Steve's Blog
Thursday March 25, 2010

Hi everyone

We had a fantastic weekend last week, culminating in a standing room only show with Kate Rusby on Sunday. I'll post some photos next week. Suffice to say that we are back with a very big and very musical BANG!

Huge thanks to our good friends at Shore 104 for co-presenting the T Nile and Twilight Hotel show on Friday. It was a truly stunning performance by Twilight Hotel, and they are now getting some airplay on Shore 104.3 fm as a result - including some songs from the concert.

Carlos del Junco and his band, The Blues Mongrels, were in exemplary form on Saturday. I especially liked Carlos' demonstration of the harmonica and some of the techniques he uses. It's truly inspiring to find a virtuoso playing an instrument that is too often dismissed as a toy.

Sunday's show got off to a great start with a blistering opening set by Laura Cortese and Jefferson Hamer. Then Kate Rusby - accompanied by her partner Damian O'Kane (banjo, guitar, tenor guitar) and Andy Seward (bass) gave us two sets of sublime songs. What a shame that she didn't have any CDs left to sell at the show. Fear not, for she will be back in Canada in the Summer, and if we can get our hands on some CDs we'll have them for sale at our shows. I'll keep you posted.

We have some equally amazing concerts coming up in the next few weeks. Full details are on our website. Including the latest update which sees the addition of guitar legend John Jorgenson and his quintet to the April In Paris gypsy jazz festival line up.

Tomorrow (Friday) we have some very tasty bluegrass for you with Nova Scotia's The Spinney Brothers. This quartet hails from the Annapolis Valley - the major fruit-growing region of Nova Scotia - and features brothers Allan & Rick Spinney with Gary Dalrymple and Terry Mumford. Maybe there's a fiddle player, too. Hope so, check out this video. The Spinney Brothers are co-presented by Pacific Bluegrass & Heritage Society and perform Friday March 26th at 8pm at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

On Sunday it's the final Cap Folk & Roots show of the current season, with acclaimed Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser (acclaimed? He's the BEST!) and cellist Natalie Haas. This is at Capilano Performing Arts Theatre (2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver) on Sunday at 8pm. Tickets are on sale at the Cap Box Office 604-990-7810

Next week we have two double bills with four wonderful Canadian songwriters: Old Man Luedecke and Devon Sproule on Wednesday March 31st, and Romi Mayes & Bonnie Ste.-Croix the following night. Both shows at St. James Hall.

Tony McManus is hosting a guitar workshop at Prussin Music on West Broadway the evening before his concert at St. James (workshop on April 8th, concert on the 9th) For workshop info call 604-736-3036 (Prussin Music)

The Matt Andersen show on April 15th is selling very well. Book now to avoid disappointment. The guy is totally amazing!

Oysterband starting to sell well too. They are on the following night at St. James Hall. Then it's April In Paris part one on the 17th (with Daniel Lapp joining the Marc Atkinson trio in a hot hot hot band called Caravan) and the John Jorgenson Quintet headlining the 18th. Part 2 features Van Django and Seattle's Hot Club Sandwich on the 24th.

And don't forget Quebec's very excellent Le Vent Du Nord on April 21st at St. James Hall

We will also have the new-look website available in the next few days for your appraisal and feedback. I'll post the link when it's ready.

Meanwhile, tune in to The Edge On Folk on Saturday from 8am to 12 noon on CiTR fm 101.9 for previews of these - and other - shows around town, plus new releases and a look ahead to the show's 25th anniversary celebrations in June!

See you at The Rogue!
Steve