By Kerry Doole
Drake’s courtside antics at Raptors games are firing up the wrong team
On Tuesday night, Drake used his power to make himself look ridiculous. The only way he could have looked like a bigger fool was if he had showed up for the game in a potato sack and propeller beanie – Vinay Menon, Toronto Star
It ain't tea, babe: Bob Dylan embraces Tennessee whiskey
A distillery is partnering with Dylan to distill whiskey at a 140-year-old Tennessee church and bottle it under the name Heaven's Door. Media outlets reported Dylan partnered with Angel's Envy Bourbon co-founder Marc Bushala in the venture – AP
Kanye West slavery comments spark backlash: 'He's putting targets on our backs'
Black cultural figures from Ava DuVernay to Will.i.am and Spike Lee have condemned Kanye West for saying ‘slavery for 400 years ... that sounds like a choice’ – Ben Beaumont-Thomas, The Guardian
M.I.A. enters Canada after border ordeal
The British-Tamil musician encountered a few hiccups en route to her Hot Docs appearance in Toronto – Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW
Rich Aucoin bike blog #4: Tucumcari, NM to Elk City,
Wind is the mountain you cannot see. At least that’s what it feels like as a cyclist going against it. You’re pedalling non-stop all day, no coasting – Rich Aucoin, The Coast
Montreal’s anglo rappers are ready for their breakthrough
Montreal has produced lots of international talent, but our English rap scene has yet to yield a superstar. Why is that? – Erik Leijon, Montreal Gazette
Red Truck Beer announces Coleman Hell and Allen Stone as headliners for Truck Stop Concert Series
Genre-blurring Thunder Bay songwriter Coleman Hell anchors the June 16 kickoff show, with Seattle indie-rock darlings Pickwick, 2017 Truck Stop Talent Search winner Sam the Astronaut, and Vancouver up-and-comers Aviator Shades on the undercard – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Why should Mike Watt slow down, when he's got so much to learn?
It took decades for the US punk hero to make it to Edmonton, and he’s not planning on letting it go now that he knows about us – Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal
Look who made the jump to the Air Canada Centre
Russ? Kygo? Nick Cave? A hot market and a lack of mid-sized concert scene are pushing some surprising acts to play the Toronto arena when they come to town – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Opera festival's Russian repertoire a new experience for Quebec diva
Canadian soprano star Karina Gauvin is also featured in the fest's second edition – DG Duke, Vancouver Sun
Leonard Bernstein shaped American music. Here’s how to celebrate him around D.C.
Some upcoming highlights as Washington fetes the lionized American composer for his centennial – Washington Post
Contemporary album of the month: Brian Eno – Music for Installations
Despite his mainstream pop collaborations, Eno has never stopped making interesting ambient music, as is evident on this six-disc set – John Lewis, The Guardian
Mat Neidhardt
Mat Neidhardt