Wednesday, February 10
Kevin Fox
$18 in advance or $20 at the door.

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.
After spending the last three years composing arrangements for the likes of Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) and Kathleen Edwards, recording with artists as diverse as Raine Maida and Celine Dion, and touring extensively with musicians ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk to Tom Cochrane, Kevin Fox is ready to step from side-stage back into the spotlight.

Thursday, February 11
Martyn Joseph
$18 in advance or $20 at the door.

Martyn Joseph is a performer like no other.
Shades of Springsteen, Knopfler and Dave Matthews there may be - but he stands in his own right, built on a reputation for giving what thousands have described as the best live music experience of their lives.

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.

Friday & Saturday, February 12 & 13
Alfie Zappacosta
$30 in advance or $32.50 at the door.

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.

Sunday, February 14
Valentines Day with Betty and the Bobs
Tickets are $16 Advance or $18 at the Door
Performance 8:30pm

SOOZI SCHLANGER (vocals, fiddle) is best known as the voice and fiddle that drives “Swamperella”,
a traditional Cajun band with a devoted following and now a strong CD offering.  As one of the Betties, she sings
old-time country and forties jazz with unstoppable conviction.

SUZIE VINNICK (vocals, bass, guitar, and mandolin) is the newest Betty.  She is a multiple award-winner (for bass playing, songwriting and singing) including the 2003 Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist of the Year.  With “Betty and the Bobs”, this talented multi-instrumentalist can play anyone’s part, but it’s her voice, a voice “of spun honey and gold”, and her original rendering of classic songs that knocks peoples’ socks off.

KATHERINE WHEATLEY (vocals, guitar) plays at folk clubs across Canada and in Europe and is currently working on her third CD.  Hailed by critics as “a truly Canadian original” and a songwriter with “an uncanny depth of observation”, she always comes up with gems for the band to perform and for the audience to sing along with.

DAVID WOODHEAD (vocals, bass, mandolin) is best known for his creative instrumental work in the folk world, including recordings and/or performances with Perth County Conspiracy, Stan Rogers, Brent Titcomb, Valdy, and Loreena McKennitt.  In addition to producing albums and writing music for film and television, he’s released his own CD "Sweets and \Conundrums". In “Betty and the Bobs”, David gets to expose a rootsier side and do some lead vocals.

WENDELL FERGUSON (vocals, guitar) is the six-time Canadian Country Music Association Guitar Player of the Year and has traveled the globe accompanying a who's who in both the country field  (George Fox, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks) and the folk arena (Quartette, Bob Snider, Cindy Church). As for his own hilarious tunes ? well - when the band has a "Wendell moment", everything stops for a sideways look at the world.

RICH GREENSPOON (drums) has played drums with Oliver Schroer's Stewed Tomatoes, Njacko Backo, and Rare Air as well as on recordings in many contemporary styles, including world music and jazz.  He's an esteemed drum teacher and has been busy in the last few years producing albums for other artists.

DAVID MATHESON (piano, vocals…) - This guitar, dobro and banjo picking, accordion/keyboard playing, singer/songwriter and one-quarter of the Canadian folk group, Moxy Früvous - is our newest Bob.  His songs are original, moving, quirky and perfect for this band.

Thursday, February 18
Garnet Rogers
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

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.

Within ten years, and barely out of high school, Garnet Rogers was on the road as a full- time working musician with his older brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential acts in North American folk music.

Since then, Garnet Rogers has established himself as 'One of the major talents of our time". Hailed by the Boston Globe as a "charismatic performer and singer", Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence - close to six and a half feet tall - with a voice to match. With his "smooth, dark baritone" (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs "give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart" (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humour and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again.

"Garnet Rogers is capable of awe-inspiring and unpredictable stuff - and that includes more than just music"
Resolutely independent, Garnet Rogers has turned down offers from major labels to do his music his own way.

Friday, February 19
Heartbeat for Haiti
$18 in advance or $20 at the door

Jason Wilson & Friends.
Nick Brownman Ali
Fergus Hambleton (Satellites)
Ruert Ojiji Harvey (Messanjah)
Mighty Pope
& more

Saturday, February 20
The Good Brothers - CD Release
with an opening set by Badly Bent.
$20 in advance or $22.50 at the door.

The Good Brothers have gained a worldwide audience over the course of their accomplished career. It all started when twins Bruce and Brian Good formed a folk group with Marty Steiger and Bruce’s soon to be wife Margaret Queen. They were known as The Kinfolk and performed at folk clubs and coffeehouses in the mid to late 60’s.
In 1970 Bruce and Brian met James Ackroyd and formed a band simply called James and The Good Brothers. Their first show was at Maple Leaf Gardens with Grand Funk Railroad. Then came the cross Canada tour on the outrageous Festival Express with such bands as The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Ian & Sylvia and The Band just to name a few. With a little help from friends The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, they recorded their first album on Columbia records. What excitement – the gigs at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore West, the nights at L.A.’s Troubadour with John Hammond and Tracey Nelson, the shows in Northern California with The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and The New Riders of The Purple Sage.

Later, James would choose to remain in the U.S. while the brothers would return home to Canada and recruit younger brother Larry. This was 1973 and would be the beginning of a wonderful musical trip… The Good Brothers. The brothers’ first gig was the legendary Toronto club The Riverboat, on May 14, 1974. They played simple music, straight from the heart that encompassed country, bluegrass, folk and the occasional taste from their rock and roll songbook. Fiddle tunes flowed as did original and cover songs, highlighted by Larry’s banjo breaks, Bruce’s award winning autoharp styles, their unique sibling harmonies and enough on-stage energy to burn down the corn field.

Sunday, February 21

SHINE! In support of the Jim Fay Music Scholarship for Youth.

featuring Andrew Cash, Michael Johnston, Andy Maize, Julian Fauth,
Lori Yates, Jerry Leger, Jon Brooks, October Brown, Michelle Rumball, Michael O Grady,
Mary Rankin, Shelley Coopersmith and Warped 45swith SHINE Houseband members Jason Fowler, David Woodhead, Christine Bougie, Ayron Mortley & David Matheson

Tickets $20 Advance/$25 Door, $10 for kids under 16, Free for kids 5 and under. Doors open at 5:00, Performance 6:00-10:00pm

Monday, February 22
$25 advance & $30 at the door
Fundraiser for the Renaissance Theatre Company's Production of The Language of the Heart

A new musical set in the Harlem Renaissance of 1920’s New York
 
Join us for an evening of music with Canadian Jazz legends
 
Joe Sealy and Paul Novotny
 
And members of the cast Sterling Jarvis and Jewelle Blackman as we celebrate the music of the 1920's
 
With a Silent Auction

Tuesday, February 23
Briga
$10 in advance or $12 at the door.

Known across Canada as being a fearless violinist whose's played with anybody and everybody in world music and folk genres across the world (from Geoff Berner, to Old Man Luedeke, to Lubo's Kaba Horo, to Carolyn Mark, or with the greek blues legends The Rembetika Hipsters etc.), Briga has now contributed to Montreal's world beat and gypsy groove music scene by releasing a new album titled Diaspora. 

A Canadian violinist who's sound is like no other (rooted in eastern european and balkan roma violin) can be labeled as being: Gypsy violin in a hotbed of mixed music. Floating from folk sounds, to world & urban beats, at times teasing you with a little cabaret, and then swooping into funk/jazz and heavy grooves, Briga's violin and vocals are at the crossroads of various musical styles. She represents a sound unique to Montréal. 

The outcome is colourful melodies and sensual vocals & lyrics, wild and passionate violin wrapped up in high energy beats, and a groove that makes you wanna get up and dance...

Accompanied by some of the best musicians in Canada, Briga's team includes: Jérémi Roy on the bass, Tacfarinas Kichou on percussion,  Alix Guery Noël  playing accordeon and piano, and Marton Maderspach on drums.

Come celebrate with us the Canadian release of Briga's first solo album: Diaspora. 

Wednesday, February 24

PRIVATE PARTY

Thursday, February 25
Christopher Plock CD Release
with an opening set by "Daughters of the Evolution"
featuring Terra Hazelton, Julie Michels & Sophia Pearlman
$15 in advance or $17 at the door.
Show starts at 8:00pm

Christopher Plock does it all. A celebrated saxophonist (sometimes even playing two at a time), Chris' additional proficiency with clarinet, flute, percussion and guitar has placed his skills in high demand by some of Canada's leading music acts: Ron Hawkins and the late Jeff Healey have featured Chris in live gigs and recordings, while his work on the K-OS CD Joyful Rebellion netted him two Juno Awards. Canada's Sweetheart of Swing, Alex Pangman, has showcased Chris' horn playing in several performances, while JAZZFM.91 radio personality Jaymz Bee is a long time fan and collaborator.
Treehouse's popular children's TV program Max and Ruby features Chris' sax playing, along with a bouncy vocal duet with Canadian Jazz Diva Molly Johnson, and Chris even taught Monk star Tony Shalub how to play clarinet for an episode featuring country legend Willie Nelson.
In 2002, Chris released a solo album that brought both his playing and his singing to centre stage. My Romance, a collection of 10 beloved Jazz standards, featured the voice of a true crooner. Chris' silky tenor, heard previously on Healey's song Dark Town Strutter's Ball, soared over classics like Mean To Me, Bye Bye Blackbird and Since I Fell For You. The album's rendition of Horace Silver's Peace enjoyed heavy airplay on Toronto's JAZZFM.91 radio station, and helped redefine Chris as top-notch vocalist.
But it's live performance that is this artist's first love. Having played with such diverse acts, Chris draws on a massive repertoire of Jazz, Blues, Funk, R&B and Pop as fuel for his high-octane show; the most sedate of audiences often surprise themselves on the dance floor, inspired by the performer's energy and passion for the music he plays.
Not surprisingly, this has made Chris a sought-after performer at Toronto venues like Top of The Senator, The Montreal Bistro, The Rex and The Palais Royale. Two recent highlights were being selected as featured vocalist for Harry Belafonte's attendance at 2007's Christian - Jewish Federation Fundraiser at Toronto's Royal York, and taking centre stage at the Dusty Cole memorial in January 2008 at the Winter Garden Theatre.
It's a busy schedule for the recent father of twin boys, who also juggles teaching music at a Montessori School with gourmet cooking and the occasional game of hockey. A new solo CD is in the works, featuring both standards and original compositions, is due out early 2009.

