Folk

Australia, British Columbia, Canada, Folk, Indigenous (Native), Producer, Songwriter November 23, 2012

Xavier Rudd savours that healing energy

Aussie multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd plays the Phoenix on Nov. 28. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Nov 23 2012 Environmentally topical singer and songwriter Xavier Rudd has been entertaining global audiences for over a decade with his one-man set-up, an intriguing skeletal hybrid of guitar, pedals, percussion and didgeridoos, the guttural-sounding instrument of aboriginal origin native to Australia. But about 18 months ago, his life —…

Banjo, Canada, Folk, Halifax, JUNO, Producer, Songwriter November 21, 2012

Old Man Luedecke, banjo star, picked his instrument well

Gifted quick musician, playing Toronto Nov. 22, found destiny with sound he likes even when it’s ‘played badly.’ Canadian banjo star Chris “Old Man” Luedecke is coming to Glenn Gould Studio. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Nov 21 2012 When you play the banjo like Chris “Old Man” Luedecke, you tend to hear a lot of jokes about the instrument, whether or not you want…

Folk, Producer, Songwriter, United States October 27, 2012

Father John Misty’s ‘drunk wizard’ comes back to Toronto

Folkie J Tillman is having a lot more fun onstage these days with his new musical alter ego. J. Tillman, alias Father John Misty, has momentum in his relentless touring, including a new stop in Toronto at Lee’s Palace on Oct. 27. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Sat Oct 27 2012   If formerly lugubrious folk singer and ex-Fleet Foxes drummer J Tillman’s recent transformation into…

Americana, Americana, Folk, Guitar, Piano, Songwriter, United States, Voice October 19, 2012

Iris DeMent wants songs to be worth the wait

By NICK KREWEN Special to the Star Fri., Oct. 19, 2012 The last time Grammy-nominated, Americana music siren Iris DeMent released an album of original songs, Lisa Marie Presley had divorced Michael Jackson; Diana, Princess of Wales was still among the living and social media was restricted to email. Not that it matters to the DeMent faithful who will pack Hugh’s Room to the rafters this weekend for a pair of…

Concert reviews, Ed Sheeran, Events, Folk, Grammy, Guitar, Indie pop, Pop, Producer, Songwriter, United Kingdom, Voice September 17, 2012

Ed Sheeran’s folk-pop sheer brilliance shines at Echo Beach: Review

Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. By: Special to The Star Nick Krewen Published on Mon Sep 17 2012 Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. Inundated as we are by hormonal determination of the female tween populace regarding such lightweight romantics as the Justin Biebers, One Directions and numerous copycats whose musical, puppy-eyed declarations of love carry the emotional resonance of a Twix candy…