Steve's Blog
Wednesday November 18, 2009

Hi everyone

Two more great concerts coming up this week, plus the 2nd week of CiTR's Funding Drive, and a new issue of the Rogue Folk Review is now available.

The McDades, Thursday November 19th 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

The Juno winning quintet that combines Celtic music with World rhythms and jazz, makes a long-awaited return. There is an interview with them in this week's Georgia Straight, which comes out tomorrow. Fiddler Shannon Johnson is joined by her brothers Solon McDade (bass) and Jeremiah McDade (flute, sax, etc.), guitarist Yann Falquet and percussionist Bucky Wheaton - I think that's his name! The band won a Juno for their most recent CD, Bloom, and are half way through recording a new album - so will have plenty of new material for us tomorrow night. This band just keeps on setting new standards of music excellence and fiery, totally compelling improvisation. They do some fine songs as well, with Shannon's treatment of Rocky Road To Dublin and Miah's gorgeous rendition of The Linden Tree just two prime examples. They also sing a few traditional Quebecois songs in French, and add Tuvan overtone singing to their incredible versatility! Check out this amazing band. They really are one of Canada's finest. www.themcdades.com

Van Django, Friday November 20th 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

Another band with a new CD on the way, Van Django is renowned internationally as one of the best and most creative gypsy jazz bands on the planet. They have starred at our annual April In Paris celebration of the musical legacy of Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli in each of the three years we have presented it to date. In 2006 they released their debut CD, Tiptoe Trip, and this past Spring they toured Ireland and Europe and then recorded a stunning show at Musicfest Vancouver with an expanded 6 piece line-up. You can check it out on CBC's Concerts On Demand website.

Led by fiddler extraordinaire Cam Wilson (Joe Trio, Mad Pudding, VSO, CBC Radio Orchestra) and guitarists Budge Schachte and Finn Manniche, Van Django will feature guest bassist Brent Gubbels, plus two brilliant young musicians: Evan Arntzen on clarinet, sax and vocals, and Nino DiPasquale on drums (he plays a "low boy" kit, so come along and find out what that means!)

The whole event is geared up for dancing, although dancing is not compulsory. We will leave a nice big dance floor and ring it with tables, so get there early to secure the prime tables near to the band.

More info on www.django.com

CiTR's Fundrive 2nd week

I would like to thank Paul Pigat for playing live at CiTR last Saturday, Heather Kitching (Queer FM) and Andrea & Arthur Berman (Pacific Picking) for staffing the phone line(s) and helping me with spruiking. To date CiTR has raised over $8,000 since last Thursday - and $1,000 of that was on my show, The Edge On Folk, last Saturday. So another huge Thank You to all those of you who called in to pledge to CiTR during the broadcast. We have some excellent premiums, including a choice of three different "Mix CDs" I put together, and some Eric Bogle CD / DVD combos, and tickets to Rogue shows. We now also have new CDs by Los Paperboys and Paul Pigat, so please tune in on Saturday and support CiTR. If you enjoy this kind of music, and being able to listen to it live on your radio or online, or download the podcasts wherever you happen to be in the world at whatever time, then please call us on 604-822-8648 between 8am and 12 noon on Saturday. You can also donate to our secure AMS server online at www.citr.ca/donate at any time between now and Thursday November 26th at 6pm.

I'll have some great new music and some old favourites, as well as previews of concerts and plenty of surprises, too.

Rogue Folk Review

The November / December issue of the Rogue Folk Review is now available for download. We will mail copies this evening to those of you who have either given us the extra $5 to help cover the mailing costs, or who haven't yet emailed me to say that you would like to just download it in future.

On the cover is a new show announcement, Los Paperboys, who will perform at St. James Hall on Saturday December 12th for our final concert of the year. Tickets will go on sale later this week. There are also details of the shows we have lined up in 2010, starting with The Foghorn Stringband - a co-production with Pacific Bluegrass & Heritage Society, on Saturday January 9th at St. James.

Last week's shows

We had two incredible concerts last weekend, with Tim O'Brien and Old Man Luedecke on Friday and The Paul Pigat Band on Saturday. Friday's show drew our largest audience since the Summer, and there were three sets of amazing music. Tim O'Brien demonstrated his sublime skills on guitar, fiddle, mandolin and banjo - and his singing and songwriting just gets better and better. Saturday was another stellar night as Paul launched his debut CD with a great band that included Jesse Zubot on fiddle and mandolin, and veteran drummer Chris The Wrist Nordquist. The bass player, Tommy Babin, was new to me. What a find! One of Canada's very best jazz bassists, without a doubt. The show was made even more memorable by a guest appearance by Vancouver gospel trio The Sojourners, who sang two rehearsed songs and then stayed on stage to deliver a remarkable cover of Jimi Hendrix's classic Little Wing. Where else than at The Rogue could you hear Little Wing in the same set as Happy Talk from South Pacific? Played by a brilliant roots / jazz combo of world class musicians and singers?

It's been a fabulous season so far, and the next few shows will definitely carry on that trend.

As ever, thank you for your support.

Cheers
Steve