Steve's Blog
Wednesday December 4, 2013

Hi everyone

We have two incredible concerts this week - one is already sold out - and a Contra Dance which is also going to be something of year-end hoedown / party for our loyal volunteers.

Also we had one listener to The Edge On Folk last Saturday who said that the music kept repeating. For hours at a time. Did anyone else have such problems listening online?

1. Aoife O'Donovan, Thursday December 5th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

“Fossils signals the arrival of a serious talent” Album of the Week – Sunday Times
“Shimmering folk-rock beauty” **** – Uncut

Hailed as “a vocalist of unerring instinct” by the NY Times, “transcendent” by the Boston Globe, and “the newest darling of the Americana set” by USA Today, Aoife O’Donovan celebrates the release of her debut solo album Fossils (Yep Roc Records.) She has garnered much critical acclaim since its release in August and high-praise for her performance at this year’s Transatlantic Sessions in the UK.

Most of O’Donovan’s songs are character-driven, and many of them resemble portions of the folk traditions in which she was raised. Album opener “Lay My Burden Down” may already be familiar to music fans via Alison Krauss’ interpretation of the track on her 2011 album Paper Airplane, whilst “Briar Rose” is based on an Anne Sexton poem, a recontextualized fairytale. Throughout, O’Donovan has been careful to place her songs in a variety of musical settings that show the forceful power and resolute grace drawn from the deep well of emotion in Aoife’s voice.

That's the album for you; a definite must-have from this year's releases. What we will experience tomorrow night are those powerful songs laid bare in this rare solo acoustic performance by the remarkable O'Donovan - who is perhaps best known as the lead singer with the Alt. Bluegrass / Country / Folk quintet Crooked Still. She has appeared twice at The Rogue with that esteemed band - although not recently. The last time was five years ago, so we are long overdue a visit from this enthralling singer and compelling storyteller in song. www.aoifeodonovan.com

Tickets for $20 ($16 members) available online here, in person at Highlife Records, or Rufus' Guitar Shop, or call the Rogue Ticket Hotline at 604-736-3022.

2. David Bromberg Quintet, Friday December 6th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

This concert is Sold Out. If you have a ticket already get there early. if you have a spare ticket to sell there will probably be someone outside desperate for a ticket. If you reserved space on your Parcel O'Rogues (or just reserved a space) then get there early. Doors open at 7pm. There will be enough seats for everyone, but please don't hog a table or a pew. If your friends are going to be late so be it. We have had a few complaints recently about people saving seats while others who arrive on time can't sit where they like - or, in fact, probably deserve to be able to sit. So please try to think of the situation from the other side, so to speak.

3. Rogue Calendar 2014

We have a limited number of these super high quality photo calendars for sale at our events. They are large format, spiral bound calendars on heavy stock, and feature dozens of photos taken by Yours Truly at Rogue concerts this year. There are also some useful Concert and Festival dates printed on them already. You can purchase yours at the Membership Table for $30.

4. The Edge On Folk, Saturday December 7th, 8am to noon, on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

On this week's shows I'll feature some of my favourite albums / songs of the year - as well as some very recent releases that you may not have heard before. I hope you can join me for four hours of the Best of The Best in Folk, World, and Roots music. This - and every - Saturday from 8am to noon live on CiTR fm 101.9 in Vancouver, on Telus TV channel 7023 in B.C. and Alberta, and streamed live on www.citr.ca

5. Save The Hollywood Theatre

I'm heading to City Hall soon to offer my tuppence worth of opinion to the Council's proposed changes to Heritage and Culture. You can visit www.savethehollywoodtheatre.com to lend your voice to the campaign as we strive to keep The Hollywood Theatre on West Broadway as cultural landmark and much more! We want to see movies there again; we also want to see community theatre in there; and live music too. It is a wonderful building with amazing acoustics and some vintage projection equipment that is fine fettle. Add a proscenium to the stage, an elevator to the balcony, a green room beneath the stage - and digital projection to the existing 35mm projectors and we will have a 600 seat venue for all kinds of entertainment and community gatherings. We CAN still save The Hollywood, but we need your help!

See you at The Rogue!
Steve