top |
June 1 Matinee
Ray Rivers & Wendi Hunter with Jeff Morrison
$10 adv / $12
Ray Rivers is releasing his second CD in two years. Titled Weather Makers All, this CD was inspired by noted Australian scientist Tim Flannery’s best selling book about global climate change. Ray has spent much of his life working on environmental causes and the themes of many of his songs reflect that background. Ray really came to the guitar in his university days, busked to pay his way across Europe in the late 60’s, and after an eternity of doing everything else in life has settled into where he always should have been - writing, recording and playing songs.
Wendi Hunter
Wendi's voice is filled with the pure joy of music and singing. Clear, lyrical and expressive, every phrase holds a story on its own. Her soft, steady guitar style, and occasionally her banjo or mountain dulcimer provide a happy blend of voice and instrument suited to the ballads, love songs, gospel and spiritual songs that fill her repertoire. Her early influences included Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary, Josh White and Simon & Garfunkel. More recently, artists from the rich, Canadian folk music scene have inspired her creativity and helped to round out her repertoire.
Jeff Morrison
Jeff is a natural musician whether playing his guitar, National Steel, banjo, bass, or mandolin. His ability to jam tirelessly until 4AM every night provides the kind of accompaniment needed, whether it’s for the sweet sounds of singer-songwriters, the high lonesome sounds of bluegrass or the low-down mood of the blues.
Dennis Amato
Dennis was raised on rock n' roll as well as the folk music scene of the Yorkville area in the 60's. He started playing drums with bands around Ontario and has kept his passion for percussion alive over the years since then. His blues style drumming is a natural fit with the guitar stylings of Jeff Morrison and the songs of Ray Rivers. |
|
top |
June 1
LINDSAY JANE
$12 adv/ $15
At the tender age of 10, Lindsay stumbled upon her first beer stained radio, smuggled it into her Christian home, (where listening to popular music was forbidden) and with the smell of beer under her pillow, Berlins’ "Take my Breath Away" literally did that to Lindsay and her life has never the same since. Lindsay Jane’s musical career began in 1999 with a first place win in a CKUA Radio songwriting competition. Lindsay went on to regularly play at the Calgary Center for the Performing Arts and participated in songwrting circles with Chip Taylor, Steve Forbert and Gordie Johnson to name a few.
Lindsay Jane’s debut album "Starting Today" was released in 2002.
Lindsay has played at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Trout Forest Folk Festival, Ottawa Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, South Country Fair, Minnesota Folk Festival, Ottawa Voices of Women, Live From the Rock Festival, The Alberta Scene, CBGB Gallery NYC and many tours through Canada and the United States. She has also played an official showcase at Prairie Music Week, SXSW Conference in Austin TX as well as showcase for Folk Alliance Canada at this years OCFF.
|
top |
June 2
SARAH BURNELL
CD Release
$15 adv / $18
Sarah Burnell hails from Ottawa, Canada, but her musical roots may be found in Cape Breton, Scotland, Ireland, and Québec. Her energetic fiddling reflects the wide variety of coaches with whom she has studied, including Alasdair Fraser, Jerry Holland, Shannon McDade-Johnson, April Verch, David Greenberg, Sandy MacIntyre, Stan Chapman, Carl MacKenzie, and Glen Graham. In July, 2006, Sarah toured Scotland, and she enjoyed her first taste of Shetland, Norwegian, and Welsh fiddling!
