Vancouver Folk Festival: A classic Neil Young album reimagined, plus 5 must-see performers
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On July 19, 1974, Neil Young previewed his fifth solo album, On the Beach, at a surprise concert in Los Angeles. As a nod to that event, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival presents On the Beach: Neil Young Reimagined on July 19 at Jericho Beach.
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Featuring the Hen House All-Stars backing band led by Juno Award-winning guitarist and producer Steve Dawson, the lineup of musicians honouring Young's legacy includes Krystle Dos Santos, Sue Foley, Margaret Glaspy, Rich Hope, Marcus Mosely, Marin Patenaude, Samantha Parton, Kenneth Pattengale and Julian Taylor.
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This is part of a continuing series of performances at the Folk Festival that explore the work of iconic acts, such as Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, as interpreted by artists who put their own distinct twist on material considered part of the classic-rock canon.
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Dawson says the fact that such an oddball could arrive in Los Angeles in the early 1960s and become the toast of the town is something that defies all music industry conventions. Mining his own distinct brand of guitar playing and songwriting to great success is something that can't be copied and has made Young a role model and inspiration for generations of Canadian musicians.
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'He's not like other iconic Canadian songwriters who reference the country a lot in their material either, like The Tragically Hip,' said Dawson. 'But anyone, in any country, would have a huge amount of respect for what he's done and how he's done it. It's one of the reasons so many amazing voices have taken on his songs, and hearing them interpreted by the singers we have for this event is really exciting.'
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Award-winning Black Canadian/Mohawk artist Julian Taylor, who also appears as a feature act at the folk festival and at the incredibly popular gospel workshop on Sunday morning, admits that Young is an inescapable presence.
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'There are some records that resonate with me and are personal favourites, such as On the Beach and Tonight's the Night, but he loses me a lot of the time as well,' said Toronto-based Taylor. 'For musicians working in my area, his influence is everywhere, and trying to think of another artist who has that definitive folk style but isn't afraid to really crank it up is rare.
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2 hours ago
How U.S. Christian musician Sean Feucht put freedom of expression to the test in Canada
Had you heard of Sean Feucht before this month? If you hadn't, you likely have now. The U.S.-based Christian musician wasn't exactly a household name or selling out the biggest concert venues in this country, but his recent concert tour in Eastern and Central Canada has put him in the spotlight in the past couple of weeks, as permits for some of his shows have been revoked amid an outcry that his controversial views are being given a platform in public spaces. The 41-year-old preacher and activist has raised the ire of people for his support of U.S. President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again, or MAGA, movement, and over comments he's made about abortion, critical race theory, 2SLGBTQ+ rights and gender diversity. MAGA musician permit revocations spark public space debate (new window) His supporters, including Canadian politicians like Conservative MPs Michael Barrett (new window) and Andrew Lawton (new window) , have decried what they see as an attack on free speech, conservative viewpoints and religion. While some freedom of expression experts do not agree with Feucht's views in any way, they do see the efforts to cancel his concerts — especially those scheduled to be held in public spaces — as problematic and indicative of how censorship is being used as a means of tackling social issues rather than debating them. Because freedom of expression is so fundamental in a democratic society, we restrict it only in the most extreme cases, said James Turk, director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University. WATCH | Multiple permits for Sean Feucht's concert tour denied or revoked: Safety or censorship? Over the course of the past week, Feucht saw permits revoked for his concerts in Halifax (new window) , Charlottetown (new window) , Moncton, N.B. (new window) , Quebec City (new window) , Gatineau, Que. (new window) , and Vaughan, Ont. (new window) — all of which were to be held at public sites. The City of Montreal (new window) attempted to halt his Friday night performance at a church, but it went ahead as scheduled. The church, however, is now facing a $2,500 fine for hosting the event without a permit. Feucht is scheduled to tour several cities in Western Canada late next month, including Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Kelowna, B.C., and Abbotsford, B.C. Turk said that public spaces are different than private venues, whose