Latest news with #BlueRodeo
Ottawa Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Skies clear just in time for magic Blue Rodeo show at jazz fest
Article content The skies cleared just in time for Blue Rodeo. Article content Of course, they did. It's the magic of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, but it's also the magical ties that bind this Toronto band to their fans ici. The forecast all week insisted there was a 90- to 100-per-cent chance of rain at 9:30 on Friday night, but the folks at MétéoMédia clearly haven't been listening to the Five Days in July album often enough. There was no way the big free outdoor Blue Rodeo show at the jazz fest was going to be rained out. Article content Article content And the fans knew it. The crowd stretched all the way back to Ste-Catherine St. and anyone who stayed home because of the forecast will be kicking themselves when their friends tell them how inspirational this soirée was. Article content Article content By the time Jim Cuddy got to belt out Try, the very first Blue Rodeo hit, as the encore and sitting at the keyboard, there was no getting away from the fact this was one of the great Blue Rodeo shows here. Article content I mean not that there have been any Blue Rodeo shows much less than life-affirming. I was there Friday night with my daughter Devan reminiscing about the epic Blue Rodeo shows we'd seen at Théâtre St. Denis and Place des Arts. Friday, they ended with Lost Together and if you weren't choking up just a little bit, then you just don't love this thing called rock'n'roll. Article content You could see Cuddy and fellow lead singer Greg Keelor were just loving this as much as the audience. Article content Article content 'Merci beaucoup,' Cuddy said, near the end. 'Nous adorons Montréal.' Article content Later, Cuddy said: 'We'd like to thank the rain for taking a little break for us and mainly we'd like to thank you for coming out in spite of the weather.' Article content Highlights included an incredibly intense take on Diamond Mine with Keelor rocking his vocal hard, a brilliant Trust Yourself with thousands singing along, and the anthems Til I Am Myself Again and Hasn't Hit Me Yet, which were just as great as you might imagine. Article content I bumped into promoter Rubin Fogel, who was talking about how the first show they did in Montreal was at Club Soda in January 1988, back when they were hardly known here. A year later, that was no longer the case.
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Skies clear just in time for magic Blue Rodeo show at jazz fest
Music By The skies cleared just in time for Blue Rodeo. Of course, they did. It's the magic of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, but it's also the magical ties that bind this Toronto band to their fans ici. The forecast all week insisted there was a 90- to 100-per-cent chance of rain at 9:30 on Friday night, but the folks at MétéoMédia clearly haven't been listening to the Five Days in July album often enough. There was no way the big free outdoor Blue Rodeo show at the jazz fest was going to be rained out. And the fans knew it. The crowd stretched all the way back to Ste-Catherine St. and anyone who stayed home because of the forecast will be kicking themselves when their friends tell them how inspirational this soirée was. By the time Jim Cuddy got to belt out Try, the very first Blue Rodeo hit, as the encore and sitting at the keyboard, there was no getting away from the fact this was one of the great Blue Rodeo shows here. I mean not that there have been any Blue Rodeo shows much less than life-affirming. I was there Friday night with my daughter Devan reminiscing about the epic Blue Rodeo shows we'd seen at Théâtre St. Denis and Place des Arts. Friday, they ended with Lost Together and if you weren't choking up just a little bit, then you just don't love this thing called rock'n'roll. You could see Cuddy and fellow lead singer Greg Keelor were just loving this as much as the audience. 'Merci beaucoup,' Cuddy said, near the end. 'Nous adorons Montréal.' Later, Cuddy said: 'We'd like to thank the rain for taking a little break for us and mainly we'd like to thank you for coming out in spite of the weather.' Highlights included an incredibly intense take on Diamond Mine with Keelor rocking his vocal hard, a brilliant Trust Yourself with thousands singing along, and the anthems Til I Am Myself Again and Hasn't Hit Me Yet, which were just as great as you might imagine. I bumped into promoter Rubin Fogel, who was talking about how the first show they did in Montreal was at Club Soda in January 1988, back when they were hardly known here. A year later, that was no longer the case. Close to 40 years on, many of those same fans are still at the rendezvous. One of those was Anita Stephenson. She and her two sisters came from Guelph just to see Blue Rodeo. She's a huge fan and spent the entire drive here playing Blue Rodeo tracks and singing along to them, which kind of drove her two sisters, Janet and Susan, a little crazy. Anita's seen them 15 times. 'They're Canadian and they're part of our culture,' Stephenson said. 'They brought this Canadiana. They weren't forced to go touring in the U.S. I think the songs are great, the people are great, it's a mix of country and rock, but it's not true country. Some songs are more romantic, some are straight-up anthems. I just like it all.' Her sister Janet said they're not nearly as fanatical as Antia, 'but we support our baby sister.' And they're also making a 'girls' weekend' of it, hanging out at the jazz festival for two days. 'Look at the smile on our face,' Janet said. 'I feel like a little kid,' Anita said. Patrick Beaudet has been a Blue Rodeo fan since 1989, the year he first saw them at the Spectrum. 'I fell in love the first night I saw them,' Beaudet said. Friday night was his 12 th Blue Rodeo show and a forecast predicting heavy rainfall wasn't going to keep him away. 'I'm a fan fini, good weather, bad weather, I was going to be at this show,' Beaudet said. 'I can easily cry listening to Blue Rodeo. It hits me viscerally, inside me, profoundly. It's the lyrics, the harmonies. I like Oasis, Pulp, British rock, but I love the Canadian roots of Blue Rodeo.' Stéphane Fortin is also a hardcore fan and has been for over 30 years. 'I love the melodies,' Fortin said. 'And music is all about emotion.'
