The Gift Of Community
The Boys and Girls Club Yukon has announced that they are renewing the Gift of Community program for the eighth year this Holiday Season.
Live Music & Concerts
Yukon Live Music Event Listings
Major Funk – New Tunes En Route
On Halloween weekend, the 202 opened its doors once again to Yukoners (in costume). Major Funk took the stage as the cast from Mario Kart.
Sass Is Coming Back
Sass Jordan, the multi-Platinum-selling, award-winning songstress has been constantly busy since her career began 40 years ago.
Unleashed! Joey O’Neil On Tour
Joey O’Neil is on tour with her dog, Oblio, playing songs from her album Ever Ahead, in dog parks across Canada.
No More Pie-In-The-Sky: Whitehorse Takes The Crown With Record-Breaking Pizza
The Yukon’s motto is “Larger Than Life. A recent collaboration between Yukon businesses Duncan’s Limited, Whiskey Jack’s Pub and Grill, Yukon Brewing and Lumel Studio put that to the test this week by building the largest pizza in the country.
Dawson’s Fridays Are A Time For Music!
Fridays are live music days in Dawson, this summer, with concerts at Riverside Park Gazebo and at the KIAC (Dënäkär Zho) Ballroom.
A Look Back at Arts in the Park 2020
I didn’t expect Arts in the Park to happen at all this year. Everything was getting cancelled, from big festivals like Atlin Arts and Music Festival and Dawson City Music Festival, to smaller bar shows with local acts. It just seemed like live music wasn’t going to be something that was happening at all, and …
Swing like a beast
One person’s trash is another’s treasure. When Larry Fuller’s older brother brought home an upright piano a cousin was discarding, the “little kid” from Toledo discovered a passion that would take him to the forefront of North America’s jazz scene. “I just started playing it by ear and then I went on to have lessons and …
Dawson entertains itself at monthly coffee houses
It’s Coffee House/Open Mic time at the KIAC Ballroom once again. This is a monthly event that usually takes place on the first Saturday of every month from September through to May. It is one of those things that the community does for itself, as contrasted with all those special events (partly for visitors) that …
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This is Groan Boy
Dawson Bealieu, known by his stage alias Groan Boy, is instantly recognizable in his blue blazer—the same one he’s wearing on the concert flyers plastered all over town. In recent months, he’s had a schedule that would exhaust the most zealous workaholics, but he still managed to bring an awful lot of enthusiasm for an …
Summer is here and so is Arts in the Park
The 23rd annual Arts in the Park, running from May 21 until August 2, is here to usher in the summer season. There are few events in Whitehorse that mark the arrival of summer like the kick-off of Arts in the Park. With its 23rd annual season underway, Arts in the Park has become an …
Kluane mountain twang
The Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival (KMBF) has an unfair advantage. It has never had to work to attract world-class performing acts and is known widely on the festival circuit as “the one to play.” The performers, awestruck by the St. Elias range and the beautiful community of Haines Junction, are grateful for the warm reception …
New Kate Weekes CD reflects singer-songwriter’s growth as a musician
When Kate Weekes plays in Whitehorse on May 2, the audience will hear something new and maybe surprising, even if they’re already fans. Having lived in the territory from 2003 to 2014, the singer-songwriter still spends several months here each year. Many Yukoners are familiar with her work. However, her new CD, Taken By Surprise, serves …
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Digging into commitment
Jack Garton stood in a cemetery on Galiano Island, talking on his cell phone about his latest record. It seems like a weird place to field media requests, until you consider that Garton’s day job, as cemetery sexton, seems to have influenced the album in a way.“I think a lot about how fragile our lives are …
In paradisum electronica
Everybody knows the Yukon has its share of folk music and roots rock, but they don’t often think about electronic music.
