101 A.C. — Old King Jaehaerys calls a Great Council to decide who will inherit the Iron Throne.
King Jaehaerys at the Great Council.
Ollie Upton / HBO
In the cold open of “House of the Dragon,” we hear Princess Rhaenyra (voiced in this scene by actor Emma D’Arcy) explain the preluding events to her direct family’s rule over Westeros.
She explains that King Jaehaerys had ruled for 60 years — overseeing peace in the realm — but his own oldest trueborn sons, Aemon and Baelon, had died tragically in the past decade. That left him with no direct heirs.
The two most prominent candidates for succeeding King Jaehaerys on the Iron Throne were his grandchildren, Viserys and Rhaenys.
“Jaheherys called the Great Council to prevent a war from being fought over his succession, for he knew the cold truth: The only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon was itself,” Rhaenyra’s voiceover said.
The council voted and chose Viserys (who was the son of Baelon — the younger son of Jaehaerys) as heir to the throne.
NBC announced Aug. 24 that there will be a historic three-hour Law & Order crossover event on Sept. 22 that will see characters from across the franchise working together on a case. The night will kick off with Law & Order: Organized Crime, which will lead into Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, before coming to an end with Law & Order.
The crossover will see Mariska Hargitay‘s Capt. Olivia Benson, Christopher Meloni‘s Det. Elliot Stabler, Jeffrey Donovan‘s Det. Frank Cosgrove, Mehcad Brooks‘ Det. Jalen Shaw, Sam Waterston‘s Jack McCoy and Hugh Dancy‘s ADA Nolan Price team up to figure out what happened after a mysterious young girl who is shot in cold blood.
Benson and Stabler are called to work on the case after Cosgrove and Shaw “realize they have more than a typical homicide case on their hands,” according to NBC. “After uncovering key evidence, Jack McCoy (Waterston) and ADA Nolan Price (Dancy) seek justice against an international crime ring,” the teaser continues, “but complications threaten the outcome of their case.”
We remember it all too well from the first lockdown. The obligatory weekly Zoom quizzes and the stream of cultural events held online.
While most of us can head down to the local pub again and delight in the return of good old Sunday quizzes, some people are still stuck at home. And research suggests online cultural activities such as museum tours can significantly improve the mental and physical health of elderly people who are homebound.
“Our study showed that art-based activity may be an effective intervention,” said Dr Olivier Beauchet, a professor at McGill University in Montreal and lead author of a study published in Frontiers in Medicine.
Researchers suggest that just one virtual trip to the museum a week could foster social inclusion and improve the physical and mental wellbeing of seniors.
The team recruited 106 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older to investigate the potential health benefits of art-based activities. Half of the participants attended weekly online museum tours followed by an informal discussion, while the other half did not participate in any cultural activities before or during the three-month study period.
The people who joined the visits recorded improved feelings of social inclusion, wellbeing and quality of life, as well as reduced physical frailty, compared with those who did not attend the guided tours.
More than 2 million people aged over 75 live alone in England, and more than a million say they sometimes go for more than a month without any social contact, according to the charity Age UK.
“This study shows that with adequate infrastructure, age-friendly access and technical support, digital technology can benefit the mental health and wellbeing of older people,” said Prof Yang Hu, of Lancaster University.
“Unfortunately, older people are often left to their own devices to navigate technology use,” Hu said. Unprepared and lengthened digital exposure could lead to stress and burnout in people who are not familiar with technology, he added.
Dr Snorri Rafnsson, of the University of West London, said:“With adequate support, the potential of scaling this kind of intervention up is great.”
Not everyone has access to online resources and activities, however. “There are huge barriers for older people living in the community – lack of internet, knowledge and support, financial issues and so on,” Rafnsson said. “Studies show that those who have family around them, and a supportive social network, are more likely to take up and use online technology.”
Events around the Netherlands are being cancelled or modified due to the ongoing drought and the recent high temperatures. An official national heat wave is expected to be declared this weekend, which happens after five consecutive days of temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius measured in De Bilt, Utrecht.
The thermometer should read 30 degrees in far Noord-Holland, 31 degrees in Friesland and Groningen, 32 degrees in Utrecht and the eastern region, and 33 degrees in the south. Despite overnight temperatures falling as low as 17 degrees, it should rise back above 30 degrees across the country on Sunday.
