Festivals

Life is pretty sweet for Mean Mary

Banjo-playing singer returns to Toronto for Winterfolk XIV festival. Nick Krewen Music, Fri., Feb. 12, 2016 You know you have a dedicated fan base when they’re willing to finance your barn. Nashville-based banjo-picking folkie Mean Mary recently conducted a $9,000 (U.S.) Indiegogo campaign to fund her soon-to-be-released album Sweet and build a shelter for her horses. Her loyal followers happily ponied up for both. “Yeah, that worked out pretty good,”…


Julian Taylor revels in versatility

Toronto musician plays R&B at the Horseshoe one night, partakes in folk festival the next. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Thu Feb 12 2015 Julian Taylor is used to shaking it up. For example, those headed to the Horseshoe on Saturday night will experience the full electrifying and soulful R&B glory of the eight-piece Julian Taylor Band as they perform songs from their acclaimed album Tech Noir. On Friday and…


Canadian country music star Brett Kissel performs Thursday in Bowmanville

Singer with eight CCMA nominations kicks off Boots & Hearts Festival Thursday night Nick Krewen Music, Published on Wed Jul 30 2014 When Canadian country star Brett Kissel hits the road for a nationwide tour with headliner Brad Paisley in October, the eight-time Canadian Country Music Award nominee will be financing the trek by selling a few of his cows. Seriously. The 23-year-old Kissel, who was raised on a 100-year-old…


Sean Lennon tours his psychedelic new sound

Sean Lennon tours his psychedelic new sound The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, a collaboration with his girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl, makes two stops in Toronto this month, including Tuesday at the Hoxton. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Mon Jun 02 2014   Three albums deep into The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, the musical venture he shares with Atlanta-born model and girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Sean…


Ginger St. James drops the burlesque, but not the tease

Former burlesque queen Ginger St. James turns heads as a rockabilly singer, a leading act at Toronto’s Winterfolk festival. Nick Krewen Music Published on Thu Feb 13 2014 From bump ’n’ grind to bumps n’ bruises, Ginger St. James has experienced it all. And now the former Les Coquettes and Steeltown Sirens burlesque queen is bumping up her popularity as a sassy and dynamic rockabilly singer, songwriter and guitarist, creating…