1. Covid Policy Update
The Provincial Health authorities have decided to remove the mandatory use of vaccination passports from midnight on Friday. We at The Rogue are still being cautious, and are also obliged to follow the lead of the venue at The Square.
Therefore:
- We will continue to require vaccination passports for all our events
- We will continue to make masks mandatory when not seated - and recommended at all times
- We will continue to limit the room capacity to 70%
- We will continue to offer streamed concerts as a safe alternative to attending shows in-person
- We will continue to offer streamed concerts to enable more people to attend shows which are sold out
2. April In Paris 2022, April 8th and 22nd, at Mel Lehan Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)
This year we revive our popular annual celebration of the musical legacy of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club de France. We were unable to present the event in 2020 and 2021, so the 14th edition will now take place on two Fridays: April 8th and 22nd.
- Friday April 8th, 8pm: Brishen plus Ella Ozz & The Wizards of Swing
It's hard to believe that it was almost 4 years ago that Margaret and I ventured over to Butchart Gardens to celebrate my birthday and watch a concert on the big lawn stage with Victoria - Seattle quartet Brishen. What a show that was! Quinn Bachand has played here several times, both with his gypsy jazz combo and with Ashley MacIsaac, and with his sister Qristina Bachand. We have also seen him at Django Fest NW where he was showered with honours and a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College in Boston. Quinn was barely a teenager when he started touring with Cape Breton fiddler Ashley. He had already mastered the chops but something else was stirring in his gypsy soul: gypsy jazz! No less a mentor than John Jorgenson was moved to write of Quinn: "He has the depth and maturity to match his unending virtuosity on the guitar."
Acclaimed American jazz and bluegrass violinist and roots music expert, Matt Glaser, says: "Welcome to the visionary musical world of Quinn Bachand. I was flabbergasted when I put on this recording (Blue Verdun) for the first time, and you will be too, as you take a journey into the wild imagination of Quinn – a musical world that includes strands of various epochs of pop music, film music, gypsy jazz, western swing, instrumental virtuosity on guitar and violin, storytelling, songs, amazing arrangements, and a dance band sensibility that almost sounds like it came from another planet! So sit back, enjoy and let this amazing music wash over you."
The other band members are equally impressive, especially versatile saxophonist / clarinettist / pianist Eric Vanderbilt-Mathews. What an incredible musician! The quartet also features Hornby Island rhythm guitarist / singer Reuben Wier and bassist Greg Feingold. Be prepared to be wowed with sizzling hot, world-class Gypsy Jazz and swing music performed with incredible virtuosity and soul!
The evening will also feature the vivacious Parisian chanteuse Ella Ozz. Her sparkling personality and impressive ability to interpret classic and contemporary songs has gained her many fans around the city - in a wide range of genres. Here, though, she will concentrate on the Parisian sounds of Edith Piaf and Django's various musical songbirds. We are really looking forward to seeing her make her Rogue debut with a great band including three members of The Hot Club of Mars - who have played at all 13 previous editions of April In Paris: Michael Dunn andDon Kellett on guitars, and Mark "Windgod" Dowding on sax, flute, and harmonica.
Click here for tickets and more information. Tickets will also be available at the door (see above for Covid policy details)
- Friday April 22nd, 8pm: Van Django
Another band who have performed at every April In Paris is Van Django, who will showcase a new lead guitarist this year: the exceptional Jared Burrows, joining Cameron Wilson (violin), Finn Manniche (cello, guitar), and Brent Gubbels(acoustic bass). Click here for more information, and to purchase your tickets.
3. The Fretless, Saturday April 9th, 8pm at Mel Lehan Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)
This show is Sold Out, but you can still book tickets to watch the show online.
The award-winning Canadian string quartet The Fretless has made a huge impression on the Celtic music scene over the past decade or so, and have starred at The Rogue on four previous occasions (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018). The band features Ben Plotnick, Trent Freeman, and Karnell Sawitsky on fiddles and violas, and Eric Wright on cello. They have a Juno award and several Canadian Folk Music Awards to their name, and recently released their 5th CD, Open House, where their compelling and imaginative arrangements are the invigorating foundation upon which ten guest vocalists from all around North America deliver songs old and new. Obviously they couldn't bring all 10 singers with them! Instead they have recruited the versatile and impressive young singer Amanda Sum to sing a few songs and to embellish this special concert experience.
A Fretless show is infectious, dynamic, and impressively relentless. They not only deliver expert musicianship, and a soulful and electrifying performance but always invite the audience to feel the passion they hold for their music.
4. Stephen Fearing, Friday April 15th, 8pm at Mel Lehan Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)
“Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best songsmiths on the planet. Quality albums … stunning shows.” - BBC UK
Stephen Fearing’s music is a mesmerizing blend of roots, folk, and pop. Co-founder of Canadian roots-rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, he is a beguiling teller of tales and a master guitarist who delights audiences throughout North America and Europe. A multi Juno and Canadian Folk Music Award winner, his 11th solo album, Every Soul’s a Sailor, was named 2017 Worldwide Album of the Year by Blues & Roots Radio. In 2019 he released The Secret of Climbing, a limited edition, vinyl-only release that captures the subtle emotions of his mesmerizing voice and masterful guitar work in their purest form. At the end of 2019 he released his latest studio recording, The Unconquerable Past - another stunning collection of songs.
Fearing is an alluring entertainer – heartbreaking, expansive, and full of mirth – with a clear, honourable voice that lifts you out into his wide world and “brings you back home to yourself.” We are delighted to be able to bring this co-founder of The Rogue back to our stage for the umpteenth time since he first played at The Savoy in 1987 and The Town Pump in 1986!
Click here for tickets and more information
5. Festival Deals for Rogues
Folk Festivals are back!!! Yay!! We are looking forward to experiencing live music from all over the world in the great outdoors at Jericho Beach Park and Mission's Fraser River Heritage Park in July! And once again we are able to offer a discount on weekend passes to Rogue Folk Club members! We have yet to work out all the details with the festivals but we do know that they will honour the discounts up to around a week before the events take place.
There will be a 10% discount for weekend passes to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 15 - 17) for adults, as well as for seniors and for students. The Tier 1 prices will remain on offer to Rogues and are currently $221.58 for adults, $189.14 for seniors, students and youth. Take 10% off if you are a Rogue! Members can also buy tickets for friends and family at the discounted price.
We don't yet have any details about the Mission Folk Festival (July 22 - 24) but will have all the information on our website as soon as we know.
Fully paid-up Rogue Folk members should email concerts@roguefolk.bc.ca to obtain a discount code for either (or both) festivals.
If you're not a member yet, or you think your membership may have lapsed, contact us at the above email or join - or rejoin - online from our website
6. Radio Waves
On this week's edition of The Saturday Edge On Folk I will be spinning tunes from some of the winners of last weekend's Canadian Folk Music Awards and Grammy Awards, and some of the nominees for next month's Folk Alliance Awards.
Plus extended features on new releases by bluegrass guitar diva Molly Tuttle, Seattle's redoubtable songwriter Jim Page, and the exhilarating Scots string mavens The Kinnaris Quintet.
I'll also feature the music of Vancouver guitar wizard Steve Dawson, who plays at the Blueshore Financial Stage at Capilano University next week!
All this and much more on Saturday from 8am to noon on https://www.iheart.com/live/citr-1019-fm-8196/
I hope you will join me!
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