A fireworks show that was to be held on Saturday evening in Leersum, Utrecht was canceled because of the fire hazard. “Unfortunately, by order of the Utrecht Security Region, the fireworks cannot continue. It is not safe due to the drought,” the organizers said.
The fireworks show is part of the annual Bloemencorso Leersum, which has been held since 1952. The fireworks were to be staged from a park in Leersum. Due to the fire hazard caused by the fireworks, the municipality just mowed the entire park.
“Unfortunately, mowing the flowery field was not necessary,” said the municipality of Heuvelrug, which also includes Leersum, in a message posted on Twitter on Friday.
The Halve Marathon Vlieland, which was to be held on Sunday, has also been cancelled. The organization made the decision in consultation with the Friesland Security Region and the municipality of Vlieland. It would have been the first time the half marathon was organized since before the coronavirus pandemic, but the organization said it would have been irresponsible to put the runners and volunteers on the course given the heat. “The persistent heat in combination with an easterly wind will cause temperatures to become too high, especially on the shell paths in the dunes area,” the Halve Marathon Vlieland website said.
The Harvest Festival in Oldebroek, Gelderland, was also cancelled on Saturday. The party includes inspections of cows, horses and sheep, but the associations that are involved have withdrawn due to the heat. Practitioners of old crafts also cancelled.
The Bemmelse Paarden Dagen, a horse event in Bemmel, Gelderland, will continue on Monday and Tuesday, at least for the time being. The pony market on Monday has been shortened. At that market, which has taken place since 1958, animals are sold with a traditional handshake between traders and buyers.
The 255th shooting competition organized by the Roman Catholic shooting association of southern Limburg (RKZLSB) was to take place in Mechelen, in Limburg. That event was also postponed due to the heat. It will instead take place next Sunday. “After all, the personal health of all participants and all visitors should have priority and is the reason for this decision,” said the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.
A horse-riding competition set for Saturday and Sunday was canceled in Ysselsteyn in northern Limburg, and the BraDeLierloop running competition planned for Saturday in De Lier, Zuid-Holland, was also canceled.
Anglers fish during the Coho Rodeo Derby on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 at Ship Creek in Anchorage. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
One of the summer’s biggest musical events — Salmonfest — takes place in Ninilchik this weekend. But for those that can’t make it, fear not. There are still entertainment options in Anchorage as well as a number of First Friday stops for the art lovers. And for those who like to fish, the second annual Coho Rodeo at Ship Creek.
In its second year, the Coho Rodeo held along the banks of Ship Creek allow anglers to cast a line to help others, while also fishing for a chance to win cash prizes. Proceeds from this year’s derby go to Alaska EXCEL, Alaska RiteCare Foundation, Armed Services YMCA Alaska and Bean’s Cafe. Top prize is $1,000 with $2,000 in total cash prizes.
This production at Cyrano’s follows five women assembled in a church basement for the 1956 annual meeting of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein’s annual quiche breakfast. The play is being directed by Warren Weinstein, who has been performing around Anchorage for the past 25 years. Tickets range from $27-$30.
The music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss and Béla Bartók will be featured at the concert highlighting large chamber ensembles. Tickets range from $24 to $29.50. There is also a house concert fundraiser Saturday with the theme Fairy Tales and Animals.
Presented by the Live From The North collective, this night of raps features Kevin The Brain, Ir1, Dan Harder, Prince Melodic, Non Profit Times, Avid Waves, and Cody Bank$. Doors at 9 and the show starts at 9:30 p.m.
Bad Charlotte: 10 p.m. Saturday, Koot’s, 2435 Spenard Rd.
This band is made up of former members of Splendid Chaos, along with Alaska’s own Charlotte Fischbach. Bad Charlotte is in Anchorage playing for three weeks.
First Friday events
The Kobuk, 504 W. 5th Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tundra Herb Company, 520 W. 6th St., 9-11:55 a.m.
Blush Boutique, 720 D. St., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Anchorage Museum, 625 C St., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
International Gallery of Contemporary Art, 427 D St., 5-8 p.m.
