Steve's Blog
Thursday February 7, 2008

Hi everyone

Due to a mix-up on my part last week, this is the first Weekly Update for a fortnight. Sorry about that.

By now, many of you will have received the february issue of the Rogue Folk Review in the mail. For those of you who have opted to receive it electronically, it is available for download.

One thing we sort of missed was that we have no way of reminding lapsed members of their need to renew if they no longer receive the Review in the mail. Oops.

Steve Dawson CD Launch, Friday February 8th, 8pm at St. James Hall

Vancouver guitar maestro Steve Dawson marks the release of the first of two new CDs in 2008 this Friday. He'll be joined by The Sojourners, Jim Byrnes, and band members Keith Lowe (bass), Chris Gestrin (keyboards), and Geoff Hicks (drums). You can read excellent previews of the show in today's Vancouver Sun and the Georgia Straight. Tickets are going fast. You can still buy them on-line up to 2pm tomorrow. CBC's Canada Live will be there to record the show for future broadcast. Won't it be great to tell all your friends and family to tune in when it's aired in a few weeks time and tell them you were there, and that Vancouver is the best place to be for Roots music! Concert Details

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

This week's news is dominated by news of the end of Dugg Simpson's tenure as artistic director of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. It seems an odd time to finish, as the bookings for this year's event are not yet complete and the schedule needs to be worked on post-haste. The position will likely be filled by an interim AD for this year's festival, and the vacancy will be filled more permanently in September. Watch for the latest news - and the job posting - on the festival website www.thefestival.bc.ca

Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival

This festival takes place in August, and many people regard it as BC's finest folk festival. It was started, nurtured, developed and enhanced into its current state of brilliance by festival director Linda Tanaka. Her vision and dedication are remarkable, and worthy of much praise. Instead, she has been unceremoniously fired by the festival's board of directors. This callous act is a total mystery to me. There must be some reason behind it. Something extremely sinister, I would think. I am appalled. I am not alone.

Wailin Jennys & Kelly Joe Phelps, Saturday February 9th, The Chan Centre at UBC

Tickets for this unusual double-bill are on sale at the Cap College Box Office and also at the Chan Centre Box Office, which is the cheapest place to buy tickets I think. You could go to Ticketmaster, of course, but that will cost you more. The Jennys are always delightful. I just love their harmonies, and their songwriting goes from strength to strength. Jeremy Penner will likely add his sublime fiddle to the mix.

Kelly Joe is a stunning guitarist, who seems to reinvent himself every year. His latest CD, Tunesmith Retrofit, contains his best songwriting to date, but we wonder where his muse will take him next. Come along and find out. He's on first, by the way.

Cap College Shows

The next four concerts in our series are all at Capilano College Theatre. Ruthie Foster (Feb 15) may already be sold out. Little wonder, cos she's such a fabulous singer and guitar player, and her hot band is all soul. Harry Manx (Feb 16th) will also be recorded by CBC's Canada Live. Tickets are going fast, and his shows usually sell out too. His unique blend of Blues, originals, and Indian ragas is totally compelling. Karan Casey (Feb 23rd) returns with a slightly different line-up featuring Irish cellist Kate Ellis, Karan's brother-in-law Caoimhin Vallely on piano, and Robbie Overson on guitar. Karan is an amazing singer! I won't be there to see her, though, cos I'll be in Memphis at the Folk Alliance. I'll also miss Black Umfolosi (Feb 24th), the fabulous singers and dancers from Zimbabwe. Tickets for these last two shows are still available on 604-990-7810. They might even have some tickets left for Ruthie and Harry. You never know....

If you have a Parcel O'Rogues, you will probably be able to get in to see Karan Casey and / or Black Umfolosi by showing up around 7:45pm.

The Edge On Folk, Saturday 8am to 12 noon

Please join me or four hours of the best in World Roots and Folk Music on CiTR fm 101.9 or www.citr.ca. This week I'll be featuring music from the sampler CD that came with the new issue of Sing Out magazine, plus some hot new releases and plenty of music you won't hear anywhere else on the dial.

Radio Rogue

Our streaming radio station continues to broadcast songs by past, present and future Rogue Folk Club performers, new releases, and old favourites. Full listening instructions are on the home page

Tickets On Sale

We have tickets on sale online - and in person at our concerts - for the following shows:

Malinky - hot Scots traditional band - on March 2nd, concert details

Tracy Grammer (USA) and August (BC) - celebrate International Women's Day at the Rogue with some beautiful voices and songs - on March 8th, concert details

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem (USA) - amazing stringband and singing group - on March 9th, concert details

Stephen Fearing (ON) - founding Rogue and amazing guitarist / songwriter - on March 23rd, concert details

Beppe Gambetta (Italy) - European guitar master combines music of Italy with old time Americana - on April 4th, concert details

Festival du Bois, March 1st and 2nd

Flaunt your Frenchness with some great music by La Volée d'Castors (Quebec), Mahers Bahers (Newfoundland), and Rob Curto's Forro For All (USA / Brazil) and lots more on the new festival site in Maillardville www.festivaldubois.ca

Edgewater Casino CelticFest Vancouver

March 12-16, with Battlefield Band - who have just been nominated for a Grammy Award! - Tony McManus, Celtic Fiddle festival, Wendy MacIsaac, Spirit of the West, Ashley MacIsaac, and many more www.celticfestvancouver.com

That's it for now. Remember, Music is good for you, as nutritious as the finest food and drink, and it's at its best at the Rogue Folk Club, Connecting People With Music since 1987