Ripened with age
The Dark Fruits kind of accidentally ended up with an album. Three years ago, singer Jeff Wolosewich booked time at Jordy Walker’s studio, planning to record a single song. The next thing he knew, he’d laid down bed tracks for more than 20 songs.“The guys (Walker and musicians Micah Smith and Patrick Docherty) just played …
The Aurora Trail offers a second set of house concerts
The second half of the Aurora Trail lineup of the Home Routes program began in February, with three house concerts planned between Feb. 1 and April 14. Home Routes sends performers out to do about a dozen house concerts, six times a year, in 11 different touring zones from the Maritimes to the Yukon. We …
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Music to warm your soul
Donovan (comes to our neck of the) Woods His music soothes the soul like that first warm beverage on a busy morning; his lyrics surround your senses with the sort of calm that’s equivalent to a warm, lingering hug from someone you love. Once described as “Canada’s best kept secret,” Whitehorse will be privileged to …
Spreading the JAM for 20 years
Junction Arts and Music celebrate 20 years, close to 400 events and more than 17,000 attendees.
The Vinyl Cut
Take a listen to Antarticus’ album—you almost won’t believe it was released this year. The prog-rock record is packed with extended solos, synthesizers and sci-fi/fantasy themes. As if that’s not old-school enough, it’s also being released on vinyl. “I think it makes sense for our style and mentality,” said bassist, keyboardist and vocalist Mack Smith. …
Enjoyment is the whole point
Vocalist-bass player Katie Thiroux brings her jazz trio to Whitehorse for a Jazz on the Wing concert
Comin’ on down to The Funk is Tight
Dawsonites had a chance to “Get up with the get down and come on down” at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall on Feb. 23. Whitehorse band Major Funk and the Employment were in town, bringing with them not only a high-energy funk-style dance party, but an added bonus round of fun. The band took to …
All work and a play
On a Thursday afternoon at Takhini Elementary School, a class played dodgeball in the gym, seemingly unaware that, on the other side of the heavy blue curtain pulled across the school’s stage, was Paris. It was obvious as soon as you stepped behind the curtain. There was a tree-lined street with tall, black gas lamps …
Champion fiddler makes his Yukon debut this Rendezvous
Having won over judges at competitions around Canada and the United States with his uniquely Canadian style, Ontario born fiddle player Shane Cook is coming to Whitehorse this Rendezvous for his first gig north of 60.
Using their indoor voices
Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous mainstage is indoors this year. “(Being inside) is definitely a change and I hope that people embrace it,”
Gluing it together
Lonnie Powell’s passion for percussion dates back to a childhood night in B.C.’s Kootenay region, when he attended a wedding reception with his mother and watched a “really animated” drummer strut his stuff.
Inspiring on stage
On January 15, Tentrees was joined on the small Hamilton and Son stage for his 90-minute performance by Amelia Rose Slobogean (fiddle) and Graeme Peters (guitar). The trio explored some of their new works and shared their crafting experiences and inspirations of the pieces, displaying a rare chance to see the creative process through someone else’s eyes.
The Queer Songbook Orchestra
The Queer Songbook Orchestra is a Toronto-based 12-piece chamber pop ensemble making their Yukon debut on September 30. The group formed in 2014 and has been dedicated to exploring and elevating queer narrative in pop music. “I was at loose ends after several years freelancing in the indie pop music scene in Canada,” said Shaun …
Why so serious?
This August, Whitehorse heavy metal music enthusiasts will be treated to a blast from the past, augmented with an infusion of new blood.
Seize your Canada Day
No summer in the Yukon can be complete without the yearly Canada Day events. The very mention of Canada Day can conjure up memories and build anticipation for just about any Yukoner.
The Adäka Cultural Festival … celebrating our diverse First Nations arts and culture
The 2020 Adäka Cultural Festival at its idyllic location, the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre located on Whitehorse’s beautiful waterfront.
BC/DC is back (not on Black, on Jarvis)
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ’n’ roll, but British Columbia’s famed tribute act to legendary rockers AC/DC, aptly named BC/DC, is already there.
Lucie D and the Immortals
There is a new sound in town! On Thursday June 21, Lucie D and the Immortals will debut their new EP, Les Thèmes de la Vie (Themes of Life), from 7 to 9 p.m. at Baked Café.
