Image Credit: RandomHouse.ca

Steven Galloway, author of the acclaimed novel, The Cellist of Sarajevo, will be the speaker at the eighth annual One Book One Community event.  This free event takes place on Friday, October 12 at 7.00 pm in the Esplanade Studio Theatre.

The evening will be introduced by Mayor Norm Boucher who carried out two United Nations Missions in Croatia in 1995 and Kosovo in 2001. He is conversant in Croat and makes regular visits to Croatia.

The Community Orchestra, conducted by Christine Bootland of the Conservatory of Music and Dance, will play Albinoni’s Adagio. Coles the Book People will have books available for sale and signing. Refreshments will be serving following the reading.

Book discussions and activities will take place on Saturday, October 13 in the Crowfoot Room at Medicine Hat College from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm. All events are free. Participants may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at the College Cafeteria.

For more information, please go to www.obocmh.ca, or contact obocmh@gmail.com. This event is sponsored by Medicine Hat College, The City of Medicine Hat, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Medicine Hat Public Library, L.E.A.R.N., and The Esplanade.

Secret Broadcast is an Indie / Pop Rock band from Calgary, Canada. Since their formation they have opened for such acts as Metric, Tokyo Police Club and The Stills, performed at Virgin Festivals in Calgary and Toronto, and showcased at CMJ, NXNE, CMW and JunoFest. During Secret Broadcast’s short history they also beat out 400 other bands to take first place in a Canada-wide competition judged by Sir Richard Branson and were awarded $25,000 by Calgary’s X92.9 during their annual Xposure contest.

Secret Broadcast recently relocated to Toronto from Calgary, recorded a new record with acclaimed producer, Jon Drew (Tokyo Police Club, Fucked Up) and signed with eOne Music Canada (The Cult, Bush, Die Mannequin). The band is currently touring across the country in support of the album, Hungry Ghost, which was released on May 22nd.

Check out this link to their current single, Raygun, currently playing in rotation on MuchMusic.

Secret Broadcast will be playing at Crave (MHC’s campus pub) on Saturday, September 29th. Tickets are on sale now at the Students’ Association office. This event is open to the public and doors open at 9pm.

Friday/Saturday, September 28/29

The Mainliner Pub
505 North Railway St SE
(403) 529-1995

‘Great singing, tones, playing, songs, and refreshing variety’ writes Blues Revue Magazine about Kelowna’s own, Poppa Dawg.

Poppa is a blues man with energy and enthusiasm that runs deep. From low-down Chicago blues to up-town Rock’n’Roll, classic covers to rockin’ originals, the dance floor gets no rest. With three critically acclaimed CDs to his credit, this Dawg is still on the prowl.

For over a decade, Poppa and his band ‘Dogskin Suit’ have been winning awards (including ‘Best Local Band’ and ‘Honour in the Arts’), and world-wide airplay, including the nation-wide CBC radio favourite ‘Saturday Night Blues’ with Holger Peterson.

Having shared the stage with JUNO award winners Jeff Healey, Donnie Walsh and Chuck Jackson (Downchild Blues Band), Jim Byrnes, Powder Blues, Fathead, and other greats such as Sonny Rhodes, Tony Coleman (B.B. King), Donnie McDougall (The Guess Who), Danny McBride (Chris DeBurg), he has the stage experience of a true journeyman.

Straight up hard-core blues fans will love Poppa’s ability to channel Albert King and Howlin’ Wolf while fans of swinging blues will dig the influence of Duke Robillard, JW-Jones and Little Charlie Baty.  With slinky grooves reminiscent of Dr. John and the hard-hitting edge of Stevie Ray Vaughan, guitar fanatics will be at the edge of their seats as Poppa Dawg delivers each song as if he is living and breathing it from the inside out.

The Calgary Sun calls this act “an unbelievably talented group”.

Memphis to Motown. This is Poppa Dawg.

The Pack A.D rock duo beatin’ up their instruments.

We all know that tremendously skilled rock duos are the flavour de jour; there’s something refreshingly simple about the face melting, ear bleeding power generated by only two performers playing their hardest. Enter The Pack A.D.

