CJSW Radio!

Take our Quiz!

2009-07-29T17:33:00.001-06:00

CJSW is now featured in one of the famous facebook quizzes! Have you ever wondered what DJ you are most like? Well, this quiz will finally answer that question.

Enjoy

Sled Island Friday Photos

2009-06-30T13:46:00.001-06:00

Tricky Woo, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Tricky Woo rocking out! A few more photos here.

Sled Island Thursday Photos

2009-06-26T10:52:00.001-06:00

Monotonix, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Wow!

Sled Island Wednesday Photos

2009-06-26T08:39:00.001-06:00

Andrew WK, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Gong show! Dig photos from the CJSW showcase at Central United Church, Factory Party #6 and Broken City.

Sled Island back for third year!

2009-06-24T11:18:00.004-06:00

With a continuous stream of exciting musicians and artists arriving to town each hour, Sled Island is officially underway in the city of Calgary. Book off the next four days from work, friends, because this is going to be an outrageously action-packed 96-hour party starring the likes of The Breeders, Obits, The Bronx, HEALTH, Liars, Anvil, Holy F*ck, Mount Eerie, Knots, Andrew WK, Monotonix, Michael Rault, BRAIDS, The Pack AD, Biz Markie, Whitey Houston, Factory Party #6, the blazing return of Tricky Woo and many, many more. This year, the music and arts festival is being curated by the talented Colin Newman (see image below), who will debut brand new material alongside his lovely wife, Malka Spigel, in Githead. They're amazing! Grab a festival guide, buy a wristband, discover a slew of new favourite bands and make sure you meet some new best friends. Remember your nightly rejuvenating shots of espresso and see you at the latenight Legion afterparties!

Part of Team Sled Island 2009 at CJSW recording a Sled Island podcast (hear it at SledIsland.com)
L-R Zak Pashak, Shawn Petsche, Malka Spigel and Colin Newman and their juice boxes.

PHOTOS: Flemish Eye Ball (May 16, 2009)

2009-05-19T12:03:00.002-06:00

Calgary’s premier indie label, Flemish Eye, put on a highly anticipated (and highly sold out) shindig at the Royal Canadian Legion #1 in the downtown core. It was a veritable who’s who of local musicians with a few very special guests from coast to coast added to the mix.

Two synched stages (upstairs and downstairs) offered back to back bands all night long. First off, I caught The Pale Air Singers. The supergroup Singers feature both members of Victoria's Run Chico Run and Calgary's The Cape May. To top it off, their self-titled debut album was released TODAY!

Next up was Ghostkeeper with special guests Jay Crocker and Scott Munro (Günther, etc.). The crowd was packed in very tightly, but I managed to get close enough to catch a few great shots.

Local road warriors WOMEN tore it up afterwards. Their sound crystallized by over 200 shows in the past year. Matt Flagel held it all down on bass, not the least bit tired from his earlier performance with the Pale Air Singers.

Trivia Moment: Mr. Matt Flagel, not to be confused with his brother Pat (WOMEN vocalist), is also in The Cape May AND plays with Chad Vangaalen from time to time.

(Yes, that is a small picture of Oprah on his pick guard)

Unfortunately, the crowd upstairs wasn’t as easily navigable this time around, so my shots of Azeda Booth were taken from a precarious perch atop a railing

The evening culminated with a fantastic double shot of Julie Doiron and Chad Vangaalen. First, we heard Julie doing a few solo songs. I was glad to hear “Spill Yer Lungs” among others from her great new album. Chad backed her up on drums.

Then, the musicians changed roles. Chad picked up his guitar and threw down lots of material from Soft Airplane. Here he is playing banjo while maintaining a steady Vrksasana (tree pose) throughout the song “Willow Tree”:

Two big thumbs up to Ian Russell (AKA Mr. Flemish Eye, AKA The Hardest Working Man in Calgary Music) and everyone at/on Flemish Eye for regaling us with such a rare event!

Check out more photos here.

CJSW News covers School of Public Policy Opening

2009-05-16T11:53:00.001-06:00

CJSW, originally uploaded by CJSW News.

The University of Calgary launched the new School of Public Policy on Wednesday, May 13th. Inside a downtown hotel, the gala included speeches from Premier Ed Stelmach, U of C president Harvey Weingarten and former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Outside, a small group of protesters including U of C students demonstrated against the event. Tune into CJSW News at 11 am on Monday, May 18th for coverage of the event, including a half-hour interview with Dr. Jack Mintz, executive director of the new school.

Sled Island 2009 Line-up Announced!

