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Hugh's Room is a warm, spacious and inviting 200 seat music venue located in Roncesvalles Village in Toronto, and host to the finest in Canadian and International folk/roots artists, since opening in April, 2001. The fully licensed dining room offers a full menu with tantalizing salads, appetizers and lovely main dishes. Hugh’s Room offers an air conditioned dining room, free parking and we are a 5 minute walk from the subway.
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STANDING ROOM ONLY ! Friday, November 20 STANDING ROOM ONLY ! PorkBelly Futures takes writers, rockers, classical musicians and does the only logical thing. It creates a sort of alt. country blues band. |
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STANDING ROOM ONLY ! Saturday, November 21 STANDING ROOM ONLY ! Over four decades the contributions of John Sebastian have become a permanent part of our American musical fabric. His group The Lovin' Spoonful played a major role in the mid-'60s rock revolution, but what leader, singer and songwriter Sebastian had in mind was actually a counter-revolution. "We were grateful to the Beatles for reminding us our rock & roll roots," John explains, "but we wanted to cut out the English middlemen, so to speak, and get down to making this new music as an 'American' band." You know the songs by heart: "Do You Believe In Magic?" "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice." "Daydream." "Younger Girl." "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?" "Summer In The City." "Rain On The Roof." "Nashville Cats." "Six O'Clock." "Darling Be Home Soon." "Younger Generation." These songs did more than simply answer the British invasion, they carried the musical tradition into the future. This music had an immediate and indelible impression on the public consciousness, but John Sebastian was already a name well-known to the cognoscenti. He was born March 17, 1944 in New York City. His father was a noted classical harmonica player and his mother a writer of radio programs. Regular visitors to the family's Greenwich Village home included Burl Ives and Woody Guthrie, so it was no surprise when young John became a fan of, and then a participant in, the folk music revival that swept the nation in the late '50s. Making his bow as a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band, his skills on guitar, harmonica and autoharp soon made him a sought-after accompanist on the Village folk scene, working with Fred Neil, Tim Hardin, Mississippi John Hurt, Judy Collins, Bob Dylan and many others. |
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Sunday, November 22 Matinee Performance KEN WHITELEY's popular Sunday afternoon gospel series at Hugh's Room is celebrating it’s 7th season with an amazing selection of both local and international gospel artists. Each show will highlight the interaction of award winning guest vocalists and musicians sharing the stage with Ken for a joyous afternoon of uplifting music and magic. Whether you are coming for the spiritual experience, or for the terrific music, this year's Gospel series promises to be an accessible and exciting blend of musical styles that is appropriate for music lovers of all ages. |
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Sunday, November 22 Growing for Grannies is a small group of women concerned about the African Aids orphans and the grandmothers who have stepped in to care for them. Involved in the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, the proceeds raised by this group are donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. The Foundation, in turn, funds grassroots groups who, among many things, assist African Grandmothers. As the members of our group are all very passionate about the environment, we decided that we would raise our funds by selling high quality plant material. While we do host a variety of events, the sale of these plants has become our signature. The Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign seeks to build solidarity, raise awareness and mobilize support in Canada for Africa's grandmothers. Paul James Band, One of the most exciting and energetic Toronto-based Canadian musicians ... past, present and future. Paul James is a Canadian cultural icon. A veteran entertainer, this player has seen all that this crazy music business has to offer. His talents as a guitarist, vocalist, band leader, stage acrobatic, and songwriter have allowed James to produce the music he loves for over three decades. Paul James is a real musician's, musician. He is constantly surrounded by the worlds stage as big time players such as Mink De Ville, Bo Diddley, Bob Dylan, John Hammond, Spencer Davis, Lightnin' Hopkins, Jack Scott and Sunnyland Slim, to mention a few. Paul James is a Juno winner (Canadian music industry award) in the Best Roots and Traditional Music category... not surprising! And Paul has received two Toronto Music awards for Best Club Band and Best Blues Artist. |
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Tuesday, November 24 |
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Wednesday, November 25 In talking about his music, singer-songwriter Justin Hines says, “Honestly, I don’t remember wanting to do anything else, period.” That sense of it being something as essential as breathing emanates from every track on his soul-searching debut album, Sides. Justin absorbed his musical gifts from his family – “My dad plays a mean folk guitar,” he says, “and my mom has a great voice.” Justin’s been told that as a baby, he was carrying a tune before he was talking, and remembers that, “My grandmother Margaret always had this thing that I was going to be a singer. She had me singing in church and for relatives, so any stage fright left me early.” There was also the influence of an inanimate – but equally musical – fixture of the household, a jukebox of his dad’s, loaded with old 45s. He’d sit in front of it for hours, listening to every song, note for note. It’s still in his basement, and it still inspires Hines with classic recordings by artists including James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin. Andrew Cole |
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Thursday, November 26 Reigning Canadian blues queen Sue Foley and roots singer-songwriter Peter Karp have come together to perform as one. The multiple award-winning Foley can easily transfix her audience, whether fronting an electric band or probing her blues roots acoustically. Roots and blues guru, Karp, brings his songwriting skills to our stage, embellishing his lyrics with slide guitar or piano. Combine the two, as they open their very personal diaries to acknowledge their romantic relationship alongside their simpatico musical connection and a night of music suggests heightened promise as souls are laid bare in the process. Referring to this tour concept as a ³He Said, She Said² offering, the door is left wide open for insights into both artists already acclaimed as being on top of their respective games ensuring a level of intimacy not easily replicated beyond the stage. |
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Friday, November 27 A Man Called Wrycraft Presents The Heart of Saturday Night with: Scott Merritt Jay Burr & Tim Posgate Ronley Teper David Baxter LAL Roxanne Potvin Andrew Downing Trio and Very Special Guest... the Delicious & Inimitable With Featured Guest: Organist Supreme Rob Gusevs |
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Saturday, November 28 A process exists, before any artist is booked into Hugh¹s Room, to ensure each patron receives exceptional musical value for their personal investment. It¹s simply how you build a name as a discerning club who cares about live music. Yet, all it took for talent booker Holmes Hooks to invite Almeta Speaks to the Hugh¹s Room stage was the sound of her voice. A regular fixture on the Vancouver club scene, this former North Carolinian began in the church, singing with her sisters, before migrating to New York City where a decade of club gigs transformed her soulful sounds into a smoothly polished and unforgettable act. Known for her blues singing, her gospel gifts go without saying and her move to Canada¹s West Coast stirred a fierce pride in the journey she has taken. An acting and most articulate griot, Almeta brings the cultural knowledge and identity of black music to every stage. Prepare to be dazzled and thoroughly entertained. Steve Cole and Tom Hazlett will open the show. |
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Sunday, November 29
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Monday, November 30 Michael Johnston We would like to invite you to "The Prayers We Light": A celebration of Taylor Mitchell's life and her music.
