The Sirius Stage @ Telus StreetFest
Each year, the Grey Cup Festival focuses our country's collective revelry in one city for four (or more) consecutive days and nights. An estimated 30-thousand out-of-towners are expected to descend on Edmonton this week and they’re going to be looking for something to do. Fortunately, they’ll have plenty of options. There’s football, sure, but there’s much more to the celebration than the game itself. Like music.
A newly reunited Bachman-Turner (no 'Overdrive' this time around, though I've heard the band is still capable of kicking it into high gear when they need to) have been tapped to perform during this year's halftime show, but there are plenty of other musical options for festival goers. Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro and Beastie Boys DJ Mix Master Mike will both be gracing festival stages this week, along with non-imports like 54-40, Bif Naked and George Canyon. Better yet, many are playing for free as part of the celebrations down at Churchill Square.
One of the week's brightest (and loudest) musical moments is sure to come Saturday, when Alberta’s own Gordie Johnson returns to the stage with a recently-reunited Big Sugar. (To this day Big Sugar are one of the loudest bands I've ever seen.) The quintessentially western-Canadian band have played only a handful of shows since going on extended hiatus in 2003, so fans are in for a treat. Coincidentally, on their 1998 album 'Heated,' the band turned in a revved-up, reggae-infused take on BTO's "Let it Ride." I’m not sure if the band will be sticking around for Sunday’s game, but how great would it be to hear Gordie Johnson and Fred Turner sharing vocal duties at halftime? It's not going to happen, but nonetheless the answer is 'very.'
Global News will be catching up with Randy Bachman and Fred Turner on Saturday to get their thoughts on headlining this year’s Grey Cup. We’ll be airing a portion of that interview on the Evening News at 6pm, and hope to post a link to the raw interview right here.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Let it Ride
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