Archive for the ‘Music Events’ Category
Rick Harrington is a disc jockey based in southeast Alberta and been in the industry since 1988.
His disc jockey music includes a library of over 20,000 songs and spans a wide range of both time and genres. The vast library dates back as far as the 1930’s and comes right up to the newest music of today, including radio versions of songs that most people are familiar with.
Rick primarily performs for Weddings, Anniversaries, Office Parties, Birthdays, and Graduations, but does everything else inbetween as well. Requests are taken and honoured during the duration of the event. He also serves as a Party Planner and Wedding Planner and in working with him, you can customize your event to be the best it can be and an extremely enjoyable night for everyone attending.
Testimonial: I recently saw Rick Harrington at Eagle Butte’s graduation ceremony. He connected with the crowd both by talking over the microphone and, as stated, taking requests during the entire event. I would definitely recommend him to anyone asking me about a DJ.
Looking for the Spectrum 2010 post?
The beginning of Medicine Hat’s summer season has arrived and to kick it all off the annual Spectrum Festival has returned to celebrate the sunshine that makes us “Canada’s Sunniest City”. As with previous years Spectrum will once again take place the first weekend of June, which this year begins on June 5 and proceeds right through to June 7. The festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and wraps up on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All festivities can be found scattered throughout BATUS Park and the rest of Downtown Medicine Hat.
Although a concrete schedule has yet to be released regarding many of the performances and demonstrations, rest assured that there will be plenty of entertainment to be had all weekend long. Some of the highlights include the children’s carnival, the pedal tractor farm, Praxis science activities, dunk tanks, Environment Week activities in the Esplanade, 3 on 3 volleyball, a chess exhibition and much more than can easily be listed. Performers such as HOJA, Trevor Moore, J-Fish, The Lyle Rebbeck Jazz Band, and Mr. Puffin will also be present on the Kinsmen free stage throughout the weekend. Earl’s Restaurant, Moxie’s Classic Grill, KC Jax Ultra Lounge and Grill, Tony Roma’s, Delio’s Trattorio, and Mario’s Ristorante are providing food for hungry festival goers and will be situated in the Mario’s parking lot. Not only are there plenty of activities and performances to enjoy but a variety of local vendors also set up kiosks in BATUS Park to sell their trinkets, toys, and other wares.
I have been a resident of Medicine Hat since I was a small child and I have attended the Spectrum Festival multiple times over the years and it has yet to disappoint me. Since being moved back to its original location in Downtown from Kin Coulee the old fashioned atmosphere has increased exponentially and the benefits of having so many people in a sometimes ignored corner of our city are immeasurable when considering the number of local businesses located in the area. With plenty of fun for both the kiddies, their parents and everyone in between make your way down to the Spectrum Festival this year for fun, sun, great food, and… did I say fun?
Warped Tour is geared up again for the year and hitting Calgary on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at The Race City Speedway.
Alexisonfire Moshpit, Warped Tour, Calgary 2006 - Photo by dristis-mudra
For those who are unaware, Warped Tour or Vans Warped Tour began in 1994 as a showcase for Punk Rock and Third Wave Ska music. More recently; however, it has begun incorporating different types of genres, including electronica, post-hardcore, metalcore and Christian rock, though punk rock bands still regularly play on the tour.
Along with featuring over 100 bands, the tour will host many more popular bands on the main stage, including Bad Religion, NoFX, Anti-Flag, Flogging Molly, The Bouncing Souls, Underoath, and much more. The tour will also offer half pipes for skaters and bikers (a tribute to the connection between punk and skate), merchandise booths for most of the bands that perform, independent magazines and non-profit organizations/sponsors offering their wares. It is not unusual to see band members at their merchandise booths before and after their performances to meet fans.
Beginning in 2006, Warped Tour has been committed to the Warped Eco Initiative. The cross-country tour buses now use Bio-diesel fuel, which reduces petroleum usage by 30%. One stage is entirely run on solar power. Catering now uses washable dishes as opposed to disposable dishes. And the packaging used is made from compostable corn and potato-starch.
Tickets can be bought through Ticketmaster. Check it out!
Warped Tour
Warped Tour in Calgary page
SoundProof Magazine’s 2008 Warped Tour Calgary coverage
dristis-mudra’s 2006 Warped Tour Calgary photostreak on Flickr
The Fast Romantics are an alternative (indie) rock band from Calgary and are most recently playing gigs to promote their self-titled debut album. Their sound kind of reminds me of a mix between Arcade Fire (to reference a popular band) and something kind of like piano-pop with some jazzy bits – with maybe a little mix of The New Pornographers, Hot Hot Heat, and The Strokes (in some of the synthesized stuff – more notably at the end “Stop Me”). Obviously with all of my references, they are a little hard to categorize, which is nice, because even though the genre isn’t my favourite, their music kept my quite satiated with an interest for they were throwing out on their first release.
The Fast Romantics CD Cover Design
It was all quite varied too, there’s a lot of different sounds going on throughout the album – but not exactly all over the place, it all worked together nicely. Very up-beat, very danceable (like lots of brit-pop and indie-rock) and overall a nice mix. I wasn’t shooting my mouth off about the “jazzy” bits either, “Mr. Magoo” features a trumpet, a clarinet, a trombone and a baritone sax (and a bass/guitar/piano/drums if those count too). If you want to get technical, several tracks also feature a viola, violin and cello as well. Keep in mind though, all of the external instruments are being played by external participants, or “special guests” which I list at the bottom of the post.
The album artwork is very nice with masterful and playful illustrations by Dave Barnes and design by Matthew Angus (the vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist of the band). The illustrations take place throughout the cover, the inside flap, the CD, under the CD and even on the back – it’s all great, beautiful, and typeset mostly in Trajan Pro (to ensure the EPICNESS).
