“Exploring the Musical Variety of Four Acts at the Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater”
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Calgary hip hop artist Sinzere. Photo by Esther Cho Photography
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Shortlisted for this year’s Polaris awards, Ontario indigenous shoegaze rock duo Ombiigizi perform as part of M for Montreal. Photo by M for Montreal
February 9th
WHO: OMBIIGIZI
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When where: 8:00 p.m./Ironwood Stage and Grill
A collaboration between Anishinaabeg artists Adam Sturgeon (Status/Non-Status) and Daniel Monkman (Zoon), this Ontario-based duo released their outstanding full-length album, Sewn Back Together, in 2022. It’s a mix of loud pop and post-punk sounds, with lyrics that explore the reality of modern indigenous life and the trauma between generations. Songs like the relentless Residential Military, the melodic instrumental Niyo Biboonagizi and the soaring guitar-pop gem Spirit in Me sound like they were tailor-made for the stage.
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Cold Specks play Block Heater 2023. Photo by Ted Belton
February 10th
WHO: cold spots
When where: 8pm/Central United Church
Cold Specks, born Ladan Hussein, has been a fascinating if enigmatic figure in the pop world since she burst onto the scene in 2012 with her amazing debut I Predict A Graceful Expulsion. She followed her debut with two equally mesmerizing and poignant albums (a fourth to follow later this year), playing what she described as “doom soul” that blended icy synths and warm, soulful vocals. The Calgary show, part of her return to performing after a five-year absence, is historic as it will reportedly be her last concert under the Cold Specks moniker. In recent years, Hussein has shed the layers of mystery that have enveloped her personality and been open about her mental health issues, but her music remains beautiful and wonderfully mysterious.
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Calgary hip hop artist Sinzere. Photo by Esther Cho Photography
February 11th
WHO: Sinzere and the tribe
When where: 8:10 p.m./Olympic Plaza flysheet
This Calgary hip-hop artist released one of the best albums of 2022, Tabula Rasa, an explosive and captivating concept album that mixed anger with insight and historical references. As with many concept albums, the music is playful, theatrical and dramatic and is sure to turn into an electrifying stage show.
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American folk duo Milk Carton Kids will play Block Heater. Photo by Jeff Roffman /jpg
February 12th
WHO: The Milk Carton Children
When where: 2:55 p.m./Jack Singer Concert Hall
Let’s not forget, Block Heater is actually a part of the Calgary Folk Music Festival and therefore obliged to present some folk music. The Milk Carton Kids aren’t the only folk act, of course (see Damien Jurado, Mick Flannery, Elliott Brood, among others), but Californian acoustic guitar duo The Milk Carton Kids – consisting of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan – seemed always ready to carry the torch for the genre after Simon & Garfunkel. Pattengale and Ryan are probably fed up with that comparison as it seems to pop up in every article about the band, but their mastery of melody and lush harmonies seem to make them natural descendants. Anyone who has seen the duo at the Folk Music Festival 2015 knows that they also add a good portion of humor to their shows.
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