Steve's Blog
Friday October 1, 2010

Hi everyone

It's been a hectic week, what with a Cajun Honky Tonk on Saturday (great fun) and the incomparable Martin Simpson on Sunday, followed by three days of intensive Grant writing. Thanks to Deborah and Margaret and a bit of help from Board members we managed to get the Canadian Arts Presentation Fund application submitted on Thursday afternoon. Then it was off to Capilano Performing Arts Theatre for the first Cap Folk & Roots concert of the season, featuring Ireland's wonderful band Lunasa.

So, it's October all of a sudden. And there's a concert tonight with Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart at St. James Hall!

Then I have a radio show on Saturday, followed by a Contra Dance at St. James Hall (while Jayme Stone, Casey Driessen & co will be performing at CPAT,) and then I have Sunday to get the next issue of the Rogue Folk Review written, compiled and sent off to the printers! Mailing party Tuesday, Board meeting on Wednesday. It's all go!

Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, Friday, October 1st, 8pm at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

Texas singer Stacey Earle is the sister of Steve Earle and used to sing back-up for him. That's how she met Nashville guitar wizard Mark Stuart, who was also in Steve's band at the time. They have been married and touring as a couple for over a decade now, and there are few, if any, such gifted and enjoyable songwriting teams around. Stacey's earlier songs were some of the most articulate and impassioned anthems of single-parenting women ever made. Mark is also a fine songwriter, but it's his incredible versatility and skill as a guitarist that really stand out. A master of every style of roots and popular music that's worth listening to, he is truly one of the best. Their arrangements and vocal harmonies are second to none.

Few husband-wife musical duos provide audiences with the complete entertainment package that Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart dish out in a live performance. Armed with clever acoustic guitar interplay, autobiographical songwriting, lovely harmonies, and humorous storytelling this couple captivates your attention from the first moment they are onstage. Based in Tennessee, Earle and Stuart draw from blues, pop, country, rock, and more in their heartfelt music. The years of touring the folk/Americana circuit (playing 170 concerts a year) have given them a knack for reaching out to the audience in an intimate "come in to my living room" fashion.

Stacey and Mark own their own record label, Gearle Records, and have made 8 CDs over the years. Since meeting in 1992 and marrying in late 1993, the partners have toured the USA, Canada, and Europe repeatedly. They left the environment of pursuing a major label deal in Nashville in 1998 to target small intimate venue crowds in theaters, coffeehouses, festivals, clubs, and house concerts. This has become their home and they are a recognized fixture on the folk music trail they blaze. www.staceyandmark.com

Come on down to the Rogue and join us. There are still tickets left. You can buy them online or at the door, or at Highlife Records (1317 Commercial Drive), Rufus' Guitar Shop (2621 Alma St.) or Zulu Records (1972 West 4th Ave.)

The Edge On Folk, Saturday 8am to noon, CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

Please join me for four hours of the hottest Roots, Folk and World Music. This week I'll have new releases by English singer Fay Hield, Stacey's nephew Justin Townes Earle, some new sounds from the Cajuns we had with us last week, and heaps of concert previews and lots more surprises.

Hope to see y'all tonight

Steve