Don’t let the sneer throw you — Skratch Bastid is all about the good times, as he’ll prove at the HiFi this Wednesday, July 9
Find It...
It doesn’t feel like we’ve just had a long weekend. After the frantic venue-hopping of Sled Island (see what Fast Forward thought of the festival at www.ffwdweekly.com), not to mention impromptu Jazz Festival jams and general exhaustion from Virgin Fest two weeks ago, Calgary music fans can’t be blamed for taking a few days off. Best rest up quickly, though, because things kick back into gear next week.
The Juno Awards’ best new artists, Wintersleep, are returning to Calgary. The band’s grandiose rock has won rave reviews from critics across the country (their Welcome to the Night Sky made it on the 40-album long list for this year’s Polaris Prize, and is a strong contender for the 10-album short list), and their live set has been honed by constant touring. Expect crowd-pleasing hooks aplenty when they play The Whiskey on Monday, July 7.
Toronto’s Metric, themselves two-time Juno nominees, take the stage at Flames Central the next day. The synth-rockers know how to deliver live, thanks to the sultry stage presence of singer Emily Haines — doubters can always check out Live at Metropolis, the band’s live DVD from earlier this year, for proof of Haines’s prowess.
For a look at the bands that influenced Metric’s take on new wave, check out Fort Calgary on Wednesday, July 9. Billy Idol was a pioneer of the movement both in Generation X and with his solo work (don’t laugh — Idol’s been a punk since the Sex Pistols were together, and put out his share of classic tunes). He’ll be joined by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, whose love of rock ’n’ roll was an inspiration for every girl-rocker worth their salt.
Hip hop heads still reeling from RZA’s jaw-dropping set on June 27 can enjoy a chaser when Skratch Bastid hits the HiFi, also on Wednesday. Best known as Buck 65’s producer and DJ, Bastid’s resume isn’t as stacked as RZA’s, but he knows his way around a turntable.
For those who aren’t too tired this weekend, though, don’t miss the chance to see Mark Knopfler at the Jack Singer on Saturday. Knopfler’s time in Dire Straights made him a household name, but it’s his work with legends like Chet Atkins that really proves he’s one for the ages.
Of course, it wouldn’t be July without the Calgary Stampede, and it wouldn’t be the Stampede without Sloan. This year, everyone’s favourite Haligonians have opted to play at Tequila Night Club (July 6) rather than the Stampede grounds proper, but be sure to check the Stampede website for a full list of the bands playing at the greatest outdoor show on Earth.
