This week each of our roundups will feature a special section on climate change, as part of our participation in Covering Climate Now. Don't miss it below!

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New hip hop track tells a story of addiction and healing

A group of teens from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation have released their first single, a hip hop track called Fight for Hope. 

"The lyrics of Fight for Hope touch on themes of addiction, healing through cultural tradition, and a desire to break the cycle," writes Wallis Snowdon at CBC Edmonton. 

The group also recorded a video for the song, which was shot in the community. The project was created in collaboration with N'we Jinan, a non-profit organization that brings artistic and educational programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across the country. 

It was N'we Jinan's first music collaboration in Alberta.  

Concert Announcements

• Serena Ryder: Dec. 3 at Winspear Centre
• Jim Cuddy Band: Jan. 4, 2020 at Winspear Centre
• Half Moon Run: Jan. 18, 2020 at Winspear Centre

New Releases

• Edmonton singer songwriter Emmet Michael releases his latest EP at the Aviary on Sept. 26. 

Covering Climate Now

A special section on climate change

• 0Stella, the solo project of Edmonton-based, Irish-Canadian artist Liz Pomeroy, is currently working on her debut EP Little Yes, Little Know which features the "ecologically conscious song" Wide Awake.
• Though music has been the focus of Edmonton's sister city relationship with Nashville, in recent years the exchanges have expanded. A delegation from Nashville visited last summer to learn more about our city's initiatives in light rail, climate change, and future energy systems. The 30th anniversary of the relationship will be celebrated next year. Taproot previously covered Edmonton's sister city relationships.
• Lyndon Aginas of the Alexis Nakoda Sioux Nation performed a prayer and a song at the start of the Fridays for Future strike on March 15.
• Music Declares Emergency is "a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth." The campaign has amassed more than 2,000 signatories since launching this summer.

Headlines

• nêhiyawak will release their first full-length album on Oct. 24. It's called nipiy, which translates to water. "There are many important ideas and teachings that we were raised with in our lives, but few more important than water," said the group. "It's a modern conversation with complex meanings and understandings."
• The Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta is expanding to offer programming to 30 additional students at St. Teresa of Calcutta School. The free holistic care and daily music instruction is run by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. 
• An art exhibit inspired by Elton John has been unveiled at EPCOR Tower. Reflections: The Art of Bernie Taupin is on display until Sept. 28, the same day Elton John plays Rogers Place. 
• The warm weather drew plenty of people to the 2019 Kaleido Family Arts Festival, which was a stark contrast to last years snowstorm. “When we started this 14 years ago, our hope and our prayer was really to edify the community through the arts, to see the arts become a tool and a way to be able to bring change and life and wholeness to a neighbourhood that was hurting — and I think it’s starting to happen," producer Christy Morin told Global News. 
• Donna McKinnon reminisces about when ABBA performed in Edmonton 40 years ago. 
• The grass at Gallagher Park is still damaged post-Edmonton Folk Music Festival. 

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 19

• Chubby Checker at River Cree Resort & Casino
• Ziggy Alberts at The Starlite Room
• Kyle Mosiuk and Nataya Nolan for Edmonton Streetcar Shows
• New Music Edmonton at the Aviary
• Million Dollar Dreamers at Halley's Club *Also on Sept. 21
• Trace Italian at The Sewing Machine Factory

• Buffy Sainte-Marie at the Winspear Centre
• Nu Engineers at the Aviary
• The Architekts at Halley's Club
• The Definitive Simon & Garfunkel Tribute at The Pearl Showroom, Pure Casino Yellowhead
• Rhye at Myer Horowitz Theatre
• Revocation at The Starlite Room
• Nice Horse at Horizon Stage
• Darryl Saves Lives at The Rec Room (South Edmonton)
• Borrowed and Blue at The Blue Chair Cafe
• Jarrett Bordian at Sherlock Holmes: WEM
• Andrew Scott at Sherlock Holmes: Downtown *Until Sept. 21
• Duff Robison at Duggan's Boundary *Until Sept. 21
• Sean Sonego at Rose & Crown Pub *Until Sept. 21
• MAKJ at Union Hall
• Ozzy Osbourne Experience at The Leaf Bar & Grill
• Sweet Vintage Rides at LB's Pub

• Electric Audrey 2 at The Cask and Barrel
• Hewson Grey at Black Dog Freehouse
• Lennon & McCartney: In Their Own Words & Music at The Pearl Showroom, Pure Casino Yellowhead
• Derina Harvey Band at Blackjacks Roadhouse
• Ghostboy at Parkview Community Centre
• Despised Icon at The Starlite Room
• Gridlock at Naked Cybercafe & Casino
• Bill Bourne at The Sewing Machine Factory
• Lloyd Spiegel at Horizon Stage
• Sunny Day Encore at The Aviary
• Lubos Andrst at The Blue Chair Cafe
• Cam Neufeld at Brick & Whiskey Public House
• X Band Latin Sensation at The Rec Room (South Edmonton)
• Unlikely Suspects at Newcastle Pub
• Rock E Flatt at The Leaf Bar & Grill
• Soul Train at The Rec Room (WEM)
• John O'Callaghan at Chvrch of John

• Jim Findlay Trio at Blue Chair Cafe
• University Symphony Orchestra at Convocation Hall
• Alone I Walk at The Buckingham

• Periphery at Union Hall
• Ghost at Rogers Place
• James Clarke at Festival Place

• Beyond Creation at The Starlite Room
• The Plodes at The Sewing Machine Factory

• Roseanne Cash at the Winspear Centre

• MonkeyJunk at Festival Place
• YBN Cordae at Union Hall
• The Marvettas at The Common
• Million Dollar Dreamers at Halley's Club
• Ryu Yokoo at L1 Lounge
• Art D'ecco at The Rec Room (South Edmonton)
• Lloyd Spiegel at Festival Place

Open Mics

• 8pm Mondays at The Cask and Barrel
• 8:30pm Tuesdays at Rocky Mountain Icehouse
• 9pm Wednesdays at River City Revival House
• 9pm Thursdays at Naked Cybercafe & Expresso Bar
• 7pm Saturdays at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse 
• 5pm Sundays at River City Revival House