Tonight, after a 2-hour set, I talked with Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie "Prince" Billy) and without warning, he turned the questions on me. Being interviewed is discomforting enough already. The fact that it's one of the most important American folk-singers of the last 15 years or so only makes it that much weirder. For some reason, I mentioned that I was a Mennonite and he asked me what that meant in my life. Hmmm. Pacifism, adult baptism, the Ban, umm...a pragmatic ecclesiology...simple living...beards? I tried to qualify it a bit - historically, that is. I thought he might recognize the Amish, which led me right into an explanation of the emergence of Anabaptism and the Protestant Reformation. Enough, I thought. But then my friend Adam mentioned Mennofolk and I was praying for a way out.

He was with a full band tonight and, to be honest, it was a little much at times. The set was incredibly long and ended with a three-song encore. Still, the man doesn't come around very often. He was just making up for lost time.

destination winnipeg

The concerts are coming. Yes, indeed, things are shaping up for the spring.  Fall was quite dry, save another visit by Women, and shows by two heroes of mine (Neil Young and Stephen Malkmus). 

Bonny "Prince" Billy will be at the Pyramid on March 21st supporting a recent live album and last year's delicate Lie Down in the Light. The New Yorker recently published an article about this American folk icon entitled "The Pretender," which gives Oldham some overdue recognition for his fascinating, consistent career and dress-up mystique.   

We'll soon be hearing new sounds from the Junior Boys, who are at the Pyramid on April 4th. 

And there's the Weakerthans/Constantines in April, which might give me an opportunity to talk to Bryan Webb on behalf of Stylus or the Uniter. I've got my fingers crossed. 

I have it on good authority that Chicago's post-rock luminaries, The Sea and Cake, will be one of the many fine acts to grace the Winnipeg Jazz Festival in '09. 

Another seemingly too-good-to-be-true rumour about the jazz festival revolves around the Rev. Al Green. Headliner? That would be massive.