owners can choose who they do and don't host without violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There are a very limited number of reasons why municipal, provincial or federal governments could justify cancelling an event like this, he said, and there would need to be reasonable grounds to believe that the person is going to engage in illegal activity in that space. In most of the cases, officials cited safety and security concerns and not the content of Feucht's shows or his past comments. Enlarge image (new window) A performance by Feucht took place in a church in Montreal on Friday. The City of Montreal attempted to halt his performance, but it went ahead as scheduled. The church is now facing a $2,500 fine for hosting the event without a permit. Photo: Radio-Canada / Violette Cantin But Turk said he doesn't believe Feucht's performance would have created such a threatening situation that local police forces wouldn't be adequate to handle it. I fear that, as in many cases, the use of security as an excuse is just that — an excuse to otherwise to deny what's a fundamental right of freedom of expression in this country, he said. If there was a situation in which tempers could flare if critics or protesters tried to disrupt one of Feucht's shows, government agencies responsible for pubic spaces have an obligation to provide the resources to ensure safety and order, said Stephen Newman, a professor emeritus in the politics department at York University in Toronto. But in an email to CBC News on Monday, he wrote that acting on unspecified concerns and preventing Feucht's concerts from taking place in response to public outcry is akin to what is known as a heckler's veto — in which groups or individuals suppress or shut down (new window) another's speech by means of disruption, intimidation or even violence. LISTEN | Discussing why Quebec City cancelled Sean Feucht's performance (new window) Capitalizing on controversy Feucht may have fewer gigs on his tour schedule, but he just gained a wealth of free publicity, said Dax D'Orazio, a post-doctoral fellow in the University of Guelph's political science department who researches freedom of expression in Canada. If you generally disagree with someone, if you think their expression is harmful, you have to think really long and hard about what the best way to counteract that in society is, he said. Sometimes calling for the cancellation of events Is not always the most strategic way to go about things. Enlarge image (new window) People line up outside a church in the west end of Toronto on Sunday to see Feucht. Hundreds of people attended his show. Photo: CBC D'Orazio said performers like Feucht can earn symbolic capital in public discourse if they can claim they're a victim. Matthew Taylor, a senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore who has written about Feucht, shared that sentiment. He's been doing these provocative, in your face, intentionally trying to draw a response from local officials, even trying to get barred or banned, and then he presents that as persecution, that he is the victim of anti-Christian bias, he told CBC News last week. Feucht, for his part, celebrated that he and his followers were triumphant over attempts to scuttle the performances, having rebooked some to other venues or properties. The plan of the enemy has backfired BIG TIME up here!! Feucht wrote in a Facebook post (new window) on Thursday. Just like the book of Acts, what the activists tried to stop has now gone viral — IT BACKFIRED!! They are having to report on worship and the preaching of the gospel every night! We did not seek this controversy — yet God will use it for His glory!, he said in a separate post (new window) that same day, noting it was the third year in a row of bringing his "Let Us Worship" movement to Canada. WATCH | Feucht's show goes on after permit revoked for national historic site near Halifax: 'Price of a democracy' Both Turk and D'Orazio said they see a bad precedent being set by public agencies revoking permits for a divisive figure like Feucht. There could end up being a tit-for-tat situation, D'Orazio said, in which people or groups holding opposing views can target one another using Feucht as an example of public agencies shutting down events just because people on one side are rallying against the other. It doesn't matter if people view Feucht as spreading hate, Turk said, because it's unlikely anything he says would rise to the level of being considered hate speech in the eyes of Canada's justice system. Turk said in the case of someone crossing that line, they should indeed be prevented from having a platform. But beyond that, he said, freedom of expression must be protected for everyone equally — regardless of which views we hold. The price of a democracy is we're always exposed to divergent views, some of which we love, some of which we hate. Nick Logan (new window) · CBC News · Senior Writer Nick Logan is a senior writer with CBC based in Vancouver. He is a multi-platform reporter and producer, with a particular focus on international news. You can reach out to him at With files from Anjuli Patil
Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Should Liquid I.V. be on Canadian concertgoers' must-pack list?
