Kurt Braunohler has been embracing the bananas since well before he had a podcast of the same name. A stand-up comedian, actor, and improviser, Kurt's material ranges from the conversational to the absurdist, and has always been willing to go to new places. Kurt has appeared at Just For Laughs in Montreal, hosted a comedy game show, Bunk, on IFC, and collaborated with Kristen Schaal on the long-running and critical favourite variety show "Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen" (coming to JFL Toronto).

He most recently started an irreverent news podcast with writer and performer Scotty Landes, Bananas, on the Exactly Right Podcast Network. He'll be at Just for Laughs Toronto where he will be making multiple stand-up appearances as well as bringing "Hot Tub" to Toronto for the first time on September 24. Matt Ardill had an opportunity to sit down with Kurt before his Toronto dates to talk about "Hot Tub", Bananas, comedy, and Canadians' intrinsic love affair with the beaver.

Laurie Kilmartin has been making people laugh for a long time. She's been working as a stand-up for most of her adult life, putting out 3 albums (including 2021's Corset) and appearing on late night shows like CONAN, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. She spent 11 years writing on CONAN on TBS, and in 2012 wrote the New York Times bestseller, "Sh*tty Mom: The Parenting Guide for the Rest of Us".

Since CONAN ended last year, she's been hitting the road for stand-up more often, including Just for Laughs in Montreal this past July, and several upcoming dates at JFL Toronto at the end of September. Paul Little got the chance to chat with her before her Toronto dates to talk about her time at CONAN, getting back on the road, and why she likes talking about just about anything on stage.

For JFL Toronto show info and tickets, visit toronto.hahaha.com.

Fresh off a spring West Coast tour opening for Molly Burch, a couple cool UK festivals, and several very fun music video releases, genre-bending singer-songwriter JayWood is starting an exciting summer. It began with his first-ever appearance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival last weekend -- where he brought his mix of jazz, pop, folk, and funk music to huge hometown crowds -- and then kicks into high gear with the release of a new full-length album, Slingshot, on July 15.

Paul Little caught up with JayWood on the final day of the Winnipeg Folk Fest to chat about his festival experience, his successful tour windows when many acts have had to cancel gigs worldwide, writing and recording the new record, and why he made sure it's a complete front-to-back package rather than just a collection of songs.

If you're in Winnipeg, you can head to the Tallest Poppy on Thursday, July 14 at 8:00 PM for a Slingshot album listening party. Otherwise, be sure to keep your eyes peeled to JayWood's Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter for upcoming summer tour dates across North America and beyond -- including Manitoba festivals Real Love Summer Fest and Rainbow Trout Music Festival -- as well as a proper album release show sometime in the fall.

Fred Penner has been bringing music to the ears of children worldwide for over 40 years. He's a multiple JUNO Award Winner, a Member of the Order of Canada, and helped teach a generation of Canadians about everything from folk music to curiosity and creativity through his long-running CBC show, Fred Penner's Place. In short and without hyperbole, he's a universally beloved Canadian icon.

Now, after a pandemic-enduced touring hiatus, the family entertainer is hitting the road again, including appearances at his hometown Winnipeg International Children's Festival -- a festival he's performed at more than any other. Leading up to the new shows, Paul Little got a chance to speak with Fred over Zoom to talk about his relationship with Winnipeg Kidsfest, his experience working with contemporary Canadian musicians on 2017's Hear the Music, the importance of childhood music education, and why he signed on to highlight Winnipeg musicians through the new TV series Route 90 Sessions.

Andy Kindler has been a stand-up comic for over 30 years; toured endlessly all over North America; co-starred in hit TV shows like "Everybody Loves Raymond", "Bob's Burgers", and "Maron"; spent years doing regular field pieces on Letterman; and delivers the "State of the Industry" address at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal ever year. Yet somehow, he only released his debut comedy album *this year*. In a way, it's fitting that a comic known for deconstructing the craft would wait until a global pandemic to release "Hence the Humor" via digital download and streaming.

