Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, November 10 to 12

Twanguero & Paul Pigat play Mel Lehan Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Newfoundland folk quartet Rum Ragged performs a tribute to Margaret Sargent-McTaggart at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James, with guests Twin Embers. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY: Seattle-based progressive funk, psych-rock and modern Afro-beat band Polyrhythmics plays the WISE Hall, with guests Idle Moon. FRIDAY: … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, November 10 to 12

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1

Midnight Cowboy screens at VIFF Centre By Steve Newton MONDAY: Vancouver blues-rock band Terminal Station, composed of singer-guitarist Scott Smith, keyboardist Darryl Havers, bassist Jeremy Holmes, and drummer Liam MacDonald, plays  Guilt and Co. Check out their Allman Brothers vibe. MONDAY TO THURSDAY: screenings at the VIFF Centre of director Laura Moss's new psychological horror film Birth/Rebirth, which … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver this week, August 28 to September 1

Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in May

The Schizophonics play the Biltmore By Steve Newton Australasian pop band Crowded House,  led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Neil Finn, plays the Orpheum Theatre on May 2. If they forget to play "Don't Dream It's Over", ask for your money back. Australian prog-rock guitar wizard Plini plays the Rickshaw Theatre on May 2, with guests Sungazer and Jakub … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 Vancouver concerts in May

Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 13-15

Brass Camel plays the WISE Hall By Steve Newton FRIDAY: Vancouver punk-rockers the Black Halos play the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests the Spitfires and Alien Boys. Billy Hopeless in da house! FRIDAY: Vancouver rockabilly trio Cousin Harley, featuring guitar wizard Paul Pigat, plays White Rock's Blue Frog Studios. SOLD OUT. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Grammy-winning violinist … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 things to do in Metro Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 13-15

Fretmaster Don Ross exposes the Newt to the wonders of acoustic-guitar wizardry

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 29, 2001 By Steve Newton Guitar gods—I can’t get enough of ’em. There’ve always been lots of slots in my CD stacks reserved for fret masters who balance boggling technique with high degrees of feel. Because I’m mostly a rock and blues fan, the vast majority of guitarists … Continue reading Fretmaster Don Ross exposes the Newt to the wonders of acoustic-guitar wizardry

Blackie member Colin Linden loves the rigours of the road and the confines of the console

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 21, 1999 By Steve Newton Canadian guitar great and singer-songwriter Colin Linden has spent a large part of his life travelling this country’s highways and byways in pursuit of gigs. He’s also spent a huge portion of time holed away in recording studios, making his own records, producing … Continue reading Blackie member Colin Linden loves the rigours of the road and the confines of the console

Fred Eaglesmith makes a living in music without selling his soul

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 29, 1999 By Steve Newton From the sound of his new 50-Odd Dollars CD—which includes gritty, rough-edged tracks like “Blue Tick Hound”, “Ten Ton Chain”, and “Georgia Overdrive”—you wouldn’t expect that Ontario tunesmith Fred Eaglesmith is best-known in folk circles. He sounds more like a cross between Neil … Continue reading Fred Eaglesmith makes a living in music without selling his soul