WINTERRUPTION SWOOPS IN TO SAVE US FROM THE COLD
We’ve gone from mind-numbing cold last week to just regular cold this week, so maybe this is a literal Winterruption as well as a catchy name for a break from the winter doldrums.
Yes, it’s time for Winterruption — the festival that’s steadily becoming a staple of Saskatoon’s winter season, and a short week chock full of great performances. It’s fun that it’s not all music, but that’s what this column is all about. So here are just a scant few concerts from this year’s Winterruption that stand out to me as some shows you don’t want to miss. You really don’t want to miss any of it, but things overlap. Do what you can, stay safe, and have fun this January.
THE GOOD LOVELIES
When: Thursday, Jan. 23
Where: Sheraton Cavalier VIP room
What: Do you recognize the name The Good Lovelies? The talented singer-songwriter trio of Kerri Ough, Sue Passmore and Caroline Brooks are not strangers to performing — they won the Juno for roots & traditional album of the year back in 2010. What makes these singers stand out is the way they can dabble in different musical styles and still find ways to create some of the richest, most hauntingly beautiful harmonies you’ve ever experienced. The Good Lovelies deserve a more prominent place in our music scene because what they produce is simply glorious.
JON BRYANT
When: Friday, Jan. 24
Where: Capitol Music Club
What: Jon Bryant’s vocals are a bright, cool and crisp drink on a hot day — they lend themselves to a sense of calm refreshment. Bryant’s smooth and fantasy-like music style creates a beautiful, dreamy pop music sound that deserves a place on the radio.
It’s refreshing to hear a singer who can and does sing across the full breadth of their range at every opportunity, and Bryant soars from his light baritone into the upper ranges of a sweeping falsetto. When you get people taking a step further in pop music to do something a little different, it’s a big win for the music industry.
WAKE
When: Saturday, Jan. 25
Where: Black Cat Tavern
What: We’ve talked pop and indie-folk and a lot of the lighter stuff; now let’s talk about an unstoppable onslaught of sound and fury that’s waiting in the wings of Winterruption. WAKE is a Calgary-based grindcore band that is aggression personified, a musical barrage of rage that will leave you with wide eyes and a pounding heart. These guys are no joke, and if this particular flavour of metal is your scene, these are some of the best and most powerful grindcore musicians you’re going to hear in a long time in Saskatoon.