When we said that 2019 was leaving us well prepared for whatever 2020 might bring, we might have been just a touch over-confident. We were looking at a year when festivals were making slight adjustments in the wake of Shambala shifting its dates. Instead, we saw a year without live music and… well, everything else.
In a year of big news from around the world, here are our top stories from 2020.
Prince Edward Island’s Musicians Celebrate Island Grown Potatoes with Stompin’ Tom’s ‘Bud the Spud’
Blessed is the humble potato, that versatile cornerstone of the food pyramid. It has been the foundation of many a fine meal, and in times of both feast and famine, it has been there for us almost without fail.
With the new challenges we’re being presented with the current pandemic, there have arisen certain questions of food certainty. Prince Edward Island’s Agricultural Industry has been working double-time during less than ideal circumstances to keep the province’s #1 foodstuff on the table, and their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
Mark Phillips, a marketing specialist at the PEI Potato Board, which represents all the potato growers on Prince Edward Island, and Peter Cann, of Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, lead the charge. The pair reached out to some friends to help get their message across…. (read more here)
Kings Landing Welcoming Visitors for 2020 with New Social Distancing Measures
Kings Landing, New Brunswick’s 19th-century gem, have announced that they will be opening this summer while making adjustments to the historical re-enactment village and taking precautions to ensure the safety of visitors and staff during the pandemic…. (read more here)
The Capital Complex Announces Big Changes, Including a Rebranding and Expansion
After twenty years of being in business, one of Fredericton’s favourite music venues will be undergoing some changes. Starting 14 March 2020, The Capital Complex will be shaking things up with a little rebranding, a bit of restructuring and a lot more reason to stop in…. (read more here)
Hot x Proxy Keep on Top of Their Game With ‘Fake It’
Hot x Proxy are starting to feel their age. It’s a sorry state to be in for any working rocking band, but the fourpiece have found a surefire method for coping: “Fake It”. With a dose of self-awareness, and probably a little joint pain, the band’s new single brings it like it’s still 1999….. (read more here)
Pocologan Productions Bring Live Music Back to New Brunswick With Sussex Drive-In
COVID-19 looked like it was spelling out the end of live music festivals everywhere, at least until 2021. Even with quarantine restrictions being lifted in New Brunswick, gatherings of more than 50 people are currently out of the question. Pocologan Productions, the people behind Pocologan Camp Party, just weren’t prepared to accept a summer without live music. They’ve partnered with the Sussex Drive-In theatre to bring music back to New Brunswick while still maintaining proper social distancing practices…. (read more here)
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival Shifts to Summer Concert Series
It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for music festivals thanks to COVID-19. Many, with lockdown in place, have chosen to simply postpone for a year, while others have found creative new ways to connect with their audiences and support musicians. Now, with the Atlantic Bubble presenting new options, the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Society have dipped their toes back in the water – not with a full festival, with a series of summer concerts…. (read more here)
Levi Rowan’s ‘Let It Go’ is the Coolest Video We’ve Seen This Year
We are witnessing the ongoing and conscious evolution of Levi Rowan. Since the release of his single “Night Terrors” in 2019, there’s been a marked growth in his artistic style and production quality; eschewing teenage bravado for a deeper introspection better suited to 2020 and an artist of his talents. That growth figures into his latest single, “Let It Go”, in a big way as Levi totes the values of self-acceptance, especially when others aren’t prepared to…. (read more here)
Fredericton Al Fresco: City Announces Plans for Bistro-Style Dining in Public Spaces
The City of Fredericton is seeking out new ways of returning to normal in a post-COVID environment while supporting many of their local restaurants. Today Fredericton announced a new partnership with Downtown Fredericton and Business Fredericton North called Fredericton al fresco, which would see the city take on a more European-style of social dining, with the introduction of almost 60 new picnic- or bistro-style tables in various public spaces across the city…. (read more here)
Saint John String Quartet Highlights New Brunswick’s Natural Beauty with ‘Northwest Passage’
After almost a year of spending a lot of time shut away in our homes, there is a heightened appreciation of the natural beauties that surround us. And with the Saint John String Quartet’s latest release, they are putting Canadian beauty and legacy together in a wondrous display. The video features their arrangement of Stan Rogers’ “Northwest Passage” from last year’s album Canadian Hits: Unplugged, and also features some of the heart-stirring landscapes of New Brunswick…. (read more here)
Miramichi’s Vogue Theatre Destroyed by Fire
The Vogue Theatre of Miramichi, New Brunswick was damaged in a fire early this morning. The fire claimed a handful of buildings, beginning with a nearby building on University Ave. that has been completely destroyed… (read more here)