This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks

Paul Pigat with Big Lazy By Steve Newton This year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival, running from July 19 to 21 at Jericho Beach Park, is offering a diverse selection of traditional and contemporary folk, world, and roots-music artists from around the world and our own backyard. And fans of guitar-based music will be especially pleased … Continue reading This year’s Vancouver Folk Music Festival looks like six-string heaven for local guitar freaks

Ontario’s Breit Bros. deliver the musical goods at the Town Pump

chris cameron photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 2, 1989 By Steve Newton When a band has only one album out, it's tough for it to play a whole set--unless it plays a bunch of cover tunes, or maybe throws in a half-hour drum solo. In the Breit Bros.' case, they played a couple of songs … Continue reading Ontario’s Breit Bros. deliver the musical goods at the Town Pump

Canada’s ubertalented Breit brothers chose music over hockey

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 19, 1989 By Steve Newton For twin brothers Garth and Gary Breit--and younger sibling Kevin--growing up in the small Ontario town of McKerrow (pop. 250) did not offer a lot of youthful diversions. Hockey and music were the two biggies, and fortunately the Breit (pronounced "bright") brothers made a career out … Continue reading Canada’s ubertalented Breit brothers chose music over hockey

Slide-guitar ace Harry Manx praises Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Kevin Breit, and his first blues influence, Johnny Winter

By Steve Newton When I call up Harry Manx for an interview, I have no idea where he's located. The area code (250) signifies that it's somewhere in B.C., but that's about it. Turns out he's been residing on Salt Spring Island for the last 20 years or so. And as luck would have it … Continue reading Slide-guitar ace Harry Manx praises Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Kevin Breit, and his first blues influence, Johnny Winter

That time primo Vancouver picker Paul Pigat told me about getting turned on to Danny Gatton

By Steve Newton Metro Vancouver has spawned quite a few wicked guitar players, and I've been lucky to have interviewed a bunch. Some of my faves include Shaun Verreault, Dave Martone, Scott Smith, Don Alder, Russell Marsland, Lindsay Mitchell, Todd Taylor, Erol Sora, Devin Townsend, Harris Van Berkel, the late Scotty Hall, and the ever-lovin' … Continue reading That time primo Vancouver picker Paul Pigat told me about getting turned on to Danny Gatton

Kim Mitchell on the re-rise and re-fall of Max Webster

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 2, 2000 By Steve Newton If, like me, you’re a Kim Mitchell fan from way back, you may have been wondering just where the hell he’s been lately. I mean, he hasn’t played Vancouver in nine years, whereas in the ’80s he’d show up regularly to be a wild party and … Continue reading Kim Mitchell on the re-rise and re-fall of Max Webster