Musicians, students, friends and family close to Taylor Mitchell will come together for one evening to honour Taylor's life through words and music. Organized and hosted by Taylor's producer, mentor and friend Michael Johnston - the celebration will include performances of Taylor's music, both from her recording, "For Your Consideration", as well as unreleased, seldom-heard songs she wrote. All of the proceeds from the evening will go towards paying off the debt still owed to cover her recording costs from last year. The goal is to raise at least $5,000. While plans are still coming together, several of Taylor's young guitar and vocal students - many of whom aren't yet teenagers - are also expected to play. "It's an opportunity for the community to remember Taylor in the way she would've wanted - with singing, laughter and a few drinks", says Johnston. "There'll be lots of music, but also opportunities for people to speak and share memories about her". "The Prayers We Light", a song Taylor finished a few weeks before heading out on tour, was performed at a house concert in Lucasville, Nova Scotia on October 25, 2009, just two days before she was tragically killed. Originally a song about a friend returning from Afghanistan, it, like many of her songs, has taken on new resonances since her passing. A who's-who of the Canadian roots community will form the house band for the evening, all of whom have strong, direct ties to Taylor: Michael Johnston was Taylor's vocal and songwriting coach, collaborator and producer of "For Your Consideration" Lynn Miles mentored Taylor at the OCFF in 2007 and co-wrote several songs on "For Your Consideration" Suzie Vinnick was Taylor's guitar teacher and co-wrote a few songs on "For Your Consideration" Chris Stringer engineered and mixed "For Your Consideration", and accompanied Taylor on guitar for several gigs. John Dinsmore supplied the studio and played guitars, mandolin and bass on "For Your Consideration" Anne Lindsay played fiddle on "For Your Consideration" Jason Mercer played upright bass and banjo on "For Your Consideration" Noel Webb played drums on "For Your Consideration" Gord Tough played guitar with Taylor for her CD release show Guest vocalists include Andrew Cash, Justin Rutledge, Kate Rogers, Josh Finlayson, and several others TBA |
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Tuesday, December 1 Rich Howse The Peirson Ross Collective Born in Toronto, Ontario Canada, Ross was steeped in folk music from his youth. His formative years were spent listening to: Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Beethoven Richie Havens, Peter Gabriel and Neil Young. He went to public school at Lawrence Park Collegiate, when he learned to play the guitar. As a young adult, Ross enrolled in Kings College, Dalhousie to study Literature and Anthropology. While a university student, Ross began performing in local clubs and coffee houses and was first discovered by John "Wheels" Hurlbut, an engineer who has worked with artists such as James Taylor, The Band, Sarah McLachlan, Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Daniel Lanois and U2. Wheels introduced Ross to the studio world and helped him produce his first two records. Many accounts of Ross have focused on his stories of the homeless and his cross-country adventures as a wilderness guide, but a large part of his enduring popularity is due to his meticulous songwriting, odd guitar tunings, lyricism and soothing voice. |
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Wednesday, December 2 Jeffrey Straker A guy from the sweeping prairies of Canada, who was born under a piano, and hasn't crawled away from one since. He spends a lot of his time between Toronto and Regina but mostly under pianos there as well. A recent listener did a great job of capturing Jeffery's sound with this phrase: "it's like the offspring of Elton John and Rufus Wainwright meeting the offspring of Ben Folds and Freddie Mercury in a cabaret” There you have it - if you put all of them in a blender and hit puree you'd hear what we're talking about. His piano playing draws from many styles including rock, pop & cabaret and blends in his distinct tenor voice. His range runs from the highest falsettos to deep rumbling bass notes and is delivered with lively stage flair. Sara Kamin Sara Kamin's powerful voice has been compared to incredible female artists like Jann Arden, Patty Griffin, India.Arie and Bessie Smith. A regular performer both in Canada and the UK, Kamin has shared the stage with Molly Johnson, Murray Mclaughlin, Jason Collett, Jill Barber, Jonatha Brooke, Melissa Ferrick, Edie Carey, Matthew Barber, Madviolet and Kurt Swinghammer. According to acclaimed Canadian artist Ron Sexsmith, Kamin "has a very natural way with a song and a voice that is lovely and pure." A native of Toronto, Kamin began singing at the age of four, astounding family and friends and winning numerous talent competitions. I was one of those little girls who would dance around my room composing songs for musicals and writing new lyrics to fit my favourite Debbie Gibson melodies, she recalls. Kamin focused her talents by taking vocal lessons. At the age of 16, she picked up a guitar for the first time and began teaching herself how to play. Songwriting came naturally to Kamin; she composed over 100 songs before her first live performance of original material in 2001 at the famous Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. Serious about honing her musical abilities, Kamin studied voice, guitar, songwriting, music history and harmony at the Royal Conservatory of Music. While continuing her work at the Conservatory, Kamin completed her Honours degree (BSc) in Psychology and Sociology at the University Toronto in 2003. Katey Morley Katey Morley is a Toronto-based Singer-songwriter and DJ. Though pop influences are easily heard in her catchy and sometimes cute piano based tunes, her quirky progressions, clever lyricism and odd attachment to the Autoharp stand her in good stead with listeners needing something a little different. |
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Thursday, December 3 Craig Cardiff - singer songwriter, troubadour, builds landscapes of sound using live digital loops - brings the room to a hush. edged, folk, beautiful, melancholy and left leaning, one song breaks your heart and the next one puts it back together. Catch Craig out on the road this winter 2008 in the United States and Canada. Visit www.craigcardiff.com for more information. |
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Friday, December 4 Born in Havana, Cuba, del Junco (loosely translated "of the reeds") immigrated with his family at the age of one. He bent his first note on a harmonica when he was fourteen, making his debut with his high school math teacher at a student talent night. In his early 20's del Junco was immersed in a visual arts career; he graduated with honours from a four year programme, majoring in sculpture ( click here to see photos ) at the Ontario College of Art. Sculpture has definitely had an influence on his outlook on music: "Music is just a different way of creating textures and shapes." Playing a ten hole diatonic harmonica, Carlos has developed the unique ability to play chromatically by using a recently developed "overblow" technique taught to him by jazz virtuoso Howard Levy. Overall, this approach to the diatonic harmonica, although much more difficult to achieve, is in many ways more expressive and communicative than the mechanized tone produced by the chromatic harmonica . Carlos is one of the few pioneers of this overblow method, bringing musical credibility to what has still been considered by many in the music industry - a fringe folk instrument. The sophisticated sound produced by del Junco is at once sensitive, soulful, and sexy while never forgetting the rawness inherent in blues music. |
