Musician and producer Jack White
You might remember him from the much-missed rock band The White Stripes, and more recently from The Raconteurs or The Dead Weather, but chances are if you’re a music fan, you know Jack White. It’s taken the guitarist, producer and nine-time Grammy winner 15 years to record a solo album. He sings tracks from his debut, Blunderbuss, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (May 27).—Kristina Urquhart
Coldplay photo by Sarah Lee
The Brits are back. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (pictured, centre) brings his falsetto and frenzied piano playing to Rogers Arena this month, promoting new material from his band’s fifth studio disc, Mylo Xyloto (Apr. 20 and 21). Longtime fans won’t be disappointed, with the boys’ breakout hit “Yellow” and sweepers such as “The Scientist” also featured on the set list. Rock on, mates.—Kristina Urquhart
Musician Elvis Costello
At 57 years old, Declan Patrick MacManus—better known to the world as Elvis Costello—shows no signs of sitting back and taking it easy. The English punk/new wave singer, who was banned from Saturday Night Live for 12 years after his infamous unplanned performance of “Radio Radio,” is still shaking up the status quo decades later. During his Spinning Songbook Tour, which kicks off Apr. 10 at the Orpheum Theatre, no two concerts are alike: fans come on stage to spin a wheel that determines the evening’s set. Bonus track: keep an eye out for Costello and his wife, jazz singer Diana Krall, out and about in Vancouver, as the musical pair keeps a home here.—Sheri Radford
Listening to classical music is literally thought provoking. What better place to stimulate the little grey cells than at a VSO concert?
By Louise Phillips
Bramwell Tovey conducts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in the Orpheum Theatre
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra can help you stay smart. It’s true! Listening to classical music primes your spatial and mathematical reasoning and abstract thought, because it is more structurally complex than a three-chord rock anthem. It also relaxes the brain in the same way as deep sleep. Now that science tells us cognitive acuity starts to wane at the age of 45, don’t you think it’s time to give your frontal lobe something to do? Just choose your category below, and book your ticket.
The Higgins
Get up offa that thing and head down to the Commodore Ballroom for some movin’ and groovin’ at the Motown Meltdown, Mar. 31. Over 25 Canadian vocalists and a scorchin’ 12-piece band crank up the heat for an evening of hot soul music and solid-gold hits. Shake it to classics such as “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” performed by the likes of award-winning country music band The Higgins (pictured), local singer-songwriter Ali Milner and many more.—Caitlin Dawson
Hedley
March 24
The Canadian pop-rockers have had their ups (a string of number-one videos, a Juno Award, performing at the closing ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games) and their downs (several line-up changes), but all seems to be smooth sailing these days. They recently released their fourth disc, Storms, a full-length concept album full of ballads and hard-driving anthems. Hedley’s high-energy tour rolls into Rogers Arena this month, guaranteeing fun for both fans and newbies.—Sheri Radford
The Cat Empire performs as part of Slacker Canadian Music Week
MARCH 21 TO 25 It’s the most tuneful time of the year. Celebrating its 30th edition, Slacker Canadian Music Week brings the biggest movers and shakers in the business to Toronto for a symposium, trade show, film screenings, comedy series, and, mostly importantly, a music festival with more than 900 artists at 60 venues. Some of Canada’s top indie bands—The Trews, for example—are scheduled to perform, along with international heat seekers like Australia’s The Cat Empire and L.A.-based comedian-turned-rapper Childish Gambino (a.k.a. Donald Glover). Adding extra flavour to this year’s mix are spotlight shows featuring musicians from Latin America, Portugal and Spain, as well as a new jazz series. Festival wristbands $75 to $150; call 905-858-4747 or click here for more information.
Spirit of the West
Forget drinking hokey green beer: there’s no better way to spend St. Patrick’s Day than by hearing Canada’s unofficial national anthem, “Home for a Rest,” performed by Canada’s favourite folk-rock-Celtic band. Spirit of the West has been singing that crowd favourite—along with “Save This House,” “The Crawl” and other ones you already know all the words to—for decades, never losing their energy or sense of fun. Get ready to sing along as you bounce the night away on the springy dance floor of the beautiful old Commodore Ballroom (Mar. 17).—Sheri Radford
Lady Antebellum photo copyright 2011 Capitol Records Nashville
Did you hear the one about the singer who was rejected for American Idol not once but twice, then went on to form a chart-busting band and net six Grammys? It’s not a joke—it’s what happened to Hillary Scott, frontwoman of Nashville-based trio Lady Antebellum, which brings a high-energy blend of infectious country-pop and polished harmonies to the Pacific Coliseum as part of the Own The Night 2012 World Tour (Mar. 19). The three-piece and their dynamite band crank up the Southern charm and belt out crowd-pleasing hits such as the sweet and soulful “American Honey” and the wistful ballad “Need You Now.”—Caitlin Dawson
1. Bannock (photo by Garrison McArthur Photographers)
1 Connecting with Canada’s culinary heritage with comfort food served up at Bannock.
2 The mix of abstract painting, graffiti and cartoon animation in Pascal Paquette’s mural outside of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.
3 Gussying ourselves up with fashionable finds from Lavish & Squalor.
4 Learning how April showers can make for superior May flowers at Canada Blooms.
5 Listening to the new versions of pop classics performed by Jann Arden at Massey Hall on March 9 and 10. (more…)
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Stay, Dine, Do