Less than a week after delivering this year's JFL "State of the Industry" address via Zoom for the first time with the festival moving online due to COVID-19, our own Andrew Lizotte joined Kindler on Zoom for a long conversation covering the 7 year process putting out the new album, what goes into making the address at JFL every year (and what was different about this year), Kindler's thoughts on "cancel culture", and a deep dive into each other's experiences with therapy, medication, and mental health.

With COVID-19 cancelling the main Just for Laughs festivals in both Montreal and Toronto, JFL is putting on a weekend of free comedy programming on YouTube and other media. Writer/performer Jenny Hagel (Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Amber Ruffin Show) will be joining her frequent collaborator Amber Ruffin for a chat as part of the "Conversations with Funny People" series on October 10 at 8:30 PM ET.

The Second City alumn and mainstay of the hilarious "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment on Late Night joined our own Andrew Lizotte for their own conversation, where they discussed Jenny's experiences writing for The Amber Ruffin Show, the differences between writing for Seth and Amber, the way the pandemic has affected the work-home balance, and how to even find the funny in these bizarre times.

Due to COVID-19 and the many travel and performance restrictions in place, Just for Laughs is putting on a weekend of free comedy programming on various online platforms. The hilarious DeAnne Smith (Netflix's Gentleman Elf) is taking part in the "Conversations with Funny People" series, where they'll be speaking with longtime friend, Hannah Gadsby on October 10 at 10 PM ET.

Chatting with our own Andrew Lizotte ahead of this weekend's online JFL, DeAnne spoke about their new monthly Zoom shows (DeAnne Smith & Acquaintances), staying in one location for the first time since starting comedy, the progression of their joke-writing and performance style over the last few years, and what this weekend's conversation with Hannah Gadsby will entail.

February 17 saw the return of metal titans Soulfly to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Along for "The Summoning" tour were thrashers Toxic Holocaust, and on this date we also received a metal barrage from X Method, Bears with Technology, and Cause of Death.

Local writer/performer William O'Donnell had the chance to chat with Soulfly's legendary leader Max Cavalera in what was less an interview -- and more two metalheads nerding out about the genre, its bands, and Max's unending mission to blend every possible sub-genre of metal with world music sounds. His bandmates and wife/manger Gloria can be heard shuffling around them as they can tell: once you get Max going about these topics, it's going to be a while!

Comic Gavin Matts has had a pretty good last couple years. Since being named SiriusXM Canada's "Next Top Comic" in 2017, he's made a string of TV appearances in both Canada (The Stand-Up Show with Katherine Ryan, The Halifax Comedy Festival) and the United States (Conan, Comedy Central's Stand-Up Featuring). During that stretch, he also released a comedy mixtape called Premature and moved away from his hometown of Vancouver -- first to L.A. and then to New York City.

This month, he's heading back home to Canada for shows in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Before the mini tour, he chatted on the phone from New York with our own Paul Little about the opportunities he's had recently, the insecurities of comedians, and what he's looking forward to with the upcoming shows. Catch Gavin live in Winnipeg on November 12, Edmonton November 13, Vancouver November 14-17, or all over NYC after that.

Comic Gavin Matts has had a pretty good last couple years. Since being named SiriusXM Canada's "Next Top Comic" in 2017, he's made a string of TV appearances in both Canada (The Stand-Up Show with Katherine Ryan, The Halifax Comedy Festival) and the United States (Conan, Comedy Central's Stand-Up Featuring). During that stretch, he also released a comedy mixtape called Premature and moved away from his hometown of Vancouver -- first to L.A. and then to New York City.

This month, he's heading back home to Canada for shows in Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Before the mini tour, he chatted on the phone from New York with our own Paul Little about the opportunities he's had recently, the insecurities of comedians, and what he's looking forward to with the upcoming shows. Catch Gavin live in Winnipeg on November 12, Edmonton November 13, Vancouver November 14-17, or all over NYC after that.