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Montreal Jazz Fest: Free shows to take in as party kicks off
Esperanza Spalding performs during the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP) With the Montreal International Jazz Fest in full swing, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the wealth of musical options to choose from. The good news is you don't need to be wealthy to take it all in – there are dozens of free shows on tap for Montrealers and visitors to the city to enjoy. Here's are some of the highlights ( you can get the full program here): Friday, June 27 Swing Riot at Esplanade Tranquille (7 p.m.) Founded in 2012, Montreal Swing Riot brings together the swing and street dance communities to celebrate jazz through improvisation and personal expression. Blue Rodeo Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo perform together at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Massey Hall in Toronto, on Saturday, September 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paige Taylor White (Paige Taylor White/The Canadian Press) Blue Rodeo at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame artists Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor lead the celebrated rock band Blue Rodeo as they take over the TD Stage. Saturday, June 28 Theon Cross at Pub Molson – Place Tranquille (8 p.m. and 10 p.m.) British tuba player and composer Theon Cross, known for his work with jazz band Sons of Kremet, performs at Pub Molson in Espace Tranquille. Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge at TD Stage (7:30 p.m.) Nineteen-year-old rock guitarist and songwriter Grace Bowers, whose talent is creating an industry buzz, will take over the main stage on Saturday evening. Elisapie, an Inuk singer-songwriter from Salluit, Nunavik, poses for a portrait in Toronto, Thursday, June 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Elisapie, an Inuk singer-songwriter from Salluit, Nunavik, poses for a portrait in Toronto, Thursday, June 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Elisapie at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Quebec's own Elisapie, whose 2023 album features Inuk covers of popular pop and rock songs, headlines the TD Stage. Sunday, June 29 PJ Morton at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native PJ Morton, who has worked with Maroon 5 and focuses on R&B and gospel in his solo work. Monday, June 30 Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews This March 14, 2012 file photo shows Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews performing at the half time of the New Orleans Hornets and Los Angles Lakers NBA basketball game in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) If you haven't caught him at past jazz fest performances, now's your chance. The trombone player fuses musical styles like rock, pop, jazz, funk and hip hop, and will hit the main stage Monday night. Tuesday, July 1 Ayra Starr at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) This Nigerian singer/songwriter promises to get the crowd moving with her Afrobeats style, incorporating other genres like R&B and Afro-pop. Wednesday, July 2 Men I Trust at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Quebec City's indie band Men I Trust will take the stage at the Montreal Jazz Fest before hitting up their hometown for the Festival d'été de Québec on July 4. Thursday, July 3 Beth McKenna at Pub Molson – Place Tranquille (6 p.m.) Montreal saxophone player Beth McKenna brings modern jazz to mainstream audiences with a mix of jazz traditions, improv – and lots of energy. Allison Russell Allison Russell accepts the award for best american roots performance for "Eve Was Black" during the 66th annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Allison Russell at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Born and raised in Montreal, Grammy-nominated Allison Russell has been making a splash with her smooth blend of Americana, folk, blues and soul, with elements of jazz and pop. Friday, July 4 Uplift514 Block Party at Esplanade Tranquille (5 p.m.) Come on out and party with Uplift514 Block Party, who will dance it out with an energizing blend of styles like dancehall, hip-hop and freestyle. Monsieur Periné at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Colombia-based outfit Monsieur Periné brings in jazz, swing and Latin styles to their Afro-Colombian mix. Expect a global feel at this multilingual show. Saturday, July 5 Fulu Miziki Kolektiv at Rio Tinto Stage (8 p.m.) Promising to be a show like no other, eco-friendly Afro-futuristic punk band Fulu Miziki Kolektiv call their musical style Twerkanda, and their music and instruments are made entirely from recycled and assembled materials. Esperanza Spalding Esperanza Spalding arrives at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Esperanza Spalding at TD Stage (9:30 p.m.) Bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding will grace the TD Stage Saturday night. One of the bestselling contemporary jazz artists in the world, the five-time Grammy Award winner promises to mesmerize crowds.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
