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Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto's JFL to welcome comics Gabriel Iglesias, Dropout Improv, Sarah Millican
TORONTO - Toronto's edition of Just For Laughs will welcome standup stars Gabriel Iglesias, Maria Bamford, Big Jay Oakerson and Ron Funches. Organizers announced a first round of comics that also includes 'Daily Show' correspondent Al Madrigal, the U.K.'s Sarah Millican and Dropout Improv. Social media star Che Durena along with Jay Jurden and Gina Yashere will hit Toronto after appearances at the recently concluded Montreal festival. The showcase returns under new president and CEO Sylvain Parent-Bédard, who has promised a revitalized 'comedy first' approach after JFL filed for bankruptcy in 2024. Just For Laughs Toronto runs Sept. 18 to 27. Pre-sale tickets are available Wednesday and a public sale begins Thursday. 'We're proud to bring a great Just For Laughs lineup to Toronto this year,' Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president & CEO of Just For Laughs, said Tuesday in a release. 'It's a great opportunity to share our comedy spirit with audiences in the city.' Canadians include Alistair Ogden of 'Canada's Got Talent,' Ashwyn Singh of the viral Desi Translations series, Vancouver's Gavin Matts of 'Hacks,' and comic actor Mark Forward, whose credits include 'Letterkenny' and 'Fargo.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Toronto's JFL to welcome comics Gabriel Iglesias, Dropout Improv, Sarah Millican
TORONTO – Toronto's edition of Just For Laughs will welcome standup stars Gabriel Iglesias, Maria Bamford, Big Jay Oakerson and Ron Funches. Organizers announced a first round of comics that also includes 'Daily Show' correspondent Al Madrigal, the U.K.'s Sarah Millican and Dropout Improv. Social media star Che Durena along with Jay Jurden and Gina Yashere will hit Toronto after appearances at the recently concluded Montreal festival. The showcase returns under new president and CEO Sylvain Parent-Bédard, who has promised a revitalized 'comedy first' approach after JFL filed for bankruptcy in 2024. Just For Laughs Toronto runs Sept. 18 to 27. Pre-sale tickets are available Wednesday and a public sale begins Thursday. 'We're proud to bring a great Just For Laughs lineup to Toronto this year,' Sylvain Parent-Bédard, president & CEO of Just For Laughs, said Tuesday in a release. 'It's a great opportunity to share our comedy spirit with audiences in the city.' Canadians include Alistair Ogden of 'Canada's Got Talent,' Ashwyn Singh of the viral Desi Translations series, Vancouver's Gavin Matts of 'Hacks,' and comic actor Mark Forward, whose credits include 'Letterkenny' and 'Fargo.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Group of the Year and Indigenous teen phenom among Sydney performers
One of the most memorable moments of the latest season of Canada's Got Talent (CTV) was when a young woman stood alone on stage and sang a song she wrote called 'Buried Truth' about her Mi'kmaq grandmother, a residential school survivor. Dee Dee Austin brought the show's judges to tears and won a 'golden buzzer,' propelling her right through to the finals. And in weeks, in a parallel to her CGT appearance, Austin, 19, will be in Open Hearth Park on Aug. 8 as part of the opening concert for Wi'kipaltimk 2025, a free festival of hope, joy and celebration honouring Mi'kmaq culture. The event will feature and honour other grandmothers and people who are survivors of the federal government's Indigenous school system of the past. The irony is not lost on Abegwiet First Nation's (PEI) Austin, who was just in Sydney in June as part of the Multicultural Festival downtown. This concert means the absolute world to me,' said Austin, who now lives in Fall River, N.S. 'I'm super-honoured to be part of this event. As an artist, I try to be an activist for these things because it's just so horrible what the government put our people through. Wi'kipaltimk 2025 not only honours the survivors, but also the families because their families are also survivors.' Every act to take to the stage over the three-day event includes Indigenous performers who have some family connection to the history of federal government and church-run residential and day schools in Canada. NEON DREAMS Fresh from their recent East Coast Music Awards 2025 win as Group of the Year, Halifax's Neon Dreams includes Adrian Morris, an Algonquin who grew up in Lower Sackville. As a teenager, he met the other half of the duo, Spryfield's Frank Kadillac, when they both frequented a popular all-ages venue called The Pavilion in Halifax. Morris said his grandmother was 'picked up in the 60s scoop' and was a survivor of Indian Day School in Northern Ontario. Even though she died when his mother was very young, he says her experience has influenced and affected the generations since. 'It has affected me and my family for multiple generations,' he said in an interview. 'I saw the effects it had on my family. One family member denied his Indigenousness for many, many years.' He said a lot of his recent journey has been reconnecting with his culture and family. 'It's taken two generations to figure things out,' Morris said. The drummer and guitarist says he's really excited about the Wi'kipaltimk event. 'There's so many incredible artists in it. It's really cool to see an event like this come together in Cape Breton with such incredible artists from across the country.' Neon Dreams has taken its diverse musical style of alternative pop music to such places as South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Mabou. Morris says the duo are spending time closer to home this summer and will be back to Cape Breton for the Blueberry Jam festival in Inverness the weekend after Wi'kipaltimk. 'ALBUM MODE' Austin has been described as a hybrid pop artist who sings a mixture of traditional and contemporary music. 