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Saturday, Monday & Wednesday. While his gravelly baritone and omnipresent fedora, dark glasses and Groucho Marx moustache made him one of the more distinct and recognizable characters in popular music, little is known about the neo-vaudeville crooner Leon Redbone. Throughout his career, he steadfastly refused to divulge any information about his background or personal life; according to legend, Redbone's desire to protect his privacy was so intense that when he was approached by the famed producer John Hammond, the contact number he gave was not his own phone, but that of a Dial-A-Joke service. Because Redbone first emerged as a performer in Toronto during the 1970s, he was believed to be Canadian; his work, a revival of pre-World War II ragtime, jazz and blues sounds, recalled the work of performers ranging from Jelly Roll Morton and Bing Crosby to blackface star Emmett Miller. He made his recording debut in 1976 with On the Track, which featured legendary jazz violinist Joe Venuti as well as singer/songwriter Don McLean; his 1977 follow-up Double Time even reached the U.S. Top 40 charts, largely on the strength of his frequent appearances on television's "Saturday Night Live." After 1978's Champagne Charlie, Redbone began recording only sporadically; following 1981's Branch to Branch, he waited four years before re-entering the studio to cut Red to Blue. Invariably, his albums featured guest appearances from a eclectic cast of luminaries: while 1987's Christmas Island included a cameo by Dr. John, 1994's Whistling in the Wind included duets with Ringo Starr and Merle Haggard. Despite his low profile, Redbone also earned a certain measure of fame as a fixture in various television advertising campaigns. |
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Sunday, December 6 MATINEE |
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Sunday, December 6 Described as folk and country-swing, the Good Lovelies are not your run-of-the-mill "all girl" band. Armed with a pile of instruments this Toronto-based trio relies on unerring three-part vocal harmonies and a great onstage repartee to showcase their finely-crafted original songs and memorable melodies; borrowing styles from bygone eras, all the while keeping the music current and relevant. The aptly named Good Lovelies are Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore. Having completed 3 major tours supporting their self-titled CD, the Good Lovelies are back at Hugh's Room with their first Christmas album. |
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ROD DAVIS There aren’t too many left who played in the same band as John Lennon – but Rod Davis is one of them. He was a member of The Quarrymen from 1956 until mid-’57. Rod and all original members met as very young boys at Sunday School. He was invited, by Quarry Bank schoolmate, Eric Griffiths, to join just after he bought his first banjo. Eric and John taught him the chords to play. After the year and a half, Rod bought a guitar, joined forces with Gerald Greenwood (piano) and drummer Les Brough and formed a jazz trio. In 1960 he went to Cambridge University to study French and Spanish and it was there that he became a member of the St. Lawrence Folk-Song Society. Folk music led him to bluegrass, the mandolin and fiddle. In 1994, Rod and John Duff Lowe, who played piano with The Quarrymen in 1958, formed an electric band under the name of the Quarrymen. They recorded a CD and played several concerts in a touring show which also included Cynthia Lennon, Denny Laine and the Merseybeats. Since 1996 he lectures part time at Brunei University as well as writing, publishing and translating. He continues to play guitar and travel. |
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Thursday, December 10 Oh Susanna is the stage name of singer/songwriter Suzie Ungerleider, a Canadian alt-country performer with a taste for stark, haunting balladry that's earned her comparisons to the likes of Gillian Welch. Born in the U.S., Ungerleider moved with her family to Vancouver as a child, and grew up listening to all kinds of music (she was especially fond of the Rolling Stones). She studied history and hosted a radio show at Concordia University, which helped intensify her already burgeoning interest in American roots music, and began writing her own songs in a country-folk vein during her college years. Ungerleider's first public performance as Oh Susanna came in 1995 (by which time she was working as a library clerk), and in 1997 she recorded a self-titled, seven-song EP, releasing it on her own Stella imprint. Her dark, often morbid narratives helped her win a contest as the best unsigned act in Canada; that summer, she attracted more buzz by playing selected dates on the Lilith Fair tour, and subsequently hitting the road in Canada with like-minded artists Veda Hille and Kinnie Starr as the Scrappy Bitches Tour. Oh Susanna's first full-length album, Johnstown, was released on Square Dog in 1999, and continued to display a gothic fascination with murder ballads and the darker side of folk and country. The gentler melancholy of Sleepy Little Sailor followed in 2001 on the Catamount label, and it was supported by numerous tour dates. Two years later, Oh Susanna found herself working with Nettwerk. She polished up her folk-tinged sound for a self-titled full-length, released in September 2003. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide |
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Friday - Monday, December 11-14 Whether opening for A-list acts like Bette Midler, sharing the stage with world-renowned Seal or playing luxury brand events like Chloé and Dom Pérignon, Dr. Draw inspires kudos wherever he plays. Having nurtured a solid reputation at home for utterly captivating music and energetic performances, Dr. Draw and his talented band are set to grow their reputation eastward. Recent performances have included playing for the Prime Minister of Singapore at the 2007 Imagination conference and a spate of Louis Vuitton events in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea. Performing in such frenetic locales energizes the 26-year-old performer all over again allowing him to “creatively interact with cultures all across the world.” The result is a constantly evolving musical style that brings together the seemingly disparate elements of classical violin, jazz-rock fusion, folk and pop into a riveting masala that feeds the soul and invigorates audiences. Dr. Draw’s musical repertoire spans the globe, incorporating many different elements such as rock, classical, pop, electronica, fusion, world and new funk, making this eclectic mix appealing to a diverse audience. - Cindy Frasier, Expose Entertainment magazine
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Sunday December 13 Show starts at 1:30 p.m. The Ault Sisters Amanda, Alicia and Alanna Ault are three young sopranos from Mississauga, Ontario. Although very different in personality, their music has bonded them very closely together. They performed their first trio for a benefit concert in 2004. Since that time, they have performed in many different venues for numerous concerts and fundraising events including Smile China, Scarborough Hospital Mid-Autumn Ball and Dancers for Cancer. Their musical journey has exposed them to many different musical genres, all of which they enjoy and continue to develop. They are currently working with producer Greg Kavanagh on a new CD which is scheduled for release in early 2010. |
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Tuesday, December 15 Being the big turkey he is, Wendell Ferguson has stuffed every Christmas with more |
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Wednesday, December 16 Since their debut in 1993, the four members of Quartette have been both publicly and critically acclaimed for their lush harmonies and delightfully diverse repertoire. Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick, and Sylvia Tyson are seasoned singer/songwriters whose influences range from blues and gospel to folk and country to jazz and pop. The group’s first appearance, a showcase of Canadian women songwriters, took place at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre. What began as a “songwriter in the round” concert of musical friends grew into an inspired collaboration. This initial performance generated an appearance on CBC Radio’s Morningside with host Peter Gzowski. The phones began to ring with requests for a recording, and seven months later in April of 1994, the self-titled album, “Quartette,” was released to rave reviews. This was followed by coast-to-coast tours of theatres, folk festivals, performances with symphony orchestras, and live appearances on radio, including two appearances on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. In 1995 a second album, “Work of the Heart ,” was released and, following this, CBC’s Adrienne Clarkson Presents profiled the group in an hour-long special. |
