by Scott Roos Prince Albert pics by Scott Roos Saskatoon pics by Rachel Gibson Dan Mangan in Saskatoon There are two very different ways to experience Dan Mangan. In Prince Albert, he stood on the stage of the EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts in front of a relatively small, subdued audience. A few nights later, in Saskatoon, at the venerable Broadway Theatre, he walked into a sold-out room filled with people who knew the words to just about everything he played. Two cities. T

photo by Scott Roos photo by Scott Roos by Scott Roos pics by Scott Roos and Sara Kjelshus (as captioned) There are bands where you go to a concert because you want to hear the musicians play. And then there are bands where you go because you want to hear the songs. Journey, playing SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon on Sunday, Sept. 27, was definitely the latter. That isn't to say the musicianship wasn't impressive. It was. Neal Schon is Neal Schon. The guy can absolutely shred, an

words and pics by Scott Roos A few weeks before Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk arrived at Prince Albert's EA Rawlinson Centre, Maida offered a simple piece of advice to anyone planning to attend. “You just have to expect the unexpected,” he said. On Thursday, Sept. 24, he made good on that promise. There was a set list, of course. There were songs from the couple's Moon vs Sun project, including “I'm Going to Break Your Heart,” “I Can Change” and “Bring That Boy.” There we

by Scott Roos photos courtesy of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Keaton Leier. Photo credit Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra There was something pretty special about watching Keaton Leier dance on the stage at TCU Place last weekend. Leier, a Saskatoon native and second soloist with the National Ballet of Canada, came home for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra’s At the Ballet concert on Saturday, Sept. 19, and the hometown connection was impossible to miss. This wasn’t simply ano

words and pics by Brooke Anderson Driving over 4000km in a big yellow bus Justin Sutton and Jeremy Grey invited Prince Albert local Taya Lebel on their "Honkytonk Til The House Burns Down" roadshow at the Rock Trout Cafe. Named “Road to the CCMA’s” this past Wednesday night's show was worth the late bedtime. On their 6th show of the tour, Sutton and Grey shared anecdotes of their lone trip taking turns driving to each destination. Excited for the Canadian Country Music Awards

by Scott Roos photos courtesy of the bands and Little Slaughter on the Prairie There’s something fitting about a festival called Little Slaughter on the Prairie arriving in Saskatoon with eight bands, a magician and absolutely no interest in behaving like a traditional music festival. Taking over RCAF Lynx Hall on Saturday, August 22, the inaugural event brings together Edmonton and Saskatoon’s heavy music communities for an evening built around grind, death metal, deathcore,

words and pics by Scott Roos There are probably more obvious places to stage a heavy metal show in Saskatoon than TCU Place. The home of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra isn’t exactly the first building that comes to mind when someone says “circle pit.” It has more of a “please take your seats and silence your cellphones” reputation than a “somebody just crowd-surfed over three rows of people” one. But on Friday night, Aug. 14, TCU Place made a pretty convincing argument that

Words and pics by Scott Roos Our Grade: A There’s something wonderfully uncomplicated about “Wild Life,” the new single from Prince Albert’s The Shyning. Released July 16, it’s the kind of rock song that doesn’t ask you to overthink things. It just wants you to turn it up and have a good time. Recorded at Mosaic Music Studio with Rich McFarlane, “Wild Life” comes loaded with the sort of classic-rock swagger that makes you want to dig an old denim jacket out of the closet. The

by Scott Roos photos courtesy of the artist unless otherwise stated There is something pretty cool about the Saskatoon Fringe Festival. Actually, there are a lot of things that are pretty cool about it. For one thing, there are simply so many options. From July 30 to August 8, Saskatoon's famed Broadway Avenue neighbourhood becomes a sort of giant, temporary theatre district, with performers, musicians, dancers, comedians and storytellers popping up all over the place. You ca

Roughsleeper – Everything Is Getting Worse Released: March 3/2026 Lonesome View Records By Scott Roos Our Grade: B+ Regina’s Roughsleeper return with Everything Is Getting Worse , a five-track EP that doubles down on the band’s strengths: punchy melodic punk, big hooks, and tight musicianship. Now operating as a streamlined trio with Rob White (guitar/vocals), Joey Gadica (bass), and Steve McNeil (drums), the group has trimmed the lineup but kept the energy intact. The EP ope

