Jackson leads September parade of stars.
Acts from AC/DC to Weird Al parade through as summer ends
September might feel like the end of the summer holidays for you, but there’s no stopping the parade of acts coming through town just as you’re locked into school or work mode.
If the ’80s are your jam then you’ll appreciate concerts by Weird Al and Janet Jackson. You might not be catching electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk at the height of their youth, but since they’re basically computers you can expect that their much-hyped concert here will be something special. Dig chimpanzees? Well, one of the world’s foremost experts will be stopping by in the form of Jane Goodall.
MJ’s little sister Janet Jackson will be at Rexall on Sept. 4, followed quickly by Sonic Boom, which runs Sept. 5 and 6 at Borden Park. Musical acts for the two-day festival include Tenacious D, Alexisonfire and TV on the Radio. Meanwhile, at Louise McKinney Park on Sept. 5 they’ll be drenching the Edmonton greenery with bassheavy acts such as Capleton, Queen Ifrica and Tasman Jude at the Edmonton Reggae Festival.
A more localized festival starts up on Sept. 10 and runs to Sept. 14; Bermuda Fest features such acts as Black Thunder, Chad VanGaalen and Mark Mills at various venues throughout the city. Yegfest takes place at Hawrelak Park on Sept. 11 and 12, with a large lineup of city acts, including The Archaics, Sean Nicholas Savage and former Mac DeMarco guitarist Peter Sagar doing a solo turn as Homeshake. The one, the only Weird Al is back, playing at the Jubilee Auditorium on Sept. 11, while singer-songwriter Lisa Leblanc is at Studio 96 on Sept. 12, the same day that Less Claypool brings Primus and the Chocolate Factory to the Jubilee Auditorium.
The Shaw Conference Centre hosts indie-rockers alt-J on Sept. 14, while Montreal veterans The Dears are back in town, this time at The Mercury Room, also on Sept. 14. Christian metal quartet P.O.D bring the good word to The Ranch Roadhouse on Sept. 15, while unabashed robot lovers Kraftwerk will be pressing down the special key to play a little melody at the Jube on Sept. 16.
Country legend Don Williams makes his yearly return to the Jubilee Auditorium on Sept. 17, while hip-hop legends Wu Tang Clan will be back at the Shaw Conference Centre. Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton makes use of the beautiful acoustics at McDougall United Church for a concert on Sept. 19, while ’70s pop singer Rita Coolidge swings by on Sept. 19 for a show at Festival Place in Sherwood Park.
Aussie hard rockers AC/DC will pack Commonwealth Stadium to the rafters on Sept. 20, and Ontario singersongwriter Hayden will likely do the same at the Starlite Room on Sept. 23, if they had rafters. You can also look forward to a visit from Hollywood rap-rockers Hollywood Undead at Union Hall on Sept. 23, followed by poppunkers All Time Low, also at Union Hall, on Sept. 24. For those looking for something a little less aggressive, The Nylons will be at Festival Place and The Tea Party at the Winspear Centre on Sept. 25. Acclaimed singersongwriter Ron Sexsmith visits the Arden on Sept. 26. The ESO take on Pink Floyd at the Winspear on Sept 29 and 30 and Oct. 1, while Alberta expats Braids are at Denizen Hall on Sept. 30.
Also on the last day of the month are country singers Dean Brody and Paul Brandt at Rexall, with prog-metal titans Symphony X join Overkill for an evening of hard rock over at Union Hall.
A few noted writers will be in town in September. Enjoy an evening with Jane Goodall at the Winspear on Sept. 9, while author Lawrence Hill of Book of Negroes fame sets up at the Arden Theatre in St. Albert as part of STARfest on Sept. 11.
Those looking for less talk and more action might appreciate the WWE, as wrestling takes over Rexall Place on Sept. 11.
Comedian and Saturday Night Live veteran Norm MacDonald merits two appearances at the Myer Horowitz Theatre, Sept. 16 and 17.
Alberta artist Chris Cran starts his Sincerely Yours exhibition at the Art Gallery of Alberta; it runs from Sept. 12 to Jan. 3.
Western Canadian Fashion Week runs from Sept. 17 to 26 at various spots around town, while the Citadel Theatre hosts a production of Rick Miller’s Boom from Sept. 19 to Oct. 11.
Find some of those missing X-Men issues by checking out the Edmonton Comic Expo from Sept. 25 to 27 at the Edmonton Expo.
In classical music, the Three Tenors are at the Jube on Sept. 25, and Bollywood singer Mika Singh performs Sept. 26, also at the Jube. The ESO tackles Beethoven’s Fifth at the Winspear on Sept. 26, with guest pianist Katherine Chi sitting in for Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
Pro Coro Canada is also at the Winspear this month, performing on Sept. 27 as part of Alberta Culture Days (which runs Sept. 25 to 27) with the North American premier of Paul Mealor’s The Farthest Shore.