Steve's Blog
Friday November 1, 2013

Hi everyone

We have a very special concert tonight, featuring two of Canada's best-loved songwriters: Dave Gunning (Nova Scotia) and Lynn Miles (Ontario). Details below.

A big thank you to everyone who came to see Martha Scanlan and Cahalen & Eli last Friday, and the huge crowd who came to see David Francey last Sunday. What a fantastic show that was! For the first time ever, we decided to run a "dry" bar so we could avoid the limitation on attendance which comes with a bar license (227 capacity, as opposed to 364 without!) I don't think we'll be doing that very often, but it's nice to know we do have an option available to us that allows more people to see a popular show.

Sunday was such a big day that I couldn't remember much about the show at all, so we decided - on a whim - to zoom over to The Grooveyard on Saltspring Island to see David again on Monday night. Great venue: a converted garage in a private home off Isabella Point Road that holds 90 people in winter and 170 in summer (when they can open the doors onto the patio.) They have been running for a couple of years, and present around 14 shows per year from March to October. We stayed at The Celtic Place B&B on Mt. Maxwell, which is run by two former "Rogues" - Peter & Elsje Hannah. Really nice place! With a fabulous view across the islands to Mt. Baker. The sunrise on Tuesday was spectacular! Later that day we drove up the track (I wouldn't call it a road!) to the summit, and were able to look down on soaring eagles. What a view!

So, it's a new month, and we have a really exciting schedule of concerts at The Rogue. Starting tonight!

1. Dave Gunning & Lynn Miles, friday November 1st, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

"an artist as compelling, as assured, and as attentive to every nuance of the writing and performing processes as Lightfoot, Cockburn, an Stan Rogers before him" -- Greg Quill, Toronto Star

Dave Gunning won the East Coast Music Award for Song of the Year this year for "These Hands," from his latest CD, "No More Pennies." It's a brilliant album, full of stories in song, delivered in Dave's easy down-home style. There are two co-writes: one with Scotland's Karine Polwart, and one with David Francey - a quintessential hockey song called "A Game Goin' On." Dave has only played at The Rogue once before - a double bill with Stephen Fearing in 2009. We have been trying to get him back ever since! Finally, it's going to happen, and it's another amazing double-bill. This time with Ontario songwriter Lynn Miles.

Lynn first came to The Rogue as part of Winter Roots, a festival we used to co-sponsor (from 1989 to 1994 or so.) Lynn was at the second festival, IIRC. We have been fans ever since, and she was in stellar form at the Mission Folk Festival in July. She has just released "Downpour", her 12th CD. I think it's her finest body of work to date, with some memorable melodies and her trademark songs of loves lost and the trail of broken hearts along the way. She delivers these songs with self-effacing humour and never wallows in self-pity at all. In fact, her shows are totally uplifting. It's OK to fail - in love or in life - just don't give up. As UK's Maverick magazine puts it in their recent review of "Downpour": "Lynn Miles excels at exquisite melancholy and delivers another aurally addictive course of intensive treatment."

Don't miss these two wonderful Canadian songwriters at the peak of the craft. Tonight at The Rogue House! Tickets are available here

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

I hope you can join me for the latest exploration of Roots music in all its variety and glory! Not so many new releases this week, but there's still plenty of 2013 music to choose from, as well as a little tribute to Lou Reed, who passed away this week, and some old favourites and plenty of surprises. Listen LIVE on CiTR fm 101.9 or Telus TV channel 7023, or hear the live stream on www.citr.ca wherever you are. Podcasts will be available later as well. Playlists and links to the podcasts can be found right here on our website.

3. Contra Dance, Saturday November 2nd, 8pm, at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Dance to real, live fiddle music with The Sybs! Come alone or bring a partner. All dances are taught on the spot. no experience necessary. Bring goodies to share and get in for half price.

4. Other stuff

Don't forget to turn back your clocks tomorrow night.

Bluebird North features Lynn Miles, Mark Perry, Shari Ulrich and more at The Roundhouse on Tuesday November 5th

Richard Thompson opens for Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell at The Orpheum on Wednesday November 6th!

Coming up at the Euro film fest... Natural Grace IRELAND • Art O’Briain’s award-winning documentary celebrates one of contemporary Ireland's greatest traditional fiddlers: Martin Hayes. thecinematheque.ca/eufilmfestival

5. Coming Soon to The Rogue at St. James Hall - Maximum R&B and Soulful Singing!!

The Sojourners CD Launch, Saturday November 9th
Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir, Wednesday November 13th

and lots more!

Visit our concert calendar for full details of all our show - and to purchase your tickets!