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Saturday, July 20, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Edmonton - Winteroorlog
Band: Heidevolk
Venue: Starlite Room
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date: April 9, 2013
The third band of the PaganFest metal festival was Heidevolk from the Netherlands. All of their lyrics are in Dutch, but their lyrical themes are inspired by nature and history/mythology.
I didn't know this band before the show, and was a bit surprised to see two male singers (who didn't play anything more than frequent air-guitar) fronting the band, one handling the clean vocals while the other managed the harsh vocals. Since the show, one of the vocalists has left the band according to Wikipedia.
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Venue: Starlite Room
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date: April 9, 2013
The third band of the PaganFest metal festival was Heidevolk from the Netherlands. All of their lyrics are in Dutch, but their lyrical themes are inspired by nature and history/mythology.
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| Heidevolk at PaganFest |
I didn't know this band before the show, and was a bit surprised to see two male singers (who didn't play anything more than frequent air-guitar) fronting the band, one handling the clean vocals while the other managed the harsh vocals. Since the show, one of the vocalists has left the band according to Wikipedia.
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Saturday, July 13, 2013
Contest - Another Bloodstock giveaway
The Bloodstock contests just keep coming!
In previous posts, I wrote how you could win a one-of-a-kind Toxic Vision vest along with Bloodstock tickets, and how you could win a chance to photograph or cover Bloodstock as a journalist for Epiphone.com. |
| Amorphis at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival |
Just visit Amorphis' Facebook page and fill in the contest ballot for your opportunity to win. The competition closes July 26th, 2013.
(Stay tuned for my post about Amorphis at Tuska Open Air Metal Festival!)
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Contest - Cover Bloodstock
This blog is still so new, that I don't think I have too many readers in the UK yet... but...
Aspiring Journalists & Photographers...
You could cover the Bloodstock Open Air Festival for Epiphone instruments!
More information is available on their website, but the basic details are:
One photographer and one journalist will have the chance to win a Grand Prize package including media passes, camping tickets, catering passes, as well as Epiphone swag and other goodies... Photos and journalism covering the event will be published on Epiphone.com
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| Firewind, one of the bands playing Bloodstock |
If I were in the UK (or one of the other relevant eligible countries and could afford to make another international trip so soon after my last one!) I'd definitely be applying for this competition! What an amazing experience for an aspiring writer/photographer!
To enter, you'll need to supply some examples of your work - either photography or music reviews within their guidelines from a concert or show of any genre that you recently attended.
If you are already planning to head to Bloodstock, or could make the trip there if you won... entries must be submitted by July 24, 2013. The competition is only open to residents of France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands, and you must be over 18 years of age, and have no criminal record. There's a bunch of other rules too you can find on their website.
Bloodstock Open Air music festival is the UK's premier heavy metal festival, held at Catton Hall in Walton-Upon-Trent, England, August 8-11, 2013. The current line-up includes heavy metal heavyweights like King Diamond, Accept, Lamb of God, Sabaton, Anthrax, Slayer, Devil Driver, Gojira, Firewind, Amorphis, 3 Inches of Blood and many, many more on four stages over four days. Just check out the website for the full line-up.
Contest - Win a Toxic Vision vest & Bloodstock tickets
If you don't already follow Toxic Vision or designer Sharon Ehman on Facebook, you should.
Toxic Vision is giving away a pair of tickets to Bloodstock, along with a hand-delivered Toxic Vision vest featuring four of the headline acts (Slayer, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate & Lamb of God) for the UK metal festival.
If you're lucky enough to be able to travel to the UK (or are already in the UK...) for the show, all you need to do is go to the photo on Facebook, join the nearly 1,000 other people who have entered, and "share" the photo on your wall too. You have until July 16th to enter, and the winner will be chosen at random.
Sharon writes: "I am very excited to announce that I am teaming up with Bloodstock Festival once again this year, and you can WIN this custom Toxic Vision vest (featuring the headliner bands on the back) and a pair of tickets to the festival, simply by SHARING this photo on your wall. I will personally deliver this vest to the winner at the festival (tickets will be mailed beforehand).