Friday - Saturday, February 26 - 27
Presented by the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association
Frank Vignola
Tickets $35 Advance/$37.50 Door
Performance 8:30pm

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.
Whether he is featured on a Donald Fagen recording, a jam with David Grisman, as Les Paul's right hand man or leading his own groups throughout the years, he has proved himself to be in the elite creating his own unique sound.
Born on suburban Long Island, Vignola was raised in the New York area. The Italian-American started playing the guitar at the age of five and grew up admiring a variety of guitarists. Far from a jazz snob, Vignola never listened to jazz exclusively and was also a major fan of rock, R&B, and pop. The guitarists that he admires range from Django and George Barnes to rock icons like Frank Zappa and Eddie Van Halen. As a young adult, Vignola studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island and went on to enjoy an enormous amount of sideman gigs in the 1980s including recording and touring with the likes of Madonna, Leon Redbone, Ringo Starr as well as coming into his own as a leader in 1988 with his famed Hot Club of France tribute which was hailed in the NY Times as one of the top ten acts in 1988 and forged the way for the many Django Hot Club groups that followed. The New Yorker was 27 when, in 1993, he signed with Concord Jazz and recorded his first Concord session as a leader, Appel Direct. Many more Concord releases followed in the 1990s as well as 3 releases for the Telarc label as co-leader of the group Travelin' Light. The early 2000's found Vignola recording for Acoustic Disc, Hyena Records as well as making featured appearances on Atlantic, Sony and Warner Brothers Records with the likes of Donald Fagen, Queen Latifah, Mark O Connor and Wynton Marsalis. Mr. Vignola has also recorded several DVD's for Mel Bay Records. "Gypsy Jam" features Jimmy Rosenberg and "Favorite Solo's" features Frank with one of his guitar heroes, Bucky Pizzarelli. Frank has written 18 guitar instruction books for Mel Bay Publications and has recorded several CDROM educational products for Truefire.com. He has performed hundreds of clinics and masterclasses at major universities and colleges throughout the country including Julliard and Boston University. 

Sunday, February 28
Ken Whiteley's Gospel Matinee
Sharon Riley (Faith Chorale),
David Wall,
Suzie Vinnick,
Ben Whiteley.
$17 in advance or $20 at the door.
2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 2
Roxanne Potvin & Caracol
$20 in advance or $22.50 at the door.

No Love for the Poisonous In tangled times, this young artist’s new CD speaks to universal challenges in an intimate and edgy way
No Love for the Poisonous is, at its heart, an honest album by a perceptive artist with a distinctive voice. Filled with songs that resonate deeply with this generations’ experiences, it’s an engaging effort that demonstrates her personal growth and evolution as a singer , writer and artist.
This is not a CD by an artist who is sitting still, resting on the past.
It’s taken some time to get here. Roxanne made her first CD when she was 21, a self-financed, self-produced, proudly independent collection of songs rooted in the blues. That was where she was at — a spunky Gatineau girl with a passion for the music of Dinah Washington, tough and edgy blues and R&B dripping in soul and conviction. It helped that she was a pretty good guitarist who could hold her own in the gritty Ottawa clubs and had a voice that could take audiences by the scruff of the neck and shake their souls.
Her next CD, The Way It Feels, produced by Colin Linden and blessed with guest appearances from John Hiatt, Bruce Cockburn, Daniel Lanois and many others, helped establish her as a confident songwriter with a remarkable voice. It immediately established her as a newcomer worth paying attention to, receiving a Juno nomination for Blues Album of the Year.
The Way it Feels also helped make Roxanne an international artist. A young woman who had only once performed outside Canada found herself, along with her friend (and proud mentor) Sue Foley and American blueswoman Deborah Coleman, on the Blues Caravan Tour playing countless dates all over Europe and the US. Along the way, she made a record, Time Bomb, with Foley and Coleman, which continues to be a major seller in Europe. Suddenly in demand at home, she played clubs and festivals across Canada and the U.S. with her own group.

CARACOL, hailing from Montreal, Canada, presents her first solo release"L'ARBRE AUX PARFUMS", a more mature, personal and introspective album. The album is built on raw emotion and is a unique blend ofamerican folk, old jamaican rocksteady, with a singer-songwriter and avintage 50's feel. It is likened by some to indie-pop and features the sounds of the ukulele, the autoharp, vocal harmonies and a good old acoustic guitar!
Primarily written in french, but also including english tracks, the lyrics explore the sometimes darker side of human emotions and relationships through anger, love, contempt, arrogance and the search for something more. It's a straight from the heart, no holds-barred expression of the human condition. At times sarcastic, but never tragic, "L'ARBRE AUX PARFUMS" reveals our raw humanity. Using surrealistic imagery inspired by films such as ''Oh Brother Where Art Thou?'' the songs at times evoke ahawaiian ballroom or a throwback to the vinyl records of days gone by.
Equipped with her experience, gathered while on tour with ex-band DobaCaracol (100 000 albums sold worldwide, winner of a FELIX- Best World Music album in 2005, 425 shows in 16 countries), CARACOL looks to pick up where Dobacaracol left off, no compromises, and with the feeling of having found her own self.

Wednesday, March 3
Chris Bartos - Fort William CD Release
$12 in advance or $15 at the door.

Multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Chris Bartos has, at last, treated us to his first solo recording, Fort William. Chris has been recognized internationally for his brilliant versatility on fiddle, guitar and piano, and we are fortunate that he has now offered his vocals and songwriting into the mix. “Bartos proves to have an understated but gently persuasive vocal style that stands as the perfect complement to well-crafted compositions of real emotional eloquence.” Chris Bartos will be performing material from his new release at Hugh’s Room on March 3rd.
Having written songs for years, Chris has now compiled a colourful array of roots music with styles ranging from folk to bluegrass to gospel. The beautifully quaint lyrics of Fort William will transport you to a serene lakeside dock on a hazy summer afternoon. The mellow rhythms will have you swaying as with the gentle motions of the waves. The steel guitar, violin and harmonies add a particular twang that in some tracks, takes us right into old-country territory, invoking a faint sense of nostalgia.
Chris completed initial recording for Fort William after spending five days bunked at a friend’s loft studio in Montreal. He plays all guitars, bass, violin, fiddle and pump organ. The results of his effort impressed veteran record label head and producer Andrew Hermant, who came on board to produce the project. He and Chris recorded and mixed the album together, and it is being released on Hermant’s famed independent label, Duke Street.

Chris' fluent guitar playing is at the core of the album's sound, but it has been as a fiddle player that he has previously had the most impact. After graduating from Boston's Berklee College of Music and moving from Toronto to Ottawa, he became an integral part of the city's thriving roots music scene for a full decade. He has performed and recorded with the likes of Jeff Healey, Lynn Miles, The Ennis Sisters, Crazy Strings, La Grande Bouche Swingtette, Dan and Chris Whiteley, and Rubberneck, and toured internationally as a member of Sarah Harmer's band.

Now, with Fort William, Chris and band celebrate his release as a solo artist. The patience and dedication required in that pursuit is vividly showcased on this compelling album.

Thursday, March 4
Ron Hynes
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

With a songwriting career that spans more than 30 years, Ron Hynes is a six-time East Coast Music Award winner, aGenie Award winner and a past Juno, CCMA and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee. He's been recipient of bothArtist of The Year and the prestigious Arts Achievement Award from the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the St. John's Folk Arts Council. Ron Hynes also holds an Honorary PhD from Memorial University for his songwriting and cont ribution to the cultural life of his beloved home province of Newfoundland (Canada).
Frequently referred to as the "man of a thousand songs", Ron Hynes' songs have been covered by dozens of artists worldwide, including Emmylou Harris, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Denny Doherty, Murray McLauchlan, Valdy, John McDermott, Terry Kelly, Prairie Oyster, The Good Brothers, Shaye, The Cottars and most recently, classical soprano Hayley Westenra.
Ron Hynes began his career as a singer-songwriter on the coffeehouse circuit in the early seventies and while on a Canadian theatre tour with The Mummers Troupe in '76, he composed a song called "Sonny's Dream" that's become a folk classic performed and recorded by artists all over the world. He was a founding member of the Wonderful Grand Band, a musical comedy show featuring a six-piece traditional/folk/rock band together with various members of Codco. The group produced two albums of original work, forty-one half-hour television shows (plus specials) for CBC-TV, and tour ed the country non-stop during its six-year history.

