Steve's Blog
Tuesday May 7, 2013

1. Rogue Folk Review

We just mailed the May issue of the Rogue Folk Review, and it is also available online for download. It's packed with information about Rogue shows, other events around town, and a Canadian Folk Festival Guide too. Don't miss the special deals for the Vancouver and Mission Folk Music Festivals. (By the way, Vancouver will announce its line-up this Thursday on their website www.thefestival.bc.ca I'm really excited about seeing the incredible Blues / Roots combo Hazmat Modine for the first time ....)

2. Judy Collins, Thursday May 9th 8pm at The Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Road, UBC)

There is true Folk Music Royalty in town on Thursday when Judy Collins plays The Chan Centre at UBC. She performed at the Folk Alliance in Toronto recently. It was magical, and she sort of sanctified the venue. Everyone else who played in that room after her performance seemed to have a special glow about them. She can still reach those high notes that precious few can reach, and she is a commanding presence on stage. Such grace and poise, and she's a fine piano player as well (whenever she takes over from her brilliant accompanist, that is.) There are still tickets available at the Chan Centre Box Office and Ticketmaster; probably at the door too.

3. Kierah Raymond & Adam Dobres, Friday May 10th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

At the opposite age of the age / experience spectrum, the following night sees 17 year old fiddle sensation Kierah Raymond perform at St. James Hall to launch her 3rd CD, Stonemason's Daughter. You can read bout her in the new issue of the Rogue Folk Review, and in this article from today's Surrey Leader. She will be accompanied by Victoria's brilliant guitarist Adam Dobres (Blue Rodeo, Outlaw Social, Dustin Bentall, etc.) It's the Rogue's 26th anniversary on Friday, and this concert of Celtic fiddle music is a great away to celebrate the occasion(s).

3. Richard Thompson, Saturday May 11th, The Rio Theatre

Saturday's Richard Thompson concert at The Rio, 1668 East Broadway at Commercial, is Sold Out. I'm so pleased to have tickets!! He's my favourite guitarist and singer, and has been making incredible music for over 45 years now. Check out the new CD, Electric, and the marvellous DVD of his recent performance at The Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. It's almost as good as seeing him in person. Almost.

4. Eilen Jewell, Sunday May 12th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

This Sunday is Mother's Day. We can't think of a better treat for your Mum - or anyone else's Mum for that matter - than to bring them along to The Rogue to see the wonderful singer Eilen Jewell and her fine band at St. James Hall. Check out her You Tube channel if you don't believe me. She's based in Boston, where she has just won The New England Award for Best Folk / Roots Act of the Year. Don't miss this chance to see her up close and personal on Sunday night. With or without your Mum!

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

Tune in to The Edge On Folk this Saturday for some new releases from the aforementioned Eilen Jewell (a live recording from Daytrotter, a prestigious web-based music site) as well as New York's gorgeous-sounding combo Hem, Robert Plant's new gal Patty Griffin, the incredible fiddler / singer Laura Cortese, the extremely soulful Bettye Lavette, (and the equally soulful veteran Welsh singer Tom Jones!) plus Indian singer Raghu Dixit, Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi, and more! I'll be broadcasting live on CiTR fm 101.9 on Saturday from 8am to noon and the show is also streamed live on www.citr.ca. I hope you can join me for a full morning's dose of the best Roots Music on the planet!

6. Celtic Connection

Read my monthly column in The Celtic Connection newspaper. You can see it in the paper, or read it more easily on our website.

Tickets for all Rogue shows are on sale on our website and at Highlife Records, and Rufus' Guitar Shop - and at the door to our events.

See you at The Rogue!

Steve