Instruments

Accordion, Americana, Arranger, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Bob Dylan, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Engineer, Grammy, In Memoriam, JUNO, Piano, Robbie Robertson, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Saxophone, Stratford, The Band, Toronto January 21, 2025

Garth Hudson, founding member of the Band, dead at 87: ‘He was always all about the music’

The Windsor-born multi-instrumentalist was part of the Canadian contingent of the famous band. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star The last living charter member of The Band has died. Keyboardist, saxophonist and occasional trumpeter Garth Hudson, perhaps best known for his powerful, blasting Lowrey organ intro for the classic Band song “Chest Fever,” passed away peacefully in his sleep after a lengthy illness Tuesday morning at a nursing home…

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Australia, Country, Country Pop, Country Rock, Grammy, Guitar, Keith Urban, Nashville, New Zealand, Producer, Rhianna, Songwriter, Voice January 14, 2025

Keith Urban brings his big show to Toronto’s tiny Horseshoe Tavern for a four-star concert

The country-music superstar also announced a major Canada tour, which will begin at Budweiser Stage on June 21. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Country music superstar Keith Urban had the right idea. If you’re going to announce a major Canadian tour, do it in style: generate a buzz with a surprise show that turns out to be a glorious party at one of Toronto’s most storied and intimate venues. The…

Cinema, Composer, Pop, Songwriter, Therapeutic, United Kingdom, Voice December 26, 2024

Robbie Williams on the high price of fame and getting played by monkeys in the new biopic ‘Better Man’

The British pop singer hopes his new biopic will help put him on the map in North America By Nick Krewen Special to the Star December 26, 2024 It took a while, but in September, Robbie Williams finally returned to Toronto. Before performing a short set at the Shangri-La Hotel during the Toronto International Film Festival, the last time the British pop superstar and former Take That member played the city…

Banjo, Bob Dylan, Canada, Events, Experimental, Festivals, Jazz, Metallica, Music Industry (Trade), Prince, Punk, Rock 'N Roll, Rolling Stones, Toronto November 30, 2024

He helped bring the Ramones, the Police and the B-52’s to Toronto for the first time. Nearly 50 years later, he’s being celebrated in a new book

Nearly 100 key players, including performers, scenesters and other promoters, were interviewed for “He Hijacked My Brain: Gary Topp’s Toronto.”  By Nick Krewen Special to the Star In a career that has lasted nearly five decades and involved thousands of concerts, eminent Toronto promoter Gary Topp has but a few regrets. One of his biggest involved an act he and partner Gary Cormier (known collectively as the Garys) tried to book…

Alt. Rock, Art Rock, Australia, Bass, Blues, Drums, Events, Festivals, Garage Rock, Grammy, Guitar, Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, Indie, JUNO, New Wave, Piano, Pop, Progressive rock, R&B, Rock, Rock 'N Roll, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Rolling Stones, Rush, Saskatchewan, Synthesizer, Taylor Swift, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Uncategorized, United Kingdom, United States, Voice November 13, 2024

Taylor Swift may be the hottest ticket in town, but our city has always loved a good gig. Here are Toronto’s 10 biggest concerts of all time

The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and U2 are a few of the artists who drew the largest crowds. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star A rolling stone may gather no moss, but the Rolling Stones certainly gather the masses, especially in or near Toronto. With Taylor Swift and her six-date run at Rogers Centre swiftly approaching, what better time to take a look at Toronto’s all-time biggest concerts. Swift’s…