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Thursday, December 17 Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala ( the duo’s name was formed by combining the two last letters of each artist’s name) have come a long way in a short time. The two best friends, who met in their high school music class and wrote their first song together in 2002, have since performed at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall a total of six times. Darlings of the Canadian music scene, Dala are now poised to bring their fresh brand of acoustic pop music to the world. Drawing upon influences like The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, Dala write songs that are both catchy and insightful. Amanda’s ethereal soprano voice blends seamlessly with Sheila’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark. |
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Friday, December 18 'For a three piece, Genticorum makes a very full and glorious noise, both instrumentally and vocally… This is a band that’s going to go places. SING OUT! Over the last few years, Genticorum has become one of the most soughtafter proponents of Québécois musical culture, having performed and toured in over 15 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’ also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle and flute work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar and bass accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humour and stage presence make them a supreme crowd pleaser. Their sophomore album “Malins Plaisirs” was released in Canada in 2005 and won the Canadian Folk Music Award in the “Best Ensemble” category and was nominated for JUNO (Canada) and Felix Awards (Québec). Now released in Europe, in collaboration with the Weatherbox label, the album still collects rave reviews. |
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Saturday & Sunday, December 19-20 In 2006, Issa let go of the name ‘Jane Siberry’. She also let go of her home and most of her possessions and began a new journey of “living her to-do list.” She described the impetus as "change or die, do you know what I mean?" MUSIC RELEASES Issa spent two years writing and recording in Belgium, England, Australia, the United States and Canada. The result is a collections of songs that will be released on three separate CDs telling a ‘Scherezadian’ story that will come to an end on the third installment. The first part, Dragon Dreams, was released in November, 2008. The second part, With What Shall I Keep Warm? will be released November, 2009. With songs about canoes trips, trains and marriage proposals, Issa describes the first CD Dragon Dreams, as the “welcome sign and front door” of the trilogy. The new release, With What Shall I Keep Warm?, invites the listener into Issa's “living room” where the conversation takes some unexpected turns. From ‘Eden (Can't Get This Body Thing Right)’ to ‘Then We Heard a Shout,’ the songs are portraits of the human condition in its glorious mystery. The CD also includes two long-requested favorites from her time as Jane Siberry, ‘In My Dream’ and ‘Walk On Water.’ Continuing in her role as a self-produced artist, Issa is joined by her musical friends in telling the stories. They include John MacArthur Ellis (Canadian producer, guitar/pedal steel); ‘Betty’ (Issa’s fierce NYC girlfriends); Marlon Saunders, Leslie Alexander, Catherine Russell, Gyan and Gail Ann Dorsey on vocals; Rich Brown on bass; Christine Kim, Pauline Kim and James Roe on strings and oboe - to name a few. UPCOMING CONCERTS November/December - North America January to May - International (UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore) The international tour will be almost entirely ‘music salons’ - bypassing the normal club and concert hall circuit and going directly to music spaces hosted by music lovers around the world that have long lamented not having had the opportunity to see one of her “I laughed, I cried, I remembered my own beauty” concerts in person. SELF-DETERMINED PRICING STORE In an unsettled and unsettling world, Issa continues to re-think her role within it as a musician. This has created an odd assortment of achievements. Of particular note is her online store, Sheeba, which has been a curiosity in the music industry since 2006. Customers have a choice of market price, 'self-determined' pricing, or pay-it-forward (gift from artist) |
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Monday & Tuesday, December 21 & 22 Dave Murphy Jerome Godboo Anyone who has seen Jerome live has the image seared in their mind. There's the machismo and the mischievous grin, the low-slung leather belt of harmonicas, and there's a tenderness and vulnerability as well. Based purely on first impressions, it's easy to make comparisons to Jagger and Morrison, but Jerome imitates no one. If the respect of his peers is anything to go by, Jerome Godboo is a giant on the music scene in Canada. All in all, it's a potent mix, one that combines the still vibrant musical legacy of more than a century of the blues with a passion and urgency that constantly renews itself. Jerome Godboo is a singer, songwriter and harp player extraordinaire. He has released twelve albums over twenty years. He's recorded and toured with the Phantoms, Alannah Myles, Dutch Mason, Jeff Healey, Ronnie Hawkins, Jack de Keyzer, Jimmy Bowskill and Suzie McNeil. Jerome has performed on stages across Canada, the U.S., France, Finland, Portugal, Ukraine, Israel and beyond. He's played with Prince, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, the Tragically Hip, Levon Helm, Billy Ray Cyrus and many more. David Rotundo Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo heard James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo in 1991. “He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me...” Next day, Rotundo bought a harmonica. “…and I’ve been playing the blues ever since.” Obsession with the blues led Rotundo on a diesel-fueled roots tour of New Orleans, Clarksdale, Austin, Memphis and Chicago. He returned to Canada with a visceral perception of the blues and a deep knowledge of blues history. After making the stories his own, he earned the right to tell them. Rotundo has developed his own blues vocab, honing the technique that gives the voice power and authenticity. In 1997, Rotundo led a band called the Blue Canadians (with Peter Schmidt, Shane Scott, Julian Fauth and Doc Maclean) who played the Toronto circuit. In 2000, he was asked to join the legendary Jack de Keyzer Band, while continuing to tour internationally with his own band. Awards and nominations include the prestigious CBC/Galaxie Rising Star award and Maple Blues 2007 Harmonica Player of Year. Rotundo’s 2001 debut album “Blowin’ for Broke” was nominated "Blues Album of 2001" by the Canadian Independent Artist Association and was winner of the Maple Blues Awards "Best New Artist of The Year 2002." Rotundo has performed with Lee Oskar (from the legendary band War), with Ronnie Hawkins, and with ex-Muddy Waters' drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith; also with Jeff Healey, Edgar Winter, Madagascar Slim, Mel Brown, and Finis Tasby. When you see David Rotundo live, you’ll know instantly that he lives for what he does. You will, too Dave Murphy For the past twenty years Toronto based keyboardist and vocalist Dave Murphy has performed with his own band in addition to a wide range of artists, including the last five years in the life of the late, great Jeff Healey. Leading Jeff Healey's Roadhouse Band, Dave hosted weekly with a wonderful array of special guests like Edgar Winter, Ray Benson, Duke Robillard and Randy Bachman. Dave toured worldwide with the Jeff Healey Blues Band, which Jeff affectionately referred to as "the best damned bar band in Canada." Dave was the musical