Steve's Blog
Thursday May 3, 2012

Hi everyone

1. Radio Waves

This has been a tricky week as I've been trying to ascertain whether CiTR 101.9fm will be on the air on Saturday. The Student Union Building and the Transmitter across the street atop Gage Towers are set for maintenance, so it appears that CiTR will not be broadcasting live. There is a possibility that a previous edition of The Edge On Folk will be broadcast from a backup transmitter (probably last week's show, since all my shows tend to be topical and dedicated to the concerts happening in town in the next week or two).

On a more positive note, I will be Sheryl McKay's guest at 8am on Saturday on CBC North By Northwest on fm 88.1 and am 690 to talk about the Rogue's 25th anniversary.

Then I plan to zoom home to broadcast a two hour edition of The Edge On Folk LIVE from 9am to 11am on a streaming URL to be determined (I'll send a very brief update with the actual address as soon as I find out what it will be! I'll also post it on the Rogue website).

If this doesn't work out, there's always Radio Rogue, which has been updated extensively in the last 24 hours, and now includes songs from new CDs by the likes of Eric Bibb, Nanci Griffith, Dar Williams, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Del Barber, Cathy Jordan, Van Django, Denis Chang, Loudon Wainwright III, Le Vent du Nord, Fred Eaglesmith, and Old Man Luedecke, as well as selections by Rogue performers from the recent past and the immediate future.

2. Michael Jerome Browne, Friday May 4th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Acclaimed as An exceptional songwriter and singer. - John McLaughlin (The Province), a roots music expert - Roger Levesque (Edmonton Journal) and a multi-instrumentalist and singer of vast talent - Brad Wheeler (The Globe and Mail), Michael Jerome Browne returns to The Rogue tomorrow night for his third solo concert with us. Michael is a three-time Juno Award Nominee in both the roots and blues categories. He is a multi-instumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American Roots music. His superb new CD, 'The Road Is Dark' is now available on Borealis Records, and he has won several awards including Canadian Solo Folk Artist of the Year in 2008, and Maple Blues Acoustic Artist of the Year. Whether he's gliding a slide across his national guitar, pulling his bow over the fiddle strings to play a lively Cajun waltz, or frailing away on his gourd banjo Michael's passion and virtuosity always shine through. In the true tradition of folk music, his performances inspire us to see the interconnections between the many cultures and influences that gave birth to American Roots Music. Gospel, Blues, Old-Time, Country, Soul and Cajun, expect to hear all of this and more from a performer who's been called a street-smart archivist and an absolute treasure.

Born in South Bend, Indiana, Michael is the son of English professors whose love of music and poetry inspired them to take their nine year old son to the great jazz, blues and folk clubs in their adopted home of Montreal. By the age of fourteen, MJB was already a regular on the vibrant folk and coffee house scene adding banjo, fiddle, and mandolin to his masterful command of all variety of guitars and harmonica. A musician's musician, when he isn't performing his own material he is in demand backing up and recording with artists such as: Eric Bibb, Jordan Officer, and Susie Arioli.

He's in town tonight for a workshop at Prussin Music and I can't wait to hear him in concert again: the new songs are stunning. His previous album, Beautiful Mess, was a tribute to 60s Soul Music, and the latest one takes him back to the roots of the Blues - two of my favourite musical genres! Amongst his new songs is the very topical G20 Rag, which recounts his experiences attending the G20 protests in Toronto a year or two back, and which could - and perhaps should - be adopted as an anthem of the Occupy Movement. www.michaeljeromebrowne.com

3. Jayme Stone's Room Of Wonders, Friday May 11th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Canada's "Yo Yo Ma of the banjo" has released two outstanding CDs of stringband music in the past few years: Room Of Wonders features dance music from all around the world and starred fiddler Casey Driessen (Sparrow Quartet). Previously he teamed up with Kora wizard Mansa Sissoko to record Africa To Appalachia. I've also seen him with nyckelharpa player Sandra Wong. This time he's bring ace trumpet player Kevin Turcotte, drummer Nick Fraser and cellist Andrew Downing to reinterpret the music on the latest CD and explore many other musical directions. Come and share the Wonder! www.jaymestone.com

4. Rogue Silver Jubilee w/ C.R. Avery, Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson & The Sojourners, Saturday May 12th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

This spectacular concert will be memorable for a whole bunch of reasons, most notably for the unique celebration of the music legacy of Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie and Bill Monroe (all born 100 years ago this year) and the 50th anniversary of the recording careers of Bob Dylan and The Beatles - as described and performed by some Vancouver's finest and most eclectic and entertaining musicians / singers / raconteurs. You may have seen these performers before, but you have NEVER seen them do this before! Not to be missed!! It also happens to be The Rogue's 25th anniversary, and is preceded by the Annual General Meeting, so all members are encouraged to attend and help us demonstrate our community support so that we can request more funding from the three levels of government. We need you! Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to this incredible concert as well (and have some cake!)

5. 25th anniversary T-Shirts! Media Coverage! Guestbook!

We are printing 25th anniversary t-shirts which will be available at our anniversary weekend concerts. Several sizes and colours, and two designs! Show your support and show the world that you too are a Rogue to be reckoned with!

Look out for articles in The Province, Vancouver Sun, Georgia Straight, and other publications in the next few days.

I'll also be a guest on CBC NXNW on Saturday, Folk Oasis on CiTR fm 101.9 on Wednesday night, and - I hope - on Better Days on Coop Radio CFRO 102.7 next Thursday as well.

Please visit our Guestbook on our website and record your favourite memories of The Rogue over the past 25 years. If you have a favourite concert experience to share, please share it with us. There'll be prizes for the best entries - judged and announced during the Anniversary show on May 12th, so please help us mark this grand occasion in the grand - and most personal - style!

6. Vancouver Folk Festival Line-up Announced - and there's a Special Deal for Rogues!

The VFMF takes place July 13 - 15 in Jericho Park and headliners include Lucinda Williams, Ani di Franco, Johnny Clegg, Roy Forbes, Holly Near, H'Sao, Martyn Joseph, Dan Mangan, The Once, Serena Ryder and Pied Pumkin. And loads more! A truly eclectic mix, with some exotic sounds from all around the world. I'm especially looking forward to seeing The Atomic Duo, Minor Empire, Besho Drom, Kat Danser, Dala, and Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole! More details on www.thefestival.bc.ca

Rogue members can purchase advance tickets at a discount from the Rogue. Until June 10th we will have weekend passes on sale for $122. Just mail us a cheque for the full amount - made payable to Rogue Folk Club - or pay by credit card at one of our concerts (or call the office on 604-732-1305 Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 10am to 4pm.)

That's all for now. I'll send that radio URL later on.

Have a great weekend. See you at The Rogue!

Steve