Instruments

Americana, Blues, Canada, Country, Folk, Guitar, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice June 7, 2024

The NDP’s ‘punk-rock politician,’ Charlie Angus, is leaving Parliament soon to focus on his music. Here’s why that matters

His band Grievous Angels headlines the Horseshoe Tavern on Sunday for a 1 p.m. matinee. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star His political career may be coming to a close, but his band plays on. As Charlie Angus eases out of his role as MP for Timmins-James Bay — he serves until the next federal election — his Canadiana outfit Grievous Angels will continue to be one of his passions. “I’ve…

Arranger, Avant-garde, California, Canada, Composer, Depeche Mode, Electronic, Electronic, Experimental, LGBTQ, Pop, Songwriter, Synth pop, Synthesizer, Taylor Swift, Toronto, United States, Voice June 7, 2024

Allie X didn’t like how the music industry works. So she decided to do something else

“I take my power back,” says the Oakville native, whose new album Girl With No Face is almost entirely self-produced. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star With Girl With No Face, Allie Hughes — known to the music world as Allie X — is taking back the reins. Not that the Oakville native was necessarily relinquishing a lot of control with her previous two albums of immaculate pop perfection…

British Columbia, Canada, Country, Country Pop, Folk, Guitar, Music Industry (Trade), Pop, Rock, Songwriter, Toronto, Vancouver, Voice May 23, 2024

He made radio hits in the 1970s but later gave up music for woodworking. Now Ray Materick is back

Materick, whose Canadian radio hits included “Linda, Put the Coffee On,” “Feelin’ Kinda Lucky Tonight” and “Northbound Plane,” will play Hugh’s Room Live on Saturday. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Linda, it’s almost time to put the coffee on. When singer/songwriter Ray Materick performs at Hugh’s Room Live Saturday for the first time in over a decade, it will be with renewed interest in his most popular material, including…

Arranger, BeBop, Big Band, Composer, Events, Grammy, Jazz, New York, Orchestra, Saxophone, United States May 9, 2024

A Toronto concert offers jazz great John Coltrane’s music in a rare format: arranged for symphony orchestra

“He was a passionate player that was always looking forward,” says saxophonist Joe Lovano, featured soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in world premiere “John Coltrane: Legacy.” By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Get ready to hear the music of John Coltrane in a whole new context. While the legendary repertoire of the late jazz sax colossus has been performed in many configurations over the last 75 years or so,…

Africa, Beyoncé Knowles, Composer, Grammy, Herbie Hancock, Producer, Regions, Songwriter, Voice, World Music April 18, 2024

‘All women suffer from injustice’: Mali singer Oumou Sangaré on why she’s still speaking out for women in Africa and beyond

Sangaré, who has been opposing arranged marriages, polygamy, sexual subservience and genital mutilation for more than three decades, makes a rare Toronto appearance on April 20.by Nick Krewen Special to the Star She’s known worldwide as “the Songbird of Wassoulou.” But over the past three decades, Malian singer-songwriter Oumou Sangaré, who makes a rare Toronto appearance on Saturday, has meant so much more, especially to the women of Africa. Since…