algary is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing every day, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a new store opening or an oil striking, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



I hope you like Canadian music, because I have a fantastic double bill of homegrown talent to tell you about. Both Toronto's Born Ruffians and Montreal's Plants and Animals have been making waves both in Canada and international. Both seem ready to break out at any second. Sure, we know about them, but once your American friends (or Pitchfork) start telling you about the newest up-and-coming band, you want to be able to tell them you've already seen them in concert. If you want to stay ahead of the hipness curve (which I think was first posited by Adam Smith), then get thee to The Warehouse tomorrow night.





The Wrecking Ball is an attempt to overtly use politics as the basis for theatre. In light of the two looming elections, there's certainly no shortage of material. Organizers asked a number of acclaimed Albertan playwrights including Ked Cameron, Neil Fleming and Ellen Close to write short plays with overtly political themes, but only gave them a few days to do so. Then directors such as Stephen Hair, Simon Mallett and Stacie Harrison were chosen to direct. After a few short rehearsals, readings of the plays will be delivered for audiences hungry for political theatre. Expect provoking themes, Verfremdungseffekt, and the obligatory fuck you to Stephen Harper's philistinic election campaign. The one-night only event takes place tonight at Jack Singer Concert Hall.





Although Alex Cuba's songs are in Spanish, this does not take away from the connection you feel when you see him perform live. Cuba (a stage name, naturally) combines Latin and Jazz influences to create an expert mix of virtuosic guitar music and gentle Spanish melodies. And although he seems like a world musician, he is actually Cuban-Canadian, so you can feel a sense of national pride when you see him do his thing. Even if you've never heard of Alex Cuba, you should check out this show as it's sure to be a highlight of the Calgary concert calendar. Go see the man with the trademark afro and sideburns Saturday at the Grand Theatre.





The biennial Mountain Standard Time Arts Festival will make you feel avant-garde and contemporary. Either that or it will make you feel like a pretentious douchebag. Galleries, art centres, and public spaces throughout Calgary and Lethbridge will showcase over 30 performative artists in more than 25 events. In case you're not familiar with the "performative" term, it refers to spoken word, dance, film, culture jamming, and anything else you might associate with Yoko Ono. There will also be exhibitions, panel discussions, and workshops to occupy you. Lucky for you, this festival continues for a long time, so you can feel free to meander around at will. Chances are you'll catch something. The festival progresses from today until October 17.





You like a Ron Sexsmith song. Everyone does, even if they don’t know it. His music, though not Nick-Drake-ubiquitous, shows up on myriad soundtracks, on public radio, and in Second Cup. You’ve heard it, you like it, Chris Martin likes it (although I'm not sure that's an endorsement), almost every other musician you’ve ever heard of likes it. I heard Bob Dylan play a Sexsmith song on his Theme Time Radio Hour show. If that's not a sign of artistic approval, I don't know what is. So go to the show, drink a glass of wine, bob your head, and buy some merch. You want to support a nice Canadian boy, don't you? Sexsmith plays tomorrow at Theatre Junction Grand.





Silent Bob (aka Kevin Smith) was appositely taciturn for a few years, but loquaciousness eventually took hold; he came of age in the 1990s, so irony is excusable. Bob - well, Smith - built a career on eloquently profane films, but has lately emerged as a raconteur of Spalding-Gray-ish proportions. Aside from his addictive, sort-of-weekly free podcast (SModcast), he occasionally tours the world conducting Q&A sessions. Tonight, he brings his shtick to Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Incidentally, several years ago I gave up my Toronto Q&A tickets to go to a Hayden gig. The show was great, but Hayden has been back about five thousand times since then. Smith hasn't. Hayden's not in Calgary tonight, so you have no excuse.





Alice Cooper plays tonight at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Would anyone object if I just filled this Radar with Wayne's World references? We're not worthy! Alice Cooper could be one of the many godfathers of punk rock, attaining the tools from bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. Schwing! Renowned for his gory live performances, it still boggles minds that the band has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Petitioned numerous times by fans, Alice Cooper is yet to be recognized. But he's undeserving anyway. Not! Do you think I'll miss this concert tonight? Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt. You would have probably understood that better sixteen years ago. This is worth going to, if only to see "Feed My Frankenstein" performed with all the fitting pyrotechnics, lights, and costumes. Alice Cooper isn't much for subtlety.





