Arts
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Lost Heroes
Lost Heroes is a documentary about Canadians missing the point, about the dilemma that is central to the failure of so much Canadian content: trying to define what it means to be Canadian.
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Enemy
If you want to nitpick Enemy, the film offers plenty of ammunition, as it takes itself very seriously.
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Livingston
Opening with a wordy, mid-tempo tune about Alberta, this concept record made by Livingston (which is kind of a collaboration between many people, mostly folklorist/song collector Dr. Henry Adam Svec and Czech programmer Mirek Plihal, but is also a machine that can access all of Canadian folk music to make the perfect CanFolk recording) is pretty okay.
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Kim Harris
This debut release from Newfoundland born Halifax resident Kim Harris is lush, pretty, hip and strikingly diverse.
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Happy sad
In its bio, Winnipeg band Naysa describes its sound as “a gloomy, poppy, patchwork of melancholy and catchy melodies.” The band, which is set to release its latest EP Troubled Heart at the Park Theatre on March 27, considers its downtrodden sincerity to be a large part of its charm.
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Canadian blend country
“It’s just as easy as swallowing a pill.”
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O(h) No, it’s the JUNOS!
Canada’s biggest night. Or week. Or something.
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Ukrainian dance supergroup
Over 100 of the best Ukrainian dancers from across the Prairies will be joining forces for Razom 2: A Fusion of Ukrainian Dance, which follows up the first successful Razom tour that took place in 2008 and 2009.
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Scott Malcolmson
Not to be confused with South Park’s walking punchline Scott Malkinson, this former Winnipeg resident made this five song folk EP here last year with a handful of musical friends.
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Glass Random
Dave Shaw’s solo shoegaze/synth machine keeps kicking out the hits, and this four track offering is no exception.
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The Famous Sandhogs
Wordier than early Bright Eyes, more lo-fi than Sentridoh and catchier than any Katy Perry hit, the Famous Sandhogs is by far the most prolific underground project since Anton Newcombe’s epic string of mid-90s releases.
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It just takes some time
Shortly after guitarist Jordan Ngantian and drummer Jarrod Mikolajczyk’s last show with Winnipeg pop-punk band Kids & Heroes at the Park Theatre on Jan. 4, the duo started recording an EP for a brand new band called Bleed American, alongside vocalist/guitarist Jordan Voth and bassist/vocalist Matthew Voth.
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You can go home again
Kalle Mattson decided to get personal on Someday, The Moon Will Be Gold. Released on Feb. 11 via Winnipeg/Edmonton label Parliament of Trees, the album sees the Ottawa-based singer-songwriter opening up about the death of his mother.
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300: Rise of an Empire
Director Zack Snyder’s 2006 feature 300 has always been a problematic film for me. I appreciate the movie’s bold stylistic choices, with a unique visual approach employing fantastical shot compositions and artful tableaus.
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Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer
Pussy Riot hasn’t calmed down since its most prominent members were released from prison in December. Less than a month ago they protested the Olympic Games in Sochi, where they were viciously beaten by Cossacks and arrested for voicing their opinions. Just days ago, several members were assaulted with chemical weapons in Nizhny Novgorod. Now more than ever, I’d love to see a really great Pussy Riot documentary. Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer is certainly interesting and informative - but the great Pussy Riot doc, it is not.
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Our fair city
In the weeks following The Uniter’s critique of WindCity, the recently released web series that credits Winnipeg as a main character, many local filmmakers weighed in with their opinions. Though it is generally agreed upon that WindCity portrays an unfamiliar experience for most people in the arts scene, it has served to encourage those who have their own voice to add to the mix.
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Breaking barriers
You might remember Graham Hnatiuk from such sidewalk chalk art demonstrations at Old Market Square, Manitoba Hydro Place and Assiniboine Park, during the latter of which he narrowly escaped arrest.
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Inked
Experience getting your first tattoo with your new friend Ryan.
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All killer, no filler
Local songwriter-turned-band Beefdonut is going grunge with the new Famous for Quality record, the follow-up to 2007’s Triple Back Flip into the Splits.
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String theory Violin and cello quartet
In February, instrumental folk music quartet The Fretless released its sophomore self-titled album, the follow-up to its 2012 Western Canadian Music Award/Canadian Folk Music Award-winning debut Waterbound.