Sara’s Gift Cache, 408 W. 4th Ave., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wild Scoops, 429 E St., noon-10 p.m.
Kaffee Klatsch, 508 W. 2nd Ave., 3-8 p.m.
49th State Brewing rooftop, 717 W. 3rd Ave., 7-10:30 p.m.
Sevigny Studio, 312 G St., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tiny Gallery, 706 W. 4th Ave., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Stephan Fine Arts, 939 W. 5th Ave, 6-8:30 p.m.
The Cubby at Hotel Captain Cook, 939 W. 5th Ave., 6:30- 8:30 p.m.
An overwhelming number of New Zealanders (91%) are expecting more extreme flooding events to happen more frequently as the world grapples with the growing list of repercussions resulting from climate change.
Around half of respondents (48%) to the latest IAG-Ipsos Climate Change poll released on Monday felt the Government had the greatest responsibility to act against climate change, up from 25% five years ago, but the national response was either not appropriate or hadn’t been fast enough.
Climate Change Minister James Shaw said the results underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the phenomenon, with just 34% of Kiwis deeming Government’s action on the issue as adequate.
NA/Stuff
Increasing numbers of New Zealanders expect to see more extreme flooding events on a more frequent basis, the IAG poll results show.
“We need to provide communities with the tools they need to play for the future and for the climate impacts we know we cannot avoid. Some climate impacts are already being experienced by communities all over the country,” Shaw said.
There was also a clear expectation that both central and local governments were expected to do more to protect people by investing more in things like flood protection measures and building infrastructure.
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Around half of New Zealanders feel the Government has the greatest responsibility to act against climate change, a new poll shows. (File photo)
Over the past four years, the poll results have shown a 10% growth in those wanting local councils to zone land to reduce and avoid climate change’s impact (now 74%) and consent developments that achieved the same objective (69%), Amanda Whiting, chief executive for insurance companies, NZI, State and AMI said.
“A growing number of people – up to 53% this year – acknowledge that those living in badly affected areas may be required to move, but there are mixed views on who should pay, with the results indicating shared responsibility between [the] Government, local councils, and homeowners,” Whiting said.
Considering the recent spate of fires, flooding and heatwave events globally, Victoria University of Wellington climate scientist Professor James Renwick wasn’t surprised to see a large increase in the numbers of New Zealanders recognising the impact of climate change.
“But beyond the concern, there’s a lot of confusion, and a need for education and clear messages about actions we can all take,” Renwick said.
However, fewer New Zealanders were taking individual action to combat climate change’s effects, despite 78 per cent of people agreeing that it was an important issue for them personally.
In the past year, the number of people prepared to act to reduce the impacts of climate change on themselves personally reduced from 69% to 64%, mirroring a steady decline seen in those already taking steps to reduce climate impacts – dropping 9% over the past two years to 50%.
Get ready to fire up your grill and watch some fireworks as we head into the Independence Day holiday.
This week’s Go+Do list of events includes local fireworks shows and parades, an music and arts festival in Longmont, Night on the Town in Loveland and more.
Do you have an event coming up that you think would be a perfect addition to the weekly Go+Do list? Send the date, time, a description of the event and other pertinent information to Tamara Markard at tmarkard@greeleytribune.com for consideration.
Saturday, July 2
1. The Independence Day Community Celebration hosted by the city of Fort Collins is set for 7:30 a.m. at City Park, 1500 W. Mulberry St. with a 5K run/walk, golf tournament, parade, free trolley rides and more. The free event is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3HFnbdz.
2. Join High Country Harley-Davidson for an All American Blast from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3761 Monarch St. in Frederick. The free event will feature a food truck, cold drinks, music and a contest for the most patriotic bike. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the dealership at (303) 833-6777.
3. Exercise your singing chops at Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. at Rule105 Brewing, 4731 W. 10th St., Unit G. Hosted by Don Graham, adults ages 21 and older are invited to perform for customers. Not a singer? Then relax with a beer and enjoy the entertainment. Admission is free. For more information, contact Rule105 Brewing at (970) 301-4575.