Toxic Vision will also be dressing festival director Vicky Gregory for the weekend. The line-up for the festival is killer, I am looking forward to making the trip over to England to party with you guys! If you see me there, stop and say hi!"
Toxic Vision is giving away a pair of tickets to Bloodstock, along with a hand-delivered Toxic Vision vest featuring four of the headline acts (Slayer, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate & Lamb of God) for the UK metal festival.
If you're lucky enough to be able to travel to the UK (or are already in the UK...) for the show, all you need to do is go to the photo on Facebook, join the nearly 1,000 other people who have entered, and "share" the photo on your wall too. You have until July 16th to enter, and the winner will be chosen at random.
Sharon writes: "I am very excited to announce that I am teaming up with Bloodstock Festival once again this year, and you can WIN this custom Toxic Vision vest (featuring the headliner bands on the back) and a pair of tickets to the festival, simply by SHARING this photo on your wall. I will personally deliver this vest to the winner at the festival (tickets will be mailed beforehand).
Toxic Vision will also be dressing festival director Vicky Gregory for the weekend. The line-up for the festival is killer, I am looking forward to making the trip over to England to party with you guys! If you see me there, stop and say hi!"
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| Visit Toxic Vision's Facebook page to enter |
Monday, July 08, 2013
While In: Edmonton - Where to stay
I've been up to Edmonton a number of times, since it's the closest major city to my own. (Still a good 3.5 hour drive up mind you!) I have a few good friends that I have stayed with in the past, but if you're not so lucky (or like me, don't always want to impose on friends, or don't want to stay in homes that are far from the action) you'll be looking for a hotel.
I've stayed in a few different places, and each has ups and downs... Prices also fluctuate; on my last trip up to see PaganFest, my normal go-to hotel was way more expensive than a hotel only across the road from the venue which is normally much more expensive. The lesson - check out a few different options before making up your mind.
One additional benefit of staying in the downtown core - transportation. Both light rail transit, buses, the Greyhound and Red Arrow bus lines all stop downtown, and all of the places I've stayed have been within an easy walk of all. (Even in Edmonton's predictably unpredictable winter weather.) The downside - that 'sleepy' downtown experience. While restaurants, grocery stores, and shops are all well within easy walking distance, the core tends to shut down pretty early, which means after a show I'm often going hungry if I haven't prepared in advance.
My go-to hotel in Edmonton's downtown core is the Alberta Place Suite Hotel. Suites are a great option for me when the prices line up right because it means there's a kitchen... so I can grab some groceries for those post-show munchies (when nothing else is open...)
The Alberta Place Suites is a bit of an older hotel though, and the last time I was there I noticed more than ever how much the hotel is in need of a bit of sprucing up. Rooms are large, and there's a (freezing cold) pool plus a hot tub to soak sore muscles. Their website has new photos which makes it look like they've done those updates since I was last there, but I can't say for sure that it's not just a one lucky room and the lobby!
Parking is included (or at least it was the last time I drove up) in their parkade. However, when I was there last the parkade was overfilled, and we had to park half a block away in an open church parking lot. I also had a friend who's car was broken into, and his goods stolen when he parked in their parkade, so it's not as secure as one might hope.
However, the last time I was up in Edmonton for a show, the Alberta Place Suites was really expensive, so I picked the Coast Edmonton House Hotel which was basically across the road from the venue. I was really impressed with this hotel, and if the price is right would stay again for sure! The building is a neat round tower and has fitness facilities, an indoor pool, and a convenience store on site. The room I stayed in had a separate bedroom with en suite bathroom, a living room, kitchen, desk and two-person dining table as well as a private balcony. The kitchen was a bit basic and a little out-of-date, but perfectly serviceable for a short visit. I didn't drive up, so I don't know about parking costs (if applicable) but they have on-site parkade parking.