This Vancouver-based, all girl power-duo has risen in standing to make top-15 “tag teams to see” lists alongside The White Stripes, Black Keys and the Kills, selling out shows across Canada. Comprised of drummer Maya Miller and guitarist/vocalist Becky Black, we’re bringing the Pack A.D’s unique, belligerent mash of blues, punk, and garage rock to the Hat on October 5th at Schooner’s Pub (a rock show at the legion? Yes, please).

The Pack A.D’s third and latest album title Unpersons hints unmistakeably at something fierce, something feminist and something guaranteed to leave you yelling “I can’t hear you!” at your friends in the cab ride home after the show. You can thank us when our ears stop ringing.

As if it wasn’t awesome enough… We’re pleased to announce local, 5 piece rock goddesses, ‘Rainbow Snake’ will add to the “high power female” dynamic, and test your eardrums first! Get your tickets at Madhatter Roastery and online at: http://www.primeboxoffice.com/concert/tickets.aspx/the-pack-a.d./Medicine%20Hat/1112

Schooners Pub (702 2nd ST SE)
Friday, October 05, 2012
Doors: 8:00pm
18+ show, no minors allowed

Presented by the 3rd street effort.

The September Threat

The Social Threat, a Medicine Hat-based punk rock band who is no stranger to the seemingly dormant local music scene in the city is putting on shows all through September, starting Saturday night (September 8th) at Starbucks at 7PM. This acoustic set will be totally free, joined by another local talent, Christie Kurpjuweit. Join them this month in reviving the scene a little bit.

From the press release:

The music scene is Medicine Hat used to be strong. Venues like The Doghouse and The Ottoman would host shows every other night of the week. Kids were putting on all ages shows at places like The Legion and The Kinplex. But some of those amazing people, who would sacrifice a lot of their time and potentially money putting on shows, moved on. Some of the venues got sold or mysteriously burnt to the ground. This is the Medicine Hat that The Social Threat was founded in. That was three years ago.

Since then, The Social Threat has been busy. They have recorded two albums, shot a music video and are working on a second, filmed an acoustic ep of some of their songs, toured all around Western Canada, and are on the cusp of their 100th show.

“It’s been a while,” says Kyle Hodgman, The Social Threat’s drummer, “since we’ve played a show in Medicine Hat. It’s time we’ve returned our focus on the city that brought us up.” So The Social Threat came up with the idea of The September Threat, a blitz of concerts in Medicine Hat every Saturday night for the month of September.

“We have a variety of fans, so we wanted to create a show for every kind of fan that we have.” The Social Threat will be playing an acoustic set on Sept 8th, an all ages heavy rock show on Sept 15th, and a concert at Whiskey Creek on Sept 22nd. Their September finale will be on Sept 29th. It will be their 100th concert and will be their 3rd birthday as a band. The pop punk show will be an all ages event at The Kinplex. And there will probably be cake.

The Social Threat’s songs focus a lot on social justice issues. So they wanted to put their rock into walk. The most important part of this series of events is that The Social Threat will be raising money and awareness for Walk for Justice. Walk for Justice is an event held on Sept 23rd that raises money for International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization that rescues people from slavery and the sex trade in 3rd world countries, reunites them with their families, and helps them find jobs so they don’t end up in the same situation they were rescued from. After cost, 100% of admission goes to Walk for Justice and there will be a chance at the shows to donate whatever you want to the cause.

Cover image: RandomHouse.ca

The One Book One Community Committee is pleased to announce that the 2012 book selection is The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. The 8th annual OBOC event will take place the evening of Friday October 12, 2012 at the Esplanade and continue on Saturday October 13 at Medicine Hat College with a day of activities and book discussions. Copies of the book are available for loan at the Medicine Hat College Libraries and Medicine Hat Public Library. The book can be purchased at Coles the Book People in Medicine Hat Mall and is included with some Medalta in the Historic Clay District memberships.

Nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2008, The Cellist of Sarajevo is set during the siege of Sarajevo in the 90’s. The book is inspired by the true story of Vedran Smailović, a cellist who plays daily amid the ruins to honour 22 people killed while waiting in a bread line. This gripping and unforgettable novel tells the story of three people trying to survive in a city rife with the extreme fear of desperate times, and of the sorrowing cellist who plays undaunted in their midst.

