Steve's Blog
Wednesday February 11, 2009

Hi everyone

Volunteers needed for all shows

The next two Fridays we have shows at St. James Hall and also at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre. So far we have only one volunteer offering to work this Friday at Cap. We need three per show there. If we don't get three we won't have a crew at all, and this might not be good for the society. We would lose some revenue from raffle sales, and lose an opportunity to spread the word about our series. So, if you were thinking of attending the John Boutte and The Sojourners show on Friday 13th (instead of Dave Alvin and Martha Scanlan at St. James) and / or the Montreal Guitar Trio on Friday 20th (instead of Julie Fowlis Quartet at St. James Hall), and would be willing to volunteer selling raffle tickets, distributing flyers, and / or selling memberships at Cap, please email Brian Jones, our Crews Controller.

Brian is also still looking for volunteers for all shows at St. James Hall.

Call for design of a big poster

We are very excited that we have been granted 12 Bus Shelter Advertisement Spots across the city in April. We need to design an attractive poster to advertize our 3rd annual April In Paris Festival (April 25 & 26). These posters are very large and need to be top quality screen prints. If there are any graphic artists / designers out there who would like to see their work displayed prominently for 3 weeks - and which would help us to get our website and our Django Festival into the public eye - please email me.

We have to submit proofs of the artwork by March 20th and have the final artwork ready by April 1st so this is coming up fast.

Dave Alvin & Martha Scanlan, Friday February 13th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 W.10th Ave.)

This is a rare chance to see LA rocker Dave Alvin in an intimate acoustic setting (with Chris Miller on guitar) Tickets are selling fast, and it will definitely sell out, so if you haven't booked already I'd advise you to do so as soon as possible. There will be very few - if any - tickets available at the door. Dave Alvin has an amazingly deep voice, and is one of North America's very best songwriters. He also has deep roots in the Blues and early Country Music, and has recorded two CDs of folk songs in the Public Domain. The evening will begin with a set by the very compelling songwriter Martha Scanlan, who used to play old time music with the Reel Time Travelers before launching her first solo CD in 2007. She played at the Rogue last year, with Ollabelle, and we are delighted to bring her back.

Stephen Fearing with special guest Dave Gunning, Monday February 16th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 W.10th Ave.)

In 1986, Vancouver-born Stephen Fearing returned to his roots and made a huge impression at a series of showcase concerts and festivals with his powerful vocals and stunning guitar work. The following year he helped found the Rogue Folk Club to provide a stage for the healthy local music scene and to help spread the word about the top quality being made and presented in our fair city. Many albums and tours have happened since, of course, and now he makes his home in Halifax. Stephen returns with a wonderful new CD, The Man Who Married Music, which is a retrospective CD of his finest songs - plus a couple of brand new ones. Joining him on stage is another Haligonian, Dave Gunning, an award-winning songwriter with deep Scots / Cape Breton roots.

Tickets for these - and all our upcoming shows - are available online and also at Highlife Records, and at Rufus' Guitar Shop.

Radio Waves

I'll be playing new music from Sweden, Hungary, North Africa, and the Mediterranean Basin on The Edge On Folk this Saturday on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca from 8am to noon. I will also pay tribute to Cachaito Lopez, the bassist with the Buena Vista Social Club, who passed away this week. Later in the show I'll play some Valentine's Day selections as well as music from upcoming Rogue performers Julie Fowlis, David Essig, Rick Scott, Tom Russell (with Gretchen Peters), De Temps Antan, Vancouver's Pastiche, plus new releases from the likes of Beoga, Eric Bibb, Guy Davis, Jorma Kaukonen, Ruthie Foster, BeauSoleil, and lots more old favourites too. Please join me for four hours of the best and most topical roots, world and folk music on the planet!

I'll be Sheryl McKay's guest on Sunday February 15th from 7am to 8am on CBC Radio One North By Northwest on AM 690 and fm 88.1 Tune in for a chance to win tickets to future Rogue shows.

Cheers
See you at The Rogue!!
Steve