GET YE TO THE GARDENS! JAZZ FEST IS UPON US
BEGONIA
When: June 24
Where: Bessborough Gardens/ Capitol Music Club
What: Shizz is about to get real, guys. The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival starts this week and with that comes a super stacked concert calendar. Lots of people escape to the lake this time of year, but I’ll be in the thick of it, dancing with a notepad in hand and coming up with ever-wittier descriptions of the always unpredictable weather. One show — actually, two shows — to see is Begonia. The project by Alexa Dirks opens for Serena Ryder, but she’s also got a show later that night at the Capitol Music Club. Dirks is part of the Winnipeg, Juno-winning band Chic Gamine, but I’m even more partial to her solo work. If you’re new to Begonia, listen to the single I Don’t Wanna Love You. The instrumentation gives off throwback Motown vibes, but her voice is the real showstopper. I can’t wait to hear it live.
THE HARPOONIST & THE AXE MURDERER
When: June 23
Where: Bessborough Gardens/ Amigos
What: Something keeps drawing B.C. duo The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer back to Saskatoon. Is it the river views? The Segway tours? The $5.95 noodle bowl at Thien Vietnam? More likely it’s the welcoming and supportive listeners, who are happy to get into the band’s bluesy grooves, whether it’s in the cosy Bassment or on the lawn of the Delta Bessborough. The duo of Shawn Hall and Matt Rogers recently released the album Apocalipstick and added drummer John Raham and keyboardist Geoff Hilhorst (of Saskatchewan band The Deep Dark Woods) to the recording. If you’re going to Amanda Marshall, make sure you get there early to see their opening set. If you’re checking out their late show, have a nap beforehand.
LOW
When: June 23
Where: The Bassment
What: I’m friends with a lot of musicians on Facebook (yes, I know that’s not the same as being friends with them in real life), and one jazz fest show is really getting that group buzzing. Minnesota band Low is playing the Bassment for what sounds like the first time (or at least the first time in a really long time). The band released its first album, I Could Live in Hope, in 1994. Their sound has been described as “slowcore,” which I think is just a different way of saying minimalist. At the time, Low was a contrast to the era’s most popular sound, grunge. You might say they were before their time. Low’s most recent album is 2015’s Ones and Sixes.
LOUISE BURNS
When: June 22
Where: Capitol Music Club What: Louise Burns last played Saskatoon in March. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time with her album Young Mopes. It eventually made my ballot for the Polaris Music Prize. This week, it made the long list and I’ve got a good feeling about it reaching the Top 10. The Vancouver musician is touring Canada in support of the album on the Old Dopes Tour. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’m both a young mope and an old dope. My young mope side spends a lot of time having existential crises and thinking about how deep my feelings are. My old dope side has a lot of aches and pains and often forgets things that happened five minutes ago. Whether you’re a mope, dope or a pope, this is a great show to check out. Super talented and lovely Saskatoon musician Anna Haverstock opens the show.