Out of the whole Bluesfest lineup, this is the show I was looking forward to the most, which means it had the most potential to disappoint. After going to the Flight Distance show right before, it was apparent that a crowd can make or break a show, and the 50 Cent crowd was good; marijuana smoke and mosh pits aside. This crowd of suburban looking kids knew their hip-hop and it made for a cool atmosphere. 50, along with G-Unit’s Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, came out of the gate with the bangers that made them famous, like What up…
Author: Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne, also known as "KB The Boss" or simply "KB", is a Toronto-based host/on-air personality, arts & entertainment journalist, TV/film producer, and communications and content strategist. As a commentator and freelancer, he has appeared nationally as a correspondent on CBC News Network and host on CBC Music. He has also appeared locally on CTV, CBC Radio, CityNews, Newstalk 1010, and ByBlacks.com, and in the United States on Fox’s Black digital TV network, Fox Soul. He has covered some of Canada’s top red-carpet events, from the Toronto International Film Festival to the Canadian Screen Awards, and has interviewed everyone from Kevin Hart and "Fast and the Furious" star Tyrese Gibson to Ziggy Marley, Ava DuVernay, Dascha Polanco, Lilly Singh, and Howie Mandel. His years of work as an entertainment journalist led to him being named a Golden Globe® Awards voter and Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-Approved critic and being quoted as a critic in national ad campaigns for Black films and TV shows, both in Canada and the United States. Pivoting into the world of film and television, Kevin co-founded the film, TV, digital content, and live experiences company, SHIFTER Entertainment, alongside his wife and business partner, Koliah. Through SHIFTER he has produced a number of projects, including the Bell Fibe TV1 unscripted reality series A Date In The Life, serving as showrunner, executive producer, writer and co-director. Now, with a number of pilot and feature film scripts written and projects in development, KB is poised to continue to be a champion for Black entertainment and culture alongside his wife and business partner, Koliah.
If I had to describe Tegan and Sara’s Bluesfest performance in one word it would have to be “happy”. Not only because of their indie pop sound but also their pink and baby blue inflatable “T&S” stage decor. The whole thing screamed fun and happiness. They started their set with a cover of the Pointer Sisters classic I’m So Excited which was sprinkled with some slight Reggae influences. After upbeat hits like Back In Your Head, Goodbye, Goodbye and Alligator, the duo added a personal touch, telling stories about their journey as musicians, before going into a few stripped down…
One name I’ve been hearing and reading about in the music scene for years is none other than Pony Girl. Their name sounds unique and a lot of fun and they were both of those things. They happened to be the first act that I took in on Day 1 of RBC Bluesfest so they had the task of setting the tone for the festival for SHIFTER and they did indeed. Performing in front of a packed Barney Danson Theatre, Pony Girl opened with improv and Ivory before going into the soft, and radio ready, Candy, followed by the at…
In this final episode of season one, artist Ojo Agi and I talked about all her accomplishments since our first interview back in 2015. She got straight to the point in sharing the ups and downs throughout her career, and how art is not always as respected as it should be. Ep. 12 – Ojo Agi of Art by Ojo Photos by Jodianne Beckford For more photos of Obo Agi visit jodiannebeckford.com OJO AGI SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: ArtbyOjo Website: ArtbyOjo Twitter: ArtbyOjo VIDEO FILMED & EDITED BY: O’SHANE HOWARD Vimeo: O’shaneHoward Instagram: O’shaneHoward Website: O’shaneHoward Facebook: O’shaneHoward PODCAST INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC PRODUCED BY: JOE IMPALA Soundcloud: JoeImpala PODCAST ENGINEERED BY: UNIQUEKA WILSON…
With Canada’s big 150th birthday bash now in the past, it’s understandable why some might believe that things are about to slow down in Canada’s capital. Well get ready to get excited all over again because RBC Bluesfest is about to kick off the second half 2017 festivities with a bang. As usual, this year’s installment of RBC Bluesfest delivers an eclectic mix musical fare, from early 2000’s hip-hop to trap, country and electronic music. And, of course, who can forget the All-Star Blues Review that puts the blues in Bluesfest? What sticks out is the depth of local talent.…
