Steve's Blog
Soulful Blues and tasty Brazilian / Middle Eastern fusion!
Thursday May 18, 2017

1. Mike Farris & Paul Pigat, Thursday May 18th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Tonight Tennessee singer Mike Farris makes his Rogue debut. I don't know if he's ever played in Vancouver before. I've seen him a couple of times at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival  - where he was THE HIT of the festival in each of the last two years. He's an amazing singer! His latest album, Shine For All The People, won a Grammy last year for Gospel album of the year. 

Don't let the word "gospel" make you think of church music. Think more along the lines of Ray Charles, Mavis Staples, Eric Bibb, Otis Redding, Jim Byrnes & The Sojourners, Solomon Burke, or Mary Gauthier. Yes, Mike shares much of his life experience with the likes of Mary Gauthier. They are both recovering addicts, who have seen the darkest face of despair and risen above it to inspire others to do the same. With music as the light-sabre that shines for all the people. Mike recorded one of her songs on that Grammy winning album - Mercy Now. 

This is real soul music, folks; soul music with a healthy dose of the earthy sounds of the blues. To help him tonight he has enlisted the incredible Vancouver guitarist Paul Pigat, with whom he has shared a stage many times. Paul most recently played rockabilly at the tribute to Ray Condo the other night at the Wise Hall. He was last heard at The Rogue with Suzie Vinnick, Rick Fines and Cecile Doo-Kingue at our Hornby Blues show. He has played Shorefest with Cousin Harley, appeared several times - both solo and with bands like Marc Atkinson and Black Gardenia at April In Paris, and in the bands backing Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners numerous times. In short, he is a brilliant guitarist and an incredibly versatile one. 

Maybe you're facing difficult choices in your life, or you've lost someone, or you are out of work, or lacking inspiration, or maybe you're just looking for a great evening of soulful blues music. Whatever place you need to be, let Mike and Paul take you there tonight at The Rogue!

N.B. We are very sorry to report that we have only just discovered that there was a problem with our ticketing site for this show, making it impossible to buy tickets online between Monday 15th at 4pm and noon today. It's working again now, and you can purchase tickets here up to 3pm today.

There will also be tickets for sale at the door between 7pm, when doors open, and 8pm showtime. We apologize for any inconvenience. See you tonight!!

---

 2. Flavia Nascimento & Itamar Erez, Friday May 19th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Last weekend Andy Hillhouse, director of the Harrison Festival of the Arts, described Brazilian singer Flavia Nascimento as "the happiest person in the world!" Flavia's amazing voice and energy stunned the audience when she performed at Harrison and then at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival last summer. This new project brings her together with Itamar Erez's unique guitar and brilliant band in this special evening at the Rogue. Her rich, warm voice transports us instantly to the Brazilian sun. Her original compositions are inspired by Afro-Brazilian music and by Brazilian popular music. She brings us moments full of joy and tenderness, inviting us to swing. Now touring all over the world at major festivals, Flavia makes her home in Montreal, where she won the Stingray Music Prix Etoiles in 2015.

Itamar Erez (guitar & piano) leads a band with François Houle (clarinet), Andre Lechance (bass), and Liam MacDonald (percussion.) They will perform the first set and then accompany Flavia in the second half of the evening. 

Itamar’s music blends the delicateness of Middle Eastern music, the freedom found in jazz and the passion of flamenco, creating a unique sound all his own. 

He is an internationally renowned composer and guitarist who has released two CDs with his quartet The Adama Ensemble, “Desert Song” (2006) and “Hommage” (2010). 

His most recent release, “New Dawn” (2013), is a duet collaboration with Yshai Afterman (percussion), with special guest Antonio Serrano (harmonica). In the past couple of years Itamar returned to Vancouver from Israel, and has performed in Canada, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus, Israel, India, Tunisia and Colombia. Upcoming performances will be at the Vancouver International Guitar Festival (Vancouver BC), as well as Carnegie Hall (NY). Itamar is on the guitar faculty at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School Of Music.

Don't miss this very special foray into the world of music without borders, replete with the spirit of creativity and the joyous pursuit of common ground and celebration! Tickets and more information can be found here. 
 

---

3. Please help us promote our shows

We have some wonderful composite posters designed by Paul Norton to promote our next four concerts. We have a great deal with a printer which makes it cheaper to print 250 posters than 200 (which is the number we give to The Poster Squad for distribution to libraries and community centres and billboards and stores around town.) So we have 50 left over. If you would like to take one - or more - and put them up in your building, or place of work, or favourite coffee shop, or other hangout, please come to the membership table tonight or tomorrow to pick them up. Thanks a million!!
 

---

4. Radio Waves
On this weekend's Saturday Edge On Folk (Saturday 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca) I'll have new music from the latest sampler from fRootsmagazine, Estonia's Trad. Attack!, Arabic combo Bargou 08, new CDs from The Jaybirds, The Eisenhauers, Andy Hillhouse, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita, Blackbeard's Tea Party, Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo', Chris Ronald, Oumou Sangare, and Alex Cuba. Plus a brand new single from Oysterband, concert previews, festival previews, and so much more. I hope you can join me!

Don't forget we also have Radio Rogue streamed live from Rogue Towers all day and all of the night.