In the 60s Andy Warhol continued to make headlines in both the art world and the real world with his flamboyant personality, innovative pop art, and just by being one weird fuckin' dude. In 1968, Warhol formed The Factory, his New York City studio that doubled as a den for some of the most lively, well-attended, and weirdest parties the world has ever seen. Now, forty years later, his vision is being recreated. Tomorrow, Artlife Gallery will present its second Factory Party, a recreation of Warhol's legendary shindigs. The event will feature art, video, sculpture, musicians, and photographers, some of the best that Calgary has to offer. Presumably there will also be some substances not fit for mentioning here. No word yet on the resurrection of Nico.





Shad is the ultimate underdog success story, even if his success is still in progress. The London, Ontario emcee, originally born in Kenya to Rwandan parents, grew up with very little money, but still managed to make two albums that have earned a ton of critical validation. His first album, When This Is Over was entirely self made and financed with a $17,500 prize from an urban radio station. His newer album, The Old Prince was nominated for a Juno and the most coveted of all Canadian music awards, the Polaris Prize, which ignores stature for pure musical ability and inherent merit (try and say that five times fast). Shad will perform Friday at the Gateway. Expect socially conscious lyrics typical of the Canadian hip hop scene, catchy beats, and the occasional glimpse of his quirky sense of humour. Also in the bill is the Vancouver indie-rock band Hey Ocean.





In case you don't know much about this Montreal indie-rock trio, let me help you out: they're not wolves. Now that we've got that out of the way, we can talk about We Are Wolves's music. These guys are the definition of an "art school band". Both Alexander Ortiz and Vincent Levesque are originally from the visual arts world and they use that sense of experimentation to create a raw, animalistic sound that fits their music to a tee. The exact genre of their band, according to third member Antonin Marquis, is "a post-punk landscape with analogue trees. Like rock after the postmodern explosion". That clears that right up. We Are Wolves play tomorrow at The Warehouse.





God Made Me Funky are one of those bands that you've never heard of one day and the next day you can't go anywhere without hearing their name. But the Toronto band ("collective" is probably a better name) has been moving crowds since 1996. Originally just a live ensemble, the band is comprised of a diverse array of musicians from classically trained Trumpeters to Street-Schooled Rappers, all of whom share the same vision: Funk. These guys are good on record, but in order to get the full GMMF experience, you've got to see them live. These guys know how to bring the energy and get your feet moving; to them, it's more important than the music itself. But that's not to say the music isn't good. This is the best funk you'll hear since Parliament. If you're ready to dance to some stellar musicianship, you've got to check them out tomorrow at the Drake Inn.





Yesterday I told you about the East Side Studio Crawl, but if you don't live in the Ramsay district, you've still got plenty of opportunity for a jam-packed art weekend. Calgary Artwalk 2008 is a unique opportunity for the general public to visit galleries and studios all over the city for the low price of zero dollars. There's been quite an effort in recent years to cultivate the Calgary arts community, and this is a great opportunity for art aficionados and regular Joes alike to check out what the city has to offer. People need to stop looking elsewhere for their culture when they can get it right at home. There's more to Calgary than the Stampede. Okay, polemicizing over. The event will feature more than 25 participating galleries all over the city, over 500 artists, and over 1000 artworks, including a number of site-specific installations. I dare you to try and see them all. The Artwalk takes place Saturday and Sunday.





They say that art is supposed to speak for itself, and often multiple interpretations can be beneficial for the work. But sometimes you just want to know what the artist was thinking, y'know? The East Side Studio Crawl this Sunday will break the rules and allow you to discuss art with the tortured souls behind it. Studios throughout the Ramsey district of Calgary will open their doors to high culture connoisseurs and uncultured philistines alike. Artists will field questions about how the state of society affects their artistic vision and whether they chose their paints because of their pretty colours. You never know who'll show up to these things. It really is an interesting opportunity that you should act on if possible.





I know they would like you to think otherwise but Elliot Brood is not actually a person. Really, I speak the truth. It's actually a three-piece band from Toronto that consists of a Mark, a Casey and a Stephen. If you did confuse them with a person, go out and listen to some of their music, because obviously you need a brush-up. You'll see this buzzed-about alt-country trio is refreshingly good, and quite interesting. The drummer uses a giant suitcase instead of a bass drum. And add to the country feel of their first LP, the band recorded it entirely in an abandoned slaughterhouse. If you listen closely, you can hear the ghost's of sheep bahh-ing. What are they going to do next? Play a good concert? Crazy! Elliot Brood plays tomorrow at the Warehouse.