4. Guerrilla Radio, a Rage Against the Machine tribute band, and Sabotage, a Beastie Boys tribute band, will be performing at 6 p.m. at Spirits Music Hall, 1 N. Parish Ave., Johnstown. Both groups will be playing fan favorites and top singles from both bands. The show is open to adults age 21 and older. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3yoNBNH.
Sunday, July 3
5. Indie rock band, Wildermiss, are scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. at Washington’s FoCo, 132 Laporte Ave. The band is comprised of Emma Cole on vocals and synth bass, Joshua Hester on guitar and Caleb Thoemke on drums. All ages welcome to attend. Tickets are $18 per person for general admission. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3OnQhAt.
Monday, July 4
Happy Independence Day from the Greeley Tribune!
6. The Greeley Stampede Independence Day Parade will step off at 9 a.m. at 10th Avenue and 19th Street by the University of Northern Colorado and make its way toward Lincoln Park. The parade will feature a variety of marching bands, floats, equine entries and more. The parade is one of the most popular community traditions so you’ll want to get out early to find your spot. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3QPBfp2.
7. The annual Greeley Stampede fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. with amazing professional fireworks lighting up the sky of Weld County. This year Stampede organizers have a little something extra planned in celebration of the event’s 100th occurrence. People of all ages can watch the fireworks show from inside the Greeley Stampede grounds or surrounding areas. For more information on the Greeley Stampede fireworks show, go to www.greeleystampede.org.
8. Head on over to Loveland for the July 4th Festival at 3 p.m. at North Lake Park, 2750 N. Taft Ave. The event will feature a kids’ zone, vendors, food and drinks, live music, a cornhole tournament and more. Fireworks are scheduled to launch at 9:15 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3xVc1N5.
9. Celebrate Independence Day at Boardwalk Park with live music from the 101st Army Band and fireworks. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks show at 9:20 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers for a fun evening under the stars and overlooking the lake. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3bfA9Cw.
10. The Estes Park 4th of July Celebration kicks off with the Steam-to-Electric Coolest Car Show beginning at 9 a.m. at the Estes Park Events Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way with over 100 vehicles. At 7 p.m. the Estes Village Band will be performing for free at the Performance Park Amphitheater, 435 W. Elkhorn Ave. Fireworks over Lake Estes begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3HP0un9.
Tuesday, July 5
11. Concert Under the Stars: Denver Brass is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. at the UNC Garden Theatre between 10th Avenue and S. 8th Avenue in Greeley. The free concert will feature the one-of-a-kind brass chamber ensemble comprised of 14 professional musicians from around Colorado. The concert is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3njA6Z7.
Friday, July 8
12. The Windsor Family Campout is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Boardwalk Park, 100 N. 5th St. The fun family event invites adults, teens and children to bring out a tent, sleeping bags and other camping gear for an evening of fishing, paddle boats, campfires, movie and more. The cost to attend is $12 per person and registration is required. For more information, or to register, go to https://bit.ly/3R0QgEy.
13. The 16th annual Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands and Brews will take place at 4 p.m. at 700 Railroad Ave. with five bands, over 10 beer vendors, food vendors and more. Admission is free and proceeds from the event benefit local charities such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Larimer County, House of Neighborly Services and Loveland Sertoma. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.lovelandlovesbbq.com.
14. Country western artist Kimmi Bitter will be performing at 9 p.m. at Stella’s Pinball Arcade and Lounge, 802 9th St. The San Diego native blends traditional country and soul with her own West Coast take. Adults age 18 and older are welcome to attend. Tickets are $15 per person for general admission and reserved tables range from $40 to $120. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3NrMukm.
15. Night on the Town is set to take place at 5 p.m. along 4th Street in downtown Loveland. Local retail shops, restaurants, bars and more will be hosting sales as well as providing live music, snacks and specials. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u0k5Lq.
16. The town of Severance is hosting its second concert in the Summer Concert Series at 5:30 p.m. at Community Park, 100 Waterfowl Way with a performance by Frank Ray. Attendees can also enjoy food, raffles, vendors and more. The concert is free and open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3OMa0cP.
17. Rhythm on the River Music and Arts Festival kicks off at 5 p.m. at Rogers Grove Park, 220 Hover Road, Longmont. The festival will feature live music, mobile arcade and glow games, an outdoor adventure land, local vendors and more. All ages are welcome to attend the free event. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u75uxY.