Friday, March 5
Melanie Doane
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

The first time you witness Juno-Award winner Melanie Doane perform, you may wonder whether you’re at a concert or a juggling show. Doane moves between instruments (guitar, violin, mandolin, ukulele, piano, and bass) as swiftly and effortlessly as she sings with her rich and clear voice (an instrument in its own right). It may seem like an odd assortment of musical armor for an artist with six Top 40 charting singles in Canada, but that’s the secret to Doane’s craft – she continually finds new ways to embrace elements of rock, pop, folk, country, and jazz, fusing them into a style that’s all her own. If that sounds a little puzzling, just wait till Doane starts plucking her electric violin as if it were a guitar-it’s one of those things you need to see in order to believe.

The product of a musical family, Halifax-born Doane has spent a large portion of the last ten years on the road supporting her numerous solo albums. Her indie release HARVEST TRAINgarnered the attention of Sony Music Canada in the mid 90's, and shortly thereafter Melanie released her debut LP SHAKESPEAREAN FISH. While the album received critical praise and garnered a loyal following, it wasn't until the release of ADAM’S RIB in 1998 that Melanie's music made a mainstream impact. With a running theme that is best described as a “delving dichotomy”, ADAM’S RIB brilliantly showcases Melanie’s flair as both an instrumentalist and songwriter, featuring punchy-relevant lyrics laced with strong musical wit. What followed the albums release is nothing short of extraordinary: four top 40 singles, a Juno Award for Best New Artist, a Canadian Radio Award for Most Charted Rock Artist, over 200 shows in Canada and the U.S. with the likes of Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan's "Lilith Fair", and Great Big Sea, and a Gold record award.

Since ADAM’S RIB, Melanie has pursued her career independent of the label system. In 2001, she recorded and released the fan cherished MELVIN LIVE, an album showcasing her energetic and diverse live show. Her third full length studio LP YOU ARE WHAT YOU LOVE followed in 2003, preceded by the lead single “Still Desire You”, which spanned multiple formats and eventually went Top 5. Her latest release, the critically acclaimed A THOUSAND NIGHTS, was inspired by Melanie’s experiences with motherhood (she has two young children). The album features a lush assortment of original songs and cover tunes, including beloved tracks by Fleetwood Mac, The Everly Brothers, Tom Waits, and Leonard Cohen. Tracks "Every Little Thing" and "Chopin Ballad" have already been featured in hit TV shows "Being Erica" and "Flashpoint". 

Between raising kids and making records, Melanie has managed to tour in support of each album, travel the U.S. with friend Gary Sinise playing in his Lt. Dan Band, tour Canada with Barney Bentall and the Bluebird North concert series, play shows with Canadian Idol alum Rex Goudie, write songs for various artists and play on several albums, have her music featured on ABC's hit show "Brothers and Sisters", have her music used in a new Canadian play called "Still Desire You", and travel across Canada and the U.S. (in 2007 and 2008) on the CPR Holiday train - playing 60 shows in less than a month while raising money for local food banks.

Okay, so maybe after accomplishing all of that, playing a violin as if it were a guitar isn’t that impressive - but in Doane’s world, it’s all in just another day’s work.

Saturday, March 6
Joni Mitchell Tribute
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

Hosted by Mia Sheard

Featuring Lily Frost, Wilderness of Manitoba, Leah Salomaa, Paisley Jura & Nick Zubeck

Band: Joan Besen, Ryan Granville-Martin, Chris Gartner, Colleen Allen & Kurt Swinghammer.

Sunday, March 7
Chirgilchin
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

Atmospheric and mesmeric, ‘throat singing’ is almost too difficult to describe in words. It must be heard to be believed – the music, produced by resonating low sounds in the throat, creates a middle note and a haunting, flute-like harmonic. 

Chirgilchin is a group of musicians from Tuva, a small Russian province north of Western Mongolia. Singing the ancient folk songs in the Tuvan language, the group also plays hand made instruments. 

Tuesday, March 9
An Evening with Tanya Philipovich
with Dan Walsh & Ike Richardson
opening set by Lucas Stagg.
$12 in advance or $14 at the door.

Wednesday, March 10
Po' Girl
with an opening set by JT Nero
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

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.
Impossible to put this band in a tidy little box—they’re equally at home in Douala, Cameroon playing the Massao World Music Festival, as they are at the International Jazz Festival in Montreal, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Woodford Music Festival in Australia or just playing for fun for the people in Vondel Park, Amsterdam.
Suffice to say Po'Girl makes 21st Century roots music, urban roots – never derivative, not faithfully aping a beloved tradition. Russell, Teixeira, Sidelinger, and Jones don't re-hash the old forms, they reshape and reinvigorate them for new ears. Like genuine gypsies, they wander and play - out on the international road bringing their unique brand of pan North Americana to a widespread audience 250 to 300 days of the year… Always restless, more often than not bone-tired, they write their flashes of sadness, their loss, their good love, their faint dreams of home into songs that matter deeply to them. Like any good art, they are little acts of self-rescue. So you should listen. You aren't much different from them, and who couldn't use a little rescuing these days?
Po’Girl released their 4th studio album “Deer in the Night” to critical acclaim in May 2009- they followed that up with “ Po’Girl Live” in July 2009 - a live album recorded at various shows over the last year - which captures some of the energy and excitement of a real time Po’Girl concert. With enough new material for several more records being honed before their enthusiastic crowds each night – expect to see a brand new Po’Girl CD coming down the line in spring of 2010.

Thursday, March 11
J.P. Cormier
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

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.
J.P. Cormier began playing guitar, self taught, at the age of 5 and quickly became immersed in the rich musical heritage of his Cape Breton roots. By the age of 9, he was considered a genuine prodigy and won his first guitar competition against 30 other players three times his age. By his mid-teens, it became obvious J.P. could play almost any stringed instrument he picked up. However it was his guitar playing which shone with his flawless executions of tunes he learned from records of giants like Chet Atkins and Doc Watson.
At 16, Cormier recorded his first album, a collection of bluegrass instrumentals. With the project in hand, he worked his way across the U.S. festival circuit - performing for anyone who might take notice. These appearances led to a move to the U.S., and 10 years of session work, live appearances, and many memorable nights at the Grand Ole Opry with such notable artists as Waylon Jennings, Marty Stuart, Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Charlie Louvin, and Vince Gill.

Friday, March 12
Paul Simon Tribute
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

Kevin Fox (Cello & Voice)
Drew Gonsalves (Kobo Town: cuban reggae)
Tony Gouveia (canada's premier male fado singer)
Gregory Hoskins (Stick People)
Soul Influence (4-part African A Cappella group)
Jory Nash (Great Singer-Songwriter)

and more t.b.a.

SECOND SHOW ADDED !

Sunday & Monday, March 14 & 15
Kate Rusby
$35 in advance or $37.50 at the door.

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.

Wednesday, March 17
St. Patricks Day with Mark Haines and Tom Leighton
$18 in advance or $20 at the door.

Who, What, When: Mark Haines & Tom Leighton established themselves as a duo in 1992 with the release of their first cd, "Foot To Floor (repeat on beat)". They perform an original and traditional repertoire influenced by their Celtic and North American folk roots. Their engaging humour and personality has made them popular performers in theatres, festivals, concerts, and clubs. These Borealis Recording Artists have rambled along Canadian highways from Ontario to the Maritimes, into the mountains of New York, and across the seas to Britain, Sweden and Taiwan.
 
Their Sound: Mark's voice "is a one of a kind". Add Tom's superb harmony and arranging skills, and the stories and images come vividly to life. These multi-instrumentalists combine the traditional "tug at your heart strings" sounds of the fiddle, accordion, guitar, bouzouki, and bodhran, with the "turn on your ears" new technology of synthesisers, tone generators and processors. Tom sometimes plays FOUR instruments AT ONCE; left hand pumping the accordion and bass, the right hand thumping the drum, while his feet deftly work the pedals of the keyboards. These two guys can create a HUGE sound.

Thursday, March 18
Fred Penner
$20 in advance or $22 at the door.

Three decades past and this bearded musician takes another ‘kick at the cat’. 
The journey this man is on has covered more bases than you might think. The actor - performing dramatic stage  roles and musical comedy characters while simultaneously playing the folk and club scene in the early/mid 70’s, to the pub circuit with Al Simmons and a mildly motley crew called Kornstock, Fred evolved from there into the family entertainer of the 80’s, with the release of the Cat Came Back, a classic signature tune. This step into the vinyl world solidified Fred’s arrival and commitment to the Canadian Music Industry spawning the 13 years of Fred Penner’s Place on CBC - TV. ( remember the log and the bird ?) 
International touring and a dozen cd’s kept this lad on his creative toes and he has been cooking ever since. 
In concert, the challenge has always been to relate to a multi age audience (parents, grandparents and of course the children). The trick now being that the generation has moved up a notch, the children have grown up and are reconnecting with Fred at a staggering pace through university gigs, folk festivals and the internet.  
Fred’s visit to Hughes Room is a logical progression of this man’s need to perform.  He’ll be here with his long time friend Ken Whiteley.
Fred’s daughter Hayley Gene and Liam Titcomb will do the warm up duties and share the stage for some of Fred’s music. Maybe another guest or two as well. 
This is an opportunity to wallow in the warmth of Fred’s  favourites and then bathe in some new tunes.  What has this guy been doing recently?
La la la you’ll be singing tonight.