2009-05-03T20:51:00.002-06:00

Final Fantasy, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

Liars, Women, Woodhands, Tricky Woo, The Breeders, Obits, Anvil, The Coathangers, HEALTH, The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Evaporators, Mount Eerie, Hot Little Rocket, The Pack A.D., Sub-linguals, Githead, Final Fantasy, The Rural Alberta Advantage, The Whitsundays, The Dead Science, Andrew W.K., Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, Novillero, The Bronx, Nardwuar’s Video Vault, The United Steel Workers of Montreal, Slim Twig, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, O’Death, Monotonix, Jonathan Toubin, Malajube, Ladyhawk, Library Voices, Hollerado, Japandroids, The Dudes, Flash Lightnin’, The Cripple Creek Fairies, Holy Fuck, Battle Snakes.

Full list expected on June 1! More info on Sled Island...

Brenda Earle

2009-04-27T15:01:00.001-06:00

Weathered Piano, originally uploaded by Scamper Girl.

Jazz Is Society presents Brenda Earle (jazz pianist, vocalist, composer) May 1 & 2 — Part Two of the April/May Mini-VocalJazzFest

In response to tremendous demand for an injection of vocal jazz into its concert lineup, the Jazz is Society of Alberta is pleased to announce a return engagement of New York City’s Brenda Earle as the final performer of the JIS VocalJazzFest on Friday and Saturday, May 1st and 2nd, 8:00 p.m. at Cantos Music Foundation, 134-11th Avenue SE, (403) 543-5115. Ms. Earle will be joined by Resident Artists of the Jazz Is Society: John Reid, saxophone and flute; Kodi Hutchison, bass; John De Waal, drums. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.

Brenda Earle is a pianist, vocalist, composer, and arranger who draws inspiration from jazz, Brazilian, classical, and pop musics to weave together an intriguing sound and style.

A graduate of Toronto’s York University jazz program as a piano major, she found herself drawn to vocalists — especially Carmen McCrae and Ella Fitzgerald — and worked high profile cruise ship piano bars for a time developing a broad repertoire. In 2002 she moved to New York to pursue Graduate Studies in Jazz from the Manhattan School of Music. In 2004, Brenda was selected as a winner of the International Association for Jazz Education’s Sisters in Jazz competition, which identified her as one of the top emerging female jazz artists in the world. She, and four other winners, were assembled to perform at the IAJE conference in New York City, opening for Nicholas Payton and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. Two performances at the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center ensued.

In 2005, Brenda released her second full-length jazz CD entitled Happening, which featured original compositions and unique arrangements of jazz standards and pop covers. This album showcased her eclectic compositional prowess (as well as her New York band) and she toured extensively in support of this release, performing all over Canada, the US and a special month-long tour of New Zealand. She received international radio play in 27 countries.

She has performed with Dick Oatts, Hugh Fraser, Pat LaBarbera, Mike Murley, and Bobby Sanabria among others. She is a prolific composer and arranger of instrumental and vocal music. She has composed for chamber orchestra, big band, string quartet, brass quintet and woodwind ensembles as well as over 100 compositions for jazz ensemble. A prolific vocal writer, she has composed/arranged over fifty pieces for jazz vocal
ensembles, including two Sacred Jazz Masses.

Visit Brenda Earle’s website at: http://www.brendaearle.com/

Ticket prices for the concert are: General admission $ 35, Members $ 30, Seniors $ 30, Students $20 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster (403) 777-0000 (agency fee in effect).

www.cantos.ca; www.jazzis.org

Sponsors: Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development Authority, CJSW 90.9 FM, Western Sky Graphics.

The Jazz Is Society of Alberta exists to present jazz works to the public with an emphasis on collaborations among Calgarian, Albertan, Canadian, and International artists.

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009

2009-04-07T09:55:00.011-06:00

Regie Cabico

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009
Originally uploaded by Sherlock77 (James)

Regie Cabico acted as MC at the Big Bang Poetry & Music night. He also performed at the Auburn Saloon on Thursday, April 2.

By the start of the show at 8 pm, the seats were filled and late-comers had to find places to stand near the back entrance or closer to the front. A few sat on the floor.

With two costume changes, Toronto's evalyn parry showed versatility before an enchanted audience.

evalyn parry

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009
Originally uploaded by Sherlock77 (James)

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009

2009-04-07T09:25:00.004-06:00

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009
Originally uploaded by Sherlock77 (James)

A few luminaries graced the stage of the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre on Saturday, April 4, including drummer Ras Michael.

He has worked and performed with legendary artists such as Bob Marley, Lee Perry, Stevie Wonder and many others.