An afternoon sidewalk art show featuring local artists, live music & biergarten. About this event Meet and greet with a collective of local fine artists as they share their work in our outdoor gathering space. Featured artists: Melissa Baron, Doug Madill, Glen Ronald, Mariam Qureshi will be on sight to exhibit and share about their art. Join us for live music, wine, local craft beer, Garage Kombucha & Grill in the bay 1 Gallery Biergarten. The event is free and open to everyone! Thank you for registering as it helps us prepare. For more info visit our website: Bay1gallery.com
A new report by a committee formed to probe into the death of a Dalit youth in a jail in Rolpa has raised serious questions over Nepal’s prison administration.
Sundar Harijan, 20, died in jail on May 18 under suspicious circumstances. He was said to have died by suicide.
The probe committee has found that it was a case of identity swapping—that Harijan was serving time for another criminal. It has also found that there was gross negligence on the part of prison administration.
The executive summary of the report, a copy of which is seen by the Post, says CCTV footage of the time when Harijan ‘committed suicide’ is not available and recommends further detailed investigation by the Nepal Police.
Harijan was jailed on charges of mobile phone theft by Banke District Court judge Dilip Raj Onta.
Harijan was handed down one-year jail and Rs10,000 fine for mobile theft. He was supposed to remain in jail until September 3, 2020. His jail term, however, was extended until October 8 after he could not pay the fine.
Meanwhile, Bijay Bikram Shah was sent to jail for extortion and his involvement in organised crime. He was due to get released on March 6 next year.
But for no apparent reason, both Harijan and Shah were transferred to Rolpa Prison on November 23.
Then came the twist. Shah was released on January 12, 2021 as Harijan. Harijan continued to be in jail as Shah.
Harijan was found dead on May 18 at the Rolpa jail in a suspicious condition.
Earlier on May 20, the government had formed a probe panel led by Jharendra Chapagain, director of the Department of Prison Management, to study the death of Harijan. The panel submitted its report to Basudev Ghimire, director general of the Department of Prison Management, saying there was no involvement of the prison administration in Harijan’s death.
But the Home Ministry formed yet another committee led by Surya Prasad Sedhai, a joint secretary at the ministry, on May 31 to investigate the matter.
The Sedhai committee’s report has pointed out that Shah influenced the then acting jailor of Banke District Prison Dipendra Prasad Poudel and Dinesh Kumar Yadav, who was working as a driver for the prison. The panel found that Poudel and Yadav were pretty close with each other.
“Yadav, the driver, left for India immediately after the incident,” the executive summary of the report states. “He closed all his contacts, including phone and his social media accounts. Both Poudel and Yadav appear to have accomplices in the incident.”
The panel has recommended that the Nepal Police carry out a detailed investigation into the activities of Khadka Bahadur Khatri, also a prisoner, who was seen in CCTV footage talking to other inmates after Harijan’s death.
“From the details mentioned in the report it is clear that the then civil servants related to prison administration made serious mistakes and negligence in accomplishing their responsibilities and following laws, we recommend legal action against them,” the report states. “Likewise, we also recommend immediate implementation of the suggestions of this panel.”
The committee employed different methods for completing its study including field inspection, information collection and analysis, enquiry and the analysis of phone call and incident details.
The Sedhai-led panel included Jhanka Nath Dhakal, director of the Department of Prison Management, Superintendent of Nepal Police Bhupendra Khatri, Deputy Investigation Director of National Investigation Department Bishwamani Acharya and an administrative officer at the District Administration Office, Banke.
Its members also met with Shah, who is currently doing time in Barabanki District of India’s Uttar Pradesh, on drug trafficking charges, through unofficial channels.
Shah had told the investigation team that Harijan could have committed suicide after Khadka Bahadur Khatri, who is also known as Tora Bora, and Prakash Budha tortured him to return their money. The report does not have details of the money Shah is referring to.
The panel has recommended action against those who decided to transfer Shah and Harijan from Banke to Rolpa, saying that they failed to discharge their duties properly.
“I cannot say anything about the report because there are some very sensitive security issues,” said Surya Sedhai, joint secretary of the Home Ministry, who led the probe panel.
