Richard's Blog

Four Women Featured at Summerfolk

2009-06-29T10:57:00.003-04:00

SUSAN WERNER was raised in the farm lands of Iowa. Blessed with a great voice and a command of both guitar and piano, Werner is one of the most innovative songwriters of our time.

Now based in Chicago, Werner has 9 albums to her credit, a busy touring schedule and a string of accolades from the likes of The Washington Post, Village Voice and The New Yorker.

Her songs slide effortlessly between folk, jazz and pop. A clever and versatile performer, Susan's music is sophisticated, witty and engaging.

For her Summerfolk performance, Werner will be accompanied by world-class cellist Julia Biber and harmonica player Trina Hamlin.

PEGGY SEEGER is known for her excellent renditions of traditional folksongs and for activist songwriting. Her best-known pieces are Gonna Be an Engineer and The Ballad of Springhill (about the 1958 Springhill, Nova Scotia mining disaster).

Born into one of North America's foremost musical families, Peggy learned to play piano, guitar, five-string banjo, autoharp, dulcimer and concertina. She cut her first record when she was 18 and in her early twenties became a professional touring musician.

Her travels took her to Europe and in 1959 she settled in London with Ewan MacColl. She is the face of MacColl's song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Performing as a duo, MacColl and Seeger were at the forefront of the British folk scene for three decades.

Peggy is currently teaching at Boston's Northeastern University and tours as a lecturer and performer.

ERICA WHEELER is an award-winning singer/songwriter whose songs and stories evoke a sense of place. She creates an immediacy to her presentation with a keen-edged, conversational singing style.

Based in western Massachusetts, Wheeler combines a lifelong interest in natural and cultural history with her career as a musician.

A troubadour in the classic sense of the word, impressions of people and places eventually work their way into her songs. Human connections to the land and metaphors drawn from nature figure prominently in her songwriting.

With their rural imagery, Erica's songs will resonant with those of us who live in the Grey-Bruce region.

EVALYN PARRY grew up at folk festivals - her father David was a member of the iconic folk ensemble 'The Friends of Fiddlers Green' and her mother Caroline, a children’s music performer, author and folklorist.

“I have a really distinct memory of the 'Friends' singing with Stan Rogers at Summerfolk. I remember being impressed when I learned Stan had written Barrett’s Privateers inspired by one of their concerts.”

Evalyn grew up on a staple diet of sea shanties, ballads and big chorus songs. Although the music she now writes doesn’t come directly from that tradition, “it steals from it and is inspired by it."

Her performances are as thought-provoking as they are hilarious. They are as charming as they are eclectic, as deeply political as they are personal. Evalyn Parry is a singer-songwriter and spoken word artist with a unique perspective on the world.

These four women, Susan, Peggy, Erica and Evalyn, approach their craft differently. Each is incredibly talented and part of the musical mosaic you will find at Summerfolk.

A Summerfolk Moon

2009-06-29T10:45:00.005-04:00

Jacob Moon comes by it honestly. His mother is a singer and his father cut his teeth playing 12-string guitar in Kingston Trio-style folk bands.

As for Jacob, he came to music in his teen years. Since then, he has been refining his craft and redefining what it means to be a singer, a songwriter and a guitarist.

I remember seeing Jacob Moon perform at The Festival of Friends in Hamilton and he has been on my short list of performers to consider for Summerfolk ever since I took up the position of artistic director three years ago.

When I visited his website, I was impressed by a video shot on a rooftop in Hamilton. Jacob set up the song with acoustic guitar and part way through switched over to perform a great electric guitar solo overtop of the rhythm part he had played earlier. This was accomplished by his use of a live looping device called JamMan.

"It radically changes how I can add a different complexion to my show. I can communicate everything from percussion to rhythm guitar and lead guitar parts, all in the context of the same song" explains Jacob.

The JamMan device allows musicians to record a musical phrase with the touch of a foot switch. This phrase, again controlled by a foot switch, can be played back as a repeating pattern or loop. Musicians may record additional phrases in time with the first and thus create a sort of virtual band. Once the pattern has been established, the musician is free to improvise over top of the backing tracks.

"Nothing is pre-recorded - it's recorded on the fly so there's an element of danger to it. I use it in about half of my show. I've been working with JamMan for 8 or 9 years now so it's not so scary anymore.".

