Celebrated kids’ entertainer recruited a lot of well-known grown-up musicians for the easygoing creation of his new album. Nick Krewen Music, Thu., April 20, 2017 The cat is back — and he’s brought along some cool friends. At 70, beloved children’s entertainer Fred Penner, best known perhaps for his 1979 gem “The Cat Came Back” and his memorable Fred Penner’s Place TV series, has returned with album No. 13, Hear…
Story by Nick Krewen | March 16, 2017 Decades before Jenson Vaughan became known as a hit maker for Madonna, Britney Spears and currently, High Valley, the Dartmouth, NS, native was in the dark about the artistry it took to write a song. So he plucked one out of the air. “I formed a little a capella group,” says Vaughan, recalling his high-school years. “And because of my jazz background,…
Long-running roots supergroup gets royal reward of guest stars, on new album and at Massey Hall on Saturday. Nick Krewen Music, Thu. Feb 23, 2017 Those Nashville connections continue to pay sweet dividends for Toronto-born Colin Linden and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, who kick off a 14-date cross-Canada tour at Massey Hall Saturday. Linden, 56, who also resides in the town that the country-music business TV soap opera is…
Icelandic vocalist completes wintry vibe on Montréal DJ’s ambient new album, which spurs creative Rivoli shows this week. Nick Krewen Music, Jan. 26, 2017 Eric San, a.k.a. Kid Koala, is a seasonal guy. For example, the Montréal-based DJ, musician, turntablist and graphic novelist says that he sees music to draw to: satellite, his new ambient Arts & Crafts album featuring Icelandic singer Emiliana Torrini, as a “winter” record. San, who is…
Loneliness and political readings of band’s founder create album, Future Politics, that fits into ‘true political uncertainty’ of times. Band plays Jan. 20 at the Mod Club. Nick Krewen Music, Jan. 19, 2017 The moment that Toronto electro band Austra completed its world tour to support its sophomore album, Olympia, its lead singer and songwriter Katie Stelmanis hit the books and began a voracious reading cycle. “I had felt that…