director of a tribute concert for Jeff featuring performances by Colin James, Ian Gillan and Jack Bruce. He is a winner of Maple Blues Keyboardist of the Year. Dan Noordermeer Guitarist extraordinaire Dan Noordermeer continues to dazzle audiences with his formidable talents. Originally from Chatham, Dan now resides in Hamilton. Dan is known for his Samson-like mane of hair and his wicked sense of humour. Unlikely as it seems, Dan was a full time country musician for many years before joining the band. But for those familiar with his playing it's no surprise, since he has an uncanny ability to play every style of music with incredible authenticity, passion and virtuosity. Shakura S’Aida & Donna Grantis Take an portion of Southern Baptist, flavour it with a drop of Brooklyn, stir in a spoonful of Swiss chocolate — and you’ve created a powerhouse singing sensation: Shakura S'Aida, who started off 2008 with a triumph at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, when she earned the 2nd runner-up position, competing against more than 100 bands from more than 20 different countries. As a solo artist, Shakura's career has spanned genres and countries and taken her to some of the most noted stages in the jazz world. She has performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York and has been nominated three times by the Toronto Blues Society as the Maple Blues "Female Vocalist of the Year" (2004/2005/2008); she was also nominated as Entertainer of the Year for the 2008 Awards. Shakura has also been featured with such legendary artists as Jimmy Smith and Ruth Brown; she’s sung backup with Patti Labelle and Rita MacNeil, and is equally at home singing material with a Ray Charles tribute band, or presenting a one-woman show of the music of Nina Simone. The release of her debut blues album "Blueprint" earned strong critical applause. Donna Grantis Donna picked up her brother’s acoustic guitar as a young teenager... Three years later Donna was selected as a semi-finalist in the North American wide Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Competition. She was asked to perform her interpretation of “Red House” to a capacity crowd including Al Hendrix (Jimi’s father) at a rock bar in Cleveland, Ohio. This was her first public performance. Shortly after, Donna was awarded a music scholarship to the Jazz Performance program at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, where she was exposed to the city’s eclectic music scene. Donna gained invaluable experience performing with a number of projects, including blues and rock bands, jazz ensembles and fusion groups. Her studies allowed her to be engaged in composing and arranging music for big bands, woodwind octets and string sections. She played alongside r&b soul singers Divine Brown and Haydain Neale of Jacksoul, singer/songwriter Emma-Lee, Toronto funk gurus Planet Earth, roots artist Harry Manx, virtuoso Tony McManus and guitar legend Coco Montoya among others. Donna continues to tour throughout Canada and internationally. She will be featured with vocalist Shakura S’Aida in the 2009 Women In Blues Revue at Massey Hall along with some of the country’s most notable female artists including Sass Jordan and Suzie Vinnick. Julian Fauth Julian Fauth began listening to blues and fooling around on the piano as a child. After coming to Toronto in 1996, he began jamming in Kensington Market bars, which led to a busy career on the Toronto blues scene. He has played in Russia, Cuba, Germany, the USA and various parts of Canada, but can be heard most nights in a Toronto watering hole. He has been nominated for a Juno and a number of Maple Blues Awards. He is currently working on his next CD, to be released by Electro-Fi. |
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Sunday & Monday, December 27th-28th Fred Eaglesmith is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter. Some of his albums have been credited to Fred J. Eaglesmith. Eaglesmith was one of nine children raised by a farming family in rural Southern Ontario. As a teenager, he hopped a freight train out to Western Canada, and began writing songs and performing. Eaglesmith is known for writing songs about machines or vehicles, including songs about trains, tractors, trucks, cars, and engines. Rural life, dogs, guns, drinking and farming/ranching are other common themes. Many of his songs are about failing farms and small businesses. Eaglesmith's songs are populated with down and out characters dealing with loss of love or livelihood, and quirky rural folk. His songwriting uses many of the techniques of short-story writing, including unreliable narrators, surprise endings, and plot twists. In addition to his own albums, he frequently collaborated with the late Willie P. Bennett. Willie P. Bennett was a past member of Eaglesmith's band but had to step down after a heart attack in spring 2007. |
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Monday, December 29
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Tuesday, December 30 Don Ross has emerged as one of the most respected musicians in Canada and one of the top guitarists in the world. In September 1996, he managed to do what no other player has done: win the prestigious U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship for the second time (he first won in 1988). The competition, held yearly in Winfield, Kansas, cannot be won only with immaculate technique, but the player's music must also display a high degree of emotion and intensity — hallmarks of Don's style. The son of a Scottish immigrant father and a Mi'kmaq aboriginal mother, Don was born in Montreal in 1960 into a musical family. He first started experimenting with the solo possibilities of the acoustic guitar at the age of eight. By age ten he was playing in alternate tunings and exploring "fingerstyle" technique, a right hand discipline similar to classical guitar playing. Preferring to write original music and develop a personal style, Don's self-taught journey on the instrument has encouraged him to follow his musical intuition. The result is an unclassifiable musical style that borrows from jazz, folk, rock and classical music. When asked, Don usually pigeonholes his music as "Heavy Wood"! |
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Thursday, December 31 Join Hugh's Room to ring in the New Year with great food and a magical evening of music with Chris Whiteley and his All Star Cast. Tickets include a four course meal, gratuities, music, party favours and champagne at midnight. |
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Thursday, January 7 Native New Yorker Michael Holt has been writing, touring, and releasing critically acclaimed albums since his first band regularly packed New York's legendary CBGB in the mid 80’s. In the 90's, he achieved world recognition with progressive pop band The Mommyheads; since moving to Toronto he has collaborated with such artists as Ron Sexsmith, Bob Wiseman, and Michelle Rumball. Holt releases his newest album, The Dawn Chorus By Michael Holt And The Kids, after returning from a 32-city tour of the US, Canada, and Europe. The new CD offers fifteen uplifting, melodic songs about love, self-expression, and nature, spanning folk rock, chamber pop, bossa nova, classical- influenced art songs, country, an Appalachian-style ballad, and more. “The Kids” are the Holt's band with Ron Sexmith's drummer Don Kerr, guitarist David Celia, and bassist Peter Murray. At Hugh's room they will be joined by Joan Besen of Prairie Oyster, Karyn Ellis, and Chris Banks, plus harp, strings, marimba, woodwinds, and horns for a total musical extravaganza. Rich Burnett carves a fresh and welcome take on the classic folk/country sounds of the early 70's. With a sweet and mellow tone, Burnett's music sometimes bares shades of early blues, or can roll along with a beatlesque bounce. An accomplished guitarist, Burnett finds ways to blend these influences tastefully making his newest album, Not So Blue, a striking piece of modern roots Canadiana. Recorded with Don Kerr, Burnett will be supported at the release by Kerr on drums, Adrian Lawryshyn (Madison Violet) on bass, John Showman on fiddle, David Celia on guitar, and Rosemary Phelan and Nancy Dutra on vocals.
