Steve's Blog
Friday May 1, 2009

Hi everyone

Bluegrass at the Hall tonight

There's a great show tonight at St. James Hall, folks, spring has sprung, and friday is may day! how would you all rather spend the traditional beginning of summer, if not partying and dancing around with three of your favourite vancouver old-time and bluegrass bands, VIPER CENTRAL, WHISKEYJAR, and SHOUT! WHITE DRAGON?

yes, it's true, i never thought this day would come, but here it is: for the first time ever, we're combining forces and playing a triple bill at the beautiful st. james hall! it's a dream come true!! we're having this event to raise money for viper central's great european adventure at the bluegrass festival in switzerland. and our friend elena yeung, bluegrasser and singer-songwriter, will be joining us to call the dance later in the evening. it'll be a night you'll never forget, a night of bluegrassy old-timey fun, the likes of which vancouver has never seen before!!

here's a breakdown of the evening's proceedings:

St. James Hall
3214 W 10th Ave @ Trutch
Doors at 7:30, Tickets $10
Show starts at 8pm: WJ, VC, S!WD, and band scramble
Square Dance starts round about 10ish

VIPER CENTRAL is deadly good, solid gold alt-bluegrass, and is lorraine cobb (guitar), steve charles (bass), kathleen nisbet (fiddle), tim tweedale (dobro), mark vaughan (mandolin), and tyler rudolph (banjo), who's in montreal right now and unfortunately can't join us on friday.

WHISKEYJAR is an old-timey bluegrassy sour mash ruckus, and is mike zinger (guitar), chris suen (banjo), mark vaughan (mandolin), edward porter (bass), and john lyon (fiddle).

SHOUT! WHITE DRAGON is straight-up, searing hot appalachian old time, and is kori miyanishi (fiddle), chris suen (banjo), and lorraine cobb (guitar).

ELENA YEUNG, who will be joining us and calling the dance, is a talented singer-songwriter and bluegrass banjo player, returning to bc from her cross canada cd release tour, and we're totally lucky to have her come and help out at this event!

Contra Dance, Saturday May 2nd, 8pm, St. James Hall

The latest in the series of First Saturday dances features The Sybaritic String Band with guest caller Sherry Nevins from Seattle. You don't need a partner. Come alone or bring a friend or two. If you bring goodies to share you get in for half price, too. If anyone can help out at the door or refilling water jugs that would be much appreciated.

Online Survey

Our BCIT Marketing Project is nearing completion. All we need now is for you to complete this online survey if you haven't already done so. We need another 50 people to fill it in, so please help. snapsurvey.bcit.ca/snaponline/surveylogin.asp?k=124024871202

Annual General Meeting, Saturday May 9th, 6pm, St. James Community Square

All members are asked to attend the AGM right before the Rogue's 22nd Birthday Party.

Rogue Birthday Party, Saturday May 9th, 8pm, St. James Hall with Bill Bourne & Wyckham Porteous' new band!

Three forces of nature meet in The Bop Ensemble, a Canadian super-group featuring folk legends Bill Bourne and Wyckham Porteous, along with up-and-coming singer-bassist - and amazing hoop dancer - Jasmine "Jas" Ohlhauser. Combining Bourne's grit, Porteous' warmth, and Jas' energetic devilry, the three manage to catch lightning in a bottle. Website: www.billbourne.com

Tickets: $23 ($20 members) available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and online You can also reserve tickets on 604-736-3022.

Ellen McIlwaine, Saturday May 16th, 8pm, St. James Hall

This slide guitar legend was playing World Music before it was called World Music. Her Rhythm & Blues Roots along with Middle-Eastern, Indian, Pakistani and West African influences are apparent in her amazing acoustic & electric guitar playing and her vocal acrobatics. Website: www.ellenmcilwaine.com

Tickets: $23 ($20 members) available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and online You can also reserve tickets on 604-736-3022.

Folk Arts Quartet, Friday May 22nd, 8pm, St. James Hall

The Folk Arts Quartet (FAQ) combines folk styles from the fiddle world with the arts heritage of the classical string quartet. The result is a new hybrid genre, "ChamberGrass." They met while studying at the Berklee College of Music. Although all were classically trained, they each have extensive experience in folk styles from various countries. Website: www.folkartsquartet.com

Tickets: $20 ($17 members) available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and online You can also reserve tickets on 604-736-3022.

Luka Bloom, Saturday May 30th, 8pm, St. James Hall

"The naked honesty...is breathtaking. ...someone whose quest is far from over, but whose comfort in his own skin bears testament to a road well travelled." - The Irish Times

The younger brother of influential Irish singer/songwriter Christy Moore, Barry Moore had tired of being in his brother's shadow when he decided to relocate to the United States in 1987. Re-christening himself Luka Bloom during the long flight, he took the first steps toward establishing his own reputation as a skilled guitarist and uplifting performer. Now, having trod the boards of stages all over the globe, 36 years of craft-honing has given Luka a secure place on the music map. Website: www.lukabloom.com

Tickets: $28 ($25 members) available at Highlife Records, Rufus' Guitar Shop, and online You can also reserve tickets on 604-736-3022.

The Edge On Folk, Saturday May 2nd, 8am to noon, CiTR fm 101.9 www.citr.ca

On this week's show I'll have new music by Eilen Jewell, Lau, Doyle Lawson, Bob Dylan, Slaid Cleaves, Eddi Reader, Brass Monkey, and a young band from Stoke on Trent, The Clay Faces.

Plus previews of all our upcoming concerts, a tribute to Pete Seeger's 90th birthday, some Mexican music for Cinco de Mayo, and more! Please join me for four hours of the best in roots, folk & world music.

Radio Rogue

I'm hoping to have Radio Rogue up and running again this weekend, with a new hard drive on the eMac and a new playlist of songs from all our upcoming and many of our past performers. Watch the Rogue Folk website for the launch announcement!

Also coming to town soon

Jennifer Warnes plays The Chan Centre at UBC on Thursday May 14th. It's her first solo concert here ever. She's a wonderful singer, best known for her covers of Leonard Cohen songs, but there's a lot more to her than that.

Vancouver Folk Music Festival Early Bird Ticket Deadline is Thursday May 14th

Don't forget to order your tickets and save a bundle! Adult weekend passes are only $107. After May 14th they go up to $118, after June 20th they go up to over $140, and they will be $165 at the gate. Please make cheques payable to Rogue Folk Club and mail them to Rogue Folk, 31 - 1465 Lamey's Mill Road, Vancouver B.C. V6H 3W1

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Steve