Also in the line-up for the Big Bang Poetry & Music were Lilian Allen, dub poet extraordinare from Toronto.

She received the Golden Beret, an award the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival has presented each year since 2007. The award acknowledges a Canadian Spoken Word artist who has made significant, lifelong contributions to Spoken Word and to the growth and development of their communities.

And while many of his comrades have fallen, John Giorno, at the age of 72, continues to live to tell a tale or two of their impact on his life and the lives of so many others.

In his poem, Thanx 4 Nothing, which he wrote on his 70th birthday in 2006, John Giorno recalls the glory years of his youth, the days spent with friends and collaborators. Not the least among them is Andy Warhol.

Lillian Allen

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009
Originally uploaded by Sherlock77 (James)

John Giorno

Calgary Int'l Spoken Word Festival 2009
Originally uploaded by Sherlock77 (James)

SXSW 2009

2009-03-23T17:48:00.005-06:00

A few pictures now, more pictures and words later!

DEVO

Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen

Will Sergeant of Echo & The Bunnymen

Janelle Monae

Ladyhawke

Tricky

Tricky wading through his loving fans at the end of his set at the Levi's Fader Fort SXSW party

Thee Oh Sees

The Sonics

Monotonix changing lives at Mess With Texas, a day party at SXSW 2009

SLED ISLAND IS BACK

2009-03-12T09:58:00.002-06:00

Sled Island is throwing a Pre-Fest Fundraiser Party on April 11, 2009 at the Royal Canadian Legion #1 (116 7 Avenue SE) in Downtown Calgary.

Headlining the Pre-Fest Fundraiser Party is Canada’s own Fucked Up, the critically acclaimed experimental hardcore punk band with an appreciation for the theatrical and a willingness to collaborate (Final Fantasy, David Cross, Nelly Furtado, etc.). They will be joined by great local bands and friends of the festival: Forbidden Dimension, Sharp Ends,The Sublinguals, The War Doves and special guests.

This year's guest curator, Colin Newman from the legendary UK art rock band Wire, co-headliners of Sled Island 2008, will also be in attendance to rally support for another fantastic edition of the Sled Island Music Festival happening on June 24 - 27 at various Calgary venues.

Mustard Seed Guerrilla

2009-02-16T18:31:00.005-07:00

As Aviva Zimmerman told CJSW News listeners Monday morning, Guerilla Theatre is spontaneous and subversive acts of theatre used to highlight social issues in public space. For the past few months, Zimmerman has been involved in conducting drama workshops at the Mustard Seed. That has resulted in Open Mike nights taking place at the Mustard Seed on the last Friday of every month and as well as some public performances.

Mustard Seed Guerrilla
Originally uploaded by jaclin32

Symposium Guerrilla-1
Originally uploaded by jaclin32

Update from Station Manager Chad Saunders

2008-12-18T16:25:00.003-07:00

Well friends, here is the latest news on the flood of 2008 (not to be confused with the flood of 2001 or the orange syrup goo incident of 1996 or the kitchen grease-fest of 1990-something).

The cleanup of the CDs went very well. Everyone from CJSW staff and volunteers and random University of Calgary students passing by to the good folks listening to the radio and accepting our plea for assistance, came to the rescue. Their quick efforts helped save our library from being lost. Thank you all very much for your help. I also want to thank the University of Calgary and the Students' Union for their quick efforts in grabbing our computers and taking them to higher and drier ground.

The tally of what was lost is still being assessed by our dedicated volunteer librarian Devin. Most of the collection is back in the library and measures have been taken to deflect potentially future floods into the middle of the aisles in the library. Our pal local musician Matt Masters brought Jeff and Tynan to play some tunes for everyone helping to reassemble and put the CDs back in the library. Good times had by all!

We are meeting up with our insurance broker to figure out what our next steps are to replace the CDs and other equipment and such that was damaged by the flood. We are hoping to get the carpet ripped out of the offices and to do something about the strange gooey stains on the ceiling over the next few days.

In the long term, CJSW is working with our project manager to obtain a building permit to begin construction on the new space. Requests for tenders are scheduled to go out in January. If we can afford the total cost of the construction, we will start as soon as possible. The main objective for the past five years has been to move CJSW out of this space for reasons that have become clear. We will keep you all posted as best we can over the next few months on these developments.

Again - thank you all for your support over the past week. We all truly appreciate it.

Chad Saunders, CJSW Station Manager

Santa Red is your colour, buddy! The lovely and festive Matt Masters (L) & his rock'n' roll elves.

Soaked! CJSW gets hit by a messy, gooey flood.