Punk stalwarts, Bad Religion, continue to doll out the three chord socio-political tunes, chastising religion, King Richard I, and quitters. Now 28 years since their inception, the California-based punk rock band haven't given up the good fight. These guys write some of the most bitter left-wing lyrics you'll ever hear, but unlike many of their peers over the years they opt not to scream. Instead, the lyrics are delivered with some of the hookiest, catchiest, most melodic approach that you'll ever hear in punk rock. You can trust these guys; they're no dummies. Lead singer Greg Gaffin holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and, when he's not playing concerts, teaches life science at UCLA. Try and say that about Johnny Rotten. Always a good time, Bad Religion will play tomorrow at Flames Central.





You've got to support local Alberta music, you've just got to. Alberta has a vibrant music scene, mostly folk and blues, but it could be a lot bigger on the world stage, or even on the Canadian stage. Tomorrow at the Stan Rogers Stage in Centennial Park you can see it on a Canmore stage at the Canmore Indie Music Festival. From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. a whole slew of local musicians will take the stage. This is a good chance to see what the Calgary area has to offer in the way of music. Performers include: Jamie McLaughlan, Lori Reid, Andy Sills, Jana Finkbinder, and 15-year old folk prodigy Sam Bailey. This year there will also be an Art Garden where you can check out even more local artistry. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and suggested.





Don’t go breaking my heart by not attending Elton John's concert at Pengrowth Saddledome tomorrow. He’s sure to crocodile rock your socks off so make sure to wave your candle in the wind with enthusiasm. You know, like a rocket man! Can you feel the love tonight? Hold me closer tiny dancer. Um…that guy from the Tommy with the big shoes. Ok, I'm out of Elton John references. Come see the man bang out some piano ditties with his signature ballad sensibility, his signature glam fashion, and his signature lyrics (okay, Bernie Taupin's signature lyrics). How could you not go to this concert?






Carlos Santana has honed a style that, if you've ever liked it, you never get sick of. He is the anti-trend. A true classic, you could say. The man is more popular, if not more so, now than he was in his heyday over thirty years ago. His slick Spanish guitar riffs make the perfect background music to a warm summer supper party or any event at all really. Just listen to "Black Magic Woman" or "Oye Como Va" and try not to hum along. And if you have a guitar in your hand, try not to jam along. The merging of Spanish guitar and blues make it the perfect music to practice along with. Catch this legend while he can still talk and tour. He plays tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome.





A group of unlikely music industry darlings, these former visual artists are tight with Bowie and have found a fan in Mos Def. TV On The Radio's 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain attracted many powerful tastemakers including the always ubiquitous Pitchfork Media. I remember when it first dropped and all of my hipster friends were raving about the album as if they had just discovered the next greatest band. Then not long after that, everyone was raving about the thing, and suddenly it wasn't as hip as it once was. But the hype has been building for the soon to be released Dear Science,. At this show Tuesday at MacEwan Hall, you'll probably get to hear some of the new stuff, along with old favourites like "Wolf Like Me" and "Staring at the Sun". Expect plenty of electro, beat boxing, and free jazz sounds as the basis to their Beat-like lyrics.





There's a lot of interest in revitalization of Alberta's art community as of late. As a result, the province's minister of culture and community spirit has declared September 6 (this Saturday) Alberta Arts Day. More than thirty communities across the province will host various Arts Days events. Calgary's will feature Jubilee Auditorium performances by some of the city's leading performing arts groups in addition to art installations, dancing, painting, reading, and just about anything else that could be slapped with the "arts" tag. If all goes according to plan, it'll just be a matter of time before Alberta is renowned as a world-class arts city. It's still developing, but this is a great start.





Lee "Scratch" Perry is probably one of the coolest 72 year olds you'll ever see. The legendary Jamaican performer invented an entire genre (dub, in case you're wondering) way back in the late '60's and early '70's and hasn't stopped pushing the limits since then. I saw him in a rare show in Toronto, and he performed the whole show with a number of flaming joints sticking out of his hat. That man likes to smoke the ganja! Here's what to expect from a Lee "Scratch" Perry concert: an ultra-tight band playing relaxed-yet-claustrophobic reggae rhythms while Perry sings over top with an echoing megaphone. You should go if, for no other reason, to see a man who has worked with both The Clash and Bob Marley. He plays this Thursday at The Urban Lounge.






BBQ on the Bow Festival is more than just barbeque, it's the best barbeque that Alberta has to offer. Cookers will square off against each other to create the best sauce and best ribs that can possibly be made. And then you benefit by getting to eat the competition foods until you pass out from pure gorging enjoyment. In case you regain consciousness, there's also some live entertainment including a talent search, children's performances, and blues music. But let's face it, you're there for the ribs. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Eau Claire Market. Sounds like a pretty kick-ass way to celebrate the long weekend.