Friday & Saturday, March 19 & 20
John McDermott & Michael Smith
with special guest Valdy (Saturday, March 20)
$35 in advance or $37.50 at the door.

John McDermott

"Legend" is not a title John McDermott would readily embrace, but his accomplishments have become legendary in recording industry lore. He calls Toronto home, but he has also found a home as an international recording star and household name - known as much for his successful musical career as for his commitment to veterans' causes. He is a long way from the man for whom singing was a hobby less than ten years ago. John was discovered quite by chance, when working as the veteran circulation manager for the Toronto Sun, he belted out an impromptu rendition of "Danny Boy" at a company party.

"I grew up singing, but I thought everybody grew up singing. My dad and mom introduced us to music early on, and all of the McDermott kids could unleash a verse or two of "Scotland the Brave" or "Green Isle of Erin" on command. My song was "Danny Boy," and I sang it with pride, because even as a kid I knew what a powerful and emotive song it was."

Executives in attendance at the party helped fund John's first album, Danny Boy, which was originally recorded as a very private and personal 50th anniversary tribute for his parents. Its quality could not be ignored and it eventually found its way into the hands of EMI Music Canada. Danny Boy subsequently garnered strong sales for a debut release in Canada and the U.S.; it even reached number one on New Zealand's album charts, and was certified double platinum in that country. This success, in addition to a fast growing North American fan base, won through a tireless touring schedule, led to his participation in the PBS phenomenon The Irish Tenors. John's presence helped generate a US gold record, 3 US tours and a high-profile media schedule including appearances on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

Michael Smith

Michael was born in South Orange, New Jersey on September 7, 1941 and raised in the Oranges, attending Our Lady of the Valley and Our Lady of Sorrows, Catholic schools that are the setting for some of his better known songs.
He bought a guitar at fifteen (five dollars) and was soon playing in a group inspired equally by the Kingston Trio and Harry Belafonte. The act was called The Kalypso Kids and played a lot of VFW halls and psychiatric hospitals. The Kalypso Kids were the first to record a Michael Smith song: "Teen Dream". This recording, waxed on the spot, is lost in antiquity.
College (St. Petersburg Junior, in Florida) saw a group called the Wanderers, a quartet organized by Michael, with gigs on the beach and at local coffeehouses. Michael began touring with a duet called The Talismen. "We hit every coffee-house in the world," Michael recalls. "Those were days when you got hired by the week and people stood in line. They didn't even have to know who you were. It was Folk Music, and Folk Music was happening."
Three years at The Flick in Miami followed, six nights a week. Michael did entirely his own material. "I would say the song was Fred Neil's. People would say 'Oh, I hadn't heard that one.' I'd say 'It's one of his better ones, don't you think?'"
At the Flick Michael met his wife Barbara Barrow, and they traveled with a quartet called the Baker St. Irregulars, signed a contract with Decca as Juarez, and produced a recording that you can still find in very out-of-the-way record stores. Michael and Barbara's next recording was for Arista. It was called Mickey and Babs Get Hot, a title for which Michael takes the blame. They recorded an acoustic evening at The Raven Gallery in Detroit, called Zen.

Thursday, March 25
Wendell Ferguson CD Release
Tickets are $20 in advance or $22.50 at the door.

Wendell won the "Guitar Player of the Year" so many times (7) they retired him. He's no longer eligible.
Wendell was nominated for the "Album of the Year" at the 2006 CCMA Awards

Wendell Co-hosted the 2005 CCMA Awards show with Paul Brandt. The show was just nominated for a 'Genie Award.

Wendell has won the CCMA's Guitarist of the year for 2000-2001 !

Wendell has won the Canadian Country Music Associations' "Guitar Player of the Year" 1995-'96-'97-'98-'99.

Was nominated for the CCMA"Vocal Collaboration of the Year " for the duet with Prairie Oysters' Russell deCarle for "If You're Gonna Be A Cowboy" in 1999. Along with "Coda The West" and "The Duane Steele Band", won the C.C.M.A's "Back up Band of the Year" 1994-95-97

Was nominated for a Juno award for "Country Duo or Group" in 1995 with "Coda the West"

Has backed up "country" artists such as; George Fox, Duane Steele, Shania Twain, Lisa Brokop, Michelle Wright, Tommy Hunter, Al Cherney, Deana Carter, Tracy Byrd, Mila Mason, Chely Wright, Matraca Berg, The Dixie Chicks, The Arrogant Worms, Jason McCoy, and countless more.

Has recorded with - Duane Steele, Gil Grand, George Fox, Coda The West , Kelita, Quartette, Cindy Church, Murry McLauchlan, Bob Snider, Katherine Wheatley, Gordon Lightfoot, Don Freed, Jane Siberry, James Keelaghan, Bill Candy and many more.

Can be seen touring the country with Duane Steele, Quartette, Katherine Wheatley , Cindy Church or under his own name.

Friday & Saturday, March 26 & 27
John Hammond
Tickets are $42.50 in advance or $45 at the door.

With a career that spans over three decades, John Hammond is one of handful of white blues musicians who was on the scene at the beginning of the first blues renaissance of the mid-'60s. That revival, brought on by renewed interest in folk music around the U.S., brought about career boosts for many of the great classic blues players, including Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, and Skip James. Some critics have described Hammond as a white Robert Johnson, and Hammond does justice to classic blues by combining powerful guitar and harmonica playing with expressive vocals and a dignified stage presence. Within the first decade of his career as a performer, Hammond began crafting a niche for himself that is completely his own: the solo guitar man, harmonica slung in a rack around his neck, reinterpreting classic blues songs from the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. Yet, as several of his mid-'90s recordings for the Pointblank label demonstrate, he's also a capable bandleader who plays wonderful electric guitar. This guitar-playing and ensemble work can be heard on Found True Love and Got Love If You Want It, both for the Pointblank/Virgin label.

Sunday, March 28
Colin Hunter - CD Release
With Joe Sealy, Paul Novotny, Daniel Barnes, Steve Mc Dade & Kelly Jefferson.
$15 in advance or $17 at the door.

While some people dream of becoming artists their entire lives, others take action and end up pursuing brilliant careers. Such is the case of crooner Colin Hunter, who both rubs elbows with business elite and shines in the music industry.
By day, Colin Hunter is the Founding President, CEO and owner of the airline carrier Sunwing Airlines and all-inclusive package company Sunwing Vacations, one of the most important  travel leisure organizations in Canada. Colin has worked in the travel industry for over 45 years, co-founding Canada 3000 and serving as Senior Vice-President of Adventure Tours, which became the Travel Holidays group. In addition, he and his son, Stephen, earned the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Hospitality and Tourism category in 2007.
By night, Colin pursues his passion for music. A huge fan of the 1950s crooner-jazz repertoire, such as hits performed by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett, Colin Hunter fulfilled a long-standing dream of becoming a singer in 2005 when he launched his first CD appropriately called, Come Fly With Me, which was recorded with the 16-piece band, the Starlight Orchestra.
In 2007, he returned with a second album, Timeless, featuring some twenty hits, including That's Life, New York, New York, Mack the Knife, Everybody Loves Somebody and Volare. Never at a loss for good ideas, Colin decided to feature his music during Sunwing flights so that passengers could tune in!
Colin has hit the stage many times, including at Espace Dell’Arte in Montreal, in October 2007, when he performed a few songs with the ever-talented guest singer Kim Richardson, not to mention his performance at the Théâtre du Palais municipal in La Baie in the Saguenay region, where he played for a crowd of over 800 people.
Recognized for his smooth voice and sophisticated, upbeat performances, Colin Hunter loves getting on stage to entertain the crowd. This entrepreneur--crooner is proving that following your passion can indeed take you anywhere!

Thursday, April 1
Judy Collins
$80 in advance or $90 at the door.

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. Her impressive career has spanned more than 40 years. At 13, Judy Collins made her public debut performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos" but it was the music of such artists as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as the traditional songs of the folk revival, that sparked Judy Collins' love of lyrics. She soon moved away from the classical piano and began her lifelong love with the guitar. In 1961, Judy Collins released her first album, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, at the age of 22 and began a thirty-five year association with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records.

Judy Collins is also noted for her rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" on her classic 1967 album, Wildflowers. "Both Sides Now" has since been entered into the Grammy's Hall of Fame. Winning "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy's Awards show was Judy's version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music."

Released on September 29th, Judy's new book, Sanity and Grace, A Journey of Suicide, Survival and Strength, is a deeply moving memoir, focusing on the death of her only son and the healing process following the tragedy. The book speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one before their time. In the depths of her suffering, Judy found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now, she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy.