'I'm in album mode the last few months and so I'm bringing new music to Sydney off my album about to come out late this year or early next year,' she said. Admission to Open Hearth Park and its activities from Aug. 8-10 is free, including the concerts each evening. Other artists include: The Relatives; Drives the Common Man; HiBoys; Don Amero; Emma Stevens; Morgan Toney and Second Generation and more. ABOUT THE EVENT WHAT: Wi'kipaltimk 2025 – a family event; Powwow WHERE: Open Hearth Park, Sydney, Nova Scotia WHEN: August 8-10 days and evenings; WHY: a celebration of Mi'kmaq culture through song; food; art and crafts; drumming and dancing; a powwow and informational workshops; HOW: designed by survivors of Indian Day Schools and elders and MC'd in part by former Senator Dan Christmas; FUN FACT: Evening concerts by major award-winning Indigenous performers from all across Canada, including this year's East Coast Music Award Group of the Year winner, Neon Dreams; Canada's Got Talent semi-finalist, DeeDee Austin and Cape Breton rising artists, Morgan Toney and Emma Stevens. COST: Free. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Uniquely Canadian': Stampede begins with parade led by country star Shania Twain
CALGARY – The Old West will be on full display as thousands clad in tassels, boots and buckles march through city streets today to kick off the Calgary Stampede. Country superstar Shania Twain will saddle up and lead the parade on horseback before performing Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Stampede runs until July 13. The 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman' singer, who was raised in Timmins, Ont., last took the stage at the Stampede in 2014. Twain, 59, is country music's top-selling female artist, according to Billboard. She is currently a judge on Citytv's 'Canada's Got Talent.' Her long string of hits includes 'That Don't Impress Me Much,' 'Any Man of Mine' and 'Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?' 'I can't think of a better parade marshal,' said Joel Cowley, the Stampede's chief executive. 'We expect to see 300,000-plus lining the streets once again. What a great way to kick off the Calgary Stampede.' People have traditionally arrived hours before the parade begins to get good seats. Stampede Park has been busy for the past week as crews assemble midway rides and concession stands. Gregg Korek with North American Midway Entertainment will be making his 49th appearance at the Stampede. He likens it to getting ready for the prom. 'We're just putting on the corsage right now,' he said. Growing up in Calgary, Korek joined the midway group as a teen. 'I always say I like all of our fairs exactly the same, but I like this one a little bit better because I'm a Calgarian.' Cowley said Stampede attracted almost 1.5 million visitors last year. Of that number, he said about 73 per cent were from the Calgary area. Another nine per cent were from Alberta and 10 per cent were other Canadians. The rest came from the United States or other countries. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. With Canadians unhappy about tariffs from the U.S., Cowley said domestic visitors could be higher this year. 'It is an international event, and I would think this year we would see a lot of Canadians looking for a Canadian vacation to come here to the Calgary Stampede,' he said. The first Stampede was in 1912, and Cowley said the event stays true to its agricultural roots. 'It's really something that needs to be experienced. At the heart of what we do is agriculture and Western heritage,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Uniquely Canadian': Stampede begins with parade led by country star Shania Twain
CALGARY - The Old West will be on full display as thousands clad in tassels, boots and buckles march through city streets today to kick off the Calgary Stampede. Country superstar Shania Twain will saddle up and lead the parade on horseback before performing Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Stampede runs until July 13. The 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman' singer, who was raised in Timmins, Ont., last took the stage at the Stampede in 2014. Twain, 59, is country music's top-selling female artist, according to Billboard. She is currently a judge on Citytv's 'Canada's Got Talent.' Her long string of hits includes 'That Don't Impress Me Much,' 'Any Man of Mine' and 'Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?' 'I can't think of a better parade marshal,' said Joel Cowley, the Stampede's chief executive. 'We expect to see 300,000-plus lining the streets once again. What a great way to kick off the Calgary Stampede.' People have traditionally arrived hours before the parade begins to get good seats. Stampede Park has been busy for the past week as crews assemble midway rides and concession stands. Gregg Korek with North American Midway Entertainment will be making his 49th appearance at the Stampede. He likens it to getting ready for the prom. 'We're just putting on the corsage right now,' he said. Growing up in Calgary, Korek joined the midway group as a teen. 'I always say I like all of our fairs exactly the same, but I like this one a little bit better because I'm a Calgarian.' Cowley said Stampede attracted almost 1.5 million visitors last year. Of that number, he said about 73 per cent were from the Calgary area. Another nine per cent were from Alberta and 10 per cent were other Canadians. The rest came from the United States or other countries. With Canadians unhappy about tariffs from the U.S., Cowley said domestic visitors could be higher this year. 'It is an international event, and I would think this year we would see a lot of Canadians looking for a Canadian vacation to come here to the Calgary Stampede,' he said. The first Stampede was in 1912, and Cowley said the event stays true to its agricultural roots. 'It's really something that needs to be experienced. At the heart of what we do is agriculture and Western heritage,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
