Rappers, rockers and ramblers on the roster this week in music
BLISS N ESO
When: Saturday
Where: Vangelis
What: Most days the world feels pretty damn small. But it’s helpful to remind yourself you are in fact just one out of billions of people and “You know nothing Stephanie McKay.” One thing I know hopelessly little about is Australian hip hop. I’d never heard of Bliss n Eso before getting an email from their publicist, but they’re a pretty big deal in their home country. We’re talking three platinum albums and ARIA awards (the Aussie equivalent of the Grammys). The group’s latest is Off the Grid and the trio (MC Bliss, MC Eso and DJ Izm) is touring to Canada to promote it.
LISA LEBLANC
When: Friday
Where: Capitol Music Club
What: If you follow the Polaris Music Prize you’ll know that Lisa LeBlanc was one of this year’s short-list nominees for the brilliantly titled (and just brilliant in general) album Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen? The Montreal-via-New Brunswick musician is a whiz on the banjo and writes a mean song. The record touches on everything from rock, folk, blues and classic rock to spaghetti western and Hawaiian music. “Road songs and the people along the way provide the main inspiration, as well as the love songs and breakup songs you always wanted to write yourself.” The awesome Steph Cameron is also on the bill. I should also mention this show is part of CFCR’s FM-Phasis fundraising drive. If you love your community radio station (I know I do) show them some support by donating at cfcr.ca. Plus, they always have sweet prizes!
SASKTOBERFEST
When: Saturday
Where: Prairie Sun Brewery What: This weekend is a busy one in Saskatoon, with events like Nuit Blanche, Premier Showcase and a talk by my personal hero Jane Goodall. It’s also time for Sasktoberfest, the annual beer and music event at Prairie Sun Brewery. The fun also includes food and the Beerlympics. One of the featured performers is A Rancher’s Son, the solo project by Alex Shenton (you may also remember him from the group Bastard Poetry). The focus of A Rancher’s Son is to “capture the life experience of coming home and taking over the family ranch through writing songs.” The Sasktoberfest lineup also includes The Wolfe and Johnny Don’t.
ZACHARY LUCKY
When: Friday
Where: Underground Cafe
What: It was a bummer when Zachary Lucky had to cancel his last Saskatoon show due to illness. Luckily (sorry, I’ll show myself out), he’s back to make it up and share the excellent songs from his newest album Everywhere a Man Can Be. The show’s presented by the Northern Light Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Festival. The song Sell All You Have is my personal favourite and it’ll be yours too if you enjoy the sounds of Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor. The Saskatchewan musician now lives in Ontario, but the album is filled with songs that will make the hearts of Prairie folk flutter. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. Cover is $15.