In a recent appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, Judy performed "Wings of Angels," the heartbreaking ballad that she wrote about the loss of her son. The song is currently available on the newly released Judy Collins Wildflower Festival CD and DVD, which also feature guest artists Arlo Guthrie, Tom Rush and Eric Andersen. This extraordinary concert was filmed at the famed Humphrey's By the Bay in San Diego, CA. The concert was the culmination of a 25 city national tour.

Judy Collins continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.

John Prine Tribute
Saturday, April 3

Jason Fowler
John Mc Dermott
Russell deCarle
Brian MacMillan
Jory Nash
Layah Jane & Oliver Johnston
Blake Papsin
Georege Koller
Christine Bougie
Susie Vinnick
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

Monday, April 5
Dr. Draw with the David Rotundo Band and special guest Jerome Godboo.
Tickets are $24 in advance or $28 at the door.

Tuesday, April 6
Double Bill with Madison Violet & The John Henrys
$15 in advance or $17 at the door.

If Lucinda Williams was shagging Gillian Welch and had a collective love-child with Steve Earle, their offspring might sound a little bit like Madison Violet's new album No Fool For Trying.

Both hailing from Scottish small towns in Canada, Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac have chosen another musical path; one that channels their parent’s vintage record collection that comprised of the likes of Neil Young and Dolly Parton. Madison Violet came to be nearly 10 years ago after a chance meeting at restaurant in Toronto. Since that fateful meeting, the pair have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and Americana.

In early 2009 Madison Violet were signed to legendary indie label True North Records, who released No Fool For Trying. This new project has taken them down a road lush with harmonies, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and upright bass. The songs are infused with heartache and loss, but the listener will always find an uplifting twang in their sound. Produced in Toronto by Les Cooper (Jill Barber, The Good Lovelies) and featuring a stellar cast of musicians including Treasa Levasseur, Paul Mathew, Cindy Fairbank, Joel Stouffer, Victor Bateman, Adrian Lawryshyn and Chris Coole, No Fool For Trying proves to be an exciting collection of catchy, heart-melting, gut-wrenching songs.

With two other recordings under their belt, both of which were recorded in London, UK with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O'Connor, U2, Damien Dempsey) the pair have found themselves on the industry the radar. Their first release, Worry The Jury, earned a pair of East Coast Music Award nominations ('Best New Group' and 'Pop Album of the Year') and had the industry opening their eyes wide at the emerging career that was destined to blossom. Their sophomore release, Caravan, went towards a more alt-country direction, which garnered them two East Coast Music Award nominations in the 'Folk Album of the Year' and 'Best Group Recording' categories as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as 'Vocal Group of the Year'.

Madison Violet are relentless with touring and performing for audiences all over the world. They are popular as show headliners and have also supported acts such as Ron Sexsmith, Chantal Kreviazuk, Indigo Girls, Lisa's brother Ashley and The Temptations and Runrig. Madison Violet have toured Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, Norway, the UK, Wales, Scotland, Italy and of course, Canada. From the Montreux Jazz Festival to Massey Hall, audiences have been swooning over Madison Violet's storytelling and songs.

Wednesday, April 7
Vance Gilbert
$17 in advance or $20 at the door.

Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 90's when buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-multicultural arts teacher who was knocking 'em dead at open mics. Once word got to New York about this Philadelphia-area born and raised performer, Shawn Colvin invited Gilbert to be a special guest on her Fat City tour. Gilbert took audiences across the country by storm. "With the voice of an angel, the wit of a devil, and the guitar playing of a god, it was enough to earn him that rarity: an encore for an opener"
wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in its review of a show from that tour. Gilbert's three albums for the Rounder/Philo label - Edgewise (1994), Fugitives (1995), and the celebrated, arrestingly sparse Shaking Off Gravity (1998) - are all essential additions to the American singer-songwriter collection. With guests as
varied as Tuck and Patti, Jonatha Brooke, Patty Larkin, Vinx, and Jane Siberry, all three albums found significant niches on NAC (New Adult Contemporary) and Non-Commercial A3 (Adult Album Alternative) radio. 

These discs were followed by the self-released Somerville Live (2000), lionized by the Boston Globe as the
disc "young songwriters should study the way law students cram for bar exams," and One Thru Fourteen (2002), a stylistically varied offering that New York's Town and Village called "lively, eclectic, electrifying and transcending." Gilbert followed with Side Of The Road (2003), a duo album with Ellis Paul, lauded as "haunting, artful, and lovely" by Boston Magazine and nominated for a 2004 Boston Music Award. Unfamiliar Moon (2005) came as an impressive continuation to this mostly original composition discography. "The songwriter's
most compelling work; literate, heartfelt, rippling…emotionally resonant songs" raved the Boston Globe, placing the album in its' Top 10 CDs of the year (#4). On Angels, Castles, Covers, "Gilbert's choice of an album of covers seems both fitting and fearless. …he displays his vocal virtuosity with some unexpected choices from the late 20th century songbook. From the sounds of Motown, through the R&B of Al Green to classic Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin…He makes each and every tune sound fresh and new." writes Roberta Schwartz of FAME.

Friday & Saturday, April 9 & 10
Jesse Winchester
$28 in advance or $30 at the door.

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.
Despite critical acclaim, his inability to tour in the U.S. prevented him from taking his place among the major singer/songwriters of the early '70s, but he made a series of impressive albums -- Third Down, 110 to Go (August 1972), Learn to Love It (August 1974), Let the Rough Side Drag (June 1976), and Nothing But a Breeze (March 1977) -- before President Jimmy Carter instituted an amnesty that finally allowed him to play in his homeland. By that time, the singer/songwriter boom had passed, though Winchester continued to record (A Touch on the Rainy Side [July 1978], Talk Memphis [February 1981], Humour Me [1988]) and even scored a Top 40 hit with "Say What" in 1981.
His most prominently covered songs include "Yankee Lady" (Brewer & Shipley), "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" (Joan Baez, Ian Matthews), "Biloxi" (Tom Rush, Jimmy Buffett), "Mississippi, You're on My Mind" (Jerry Jeff Walker, Stoney Edwards [for a Top 40 country hit]), "Defying Gravity" (Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris), "Rhumba Girl" (Nicolette Larson [for a pop chart entry]), "Well-A-Wiggy" (the Weather Girls [for an R&B chart entry]), and "I'm Gonna Miss You, Girl" (Michael Martin Murphey [for a Top Ten country hit]). In 1999, Winchester returned from a long recording hiatus with the new album Gentleman of Leisure. An active live performer, Winchester released his first live album in 24 years with 2001's Jesse Winchester Live at Mountain Stage. Another live album, simply titled Live, followed in 2005. A new studio album, Love Filling Station, was released on Appleseed Recordings in 2009. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Sunday, April 11
Oysterband
$40 in advance or $45 at the door.

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.

Music for the head, the heart & the trousers. And still improving in the bottle.

Monday, April 12
Tom Russell
$28 in advance or $30 at the door.

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 one record.

Thursday, April 15
Tim Ryan
$20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Friday & Saturday, April 16 & 17
Neil Young Tribute
Tickets are $27.50 in advance or $30 at the door.

Dala
Flashlight Radio
Layah Jane
Hemingway Corner
David Martin
Scott Dibble
Andrew Cole 
Sarah Cripps
Soul Surfers
Daniel Roth
Doug Cameron
Adam Crossley
Liam Titcomb
Brent Titcomb

Sunday, April 18
The Barra MacNeils
$30 in advance or $32.50 at the door.

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.
Now, in 2009 and soon enough moving into 2010, the group has released two new live recordings intended to represent both sides of what the Barra MacNeils bring to stages the world over. The two live CD’s, In Concert and In Session, together cover the instrumental and vocal material the group performs in concerts regularly while also touching on lesser known material from their more formative years and more informal musical gatherings.
As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal. These two new live recordings are no exception and are a must have for any fan of their live shows.
In Concert was recorded live over two consecutive nights at sold out concerts in Truro, Nova Scotia at the Marigold Cultural Centre. It features a sampling of the Barra MacNeils’ popular theatre and festival main stage show material; from the high energy of Clumsy Lover Set right into some Stepdance with Lucy down to the longing of A Thousand Miles and the stellar beauty of Caledonia sung by Lucy, the CD touches on all the energies and emotions of the Barra MacNeils live concert experience. Other highlights include: the rousing anthem-like Coal Town Road, the fun-filled sing along spirit of Don’t Call Me Early and Nancy-O to the ripping intense instrumental prowess displayed on Dougie Mac and The Longest Day and perhaps where it all comes together on the free and easy Haven’t Got a Care.

Monday, April 19
Treasa Levasseur & Rachelle van Zanten
$18.50 in advance or $22.50 at the door.

Levasseur plays piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin, and anything else she can get her hands on. In May of 2008, she won CBC Radio’s ‘Ultimate Sideman Showdown’ with her trusty accordion and charming presence. Heavily influenced by such soul artists as Mavis Staples, Carole King and Annie Lennox, she remains musically versatile and has played everything from heavy metal to hiphop, country, sugary pop, and thoughtful folk music.

Since first visiting the South in 2006, she has begun to draw more and more of her inspiration from the rich motherlode of classic old-school soul.

