The Past is Unwritten

The Past is Unwritten started off as a research blog for my MA. Now I’m done the thesis, but I still like researching music, pop culture, history, and the Edmonton music community.

Recent Blog Posts

The History of Punk goes down the toilet!
Posted
The History of Punk goes down the toilet!
In Reykjavik, there’s an old public toilet that’s been turned into the Icelandic Punk Museum! This edition of The History of Punk started with an interview in the museum, and then got right into music from Iceland’s punk history. Here’s the playlist: Bubbi Morthens –...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Punk and Gentrification
Posted
Punk and Gentrification
The History of Punk recently examined the history and ongoing consequences of gentrification. Part one traced the origins of the gentrification, its subsequent history, and its ongoing effects. A case study of New York City’s ABC No Rio serves as an example of resistance to gentrification, ...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Baby Jey Rides Onward
Posted
When I wrote my MA thesis in Music History, I focused on why musicians left regional music communities for established industry centres like New York City. Of all the reasons musicians left for greener pastures, enrolling in an MA program in Music History was NOT on the list. The closest, maybe, ...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Keep moving: a snapshot of life in the Ice District
Posted
The University of Alberta’s Images of Research Competition features submissions from UofA graduate students. One of the categories is “the People’s Choice Award”. I’ve submitted a photo on gentrification currently occurring in downtown Edmonton. I’m hoping this...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Edmonton’s Contribution to the 2018 Homelessness Marathon
Posted
Every year, stations in communities across Canada share local homelessness stories for the rest of the country to hear. CJSR 88.5FM broadcast the entire marathon on February 22rd 2018, with an hour focused on issues in Edmonton. Edmonton’s hour included three interviews. First, Alex McKie and Ryl...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
The Heart of Punk City!
Posted
The Heart of Punk City!
Heart of the City Music and Arts Festival is a free event held in Central Edmonton every June. 2017 is the 14th year of the festival, happening June 3rd and 4th in Giovanni Caboto Park (95 street and 109A avenue in McCauley). Ahead of the event celebrating grassroots creativity in Edmonton’...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Everyone’s a Stupid Dickbag: Now in Technicolour!
Posted
Edmonton’s favourite socialist workers collective, Latcho Drom, released a video for the song “Everyone’s a Stupid Dickbag”. And the good news keeps coming! Rumor has it Latcho Drom will have a full length LP out before the end of the year!
Published at The Past is Unwritten
A Review of The Past is Unwritten!
Posted
The Past is Unwritten was given a very kind review by Dr. Paula Guerra, the founder of Portugal’s Punk Archive, Keep it Simple, Make it Fast, or KISMIF. The review is published online in OpenEdition‘s Revisita Critica de Ciências Sociais.  Read it here: “Título da página eletrón...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
Edmonton’s Contribution to 2017 Homelessness Marathon
Posted
Every year, stations in communities across Canada share local homelessness issues for the rest of the country to hear. Edmonton’s CJSR 88.5FM broadcast the entire marathon over February 22rd and 23th 2017 from 4PM-5:30AM, with our local stories running from 6-8PM MST. This year, Edmonton’s storie...
Published at The Past is Unwritten
The 2017 Homelessness Marathon
Posted
Tune in to the 2017 Homelessness Marathon Wednesday 22 February starting at 4PM MST! Every year, stations in cities across Canada take turns sharing local homelessness issues for the rest of the country to hear. Edmonton’s CJSR 88.5FM will be broadcasting the entire marathon, with our local stori...
Published at The Past is Unwritten