2008-12-17T01:15:00.017-07:00

On Monday afternoon, an enormous water pipe burst at the UofC's MacEwan Hall. Unfortunately, the pipe burst in the same area as the CJSW offices and studios and nearly every part of the station was flooded. Thankfully, the on-air booth was spared and no one was hurt.

While the burst pipe reportedly did not contain sewage water, by the time the leaked water spread throughout the aged ceiling, filthy water and other dislodged goo (leftover from previous mishaps in the building) were seeping through the ceiling. This filthy mixture rained on our library, offices, production room, engineering room, as well as all the people working in these spaces.

Thanks to our quick thinking staff and volunteers, plastic bags were quickly thrown on top of valuable equipment to protect them from the water and questionable gunk coming through the ceiling.

Unfortunately, massive damage has been incurred to nearly every work area at CJSW as well as a vertical section of the library and its contents. The carpet and parts of the ceiling are ruined. A section of the infamously well-stocked CJSW library will never be the same again. At this point in time, it is estimated that 4000 CDs have been soiled. Approximately 350 CDs are irreparably damaged and will have to be replaced.

Staff and volunteers are working around the clock to sanitize and reorganize the offices and library. Dehumidifiers and industrial strength fans have been placed throughout the station. Thousands of CDs and their soggy paper contents have been carefully spread out in the studio to air out and dry.

Friends, it is business as usual at CJSW. Despite the magnitude of the flood, CJSW is proud to have been able to continue our top-notch programming without any interruption whatsoever.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to dear listeners like Jordy, who heard about the flood and drove straight to the station with a shop vacuum and dozens of paper towel rolls in his arms. We thank him and many other generous Calgarians who instantly dropped what they were doing to come to our assistance. We cherish your affectionate support of CJSW. The love is mutual.

xoxo,
Your pals at CJSW

Volunteers quickly repairing damaged library items in the studio (above) while the lower level of MacEwan Hall is closed for clean-up (below).

Local filmmaker presents Rock Paper Scissors on Saturday night!

2008-11-14T15:51:00.002-07:00

On Saturday, November 15th, Rock Paper Scissors: A Geek Tragedy screens at the Plaza at 9pm. Made by Calgary-based filmmaker Mike McKeown, Rock Paper Scissors is about how "the Walker brothers wanted to turn a child's game into a lucrative competitive sport, but when Rock Paper Scissors fanatics converge on the world championships, they find themselves caught between two sports networks, big business, talk show pundits, playmate mascots, and a battle of good versus evil that asks whether pure intentions can ever beat commercialism." The film will be followed by the first ever Rock Paper Scissors Cowtown Classic Pro-Am Tournament! It's a sanctioned RPS tournament with World RPS Society officials on hand. For more information, head over to www.rpsfilm.com. Happy weekend, Calgary!

Found Footage Festival reveals latest treasures to Calgary

2008-11-13T14:13:00.009-07:00

On Thursday, November 13th and Friday, November 14th at 7pm, Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett will be screening their hilarious Found Footage Festival at the Plaza Theatre. The duo has compiled over an hour's worth of footage from videos found at garage sales, thrift sales, warehouses and dumpsters. Tune in to My Allergy to the Fans on Friday (2-4pm) to hear Chad talk with Nick & Joe about this year's goodies.

The Found Footage Festival was founded in New York in 2004 and has gone on to sell out hundreds of shows across North America. Both curators will be in attendance tonight and Friday night. Tickets are $15 or $12 for students.

For more information, go to www.foundfootagefest.com and http://calgaryundergroundfilm.org. Keep listening to CJSW for your chance to attend for free!

Together, we did it! CJSW loves you, Calgary!

2008-11-01T01:23:00.011-06:00

...And the ladies love Jett Thunders

To celebrate another completely successful Funding Drive, rock'n'roll fans in Halloween costumes flocked to CJSW's Monster Mash Bash '08 at the Liberty Lounge. Two of Calgary's best rock bands performed -- Rotoflex recording artists, The Von Zippers, and four little ghosties called The Ex-Boyfriends. The Cobra 90.9 FM's Jett Thunders (not in costume... I repeat, not in costume) was circulating throughout the crowd to high-five attendees who pledged during this year's funding drive and to try to get their mom's phone number. Hope your mom has call display. Or a thing for vintage Van Halen. We love you, Jett!

The Von Zippers

The Ex-Boyfriends

Congratulations to our endlessly dedicated CJSW staff and extremely enthusiastic crew of volunteers for working around the clock to bring a funding drive to life. Disc jockeys spent countless hours thoughtfully assembling prize packs and libraries of mix discs to pass on to our dear CJSW listenership for their generous pledges. Other tireless volunteers repeatedly came in for overnight shifts and still made it to their full-time jobs or school day. The level of teamwork was inspiring, can't wait for Funding Drive '09!