All-Canadian mixtape: Manitoba radio personalities share their top picks for a patriotic soundtrack
Elbows up and headphones on. Canada Day falls on Tuesday and veteran radio personality Howard Mandshein doesn't mince words when he is asked how, in his expert opinion, music acts from the Great White North stack up against their international counterparts. 'I'm from a radio era when it was decided you had to — check that, you were forced to — play Canadian music,' says Mandshein, the longtime host of the Sunday Morning Resurrection, heard weekly on 92.1 CITI-FM. 'Excuse my language but f—- that. Canadian music has always been able to stand on its own two feet. It's as good as anything else heard around the world, if not better.' As for homegrown songs he enjoys most, sure he can come up with a few off the top of his head, but question him again tomorrow, he says, and those recommendations will probably be completely different. 'Any list of mine has to include Tom Cochrane, he's a god to me,' Mandshein states. 'If Brian Wilson wrote the California dream, Tom wrote the Canadian dream with songs like Good Times and Big League.' Mandshein also cites a little-heard soul band from Toronto called Mandala. 'They had a song Love-Itis. It was a cover, but it absolutely captured my heart when I was a kid.' Thirdly, Mandshein adores 'everything' about River, from Joni Mitchell's classic album Blue. 'The hypnotic music, the pictures she painted, her voice… I get a tear in my eye just thinking about it.' Now if you're debating what tunes to include on your personal July 1 playlist, you've come to the right place. Here's what other local radio types had to say in regard to their favourite Canadian tracks, each of which, we should point out, is 100 per cent tariff-free. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Vicki Shae in studio at Country 99. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS The Girl — City and Colour (2008): This song is like a warm sweater, then it shifts into an Irish folk mode that's so joyful. These Eyes — Guess Who (1969): I could easily make all five of my selections Guess Who/Burton Cummings songs. They're all so catchy and melodically interesting. This piano riff is everything. Lost Together — Blue Rodeo (1992): It was hard not to pick a Blue Rodeo song with Jim Cuddy singing because I absolutely love his voice. But this song (with Greg Keelor on lead vocals) is so anthemic. AMBER BRACKEN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Blue Rodeo AMBER BRACKEN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Blue Rodeo Rosy and Grey — Lowest of the Low (1991): I don't even know how this song came onto my radar but ever since I first heard it, I've been charmed by it. It's earnest and cheeky. It's All Coming Back to Me Now — Céline Dion (1996): Céline Dion was my idol when I was a kid, so I had to include her. This song is so epic and booming and dramatic. Don't watch the video for it though. It's brutal. Supplied Phil Aubrey, left, and Joe Aiello of 92.1 CITI Supplied Phil Aubrey, left, and Joe Aiello of 92.1 CITI Under My Thumb — Streetheart (1979): After all these years, I still remember that night at the old Winnipeg Arena. It was my first concert and I will never forget seeing Kenny Shields holding his thumb up in the air and giving us an incredible version of the (Rolling) Stones' cover. Big League — Tom Cochrane and Red Rider (1988): The memory of Tom Cochrane and (guitarist) Ken Greer giving us an amazing acoustic version of this song in the 92.1 studios many years ago blew me away. Superstitious Feeling — Harlequin (1982): One of the first bands I had the pleasure of seeing live, I believe in 1982. To this day I love hearing (lead vocalist) George Belanger ripping through the lyrics with that raw and gritty voice. Just great. Wheat Kings — Tragically Hip (1992): I remember introducing them at Another Roadside Attraction, early on in my career. Hearing this great ballad just feels like Manitoba. JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS FILES The Tragically Hip JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS FILES The Tragically Hip All Uncovered — Watchmen (1994): I have loved this song since the day it was released, and I still love seeing them perform it live. Canadian Railroad Trilogy — Gordon Lightfoot (1967): It's like an epic poem in musical form. I also reckon it's a song before its time, as it doesn't just celebrate the evolution of our nation, but acknowledges this land was here 'long before the white man' settled what we now know as Canada. They called him a troubadour for a reason. Constant Craving — k.d. lang (1992): A beautifully produced song that, to my ears, still sounds as fresh today as when it was released. She has a voice like warm honey. I don't know if there's a better song about yearning. Try Again — Andy Shauf (2019): He's a great songwriter, with such a unique voice. This song is such a heady mix of bittersweet nostalgia, self-deprecating humour and melancholic self-awareness, both lyrically and musically. The clarinet makes it. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES William Prince MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES William Prince Breathless — William Prince (2015): A man with a voice so warm and fuzzy it wraps you up like a cosy blanket. An incredible ambassador for Manitoba in Nashville and around the world. He was amazing live at the Winnipeg Folk Fest a few years back. Lovers in a Dangerous Time — Barenaked Ladies (1991): A Canadian band covering a Canadian songwriting legend, Bruce Cockburn; and one of the rare occasions where I genuinely believe the cover is better than the original. The line 'Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight' is so incredibly visceral — and a phrase that rings true now more than ever. Lunatic Fringe — Red Rider (1981): How fitting my favourite Canadian song comes from Lynn Lake's Tom Cochrane. My heart loves the guitar solo and the best way to listen to it is as loudly as possible. This song remains as relevant today as when it first was released. Nothin' at All — Maestro Fresh-Wes feat. George Banton (1991): A thank you to my partner Colin for educating me on all that is Maestro Fresh-Wes. Maestro is Canada through and through, from sampling Canadian artists in his songs to educating the country on injustice faced by Indigenous and Black Canadian communities on songs like Nothin' At All. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES k.d. lang JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES k.d. lang Luck in My Eyes — k.d. lang (1989): Yes, Constant Craving and the entire Ingenue album are great, but Luck in My Eyes from Absolute Torch and Twang, is a nod to lang's country roots. I love her delivery, and it's so fun to sing. Confetti — Charlotte Cardin (2023): This song is very new. Charlotte's voice is sultry and at times it sounds as if she's singing her way through sticky maple syrup. She also switches seamlessly from English to French in her pop catalogue. It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken — Tragically Hip (2002): I love many Hip songs but for this particular list I've chosen this one. It's beautiful, it's haunting. The call and answer 'find somewhere to go, go somewhere we're needed' hits hardest while listening to it in the early-morning hours. SUPPLIED Tom Cochrane SUPPLIED Tom Cochrane Life is a Highway — Tom Cochrane (1991): Mad Mad World was the first CD I ever purchased from Columbia House, and boy did I rock out to this song. Now my four-year-old son does the same thing with the Rascal Flatts version, thanks to the animated movie Cars. Wheat Kings — Tragically Hip (1992): Growing up in rural Manitoba, there was something special about Canada's biggest band at the time releasing a song about a massive story on the Prairies. That and I loved the Brandon Wheat Kings. Any Man of Mine — Shania Twain (1995): It's extremely difficult for a Canadian to break into the country-music world south of the border. Shania broke across every border in the world with this banger. If it's getting quiet on the dance floor at a social, all the DJ has to do is put this song on. FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The Guess Who FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The Guess Who No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature — Guess Who (1970): My high school science teacher was a massive fan of the Guess Who. At least once a week we'd walk into his class with this song on in the background. Lifted — Dallas Smith (2014): When Dallas Smith left Default and came over to the country world, this song off his first country album 'lifted' his name to the top of the Canadian country charts. He's been a massive presence on the Canadian country scene ever since, and has helped us host many charitable events in Winnipeg, so he'll always get a ton of love from me. Working Man — Rush (1974): Forget Canadian, this is one of the greatest rock songs ever created in any country. Cordelia — Tragically Hip (1991): The best song off the Hip's best album, Road Apples. Fight the Good Fight — Triumph (1981): Three of my top five could have been Triumph. Or the Hip. TREVOR HAGAN / FREE PRESS FILES The Headstones TREVOR HAGAN / FREE PRESS FILES The Headstones Three Angels — Headstones (1993): Seeing Hugh Dillon (lead vocalist) live is something everyone should experience. Rock You — Helix (1984): Don't judge me. Helix is an important part of growing up in Transcona. Grace, Too — The Tragically Hip (1994): The Tragically Hip must be represented and if I have to pick just one, it'd be Grace, Too. Gord's performance here takes you for such a ride. Such a dreamy little hook off the top as well, with the whole thing turned up to 11 by the time they wrap it up. Having an Average Weekend (Kids in the Hall theme) — Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (1985): Every time I heard that bass line, I knew something bananas was about to happen. Constant Craving — k.d. lang (1992): Painful and pure and timeless. