Banjo

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,”…

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Elle King delivers music and comedy chops: concert review

In a magnetic performance, the soulful singer proved she is indeed the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Thu Jun 04 2015 Elle King At the Drake Underground, June 3. The great aspect of seeing an act in concert is that albums sometimes only reveal so much. If you picked up Elle King’s Love Stuff, for instance — even if it’s only because you were impressed by…


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…


The Russians have landed!

  Nick Krewen GRAMMY.COM March 2003 Roll over Beethoven and tell Tchiakovsky the news: The Russians have landed! While recent breakthroughs of controversial Moscow pop duo t.A.T.u. and Grammy nominated country sextet Bering Strait may not be as prevalent as the British invasion that first introduced The Beatles, the message that North America is finally open for business is resonating throughout the former U.S.S.R.. And that gives new hope for…