Tickling the ivories under the midnight sun
Over 10-million people across the globe have been part of an art project that placed 1,890 street pianos at 75 installations in 60 cities. Local musician Grant Simpson saw that there was an opportunity to do a made-in-the-Yukon version.
Play that funky music
Any Yukon music fan should be familiar with Major Funk—the raw live energy and mechanical tightness the band boasts often makes them the talking point of shows and festivals in the territory.
Are you ready for a good time? Love country rock?
Teslin will again be hosting an electrifying country-rock concert called Teslin Rocks Country, featuring a slate of excellent contemporary Canadian country artists. Headlining the show will be two artists from from British Columbia: Aaron Pritchett and The Washboard Union.
Bluegrass, ‘newgrass,’ straight-ahead country and more …
This year’s Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival, June 8 to 10, in Haines Junction, will feature a lineup of world-class acts.
Dear, dear. This show ain’t casual viewin’
54-40 has been described as Canada’s answer to REM, hyper literate, alt-rock, conscious with tight hooks, left coast intel and killer musicianship.
Party at the Hill
Since 1999, Simapalooza has become a yearly tradition for Yukoners to enjoy their local ski hill with a variety of events and prizes. Now in its 19th year, Simapalooza is bigger and better in anticipation for its 20th year anniversary next year.
Teaching language through song from Québec to the Yukon
Multilingual Quebec musicians Andrée Levesque-Sioui and Kyra Shaughnessy are in the Yukon this month for a series of workshops with high-school students. The workshops are aimed at promoting bilingualism in the Yukon and are conducted in French and the Huron-Wendat First Nation language.
Delhi to Dublin and everything in-between
Delhi 2 Dublin, a multi-talented group from Vancouver that have made a name for themselves on the world music scene are the main act at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day party happening at the Coast High Country Inn Convention Centre.
No Sour Grapes
Kevin Kane (left) and Bryan Potvin on a break during a Northern Pikes recording session in Calgary earlier this month. Kane & Potvin will perform at the YAC on March 2. PHOTO: Don Schmid If he hadn’t been so exhausted from a 23-hour train ride, Kevin Kane might have joined forces with fellow singer/guitarist Bryan …
Welcome the Year of the Dog
The Chinese New Year is the celebration of the Lunar New Year and considered the beginning of spring. Due to the Chinese calendar’s reliance on the lunisolar cycle, which is based on the exact astronomical observations of the sun’s longitude and the Moon’s phases, the new year is a floating date and usually occurs between …
Dawson City Music Festival aims for sustainability
The Dawson City Music Festival (DCMF) will be holding its annual general meeting on Thursday, January 18, at Yukon College. The meeting was to have been before Christmas, but analysis of the topics raised at a well-attended membership meeting in mid-October caused the board to decide to refine its thoughts a bit more before presenting …
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Past and present fuse on new record
Dakhká Khwáan Dancers new album is called Deconstruct/Reconstruct, and it is a double CD.
Whitehorse All-City Band invited to perform in Toronto
The 20-year-old Whitehorse All-City Band Junior and Senior Wind Ensembles have been honoured to receive their first invitation to compete at MusicFest Canada, a national music competition in Toronto next May.
It’s all about the performance
Prep your pipes: Klondike Karaoke is back. And even if you’re not onstage at the finals, you could be cheering from the crowd. For the second time this year, the Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) and the Canadian Filipino Association of Yukon (CFAY) are co-hosting a sing-off that will see one Yukoner crowned karaoke king or …
Nicole Edwards and friends lift up their voices for local charity
This project gives Yukon audiences another opportunity to create a new and beautiful memory of what Edwards can do with music.
Setting Forth for New Frontiers
Yukon musician Jona Barr is pumped. He’s going to Germany – and he’s going to be playing his first set outside of Canada. “I’ve traveled to a few upper American states while touring Canada, but this is my first international festival,” says the Old Cabin frontman. “It’s surreal being 30-years-old and never having been somewhere …
Local Artists Team Up for a Night of Live Hip Hop
“You’re Doing Great Work” reads the massive block letters on the front of Splintered Craft’s building on 4th Avenue. Other messages, pictures and tags cover nearly the entire exterior, and all have been made by local youth. The arts studio is a place where the youth of Whitehorse can discover, practice and hone their artistry …
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Watson Lake Farmer’s Market Moves to the Sign Post Forest
Looking for something interesting to do on a Saturday afternoon? Look no further than the Watson Lake Farmer’s Market held at Historic Mile 635 in the famous Watson Lake Sign Post Forest.