I have since come to learn that the song Jacob performed on the video was in fact a cover of "Subdivisions", written and performed by Canadian rock band Rush. The band's lead singer Geddy Lee wrote to Jacob to say "The guys have all seen it and think it's terrific."

In conversations with Jacob, I learned more about his musical career. He studied theory and majored in voice at Laurier University. "I put myself through college playing gigs."

After university, he re-located to Hamilton and has been part the music community in that city ever since. "Hamilton is a place artists can afford to live and quite a number a musicians have taken up residence here."

Moon is a terrific vocalist and as such, gets calls for session work on commercials and film soundtracks.

He has recorded six albums and is currently working on number seven. As part of the process for this latest project, he is recording some of the tracks at home. "I'm learning how to record and edit files. The more I know, the more creative control I will have. Down the road I want to be a producer for other artists, so developing a working knowledge of the software that's available will prove invaluable."

Moon has played hundreds of theatres, coffeehouses and churches in his quest to reach new audiences. The popularity of his videos on YouTube, and especially "Subdivisions", has garnered him an international following that is growing rapidly.

He takes a grassroots approach to marketing and promotions and it is starting to pay off. He has developed a reputation as a passionate and expressive musician for church performances.

"A church is great because it's a venue that doesn't have distractions. No matter what persuasion you come from, the church is a place of comfort and it's built for music. Because of my own spiritual journey, I can have a conversation with an audience there. It's been a good angle for me."

I asked about his songwriting. "Sometimes I get impatient. I write a handful of songs every year. I really do believe it's just a matter of pulling them down from the sky. You have to work hard at it but one of my strengths is persistence."

Social justice is also something very close to Jacob's heart. For many years he has been active in raising funds for many worthy organizations including Compassion Canada, the Mennonite Central Committee and Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

He recently performed at The Street Level Conference in Ottawa, an event organized to bring attention to poverty in Canada. In mid-July, he and his wife will depart to El Salvador with a Compassion Canada team. Compassion's mission is to serve the spiritual, economic, social, and physical needs of a children in over 25 developing countries around the world .

Jacob performs Friday night at Summerfolk's Down By the Bay tent and is featured in the 'Summerfolk Sunday Morning' concert.

You can get an preview of Jacob Moon and his music before Summerfolk. On July 4th plays Massie Hall - as in the village of Massie, located southeast of Owen Sound. Concert presenter for this show and long-time music fan Pete Miller has this to say about Jacob:

"Jacob Moon's folk, rock and pop fusion is the most innovative solo work I've heard in eons. Imagine a folk singer, wired to a digital effects loop, with a social conscience to boot."

The Adventure Travels and Music of Ian Tamblyn

2009-06-29T10:38:00.004-04:00

Ian Tamblyn began his career in the mid-1960s. He sang pop songs and traditional blues at the Fourth Dimension coffeehouse in his hometown of Fort William - now Thunder Bay.

"It was an international port, an industrial town and as an isolated northern city, there was a sense of drama to it" recalls Ian. "In my younger years, I was a part of the artistic community there."

Then after studying liberal arts at Trent University in Peterborough, he decided to take on a full-time musical career. He moved to Chelsea, Quebec, where he has lived since 1971. "The rent was so affordable. That helped take the financial pressure off and made it possible to commit to being a writer. I always believed you had to do it full-time."

"I love the Gatineau Hills" he says. "In comparison to the extreme places I go to, it's almost like neutral territory for me. It's not a wilderness, and yet, it's outdoors."

His first big 'break' came when Sylvia Tyson performed one of his songs on the popular Canadian television show Ian & Sylvia. That led to the release of his debut self-titled album in 1976, which garnered him a Juno Award.

Since then, he has recorded 29 additional albums and penned some 1,500 songs. He has performed at coffeehouses, concerts and festivals but has also discovered other avenues to make a living as a musician.

Tamblyn has scored several films and produced theatre soundtracks. He has written nine plays, beginning with Dream Children which ran at the National Arts Centre, and several for the Great Canadian Theatre Company. Most notable among these is Legends of the Northern Swamp, which is still touring Quebec.

Being an avid naturalist, Ian started mixing music with his love of nature. His Over My Head CD was recorded in-studio after a successful live concert commissioned by the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Instrumental music was composed around tape-looped field recordings of birds. Ian explained "In the case of Knock on Wood, for example, I composed the piece around the percussive hammering of a Pileated Woodpecker."