One Book One Community is organized by representatives from Medicine Hat College, Medicine Hat Public Library, L.E.A.R.N., Community Employment Services, a division of REDI Enterprises Society, the Esplanade, FUT in the Hat, and interested members of the public. Past sponsorship for this event has been provided by the City of Medicine Hat and Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

For more information about One Book One Community, or to be involved in this year’s event, please contact Leigh Cunningham at 403-504-3654 or at LCunningham@mhc.ab.ca or visit the website at www.obocmh.ca.

Outdoor concert with HOODED FANG PARLOVR and GOOSE HUT.

Sunday, June 24th 4:00 – 7:00pm
Riverside Park – next to city hall

Tickets $10 in advance (available at Madhatter Roastery downtown) or $12 at the gate. Get 50% off Medicine Hat Jazz Fest performance with purchase of Pop Off! ticket.

Enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon with three great bands featured in the acclaimed music festival, POP Montreal.

In collaboration with Medicine Hat Jazz Fest this all ages outdoor show is not to be missed! Jazz Fest pass holders get in free!

Hooded Fang brings a melodic tide of scrappy, surf influenced guitar, and 60’s drum breaks, a perfect soundtrack to kick off the summer.

Buzzed for their seizure-inducing live shows, Parlovr has an impressive touring record, playing with Artic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Handsome Furs, Born Ruffians and Tokyo Police Club. A blend of retro surf and soul, nestled within hyper modern pop, Parlovr promises to deliver the heat.

The Social Threat will be doing a FREE acoustic set at Inspire Café this Friday, March 30th from 8:00pm until 10:00pm. Come on down, grab a coffee, and chill to the sweet punk-acoustic tunes.

Here’s a little taste of what to expect:

Facebook Event

$5 • Crave Lounge, MHC Campus • Doors open @ 8:00

3rd street effort is proud to kick off spring with a bang…  followed by some snot-rockets, and sweating.

If you’ve never experienced a BA show, you’re in for a treat! His wild antics include everything from fireworks and writhing shirtless on the floor, to singing his final number from the washroom or the roof of his van – don’t worry he brings the crowd with him! His music tackles the difficult topics of the day, bedroom deep fryers, his roommate – “mother”, and the Zombie apocalypse. This born-showman is difficult to describe… So check out the clip to see what you’re in for.

Tickets available downtown at Madhatter Roastery or at the Student’s Association on the MHC campus.

Visit www.3rdstreeteffort.ca regularly for upcoming shows we’re promoting locally as well as updates on shows happening in the surrounding area. Or check us out on Facebook.

3rd street effort is a not-for-profit group of volunteers working to bring Canadian Indie music to Medicine Hat. We’re always looking for more suggestions, bands people want to see, and volunteers, so get in touch.

The Esplanade Art Gallery is pleased to present two new exhibitions, Deanna Bowen’s Stories to Pass On… and 365 Collective’s Relate, on display until April 15. There will be a public opening reception on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 7 PM. Also, in conjunction with Deanna Bowen’s art exhibition and to celebrate Black History Month, there will be an illustrated presentation by the Museum Curator, Robert Bruce Shepard, entitled “Black Pioneers of Western Canada” on Wednesday February 29 at 7 PM.

Deanna Bowen: Stories to pass on…

Inspired by a road trip to Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama in which she retraced her great grandparents’ slave roots and migration to Alberta, Ontario artist Deanna Bowen created two multimedia works about slavery-based trauma, family estrangement, community, and telling personal truths. Gospel (2007-2008) is a song of loss and longing which combines photographs of found hymn books, a sculptural/audio work, and Hollywood movie footage into a semi- autobiographical exploration of a daughter’s rejection of mother, family, and home. In Shadow on the Prairie (2009), Deanna Bowen mixes her own family story and that of the seminal 1952 Royal Winnipeg Ballet of the same name. The ballet evokes a young woman’s struggle in the harsh conditions of pioneer life, with which Bowen intertwines an exploration of a family rumour about her great uncle, a closeted gay actor & nightclub singer who played in all-black revues of Vancouver’s supper club circuit in the 1930s – 1950s. Deanna Bowen is a descendant of the Alabama and Kentucky born Black Prairie pioneers of Amber Valley and Campsie, Alberta. She is a Toronto based interdisciplinary artist whose work has been exhibited internationally in numerous film festivals and galleries. Stories to pass on… is touring Canada through a collaboration with the Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, Ontario, and is accompanied by a publication. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »