Dubbed “Mr. Montreal” by CBC Arts, Richard “Bugs” Burnett is an arts and culture journalist and columnist. He is also a pop culture pundit on radio and television. His pioneering column Three Dollar Bill is the only syndicated LGBTQ column in Canadian publishing history, and is now conserved in The ArQuives, the largest independent LGBTQ archive in the world, and he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chambre de Commerce LGBT du Québec at their 2019 Prix Phénicia Gala. Bugs has interviewed everybody from Cher to Justin Trudeau, got the last-ever sit-down interview with the late James Brown, and knows his hometown like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter. Tourisme Montréal says, “As Michael Musto is to New York City, Richard Burnett is to Montreal.”
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Cast and music shine in Motown The Musical

Some years ago when Motown Records’ in-house Funk Brothers band visited Montreal, I got to interview the coolest Funk Brother of all, the great Jack Ashford, who played tambourine at Motown. Percussionist Ashford’s tambourine playing helped define the Motown sound. The music was recorded in Motown’s basement Studio A –  affectionately dubbed the “Snakepit” by the […]

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Must-See Montreal Events in May 2018

Here are my choice Montreal arts and culture highlights for May 2018: MUSIC Many top touring acts are headlining various concert venues this month, notably Viking metal rockers TYR (May 7 at the Corona Theatre), Petula Clark (May 10 at Théâtre Maisonneuve) and Kiefer Sutherland (May 11 at Club Soda). Other headliners include Melvins (May 14 at the Corona) – whose sound was a strong […]

Arts and Entertainment featured Music

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester: Life is a Cabaret, Old Chum!

Berlin crooner Max Raabe is a dandy throwback to Noel Coward and Cole Porter. His 12-piece orchestra Max Raabe & Palast Orchester found fame performing songs popular during the Weimar Republic (1919 to 1933). Founded in 1986 by Raabe and a group of fellow music students, Palast Orchester first climbed the German charts with their hit […]

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Must-See Montreal Events in March 2018

Here are my choice Montreal arts and culture highlights for March 2018: MUSIC Rod Stewart is my favourite rock star, now more-than-ever after my all-out media campaign to get Rod to perform my all-time favourite song, Sailing, at the Bell Centre back in December 2013. “While I know the song is not on your setlist, you have never sung Sailing in […]

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Must-See Montreal Events in February 2018

Here are my choice Montreal arts and culture highlights for February 2018: MUSIC The live music scene kicks into high gear as Montrealers’ wallets have gotten fatter since the holiday season. Some of the bigger names headed to town this month are British rock legends Uriah Heep (Corona Theatre on February 10), legendary Genesis guitarist Steve […]

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Must-See Montreal Events in December 2017

Here are my choice Montreal arts and culture highlights for December 2017: ART AND MUSEUMS The new exhibition Passion: Hockey is an entertaining look at the fascinating world of our national winter sport, and also marks the centenary of the National Hockey League and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup. It was in Montreal, in November 1917, […]