Steve's Blog
Thursday September 27, 2012

Hi everyone

Beautiful weather. Enjoy it while it lasts! We have sunshine music on Saturday, at least!

Thanks to everyone who came to see The Paul McKenna Band last week. It was a good night for Celtic music fans, but we really thought there were more of you. We urge you to check out the amazing band Comas next week. Stunning piper and flute player, Kevin Burke's cousin on fiddle (it's definitely in the genes!) and an amazing bodhran player, too. The singer / guitarist is Belgian - and a fine player. More of them later. But if you DO love Celtic music we need your support on these "unknown" bands, as precious few Celtic bands are touring these days. We hope you'll come to see Oysterband (October 19th) and Lunasa (November 2nd) as well, of course!

A couple of great shows this weekend at The Rogue, and one at the Electric Owl on Sunday too. Gearing up for Rogue October ... Full details, tickets etc.

1. Don Ross & Brooke Miller, Friday September 28th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Ontario-born Don Ross is a true innovator on guitar. Not just the way he plays them, but also in his choice of instruments. He's introduced us to Heavy Wood music, with an array of beautifully crafted guitars, including the 7 string monster, the one with the curved fretboard, and that skeletal, Japanese one - amongst others. And the music he makes! Mind-blowing stuff. he's been a regular annual visitor to The Rogue for over 20 years, and his creativity seems to know no bounds. (We wouldn't keep bringing him here if he started to stagnate!) He has a brand new CD, with the delightfully, er, rampant title, "Upright & locked Position" (Candyrat Records) which includes a duet with his wife, Brooke Miller on one of his old classics, "Wall Of Glass." Brooke has a new CD, too, so they will play some solos and some duets and it will be a stellar night for fans of guitar music (and they both sing, too, so it's not all guitar-geek food, by any means!) We're expecting a big crowd, so don't miss out on the annual guitar feast that comes with every Don Ross concert. His website is www.gobyfish.com where you can find all manner of information, including lessons. Brooke's website is www.brookemiller.ca

2. El Grupo Cubano - Brisas del Palmar, Saturday September 29th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

They have been here all Summer long, taking an extended sojourn in BC to make new friends and to explore the possibility of returning next year to perform at festivals across this great nation. They have certainly made many friends! Their music is replete with gorgeous harmony vocals and string band ecstasy, with those rippling polyrhythms that are such an integral part of Afro-Cuban music. While they were here in Vancouver they recorded a CD at The Armoury with Black Hen Music guitar wizard Steve Dawson at the controls. The CD is called "Santiago En Suenos" and it will be officially "launched" this night. We'll leave a big dance floor for this one, so celebrate the long summer that we've just enjoyed, and dream of summers to come, with more Cuban music than you can shake a stick at - if that's your idea of a good time. It's certainly mine! www.elgrupocubano.com

3. Martyn Joseph with Steve Dawson & Band, Sunday September 30th, Dinner 6pm, Show 8pm, The Electric Owl (928 Main Street)

Welsh songwriter Martyn Joseph is one of the most passionate singers and performers around. A regular visitor to Vancouver, this time will be totally different. He'll be playing with Steve Dawson's band. Get there early. Apparently dinner is fabulous, and the best seats are reserved for those who dine. Reservations for dinner are accepted. Please contact the venue directly by phone (604.558.0928) or email reservations (at) electricowl.ca. Come early, limited seating available. Please note Electric Owl is a licensed night club and no minors are permitted. We recommend taking the Skytrain, too. It's very close to the station at Terminal and Main, near the Greyhound Bus / Via Rail Station. Tickets are available from the Cap Box Office on 604-990-7810. More info on www.electricowl.ca and www.martynjoseph.com

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

Tune in this week for new music by the likes of Australian blues singer Kara Grainger, American songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter, Blues Divas Maria Muldaur and Janiva Magness; vintage tracks from Peter Case and Rodriguez (Searching for Sugarman); new African sounds from Zani Diabate; sultry Cuban music from El Grupo Cubano; English music from Jez Lowe, Fay Hield, Emily Portman, Hannah James, Oysterband, and Julian Dawson; new Canadian Blues from Bill Bourne; searing traditional singing from Tim Eriksen; and scintillating Celtic music from the Irish / Belgian / American quartet Comas. All this and a whole lot more! Please join me for 4 hours of the very best in Roots Music from next door, across the road, across the country and across various ponds! Streamed live and podcast on www.citr.ca and also available live on Telus TV channel 3717

Have a great weekend! Summer's almost gone ...
Steve