live music

Colourful detailed mural spanning five storeys of a building, prominently featuring a green octopus, with clear blue skies above and smaller murals along a wall in the foreground to the left side.

Local cultural workers reflect on how arts could be impacted by the change of government

October 29, 2024 by Iona Coe

Although the arts in general were not a central feature of the conversation around last week’s election, Saint Johners appear to value the arts sector as a whole, judging by the growth of the arts in the city.

In this story, those working within the broader sector share some of their hopes about what the new provincial government, elected on October 21, might bring to the arts sector.

Local 107.3FM spoke with Shannon Dykens and Amanda Evans of Partridge Island Publishing and Abigail Smith of Haven Music Hall, about some of the challenges each have faced so far, including accessing grants and rising costs. They also touch on some of the policies that the new Liberal government might bring in during the upcoming legislative session to support the local industry.

A chalk board in Haven Music Hall, showing the opening times from Wednesday to Saturday, with the corner of the bar visible in the background

Saint John music venue gains Music NB Awards nomination in its first year of business

October 22, 2024 by Iona Coe

Before Saint John’s Haven Music Hall even reached its first anniversary on October 18th, the live music venue had already received a nomination for Venue of the Year from the Music New Brunswick Awards, to be held on October 24th.

Local 107.3 FM spoke with Abigail Smith who, along with Sidney Foy, opened the live venue last year. Smith talks about the difficulties they faced in setting up the space, but also the delights of running the wide variety of events for which they have become known. They also touch on the reasons why the venue would inevitably be a 2SLGBTQIA+ space and some of their aims for the coming year.

a crowd gathers around musicians at night

With noisy protest, Montreal’s support for La Tulipe heard loud and clear

October 1, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

Hundreds of Montrealers gathered on Thursday night for a noise demonstration in support of La Tulipe. The venue, located in a century-old theatre on Papineau Ave., has closed its doors, at least temporarily, following a Quebec Court of Appeal judgment a week ago Monday.

Thumbing their nose at the lawsuit, and the noise complaints at the heart of it, supporters came out with their instruments, their noisemakers, and their passion for the venue – where many people had memories to share.

They also expressed worry to CKUT that the city is not doing enough to support its live music venues after repeat closures in the past several years.

Montreal police were on the scene to block off the street and redirect drivers.

A four piece band plays with microphones in a living room.

Vancouver artist Sam Tudor adds first time Cortes show to new EP tour

July 1, 2024 by Louis Belcourt

Sam Tudor, a recording artist based in Vancouver, is currently touring across BC to showcase their newly released EP and recently have included a show on Cortes Island as part of the tour.

Tudor, a self-taught musician and recording artist, has been recording and releasing music since 2014.

This upcoming show at Manson’s Hall on Cortes Island marks Sam’s debut performance on the island, arranged spontaneously following a recommendation from a friend with ties to Cortes.

Titled “Hidden Minute,” Sam’s latest EP was released on June 15. The EP’s release show will take place in Vancouver on Friday, June 28, with the Cortes Island show following on Tuesday, July 2.

CKTZ has more on the story.

A band of seven plays in a dimly lit hall.

Roots Round Up returns to Cortes since before the pandemic to play weekend of shows

June 27, 2024 by Louis Belcourt

The Gorge Harbour Marina and the Gorge Hall have both booked Roots Round Up this weekend for two shows.

The prolific Vancouver based band haven’t played Cortes since before the COVID-19 pandemic and have never played back-to-back shows on the island.

Originally formed in 1985 in a small apartment in East Vancouver, Roots Roundup became more widely known through the late 80s and early 90s with their constant touring and high energy music. On their website, you can find videos of their first show on Cortes back in 2014.

On Friday, June 28, Roots Round Up will play at the Fireside patio at the Gorge Marina and on Saturday at the Gorge Hall.

They recently reunited to finish their new record titled Up Rooted, and released it earlier this June.

Listen for more on CKTZ.

Gordon Smith, wearing all black, stands behind a podium on stage. In the background prjected behind him is a large visual celebrating 10 years of live music at the Isabel.

Isabel Bader Centre enters 10th anniversary season

April 26, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

On Wednesday night, the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts hosted a launch event announcing the lineup for their tenth anniversary season.

Gordon E. Smith, director of the Isabel, took the stage in the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall to present what the 2024-25 season holds.

This anniversary season is curated around the theme of “inspiration and alliances”, and will include five series throughout the year; the Virtuosi Soloist Series, the Ensemble Series, the Spotlight Series, the Friday Night Series, and the Children’s series.

Smith also announced the renaming of the Karen Hitchock Rehearsal Hall, now to be known as the Karen Hitchcock Recital hall. The space will make its debut as the Recital Hall with the Friday Night Series starting in 2025, which will feature local folk, indie, and pop musicians.

A crowd of concert-goers fills the foreground facing a dark stage.

Variety show fundraiser taking stage on Cortes Island in March

February 28, 2024 by Loni Taylor

Originally scheduled for February, Mansons Hall is hosting a Variety Show on March 9. The event is kickstarting new performing arts programming at the hall.

Cora Moret is organizing the event but wouldn’t spill what the lineup has in store.

“I wouldn’t want to ruin any of the surprises but we will have some live music, we’ll have some original music, we’ll have some comedy, we’ll have some unexpected guest MCs,” Moret shared.

There are still a couple slots open for performers, who must attend a rehearsal on Saturday, March 2.

To hear more on this story, listen to the CKTZ News Update.

An ad for an upcoming concert called "A Musical Celebration" Tintamarre Community Concert Band, Thursday Dec 14 2023, 7:30pm.

Tintamarre Community Concert Band is back with a new name, new winter concert

December 13, 2023 by Erica Butler

The Tintamarre Community Concert Band, formerly the Sackville Citizens Band, have regrouped this year and are back with their annual winter concert at Brunton Auditorium this Thursday, December 14, at 7:30pm.

Bill Costin and Rob McLeod are the driving forces behind the band.

“Everything we do is a celebration,” says McLeod, the band’s music director. “We get together, we play something, we celebrate. The audience in the community comes together, we celebrate. And everybody walks around celebrating how unbelievably lucky we are to live here, and to to have the ability to to gather and play music in a safe environment, and just focus for however long it is you can focus on beauty and wonder.”

Costin and McLeod stopped by CHMA studios to talk about their upcoming concert and recent changes to the band, including their new name.