INXS in OS

If you had told anyone living in Owen Sound back in 1987 that INXS would one day headline a show at Kelso Beach Park, disbelief would have been the likely response.

Fast forward to 2011 where the reality of a concert featuring the Aussie not-so-new sensations is starting to sink in. With the line-up just announced for Big Music Fest 3 at Kelso Beach Park on July 2nd, the reincarnation of INXS featuring Canadian lead singer J.D. Fortune is poised to rock the Sound.

And there's more... Other acts include the reunited Tea Party, CanCon rock icon Kim Mitchell, Fefe Dobson, Theory Of A Deadman, rapper Classified and These Kids Wear Crowns.

Tickets cost $49.50 and can be purchased at Kelsey's in Owen Sound or click here.

Are you stressed??

April is stress awareness month and hence a time to give ourselves a personal check-up. How well do you handle life's challenges, both big and small? Do you take things in stride or are you a frenzied candidate for stress-related illness? Take this stress management test to get a reading on your own personal stress meter.

Click here to take the test.

Dog Walk for Heart

On Sunday, April 10th, dogs and owners alike will gather in Owen Sound at the West Side Boat Launch and walk around the harbour trail ending at the Dog Park.

Reigning Cats & Dogs is sponsoring a Dog Walk for Heart, for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Heart health is important for both people and animals. Maybe you know a companion animal that has a heart condition and you would like to bring awareness to this issue. Support this walk with a pledge to a walker or take part yourself!

Pledge forms are available at Reigning Cats & Dogs (975 2nd Ave. East) in Owen Sound. Registration is at 10:30 and walk begins at 11am. For more information, call 519-470-DOGS (3647).

All dog participants will get a free treat!

Change your Clocks & Batteries

That time has arrived again. Thanks to the Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services for the reminder...

On March 13, 2011 daylight savings time starts. Remember to 'spring ahead' an hour!

This is a great time to make sure that your home has working smoke alarms and conduct a fire drill. When you change your clocks make sure that all of your smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms are working. Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide alarms. If your smoke alarms or Carbon Monoxide alarms are not battery operated, test them to make sure they will work. Replace any alarms that are more than 10 years old.

The Owen Sound Fire & Emergency Services would like to remind you that smoke alarms are required on every level and outside each sleeping area. It is the law. Working smoke alarms save lives.

A reunion worth the wait?

Over the years, I've lost a lot of faith in the much-hyped yet anti-climactic reunions of legendary music acts. Take the first new Eagles studio album in a few decades that was released only a few years ago, for example. Artistically, it missed the mark of their 1970's sophisticated songwriting glory.

There are countless other disappointing attempts by bands coming together to rekindle the past that I could cite. But out of respect for the barely undead, they shall remain nameless.

When I recently heard that post-punk icons The Cars were joining the ranks of the reunited, something told me this might be different. Though the music industry has gone through many transformations since the group's last album in 1987, there is something about their synthesized-rock style that fits well in the modern era. Regular sound bytes (I've always wanted to use that term in a blog!) of new material started to show up on The Cars' Facebook page. And what I've heard to date sounds fresh and most welcome in a year so far littered with more boring formula techno-rap and teens going Gaga for Bieber.

The new CD titled, "Move Like This", comes out in May and features most of the original line-up. Check out the new video for the first single, "Blue Tip" by clicking here. It's a definite return to form.

Polar Bear Day

February 27th is International Polar Bear Day! It is a time to show your commitment to these magnificent animals and their threatened habitat by taking a meaningful step (or two) to reduce CO2.

Myths about Polar Bears:

Covering its nose. Dr. Ian Stirling and several assistants used telescopes to watch undisturbed polar bears hunting seals in the Canadian High Arctic, 24 hours a day when conditions permitted, in both spring and summer conditions, for several weeks each year for several years. They documented the details of many hundreds of hunts. No bear was ever seen putting a paw over its nose while stalking a seal. Nor have other polar bear biologists ever observed this behavior. Simply from a mechanical point of view, Stirling expresses puzzlement about just how a bear might walk, crawl, or stalk on three legs while holding its paw over its nose for an extended period since most stalks on the sea ice cover 50 to as much as 200 meters.

Left-pawed. Great white bears are not left-pawed. Scientists observing the animals haven't noticed a preference. In fact, polar bears seem to use their right and left paws equally.

Use of tools. Polar bears do not use tools, including blocks of ice, to kill their prey. Scientist Ian Stirling believes that this idea may have come about because, after failing to catch a seal, a frustrated and angry polar bear may kick the snow, slap the ground or hurl chunks of ice.

Lupercalia is our 'palooza'

Evil spirits will be banished and Owen Sound purified this weekend! A special music festival featuring eight downtown venues and well over twenty performances is set to stir up some creative local song craft second to none. Move over Lollapalooza and make way for Lupercalia!

It's no secret that our area boasts a wealth of musical talent. And there is a great website available to feature it all as it happens. Check out and often www.owensoundmusic.com for the latest details on this exciting February fest of song, dance, art, film, poetry and more.

Owen Sound Music has a fantastic and always up-to-date Facebook page as well. Stay tuned in by clicking here.