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Friday, January 8 Bob Snider In 1994, "Stuck On A Cold Steel Pole" - an eclectic, multi-artist compilation of music celebrating our unique "Canadian Winter" - was released to great critical acclaim. |
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Saturday & Sunday, January 9 & 10 Connie Kaldor wrote this and more about the unexpected twists and turns of life and love for her latest album Love is a Truck. She could well have been writing about her personal artistic complexities. Music pundits have tried to define the essence of the prairie-born acoustic performer for over two decades but even the most eloquent have fallen short of perfection. Fact is, Connie Kaldor is a performer without borders. A contradiction in terms. She is a Juno-award winning singer who has flourished on the folk music scene for over two decades yet her repertoire of original material blurs musical boundaries, embracing elements of gospel, rock, country and western, folk, blue grass and adult contemporary. She is an artist of substance without pretension, witty and urbane without condescension. She is a fearless chronicler of the human experience without the folksong angst. She has recorded nine albums, sold tens of thousands of copies, but has never had a commercial hit. Her live performances are legendary and her fan base broad and fiercely loyal. People come back to see her again and again because a Connie Kaldor performance is about more than just the power of music. It is also about the power of personality. What she says between songs is as intriguing as the lyrics she sings. She has travelled prairie backroads to visit modest community centres and sold out concert halls in major cities. From Bejing to New Dehli to Saskatoon to Washington, Connie has triumphed with a mix of song and spoken word honed in pacing and tone by the many years she spent performing.
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Thursday, January 14 The Strip After 5 years of travelling just under the radar, Parkdale Gypsy-Folk-Rockers The Strip are finally attracting the attention they deserve with the release of their debut full-length album, “Stick To Your Guns.” Produced by Juno-nominee John MacLean, (Mr. Something Something) the 11 track disc is a rich, cohesive offering which clearly reflects that this talented quartet have taken the advice found in their own album title. Donefors In the late hours of 2006, four accomplished Canadian musicians came together to form what many fans & colleagues have dubbed their "new favourite band". The DoneFors comprise singer-songwriter Janine Stoll (The Ladybird Sideshow), electric guitar player/songwriter Paul MacDougall, electric bass player/songwriter Liam Smith (both of Juno nominated Mr. Something Something), and drummer/producer/engineer Brian Lahaie (Angie Nussey, SuperStack). |
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Friday, January 15
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Sunday, January 17 Award-winning songwriter Chris MacLean releases her new solo album FEET BE STILL with the support of musical friends Tiiu (pronounced Tea-You), Eve Goldberg, and Amy Campbell. A former member of the renowned world music ensemble Galitcha, with whom she has toured around the world, MacLean marks her triumphant return to solo performing with a stunning collection of songs that have already garnered several awards (Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Council of Folk Festivals, 2008). Following her solo set, Chris will be joined by local Toronto songwriters Tiiu, Eve Goldberg, and Amy Campbell for a no-holds-barred songwriting soiree. Expect an afternoon of celebration, admiration, jubilation, and most of all, songs to feed your hungry soul. See you there! |
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CANCELLED
CANCELLED In 2009, Jeremy Spencer, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his founding role in Fleetwood Mac, will perform in the United States at the Chicago Blues Festival accompanied by a team of Chicago blues musicians, including Dave Herrera on guitar and Marty Binder on drums. Spencer had been out of the spotlight for decades when, in 2005, the promoter of the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, Jostein Forsberg, convinced Spencer to perform publicly again. He paired the rock legend with some of the best blues musicians in Norway, some of whom had been playing together for twenty-five years. Their performance at the Festival was a huge success. Completely taken by the sympathetic backing provided by the Norwegian musicians, Spencer used the group to record his first album in 27 years, Precious Little, on Blind Pig Records, which Vintage Guitar magazine said "may well be the pop music comeback of the past several decades." Jeremy Spencer followed this up with a 3-city tour in 2008, playing shows in St.Louis, Chicago, and Madison. Referring to the 2008 tour Art Tipaldi, senior editor for Blues Revue and Blues Wax, said, "In the past two years, I've seen Jeremy Spencer perform four shows at the Notodden Blues Festival and I can tell you that each show was better than the previous. Jeremy has lost none of the fire from those Fleetwood Mac days. His slide guitar still sends chills. Every note I've heard Jeremy play showcases his great commitment to the blues. I've seen him ignite the stage with a mixture of classic Chicago blues and smart contemporary songs. This tour is the music rediscovery of 2008." |
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Wednesday, January 20 A banjo songster like Old Man Luedecke is a rare type of musician. A songwriting one of such hopeful goodness, rarer still. In the tradition of solo banjo men and women of days gone by like Dock Boggs, Bascom Lunsford and Roscoe Holcomb, Old Man Luedecke sings his songs accompanied only by his loving five string, foot stomps and the occasional yodel. His songs are melodic gems blending old time sensibilities with an unusual vision and poetic sense. His music belies someone more than slightly ill at ease with modern life. This is a bizarre type of music Dock Boggs might have made if he’d studied poetry. Old Man Luedecke left the big old city of Toronto, met a girl in the Yukon, fell in love, bought a banjo and fell in love again. After a couple of years of love and banjo and the makings of a brilliant performing career in sunny Halifax, he returned to the Yukon with his sweethearts. There he woodshedded. He wrote a tone of songs over the next year and a half. He held regular gigs playing banjo in a gambling hall with can-can girls and in a honky tonk called the Snakepit accompanying piano barnacle Bob. Even made an appearance at the Dawson City Music Festival. After a time, he left again for Halifax to renew musical acquaintances and record his debut CD Mole in the Ground. That CD has become a smash on college radio, was featured on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves and is a hot item in stores and at shows. He continues to live in Halifax and perform there and around the country to ever-wider acclaims. His stage show blends hokum and inspiration into powerful and fun entertainment that will delight young and old. He’s still sweet on the girl he met up there in Yukon, and the banjo. |
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Thursday, January 21
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Friday - Sunday, January 22 -24 Hosted by David Newland ... and more TBA |
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Sunday, January 24 A cheerful Robbie Burns dedication to ease your mid-winter blues. Featuring: Jim Strickland as Emcee and Storyteller. Come join us for the brightest ray of light you'll find at any Robbie Burns dedication on the planet. Taxi Chain's bagpipe smorgasbord, Mathew Johnson’s stellar fiddling and the thunderous rhythms of Triple Dynamite’s Ottawa Valley step dancing will ease your mid-winter blues in a show you’ll never forget! Haggis will be addressed and available on the sassy side!