Sarah is also an accomplished singer, and she particularly enjoys singing in top-level choirs. She is a graduate of the Cantiamo Girls’ Choir (Ottawa), the Canterbury High School Concert Choir, and has twice been selected to be part of the Ontario Youth Choir. Her beautiful mezzo-soprano voice is perfectly suited to Celtic songs. Sarah also plays the bodhran, which she has studied with Lisa Gallant (Nova Scotia) and Eoin Coughlan (Ireland). |
top |
June 3
Jane Harbury presents DISCOVERIES
$13 / $15
Once again we have a great talent line up for the next DISCOVERIES show - set for Tuesday, June 3 2008. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to present these shows and there is one thing to remember - don’t try and pigeonhole the DISCOVERIES Show! Hugh’s Room continues to partner and show great support to yet another eclectic group of artists most of whom are just beginning their creative journeys. The concept is a simple one, (none of these artists is yet able to fill the room on their own, although all of them undoubtedly will get to that point) bring four talents together, give each 30 minutes on stage and have each one bring out their fans, family and friends. Suddenly you have a full room and everyone present cheers on their artist and in the process discovers new talent to support in the future.
Daniel McKenzie - with just his voice and a piano Daniel presents a powerful presence and, as Now Magazine says, “…do yourself a favour and get acquainted with the moods and music of Daniel McKenzie…the rich, resonating passion will make you an instant believer.” He commands attention and is completely at home on stage.
Marianne Turner – Originally from North Bay and a Toronto resident since 2000, Marianne is following her dream of making it in the music industry. If talent and determination have anything to do with it – Marianne is a shoe-in to succeed. Her songs and stage presence will move you.
Soozi Schlanger – probably best known as the spirited fiddler founder of Swamperella, and as a member of Betty & The Bobs, has been working on her solo singer-songwriter career and has come up with some wonderful songs that she will unveil during this Discoveries. For anyone already acquainted with this unique woman, what you have seen and heard is not what you’ll get during this performance!
Corey Heuvel - Corey is a very young man with a much older person’s insight and musical style. The Barrie teenager has not yet found any music he doesn’t like and is embracing all styles in his musical journey. He has already opened for such as Canadian treasure, Valdy and has been invited on stage by the incomparable Jesse Cook. He has a very strong debut recording focusing on music in the blues/rock genre. Corey is equally at home in the roots vein which is what you will hear. |
top |
June 5 - 7
THE SKYDIGGERS 20th Anniversary
$20 adv / $25
Skydiggers have been a fixture on the Canadian music scene since their formation in 1988.
It’s tempting to describe the new album collaboration between the Cash Brothers and Skydiggers this way: Together again for the first time.
Because while the two groups have never previously recorded in precisely the merged configuration heard on Skydiggers/Cash Brothers, there is plenty of precedent and shared history between the players.
Skydiggers recorded their first four albums with Peter Cash as a founding member. Some of the Skydiggers’ earliest gigs saw them sharing the bill with Andrew Cash, who came up with the Skydiggers’ name. Skydigger singer Andy Maize was a member of Andrew’s touring band in the 80s. The Skydiggers have frequently drawn from Andrew’s brimming songbook to round out their own records and in recent years Skydiggers and Cash Brothers have joined forces onstage, to delight of audiences around the country.
|
top |
June 10
Mr. Rick & the Biscuits
$15 adv / $18
Mr. Rick was born and raised in Michigan in the 1950's. He grew up listening to the great sounds available on late night radio. Country, Western Swing, Blues, Gospel, Folk and Tin Pan Alley. Along with the family's Victorola and collection of Vintage 78's he was surrounded by the great music we have come to know as Americana. As a youth in the 60's in Detroit he was fortunate enough to learn guitar, and performance first hand from many performers who are now considered icons. Soon he was traveling throughout the United States armed with this considerable musical knowledge and the desire to entertain people. After a number of years he met and befriended Luther Wheatstraw in Beebeetown Iowa. Mr. Rick soon convinced Luther to leave the family hog farm and go on the road with him. Luther who doubled as a licensed BBQ technician and investment banker took the offer, and the two men hit the road seeking gigs. Eventually they headed north to Canada. In the Ottawa Valley they met Josephus Burns in a trailer park. He was a marvelous bass player and fine drinker, but again Mr. Rick had to do some sweet talking to convince Josephus to leave his post as a bible teacher. He did and the rest is history. The three men based out of Toronto, Canada continue to play music and entertain folks everywhere they go.
|
top |
June 11
NDIDI ONUKWULU
$20 adv / $22
Ndidi has one of those voices that you can't forget. Whether she's out on the down-low with a melancholy moan, or chasing hellhounds with a strident tone, it's a voice that can stop you in your tracks.
