Grey Cup Events
Good luck to Saskatchewan and Montreal. They're going to have a much tougher time winning a drink from the Grey Cup than I did, playing Madden.
Clearly the Grey Cup Festival brings with it plenty to do in Edmonton this weekend.
There’s Huddle Town at Churchill Square (with fun for the family, live music, waffles, and a zip line), and the Grey Cup parade on Saturday. Don’t forget to watch the game on Sunday.
We had such an amazing lineup of shows in Edmonton last night, that I want to get right to all the great music you can hear this weekend.
The aforementioned Grey Cup shenanigans boast a Canadian lineup that includes: Matthew Good, Big Sugar, Ian Thornley, Chris Wynters, Jaydee Bixby, Fozzy (wrestler Chris Jericho’s band), Emerson Drive, My Sister Ocean, Bif Naked, and Trooper. Bif and Trooper than play again Sunday at Commonwealth’s tailgate party.
Not connected to the Grey Cup, Wool on Wolves is playing the Pawn Shop with Ayla Brook…Rufus Wainwright is at the Jubilee…Wil and Leeroy Stagger are still at the Haven Social Club…Amos Garrett is at Rusty Reed’s House of Blues…the Frosted Tipz have a good chance of wrecking The ARTery with rock…A.O.K is releasing a new album and children’s book (I’m not kidding)…Alan Frew (of Glass Tiger) is in Sherwood Park…and Streetheart is at the Century Casino (that one is also an inside joke to Sally)… We can’t go, because it’s sold out, but Bedouin Soundclash and Michael Rault have a show at the Starlite Room.
As was pointed out in the comments, The Edmonton Show III is this weekend. And yes, there’s music at that too. Man, so much great music!
In somewhat related musical notes, Hard Core Logo continues at the Roxy Theatre, and Permanent Records opens up near Hub Cigar, just off Whyte Avenue.
In another music note, you’re using YEGLive as your online live, local music hub, right? You probably should be.
November is still Shop Local Month. So, shop local. Movies are good times.
It’s a crafty weekend with both the Royal Bison Craft Fair and Make It Edmonton! happening. The Royal Bison is at Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, Make It! is over at the Alberta Aviation Museum.
And there’s A Night of Performance Poetry tonight, with, new Edmontonian, Jem Rolls. You might remember him from such productions as the Fringe Festival.
Make it happen this weekend, Edmonton.
Oh, the things you’ll do
I’m not messing around when I say there is a lot of stuff to do in Edmonton over the next three days.
There is A LOT of stuff to do in Edmonton over the next three days.
Tonight, I’m making it about music. And you could too.
I’ll be at the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (9:30), taking in a “Late Night” performance. Tonight is Late Night Paris. After the performance there’s live jazz in the Winspear.
(There’s more Parisien Charm Sunday afternoon.)
The Late Night series is another way the ESO is trying to reach new audiences. They’ve got the Symphony Under the Sky in Hawrelak Park for the Labour Day weekend, matinees, pops, Broadway, kids’ shows, and the classics. A performance at 9:30 on a Friday night makes it feel like a real night on the town.
As the season winds down (it’s over in mid-June) I applaud the ESO for their versatile lineup and can’t wait for 2010-2011 to kick-off in the park.
If you don’t want to spend the evening at the Winspear Centre you can still make tonight about music.
We mentioned earlier that One Way State is playing Friday night with Maurice. Too Slim and the Taildraggers are still at Blues on Whyte too.
Our old pal Jerrold Dubyk is playing this weekend. He’s got a show tonight, at 6:30, at Victoria School. Then The Jerrold Dubyk Quartet takes to the Haven Social Club stage Saturday night with Althea Cunningham and Dawn in the City.
Dance!
Back to Friday music…You could see The Neil Young Trunk Show over at Metro Cinema. Or catch punk legends The Buzzcocks at New City. The U of A’s Convocation Hall has Classic Broadway via Opera Nuova.
And Disney’s Beauty and the Beast finishes its Edmonton run this weekend.
Now…what about the rest of this busy weekend?
Did somebody ask for a Dance-a-Thon? Good. Because Mile Zero Dance is doing just that, Saturday night. It starts at 7:30 and while it says it ends at 1:30 am, I hope it goes until the last dancer drops.
It could be a weekend of shopping for new things. You can swing by Make-It Edmonton! and buy some cool, handmade goods. If you quickly find yourself with buyer’s remorse you can get over to the Winspear and trade that stuff away at the Over the Top Swap, which also happens to be a spa for the day.
You can celebrate videogames with local podcast User Created Content. They’re throwing a 2nd birthday party Saturday. It starts at HiTech Gaming (15219 Stony Plain Road) and finishes at Union Hall (Argyll and 99 Street).
If you’re still in the gaming mood, Sunday sees the monthly GamePub over at Original Joe’s Varsity.
Edmonton’s own Ann Vriend is playing the Myer Horowitz Theatre Saturday night. She’s kind of a big deal.
We are in the midst of summer movie blockbuster season. I think Sally is trying to drag Gregg Beever to Sex and the City 2. I feel bad for him.
Our event-loving friends over at Share Edmonton have something to say about the next few days too. Share has also teamed up with YEG Live.ca to keep us all updated on live music!
They’ve got details on all the running around you could be doing at the Little Big Run and the Subway Coronation Triathalon. I wonder if everyone eats a giant sub after the race?
Saturday sees a Highlands Street Festival over on 112 Avenue.
And don’t forget the Edmonton Energy play at the Butterdome tonight, they’re hosting the Bellingham Slam.
Don’t tell me you can’t find something to do.
Edmonton’s coldest events
Whatever fun you get up to this weekend, Edmonton, remember to stay bundled up if you head outside. It’s going to be a cold one.
If you do nothing else, bundle up. Or buy some warm clothes. You'll catch your death out there.
Maybe the best idea is to put on your warmest sweater, curl up with a book you’ve been meaning to read, (or a book you’ve been meaning to download) put on the Bing Crosby and relax in your warm home. Bah. We’re a winter city, let’s go do stuff!
The Edmonton Journal is hosting a book fair and has plenty of authors abounding this Saturday.
A few months ago we mentioned the Gas Pump was holding a fundraiser for the Edmonton Food Bank. Well, they’re doing it again, Saturday, 3-8 is the Rock Fest East Coast Party for the food bank. There’s even a maritime buffet.
Sloan is playing the Starlite Room with Magneta Lane. Oh yes they are.
The McDades are doing a Christmas show at The Arden, Friday and Saturday.
You could always Make It! This is handmade goods that will make your head spin. 115 urban artisans and designers take over the Alberta Aviation Museum, December 11-13. They also have the best tag line: Make It is like a mullet; craft show in the front, party in the back. It’s $5.
More Christmas with the Edmonton Columbian Choirs, at McDougall United Church, Sunday.
You can laugh at global warming for the next week-and-a-half.
Stay toasty!
