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This article was published 20/06/2019 (2465 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shaggy to take Club Regent stage

You could call Orville Richard Burrell by the nickname Mr. Boombastic, but the 50-year old performer’s best-known handle is one that was lifted from the Scooby Doo cartoons.

Shaggy lands in Winnipeg Sunday to play the Club Regent Event Centre (1425 Regent Ave. W) as part of his Wah Gwaan tour, which sees the Jamaican-born, New York-based dancehall/reggae/pop icon criss-cross North America this summer.

And while his best-known song, the Grammy-winning Boombastic, was released in 1995, Shaggy is anything but a one-hit wonder. His other big songs include hits such as It Wasn’t Me, In the Summertime and Feel the Rush, the latter a huge song in Europe that was written for the Euro 2008 soccer tournament.

Wah Gwaan is Shaggy’s 14th studio album in a discography that includes last year’s 44/876, a collaboration with Sting. In addition to working with the former frontman of the Police, Shaggy has worked with artists ranging from Cyndi Lauper to Sean Paul to Kylie Minogue and beyond.

Beyond his decades-long music career as a singer and musician (and some dabbling as an actor), Shaggy has established his own philanthropic organization. Shaggy and Friendz was started in 2016, providing medical equipment and financial assistance to Jamaica’s Bustamante Children’s hospital.

At press time, tickets for Shaggy’s Winnipeg show Sunday seemed to be sold out; check Ticketmaster for updates on any available tickets and for additional information.

— Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

 

 

The sweet sounds of free music in Old Market Square

The Exchange District will be party central this weekend as the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival takes over Old Market Square. Free concerts are happening at The Cube Stage from Thursday to Sunday.

The Bridge Performance Academy kicks things off Thursday at 5:30 p.m., followed by I M U R, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Akylla and DJ Shub.

On Friday, music starts at 6 p.m., with performances by Sarau Carioca, Miguel de Armas, Rio Mira, Indestructible Latin Orchestra and Afinca’o.

Saturday’s lineup runs from 1:30 p.m. to midnight and includes sets by Aaron Shorr, Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds, Apollo Suns, smrtdeath and others.

The Old Market Square events wrap up on Sunday with a full afternoon of music from 2 to 11 p.m. Featured artists include Karly Epp and Karl Kohut, Jakob Bro Trio and The Comet Is Coming. Visit jazzwinnipeg.com for a full lineup.

— Eva Wasney

 

 

New installation in honour of Bloody Saturday to be unveiled

The image of a streetcar being tipped over in the middle of a sea of protesters has become the iconic photo of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. On Friday, artists Bernie Miller and Noam Gonick will unveil an installation commemorating the climactic events of what would later be known as Bloody Saturday.

The local artists have created a steel and glass “ghost of the original trolley” based on the photo by LB Foote taken 100 years ago. The installation is illuminated from within and tipped and sunken into the pavement at the corner of Market Avenue and Main Street, where it will be on display permanently.

The public is welcome to attend the opening event at 9 p.m. on Friday, during which a recreation of Foote’s famous photo will be taken. No period costume is required.

— Eva Wasney

 

 

Pianist Lubomyr Melnyk performs, presents in Winnipeg

Considered one of the greatest (and fastest) living pianists, Lubomyr Melnyk will be in town this week to perform at the First Presbyterian Church Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

The Ukrainian-born composer, nicknamed the Prophet of the Piano, is known for creating the continuous music style, a piano technique based on rapid notes and complex patterns, usually using the pedals to create overtones and resonances.

Melnyk has composed more than 120 works and, in 1985, set two world records: one for sustaining speeds of more than 19.5 notes per second in each hand, and one for playing between 13 and 14 notes per second for one hour.

Tickets for his Winnipeg concert, which are $25, can be purchased in advance by calling 204-899-5882 or emailing mail@clearlightsound.com; tickets at the door are $30.

In addition to the concert, Melnyk will also be doing a presentation on Tuesday about the discipline required to play the “super-fast tempos” of continuous music. Tickets for this event are $10, and it will take place at ClearLightSound at 85 Lenore St.

— Erin Lebar