I Heart Edmonton

Some of the latest happenings in Edmonton (Transcend II, Wonderland V, Dragon's Den VI)... BY EMIL TIEDEMANN The 5th annual Wonderland Fest L ast Monday ( March 7 ) Transcend Coffee opened its newest location, in downtown Edmonton (10349-Jasper Avenue), in the former Axis Cafe building. In addition to their popular coffee, the locally-based brewers will offer a small selection of beer and wine, as well as South American street food prepared in-house by Red Seal chef Chad Moss . The 3-floor outlet will also consider taking advantage of its spacious basement, perhaps a potential venue for live music? The other two Transcend locations are at Garneau (8708-109 St.) and the original Argyll (9869-62 Ave.). Jasper's locale will open its doors each morning at 7:30. F ree beer! There, now I have your attention. 46 liters of home-brewed ale will be served to those who pay the 10 bucks to take in Old Ugly Recordings ' CD release party for local acts DoT and Layne L'Heu...

A dozen of Edmonton's most foul-mouthed comics battle for bragging rights at this first-ever prickapalooza showdown BY EMIL TIEDEMANN WARNING: If you can't handle a few curse words and touchy subjects, I recommend you skip over this post. Seriously...and don't say I didn't warn ya! David Dempsey L ET'S see who's the biggest asshole! Essentially, that's what we found out at last week's inaugural Edmonton Comedy Battle  (Feb. 8), hosted by The Hydeaway (10209-100 Ave.). As it turns out, Kelly Soloduka is the biggest prick of them all! Not exactly surprising, if you know the bastard. But, to be fair, there were plenty of other sons of bitches razing each other during the mockathon, an insult free-for-all slapped together by Aussie David "moved-here-for-a-girl" Dempsey and local comic Scott Belford . "Belford and I were inspired to do this since they run a similar event in Calgary," Dempsey told I Heart . "Scott wa...

He may reside in Vancouver, but D.B. Buxton's heart belongs to Edmonton, and he'll return for a performance at The Hydeaway next weekend BY EMIL TIEDEMANN What: D.B. Buxton homecoming concert When: Saturday, July 3, 2010 (9PM) Where: The Hydeaway Pub (10209-100 Ave.) S URE, he's got a peculiar haircut and a rectangular guitar, but judging books by their covers is a foolish game, as I've come to learn. D.B. (Daniel Benjamin) Buxton has transferred 15 years of busking on Edmonton's streets into a more refined, yet soulful sound, dented with funky beats and insightful lyrics. If you don't believe me, listen to "Discokings" (featuring Corvid Lorax ), "Fame and Money," or the 7 and a half-minute "rough mix" of "The End of the Party," all available at the click of your mouse at Buxton's MySpace page . The genre-bending musician and songwriter was only 15 when he left home to sing for passersby in the Old Strathcona regi...

Not for the weak or squeamish, local comics took turns offending everyone in their paths... wouldn't expect anything less! BY EMIL TIEDEMANN B EFORE you read on I must WARN you that I'm about to get all crude up in here! That's right, foul and lewd language will run amuck, so if you're the sensitive type you might want to skip this entry and come back tomorrow. Seriously, I'm gonna go George Carlin on your ass! But to be fair, it's only because I have to. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to properly tell you about last week's 'Fuck You Comedy Show' (Tuesday, June 1) at The Hydeaway (10209-100 Ave.). See, it's already begun! Like last Thursday's 'Pecha Kucha' event, this very different night out was a last minute decision. My good friend Karen and I made plans just hours prior to head downtown to the Hydeaway, the upper room of the Jekyll & Hyde Pub , to see our mutual friend Kelly Soloduka (pictured bottom left) headlin...

Jesse Dangerously, Brzowski, H.W., and crew of local hip-hop maestros congregate at The Hydeaway BY EMIL TIEDEMANN What: Multi-artist hip-hop pub concert When: Monday, May 31, 2010 (doors @ 9PM/ show @ 10PM) Where: The Hydeaway (10209-100 Ave.) W HENEVER I post these event announcements I research the artists as much as humanly possible...or until my ADD kicks in and I lose interest. This Monday's concert at The Hydeaway , headlined by Halifax rapper Jesse Dangerously , was no exception to the rule. But, I have to admit, Mr. Dangerously is not what you might expect in a hip-hop connoisseur, as I learned. He's slightly on the hefty side, and he sports a beard and specs. He dresses down, no bling in site. He's Caucasian and hails from a town famous for its piers and as the birthplace of Alexander Keith's. Oh, and there's that subtle, but obvious lisp. But none of that shit matters, because Jesse's got the goods to push past all of it and command whatever stage ...