February 23, 2015
After 19 years, the much-loved and widely read Fast Forward Weekly (FFWD) will publish their last issue March 5.
FFWD Publisher Drew Anderson made the announcement February 20 on the FFWD website, citing a lack of advertisement dollars to keep the free publication afloat.
To call it a bummer is to put it lightly, and Anderson is probably right when he says, “Calgary’s inner-city streets will be a bit more drab without our colourful covers.”
FFWD readers far and wide on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media shared their feelings of shock and disappointment in light of the shutdown, including tweets from Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Nardwuar, Calgary Folk Fest, and the Alberta Federation of Labour.
Very sad to hear of the end of @FFWDWeekly Agree or disagree with them, they are a vital voice in covering our city. http://t.co/vXVXbe0EVg
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) February 20, 2015
FFWD has been a great supporter and promoter of music and arts in the City and we are sorry to hear they are closing. http://t.co/9YYABBVqtX
— Calgary Folk Fest (@calgaryfolkfest) February 20, 2015
Former FFWD music and film editor Mark Teo of AUX weighed-in on the loss, raising concern over the “depressingly low” number of independent weeklies that now exist in Canada. Teo says we now have a grand total of three; “Toronto’s NOW, Halifax’s The Coast, and Vancouver’s The Georgia Straight.”
FFWD will bid adieu with “a big sendoff” with a special final issue and farewell party. Anderson says details about the party “are to come.”
Fans and readers can except to scoop-up a copy of the last issue in all the familiar places. The fate of the FFWD website is yet to be determined.
In other news…
- Hologram on vinyl? It can be done.
- Drake invades Squamish.
- Prism Prize short-list for Best Canadian Music Video of 2014
- Michael Dawson is new Executive Director for SaskMusic.
- SOCAN: music composers “deserve every penny in royalties.”
- Neil Young on a shirt.
- Bach and Moog, together at last.
– Leyland Bradley
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Get at me @LeylandMarie or leyland.bradley@gmail.com.