Rachelle van Zanten's live show is more than just convincing- "as both a songwriter and a slide guitar player van Zanten is turning the heads of music industry folk the world over" (Nextfest 2005). Van Zanten's charismatic stage presence is infectious and charming, leaving her audience feeling inspired.

Tuesday, April 20
Maria Doyle Kennedy
with Kieran Kennedy on guitar & piano.
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

Maria was a member of the Hothouse Flowers in the mid-80s. She releases her own music on Mermaid Records, a label she founded herself in 2001.Her debut solo album Charm was released in 2001. She coordinated Sirens which is a compilation album of female artists and which was released in 2003. She released an album Skullcover consisting of cover versions in 2005.

Maria's released an album in 2007 entitled Mütter. Mütter (the title is the German for ‘mother’) is the third album from Maria Doyle Kennedy, a marked departure from the naturalistic roots of her 2001 debut Charm, and the deguerrotype impressions of the limited edition Skullcover set (2004). Recording sessions were conducted in Schull, Co. Cork, Wicklow , Dublin and Monaghan over a four year period. Classic pop melodies(‘Opera’, ‘Skin’, ‘Here You Come’) swim inside the spacey amniotic fluids of Kieran Kennedy’s treated guitar and keyboard backdrops. The sound of the record evokes a folk-ambient hybrid, warm airs and carefully crafted words offset by wintery tinges of the Cocteaus and The Cure. The bristling ‘F-ability’ is the exception; swampy Marrakech motorik spiked with Stereolab synth hooks, growling bass, and an unashamedly carnal vocal.

The album was, Maria admits, conceived under the influence of Chuck Palahniuk’s 2003 coma fable Diary, the testimony of a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and a valentine to the occult power of art. “I was chasing this record down when a friend handed me the book and said, ‘I’ve read your album’,” Maria says. “It became the key that unlocked the mystery for me. Faced with decisions to make about a song, I asked myself, ‘What would be true to Misty’s journey?’ It was easy after that…” Consequently, Mütter sounds twinned with eerie 70s cinema classics like Don’t Look Now or Picnic At Hanging Rock. ‘Mother’ could be a calm riposte to Lennon’s primal scream; ‘40 Days’ is a minor key panic attack, the scratchings of a soul trapped under cryogenic ice; and the gorgeous ‘Swoon’ is the point where Sandy Denny meets Sigur Ros. Elsewhere, the near baroque ‘Call Me’, co-written with Fergus O’ Farrell, speculates as to what Billie Holiday might have sounded like if recast as a torch singer fronting a Michael Nyman score. Above all, this music is haunted and haunting, an album of shadows and unreal light whose after-effects linger in the mind like dream residue. Mütter is a body of interwoven songs as complex and fragile as a spider’s web.

Wednesday, April 21
Lee Oskar backed by The David Rotundo Band
$25 in advance or $30 at the door.

Composing and playing music remain Oskar's top career priority and he looks forward to many new projects that are in the works. Lee Oskar has just released a compilation of his favorite original compositions which is now in distribution.

Thursday, April 22
Neil Innes
Musical director of Monty Python & member of  The Rutles.
$25 in advance or $27.50 at the door.

Neil James Innes was born in Danbury, Essex, on 9th December 1944. Innes attended Thorpe Grammar School, then moved on to the Norwich School of Fine Art in 1962. In 1964, Innes started at Goldsmith’s College School of Art. It was during his time at Goldsmith’s that he joined the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. In 1966, Innes graduated with a BA in Fine Arts. This turned out to be rather a big year for Innes, with him marrying his wife, and turning professional with the band.
  
The next year Innes started work on Do Not Adjust Your Set, where he worked alongside future Pythons Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin. Through all of this, Innes was still a member of the Bonzo Dog Band who released their first album Gorilla in 1967. By 1968 they had played with The Bee Gees and Cream before touring the U.S. where they worked with The Byrds and Joe Cocker. The Bonzos also had a guest turn playing "Death Cab for Cutie" in the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. The same year, the Bonzos scored a chart entry with “I’m The Urban Spaceman”. In 1970, the Bonzos split, and Innes moved on, forming The World, releasing one album called “Lucky Planet”. He then teamed up with Scaffold and Liverpool poets to form the GRIMMS, producing three more albums (Grimms, Rocking Duck and Sleepers).   

In 1974, Innes joined the circle around Monty Python, acting as their warm-up man (for which he was paid £25) as well as becoming one of only two non-Pythons to receive a writing credit (the other being Douglas Adams, of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy fame). Innes also appeared in one episode in Season 4, singing "Where Does a Dream Begin". This would start Innes's association with Monty Python that would give him the tag the “7th” or “the unofficial” Python. These stem from Innes's appearances in The Holy Grail (playing the squire who gets squashed by both a cow and the Trojan rabbit, and of course Sir Robin’s ill-fated minstrel), and The Life of Brian (he gets thrown into the arena amongst other things), as well as in many of their live shows.

Friday, April 23
Doyle Dykes
Presented by the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association
$35 in advance or $37.50 at the door.

Although influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and musicians from the country of Chet Atkins to the rock and roll of Duane Eddy and the Beatles, Doyle has developed a distinct, recognizable sound that amazes audiences with skill while capturing hearts with sincerity and soul.
Doyle’s appreciation for various styles of music is reflected in his albums as they include signature compositions like “Jazz in the Box” and “Martha’s Kitchen” and hymns like the powerful “How Great Thou Art.” Gitarre 2000 was released by BMG on Windham Hill Records, and Doyle’s music has appeared on several of the label’s compilation albums like Here, There, and Everywhere (a tribute to the Beatles). In addition, Doyle’s music has been heard on United Airlines, Air Canada, NPR’s Morning News and All Things Considered, Disney’s California Adventure, and even the Space Shuttle Atlantis in September, 2000.

Doyle’s early years as a guitarist took him around the world as he toured with The Stamps Quartet and later with Grand Ole Opry Star, Grandpa Jones. Doyle has since returned to the Grand Ole Opry for numerous performances, many appearing live on national television. As an endorser and clinician for Taylor Guitars, Doyle has designed a very successful signature guitar. The Doyle Dykes Signature Model Taylor guitar (“DDSM”) features an amplification system by L.R. Baggs, deemed as the Doyle Dykes Hexaphonic Pickup System. Doyle also helped design his signature Rivera amplifier, called the Sedona, designed to accommodate both electric and acoustic instruments. Doyle’s signature instruments and equipment have influenced the musical instrument industry on a global basis.
Doyle performs in venues ranging from Theatres, Bluegrass festivals, and churches, to major Conventions, such as the NAMM Show (Anaheim, CA and Nashville, TN), the Musikmesse (largest music trade show in the world; Frankfurt, Germany), Music Live (UK), and the National Executive Institute, which is made up of honored FBI Agents, major city Police Chiefs, and Law Enforcement Officers from around the world. Internationally, Doyle attracts record audiences in many Continents around the world. Whether to a guitar player or music enthusiast, Doyle’s music will make a lasting impression on anyone given the opportunity to listen.

Friday, April 30
The Henrys
$17 in advance or $20 at the door.

Since 1990 (or so). 6 CDs. Tours in Canada, US, Holland, New Zealand, Italy etc. Main instruments are kona or weissenborn (acoustic lap style slide guitars), lap steel, pump organ, voice, trumpet, bass, chordette (by Excelsior), skins and a bunch of other junk. The Henrys are Don Rooke, Michelle Willis, Andrew Downing, MarkMariash & Hugh Marsh. Even funnier was a magazine in NYC: "A band whose name does not give us the highest of hopes."

Saturday, May 1
The Globe & Mail Open House Festival
In support of Frontier College, PEN Canada and the Toronto Public Library Foundation with Host Dave Bidini and featuring Bidini Band, The Billie Hollies, Christian Bok, Paul Linklater, Wayne Petti (Cuff the Duke), The Prince Brothers, Selina Martin, Andrew Wedderburn and more.
Tickets are $15

Friday, May 7
Raul Malo
$27 in advance or $30 at the door.

Originally making his mark in the county music world and then slipping into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock & roll, Raul Malo has proven to be an ever-expanding musical talent. Malo, born in Miami of Cuban parents, started playing bass guitar in high school and soon found his way into several small bands. In 1987, he made his first recording with the Basics, and one song, "Paperheart," appeared on the promotional album Unsigned. While the album wasn't a success, the experience whet Malo's appetite for more.

Later in the '80s, Malo and a high school friend, Robert Reynolds (bass), joined together to form their own country band, based on their mutual love for Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline. Paul Deakin, with experience in several progressive rock bands, became the drummer, and the group chose the name the Mavericks. This band went on to become one of the outstanding country bands of the '90s.

Under Malo's leadership, the Mavericks released their debut self-titled album in the fall of 1990. The album managed to grab the attention of many big labels, and MCA Records signed the band on in May 1991, when they played their first gig in Nashville. David Lee Holt, who previously played with Carlene Carter, Joe Ely, and Rosie Flores, became the lead guitarist for the band, with Malo concentrating on the songwriting and vocals. MCA released From Hell to Paradise in 1992 and released five more albums for the band during the '90s. Hell to Paradise was critically acclaimed, but not financially a success. However, What a Crying Shame brought forth financial fortunes when it was released in 1994, with its title track reaching the Top 40; the album went platinum by spring 1995.