Lobsters for Literacy (And More)
Whitehorse might be the site of the northernmost East Coast kitchen party in Canada this summer. On Friday, May 26, the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre will serve as the venue for a Rotary Club dinner featuring fresh Prince Edward Island lobster and Celtic tunes, courtesy of Keitha Clark and the Sláinte North band. The event …
Arts in the Park: Grab your Lunch and Get Ready to Boogie!
Arts in the Park is about to head into another spectacular season of performing arts over lunch hour at Whitehorse’s LePage Park.
Making her Own Trail
“It’s sort of like a straightforward country approach to old-school, ’30s vocal jazz,” she says. “I would say it’s got folk roots, a bit of blues and bluegrass, but jazz is sort of where I draw inspiration from and is probably the top of my influences.” Producer Bob Hamilton of Old Crow Recording Studio selected …
Remembering Lenny
If you’re doing a stage show about a highly-admired guitarist, being able to render the music is a big help. Fortunately, Whitehorse musician Nicholas Mah has been playing the music of his dramatic subject, the late Lenny Breau, for decades. Mah was 12 when he first encountered Breau at a guitar society meeting in his …
A Matter of Taste
Musical talent is over-rated, and taste is under-rated. At least, that’s how Canadian-born sax player Grant Stewart sees things. “I know many, many, many players who can play anything they hear, and that’s kind of what you’re told is the ideal to shoot for,” he says. “But if you don’t develop the things that you’re …
A Canada Day Celebration Worth Driving To
Mayo Arts Festival offers a unique way to celebrate Canada’s birthday with artists, workshops and musicians from the Stewart River Valley
Dancing To All The Sounds
On Friday, October 23, the Yukon Arts Centre will be presenting a multimedia experience that weaves together dance, video, music and costume. It’s called Eunoia and is based on Canadian poet Christian Bök’s book of the same name. Denise Fujiwara, of Toronto-based Fujiwara Dance Inventions and a veteran of the Canadian contemporary dance scene, heard …
All about band
Interruption after interruption—welcome ones—grab Bruce Johnson’s attention as students seek him out. One student strides in, snapping her chewing gum while looking confident and comfortable in an “I feel right at home” kind of way, to which Johnson, the band teacher at F. H. Collins, responds, “You can take your theory and go work.” She …
Bring Your ‘A’ Game for BYTE’s Battle of the Bands
Rocking out in true Yukon fashion, Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE) is hosting it’s annual Battle of the Bands, a no-holds-barred performance extravaganza. Open to musically-inclined youth under 30 years old, the Battle of the Bands features music from every genre possible — there are no limits. Hip-hop, funk and metal bands are on the …
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Growing a festival, grows the community
Teslin Concert in the Park is a three-day event, July 9 to 11. Last year, it was a one-day event. Two years ago, one evening. “I think a three-day vision is what it will be all about,” says Nataschaa Chatterton, the event co-ordinator. “The vision is bringing people together in all avenues – organizing and …
Skagway Craft Brew Festival
If you’re 21 years of age and like to kick back in the company of more than 200 beer enthusiasts while tasting a wide variety of exceptionally crafted homebrew, we may have plans for you on April 23. Oh, and did we mention amazing food and live music? That’s right folks: it’s the second annual …
Refreshing Riff Rock
The members of Whitehorse’s newest band, Abscess of the Dog (AOTD), sit in a comfortable Riverdale living room and drink scotch. Matt Larsen, the band’s drummer, is a new father, and that is cause for celebration. Larsen, Lars Jessup and Kinden Kosick were friends long before they were ever bandmates. Jessup and Larsen are both …