United Kingdom

Passenger, a.k.a. Mike Rosenberg, grateful for Ed Sheeran’s support

Passenger returns to Toronto for Dec. 10 show at Phoenix. Singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg, alias Passenger, returns to Toronto to play the Phoenix on Dec. 10.   By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Dec 07 2012     Sometime last month, folk songwriter Mike Rosenberg, a.k.a. Passenger, almost ended up in a German jail. It seems a female admirer handed him a bullet in honour of his…


Ian Hunter and Rant play Lee’s Palace Dec. 7

At 73, Ian Hunter is no longer a young dude. But that doesn’t mean there are times when he doesn’t feel like one. Rocker Ian Hunter plays Lee’s Palace Dec. 7 with his band Rant. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Wed Dec 05 2012 At 73, Ian Hunter is no longer a young dude. But that doesn’t mean there are times when he doesn’t feel like…


Ellie Goulding just passing through pop

New hit album for star playing Sound Academy is just a diversion, she says, from dance music. Ellie Goulding plays Sound Academy on Sunday, Oct. 14. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Thu Oct 11 2012   You can take the girl out of EDM, but you can’t take EDM out of the girl — at least if Ellie Goulding has her way. The 25-year-old British singer…


Joss Stone breezes into town with soulful sound

Grammy-winning artist follows her instincts, whips up another covers album and roams into Toronto. British soul singer and free spirit Joss Stone will perform at Sound Academy.   By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Fri Oct 05 2012   If Grammy-winning British soul belter Joss Stone had a nickname, it would be “Miss Spontaneity.” “Either that, or ‘Impatience’ — one of the two,” Stone says, laughing heartily,…


Ed Sheeran’s folk-pop sheer brilliance shines at Echo Beach: Review

Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. By: Special to The Star Nick Krewen Published on Mon Sep 17 2012 Perhaps there’s hope in the pop world after all. Inundated as we are by hormonal determination of the female tween populace regarding such lightweight romantics as the Justin Biebers, One Directions and numerous copycats whose musical, puppy-eyed declarations of love carry the emotional resonance of a Twix candy…