Onukwulu's full-time guitarist and sometime co-writer Madagascar Slim -- a three-time Juno Award winner in his own right -- says her voice is outstanding. "I really got excited the first time I heard it," says Slim. "She really does have something special." Put the voice together with her graceful, casual stage presence, and it's easy to see how she lures people into her lair of song.
Ndidi Onukwulu is first and foremost a blues singer. From the jazzy bounce of "Hornblower" to the hard-rockin' punch of "Hey There," from the spooky lament of "Wicked Lady" to the traditional voice-and-drum gospel wail of "This May Be The Last Time," she's steeped in the blues, and talented enough to make you feel it.
|
top |
June 12
CHRIS HILLMAN (of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers)
$40 / $42.50
He is a folkie who wound up in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. He is a journeyman sideman who wound up singing lead on 10 top-10 country smash hits. He is a bluegrass mandolin picker who detoured to three Gold Records in rock bands. He is a self-taught composer who wound up cowriting some of the cornerstone songs of the country-rock repertoire. In the beginning, he was just another curly-headed, guitar-playing kid from Southern California. But his life in music has taken him through several of the major movements that have defined modern American pop -- folk-rock, hippie psychedelia, country-rock, jazz fusion, contemporary country and modern bluegrass. His name is Chris Hillman. During his three decades as a music maker, his collaborators have included Emmylou Harris, Stephen Stills, Vern Gosdin, David Crosby, Gram Parsons, Dan Fogelberg, J.D. Souther, Bob Dylan, and Roger McGuinn. He has been a member of The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band. He is a living history of popular music. But since he is nowhere near finished making memories, that's a book he's not ready to write.
|
top |
June 13
GIRLS DO BOYS
Emcee Micheal Wrycraft
$18 adv / $20
Line up TBA |
top |
June 14
CARLOS DEL JUNCO
$22 adv / $25
Carlos del Junco plays the harmonica like nobody else in the world. Born in Havana, Cuba, Carlos is a pioneer of the 10-hole diatonic harmonica.
Throughout his concert and festival performances with his four piece band, you may hear an eclectic palette of jazz, blues, swing, Latin, funky New Orleans and the occasional African, hip-hop, and ska melody. As a singer, you will hear a voice almost as unique as his harp playing as Carlos offers fresh renditions of classic blues and jazz standards.
While respected as a blues artist, the music played by harmonica maestro del Junco transcends all categorization into sheer artistry bringing musical credibility to what has still been considered by many, a fringe folk instrument. His command of the harmonica is absolute – he plays with all the subtleties and nuances of a classical violinist to the edgier sounds of a blues rocker.
Carlos fuses his respect for tradition with a fresh, innovative, and truly modern approach. Audiences are blown away at every performance and return for more at show after show.
|
top |
June 18
GOOD LOVELIES Tour Kick-off
$12 adv/ $15
Award-winners of “Best Folk” at Toronto’s 2007 Independent Music Awards and the “One Fret-Less Award,” the Good Lovelies are making a splash in the independent music scene with their fresh version of folk music.
In their first year together, this emerging, all-female, Canadian band is getting noticed and garnering fans coast to coast.
The three fun-loving monkeys who make up this quirky trio, Caroline Brooks (The Brooks Sisters), Sue Passmore (Bluesativa) and Kerri Ough, go straight for
your musical Achilles’ heel with bang-on three part harmonies and memorable melodies while tickling your funny bone between songs with their unique brand of stage banter.
<< prev page
next page>>
1 2 3 |