To our beloved community -- THANK-YOU! Please hold onto something sturdy, it's going to be an amazing broadcasting year.

Prom Dates

2008-10-30T17:14:00.001-06:00

Prom Dates
Originally uploaded by jaclin32

Look at what we dug up! This horrible photo at A Prom Night to Dismember
Thanks to the Marquee Room at the Uptown Theatre for putting on a fantastic blast from the past to haunt our memories to come.

Live Drive Excitement!

2008-10-28T20:38:00.002-06:00

Uptown Stage and Screen, originally uploaded by Gunn ♪.

I've checked out a few live drive events so far.
General consensus:
- Stephen Malkmus (with Blitzen Trapper) was sweet
- Army of Darkness drew a huge crowd of cult movie (and beer) fanatics
- Chad Vangaalen's show was PACKED with psychedelic folk (music and people)
- Purple Rain had the a small, but extremely dedicated crowd. Lots of laughs and frenetic Prince dancing.

Dig the last few events while the 2008 Funding Drive lasts!

Have you called 403-220-5000 yet?

2008-10-28T14:23:00.004-06:00

We're halfway home, folks, and we broke $100,000 this morning. Our heartfelt thanks to those of you who have pledged. For those of you who have yet to pledge, please think about dialing in your support sooner than later. Sizes and swag are going fast!

Love, your pals at CJSW... including the one and only, Nat Kaos.

Vote now! Award $5,000 to your favourite Canadian artist!

2008-09-26T12:18:00.008-06:00

Don't be caught killing time on a couch playing with your hair. Get busy warming up for the Canadian federal election on October 14th by showing your support for a member of the Canadian arts today.

The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) want you to tell them which Canadian artist is most deserving of their annual ECHO songwriting prize of $5,000. Sandro Perri (pictured above), Veda Hille, The Weakerthans, Wintersleep and Socalled are all nominated for the prize.

Online voting ends this Monday, September 29th, 2008 at 2:59pm MT. Tell all your pals and register your votes at www.echoprize.ca today!

Jackie Crazybull Poster

2008-09-20T15:38:00.008-06:00

Jackie Crazybull Poster
Originally uploaded by jaclin32

Friends and family members of Jackie Crazybull marched at this year's Take Back The Night March on Saturday, September 13, 2008.

Her sister Sandra Crazybull addressed the crowd that gathered at Connaught Park in the inner-city of Calgary prior to the march.

Sandra spoke about a woman who had been raised as a traditional Blackfoot woman, who could speak the language and had been passing on the knowledge to her.

An estimate of 350 women gathered in a show of solidarity at the yearly gathering that dates back began to 1982.

With Calgary police on motorcycles to manage traffic and EMS at the rear, participants (and male supporters cheering and taking pictures on sidewalks) took over the right lane heading east along 14th Ave SW to 4th St, turned right to head onto 17th Ave and marched west along the Red Mile back to the starting point. As the marchers were about to turn back onto 14th, Sandra along with three other members of the Crazybull family made a point of sitting on the bench where Jackie had been stabbed.

At 4:10 am on Jul 11, 2007, a passerby found Jackie and called for help from a pay phone. She was taken to a hospital, but later died as a result of a single stab wound.

Over the next hour, emergency calls were also made for three men and one other woman who were found with stab wounds.

At 4:19 am, police were called to aid a 21-year-old man who had also been stabbed nine blocks away from the first incident.

At 4:32 am, officials were called to the city's northeast, where they found a 42-year-old man with a gash. Nine minutes later, another call from the northeast reported a 43-year old man had also been stabbed. Finally, at 5:16 am, police were called to the city's southeast to find a 23-year-old woman suffering from stab and slash wounds.

After a year, Sandra and other family members are still looking for answers. The suspects are believed to be black males who may be traveling in a light-coloured, beige or silver, newer-model sedan. The Crazybull family used the occasion of the rally to call for anybody who knows something or has seen anything to come forward. They can contact police or Crimestoppers.

Sources: The Globe and Mail

Youssou Seck at Afrikadey Olympic Plaza concert

2008-08-14T16:31:00.003-06:00

Youssou Seck at Afrikadey Olympic Plaza concert
Originally uploaded by jaclin32

Youssou Seck plays African drums in Karamoko Kuoate's band. It also featured Brent Van Dusen who can be seen playing the drums every Sunday during the summer at Olympic Plaza.