Visit: Alberta Place Suites Hotel website
10049 103 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 2W7, Canada
Visit: Coast Edmonton House Hotel website
10205 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4B5, Canada
Furnishings, amenities and linens are high-end at the Delta, and those tall windows are tinted so shoppers can't see into your rooms easily. Being basically inside the shopping mall means it's fairly easy to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner within the mall hours, but it's still a bit of a walk through the indoor mall to get to Tim Horton's, which is the only establishment that opens early. (Early enough for the pre-conference breakfast at least.) Although the cost is usually higher, if you don't need the kitchen, this is a great downtown place to stay, especially if you can find a deal on the price.
Visit: Delta Edmonton Center Suite Hotel website
10222 102 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4C5, Canada
Instead, I've stayed at the West Edmonton Mall Inn, across the street from the mall. Incidentally, this is the same place that Apocalyptica stayed when they were in town; I ran into Paavo, one of the band members in the lobby as I was heading to grab a bite to eat, and he was heading back in from his run. The Inn is a clean and simple 3 story building without a lot of frills. There is an underground parking lot, and bars and restaurants are across the street in the mall (most are open late). There's no pool or hot tub, and there's a bit of sound transfer between rooms, but not enough to keep me up. The location is about 10 blocks closer than the nearest group of hotels to the mall, which makes it a good location if you're going to be walking a lot... however the prices are usually cheaper if you can stay a bit further away and drive or transit to the mall.
Visit: West Edmonton Mall Inn website
17504 90 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 6L6, Canada
Where the action is
I like to stay downtown. While Edmonton's downtown area is a bit sleepy after 5pm on weekdays and most of the weekend... it's at least reasonably central which makes it easy to get in and out on transit. It's also usually close to the main purpose of my stay - the venue where I'll be seeing a show.I've stayed in a few different places, and each has ups and downs... Prices also fluctuate; on my last trip up to see PaganFest, my normal go-to hotel was way more expensive than a hotel only across the road from the venue which is normally much more expensive. The lesson - check out a few different options before making up your mind.
One additional benefit of staying in the downtown core - transportation. Both light rail transit, buses, the Greyhound and Red Arrow bus lines all stop downtown, and all of the places I've stayed have been within an easy walk of all. (Even in Edmonton's predictably unpredictable winter weather.) The downside - that 'sleepy' downtown experience. While restaurants, grocery stores, and shops are all well within easy walking distance, the core tends to shut down pretty early, which means after a show I'm often going hungry if I haven't prepared in advance.
The suite experience
My go-to hotel in Edmonton's downtown core is the Alberta Place Suite Hotel. Suites are a great option for me when the prices line up right because it means there's a kitchen... so I can grab some groceries for those post-show munchies (when nothing else is open...)
The Alberta Place Suites is a bit of an older hotel though, and the last time I was there I noticed more than ever how much the hotel is in need of a bit of sprucing up. Rooms are large, and there's a (freezing cold) pool plus a hot tub to soak sore muscles. Their website has new photos which makes it look like they've done those updates since I was last there, but I can't say for sure that it's not just a one lucky room and the lobby!
Parking is included (or at least it was the last time I drove up) in their parkade. However, when I was there last the parkade was overfilled, and we had to park half a block away in an open church parking lot. I also had a friend who's car was broken into, and his goods stolen when he parked in their parkade, so it's not as secure as one might hope.
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| Coast Edmonton House Hotel suite - I'm standing in the kitchen, and the door on the right is my bedroom. |
However, the last time I was up in Edmonton for a show, the Alberta Place Suites was really expensive, so I picked the Coast Edmonton House Hotel which was basically across the road from the venue. I was really impressed with this hotel, and if the price is right would stay again for sure! The building is a neat round tower and has fitness facilities, an indoor pool, and a convenience store on site. The room I stayed in had a separate bedroom with en suite bathroom, a living room, kitchen, desk and two-person dining table as well as a private balcony. The kitchen was a bit basic and a little out-of-date, but perfectly serviceable for a short visit. I didn't drive up, so I don't know about parking costs (if applicable) but they have on-site parkade parking.
