BKonthescene

Where the arts come together

Category: Reviews

  • BOOMBOX-“LlVE FOREVER”@TIFF Bell Lightbox-Thurs.,Nov.2nd,2017

    By BK on the SCENE The iconic movie/TV show “Fame”, featuring Irene Cara, transformed TIFF Bell Lightbox into it’s own modern school for the arts, inspired by the 1980’s prestigious performance arts high school in New York City. Patrons were transformed in a unique, multi-sensory experience, featuring Toronto’s emerging artists and performers.   Boombox installations…

  • Taste Canada’s Awards@The Ritz-Carleton-Mon.,Oct.30th,2017

    By BK on the SCENE The 20th annual Taste Canada Awards were held at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto, an event combining cookbook authors and food bloggers to honour culinary writers and publishers from across our country. A total of 147 books and blogs in both English and French were entered in the yearly event.   Noah…

  • Guns N’ Roses@A.C.C.-Sun.,Oct.29th,2017

    Staring in 1985, Guns N’ Roses paid no apology to their attitude into the Los Angeles rock scene. The spirit went on to captivate the entire world with the release of their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction – the best-selling U.S. debut ever, moving 30 million copies globally. GNR returned to Toronto for a 30+…

  • CAROL WELSMAN IS BACK WITH SOMETHING JUST ‘FOR YOU’ HER FIRST CROWD-SOURCED RELEASE

    6-TIME JUNO NOMINEE CAROL WELSMAN IS BACK WITH SOMETHING JUST ‘FOR YOU’ HER FIRST CROWD-SOURCED RELEASE In what became a direct and engaged conversation with her fans, internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist Carol Welsman leveraged the unique power of social media and her tight-knit community to crowd-source what songs are included in her newest…

  • Nuit Blanche@Downtown Toronto-Sat.,Sept.30th,2017

    By Nicholas Chan and Kimberly Samnang Nuit Blanche became far more socially conscious for 2017, with themes of protest, environmental issues and artistic production. It was a necessary evolution to have socially conscious art displays. Still, not everything was great about this year’s event. The violent aspect with hooligans strolling the downtown streets and some…

  • Ori Dagan Awarded Silver Medal Win in Global Music Awards

    From Eric Alper Wanted to drop a note and share how thrilled we are to announce Toronto jazz singer songwriter Ori Dagan’s recent silver medal win for “Outstanding Achievement” in the Best Album category at the recent Global Music Awards! This is just the latest news for Dagan as he works away at his mission……

  • The Toronto International Film Festival® announced its award winners at the closing ceremony at TIFF Bell Lightbox-Sun.,Sept.17th,2017

    The Toronto International Film Festival® announced its award winners at the closing ceremony at TIFF Bell Lightbox today, hosted by Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF, and Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. To watch the presentation, visit tiff.net/ceremony. The 42nd Festival wraps up this evening. The short film awards below were selected by…

  • b.d. Gottfried’s recent release, “Through The Dog’s Eyes”

    b.d. Gottfried’s recent release, “Through The Dog’s Eyes” — out this past summer — for potential consideration in any upcoming year-end reviews, lists, or compilations. “I’ve played in empty bars. I’ve played to crowds of 50,000. I’ve played with rock royalty, and played with others that should have been. I’ve played with the Devil,” says…

  • 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival® & Entertainment One (eOne)celebrates it’s 12 Films-including :Stronger, Molly’s Game, The Current War and The Upside@The Citizen, 522 King St.-Friday September 8, 2017

    Photo credit: Vito Amati On Friday September 8, 2017 Entertainment One (eOne), the largest independent film distributor in Canada, celebrated its 12 titles premiering at this year’s 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival®, including Stronger, Molly’s Game, The Current War and The Upside. The event teams from Uniq Hospitality, DiGabi and eOne transformed The Citizen…

  • Alice Cooper & Deep Purple@The Budweiser Theatre-Sat.,Sept 2nd,2017

    When Deep Purple played at the Budweiser Theatre, it was a testament to greatness. The English rock band was founded in 1968 and are spoken in the same breath of Rock Royalty in the company of other venerable bands such as Led Zepplin, The Who and Black Sabbath. Recognition was finally bestowed to band, as…