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Tuesday, January 26
Garry Jackson is a fine Canadian singer songwriter / recording artist. Garry has performed throughout North America and Switzerland, He has shared the stage with legendary songwriters such as Eric Andersen and Tom Rush, in Toronto. As a performer, Garry is armed only with his acoustic guitar, vocals and heart and soul. Influenced by artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and others, Garry Jackson has forged his own style and path. If you have the chance to hear him perform his song Hardy Jackson you will know and understand. Hardy Jackson was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and Garry was compelled to write something, for him. The Weather Channel requested this song, for a special report called Storm Survivors, |
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Wednesday, January 27 Jay Linden "Under the radar" -- doing something undetected. Sometimes this phrase is used to mean "getting away with something", as in doing something nefarious without getting caught. Sometimes it just means doing something and not getting noticed. Jay Linden has been making music, all-told, for over 45 years, since he was a pre-teen. He plays dozens of instruments, and has written dozens and knows and plays thousands of songs. But mostly, he remains a pretty well guarded secret outside of the people in the communities where he's lived. He's unabashedly acoustic, unabashedly folk rooted. His musical trail comes up from Woody, Pete, Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family, through Dylan, Johnny Cash and the 50s folk scare and through contemporaries like Townes, Willie P, Dolly Parton, Dave Carter and more. He writes and sings memorable folk songs and plays a lot of fretted and stringy things, flutes, hand drums, and novelty instruments, some more novel than others. "Under The Radar" ... sparse and folksy. Recorded in Jay's living room, produced, mixed and mastered by Colin Linden. | ||
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Friday, January 29 Over the past three albums and five years, Toronto’s Celtic rock band Enter The Haggis has found itself at the center of a grassroots success story ever teetering on the brink of mainstream success. From playing Celtic festivals to headlining them, and from the festival circuit to selling out multiple nights in rock venues, ETH has blazed a path with heavy and almost constant touring up and down the East Coast, to Canada, the West Coast and back again, winning over success one fan, one town, one region at a time. The band has made waves in the genre, landing high Billboard and iTunes World Music chart positions as well as major television appearances on shows like Live With Regis And Kelly, A&E Breakfast With the Arts and PBS’ popular program Out of Ireland, with its multi-influence style of Celtic rock. It’s the kind of overall sound and devotion package that has created not only die-hard fans, but “Haggis Heads” that follow the band from gig to gig. The band has been together in its current incarnation since members met in the early 2000s in Toronto, where more than half the band was studying its craft in the city’s colleges and universities. With that kind of classically trained background Enter The Haggis is constantly honing and evolving its sound – blending elements of rock and pop with traditional Celtic fare, an art school eclecticism and a keen sense of arrangement. Past records have seen the band dabble in roots, funk, even adding prog rock elements to the mix, but ETH always manages to bring it home. Alternating between upbeat rock numbers with sing-along choruses and slower, more introspective alt pop songs, the band plays progressive and lyrically driven music that’s strongly rooted in Celtic tradition – from the storytelling to the bagpipes. “We like to experiment musically, pushing the boundaries of what people think of as Celtic music,” said vocalist and guitarist Trevor Lewington. “Some of our grooves, melodies and lyrics are quite different from other bands that we play with.” |
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Saturday, January 30 He doesn't have a manager. Doesn't have an agent. Doesn't even have a recording deal. So why is he selling out some of the finest concert venues in the country? Gregg Lawless just may be the best singer/songwriter you've never heard, but his ability to win over concert audiences from eight to eighty is bound to change this very soon. Gregg has made unconventional career choices. For one thing, his musical tours have taken him far from the bright lights of the big city to rural Ireland and remote regions of Africa. He spent 5 summers not playing music festivals, but running songwriting workshops as musical director for Camp Trillium, a camp for children and families affected by childhood cancer. Audiences and critics alike love Gregg's music, stories and showmanship; the people who hear Gregg hire Gregg. He has gone from playing bars to playing some of Canada's biggest theatres and concert houses. Reviewers have celebrated his "remarkably diverse" songwriting, drawing comparisons from James Taylor to Crowded House to David Wilcox. |
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Sunday, January 31 Kim & Reggie Harris Kim and Reggie Harris are two vibrant, superbly talented and engaging performers whose captivating stage presence has inspired audiences around the world for over 25 years. As singers, songwriters, storytellers, educators, historical interpreters and cultural advocates, they have used their remarkable voices and their unique talents to bring new insights to the entertainment and educational spectrum. Born in Philadelphia. a city rich in musical and cultural heritage, Kim and Reggie were both exposed to a wide range of composers and musical genres. Their training, nurtured in their individual homes and enhanced in their churches and schools, enriched their musical vocabulary. It was the start of what has evolved into the " Bach to Rock" musical approach (with the strongest elements being Folk, Gospel and Jazz) that is so prevalent in their music. |
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Saturday, February 6 Venture to the back roads of Canada for an inspiring tribute featuring the music of the legendary Stompin' Tom Connors. This toe-tappin', foot-stompin', hand-clappin' biography contains a dozen of the prolific troubadour's greatest hits, including "Bud the Spud", "Tillsonburg", "Sudbury Saturday Night", and "The Hockey Song." |
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Sunday, February 7 From remote Isonville, KY, to an international following in Bluegrass music,
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Wednesday, February 10 Halifax native Kevin Fox is a revered multi-instrumentalist, sought-after arranger/composer and recording artist, and has been dubbed ‘Canada’s most ubiquitous side-man’. Now, four years after the release of his debut album COME ALIVE, Kevin returns to his exceptional talents as a singer-songwriter with the much-anticipated release of SONGS FOR CELLO AND VOICE. Kevin combines his signature instrument, which he skillfully bows, plucks, taps and loops, with his charismatic voice, to create a tuneful and captivating musical tapestry of cello-driven folk/pop. From his distinctive originals like ‘Signs’ and ‘In the Eyes of You’, to innovative covers of Kate Bush’s ‘Army Dreamers’ and Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams’, SONGS FOR CELLO AND VOICE showcases Kevin’s unique talent and reinforces his astonishing artistic scope. |
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Thursday, February 11 Martyn Joseph is a performer like no other. One of acoustic music's most arresting artists, the Welsh singer songwriter has been in demand on both sides of the Atlantic for over two decades. Martyn`s 25 year career has embraced some notable achievements including 5 Top 50 UK chart positions, with such songs as Dolphins Make Me Cry, Working Mother and Let`s Talk About it in the Morning, and appearances and tours with, amongst others, Suzanne Vega, Marc Cohn, Joan Armatrading, Runrig, Clannad, Chris de Burgh, Art Garfunkel, Jools Holland and even Celine Dion and Shirley Bassey. He has won fans everywhere with his uncanny fusion of material -feisty, pull no punches big issue numbers alongside stripped bare love songs. Martyn`s particular strength is in the lyrical narrative of his songs, be they contemporary protests against injustice and inhumanity, a musical psalm to the fulfilment and fragilities of love, or a piercing précis of social history, "It`s the song that can soothe, explain or even in a small way save us". In this manner he carries on in the tradition of the six string balladeer as both catalyst and interpreter of our raddled and rewarding times, our personal and communal stories sung out loud in the spirit of Woody Guthrie, Ewan MacColl, Hank Williams and Bruce Springsteen. |