The Sedhai panel was asked to submit its report in seven days from the day they started their work. The panel submitted a report to Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Tuesday.
According to another joint secretary of the Home Ministry, who wished not to be named, the recommendations of the probe panel will be implemented gradually.
He said the panel has made many recommendations including the reforms in prison administration and management of physical infrastructure, maintaining proper records of the prisoners with their clear identification so as to ensure that such incidents of identity swapping are not repeated in the future.
The National Dalit Commission, however, said despite its wish to conduct a probe on its own, it could not do so because of fund crunch.
“We wanted to send an independent panel to investigate the death of the Dalit youth under suspicious circumstances in the prison. But we could not do so,” said Devraj Bishworkarma, chairperson of the Dalit Commission. “We could not manage funds for the probe.”
Legal experts say the government should come up with a new legal provision to control the crimes related to prisoner swapping as this could happen in the future as well.
“Since this is a new kind of crime in which prison administration officials seem to be involved, a separate law should be brought to curb such new forms of criminal activities,” said Balaram KC, former justice of the Supreme Court.
KC said the government must form another independent enquiry commission led by a sitting High Court judge as this is a serious issue in which all the state mechanism seems to have been involved in taking the life of a youth.
“The state is the custodian of the fundamental rights of its people,” KC told the Post. “The jailor concerned must be punished and the state must issue a public apology to the people and form an independent commission.”
The CNE will return to Toronto this August, but there’s a whole lot to do before then. (@theex/Facebook)
For all the hype, 2021 never turned out to be the Hot Vax Summer we were promised. What was missing? All the festivals and fun of the season. But as more and more events announce their return for 2022, Canadians might be feeling cautiously optimistic. Will we get the chance for a do-over?
CBC Arts reached out to folks in cities around the country, artists we haven’t checked in on since the days when Purel was liquid gold: Zoe Si, Simone Elizabeth Saunders, Emmie Tsumura, Diana Reyes and Mollie Cronin. Back then, this lot was settling into the forced introversion that is the quarlife. But now, they’re ready for real live Zoom-free entertainment.
What are the things they’ve been waiting all pandemic to do again? We’ve compiled their picks. Even if it’s just a fraction of what’s going on this spring and summer, fill your to-do list with these eclectic events happening around the country.
The scene inside the 2018 Vancouver Comic Arts Festival. (@vancouvercomics/Instagram)
Drop by this free two-day event, and you’ll have the chance to meet hundreds of comics creators. It’s a great place to just wander, says local artist Zoe Si, whose cartoons regularly appear in the New Yorker. And though she’s had a table at Vancaf for years, this’ll be the first time in forever that she won’t be working the show. Still, you can’t keep her away from this gathering of the city’s indie-comics scene now that it’s back.
“The comic community in Vancouver is not the hugest. It’s definitely not the same as in Toronto or New York,” says Si. (Incidentally, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival — TCAF — also returns this spring; circle June 17-19 in your calendar.) “But I’ve always met the loveliest people there, and everyone is super talented. It’s cool to see what other indie artists are coming up with.” (This year’s exhibitor schedule is still TBA.)
When: May 22-22
Where: The Roundhouse, Vancouver
Stand-up comedian John Mulaney is scheduled to appear in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto later this year. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
The Vancouver edition of the comedy festival was originally scheduled for February. Omicron, however, had other plans, and the schedule’s been bumped until May. But Si’s hung on to her tickets, and she especially can’t wait to see John Mulaney. (The stand-up is also set to appear at Toronto’s JFL and the O.G. festival in Montreal later this year.)
Toronto’s Emmie Tsumura is another comedy fan, and she’s been back at Yuk Yuk’s this spring to catch her favourite monthly event, a roast battle hosted by Danish Anwar (CBC Radio’s Because News). “I used to go to comedy maybe once a week pre-pandemic. It was one of the things I fell in love with about Toronto when I first moved here,” says Tsumura. “Comedy on Zoom just does not hit the same,” she laughs.
