Award Winners

Country-music stalwart Brett Kissel says he’s done looking for U.S. breakthrough

Canadian hitmaker says his new album is utterly true to himself — but he’s sure it will put him on ‘big stages, big festivals and arenas’ somewhere. Nick Krewen, Music Sun., Dec. 17, 2017   There aren’t too many artists who can boast of an appearance by heavy metal guitarist Dave Mustaine and country music legend Charley Pride on the same album. In fact, Flat Lake, Alta.’s country music sensation…


Kelly Clarkson pleased that new album shows off her soul

Meaning of Life is a departure for the American Idol winner — one she’s been waiting for. Nick Krewen Music Mon., Oct 30, 2017 “Character, sass and attitude.” Powerhouse singer, American Idol alum and current The Voice judge Kelly Clarkson nails a description of her new Meaning of Life album, just released, in just four words as she sits across her from her interviewer, resplendent in a black dress.   While…


Steely Dan delivers thrills at Casino Rama without the late Walter Becker: review

The occasion was one of the first handful of Steely Dan concerts performed since the September 3 passing of the band’s co-founding guitarist, songwriter and producer Walter Becker. Nick Krewen Music, Fri., Oct. 20, 2017 With the sting of the passing of a beloved Canadian icon still fresh in their hearts, music lovers gathered at Casino Rama on Thursday night to mourn the loss and celebrate the melodies of another…


Future of pop music is in great hands with Bruno Mars: review

Mars’s 90-minute set Saturday night at the ACC demonstrated the pop star’s gifted intuition for pop music. Nick Krewen Music, Sun., Aug. 27, 2017 Bruno Mars at the Air Canada Centre, Aug. 26, 2017 He had razzle. He had dazzle. And on Saturday night, for the first of two hotly anticipated Air Canada Centre sell-out concerts, Bruno Mars had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand with…


Canadian country star Dean Brody’s latest conquest: Toronto

Without any real help from a U.S. career, Brody savours his upcoming big T.O. show at the Budweiser Stage — and plans his next move. Nick Krewen Music, Sat., Aug. 19, 2017 Precedents are difficult to come by in the world of music, but when he plays Toronto on August 24, country music sensation Dean Brody will be achieving a big one. When he takes to the Budweiser Stage headlining…