Howard Jones at The Bandshell at The Ex 2019 - Concert Photos

English musician, singer and songwriter Howard Jones is probably best known for his big hits from the 80s like “What Is Love?”, “New Song”, and “Things Can Only Get Better”. The latter tune has had a recent resurgence since it appeared in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.

I've loved Jones' music since I first heard "New Song" back in the day. However, this show at the Canadian National Exhibition (a.k.a., The Ex or The CNE) was my first time seeing him live. He puts on a great show, telling stories and singing his songs with a colourful backdrop. He and his duo of musical partners performed tunes from his latest release, Transform, as well as hits from across his catalog. It was a fun walk down memory lane to hear my old favourites performed live. They've lasted so well because, at their core, they're excellent songs, and not products of a fashion or trend.

I've included some of my favourite Howard Jones tunes below. The setlist for this show is here.

Dave Sampson opened up the show with his heartfelt folk tunes. Check out my photos and some tunes here.

"Hide and Seek"

"No One Is to Blame"

"Like to Get to Know You Well"

"The One to Love You"

"What is Love?"

"New Song", which ended the main set

Encore tune "Things Can Only Get Better"

Dave Sampson at The Bandshell at The Ex 2019 - Concert Photos

Cape Breton Island's Dave Sampson performed on the Canadian National Exhibition (a.k.a., The Ex and The CNE) opening for Howard Jones. My photos of Howard Jones' set is here.

This was Dave's first time attending The Ex and, therefore, his first time performing at The Ex. He was supported by guitarist Nichol Robertson for a set of solid, engaging folk tunes.

Please check out some of Dave's tunes:

"Trouble"

"Boom Town"

"Colorado"

April Wine at The Bandshell at The Ex 2019 - Concert Photos

For fifty years, April Wine has been creating powerful and influential rock tunes. I've been a fan for as long as I can remember, and so many of their tunes remain 5-star favourites in my library. Young bands have taken the band as an influence. Most recently The Dirty Nil, with their solid cover of perhaps my favourite April Wine tune, "Oowatanite". Check it out here.

Singer/guitarist Myles Goodwyn has been there right from the band's beginning, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Brian Greenway joined the band in 1977 and has been there ever since. The band pioneered so many of the foundations of great rock tunes and the three-guitar assault.

If I had to enter one criticism, it's that I really could have done without the bass and drum solos. The band ended up running out of time for their full encore, and if I had to choose, I'd pick hearing that encore tune over the demonstration of bass and drum mastery. Am I right?

I love April Wine's music and loved hearing so many great tunes performed live. If you love the music, you'll love their live performance.

I got to cover April Wine's last appearance at The Ex back in 2014. Those photos are here.

Cory James Mitchell Band opened the show. My pics are here.

And here are a bunch of my favourite tunes from April Wine's setlist.

"Could Have Been a Lady"

"Just Between You and Me"

"21st Century Schizoid Man"

"I Like to Rock"

"Sign of the Gypsy Queen"

"Roller"

"Oowatanite", which was recently covered by The Dirty Nil, check out their version here.

Cory James Mitchell Band at The Bandshell at The Ex 2019 - Concert Photos

Sarnia, Ontario-based country-tinged classic rock group the Cory James Mitchell Band opened for April Wine on the Bandshell Stage at The Canadian National Exhibition, a.k.a., The Ex and The CNE. My photos of April Wine are right here. Check 'em out.

They played a set of workmanlike classic rock, southern rock and blues tunes, showing off their deep influences.

Here's some of their music:

"Wild Again"

"If I Could Fly Away (I'd Be Gone)"

Hillside 2019: A compendium of posts - Concert Photos

Summertime is music festival time, and Hillside is one of the coolest, most easy-going, friendliest, and most socially and environmentally conscious festivals I've ever had the pleasure of attending. It always brings a hugely diverse set of performers from different genres, locales and cultures together, yet it somehow manages to deliver a consistent vibe that echoes, "Happy Hillside!"

Please enjoy some photos from around the festival and click the links that go to each individual post on each individual act that we covered this year. Sorry we couldn't see everyone! We tried!

 Day 1

Alan Doyle

Snotty Nose Rez Kids

The Wilderness

Cartel Madras

The Sea The Sea

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Ellevator

The Pairs

Day 2

Steve Earle and The Dukes
Neon Dreams
Busby Marou
Ellis
Fast Romantics
Songhoy Blues
Chippy Nonstop
Alysha Brilla and the Brilltones
Front Country
Systema Solar
Hymns 57
The Burning Hell
Jeremie Albino
Yonatan Gat and The Eastern Medicine Singers
Richard Reed Parry's Quiet River of Dust
Carmanah
Birds of Chicago
Joyful Joyful
&More
Quantum Tangle
Bird City
The Mastersons
Anna Wiebe
El Coyote

Day 3

Skydiggers with Paul Langlois of The Tragically Hip

Fucked Up
Bruce Cockburn

Lydia Persaud

ECHLO

Orville Peck

Josh Q and The Trade Offs

Jenn Grant

Atlin Gün

Andrew Craig

Valérie Ekoume 

Foxwarren

Common Holly

Ian Blurton's Future Now

This year's Hillside coverage includes photos made by Sarah Ordean. Check out more of her work on Instagram.

I've also covered Hillside in 2018 and 2016. You can find my posts from those years here and here.

Until next year, "Happy Hillside!"