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Friday & Saturday, February 12 & 13 Born in the small town of Sora, Italy (an hour south of Rome) in 1953, Alfie Zappacosta moved to Toronto with his parents when he was six months old. Deciding upon a music career in his teens, Zappacosta at first set his sights upon being a guitarist -until, his vocal prowess was uncovered. His recording debut came in 1979 as front man for the five-piece Toronto band Surrender. Releasing a self-titled album prompted radio airplay of "Find Your Way," "Turn Down The Mission" and "Buddy," the band went on the road, touring Canada to sell out crowds. In 1981, Surrender released a four-track EP called "No Surrender." The song "Start Again" became a staple of adult contemporary radio, and the simple honestly of "It's All Been Done Before" presented Zappacosta's undeniable songwriting and musical talents- launching a recording career that has spanned over 20 years. |
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Sunday, February 14 SOOZI SCHLANGER (vocals, fiddle) is best known as the voice and fiddle that drives “Swamperella”, |
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In a darkened bedroom, lit only be the amber glow from an old floor model radio, two young brothers aged 6 and 12 lay in their beds, listening to the country music broadcasts from the Grand Ol' Opry, and practiced their harmonies. Two years later, the youngest one was playing the definitive 8-year-old's version of "Desolation Row" on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar. |
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Friday, February 26 Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank’s pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet. |
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Saturday, February 27 Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. Frank’s pedigree is a mile long, but a quick Google will illustrate why he is considered one of the best on the planet. |
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Sunday, February 28
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Wednesday, March 10 The interplay between Allison Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Sidelinger, and JJ Jones is truly something to behold. They are distinct voices with incredible harmonies; multiple instrumentalists who bring the perfect sound to each song and songwriters who pen poetic tunes you’ll find yourself humming. Po’Girl showcases a wide array of instruments-from gutbucket bass, accordion, clarinet, banjo, dobro, guitar, to electric bass, glockenspiel, piano, harmonica, bicycle bells, drums-- and they all frequently trade off instruments with each song. Their fluid and joyous musicality is one of the group's most endearing and irresistible features. |
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Thursday, March 11 Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, sideman, innovator, recording artist, award winner. His names are many, but underlying that is a young man with an ancient soul who has traveled the world for the past 25 years bringing his unique brand of joy to audiences wherever he goes. |
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Sunday, March 14 When you look at Kate Rusby, the baby-faced scrap who's still asked to prove she's old enough to buy wine at the Co-op, and then look at the birthdate and musical cv, the logical assumption is that there's been some mistake. Yet here we are, 15 years into a career that has given English folk music its freshest tonic since the Watersons. Kate is 33. And as she releases her latest solo album, Awkward Annie, young musicians up and down the country are looking at her as just the kind of role model she has always seen in Nic Jones and Dave Burland. Kate Rusby has come of age in another sense, too. For the first time, she has produced the album herself, though brother Joe's technical wizardry earned a slice of the credit, too. As ever, Kate is nervous and uncertain about her own mighty achievements. But the result is another outstanding CD that bears renewed witness to that infallible eye for the great storyline and a strongly developing songwriting talent of her own. To each of her songs, she brings the quality of constancy. Some have only just been written, but sound as if they might have been handed down through generation after generation for a couple of centuries or more. |
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In a darkened bedroom, lit only be the amber glow from an old floor model radio, two young brothers aged 6 and 12 lay in their beds, listening to the country music broadcasts from the Grand Ol' Opry, and practiced their harmonies. Two years later, the youngest one was playing the definitive 8-year-old's version of "Desolation Row" on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar. |
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Friday & Saturday, April 9 & 10 Jesse Winchester was the music world's most prominent Vietnam War draft evader, though his renown came from a body of wry, closely observed songs. After growing up in Memphis, Winchester received his draft notice in 1967 and moved to Montreal, Canada, rather than serve in the military. In 1969, he met Robbie Robertson of the Band, who helped launch his recording career. In the same way that James Taylor's history of mental instability and drug abuse served as a subtext for his early music, Winchester's exile lent real-life poignancy to songs like "Yankee Lady," which appeared on his debut album, Jesse Winchester (1970). He became a Canadian citizen in 1973. |
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Sunday, April 11 Oysterband make a modern, folk-based British music, acoustic at heart, sometimes intense, sometimes rocking. Since 1978 they've toured in 35 countries - festivals, concerts, bars, rallies, jails, bring 'em on! - and made 12 studio albums.
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Monday, April 12 Tom Russell was born in Los Angeles in 1950 and now makes his home, on the border in El Paso, Texas. He has recorded seventeen albums of original material and has written such classics as "Navajo Rug," "Gallo del Cielo," "Blue Wing," "Walking on the Moon," "St. Olav's Gate," and "Outbound Plane." Russell's songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Nanci Griffith, Guy Clark, Doug Sahm, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Ian Tyson, Suzy Bogguss, Iris DeMent, Peter Case, k.d. lang, Bob Neuwirth, Sylvia Tyson, Katy Moffatt . . . and many others. Russell's acclaimed tribute to Merle Haggard, Tulare Dust, co-produced with Dave Alvin, was responsible for creating what came to be known as the "Americana" radio format. It was that format's longest running number |
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Thursday, April 15
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Sunday, April 18 Throughout 2007 and 2008, the Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island based family group, the Barra MacNeils, celebrated over 20 years in an outstanding recording and touring career. This was accented with a two CD special 20th Anniversary package covering the span of their entire career to that point, as well as live concerts reflecting the musical course of their career, from humble family beginnings to world wide acclaim. The concert touring in support of that project took the group to theatre and festival stages coast to coast across Canada, had them jetting across America from festival stage to theatre stage and beyond, as well as sending them to Ireland and Scotland for prestigious events across the Atlantic. |
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Saturday, May 12 Three extraordinary voices, two founding singer-songwriters, one singular vision: The Wailin' Jennys continue to evolve into far more than the melodious sum of their individual talents five years after blowing in on a fresh acoustic breeze from Canada's mid-western heartland. |
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