  • J. Van Auken’s Revelator: Theatrical and Home Media Release Announcement

    Revelator Films and Maxim Media Marketing announced a theatrical release for J. Van Auken’s high-concept, lo-fi ghost story Revelator, premiering on August 25 at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills. The film’s digital and DVD launch is set for September 5th with Blu-Ray to follow.   “John Dunning sees the dead. Now they see him.”…

  • Music Under The City Stars @ Casa Loma-Wed., Aug. 2nd, 2017

    Photography by AJ Lam and BKonthescene. Canada’s Walk of Fame hosted its Music Under the City Stars Fundraiser, raising $350,000 while bringing together great Canadian artists and their hits. The CWF Gala was presented by Walter and Maria Schneider, Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment and Liberty Entertainment Group who gathered some of Canada’s most talented singer-songwriters and…

  • The 50th Annual Carnival 2017 Gala @Liberty Grand-Fri., July 28th, 2017

    Carnival Toronto swept the city this year for the 50th Anniversary of the Caribbean Festival, and what a way to celebrate the festivities with a “big time gala!” Last year, there wasn’t a formal gala and we were excited that the event returned just in time for the 50th anniversary. The celebration was in full…

  • Metallica@Rogers Centre-Sun.,July 16th,2017

    Metallica played to a sold out crowd in Toronto, one of the many stops of their world tour to promote the new material from Hardwired… To Self-Destruct. This album is a combination of earth-shaking, scorching rhythms as delivered by the rhythm section of bass player Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich. Guitarists, Kirk Hammett and…

  • TAKE OFF, EH! Raises $325,000 For Jake Thomas and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

    Dave Thomas and The Second City are pleased to announce that TAKE OFF, EH!, which took place Tuesday, July 17 on The Second City Toronto’s Mainstage, raised over $325,000 to benefit ‘Jake Thomas’s Road to Recovery’ and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario. Check out the video coverage HERE TAKE OFF, EH! was a star-studded intimate evening with performances by Canadian legends…

  • Sass Jordan “Racine” Album and Tour

    Review by Eric Alper Pre-order on iTunes Toronto, July 12, 2017 – Sass Jordan’s breakout major-label masterpiece, Racine, is being re-imagined and released as Racine Revisited, a brilliant record with updated versions of each song on September 15 via Linus Entertainment. This classic album signified an evolution for Jordan and a critical turning point in her career, reaching #2 on the Billboard…

  • Iron Maiden-Book Of Souls Tour-Sat.,July 15th,2017

    The world tour continued for Iron Maiden and it returned to North American and Toronto once again in support of their latest record The Book of Souls. Following a five year hiatus, during which lead singer Bruce Dickinson underwent treatment for tongue cancer, the heavy metal icons returned stronger than ever with a huge double…

  • If It’s Alright With You: The Songs of Gene MacLellan – by Catherine MacLellan

    Review by Eric Alper If It’s Alright With You: The Songs of Gene MacLellan finds the Juno-winning daughter of the legendary PEI songwriter creating dazzling readings of her father’s classic catalogue… There are skillful tributes and heartfelt homages. And then there’s If It’s Alright With You: The Songs of Gene MacLellan, a legacy project like no…

  • Hiromi Duet: Featuring Edmar Castaneda@Koerner Hall-Wed.,June 28th,2017

    Hiromi is well known for her technique and high-energy performances, the pianist style of musicianship is unprecedented. Her level of complexity and creativity is original and the composer who turns her music into an experience , Hiromi is one of jazz piano’s most unique virtuosic players capable of playing stride with speed and amazing accuracy.…

  • Randy Bachman with Walter Trout and Laila Bali, TD Toronto Jazz Festival@Concert Hall. -June 23, 2017

    By BK on the SCENE   The Concert Hall (once known as The Rockpile), was a packed house awaiting Bachman and his band, including his son Tal on guitar, as they took to the stage opening with a instrumental number, then roaring into the B.T.O. classic ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and then the Guess…