I’ve been meaning to mention this as a possible event for some time.
This city is crawling with open mic nights. Which are a great way to show off that amazing voice of yours, and your new songs.
It’s also a good way to find that next big voice, or artist, that’s going to appear on the Edmonton scene. You know you want to be the person who saw them when.
YEG Live and Vue Weekly have listings where you’ll find open mics, open stages, and open jams.
Whether it’s a coffee house, pub, Morango’s Tek Cafes (we’re big fans), acoustic, blues, or jazz, there’s an open mic night for you. The bonus advantage to checking out open mic night is that you won’t be paying exorbitant ticket prices and still might hear some fantastic music.
Jan 11, 2011 | Categories: EVENTS | Tags: acoustic, blues, coffee, jazz, live music, morangos, open mic, pub, vue, YEGLive | 4 Comments »
Thanks to the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (and Michael Kaeshammer) I am now ready to accept Christmas into my heart for another year.
Tuesday night I was invited by the ESO to hear the first of many holiday performances. The Symphony wasn’t out for the opening performance with Jill Barber, but played holiday, pop, and and jazz with Kaeshammer. (Maybe it’s better to say the ESO tried to keep up with Kaeshammer and his crew…)
This was the first time Kaeshammer (pronounced case-hammer) played with the symphony. While the show was billed as “The Days of Christmas” it was more about this young talent and what he can do with a piano. Basically, if he plays your piano, it’s never going to be the same. It will probably leave you, chasing Kaeshammer across the country.
When Kaeshammer joked with the audience that his band (bass player, and Kevin Smith lookalike, Marc Roger, and drummer extraordinaire Mark McLean) was looking for another gig to play that night, I believed him. These guys could probably have played five more shows all around Edmonton and not missed their morning ride to the next performance city.
Mixing holiday songs like “Mary’s Boy Child” and “Winter Wonderland” with jazz and blues numbers allowed the ESO to play, and Kaeshammer and his band (joined at various points by a trumpet, trombone, and sax – played by our old pal Jerrold Dubyk) to show what they had. And they had a lot. Kaeshammer’s all energy, and fun energy at that, behind the piano.
Two highlights stand out to me. (more…)
Dec 02, 2010 | Categories: MUSIC | Tags: blues, christmas, edmonton symphony, eso, jazz, jerrold dubyk, jill barber, michael kaeshammer | Comments Off
Actually, there’s a lot of “it” we could do.

This is Hale Hale. They are good.
It will all depend on what we define as the it thing to do.
Wow, I’m getting confused.
Onto weekend fun!
The Wheat Pool is returning to the Pawnshop, as Sonic’s band of the month. That will make tonight special.
Also, a win by Team Canada would make tonight special. Where are you watching the game? I’ve got to get home and find something red to wear.
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Yes, of course, I’ve been checking ShareEdmonton for event ideas. Why wouldn’t I?
They’ve reminded me that Winefest Edmonton is this weekend.
And WinterLight continues (what a great weekend of weather we’ll have for getting outside) with The Big Winter. Sounds fun. And big.
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Now, back to my rambling selections.
Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues.
Over at the Haven Social Club (A place which I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing.) Hale Hale is going to melt some faces with rock.
I will never get tired of mentioning the babysitter blues.
Go Canada!
Feb 26, 2010 | Categories: EVENTS | Tags: babysitter blues, blues, EVENTS, hale hale, haven social club, jeff, pawnshop, share edmonton, the wheat pool, winefest, winter light | Comments Off

Bocce and beer could be a good weekend mix.
It’s the weekend, baby. That means it’s time for fun, without the pressure of waking up early and acting all professional at a job. Thank you Saturday and Sunday, thank you.
We’ve already talked about the big Pin-Up Girl party happening tonight (and hinted at the Tattoo festival in that same story) but that’s not all that’s happening in this happening city.
The tattoo and arts fest is at the Shaw. Which is right by the Edmonton Dragon Boat Festival, which has races in the river (obviously). They’re at Louise McKinney Park to be more specific.
The Fringe is going for new attendance records in its final weekend.
Blues Fest takes over Hawrelak Park.
Raising Spaces has an Eco Reno Demo Day, so you can learn about home renovations the green way.
You can pretend you know all about playing the ponies at the 80th running of the Canadian Derby at Northlands, Saturday.
Edmonton’s Chinatown and Little Italy combine forces for “East meets West.” Say “Hi” to Ted for us.
A great Winnipeg band, with a great name, Hot Live Guys plays New City Likwid Lounge with local greats Old Wives. See, I told you there was fun. The bill is rounded out with Regina rockers Hot Blood Bombers
Or you can get your Classic Rock on at the Century Casino with Chilliwack.
And on Monday, Mos Def rocks the house over at the Edmonton Event Centre.
Aug 21, 2009 | Categories: EVENTS | Tags: alberta bound tattoo arts festival, blues, canadian derby, chilliwack, dragonboat, east meets west, edmonton events centre, fringe, hot live guys, jeff, mos def, new city, northlands, pin up calendar, races, raising spaces, ted flower | 2 Comments »