By Scott Roos Our Grade: A- With his latest single, "Alone", Jordan Perry leans confidently into retro territory, delivering a shimmering slice of synth pop that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The track opens with a restrained, mid-tempo pulse before gradually layering glossy keyboards and live drums, creating a slow-burn build that pays off in a satisfying climax. It’s easy to imagine this one sliding seamlessly onto the soundtrack of Cobra Kai, thanks to its polished eight

by Scott Roos Our grade: B+ A Confident Debut Rooted in Classic Rock Warmth Battleford-based Hartz Roller makes a strong first impression with their debut single, “Let Me Love You.” The track leans into a warm, nostalgic lane while still carrying enough spark to feel contemporary. From the first listen, the vocals give off a Stevie Nicks–adjacent vibe, paired with instrumentation that recalls the breezy polish of classic ’70s AM radio pop rock. Like a Sweeney Todd or Bay City

photos and words by Scott Roos Dave Mustaine shredding up a storm during "Hangar 18" There are nights when a metal tour rolls through town and checks the boxes. And then there are nights when thrash history itself seems to step out onto the stage, plug in, and remind everyone why this music still matters. The recent triple threat of Megadeth, Anthrax, and Exodus at the SaskTel Centre on Tuesday, February 24th delivered exactly that: a multi-generational thrash celebration tha

words and photos by Brooke Anderson (Brooke Anderson Media) “Just close your eyes and imagine you’re not here”. She told the audience as she introduced her song The City. Bearing through the cold and many inches of snow, Ella Forrest and The Great Pines played at the E.A. Rawlinson on Friday, February 20th. Though they hadn’t played together since August and had only rehearsed the week before, their chemistry was unmatchable. Personality soared through the roof of the saxopho

by Scott Roos Our Grade: B+ Saskatoon’s Blind Commentary continues carving out space in the prairie underground with the release of “Trapped in the Walls,” which dropped Feb. 11. The single marks the band’s first offering of 2026 and hints at a continued experimental direction ahead for the self-described "emogaze" outfit. On this track, they don’t ease you in. They drop you straight into it. “Trapped in the Walls” is all tension and texture. The guitars shimmer and collide,

words and photos by Brooke Anderson (Brooke Anderson Media) Toeing the line between rock and country, HARDY (Micheal Hardy) brought an immense energy to the SaskTel Centre this past Thursday, February 12th. The "Country! Country! Tour" had just debuted a week earlier in Oshawa ON and the chemistry of the touring party was on fire. The openers McCoy Moore and Cameron Whitcomb couldn't have been the more perfect to open for HARDY. McCoy Moore has an amazing voice and his supp

by Scott Roos Our Grade: A (Song) and A+ (Video) Katelyn Lehner’s latest single, “Howl,” (released this past July) arrives as a sultry, genre-bending pop-country-rock stomper that feels tailor-made for late nights, dance floors, and radio rotation. Clocking in at a tight 2 minutes and 48 seconds, it’s a punchy, high-energy track that doesn’t overstay its welcome — just enough time to grab a partner and two-step before it fades out, leaving you wishing it went on a little long

by Scott Roos Our grade: A Jordan Perry’s “Sleep Forever,” the lead single from his upcoming album Jeux d’hiver , is a polished, atmospheric entry into a sonic world that feels both nostalgic and immediate. Rooted in retro electro-pop, the track carries a distinctly old-school energy that recalls the sleek, pulsing textures of Daft Punk, particularly the mood-driven soundscapes of the Tron Legacy soundtrack. There’s also additional cinematic quality to it that brings to mind

by Scott Roos Our grade: B “Down Bad,” released in October 2025, marks a vulnerable and important step for Saskatchewan indie artist LILI, a nehiyaw iskwew musician from Sturgeon Lake First Nation known for her heartfelt songwriting and grounded presence. As her first ballad, the track leans fully into emotional honesty, exploring the aftermath of a painful breakup and the quiet humiliation that can come from loving someone who never truly loved you back. Drawing on themes of

by Scott Roos photo by Nova ( @saulandnovacreative) Our Grade: A- Beauval country artist Sammii’s debut single “Her Love” makes a strong first impression, showcasing a thoughtful blend of country textures and heartfelt performance, brought together under the steady hand of producer Travis Beatty. From the opening moments, the backing track establishes a warm, inviting sound. The banjo in the intro is a particularly nice touch, setting a rustic tone that leads naturally into a