Visit: Alberta Place Suites Hotel website
10049 103 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 2W7, Canada
Visit: Coast Edmonton House Hotel website
10205 100 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4B5, Canada
A bit more posh
I've also stayed at a higher-end hotel in Edmonton's downtown area, the Delta Edmonton Center Suite hotel. I always think of "suite" as meaning it has a kitchen or kitchenette, but these rooms don't. Instead they have some rooms with in-room (as in, not in the bathroom) jetted tubs, which is a lovely feature if you have the time to take advantage. Inside rooms look into the shopping mall through floor-to-ceiling windows (which was great when I attended a conference there, because I could see the conference center too, and judge the line up to get in...). I never had a "city view", but considering the location, I imagine that it overlooks the parking garage (which you'll have to pay to park in) and Greyhound station. Not nearly so nice.Furnishings, amenities and linens are high-end at the Delta, and those tall windows are tinted so shoppers can't see into your rooms easily. Being basically inside the shopping mall means it's fairly easy to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner within the mall hours, but it's still a bit of a walk through the indoor mall to get to Tim Horton's, which is the only establishment that opens early. (Early enough for the pre-conference breakfast at least.) Although the cost is usually higher, if you don't need the kitchen, this is a great downtown place to stay, especially if you can find a deal on the price.
Visit: Delta Edmonton Center Suite Hotel website
10222 102 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4C5, Canada
Out of the core
If the West Edmonton Mall is your destination (as it was when I saw Apocalyptica at the now-closed Edmonton Event Centre) then you'll likely want to stay somewhere close. Of course, there is the Fantasyland Hotel, which is directly in the mall (with a few very expensive themed rooms and the remaining plain rooms, also at a premium price) but I have never found the location desirable enough to justify the price.Instead, I've stayed at the West Edmonton Mall Inn, across the street from the mall. Incidentally, this is the same place that Apocalyptica stayed when they were in town; I ran into Paavo, one of the band members in the lobby as I was heading to grab a bite to eat, and he was heading back in from his run. The Inn is a clean and simple 3 story building without a lot of frills. There is an underground parking lot, and bars and restaurants are across the street in the mall (most are open late). There's no pool or hot tub, and there's a bit of sound transfer between rooms, but not enough to keep me up. The location is about 10 blocks closer than the nearest group of hotels to the mall, which makes it a good location if you're going to be walking a lot... however the prices are usually cheaper if you can stay a bit further away and drive or transit to the mall.
Visit: West Edmonton Mall Inn website
17504 90 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 6L6, Canada
Monday, July 01, 2013
Edmonton - TrinkenTroll
Band: Trollfest
Venue: Starlite Room
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Date: April 9, 2013
Trollfest is a Norweigian Folk Metal band, and probably the most surprising act of the night when I attended PaganFest in Edmonton.
The band came out on stage with bumblebee headbands, white fishnet tank tops, and other wacky costume elements, and the songs featured all of the expected metal instruments (guitar, bass, drums, vocals) but also an accordion, a mandolin, a saxophone, a cowbell, and a tambourine.
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| Trollfest, the second act at PaganFest |
What I really loved about this band was not just the light-hearted humour (not taking yourself too seriously plays right into the Canadian sense of humour) but also the regular "connection" that I felt with the band when they were on stage. I have several shots of band members sticking their tongues out at me when I took a photo, and they seemed to really play to the crowd, not just play their material. After their set the members were back at the bar (trying to distinguish their Canadian change from the American change in their pockets while ordering vodka shots) and after their set the bassist directly handed me the setlist (hurrah for souvenirs!). While I couldn't understand their lyrics, the songs were upbeat, fun, folky metal, and I bought a CD from the merch booth at the end of the show.( The liner is just as hilarious too...)
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