I love small indoor venues with regulated temperatures and assigned seats, but Kesha , Barenaked Ladies , Cyndi Lauper , Our Lady Peace and many other headliners this summer are at the very popular outdoor Budweiser Stage, located in Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario. Toronto is having a very hot summer, so I appreciate Liquid I.V. 's messaging around proper hydration. The popular electrolyte drink mix ( available on Amazon ) first came to Canada in the summer of 2023 and went after the concertgoer and fitness community across the country. The brand is not slowing down. It continues to partner with Budweiser Stage and other Canadian venues and events to share its messaging around the importance of hydration. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. I see two angles for consuming Liquid I.V. First, it's important to replenish electrolytes in hot and/or sweaty environments, and it's easy to do so with convenient packets of powder. Secondly, it's more fun to drink water when it tastes like a delicious treat. However, know what's in the packets before consuming them. Liquid I.V. offers sugar-free and sugar-full variations ( learn more about the sugar options ); however, the former have yet to make it to Canada ( Organika, a Canadian-made electrolytes powder , has a sugar-free option). In terms of use and cost, Liquid I.V. packets are not cheap, but also not small. At over $2 per pack, the cost of the drink mix can add up if used frequently. However, it can also be a more affordable option compared to drinks at a concert venue. 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We're also listening closely to our community and can't wait to bring even more exciting new flavours to the country. Shopping Essentials , a category written by research-obsessed shopping fanatics, is now on Canoe . Explore in-depth product reviews, expert recommendations and exciting collaborations — plus get behind-the-scenes info on your favourite brands and trending products — learn more here or sign up for our newsletter rmann@postmedia Looking for savings? Look no further than our coupons page for discounts on your favourite brands. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Birmingham to bid final farewell to hometown hero Ozzy Osbourne
Published Jul 29, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 2 minute read Fans of the late musician Ozzy Osbourne will be able to wish him a final farewell when his funeral cortege passes through his hometown of Birmingham on Wednesday Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account London (AFP) — Heavy metal hell-raiser Ozzy Osbourne will be laid to rest on Wednesday, with thousands set to bid the legendary musician a final farewell when his funeral cortege drives through his UK hometown. Officials in the central city of Birmingham said Tuesday they have worked with his family to draw up the details of Osbourne's last goodbye, before a private funeral service. 'Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham,' Zafar Iqbal, the lord mayor of the central English city, said in a statement. 'It was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral,' he said. Osbourne, nicknamed the 'Prince of Darkness' and who once bit a bat while on stage while performing with his Black Sabbath band, died on July 22 at the age of 76. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The heavy metal star, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, passed away just over a fortnight after playing a final gig before a sold-out crowd in Birmingham. Ozzy's hearse will travel over Black Sabbath bridge where thousands of fans have left tributes since the heavy metal legend died on July 22. (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP) Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP Birmingham city council said Osbourne's funeral cortege would pass slowly through the city from 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) down Broad Street to Black Sabbath bridge. The hearse and vehicles will be accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin' Brass. 'We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We're proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began,' Iqbal said. Thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes at the bridge in recent days, mourning the death of the musician who was instrumental in pioneering heavy metal, an offshoot of hard rock. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Iqbal said the Osbourne family 'have kindly funded all of the associated costs' of the funeral. Black Sabbath enjoyed huge commercial success in the 1970s and 80s after forming in Birmingham in 1968. Black Sabbath's eponymous 1970 debut album made the UK top 10 and paved the way for a string of hit records, including their most famous song 'Paranoid'. The group went on to sell more than 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Osbourne was added for a second time last year as a solo artist. The group sold more than 75 million albums and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. (KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File) Photo by KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File Osbourne gained notoriety for his outlandish stunts, many of them fuelled by his lavish use of drugs and alcohol. In 1989, he was arrested for drunkenly trying to strangle his wife Sharon, which he once mentioned in a 2007 interview. His live performances at the height of his hedonism have gone down in rock folklore, particularly the 1982 gig in the US city of Des Moines when he bit a bat on stage. Osbourne said he thought a fan had thrown a fake rubber bat onstage, and it was not until he took a bite that he realised it was real. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances. MLB Sunshine Girls Opinion Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
