Steve's Blog
Thursday July 30, 2009

Hi everyone

We are still suffering from this heat wave, but expect things to cool down a bit over the weekend. We had contemplated moving Tuesday's concert with The Outside Track, well, outside, but it was even hotter outside the hall than inside! Instead we issued ziploc bags with ice cubes in them and this was a popular move (so much so that the idea was adopted on Bowen Island the following night for the band's next concert.) We'll have ice cubes again on Sunday, and plenty of cold beverages on hand for the Fred Eaglesmith show. Tickets are going fast, and he always puts on an incredible concert, so come on down to St. James Hall this Sunday.

Help Wanted

Our mixing console was making some strange noises the other day so we took it in for a checkup at Backline Music. It is now ready for pickup, but won't fit in my car. So, if anyone out there has a van / pickup truck / SUV or station wagon and can drive over to Backline Music to pick up our Board please let me know. Then we would need you to bring it to the hall, ideally around 4pm on Sunday August 2nd - or before then if it's mutually convenient. Backline is only open from 9am to 5pm on Friday and from 11am to 3pm on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Please email me if you can help. Backline is located at 1424 Frances Street (1/2 block east of Clark Drive) a couple of blocks south of Hastings Street. Entrance is in the lane around the back.

Shorefest concludes with Odds, David Gogo, and Current Swell on Saturday August 1st from 6:30pm to 9pm atop The Bathhouse at the foot of Denman Street.

The fourth and final Celebration of Light fireworks display in English Bay takes place this Saturday, and is preceded by a concert with three great Canadian acts: Odds, featuring Craig Northey & co., Nanaimo bluesman David Gogo, and very promising Victoria folk / pop combo Current Swell. The fireworks are from China and it should be an amazing evening once again. Shorefest is presented by Rogue Folk and Shore fm, Vancouver's newest and coolest commercial radio station. Check it out on 104.1 fm

Sunday August 2nd, 8pm, Fred Eaglesmith returns to St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

An award-winning and acclaimed music auteur of the highest order, Fred Eaglesmith has forged a singular and distinctive legacy with his songs, recordings, live performances, achievements and impact unlike that of anyone else in contemporary music. And done so as a fiercely independent and original artist through the sheer power of the music he creates.

His 17 albums over the last three decades - many of them released on his own label - have consistently evoked critical raves, and he's been compared to a broad blue-ribbon list of musical icons. His fellow songwriters regularly record his songs and sing his praises. He hosts a number of music festivals across North America, where he plays hundreds of dates a year in addition to touring Europe and Australia. Devoted fans follow him from one show to another to savor what one reviewer calls the "fury and fun" of his concerts. His releases consistently hit the upper reaches of the Americana charts, and he's the only Canadian to ever write a No. 1 bluegrass hit. His songs have even become part of the course curriculum at two colleges, and the paintings he creates when not making music have been shown in numerous prestigious galleries.

His latest album, 2008's Tinderbox, amply displays the qualities that have made Eaglesmith a true cult phenomenon. Nominated for a Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year as well as making the short list for The Polaris Prize, the Top 10 Americana chart album explores spirituality, faith, life, love, labor and more within a full-blooded musical and lyrical experience that draws from folk, country, rock, gospel, old-time music, bluegrass and even spoken word to create a stunning contemporary roots music all its own. It's been hailed as a "masterwork" (Philadelphia Inquirer), "milestone" and "one of the best albums of last year" (San Jose Metro) as well as "exceptional" (Americana Roots), "beautiful" (Ink 19), "magical" (Houston Press), "magnificent" (Rave), "hypnotic" (Santa Barbara News Press), "epic in scope and cinematic in effect" (Guelph Mercury) and "a deep, sad and masterful album that transcends genre and time. It is Tom Waits meets Pink Floyd meets Hank Williams" (Calgary Herald).

Fred plays the St James Hall at 3214 West 10th Avenue on Sunday, August 2nd at 8pm. Tickets are available at Highlife Records and Rufus' Guitar Shop, online or by calling 604.736.3022. Doors open at 7:30pm.

Website: www.fredeaglesmith.com

The Edge On Folk, Saturday from 8am to noon

For the first time in 3 weeks I'll be back at CITR to host the show this weekend. I've got heaps of new music by the likes of The Wailin' Jennys, The Sultans of String, Nathan Rogers, Rick Shea, Vasen, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, Oysterband's new acoustic album of their old classics, and more, plus a look back at last week's Mission Folk Festival and ahead to next week's Edmonton Folk Festival. Please join me for 4 hours of the very best in roots music on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca