by Shanell Dupras

Jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD were scheduled to play Jazz Fest in 2012 shortly after the release of their new album on April 3, 2012, BBNG2, which mainly features covers of artists like Odd Future, James Blake, and even My Bloody Valentine. Stylus got a hold of Alex Sowinski, the drummer/sampler, and Chester Hansen, the bassist, for an interview. Shortly before our June/July 2012 issue went to press, BBNG cancelled a number of their Canadian summer dates. We’re happy that they’re able to make Jazz Fest this year. Here is our long lost BADBADNOTGOOD feature from 2012. Continue Reading »

by Dave Skene

The first step is always the hardest. You feel like an alien in your own body, adrenaline races to your brain, there’s a sharpening sensation as each nerve flips on, your mind, not knowing what to expect, takes everything in as your heart thumps in your chest like a big bass drum. Continue Reading »

By Michael Elves

It may have seemed like Maylee Todd came out of nowhere when she released her engaging, challenging – and suitably adventurous – Choose Your Own Adventure on Do Right! Music in 2010, but the fact of the matter is the Toronto artist had been building towards her solo debut for a half-decade and the genre-hopping and blending on display in CYOA came from a playful spirit honed in the service of groups as disparate as Henri Faberge & The Adorables, Woodhands, and The Bicycles. With Henri Faberge & The Adorables in particular Todd was already choosing her own adventure as she noted in our interview that “that was like the first official band that I was in and that band was just about really making music with your friends and the idea was to play an instrument that you don’t usually play so it was a bit of a challenge but so much fun too.” Continue Reading »

by Sheldon Birnie

The barren landscape before you is obscured in a thick, pungent haze as the red orb of the sun begins to climb the horizon. The earth beneath your feet is charred and oozing, like the flesh on a burn victim’s face. The air is still, but your head buzzes with the terrible knowledge that something cataclysmic has just transpired. Only you can’t remember what it was. The only sound that can be heard is the ringing drone where your eardrums used to be. Are your ears bleeding? Yes. Yes they are. Continue Reading »

By Janet Adamana

“I’m nailing shards of hope together to put something over my head” bellowed a short, bearded young man, whirling around the stage of an empty theatre in Cleveland. The vocalist was surrounded by his band mates and best friends, he had his hoodie up, spewing his heart out into a small silver mic. “You know here it’s always raining, and it happened again, it happened again…” I will always remember the day I first heard pop punk band, The Wonder Years, and the moment they changed everything. Continue Reading »

by Scott Wolfe

Skate 4 Cancer (S4C) is an incredible event that plays host to various activities that all ages can enjoy, while supporting a good cause. The Forks skatepark has played host to Skate For Cancer, an event organized to raise money and increase cancer awareness, now into its fifth year. The event is the brainchild of Toronto’s Rob Dyer. Upon meeting Rob, Jay Fulmore, a local Winnipegger, adapted the idea to include a massive daytime event.  Continue Reading »

by Victoria King

Good people eat good food. It’s a simple fact of life. Those who are miserable munch on things like “low-cal waffles” and “fructose-free popsicles.” After grabbing some dinner with three quarters of the local folk outfit From Giants, their plates said it all: One order of pad thai, one veggie burger, and a mango smoothie later, (which ended up coming out purple, so let’s hope it was just an accidental “Very Berry”) I had a good feeling about the music they were making. Continue Reading »

by Broose Tulloch

An f-hole is the fancy sound hole on a violin, mandolin, or arched-top guitar.
The F-holes are an energetic entanglement of dixieland jazz, traditional bluegrass, and Manitoba roots music. Continue Reading »