Steve's Blog
Tuesday December 11, 2007

Hi everyone

We went away last week, a lovely retreat to Pender Island, hence there was no weekly update. However, many of you would have received the December issue of the Rogue Folk Review in the mail (it is now available for download) so you know what's going on ... don't you?

We have some exciting shows this week! Two are our own, and there are two nights at St. James in between them - utilizing our sound system and lights and engineers - and then there's a CD launch the very next day.

Whiskey Hollow Bound - Thursday, December 13, 8pm (St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue)

The Breakmen, Redgrass, Plough & Dyad are four local bands specializing in Bluegrass and old-Time music, featuring glorious harmonies. This town is riding the crest of a creative wave right now, with these bands in particular making a name for themselves and earning glowing reviews and amassing a sizable following. Rightly so, too. Each band has something very special to offer:

The Breakmen released their eponymous debut CD this year, with some very fine original songs and a few covers, all sung with their wonderful harmonies to the fore. Four fine young Vancouver singers, with dobro master Ivan Rosenberg rounding out a quintet that offers some of the finest country folk harmonies since the Flying Burrito Brothers.

Redgrass released their first CD last month. This trio opened for Outlaw Social in October, and combine Bluegrass with humorous songs and plenty of originals. Mandolin, guitar and bass; three voices into one microphone: marvellous stuff!

Plough made a big impression at the Phil Thomas Tribute concert a year ago. Banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass and scintillating four-part harmonies are their hallmark. They have two songs on the Whiskey Hollow Bound CD that was launched at the Rogue in June, and we can't wait to hear a full-length CD (one is in the pipeline.) Sadly, fiddler Linda Bull will not be able to perform at this concert. She had to fly back to Australia last week to attend her father's funeral and help her brothers deal with his estate. We send our deepest condolences to Linda and her family. She will be back shortly after Christmas.

Dyad recently expanded to a quartet with the addition of cellist Mark Beaty, rounding out their earthy, spine-tingling old-time sound: viola, banjo, guitar, and voices that carry the songs and the struggles of settlers in the Appalachians - spanning four hundred years in a heartbeat. They have two CDs, plus two new songs on the WHB compilation CD.

The two previous Whiskey Hollow Bound concerts have sold out. We expect this one to be very popular as well. Tickets are available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, on-line, and by reservation on 604-736-3022.

More information on www.whiskeyhollowbound.com. Concert Details

The Shirley's Multicultural Winter Solstice Concert - Sunday, December 16, 8pm (St. James Hall)

The sound of seven golden-throated, gorgeous, sexy, sassy women will fill St. James Hall to its lovely wooden vaulted arches this Sunday. The Shirleys (Karla Mundy, Yael Blum, Keona Hammond, Samantha Fletcher, Dawn Pemberton, Victoria Oginsky, and Karen Lee-Morang) have assembled a unique presentation of songs for this special time of year - collected in countries all around the globe. Songs of Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwaanza, Hannukkah, and the "Old Christmas" of Ukraine and Twelfth Night songs from the British Isles, too. The world is, literally, their oyster! Group members have deep roots in many cultures, and they will each bring something special to this concert. Whatever these women sing sounds spectacular! Don't miss this concert. It is the perfect way to start the week before Christmas - to help us all get in the mood by remembering that we are so fortunate to live in this magical place and share it with so many folks from all over the planet. Our musical tour guides, The Shirleys, will give us all the warm glows we need on this winter's night.

Tickets are available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, on-line, and by reservation on 604-736-3022. Concert Details

The Maenads CD Launch, Monday December 17, 8pm - Grace Memorial United Church, 803 E.16th Ave.

Not a Rogue show, but we recommend it highly. The Maenads released a fine CD this month. They are Rebecca Blair (Celtic harp, clarinet), Norah Rendell (flute, whistle, recorder, vocals) and Linda Bull (fiddle.) Linda will be replaced at this gig by Phoebe McRae. Norah has been away for over two years now, firstly in Ireland, where she studied Irish music at Limerick University, and she now lives in Minneapolis. Temporarily! We are hoping to lure her back to Vancouver.... Meanwhile, her singing and musicianship has come on in leaps and bounds, and she sounds really great on the new CD. More information on www.dancingharp.com.

The Grand Old Caribou Opry - December 14 & 15, St. James Hall

This is not a Rogue show, either, but we think it should be really interesting. So, if you have no christmas parties this weekend, try this:

The Grand Caribou Opry is back for two shows in support of the Potluck Cafe Society and the residents of the Downtown East Side. This highly entertaining variety show is hosted by Barney Bentall as he works through his very humorous and highly entertaining monologues (think Prairie Home Companion). This year's event will feature guests Leslie Alexander, Ridley Bent, Dustin Bentall, Wendy Bird, Kendel Carson, Cameron Latimer, Matt Masters, & Leeroy Stagger. Each ticket sold for the Opry will provide roughly 10 nutritious meals, an incredible contribution to some of the neediest residents living in the Downtown Eastside.

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.ca.

The Edge On Folk, Saturday December 15, 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

I'll have new releases and lots of suggestions for last-minute presents for the music fan in your life. Plus a look ahead to next week's annual Christmas Special, which will air on December 22nd. Please join me for four hours of Roots Music from all around the world.

Radio Rogue is on the air, too

We have a 62 hour show broadcasting over the internet, with music by all the performers who have played at The Rogue this Fall, plus some delectable new releases and a sprinkling of seasonal songs that you will never hear in a shopping mall ! Just point your browser to radio.roguefolk.bc.ca:8000/listen.m3u. When prompted, enter the following Username: Radio Rogue Password: Roots Radio! (include the exclamation mark and capitalization) You can tune in any time, and when it reaches the end it reshuffles the songs and starts again, so you almost certainly won't hear the same songs even if you tune in every day.

Have a great week! See you at the Rogue