When: Monthly (next show: April 29)
Where: Yuk Yuk’s Toronto
Snowblink plays the Quidi Vidi Music Crawl during the 2014 edition of Lawnya Vawnya. (@lawnyavwnya/Instagram)
A global pandemic will make a person realize what matters most, and for illustrator Mollie Cronin, seeing live music is a top priority. The Halifax-based artist is actually working on a new graphic novel about the east coast scene (Swamp Girl), its many music festivals included — and Newfoundland’s Lawnya Vawnya is among her personal faves.
“It’s sort of my big trip every year,” says Cronin, who’s missed crawling across St. John’s to catch shows in cafes and record stores and “the best bar in the world,” a Quidi Vidi institution known as Linda’s. “One year they had a kind of oompa brass band walking with us to make a literal parade through the streets,” she recalls, and while this year’s line-up is TBA, past acts have included pretty much anyone who’s ever made the Polaris Music Prize short list, including past winners Cadence Weapon, Haviah Mighty and Backxwash. “I especially love a small city or small town music festival because I think it really enlivens those places,” says Cronin. “It gives everyone a chance to see the hidden gems of those places, the hidden gems of St John’s.”
When: June 8-11
Where: Multiple venues, St. John’s
If you love discovering new music, there’s nothing like a festival, and according to Cronin, this four-day event (formerly known as Obey Convention) has always packed a few surprises. “I think people often have expectations of what Halifax music is going to sound like,” says Cronin. (Read: “Celtic bar fare.”) But experimental sounds are Every Seeker’s specialty, she says. “[It’s] a really great opportunity to expose yourself to a more diverse kind of music scene in the city.” Set up in small venues, the event has a feel that’s “a little scrappier, a little cozier, a little more intimate,” she says.
When: June 9-12
Where: Multiple venues, Halifax
Toronto’s NXNE is scheduled to return June 14-19. (@nxne/Instagram)
Is it even summer in Toronto if you haven’t been to NXNE? For Emmie Tsumura, the city-wide music festival’s given her a few brag-worthy tales to tell. There was the time she caught a booze cruise with Future Islands, and she was one of the thousands of fans who smashed into Yonge-Dundas Square for a (free) face-melting show from St. Vincent. (Heck, that was all in the same weekend.) This year’s schedule is still a mystery, but there’ll be 20+ venues to hit when the action returns this June.
When: June 14-19
Where: Multiple venues, Toronto
Thousands of fans gather at Calgary Olympic Plaza to take in a show during Calgary’s Sled Island Music festival. (Allison Seto)
Over in Calgary, Simone Elizabeth Saunders is pumped for that city’s own indie extravaganza: five days of art, film, comedy — plus loads of music — that will occupy venues around town. (Past locations range from Studio Bell to a legion basement.) “I just love — I love — the energy that festival brings to the city,” says Saunders. (When the 2020 edition was forced to scale back, a storefront exhibition of Saunders’s tufted portraits was part of the Sled Island art program.)
The first wave of 2022 performers has already been announced, with Princess Nokia and (festival guest curator) Sudan Archives among the top acts on the bill.
When: June 22-26
Where: Multiple venues, Calgary
Calgary Folk Festival on Prince’s Island Park (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
As a born-and-raised Calgarian, Saunders has been doing folk fest since she was a kid, and though she put it off last year (the festival returned in 2021 with a few COVID-era tweaks), she’s finally feeling ready to break her tarp out of storage. “It’s my favourite festival in Calgary of the year. It’s just such a vibrant place to spend a weekend, to meet friends, to discover new music. It’s like fuelling the soul here, and it’s right in the middle of summer so it’s a very welcomed event.”
On April 27, this year’s line-up will be revealed. Meanwhile, in Alberta’s capital city, the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has already announced a few headliners. The National and Buffy Sainte-Marie are among the big names playing Gallagher Park Aug. 4-7.
When: July 21-24
Where: Prince’s Island Park, Calgary
Aerial view of the Hillside Festival site at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. (Photo: Alex Ortega/@hillsidefestivalguelph/Facebook)
After a two-year hiatus, this outdoor festival near Guelph, Ont., is primed to return. The full details are still TBA, but passes are already on sale, and Emmie Tsumura is definitely getting one. A trip to Guelph Lake has been a summer tradition of hers for a decade. “They’ve had some amazing artists the last couple of years,” she says. (Acts at the 2019 edition included Orville Peck and Snotty Nose Rez Kids.) “It’s great because you’re camping and just listening to music outside all weekend.”
When: July 22-24
Where: Guelph Lake Conservation Area, Ontario
Toronto-based band U.S. Girls play Sappyfest. (Corey Isenor)
“Sappyfest feels like adult summer camp in all the best ways,” says Mollie Cronin. “The streets are just crawling with artists and musicians and dogs and kids for a weekend,” she says, and it’s that sort of giddy and wholesome scene that has brought her back every July … save for the last two years, of course.
A preview from Mollie Cronin’s new comic book Swamp Girl. The first finished pages appeared in Sappyfest’s print publication The Sappy Post. (Courtesy of Mollie Cronin)
For the 2021 edition, Sappyfest went online, producing a 28-hour variety show that was broadcast live from Struts Gallery. Cronin, though, misses the inimitable vibe of the real-live thing. “Interesting musicians and artists have made their home in Sackville,” says Cronin, Julie Doiron being the most top-of-mind example. “It’s an atmosphere that’s hard to capture.”
When: July 29-31
Where: Multiple venues, Sackville, N.B.
A bird’s eye view of the Vancouver Pride Parade. (@vancouverpride/Instagram)
While Pride celebrations are expected to return to cities across Canada this year, to Zoe Si, there’s something extra special about Vancouver’s festivities. It all comes down to timing. “Vancouver in the summer is such a special place. I feel like every winter, everyone who lives here is shocked at how horrible it is during the winter, just how dark and rainy it is. And then when the summer rolls around, like specifically those few weeks at the end of July, beginning of August, everyone remembers why we live here because it’s so beautiful. And the vibe on the streets, it’s like a street party for a whole week and everyone just feels really liberated and happy and carefree.”
Si will be at the Pride Parade July 31 — and she’s been going as long as she can remember. This year’s theme is Together Again, and if it’s anything like the Before Times, it’ll draw some 400,000 visitors to the city’s downtown.
When: (Pride Parade) July 31
Where: Starts on Robson Street. Route ends beside the Sunset Beach festival site, Vancouver
June 9: Dancers participate in Carifest, an annual festival held in Calgary, which showcases the arts and culture of the Caribbean. (Falice Chin/CBC)
Toronto’s Caribana Festival might get all the attention (and yes, it’s returning for 2022), but when summer hits, people in cities all over Canada come out to celebrate Caribbean culture. In Calgary, Carifest is a must-do for Simone Elizabeth Saunders, an artist with family roots in Jamaica. “It’s a place where the Black community really feels at home and really supports Black entrepreneurs and artists and restaurateurs. And so I’m very excited that that will be happening again.” Its annual parade takes place on Aug. 13.
When: Aug. 12-13
Where: Shaw Millennium Park, Calgary
For some 1.4 million people, the summer’s not over until they’ve filled their bellies with funnel cake — and whatever else you can scarf on the midway. So here’s some good news: the CNE will return this summer after a two-year hiatus. Diana Reyes will be there with her nephews in tow. “It brings me back to my childhood growing up in Toronto,” says the artist, a dancer and DJ who now lives half the year in Montreal. “I’m excited to bring them and show them what we used to love doing when we were kids.”
“Obviously, there’s the food hall” — and the games and the rides and a million gaudy sights. “Even as a like-40-year-old, I can’t wait to go.”
When: Aug. 19-Sept. 5
Where: Exhibition Place, Toronto
Art in the Open
The March of the Crows at Charlottetown’s Art in the Open festival. (Courtesy of Art in the Open)
On the East Coast, there’s another way to mark the end of summer. Art in the Open is Charlottetown’s answer to Nuit Blanche, says Mollie Cronin, who makes a pilgrimage to P.E.I. every August. An all-night art crawl caps this summertime festival, and Cronin can never predict what she’ll discover on the street. One year, for example, she was chilling at a cafe when the annual March of the Crows breezed by. (Get a load of it yourself.) “I think festivals are one of the things I’m most excited about coming back. It’s such a great opportunity to meet new people, and for artists, especially, to gather together,” says Cronin. “It’s very much the kind of artistic food for the soul that I’m really craving these days.”
