Steve's Blog
Thursday October 29, 2009

Hi everyone

Well, it certainly looks and feels like the onset of winter now. One further indication was the presence of a hummingbird outside our window this afternoon. Last December it came by looking for food when the snow set in. We put up a feeder and it stayed around here for a couple of weeks, feeding several times a day at our little "cafe"! Now, where on earth did we put that feeder ... ?

We have two amazing concerts of Canadian Folk & Roots Music this weekend, some CDs and tickets to give away, and I'll have plenty of new - and some scary - music on The Edge On Folk on Saturday (Halloween) morning.

Lester Quitzau Trio, Friday October 30th, 8pm, at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

Lester Quitzau is an incredible guitar player, who lays down a soulful, bluesy groove that underpins his songs. He can cover classic blues like Rollin & Tumblin, complete with scorching electric slide, and is equally at home singing a ballad written for his lovely wife Mae Moore, or exploring a Hendrix tune like Little Wing, or extemporizing around an original instrumental tune, like Shaper Shifter from his new CD, The Same Light. Everything is tastefully done, and his sheer brilliance shines throughout his music. He's originally from Edmonton, and now makes his home on a self-sufficient homestead on Pender Island. He's played many times before at The Rogue, with Mae Moore, with Tri Continental, with Chris Frye's Analog Ghosts, and with his Very Electric Trio. On this occasion he'll be joined by drummer / esteemed record producer Joby Baker and fine bassist Billy Hicks. The new trio is getting rave reviews all across the country - as is the superb new CD.

We still have tickets available for this show, on sale at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and on-line. They will also be available at the door.

This concert will be recorded by CBC Canada Live for later broadcast. More info - and music samples - can be found on www.lesterq.com

James Keelaghan Trio, Saturday October 31st, 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

James Keelaghan is one of Canada's most acclaimed songwriters - and justifiably named alongside the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers, David Francey and Ian Tyson as a chronicler of our times, with a rich voice and an ear for a memorable tune to go with it. He has a new CD, House Of Cards, which includes several songs co-written with such luminaries as the aforementioned Mr Francey, Scotland's Karine Polwart, and Nova Scotia's Rose Cousins. The title track tells of the current economic crisis, while Medusa is a stunning new take on the thoughts of young men marching off to war.

We have just received 5 copies of the CD to give away, and we will award 3 to the wearers of the best Halloween costumes at the concert on Saturday. We will also have 2 raffle prizes.

James will be joined by David Woodhead on bass and Zav RT (formerly known as Jaime RT) on fiddle. David played with Stan Rogers, and has been a stalwart member of the Canadian folk scene for well over two decades now. Zav played with James 3 years ago at Capilano, and was also seen at the Rogue in 2008 with Andy Hillhouse. She's a fiddle teacher who spends a lot of time working with aboriginal youth in the north - when she's not recording or teaching at home on Saltspring.

There are still some tickets left for this show, as well - at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and on-line. They may also be available at the door.

More info www.keelaghan.com

Eliza Carthy, Thursday November 5th, 8pm, at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

English fiddler and singer Eliza Carthy - daughter of Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy MBE - is a remarkably talented young woman, with a string of award winning albums of both traditional and original material. Her music crosses seamlessly from folk to pop and back again, with her original songs spiced up with plenty of playful sex and fun. Her renditions of traditional songs are totally compelling. I can think of very few - if any - singers so comfortable in both genres. And none that are also stunning fiddle players.

Eliza first came to BC in 1988, with The Water Daughters - the daughters of the Waterson - Carthy - Knight clan. Upon seeing Rory McLeod on stage at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival she decided then and there what she wanted to do for the rest of her life: make music that makes people dance and cry and laugh and sing. She has been back several times since, with The Watersons, with Waterson:Carthy, and most recently with her partner, Aidan Curran. Aidan's parents come from NE England, but moved to Victoria many years ago. Aidan was born there, and became a part of that incredibly healthy traditional music scene over there. The scene that was germinated around the hugely talented Daniel Lapp, and which has since given us the likes of Adrian Dolan (The Bills), Kendel Carson (The Paperboys), Outlaw Social, The Gruff, and many more.

Eliza and Aidan are bringing their baby daughter, Florence Daisy, to visit the paternal grandparents, and their first musical port of call is the Rogue next Thursday. She has worked with everyone from Billy Bragg to Joan Baez to Salsa Celtica to The Imagined Village (Paul Weller, Benjamin Zephaniah, Sheila Chandra, and many others. Check out the CD. It's on Real World Records.) Don't miss this rare chance to see Eliza Carthy in concert.

More info: www.eliza-carthy.com

Cyro Baptista at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre, Sunday November 1st, 8pm

Brazilian percussionist who regularly works with the likes of Yo Yo Ma, Sting, Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock and more brings his Banquet of the Spirits ensemble to CPAT on Sunday. We have some complimentary tickets to give away to fans of World Music. Just email me if you'd like to attend. This offer is primarily for those of you who have volunteered at the Rogue recently, but we may have some extra tickets available for the rest of you. First come, first granted.

The Edge On Folk, Annual Halloween Special, Saturday 8am to 12 noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

I'll have exciting new releases by Hebridean singer Julie Fowlis, German combo LaBrassBanda, California's remarkable Rupa & The April Fishes, Shooglenifty, The Avett Brothers, The Dervish side-project The Unwanted, and perhaps some music from last Sunday's "acid-folk" extravaganza with Lee Harvey Osmond. I'll also play some scary music - traditional and modern - for Halloween, as well as previews of upcoming Rogue shows. Please join me for four hours of the very best in Roots, Folk & World Music on Saturday morning on CiTR fm 101.9. It's also streamed live on www.citr.ca and you can download podcasts from that site too.

Have a great weekend! See you at the Rogue
Steve