Steve's Blog
Thursday July 2, 2009

Hi everyone

Well, Margaret & I are back home safe and sound from our trip to California. What a fantastic trip! We took in pilgrimages to Cicely, Alaska (aka Roslyn, Washington - the scene of Northern Exposure), The Sylvia Beach Hotel and the Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon. We saw so many wonderful beaches in Oregon and Washington, dined at Ramblin' Jack Elliott's "local" oyster bar in Marshall, California, and then spent 3 days in San Francisco before a brief sojourn in the Napa Valley and then a very hot weekend at the Kate Wolf Festival in Laytonville, Ca. with the likes of Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Emmylou Harris, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women, Mavis Staples, Ruthie Foster, Chris Smither, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Shawn Colvin, and the ubiquitous and very talented Buddy Miller. The temperature was well into the 40s Celsius each day, and shade was obligatory, but the cooling waters of the Eel River and the sprinkler system and showers were also welcome. The festival is a lot like Mission in size, except that all of the 5-6,000 attendees camp there (the nearest town is Leggett, over 20 miles away, population 315!) It was truly memorable in so many ways, and I'll write a blog about it next week.

This weekend we have two concerts and of course I'll be back on CiTR on Saturday.

Tomorrow night, Friday July 3rd, we are delighted to present the return engagement of my Discovery of 2008: Pacific Curls (NZ / Scotland) with special guest Lorina Harding, also from New Zealand although born and raised in Winnipeg. Pacific Curls are a stunning trio: gorgeous vocals, brilliant musicianship (fiddle, ukulele, guitar, percussion) and a spicy, soulful blend of Celtic music with Maori and Polynesian songs and rhythms. Their show is totally spell-binding, and they were one of the biggest hits at last November's Aboriginal World Music Expo in Melbourne, Australia. Check them out on www.pacificcurls.com, concert details.

Not many of you have seen Pacific Curls before, but we are very confident that you will love them just as much as I do if you take that chance and come along to St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue) tomorrow night. So much so, in fact, that we will give you a FREE CONCERT if you buy a ticket to Pacific Curls. The FREE CONCERT is a very special, intimate evening of music from Switzerland, featuring the remarkable duo Stimmhorn, who are on their way to the Mission Folk Music Festival (July 24-26). This concert is on Tuesday July 21st at St. James Hall, and is presented by the Swiss Consulate and Mission Folk Music Festival. It will be an acoustic, unamplified show, and will be followed by a reception with free hors d'oeuvres and beverages. For more information on Stimmhorn, check out their website. I really cannot begin to describe their music! I guarantee that you will be astounded in the nicest possible way! www.stimmhorn.ch

So, please support the Rogue Folk Club tomorrow night and join us as we delve deeper into the mysteries of two of the most beautiful and fascinating countries on earth - New Zealand and Switzerland. Where else could you find such a scrumptious two-for-one deal in music (and food!)?

On Saturday morning I'll be back on CiTR fm 101.9 from 8am to 12 noon, with some hot new music by the likes of Debashish Bhattacharya, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Patty Griffin, Stimmhorn, Dala, some rare Richard Thompson, Buddy Miller, a stunning jam band's take on Dark Side Of The Moon(shine), an in-depth look at the musical journey of Scots world music fusion combo Old Blind Dogs, and plenty of surprises! I'll also preview local festivals and upcoming Rogue shows, including the Celebration Of Light, which features performances by the likes of Blackie & The Rodeo Kings and Jim Byrnes. I'll also pay tribute to Canadian singing legend Jackie Washington, who passed away this week (and I promise not to play any Michael Jackson!) Please join me for 4 hours of little heard musical revelry and soul-stirring songs.

On Saturday evening, July 4th, we present the return of Scotland's Old Blind Dogs at St. James Hall. They have played at The Rogue many times over the years, but not since 2005, so don't miss this rare chance to hear the incredible fiddle music of Jonny Hardie and the rest of this fine band which continues to blaze a trail for traditional music with a modern twist. How very Rogue! For more on Old Blind Dogs, visit www.oldblinddogs.co.uk, concert details.

Tickets for all our concerts are on sale at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and online.

We still have Early Bird Discount tickets for the Mission Folk Music Festival, too.

How very much we need your support as we continue to face life prior to the arrival of our promised grant money .... and the completion of the new elevator at St. James Hall (now estimated to be around July 20th.)

See you soon, I hope!!
Steve