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Gordon Lightfoot THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Gordon Lightfoot The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald — Gordon Lightfoot (1976): That moment in the third verse, right around the time the 'wave broke over the railing' and the steel guitar kicks in… Even if you aren't familiar with the story, you know at that moment no one is coming home. Gets me every time. The Rest of My Life — Sloan (2003): I played these folks on the radio a ton in the late '90s, and I loved every song. I named my daughter partly in honour of their awesomeness. This one has the edge for our purposes today, very simply for the reason it mentions the word Canada. Hasn't Hit Me Yet — Blue Rodeo (1993): Instead of changing the words to O Canada, they should've junked it entirely and substituted this song. Anyone who's ever been part of a crowd and sung along with it at the top of their lungs knows why. Who cares if it's just a song about getting dumped? I Pity the Country — Willie Dunn (1971): The only song on my list that's specifically about Canada and it's not too positive. But an ability to recognize one's own shortcomings and do something about it is a special kind of greatness itself. (Definitive cover: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson) I'm an Adult Now — the Pursuit of Happiness (1986): When I look back on my wasted life while recuperating from knee-replacement surgery, I'll still be playing air guitar to this one. Mercury — Kathleen Edwards (2002): There's only six lines in this song that captures a moment so pure and real. SIX lines. Have Not Been the Same — Slow (1985): The title of this song was used for the title of an encyclopedic history of Canadian rock music from 1985 to 1995 with good reason. It rocks. My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone) — Chilliwack (1981): I played this song so much my parents would stand at the top of the stairs and yell 'gone, gone, gone!' That was my cue to turn it down. Turn Me Loose — Loverboy (1980): I loved their debut album and played it to death. Mike Reno's voice is/was amazing. Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love — April Wine (1975): The melodies were coupled perfectly with the vocals. Great song all the way around. Innocence — Harlequin (1980): I actually went to the record store in Brandon to meet and get autographs from the band after falling in love with this song and album (Love Crimes). Who would have known that years later (lead vocalist) George Belanger would become a great friend? One More Time — Streetheart (1982): The vocal prowess of Kenny Shields and anthemic sounds from the band equals a fantastic party tune. Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes — Propagandhi (2001): The title track from my favourite Winnipeg band's third album is a brilliant reminder that our voice is the most powerful gift we have. Unrelenting riffs and intelligent lyrics that suggest we are doomed to keep repeating the same history if we don't pick up the mantle and start driving the change that we want to see. Which Way You Goin' Billy? — Poppy Family (1969): Everyone loves Ian and Sylvia (Tyson), but I'll take the melancholy pop from this group led by Terry and Susan Jacks every day of the week. This track is so sad and beautiful, I think everyone can relate to trying to move on from a love that's no longer shared. My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style — Dream Warriors (1991): Summer of 1991, the video for this was all over MuchMusic, which I was consuming with a daily vigour. With its classic Quincy Jones sample (Soul Bossa Nova) and the sly nod to the classic Canadian game show (Definition) whose theme shared that same hook, this track helped broaden my burgeoning love of hip hop and showed me there were some really talented rap cats north of the border. Coax Me — Sloan (1994): I remember the uproar when Chart magazine declared Twice Removed the greatest Canadian album of all time. The more time passes, the more I believe they weren't wrong. 