Steve's Blog
Thursday May 30, 2013

Keep in Touch

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1. Michael Averill & When Coasts Collide, Thursday May 30th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Fresh off a year of musical adventures touring his puzzle album What's Life All About? and a Nepal documentary soundtrack New Day, New Path, New Legend in Asia, Europe, and Canada, Michael Averill, the quirky globetrotting folk-fusion story singer returns to Vancouver to release his next concept album - I'd Rather Walk - a tribute project to his late singer/songwriter father Garry Averill, and an endeavour he intends to share walking across the country starting in Newfoundland in August.

A recent serendipitous meeting in an Edmonton Irish pub opened up a link to his father's past in the Yukon, the place where CBC discovered and recorded Garry in the mid 70's. Garry's first written song Take The Time, was selected as a theme for Peter Gzowski's morning show in 1976, which brought forth national recognition and an opportunity to pursue his music. He turned it down, and returned to a quiet life as a teacher with a family. Almost 40 years later, son Michael started performing his father's songs with his own repertoire, and created an album fully inspired by his father's life, influence, and works.

"He was a humorously insightful man who loved to walk," says Michael. "I couldn't think of a better way to honour that than to stroll across this country sharing our songs and stories."

When in town, you may have seen Michael at The Rogue Folk Club, parading around as our resident raffle ticket man. He'll be rounding out the evening with a folk duo project, When Coasts Collide, he started with Nova Scotia born vocal powerhouse, Jen Miller. The pair met in Vancouver almost two years ago as a result of a double booking, and their East/West multi-instrumental folk blend has created quite a stir in the local scene since their official formation in February 2013. Via Rail accepted them to perform on the train across Canada, and they'll be embarking on their first joint tour to Ontario and the Maritimes in June. http://michaelaverill.com/

Tickets for $20 ($16 members) available online, in person at Highlife Records & Rufus' Guitar Shop or call the Rogue Ticket Hotline at 604-736-3022.

2. The Edge On Folk, 28th Anniversary Edition, Saturday June 1st, 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

Hard to believe, I know, but this Saturday marks the 28th anniversary of my first radio show on CiTR. I'll spin a few tunes from the past, plus new releases from June Tabor, Seth Lakeman, Laura Marling, The Milk Carton kids, Appalatin, NZ's Fat Freddy's Drop, Israel's Idan Raichel, and more from Nfld's Dardanelles, Sharon Shannon's CD with the RTE Orchestra, hot new Bluegrass combo Della Mae, and much more. I hope you can join me for four hours of the very best in World, Folk & Roots music broadcast live on CiTR fm 101.9, Telus TV channel 3717, and streamed live on www.citr.ca

3. Rogue Folk Club Annual General Meeting, Sunday June 2nd, 6pm, St. James Hall

The Rogue is a registered non-profit society in B.C. and a democratic organization which elects several Board members at the A.G.M. The meeting will take place at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue) at 6pm, prior to opening the doors to the Laura Cortese / Fish & Bird concert on Sunday June 2nd. All members are encouraged to attend and to vote. (Then stick around for a great show!) We appreciate your support.

4. Laura Cortese Trio plus Fish & Bird, Sunday June 2nd, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

There is nothing timid about Laura Cortese (cor-TAY-zee). She wields a fiddle like a rocker slings his guitar, and sings with even more swagger. A native San Franciscan, Cortese moved to Boston to study violin at Berklee College of Music and has since immersed herself in the city's vibrant indie music scene. She has made appearances with Band of Horses, Pete Seeger, Patterson Hood and Michael Franti, and Jocie Adams of the Low Anthem. A brilliant fiddler and singer / songwriter Laura is known for her velvety vocals, endless creative energy, and highly visible work as a supporting musician. She has embraced the constant travel of the modern troubadour. In fact, she maintains, it is the people she meets who are her greatest inspiration, including her newest songs. Written in an almost confessional style, Cortese's latest work explores the timeless vulnerability and hope of people in adverse situations. Her own lyrics may say it best: "In the dark I would sing a song whispered low... singing for the people in the shadows." Laura's trio also features fiddler Mariel Vandersteel and cellist Valerie Thompson. www.lauracortese.net

They will share the bill with B.C. folk / roots powerhouse quintet Fish & Bird, who made a memorable Rogue debut last Fall. Led by fiddler Adam Iredale-Gray and Taylor Ashton (banjo), the band also features Ben Kelly (drums), Ryan Boeur (bass) and Natalie Bohrn (bass). They released their 3rd CD, Every Whisper Is A Shout Across The Void in 2011. The two bands will get together for a few tunes as well. www.fishandbird.ca

Tickets for $20 ($16 members) available online, in person at Highlife Records & Rufus' Guitar Shop or call the Rogue Ticket Hotline at 604-736-3022.

5. Folk Festival Tickets - Very Special Deals For Rogues!

Every year we offer our members discounted tickets to the Vancouver and Mission Folk Music festivals. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 19-21) and Mission Folk Music Festival (July 25-28) offer a staggering array of musical talent from across the country and around the world. VFMF tickets are $122 for adults - saving $13 on the early bird price. (We do not offer discounts to seniors or youth, as the festival already has incredible deals for these people.) Orders must be paid for by June 10th.

The Mission Folk Festival will include performances by Liz Carroll, David Francey, Dick Gaughan, Eliza Gilkyson, Locarno and many more. Tickets are a steal at $65 for adults plus GST and $20 plus GST for camping. Seniors, Youth and Children get even better deals. Orders must be paid for by June 30th.

To purchase tickets for either or both festivals, you can mail us a cheque made out to Rogue Folk Club, and sent to #1 - 3630 West Broadway, Vancouver B.C. V6R 2B7 - or call our office on 604-732-1305 and if we're not in we'll call you back to take your credit card details.

VFMF Tickets will be available for pick up at our concerts on June 20th and June 21st or at the office on Broadway & Dunbar. If you want them mailed to you we can do this by Registered Mail only, for a supplemental fee of $12 per order.

Mission tickets will be held for you at the festival gate, which opens on Friday July 26th at 5pm (you can set up your campsite first and then go to the gate to pick up your tickets.)

6. New Tom Russell Video!!

Here's a great new video of Tom Russell performing East Of Woodstock - West Of Vietnam with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble. The project is called Arctic Jazz, and will be available on CD soon. http://youtu.be/uvWgwAy0XjQ