Tuesday October 31st, 2017

Bat Out Of Hell The Musical Review:

I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of Jim Steinman’s “Bat Out Of Hell The Musical” at the Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre(October 25th, 2017).  The show celebrates the music written by Jim Steinman who was responsible for several hit songs and albums including Meatloaf’s “Bat Out Of Hell” & “Bat Out Of Hell II:Back Into Hell”.   He also wrote Air Supply’s “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”, Celine Dion’s cover of “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” and of course Meatloaf’s  “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad” & “I’d Do Anything For Love(But I Won’t Do That), all of these songs and more are performed in the show.

The musical is a kind of post-apocalyptic Neverland/Lost boys rock n roll fable about a leader of a group of young people who never age and are forever 18 years old.  He falls in love with the daughter of the most powerful man of their town and  as you can tell from what i’m writing there  isn’t much love between the father and the forever 18 year olds.  So what did i think of Bat Out Of Hell:The Musical?  i thought the story was a little confusing at first (make sure you read the “Obsidian Times” that will be on your seat. It will help you understand the storyline) but eventually i got it.  Musically, the performers are all incredible singers and they honour each hit song they sing.  Special effects are incredible  and very impressive  for a stage show.  To sum it all up, Bat Out Of Hell:The Musical is motor revving, gear shifting, tire screeching, high octane, adrenaline rush of fun.  I give it four stars out of five.  https://www.mirvish.com/shows/bat-out-of-hell

Wednesday November 1st, 2017

One of the most prestigious artist development programs in Canada ,the “Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class” has chosen the 2018 top three winners. The programs mandate is to help Canadian music talent reach the next level of their careers, Some of this years judges (all Juno award winners) included producer Gavin Brown, Max Kerman of the Arkells, Hip Hop groundbreaker Kardinal Offishall, & platinum selling star Lights. This years winners were the Montreal all female trio Caveboy, the Toronto Pop/Rock Alternative band “Ivory Hours” and Hip Hop artist “Quake Matthews” from Halifax. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with Quake Mathews about taking part in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, latest album “Celebrate The Struggle” and new single “Confessions” (featuring Neon Dreams) http://tinyurl.com/yan9pxnl . http://www.junomasterclass.ca https://celebratethestruggle.com/

Tuesday October 31st, 2017

One of the most prestigious artist development programs in Canada ,the “Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class” has chosen the 2018 top three winners. The programs mandate is to help Canadian music talent reach the next level of their careers, Some of this years judges (all Juno award winners) included producer Gavin Brown, Max Kerman of the Arkells, Hip Hop groundbreaker Kardinal Offishall, & platinum selling star Lights. This years winners were the Montreal all female trio Caveboy, Hip Hop artist “Quake Matthews” from Halifax and the Toronto Pop/Rock Alternative band “Ivory Hours”. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with the members of Ivory Hours Luke Roes and Thomas Perquin about taking part in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, latest album “Dreamworld” and new single… “Shadow Kids” http://tinyurl.com/ybtjnn33 . http://www.junomasterclass.ca https://ivoryhours.com/

Monday October 30th, 2017

One of the most prestigious artist development programs in Canada ,the “Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class” has chosen the 2018 top three winners. The programs mandate is to help Canadian music talent reach the next level of their careers, Some of this years judges (all Juno award winners) included producer Gavin Brown, Max Kerman of the Arkells, Hip Hop groundbreaker Kardinal Offishall, & platinum selling star Lights. This years winners were the Toronto band “Ivory Hours”, Hip Hop artist “Quake Matthews” from Halifax and the female alternative dream-pop trio “Caveboy” from Montreal. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with the members of Caveboy Michelle Bensimon, Isabelle Banos & Lana Cooney about taking part in the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, their self titled EP and new single… “New Touch” http://tinyurl.com/yas5clr8 . http://www.junomasterclass.ca https://www.caveboymusic.com/

Friday October 27th, 2017

A free concert series showcasing Toronto’s rich diverse music scene(Roots Rock, Folk Rock, Roots Reggae, Global music, Jazz music,Hip Hop) and celebrating Canada’s 150th is taking place at several different venues across the city (Wednesday October 18th-Saturday November 11th, 2017) Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with “Jane French”, Museum Administrator for the City of Toronto about ..”MomenTO:Sounds Like Toronto”. http://tinyurl.com/y87ehhe2

Thursday October 26th, 2017

A new biography about one of Canada’s greatest singer/songwriters “Gordon Lightfoot” (Gordon Lightfoot video performing “Sundown” http://tinyurl.com/y97txl76 )is available courtesy of Penguin Random House Canada.  Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with music journalist Nicholas Jennings who is also the author of…”Lightfoot”  http://tinyurl.com/y8j8ey3q  .  www.nicholasjennings.com/  https://www.lightfoot.ca/

Wednesday October 25th, 2017

This Brampton recording artist has been compared to Eva Cassidy, Michael Kiwanuka and Ray Lamontagne . Combining Folk, Soul and Jazz music, she was the winner of the 2013 Oscar Peterson Award in 2013. She’s just released her 1st EP(October 20th, 2017) and celebrating the release tonight( October 25th,2017) at the Burdock (1184 Bloor Street West, Toronto). Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with “Lydia Persaud” about her new EP…”Low Light” http://tinyurl.com/y9tyjeta . https://www.lydiapersaud.com/

Tuesday October 24th, 2017

After one of THE best concerts of 2016( sold out show Feb 13th at The Mod Club) the “cosmic crusaders of funktasia” Chunk o’ Funk http://tinyurl.com/y9q5p9kh returns to Toronto this Saturday October 28th, 2017 at the Danforth Music Hall (ticket info http://tinyurl.com/y977jvhl ) for a funk, dance, soul, r&b and disco Halloween celebration. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with band members “Football Handsome” & “MC Laysalot” about the groups origins, their “Halloween Tale videos, and why this will be the funkiest Halloween party of the season. https://www.chunkofunk.net/

Monday October 23rd, 2017

Halloween is just around the corner (Tuesday October 31st, 2017). If you’re still trying to figure out what costume you want to wear and don’t know where to get it Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with “Gina Anki” CEO,Artistic Director and owner of “Theatrix Costume House” http://tinyurl.com/y7u9eflf (located at 61 Elm Grove Ave near Queen & Dufferin in Toronto) on how they can help you dress up for the seasons most popular celebration and what are this years most popular Halloween costumes. http://www.theatrixcostumehouse.com

Friday October 20th, 2017

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre(located at 189 Yonge Street) is known for great stage shows including the upcoming Opera Atelier’s The Marriage Of Figaro opening October 26th 2017, Grease opening November 1st 2017 and Ross Petty Productions Presents A Christmas Carol opening November 24th 2017. But did you know they will be celebrating Halloween by having a ghost tour that includes a walk through their 100 year old theatres and spooky stories that include a lonely trombone player and a lady spirit who prefers lavender perfume? Rudy Blair Entertainment Media rudyblairmedia.com Chats with Marketing and Communications Manager “Ellen Flowers” about the “EWG Ghost Tour”(happens Monday, October 30, 2017 at 7 p.m.) http://tinyurl.com/yat6kf2t . www.heritagetrust.on.ca/ewg