Steve's Blog
Thursday October 16, 2008

Hi everyone

Here are some highlights for the coming week or so:

Thursday October 16th, 8pm - Barbara Higbie & Teresa Trull, St James Hall (3214 W. 10th Ave.)

Sounds & Furies Concerts presents the 25th Anniversary Tour of these two powerful California musicians. Higbie is a veteran of the Montreux Grup - with Darol Anger, Mike Marshall & co. - who excels on piano and fiddle. Trull is a soulful singer and songwriter. Tickets $22 at Little Sisters, Urban Empire. Information 604-253-7189 www.soundsandfuries.com.

ROGUE FOLK presents: Friday October 17th, 8pm - Rita Chiarelli Trio, St. James Hall

Dubbed the goddess of Canadian blues by CBC's Shelagh Rogers, Rita Chiarelli has, "a voice that can growl at her demons or soar with the angels, a gift for lyric, an ear for melody and the heart to combine them." She is an accomplished singer-songwriter, a gifted vocalist and a skilled musician. Add to that a warm persona and a fine sense of humour and you have all the ingredients for an outstanding performer. Cuore... the Italian Sessions won Rita the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Award for best solo World Music act. As CBC radio's Heather McLeod stated "I didn't understand a word, but my heart understood every note. This album rings with love and respect for Chiarelli's Italian heritage, and her skill as a singer and an artist. I couldn't bear to pry it out of my CD player." On this night she'll be joined by guitarist Rick Fines and bassist Joe "Giuseppe Piazza" Phillips.

Tickets $23 ($20 members) on 604-736-3022 and online. www.ritachiarelli.com, Concert details

Saturday October 18th, 8pm - Laurie Anderson, Centre for the Performing Arts, 777 Homer St.

Laurie Anderson Homeland "her most political work to date"

Laurie Anderson's new work Homeland presents the vast landscape that is contemporary American culture through the lens of one of the world's foremost and critically acclaimed artists. Homeland explores a breadth of current issues, from the war and the media to America's growing surveillance culture and the environment. Conceived as one long piece of music, the stories and songs that make up Homeland are marked by a political urgency. They address the current climate of fear, obsession with information and security. Laurie, on violin, keyboard and vocals, is joined by New York musicians Peter Scherer on keys, Skuli Sverrisson on bass and guitar and the amazing Okkung Lee on cello. Tickets at Ticketmaster: www.ticketmaster.ca 604-280-3311

Sunday October 19th, 6:30pm - Honouring Mel Lehan - Fundraiser for City Wide Housing & St. James Community Square

This special evening is to honour Mel Lehan, a community activist and organiser, without whom we would not have a venue for our concerts. The concept of leasing St. James Hall and the building that surrounds it for community use was his idea. Mel drew up the business plan and brought together community leaders and Trinity United Church to make his dream a reality. He continues to serve on the board - 15 years' service to date - and is still working to improve the facility. There will be a silent auction, and musical entertainment by Solidarity Notes, Fraser Union, Andy Vine & Danielle Arcand, Michael Pratt & Lynn McGoun etc.. 50% of the funds raised will go to Citywide Housing Coalition, and 50% to St. James Community Square to help finance venue improvements including more new chairs, refinishing the Hall floor, a new stage floor, replacing worn stairs, and upgrading the elevator to increase accessibility.

Cap Folk & Roots presents: Wednesday October 22nd, 8pm - Cap Verde singer Lura, Capilano Performing Arts Theatre, Tickets $30 ($27 members) from 604-990-7811

Just as Mariza has breathed new life into Fado as a contemporary heir to Amalia Rodrigues, so Lura does to Cape Verdean music first made famous by Cesaria Evora. Originally born in Portugal to parents from the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of West Africa, Lura draws on the islands' pungent blend of trade route cultures that have created a unique musical tradition embracing French Afro-pop, Brazilian rhythms and earthy, traditional African music. Lura is part of a new generation of musicians rediscovering these hidden traditions of her ancestral homeland. "The most dynamic performer in world music right now" — London Times.

ROGUE FOLK presents: Sunday October 26th, 7:30pm - The No Shit Shirleys & Maria Dunn, St. James Hall

THE NO SH!T SHIRLEYS-CD RELEASE!- With Maria Dunn and Joseph "Pepe" Danza Tickets $20

Vancouver Acapella Septet release long-awaited debut cd! The No Shit Shirleys are seven soulful singing women serving up an acapella stew guaranteed to kick you in the pants! They sing the songs that move them: everything