Thursday, May 13
Michelle Shocked
$35 in advance or $37.50 at the door.

“I’m the most sophisticated hillbilly you’ll ever meet.”

When Michelle Shocked says this about herself, it’s hard not to crack up. ‘Hillbilly,’ after all, is no compliment. And frankly, it’s tough to reconcile that reflex image of a backwoods, overalls-and-a-smile hillbilly with this focused, erudite singer-songwriter. If such a creature exists, however, Shocked is its picture, sans Billy-Bob teeth. Come to think of it, she was born in or at least near the backwoods of East Texas — and get this — to a carny father and a fresh-faced high-school mother after being conceived, if memory serves, “in the backseat of my Uncle Huby’s Chevy at the prom.”

Her upbringing was more well-rounded. In her early childhood, Shocked logged thousands of miles as a military brat, living in Massachusetts, Germany and Maryland, before returning to Texas. She lived there until her early twenties, experiencing the stark contrast — and copious benefits — of having a fundamentalist Mormon mother, Army lifer stepfather, and hippie teacher-slash-“ultimate autodidact” father. Eager to further expand her horizons, Shocked eventually decamped for San Francisco and, ultimately, the peripatetic life of a touring musician.

Fittingly, there’s a phantom Texas taproot and that self-styled wanderlust in her music. Much like the work of her East Texas peers Willie Nelson, Victoria Williams and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Shocked’s songs hold fast to a definite core, but owe no stylistic allegiance — just like their itinerant, mercurial, utilitarian creators. Shocked identifies strongly with her musical compatriots, and not just because they’re from her neck of the woods. “My family was welfare class,” says Shocked, “and that makes you really, really, white trash. [These artists] helped remove class bias because they have all been given honorary middle-class value because of what they’ve achieved in their music.”

Shocked has likewise transcended class bias, while retaining the parts that make sense, in a 23-year career that has seen critical acclaim at every juncture. In the early 1990s, she famously escaped major-label indentured servitude, subverting the artist-label relationship that helped lead to the current trend toward artistic self-containment. She has made good use of her independence, releasing more critically-acclaimed albums on her Mighty Sound label. Her lucky thirteenth album, Soul of My Soul, is the latest of these.

Two intense, seemingly divergent, emotions — love and anger — dovetail on Soul, a passionate album in every sense. “I think the meditation these past several years, ever since I stopped drinking, really, has been to jettison rage,” says Shocked, “without losing the ability to feel strong feelings.” Two “strong currents” in her present life conspired to teach her that lesson. Artist David Willardson, “the Official Love of My Life,” is one such tide, and Shocked raves about his warm and nurturing nature. On the flipside is her “nemesis,” the Bush Administration “and their alleged enlightened self-interest. Between the two of them, my emotions have run quite high in recent years.”

The sentiments on Soul of My Soul are couched mainly in straight-four, no frills, rock ‘n’ roll — just the context for Shocked’s two-pronged passion play. Among the songs about her new love is the acoustic ballad “True Story,” where Shocked sings directly to Willardson. “The producer [Devin Powers] said he wasn't getting enough emotion from the vocal performance,” says Shocked. “I knew exactly what to do.” Pouring her heart out over the phone, she nailed “one perfect, passionate take” that culminates in a deluge of happy tears. Willardson also inspired the ebullient,
Stones-y anthem “Love’s Song,” a spacey Kate Bush-meets-U2 meditation on the couple’s future called “Heart to Heart,” and the lusty “Paperboy,” a snapshot from Willardson’s youth (when he lost his job for neglecting his duties to chase a girl).

Clearly there are no love songs for the Bush Administration, at least in the traditional sense. Shocked does proffer a ballad, “Other People,” that at first blush sounds like a kiss-off to an untrue lover — which it is, except Shocked sings to Bush’s America, the ugly, war-mongering face of the country she loves. “I used to rant, ‘Bush, pull out like your father should have.’ Now I say, ‘I love you America, but I think we should see other people.’” She gets feistier on the Steve Earle-ish folk-rocker “The Ballad of the Battle of the Ballot and the Bullet,” which she sings “because I can.” On “Liquid Prayer” — Soul’s lone soul tune — Shocked meditates on tears cried to a God she counts on to provide the Kleenex. In the ironically tropical “Pompeii,” she frets over the fate of a “broken democratic state” beholden to corporate compromise and “entwined in orgiastic lies, with the top about to blow.”

Shocked says her “vexation” fuels these Soul songs. She’s righteously, morally and intellectually pissed off at the state of the nation over the last eight years — but instead of tossing beer cans, she flings measured words. For example, “Giantkiller” is a snarling punk rock anthem where Shocked artfully and poetically vents her venom, in turn giving her message added philosophical oomph.

. . . that fact in the back of my mind
I meant to meet the world
A pocket full of rock and wood
But I was fearless, I was bold
Taking aim so carefully
I set my stone and let it fly
And when the giant fell to earth
None more surprised than I

If there’s a more eloquent way to say you’re chuckin’ rocks at a big ol’ jackass, well, leave it to a sophisticated hillbilly to find it. And really, that’s the nut and the shell of Soul of My Soul: it’s a reconciliation of our most gentle and base aspects by demonstrating that we are neither by default or circumstance, and both by choice. “It was Zen and the art of the Dunk-Tank,” Shocked smiles. “I had a target, I took aim and I hit, I believe, a bull’s-eye.

SECOND SHOW ADDED !

Friday & Saturday, May 14 & 15
The Wailin' Jennys
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

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.
Spurred onward by a growing fan base that swoons at their intuitive harmonies and revels in their engaging stage presence and uplifting repertoire, the Jennys embarked on a giddy blur of activity following the release of their second album, Firecracker, in August, 2006. Numerous head-turning reviews ("quiet, warm, subtle, mellifluous, almost too good to be true," noted British daily The Independent) greeted a recording produced by David Travers-Smith (Jane Siberry, Harry Manx) and featuring a crew of ace musicians led by guitarist Kevin Breit (Norah Jones, k.d. lang). The trio wooed progressively larger audiences throughout North America while also making successful forays to Australia, the U.K. and continental Europe. And foremost among an unfolding series of life moments have been a second Juno Award nomination in Canada, the continuation of a much-cherished relationship with A Prairie Home Companion (Garrison Keillor's popular National Public Radio show) and a memorable date alongside Rosanne Cash at the prestigious Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.
"One Voice," a live staple and highlight of the Jennys' Juno- winning debut album 40 Days, remains a metaphoric statement of intent that to this day underlines the group's original mandate: three individuals with unique gifts combining seamlessly into a single beatific entity. Soprano Ruth Moody (guitar, banjo, accordion, bodhran) and mezzo Nicky Mehta (guitar, harmonica, ukulele, percussion) are charter members who've anchored the Jennys since the first line-up formed in their Winnipeg hometown. The critical third voice, an alto who fills out the chordal range of the group's vibrant three-part harmonies, has been filled in turn by Cara Lu?t, Annabelle Chvostek and, now that the latter has returned to her own solo career, new recruit Heather Masse.
Launching what fans are fondly calling version 3.0 of the Jennys, Heather is a New York-based singer and stand-up bass player who finds the middle ground between contemporary bluegrass (through her work with roots supergroup The Wayfaring Strangers) and jazz vocals (which she studied at the New England Conservatory of Music). She gelled immediately with Ruth and Nicky during an impromptu audition in a bathroom backstage in Philadelphia. Singing raw versions of "Amazing Grace" and an old Hank Williams song, the three women quickly nailed the essence of the Jennys' exquisite sound while hinting at exciting new possibilities that will flower in the months of touring and studio sessions that lie ahead.
"Heather fits in astonishingly well with us," enthuses Nicky. "She's got a smoky, enveloping kind of style. People will go nuts when they hear her." Adds Ruth, who first learned of Heather from their mutual friend, Crooked Still's Aoife O'Donovan: "We found a perfect vocal blend the first time with Cara, then we captured it in a different way with Annabelle. So naturally we were thinking, 'Oh man, can it really happen again?' But we have stumbled on such a rich treasure. Her voice is just so round and warm."
Ruth Moody has long understood the power of three. She grew up in an accomplished musical family singing with two sisters, then spent five years fronting Winnipeg's Scuj MacDuhk. When the popular Celtic/roots road warriors broke up in 2001, she again craved what she calls "the sense of completeness and wholeness that can only come with three female voices. The Jennys provide a sense of continuity that threads through my entire life."
For her part, Nicky Mehta was on track for post-graduate studies in communications when she released a buzzworthy solo debut CD and, not long after, signed on as a first-generation Jenny. "The group sort of just happened to us," she says, laughing. "The idea was to present our individual visions in a larger collective, but before we knew it things had taken on a life of their own. We've constantly been playing catch up ever since. What's great is that nothing has been premeditated and we keep being surprised in the most creative, interesting ways."
"Now we've closed another chapter in the Jennys' story and opened a new one," says Ruth. "We're thrilled to be writing it with Heather. She's a kindred spirit. That we can find the magic while laughing and singing together in a dimly lit bathroom says it all really."

Wednesday, May 19
David Myles
$15 in advance or $17 at the door.

