Steve's Blog
Wednesday October 16, 2013

Hi everyone

We are witnessing some incredible musical collaborations out here on the other coast. We are in Cape Breton for the 17th annual Celtic Colours Festival. It is our first visit since 2003 and the event has grown exponentially!

I will make a full review later and put it on the Rogue website, but to summarize thus far we have seen seven concerts and a wedding and I somehow survived a nasty encounter with quicksand! The food and the scenery have been stunning but the music has been absolutely incredible.

Today is our last day at the event - which runs until Saturday. Watch for live simulcasts on www.celtic-colours.com

We fly back on Thursday and hope to see you at the Rogue on Friday night.

1. Kat Danser & Steve Dawson, Friday October 18th, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 W.10th Ave.)

This show could be subtitled "the return of the prodigal son" as Steve Dawson relocated to Nashville a few months ago. Now he returns for a CD release show with Alberta blues diva Kat Danser - one of our favourite Canadian blues artists. I remember first seeing Kat at a showcase in Memphis, late one night. She was playing solo, and there very few people in the hotel room. I was mesmerized! Here was a young woman who had clearly found her voice and her calling. As soulful a blues singer as you could wish to hear, and a stunning slide guitarist to boot. Kat fits right in to the mould cast by Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie. She is a big woman with a big voice and just enough sass, innuendo, and wicked humour to transport you to a metaphysical Mississippi juke joint. On her new CD, Baptized By The Mud, she has assembled a bunch of original songs which sound like they could have been written in the south in the 1930s, alongside a few covers. It's hard to see the join, too. She sees The Blues and Gospel as twin sisters and her music underlines this so well. Teaming up with Steve Dawson for the first time adds even more slide and the music packs a delightful punch. Also in the band will be Geoff Hicks on drums, Darrel Havers on keys, and a bass player. I urge anyone with an interest in the Blues or Gospel - especially of an agnostic bent! - to come to this show. Witness one of Canada's most impressive new talents with a hot band backing her up.

Kat will perform two sets, and Baltimore singer songwriter and peace activist SONiA Rutstein will open with her new disappear fear ensemble showcasing her brand new cd Broken Film. Her last cd focused more on her. Blues guitar side. This one is more eclectic and the band is amazing!

So come on down to The Rogue House to hear some incredible music. We really appreciate your support and you will be rewarded with one of the best nights of music you've ever had - or we'll give you your money back! Click here for tickets and info

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

I'll have some new music from the Celtic Colours Festival, including J.P. Cormier, Harald Haugaard, Helene Blum, Vasen, Martin Hayes, John Doyle, Kevin Crawford, Dirk Powell, David Greely, Riley Baugus, Nuala Kennedy, Breabach, and heaps more! I hope you can join me for 4 hours of the very best in Roots Music - and a full report on Celtic Colours and much more. CiTR 101.9fm, Telus TV Ch. 7203, and streamed live on www.citr.ca

I really, really hope to see you on Friday! It will be a great night, I promise you.

Steve