Anglophiles rejoice: Oasis finally returns. Do you remember when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? broke and everyone was walking slowly down halls and blowing off Sallys? That was great. Noel, Liam, and those two other guys – neither of whom are named Bonehead – bring their anthemic Brit-pop to Pengrowth Saddledome this Saturday. Say what you will about massive career declines, but you’ll get shivers as soon as “Wonderwall’s” acoustic strums begin. Granted, every open-mic night guitar guy ever has played the song, but it'll still be special. One of the most prolific jean-jacket strummers in the history of alt- country, Ryan Adams, along with his stellar back-up band, the Cardinals, opens this so- disparate- it- might- work gig.





Punk Rock is a relatively fickle genre. It's hard to obtain lasting success because once you gain some money and fame you lose the anger that got you there. But there are a few exceptions, most of which are bands that play a style of punk more influenced by ska and pop, two genres that are much brighter than punk. They may not be as exciting, but they allow for some longevity. Just ask Green Day or Rancid. Or ask Lagwagon. The Santa Barba group have been recording and performing on and off for 18 years, and have just released their latest EP I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen To Lagwagon (a fucking fantastic name for an album). Now's your chance to see them this Thursday at The Warehouse.





Yes, professionalism can be beneficial in staging a show. But it's not always desired. For pure spontaneity and excitement, it's hard to beat a good improv show. You can't guarantee the quality of the show, but that just makes it that much more entertaining. You never know whether someone is going to freeze up on stage or completely bomb. On the other hand, Loose Moose Theatre Company has a reputation for excellence and consistency, so you can be fairly sure you'll have a good time tonight at the Ultimate Improve Championship at Broken City. There are winners and losers, but the competitive nature is downplayed.





Calgary is a great city, but let's face it, it's not always the best at attracting the A-list. But, while there'll probably never be anything equivalent to the Grammys in Calgary, there are the CAT Awards. The award ceremony, taking place Saturday at the Rozza Centre, builds up the glitz and the glammer in order to celebrate the best in Calgary community theatre. The theme for this year's event is "The Cat Carnaval," and while masks are optional, formalwear is mandatory. Break out your tuxedo (that for some reason you own instead of rent) or your fancy ball gown and celebrate as if it's the Oscars.





As a rule, I generally enjoy anything with the word "fest" somewhere in the title. Especially with this year's Blues Festival, Reggae Festival, and Folk Festival, fests never seem to disappoint. So I've got high hopes for the Global FilmFest, which starts today. The focus of the festival is to showcase international documentaries from unique cultural perspectives. The idea is that re-framing of assumptions can open our minds. Today's first selection is Giovanni Attili's Where Strangers Become Neighbours, an exploration of negative reactions towards immigration and how they become positive in one Vancouver neighbourhood. Sounds truly heartwarming, deserving of the word "fest".





What's better to do on a Saturday than a street festival? Answer: nothing. I'm going to admit something to you. I love Chinese Food. With all of the authentic Chinese food available for such cheap prices, they'll have a hard time keeping me away from the Chinatown Street Festival this Saturday. But food isn't all they've got to offer. This is a celebration of everything Chinese: opera, singing, folk dancing, shopping, souvenirs, and a ton more. If you haven't been to Chinatown in a while, this is a good way to rekindle your love affair. What else are you going to do?





Is there a more summery music genre than reggae? It's impossible to listen to the island rhythms without immediately drifting away to a warm climate (at least in your mind). In Calgary, that's always a good thing. That's why of all the music festivals that Calgary has held this summer, ReggaeFest could take the cake. With a lineup that includes Mikey Dangerous, LJX, Maxi Priest, Jason Wilson, Steele, and many others, it's looking to be quite the week. ReggaeFest transpires from August 14 – August 16. I've got to hand it to Calgary music promoters, they've put together some stellar festivals this year.





Say what you will about the Calgary music scene, but the city has stepped it up this festival season. Aside from attracting big name artists like Tom Petty and Nine Inch Nails, Calgary has been the setting for some intriguing niche festivals. I don't have to tell you about the success of the Folk Festival; two weeks ago it was almost impossible to avoid. For punk rock (or at least emo) lovers, there's the Warped Tour. But for the grizzled purists, there's only one festival this summer: The Calgary International Blues Festival. Armed with a few dominant sevenths, some lyrics about heartbreak, and infinite variation, some of the biggest names in blues will turn the area outside the Pumphouse Theatre into an all out shitshow of power chords and harmonica. Legendary bands such as Canned Heat, Savoy Brown, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds will share a stage with more local up and comers like Steve Pineo and Ian Stewart. It all goes down from tonight until Sunday.





