The rhythm of the drums is the heartbeat of a band. Denis Frigon has been infusing soul into Edmonton’s music scene since the age of 15, beginning with the drums, playing in jams, teaching, gigging, and starting bands.

Denis is a proud Edmontonian. As a youngster he attended festivals with his family, including Heart of the City Music and Arts Festival. His dad was a professional musician who ultimately decided to raise a family instead of pursuing a career in music. He was also Denis’ biggest fan before his death at age 71. “I still hear him in my heart, the great advice, the great talks, the great encouragement. He was the biggest encourager of my music career.” 

When Denis played at Heart of the City for the first time in 2015 it was alongside Edmonton legend Breezy Brian Gregg. The second time he played was in 2016 with his band, Lutra Lutra. The next year he played twice, once again with Breezy and a reggae band called Baby Boy. Denis truly embodies the heart, soul and vision of HOTC: supporting and celebrating local and emerging artists.

“My dad and I are both lovers of Motown music. Over the years we both noticed that there’s a lot of John Cougar Mellencamp, lots of Led Zeppelin getting covered, or Aerosmith, Steve Miller. You didn’t hear as much Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross.” 

Denis describes how his band Tiger Coffee was formed. “I really love those guitar players from Motown, Joe Messina, George Whyte. We said it’s a shame that nobody covers those great songs. Everyone knows ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’, everyone knows ‘My Girl’, and nobody plays them. That’s why I started Tiger Coffee.”

Denis is a musician by trade. He shares a memory of attending a lecture given by Edmonton legend Tommy Banks while studying at Grant MacEwan. “He’d said, decide now, whether you’re going to be an artist or a tradesperson. The artist who writes the song has something on his heart, something he needs to say. A tradesperson helps him bring it to life. I don’t usually create the individual composition - I help produce it. I listen to a lot of music, I teach and transcribe. I have a lot of ideas, but usually they’re not the starting seed.”

Jams are a huge part of Denis’ life. “I love the magic of throwing it at the wall to see if it sticks. There’s something very intellectually, emotionally, spiritually satisfying about that flow state that you achieve with people. . . . Your ears are open, you’re listening, you might try something you’d never try, because you’re getting feedback you’re never heard. You can have these beautiful moments.”

Denis currently plays with a rock cover band called The Commandeers, an original rock group called Sudden Love, a band called Landlady, and with acclaimed artist Jacquie Daniels. His band Tiger Coffee hosts a jam at River City Revival every Sunday night, located in the basement of the Starlight Room (10030 102nd Street).

Rachael Roberts is a board member with the Heart of the City Festival, where she has volunteered since 2013, and recently joined the board of Boyle McCauley News. She is a mother, a teacher, and a lifelong Edmontonian who loves this community.