British Columbia

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 —…

British Columbia, Canada, Concert reviews, Events, Grammy, Halifax, JUNO, Orchestra, Pop, Songwriter, Toronto, Vancouver June 23, 2012

Sarah McLachlan with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra: review

Nick Krewen reviews the show as Sarah McLachlan kicks off her 13-date Symphony Tour Friday night at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Sat Jun 23 2012 Whenever you play with an orchestra, it’s good to remember that there are strings attached. It was a notion that seemed lost for the first half of Sarah McLachlan’s hit-and-miss two-hour concert with the Toronto Symphony…

Alt. Rock, British Columbia, Canada, Concert reviews, Events, JUNO, Montréal, Québec, Rock, Songwriter, Vancouver February 20, 2012

Simple Plan shallow next to Marianas Trench

Entertainment / Music Previous act on Air Canada Centre bill shows headliner how it’s done.   Nick Krewen Special to the Star Published on Mon Feb 20 2012 The boys of Simple Plan certainly had their work cut out for them.   Headlining a four-band bill, the five-piece Montreal punk-pop band faced the unenviable task of closing for Vancouver’s Marianas Trench, who had just finished mopping up the Air Canada Centre general…

British Columbia, Canada, Glam Rock, JUNO, Pop, Producer, Rock, Songwriter, Vancouver February 17, 2012

Marianas Trench grows ever broader

Entertainment / Music Vancouver band opening for Simple Plan has a nonstop creative engine in Josh Ramsay.   Marianas Trench: Josh Ramsay, right, keeps busy. Nick Krewen  Special to the Star Published on Fri Feb 17 2012 Look up the word “ambitious” in the dictionary, and you might just see Josh Ramsay’s picture staring up at you. There seems to be no shortage of drive in the young Vancouverite, whether it concerns…

British Columbia, Canada, CCMA, Country, Dean Brody, Songwriter December 26, 2011

Trails and Trials

Story by Nick Krewen | December 26, 2011 He’s known for his amazing country ballad “Trail In Life,” but British Columbia’s Dean Brody truly knows what it means to have trials in life. In the past three years alone, the 36-year-old singer and songwriter – a recent hat trick winner at the 2011 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards for Album (Trail In Life), and for Single and Songwriter of…