Calgary again smells like decks, trucks, and punk: it's Warped Tour time. The peripatetic annual carnival of three-chord loving bands and culture takes over Race City Speedway for a day of sweat, pick smashing, crowd surfing, and genre mish-mashing. For the last several years, Warped rosters have experienced a slight drop in punk. Thus, compensatory like-minded --though different sounding-- acts have scored spaces on the bill. This year, look for dashes of the dreaded pop-punk, hints of ska, flourishes of hip hop, accents of hardcore, and much, much more. Cobra Starship, Angels and Airwaves, Bedouin Soundclash and many, many others play the main stage.





If you've never been to the Fringe Festival, you're missing out my friend. It's like regular theatre, but much less pretentious and much more anarchic. From August 1 to August 10, 25 national and international productions are performed in total over 150 times. The festival is uncensored and unjuried, so it's a very mixed bag. You never know whether you're going to see the next smash hit or something uninspired a few friends put together. Taking your chances is part of the fun. Don't worry about wearing jeans; this is no upscale theatre experience, just a bunch of young playwrights trying to make it in The Biz. Some titles include "Pizza Girl and the Dark Enigma," "Pussy Sushi," and "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical."





Trent Reznor and the boys (or girls, depending on who he decides to surround himself with that day) have been going strong since 1989. One of the few Industrial acts to cross-over into the mainstream, it's more than a little impressive that Nine Inch Nails have been able to stay there for 19 years. Reznor knows how to play the publicity game, even to this day. Adopting the Radiohead model, NIN's last two projects were released in close proximity and both as "Pay What You Want" projects available as an online download. Unfortunately, you won't be able to choose your own price for their performance at the Saddledome, but you will be able to see his tight band rock the rafters.





Cirque du Soleil's latest stage show is rolling into Calgary on Thursday for a month-long exhibition. If you haven't seen the Quebec company's pioneering stage show yet, it's worth seeing. It's all about spectacle here; rather than a circus freakshow, this is a display of grace and acrobatics. The plot of Corteo involves a clown picturing his own funeral, which for some reason takes place at a carnival as angels watch over him. You know what? The plot isn't so important. Have you ever seen Knocked Up? Do you remember the scene where Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd go to Cirque du Soleil in Vegas while on shrumes? I'm not suggesting anything (for liability purposes); I just thought we should all remember that scene.





The Calgary Folk Music Festival, which takes place this weekend, has many people very excited. But not everyone. See, while fans of acoustic guitars and pleasant melodies are gently swaying in Prince's Island Park, Calgary's metalheads will be headbanging, moshing, slamdancing, and biting the heads off bats. Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival thrashes its way over to McMahon Stadium this weekend, boasting a lineup that will excite any lover of the loud stuff. The festival is headlined by Ozzy himself, but it’s the supporting cast that's so impressive: Judas Priest, Testament, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Serj Tankian and Voidod, just to name a few. Folk or metal, the choice is yours.





This Friday, Movies in the Plaza presents a free screening of the Kevin Spacey vehicle 21. The film, which tells the story of a Harvard student whose professor convinces him to play blackjack, was not much of a success, but this kind of shallow fun fits well for the setting. The entire event is given a Las Vegas theme. Therefore, expect all the allure of Vegas such as gambling and stage shows, but kid-friendly (which kind of destroys the point, but whatever). The best part, though, is that it all takes place outside. It's summer, damn it; if we're going to sit still for two hours, it better not be indoors!





Aside from the Stampede, what screams "summer in Calgary" louder than a folk music festival? Answer: not much. The Calgary Folk Music Festival features over 65 artists on 7 different stages. Most play several times over the festival in both official concerts and loose jams. Okay, sounds promising. What about the acts? Nothing to scoff at; that's for sure. Start with Bedouin Soundclash, Kingston, Ontario's sing-along friendly reggae roots rockers. Then add 20 year veterans Blue Rodeo, former Squirrel Nut Zipper Andrew Bird, Tex-Mexers Calexico, and chick-folker Ani DiFranco. You've got yourself quite a festival. Rounding out the lineup are artists as diverse as Great Lake Swimmers, Basia Bulat, Handsome Family, Aimee Mann, Conor Oberst, Los Straightjackets, Sam Roberts, the Weakerthans, and Josh Ritter. Very solid. So set up your tent, bring the kids, and get ready to gently sway.