I was freaking out the day before day 1 of X-Fest 2016, and not just because I’d be seeing some of my favourite artists live. My first year attending the festival, 2014, was interesting to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun for the most part and I saw a lot of…
You’ve heard of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, but what about the Calgary Youth Orchestra? Chances are, if you have musically-orientated friends who play a string instrument, you’ve probably heard of it. For those who haven’t, don’t fret, because you’re about to learn so you can go out and enjoy the finest Calgarian musical talent this…
On Thursday, March 17th, my friend and I had the opportunity to attend the Calgary Philharmonic’s show “Rush Hour // Northern Exposure: Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor” down at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Totally spontaneous (shoutout to our band teacher, Mr. Gingrich, for the tickets!), we headed down to the concert hall for…
Maybe you love music, but don’t know your way around a music festival; I’m in the same boat! As an overly-organized A-type, I decided to talk to a few experienced Sled Island-goers for the inside scoop on how to make the most of my all-ages pass. Here are the tips they came up with: 1. Bring a…
If you haven’t already heard of Sled Island, you are about to learn about this amazing opportunity here in Calgary that will calm exam stress and turn frowns upside down. Sled Island, a music and arts festival, is not only offering 250+ bands, but it also takes an insight on the visual art and comedy…
Produced by the acclaimed Dentsu creative director Kaoru Sugano, Japanese girl group Perfume’s performance last week at SXSW 2015 was nothing short of mind boggling. Featuring complex visual projections and synchronisation of military precision, the massive production team of the SXSW performance created a dizzying, seamless audiovisual treat with the help of enormous technical production…
Over the years, Calgary has slowly shaped itself to be a Canadian hub that has captured the attention of various organizations and, in turn, many new and exciting events are now held here. Last year, some of my favourite events included the Comic Expo, Beakerhead, and the Holt Renfrew: Lock into Paris Fashion Show. This…
I recently found this great series on YouTube called NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. These concerts are basically 5-15 minute acoustic sessions done by up and coming artists and bands in a little corner of the NPR’s office building. I find these videos different and more entertaining than any other music sessions because all of the…
Ever since the late 1850s, people have been able to enjoy music with the convenience of recordings. From vinyl to CDs to digital audio files, now that music is easily portable, we can relish in prime tunes wherever we like. It was a November morning, the weather being much like what we’ve been experiencing lately,…
I am writing this blog post this week because my absolute favorite YouTuber, Miranda Sings, is coming to do a live show in Calgary! She will be here on October 23 at MacEwan Hall at the University of Calgary for a night full of comedy, magic and of course, singing. Miranda Sings is a character…
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYOC) is recognized for being a strong bridge between music education and a music career…
I have had the opportunity to see both Bruno Mars and One Direction live within the past week, which is extremely lucky. So if you are just as lucky and you have the chance to go see either band live I have the low down to see I either concert is a good fit or you!…
I love concerts. The adrenaline rush is amazing and the live talent is even better. What isn’t so great is the moment you realise the concert is for ages 18 and older. This doesn’t happen so much with the popular music but for indie and alternative bands they usually play at bars! I always complain…
We all have those Saturday nights, you know the one that you neglected all week, and instead thought about other things, when suddenly Saturday came and you were alone at home on Saturday, maybe gaming, studying, or just sitting around bored, wishing you had made plans. Such Saturdays, we have all learned, require avoidance at…
Holiday cheer can emerge from the cup of warm cocoa or a ride down a snowy hill. I love to listen to lively and warm music to remind myself of the warmth the holidays bring and The Calgary Civic Symphony’s A Child’s Christmas did just that. An afternoon concert, with guests the Mayor of Calgary…