'It's not the band I hate, it's their fans' is one of my favourite lyrics of all time, and it anchors this indisputable indie-rock anthem. HANDOUT / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Weakerthans HANDOUT / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Weakerthans Left & Leaving — Weakerthans (2000): I've lived in this city for the better part of my life, something I wear like a badge of honour, as many Winnipeggers do. The lyrics of this song paint the city in a stark, honest light and its poignancy hits on multiple levels. Some of us are here because we couldn't escape, some because we couldn't resist the pull to return, and then there are those who chose to stay, never wanting to leave in the first place. Theme from 'A Summer Place' — Percy Faith (1959): I was eight when this song topped the charts for weeks. To this day it always means summer to me… and I never even saw the movie. Mom and Dad controlled the radio back then. Born To Be Wild — Steppenwolf (1968): Long before Bryan Adams gave us a great driving song (we think he means Summer of '69), this was my go-to. Plus it's the song that gave us the term 'heavy metal.' These Eyes — the Guess Who (1969): Having grown up in East Kildonan near Chad Allan, I've always been a fan of theirs. It was so exciting when this song started making waves across North America in 1969. We were so proud they were from Winnipeg. Amy Harris / Invision / The Associated Press files Neil Young Amy Harris / Invision / The Associated Press files Neil Young Heart of Gold — Neil Young (1972): I could have picked so many of Neil's songs but this was one of the first records I ever played at my first job in radio, at CHTM in Thompson. I Just Wanna Stop — Gino Vanelli (1978): I was working in Montreal at the time. I was in love with both the city and a special lady. The lyrics say it all. All That I Know — Winnipeg's Most (2010): An absolute masterpiece. Danny's Song — Anne Murray (1972): I love Anne Murray so much. My dad graduated from the University of New Brunswick with her, which is my biggest claim to fame. Friction — The Lytics (2018): This song could have been made in any era and still been a banger. I'm With You — Avril Lavigne (2002): No apologies. Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press files Roll On Down the Highway — Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974): I didn't grow up with BTO, so it's still kinda new to me. One of the greatest driving songs in history. David Sanderson Dave Sanderson was born in Regina but please, don't hold that against him. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ottawa Citizen
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor have a soft spot for Montreal
Blue Rodeo is one of the most famous bands to come out of Toronto, but the country-flavoured rock outfit's two frontmen, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, both have strong connections to Montreal. Article content They spoke about those ties to our city in a recent Zoom conversation from their respective homes in the Toronto area. Blue Rodeo will headline a free outdoor show on the main TD Stage at the Place des Festivals, part of the Montreal Jazz Festival, Friday at 9:30 p.m. and the much-loved band — whose hits include Try, Diamond Mine, Lost Together, Hasn't Hit Me Yet and many others — will also be returning to play at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place des Arts on Jan. 17 next year, on their 40 th anniversary tour. Article content Article content Keelor, who was born in Inverness, N.S., moved from Toronto to Montreal in 1963 when his dad was transferred here. The family moved to the Town of Mount Royal and 'it was like a paradise for a 10-year-old,' Keelor said. 'TMR was very youth-oriented, very sports-oriented. There were lots of activities for kids and I was a little goalie and they had a great intercity hockey team, the TMR Eagles. It was completely enchanting before I even knew what enchantment even meant.' Article content Article content Article content His parents moved back to Toronto in 1971 and Keelor stayed a year longer in Montreal to play hockey, moving back in with his parents in 1972. Article content 'I went to North Toronto, which is where I met my buddy Jim,' Keelor said. Article content Cuddy was born in Toronto but his dad almost immediately moved the family to the U.S., where they lived in different cities, following his dad's career path as a business consultant. They moved to Montreal West in '63, the same year Keelor arrived in TMR, and his mom vowed to never move again. Article content 'She'd probably moved 12 times at that point so she said she'd never move again,' Cuddy said. 'We loved Montreal West. I liked it, but it was very strict. The school we went to was Protestant but it was very parochial. They had a lot of rules. Then the summer of '67 came and I was a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan. I'd been born in Toronto but never lived there so I had this mystique about Toronto. And that was the last year that Toronto won the Stanley Cup, beating Montreal. Then Expo started. We all had passes. It was the new métro. I was 11 and completely independent. I had a paper route. I'd come and go to Expo all summer long. Then by the middle of the summer, my dad said we're moving to Toronto. For a month, my mom said no. I just thought this was the greatest time of my life. It was Expo, the Leafs had just won the Cup, and I'm actually moving to this city that I cherish. My mom declared that was her last move and it was her last move.'