Rosalyn Church is a semi-finalist in Country Music Television’s “Casting Call” contest. This local girl is vying for a summer ‘on air’ job at CMT. She is pitted against 15 other hopefuls from across Canada. You can vote for your hometown girl and watch her video entry at this link:
http://www.cmt.ca/castingcall/SemifinalistRosalyn.aspx
Excerpt from her bio posted on the site:
I’ve had a taste of the industry but now I want the full meal deal. I’ve worked in TV for two years now so am very comfortable in front of the camera. I have an outgoing personality, quick on my feet and work well under pressure. I’ve also worked with the country music radio station here in the Hat where I’ve filled in a few times for the morning show. I’ve interviewed numerous country artists and have even made some friends along the way! Have always enjoyed new opportunities and look forward to new challenges.
Kirby, also known as John Kirby, is a talented Canadian folk artist and will be playing at The Ottoman Lounge, March 19th, and again on April 17th. Kirby has toured Canada solo three times in 2008 in support of his second release “The Good Fight EP”. Now, on this tour, he has 32 separate dates all across Canada.
The Good Fight EP Cover
Listening through some of his online stuff and even downloading his full set of releases; yes that’s right, you can legally grab all of his music (including demos and other stuff) in good ol’ MP3 form right off of his website here – he seems to be a very talented folk artist in the traditional acoustic singer-songwriter fashion, reminding me of John Mayer in my limited scope. Lots of his music seems depressing or more introspective on a basic level, but as one commenter put it, Craig Webster, on his blog,
“On the surface, you might think songs like “Defeat” and “Lost Loved Ones” are songs of sorrow and despair, but you’d be wrong. Instead, they are songs about overcoming your obstacles, and they show the listener that no matter how bleak life and its situations might look, there is an optimistic way to look at it.”
I think I would tend to agree with him, especially when viewing his first video single “The Good Fight” (shown below).
Videos and links after the jump!
Tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10th, 2009) The Ottoman Lounge will feature CD releases from renowned local musician, Brett Nelson and Thomas DiNinno’s new project entitled “Funs”. There will be DJ sets by The Overtone Documents, Chocolate Blake and Capital RRR’s. On top of all this, Thomas will also be launching the new Medicine Hat local music zine called “Fan Club Music Club”. Admission is $5 as usual but you will also be getting a free copy of the new 32-page Fan Club Music Club zine.
Fan Club Music Club
Show Poster
We’ll have more information about the zine in a later post.
The Ottoman Lounge
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
8:00pm – 11:00pm
502 South Railway Street SE
Brett Nelson @ MySpace
Funs (Thomas DiNinno) @ MySpace
Fan Club Music Club @ MySpace
If there was any indication that Billy Joel was playing in Medicine Hat it would be the all the posters and even some mobile billboards posted around Medicine Hat saying, “BILLY JOEL” in huge letters. You would be wrong on two accounts though. For one, he is actually playing in Redcliff, at Harmony Hall, and two, he’s not Billy Joel, he’s a Billy Joel tribute artist named Don Wolf. I guess it’s kind of clever, but ultimately deceptive advertising, and I’m sure it says “as Don Wolf, tribute show” somewhere on the billboard and posters – but when you’re driving past them it would be hard to notice, especially since the words “BILLY JOEL” take up 50% of the board. Anyways, end of that rant.
Don Wolf Promotional Collage via billyjoeltribute.ca
Harmony Hall seems to be a new and upcoming venue, which I first heard about when Gob played there. Don Wolf will be playing a 90 minute set playing all of Billy Joel’s greatest hits including Piano Man, Uptown Girl, and River of Dreams. Admission costs $49 and includes a full buffet dinner and the show. Doors open at 6PM and the dinner & show starts at 7PM. For more information, call 403-979-1572. Harmony Hall is at 1 – 1st Street SE, Redcliff.
Blake Jones, Thee Hoolies, and The Stolen Organ Family Band will be playing Tuesday (February 17th) night at The Ottoman Lounge starting at 8:00PM. Collectively they will be bringing you a mix of indie and acoustic rock, while The Stolen Organ Family Band pushes more into the more experimental/psychedelic side of things. There is a $5 cover charge as per usual.
Blake Jones, Thee Hoolies, The Stolen Organ Family Band - Poster
Blake Jones @ MySpace
Thee Hoolies @ MySpace
The Stolen Organ Family Band @ MySpace
Thee Hoolies Live at The Exchange (September 2008)
There’s a Young and Pretty Folk Music Association show going on tonight at CAPE School which means it’s one of those rare all-ages show. Thomas DiNinno, creator of the Young and Pretty Folk Music Association, states that they are talking a break from doing bar shows to do some all-ages shows.
Thwomp - Photo via MySpace
There’s a mixed bag tonight featuring Russia Attacks, an all-girl band from Medicine Hat that sing about Russian history. There’s Thwomp, a Calgary-based Nintendo cover band who cover songs from classics such as Chrono Trigger, F-Zero, Final Fantasy and more. Mordichia is Jonathan Micheal Walker from Medicine Hat who plays music that can be described as techno-indie experimental kinda stuff. Lastly is Ghostkeeper is some genuinely good indie-rock from Calgary.
CAPE School
830A Balmoral Street SE, T1A 0W9
Also keep in mind there is also a Gob show tonight happening in Redcliff (it’s kinda pricey though). Doors open at 8PM and admission is $5, and like I stated before, it’s an all-ages show so bring your babies – I’m talking about newborns and the like – bring em’ all.
Russia Attacks @ MySpace
Thwomp @ MySpace
Ghostkeeper @ MySpace
MORDICHIA @ MySpace
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