David Myles is a fresh force on the Canadian entertainment landscape and his most recent release “On The Line” showcase his creativity, 
vocal versatility and musical dexterity. The cd is a powerful and stylish blend of jazz, blues, gospel, pop and folk influences that has already been recognized with numerous awards and nominations, including the 2009 ECMA Folk Recording of the Year Award. The trademark enthusiasm and likeability that make David such an instant favourite with audiences shine through on his latest release.

David is fearless in his arrangements - from Hammond Organ to double bass to an outstanding horn section - he enjoys an acoustic palate that marries rich and elegant with animated and imaginative. In live shows he serves it up with the energy of a demon, and audiences immediately open up to his honest and passionate delivery. David is a young man but he has old-soul wisdom that connects him with people on the most fundamental level.

David’s last release, “Things Have Changed,” exposed him to new national and international audiences and earned him industry recognition in the form of two Music Nova Scotia Awards, and nominations for both the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Best New Artist Award and the ECMA Galaxie Rising Star Recording of the Year. Compelling and laconically comical, “When It Comes My Turn” won first place in the International Songwriting Competition and was the winning song at the 2008 Chris Austin Merlefest Songwriting Contest in the folk singer/songwriter category - a standout favourite with audiences.

From small house concerts to major festivals and national and international showcase events, demand for David is growing across Canada and the US. Audience and industry reaction to his newest release is enthusiastic and embracing.

Thursday & Friday, May 20 & 21
Lilly Frost - CD Release
$20 in advance or $22.50 at the door.

A rare bird from Canada's musical woods, Lily Frost is inspired by spiritual exploration, human relationships, achieving the impossible, and long espressos. A serious musician who plays her own guitar and writes all her own songs, she's released 8 albums to date (including her work with seminal lounge group The Colorifics). Her work is cinematic, blending film noir, stark minimalism, cinematic images, and coruscating, soul-stabbing honesty. 

It's been said of Lily that she "seems to have been born under a sign that flashes cool." She's an old soul who sings immortal music appealing to young and old-anyone who's ever been in love, basically, known its vertiginous joys and bittersweet afterburn. Like her signature drink, the espresso martini, she's both intoxicating and invigorating, smooth and silky and always leaves you wanting more. 

Raised by born-again Christians, she drank too much and drove too fast and knew by age 16 all she ever wanted to do was sing. Restless as an artist and a person, she bounced from Montreal to Vancouver, looking for new styles, new ways of being, and new sounds. She joined the "lounge" scene—but hers is a talent that could never be bound by a single decade or style or schtick. She moved to Cairo to sing every night in a restaurant (where a wealthy businessman asked the long-legged, breathtakingly beautiful singer to join his harem: "I jumped out of the car and ran," she laughs), later to Tahiti and beyond. 

Thursday, May 27
Ron Davis CD Release & Daniela Nardi (opening)
$22.50 in advance or $25.00 at the door.

RON DAVIS is a pianist in the great virtuoso tradition. His music is rooted in the swing and post-bop idioms. Active and popular on the jazz scene, Ron has played across the world. In Canada, Ron's home base, he is known as both a dazzling musician, and an entertaining performer.

Ron's 6th recording, 2008's The Bestseller (Minerva Road / Davinor Records 233377), has been generating lots of buzz. "Splendid new recording... killer playing!" - The Toronto Sun. Best of 2008: JAZZ.FM, Soundproofmagazine.com.

Ron's other recordings have been internationally acclaimed. His 2007 concert recording Subarashii Live is a nod to Japan, where Ron spent several months as a Visiting Scholar and an Arts Fellow. It stood at Number 1 on ChartAttack's national jazz radio charts. "Overall rating: awesome!" (WholeNote Magazine.)

Shimmering Rhythm (2005), a brilliant blend of jazz, classical, klezmer and world music, is "A tour de force ten times over!" (All About Jazz,) "An outstanding, fresh and life affirming piece of work, and one of the most enjoyable jazz releases of 2005" (Zeitgeist.) Top 10 of 2005 - CBC Radio, JAZZ.FM, and CODA Magazine.

Mungle Music (2004): "A brilliant album!" (The Live Music Report). Best of 2004 - CBC Radio and CODA Magazine. So Much (2003) with singer Lori Cullen: nominated Jazz Recording of the Year for the Canadian Independent Music Awards. Cdbaby.com chose it as a "jaw dropping" front page choice.

Friday, May 28
Stephen Fearing
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

It has been 20 years since songsmith Stephen Fearing released his self-titled debut. Over the following two decades, he has built up a very loyal and committed international audience, one sure to be delighted by his beautiful new recording.

Yellowjacket is Fearing’s eighth solo album and as always it features a potent combination of powerful and affecting lyrics, pure vocals and masterful musicianship. Yellowjacket also marks something of a breakthrough in Stephen’s approach to recording as he assumes the mantle of producer for the first time since his early albums. The result is a relaxed fluency vocal and guitar work and a unique sonic palette, which make this album distinctly different, again, from his previous releases.Over the course of his career, Fearing has been able to learn from some of roots music’s finest producers. English folk star Clive Gregson (Any Trouble, Gregson and Collister) produced his acclaimed 1989 album, Blue Line; Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) was on hand for 1994’s The Assassin’s Apprentice (a disc featuring fans Sarah McLachlan and Richard Thompson), whilst Stephen’s close friend Colin Linden manned the console for 1997’s Industrial Lullaby, 2000’s So Many Miles – LIVE and 2002’s That’s How I Walk (which Fearing co-produced). 

To record Yellowjacket, Stephen set up shop in the Guelph studio of noted musician/producer, Scott Merritt (Fred Eaglesmith), who engineered and mixed the sessions. Together, they have crafted a richly diverse collection of songs. These range from a rollicking guitar “march” that could have been written by John Phillip Sousa and Dr. Seuss (“Whoville”), to intricately arranged pieces featuring strings and female backing vocals (“Yellowjacket,” “Like Every Other Morning”), poignant ballads suffused with Salvation Army-style horns (“Johnny’s Lament”, Love Only Knows) to full band workouts reminiscent of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings (“One Flat Tire”)This diversity also reflects changes in Fearing’s perspective on songwriting, and his ongoing experimentation with co-writing. “Writing songs with another person allows you to be a little more objective, a little less critical and a lot more productive and surprisingly, I’ve found that it really informs the material I write on my own”. “Collaborating opens up a whole other vista, it’s like taking a walk outside of my own stuffy little brain”

Thursday & Friday, June 3 & 4
Skydiggers
$20 in advance or $25 at the door.

Back in the mid-80s, Toronto was re-emerging as a musical hotbed with a special focus on a rebirth of the singer-songwriter tradition. The Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo were in their formative stages. Andrew Cash, who had recently signed a solo deal with Island Records, had begun hosting a weekly songwriting showcase at the Spadina Hotel called Acoustic Meltdown, which obtained a cult following among music-lovers in the city. Future Skydiggers Josh Finlayson and Andy Maize were frequent guests at those shows. They had been friends since childhood, and separately had formed their own bands. Maize fronted Direktive 17, which toured around Southern Ontario. Finlayson played bass in The Ramblers, which had relocated for about two years to the UK chasing the tail end of punk’s glory years. By 1984, both bands had run their course, and the two teamed up to play and record as an acoustic duo under the name West Montrose. The simplicity and portability of the acoustic format was a reaction to their experience with the noise and circumstance of playing in rock bands. As they continued to write and record and occasionally appear on the Spadina stage, gradually the elements of a new group started to fall into place.

Saturday, June 5
Mose Scarlett
$18 in advance or $20 at the door.

Mose Scarlett is, unarguably, one of a kind. While he draws on a wide range of musical sources from the early 1900's through the 40's, his style defies categorization or comparison - the blend is unique. He bills his music as 'Jazz, Blues, Ragtime and Swing' because, as he says, "those are the four things I've been accused of most often". His self-taught, original technique of fingerpicking, dubbed 'stride guitar' by Canadian music journalists, delivers a syncopated punch and features simultaneous chords, melody and bass line, smoothly executed, without seeming effort.

Over top of the resplendent guitar backing rides a big bass-baritone voice, warm and rich, with enormous emotional range. As the Glascow Herald recently said, "Mose Scarlett is back, with a voice of Robeson depth, Glencoe cragginess, and kitchen-range warmth...lending the authentic ring of the ancients with his own original stamp, and much spontaneous repartee..."

Thursday, June 17
Carlos del Junco
$22 in advance or $25 at the door.

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.

Saturday, June 19
David Francey - CD release
$25 in advance or $27.50 at the door.

From carpenter to songwriter – Since leaving construction and recording Torn Screen Door in 1999 Scottish-born Canadian, David Francey is recognized as one of today’s finest singer-songwriters. Francey has released 8 CDs to date. His most recent is "Seaway" - a collaberation with Mike Ford of Moxy Fruvous fame with songs based on their voyage on the M.V. Algoville. Francey’s CD, Right of Passage, earned him his third JUNO (Canada’s top music award) in less than 5 years. Francey also had the honour of receiving the prestigious SOCAN Folk Music Award.

"David’s straightforward songs tell honest stories of real people and real places. Poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music. His songs and stories are a direct connection for audiences seeking depth and meaning in the day-to-day." Shelter Valley Folk Festival

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