MUSIC SCENE IN TUNE WITH HOLIDAYS
Trio of shows this weekend will have you singing the praises of Christmas season
'Tis the week before December and all through the city, holiday shows are starting — and this reporter's getting witty.
In all seriousness, Christmas concerts and holiday-themed theatrical performances are already well underway. As such, some of these shows are going to start dominating venues around the city. Only a few are listed here, but you can find a more comprehensive list — literally dozens of holiday performances — on the Starphoenix website.
We just can't ignore the inevitable anymore — it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
THE PISTOLWHIPS
When: Saturday
Where: Amigos Cantina
What: Nothing says Christmas like absolutely incredible indie rock. OK, so maybe this one isn't a holiday show quite yet — but we can all enjoy how good The Pistolwhips are. Combining a heavy hitting rock sound with some absolutely killer vocals, these guys are the top of the shelf when it comes to indie sound in Saskatoon. And it's not a tired or same-y sound: The Pistolwhips are a staple of Saskatoon sound and playing at Amigos during the Very Prairie music event this weekend should get a good, appreciative audience out for a great show.
A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS: WINGERTER & JANOVSKY
When: Sunday
Where: The Bassment
What: Perhaps better known as the “singing plumber” or maybe for his feature role in concerts and musicals with Saskatoon's
Fireside Singers, Trevor Wingerter has a powerful voice that is more notable for its versatility. Need a soft and sweet song? Wingerter has it in his wheelhouse. Looking for a bright, hard-edged tenor power ballad? He has that, too. And Martin Janovsky is easily one of the most talented — and funniest — piano players in the city. He's played plenty of concerts at The Bassment before, and it's always a treat to listen to one of his performances. Pairing these two musical powerhouses for a Christmas show is the best early gift the city could get right at the top of December.
SONGS FOR THE SOUL
When: Sunday
Where: The Refinery
What: This concert is the second of three shows in Saskatoon singer Amanda Hagel's Acoustic Concert Series, but it's the first one in Saskatoon and that's what we care about. While this isn't a Christmas concert, per se, it is billed as being “infused in the spirit of the Christmas season,” so I'm counting it. Hagel, an accomplished country musician, is teaming with Scott Patrick and Curtis Korchinski for the concert — and it promises to be a high-energy and uplifting show. Hagel's trademark style tends to be a brighter and more “inspirational” style of country — even her more melancholy ballads have an air of optimism to them.