD was produced in support of The Skeleton Park Music Festival , a celebration of the summer solstice in McBurney Park. The CD is a compilation of 20 artists from Kingston and the surrounding area including Sarah Harmer, Jenny Whitely, Sheesham and Lotus, Kyra and Tully, The Lady Racers and many more. Read more
The Soul of the Drum
Samba Kingston is an organization modeled after the many schools around the world who carry on the tradition of the Brasilian Escola de Samba (Samba School). The organization is three years old now and has hosted many workshops and fundraisers in it’s short lifetime. Samba Kingston supports an 18-player samba, funk and reggae group called Wuawuanco (pronounced wa-wan-co) Todos. The group is community based and open to anyone interested in working with other musicians to make energetic, rhythm-centric music.
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Sumthin’s Wrong Here
I want to start by clarifying that I am not a big fan of Sum 41, a rock band that hails from Ajax, Ontario. I recognize that they’ve achieved pretty solid success on both sides of the border, sharing the stage with the likes of Pennywise, K-Os, Tommy Lee, and Judas Priest, but I’m just not interested in their sound. Even so, when I heard that the trio was playing at Stages last night, I must admit that I was rather bewildered as to why these so-called superstars weren’t playing at the Krock? Was our new money pit full of Frontenacs, or Harlem Globetrotters riding around in Monster Trucks last night? Read more
Le Sacre Printemps
At the end of this month The Kingston Symphony will take on one of the musical masterpieces of the twentieth century - Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Read more
Get Your Blues On
The Kingston Blues Society formed in 2006 and has made quite a dent in our local music scene in that short time. Every month musicians and music appreciators get together for a public jam. In between jams the society hosts great shows featuring both local and international blues artists as well as social events for blues enthusiasts such as CD swaps and BBQ’s. Read more
Diggin’ in to the Apple Crisp
On Tuesday night I went to check out the Apple Crisp Music Series. Last week I told you a bit about this weekly concert series, held at Queen Street United Church. This past Tuesday was a special show because it was recorded for an episode of Bandwidth on CBC. The voice of Bandwidth, Alan Neal, was there hosting and getting the crowd to do its very best cheering - even if there was nothing to cheer about. Although I must say, that the whole evening was quite cheer-worthy. For $5 we were presented with 3 hours of great music by 4 bands (and close to twenty musicians). Read more
Apple Crisp Music Series
Come check out the Apple Crisp Music Series on Tuesday, March 4th. The show will be hosted by CBC’s Alan Neal and will be recorded for the new Friends of Skeleton Park CD. Not sure what I’m talking about? A group of dedicated local musicians and music lovers have worked very hard to put on the Skeleton Park Music Festival for the past two summers at McBurney Park here in Kingston. This year they are putting together a CD as a fundraiser for the event. I will be there on Tuesday to find out more so stay tuned and in the meantime, come to the show (by the way, Apple Crisp puts on an all ages show at Queen Street United every Tuesday night). Come to support local talent, hear some great tunes and have some dessert! They don’t call it Apple Crisp for nothin’.
Culture Show 2008
Culture Show 2008 is coming! The annual student-run initiative to promote cultural awareness across Queen’s University and the city of Kingston is being held on March 7 in Duncan McArthur Auditorium. It’s the only time all year that students and residents of Kingston can see belly dancing, kung-fu fighting, and a cultural fashion show all in one night. The best part? Half of the proceeds from the show go to a charity in the Kingston community.
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An Inaugural Affair: K-Rock Centre / Hip Concert review
On Saturday, February 23, the K-Rock Centre hosted one of the biggest names in Canadian music: Kingston’s own Tragically Hip. Tickets went on sale for members of thehip.com fanclub on December 12th, 2007 and to the general public on December 14th. It was a mad scramble at 10AM on the 14th, but I managed to secure 4 tickets for what would prove to be an unforgettable show.
As a big Hip fan, I’ve had my fair share of “Hip” experiences. My crowning moment was being an extra in The Hip’s “Bobcaygeon” video. On film, I may have just been another hand in the crowd for the ‘riot’ scene, but I had the proud distinction of handing Paul Langlois back his microphone stand every time it fell off the stage: he’d say “Thanks, man”.
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