Jenn Grant 10 To do Needtobreathe
Halifax-based singer-songwriter Jenn Grant reaches a milestone with her latest effort Love, Inevitable. The 10th release in a career that has seen Grant pick up multiple Juno nominations, East Coast Music Awards and a Polaris longlisting (for 2011’s Honeymoon Punch) sees the folk-pop singer working with Portland producer Tucker Martine, further refining a shimmering sound that has picked up nationwide acclaim. Opening are Keltie and Avery Simpson.
When: Friday at 7 p.m.
Where: Station on Jasper, 10524 Jasper Ave.
Admission: $20 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Showpass
Info: showpass.com
Combichrist
Atlanta’s Combichrist is looking at some intense travelling this year. That’s because the aggrotech/industrial metal band is mere days away from releasing its latest record One Fire with dates in both North America and Europe in the four-piece’s future. This will be the first tour in more than a decade without drummer Joe Letz, who has packed it in after 13 years with the group to spend more time at home with his family. With Silver Snakes and Virtual Terrorist.
When: Friday at 7 p.m.
Where: Starlite Room, 10030 102 St.
Admission: $22.50 and up, available at the door or in advance from Ticketfly
Info: ticketfly.com
Shean Strings
Six young violinists from across Canada are in line for an $8,000 prize in this year’s edition of the Shean Strings Competition. Alison Kim, Angela Ryu, Sonya Shin, Teresa Wang, Rebecca Weger and Tiffany Yeung will be the contestants in the weekend competition with the winner also receiving the opportunity to play with the ESO in the future. The awards take place on Saturday at around 9 p.m. at the Chateau Lacombe.
When: Friday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Muttart Hall, Alberta College campus, MacEwan University, 10050 MacDonald Dr.
Admission: $10 per day
Info: sheancompetition.com Christian rockers Needtobreathe are forsaking electricity for their current tour in support of their latest album Acoustic Live Vol. 1. The Grammy nominated, South Carolina-based five-piece, best known for such songs as Signature of Divine, Brother, and Multiplied, has found such success with the lightly rocking acoustic format that they’ve extended it for a third leg. Opening is Nashville singer-songwriter Trent Dabbs.
When: Saturday at 7 p.m.
Where: Jubilee Auditorium
Admission: $49 and up, available in advance from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca
Chris D’Elia
Get your tickets quickly. Apparently Edmonton really, really likes standup comedian, actor and rapper Chris D’Elia; so much so that the Winspear Centre has added a later show to his scheduled appearance Saturday night. The New Jersey native made a splash early on with roles in Undateable and The Good Doctor and has since added various podcasts, comedy specials and a few film roles to his varied career resume.
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Where: Winspear Centre Admission: $52.50 and up, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the Winspear website
Info: winspearcentre.com
Celebration of Spring
If ever there was a year in which we made a point of celebrating spring, it would be this one. Ukrainian Village is one step ahead of us in this regard, promising a morning and afternoon’s worth of entertainment for the whole family. Look for historical village activities, facepainting, arts and crafts, village market, musical entertainment, more than 300 Ukrainian dancers, and more. Check the website for more info.
When: Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Ukrainian Village, 50 kilometres east of Edmonton on Highway 16
Admission: $15, adults; $13, seniors; $10, youth. Children six and under are admitted for free
Info: ukrainianvillage.ca
Ryan McMahon
When he’s not busy with his folkrock supergroup Lion Bear Fox, singer-songwriter Ryan McMahon has a busy career of his own. He’s played shows with Mother Mother, Nickelback, Lisa Loeb, Carole Pope and Valdy and had his songs poached by Hollywood with I’ll Be Damned showing up on an episode of Showtime’s Californication. This year the Ladysmith, B.C., native is focusing on his own music, dropping his eighth and latest In Line For a Smile at The Almanac.
When: Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Where: The Almanac,
10351 Whyte Ave.
Admission: $10, available at the door or in advance from Yeglive
Info: yeglive.ca
Guy Gavriel Kay
When J.R.R. Tolkien’s son chooses you to help edit his father’s final work The Silmarillion, you know you’ve found your path in life. Saskatchewan-born author Guy Gavriel Kay has gone down the fantasy novel path with such works as The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, The Lions of Al-Rassan and The Sarantine Mosaic, though he does wince a little at being categorized as a writer of historical fantasies. The award-winning author will be in town with his latest work A Brightness Long Ago.
When: Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Where: Metro Cinema,
8712 109 St.
Admission: $10 to $38, available at the door or in advance from the Metro website. The premium ticket price includes a signed copy of A Brightness Long Ago. Info: metrocinema.org Jewish culture, identity, history and religion are all celebrated at the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, showing at the Landmark City Centre cinema until the end of May. The 10-day festival spotlights comedies, mysteries, dramas and documentaries from around the world, along with guest speakers and special events. For more info on films and events, check out the website.
When: Tuesday to May 30
Where: Landmark Theatre, City Centre Mall
Admission: Festival passes are $100 and up, available from the Jewish Edmonton site; individual film tickets are also available.
Info: jewishedmonton.org
Alessia Cara
If there was any thought that singer-songwriter Alessia Cara was going to be a one-hit wonder, it’s passed now. The Ontario-born Cara went from an outof-nowhere hit with Here back in 2015 to picking up a Grammy Award for best new artist in 2018, along with a couple of other radio hits in Scars to Your Beautiful and Growing Pains. Cara is currently on the road with her sophomore release The Pains of Growing.
When: Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Jubilee Auditorium
Admission: $59 and up, available in advance from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca