I Heart Edmonton

Although the local music scene has taken a hit in the last couple of years, Edmonton is on the forefront of an exciting new musical landscape by emil tiedemann D ESPITE some disheartening setbacks in Edmonton's music scene over the last couple of years, namely the closure of some beloved performance venues and the "send off" of Joe Gurba 's Old Ugly Recordings , there's new hope for live music fans on the horizon. Some of Edmonton's talented musicians! We saw musical landmarks like The Artery, The Pawn Shop, and Wunderbar close their doors for good last year, but there have been others that have eagerly taken the baton.  A year ago, The Almanac opened on Whyte, followed by The Sewing Machine Factory this year, while The Needle Vinyl Tavern and The Chvrch of John created some much-needed stage space in the downtown soon after, collectively providing live music seven days a week! In January, YEG Music launched as an effort to support and pro...

37 songs that every Edmonton music lover should know... by emil tiedemann I THINK it's fair to say that Edmonton isn't exactly a Nashville, Austin, or Seattle when it comes to the local music scene, but there's no denying that there are plenty of sweet sounds coming from our own backyard!  The Joe performing at Avenue Theatre in 2010. Whether they were born or raised, reared or formed in Edmonton, our humble hometown boasts some of this country's most influential and addictive music makers, everyone from roots maverick Corb Lund to international pop icon k.d. lang.  Below, 'I Heart Edmonton' has put together the ultimate #yegmusic playlist, stretching all the way back to the mid-'80s when Edmonton-born Moe Berg and his Pursuit of Happiness had a hit with "I'm An Adult Now," and all the way up to Ruth B 's global success with her piano ballad "Lost Boy."  These are the songs that defined our city; that told our st...

Here's how my 30 Day #buyYEG Challenge went ... by emil tiedemann L AST month, I threw an idea out there to get Edmontonians in the "buy local" mindset, and to try to focus on a lifestyle of supporting hometown and independent businesses and artists. F or a t least 30 days, that is.   The " 30 Day #buyYEG Challenge " is a simple way to support these local establishments and entrepreneurs (especially) during the downturn in the economy, as too many "ma & pa" shops close their doors for good as a result.  But, I couldn't just talk the talk, encouraging others to participate in this challenge. So, for the last 30 days (starting March 1 ), I walked the walk, so to speak. That means I did all I c ould to reinvest in my hometown Edmonton, from what coffee I dr a nk in the morning to what books I read before I went to bed at night.  It's been an amazing 30 days of discovering so many awesome local spots and meeting some folks ...