Alan Cross

Towards the tail end of April, Alan Cross brought his 2025 Spring Speaking Tour to the East Coast, landing at The Carleton for a night of stories and a great Q&A period.   This speaking engagement (or Salon as Alan put it) was not your typical event, where we hear the exact same patter that has been developed on his Cross-Canada trek, instead, it is based largely on those in attendance.

For many (if not all) of us, Alan Cross has long been a fixture in our listening habits, be it from his radio show/podcast The Ongoing History of New Music, his podcast Geeks & Beats (with Michael Hainsworth), or his time on air at The Edge (CFNY FM) in Toronto, so having the opportunity to listen in person was not something to pass up.   I remember seeing the Carleton event listing and doing a double-take once I realized that this event was hitting Halifax, and quickly procured a pair of tickets.

Alan Cross

It was a great evening listening to Alan’s stories of meeting David Bowie, befriending Courtney Love and hanging with Bono.   He also extolled his thoughts on Ticketmaster, Streaming Music platforms, and the state of the music industry, among other topics.   Before you knew it, two hours had whipped by, and we were at the end of the Salon, and instead of heading back to the sanctuary of the Green Room, Alan hung around to chat with folks and snap a picture or two.     Thanks to the Carleton for putting us up front to snap a few shots of the action, and howdy to my pals at The Boom at Noon who were seated one table over for the event.

Alan Cross