It’s not often that big fashion news comes out of Canada’s capital, but last week there was a major win for Ottawa and Canadian fashion. Long time designer, Stacey Bafi-Yeboa, founder of luxury sweatshirt company KANIA, was invited to show at New York Fashion Week. For Bafi-Yeboa this step was years in the making and she’s embracing the challenge. Stacey is no stranger to the limelight. Before fashion, her first love was dance. At 19 years old her talents took her to New York where she danced on Broadway. It was during this time in the Big Apple that her…
It’s a mystery. As human beings we somehow find a way to embody so many seemingly contradictory extremes all at once. Another mystery is why we’re so captivated by people who exemplify these extremes. Is the secret to their magnetism the fact that we see ourselves in them or that they personify who we aspire to be? To many of us Lesane Parish Crooks, aka Tupac Shakur, extreme and contradictory figure. He had so many different facets to his persona- the human, the star, the rapper, the poet, the actor, the homie, the inspiration and, in 2017, the role model and…
Dre Ngozi is a DJ, producer, and artist. Her motto to success and following your dreams is to “just do it”. She talks about being confident in your work and pushing yourself to get what you want. Ep. 11 – Interview with Dre. Ngozi Photos by Jodianne Beckford For more photos visit jodiannebeckford.com DRE NGOZI SOCIAL MEDIA Soundcloud: DRENGOZI Instagram: DRENGOZI VIDEO FILMED & EDITED BY: O’SHANE HOWARD Instagram: O’shaneHoward Website: O’shaneHoward Facebook: O’shaneHoward PODCAST INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC PRODUCED BY: JOE IMPALA Soundcloud: JoeImpala PODCAST ENGINEERED BY: UNIQUEKA WILSON Instagram: UniquekaW PODCAST RECORDED AT ST. ALBANS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Instagram: StAlbansbgc Facebook: StAlbansbgc
Over the past few years, we have seen how women have taken on the role of leading ladies on the big screen. These heroines have exemplified courage, bravery, intelligence, and a whole lot of sexy! What a combination! These ladies certainly don’t sit on the sidelines, no: They kick some serious ass! It’s encouraging to see strong female role models in cinema that young girls can admire for reasons other than having long hair and wearing sparkly dresses. Personally, it makes me proud to see when a strong woman being able to hold her own through battles challenges and tribulations.…
As most of our readers are aware, we seldom review short films. Personally, I don’t have any sort of bias against them but I find that a good majority of them fail to use their short format to deliver enough of an impact. Now, from time to time, I find myself pleasantly surprised, which brings us to D E J A V U, directed by Christopher Massardo and starring Antonia Juric. What most short films fail execute in ten minutes, D E J A V U manages to do it in two. “The concept behind the film is being trapped;…
Name: Megan Thorp-Levitt City: Ottawa, Canada Biggest accomplishment so far: My biggest accomplishment so far creatively is winning the Best Portfolio Award at the 44th Annual Photo Grad Show at Algonquin College. Winning was such an honour. My portfolio is the culmination of two years of blood, sweat and tears. It’s the progression of me finding my style and brand of photography as a photographer. And to be recognized and awarded for that feels so good! What creativity means to me: Creativity has always been a big part of my life. It means for me an endless source of satisfaction…
Ishmil Waterman, also well known as The Professional Light Catcher! Shares his story on how he started and what it’s like being a creative. Ep. 10 – Ishmil Waterman Photos by Jodianne Beckford For more photos of Ishamil Waterman visit jodiannebeckford.com ISHMIL WATERMAN SOCIAL MEDIA Website: ISH Instagram: ISH VIDEO FILMED & EDITED BY: O’SHANE HOWARD Instagram: O’shaneHoward Website: O’shaneHoward Facebook: O’shaneHoward PODCAST INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC PRODUCED BY: JOE IMPALA Soundcloud: JoeImpala PODCAST ENGINEERED BY: UNIQUEKA WILSON Instagram: UniquekaW PODCAST RECORDED AT ST. ALBANS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB Instagram: StAlbansbgc Facebook: StAlbansbgc