That album sold more than 100,000 copies. "Over My Head caught on," recalls Tamblyn, "with everyone from midwives to palliative-care wards. From cradle to grave."

But perhaps his most important development was connecting creative skills with adventure travels to remote places such as the Nahanni River, the north shore of Lake Superior, Greenland, Baffin Island and the Chukchi Sea.

The Nahanni, for example, is situated in the mountains of the Northwest Territories. It flows through deep canyons and geological features so unique that the Nahanni River was declared the first World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1978. Its' Virginia Falls are nearly twice the height of Niagara.

With Ian's Magnetic North CD, he began to blend instrumental music with environmental sounds, incorporating field recordings from his travels.

"It all started with my fascination of the north shore of Lake Superior in the early seventies. I became interested in exploring the concept of a spiritual north perhaps in a similar vein as Glenn Gould's Idea of North series that he did for the CBC."

In 1984 Ian was invited north as a writer-in-residence on a scientific trip to the Chukchi Sea, north of the Bering Strait. “Science needs you in the Chukchi Sea” was the first line of a letter he received from John Oliver from State University of California.

The letter went on to say John and several of his co-workers had seen Ian perform at a concert in Barclay Sound on Vancouver Island. "We talked about it after and came to the conclusion that you should probably join us for a month this summer on the Research Vessel Alpha Helix. We will be studying the feeding habits of Gray Whales and walrus and so we invite to come along as a writer-in-residence." the letter summarized.

After five expeditions to the north with John Oliver, Ian has also made two trips with the team to explore the under ice worlds of Antarctica. "Mixing artistic and scientific work is given a lot of lip service, but I've never found another person like John - somebody willing to take it on."

"Creativity is seen as not factual and hence doesn't necessarily sit well with scientific types. There is also a hierarchy of positions and the 'artist' is often seen as entertainment - which is a lesser form in the chain. At times it's been an interesting experience, and at times frustrating."

But Tamblyn has created music inspired by these trips. "It's a huge panorama of songwrting being a part of the ocean. What happens to one's psyche when being surrounded by such a massive force. Through the years of being out on the ocean, I have had a number of quiet revelations about why sailors don't come home. It's so big. It takes a part of us."

"Three quarters of the world is ocean. It is fundamental to being on the planet itself."

While he has travelled to exotic locations throughout the world, Tamblyn remains rooted in the Canadian landscape. His music in infused with this country's environment.

He has travelled to the north of Canada many times. Prior to Summerfolk he will be guiding a Students on Ice expedition to the Arctic. Then following the Festival, he will be going through the Northwest Passage from the west and coming down the east coast of Canada. Always with pen in hand, Tamblyn looks for inspiration in places that few people get to see.

He has recently completed 2 discs of a 4 disc set based on Canadian bodies of water. His Spirit and Light CD, released in 2007 is all about the Lake Superior area of Ontario. Raincoast, the second disc, features songs about the west coast of Canada.

His songs reflect the places he has seen and those he has met along the way. "In terms of arriving at a musical description of this country, I've been very active. That's what I do."

Tanglefoot's Farewell Tour Includes Stop at Summerfolk

2009-06-29T10:31:00.003-04:00

For more than 25 years, Tanglefoot has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene. But nothing lasts forever and 2009 will be the final year of performances for the band.

It is fitting that this group has included a Summerfolk appearance as a part of their farewell tour. This will be the final opportunity to catch Tanglefoot on Summerfolk's amphitheatre stage at Kelso Beach Park.

The band is made up of five distinctly talented individuals - bass player Al Parrish, violinist Sandra Swannell and Terry Young on mandolin, guitar and banjo. Then there are the two brothers, guitarist Steve Ritchie (who joined Tanglefoot co-founders Joe Grant and Bob Wagar back in 1988) and piano player Rob Ritchie.

I talked to Steve Ritchie about the upcoming appearance at Summerfolk. "We wanted to hit all the places are special to us and of course Summerfolk is one of those places - it's a prestigious festival. The fact that we're based here, with 4 out of 5 of us living in the area, Summerfolk is an event that we have a lot of affection for on a number of levels."

"I was a sound man at Summerfolk back in the early 80's. I remember mixing Stan & Garnet Rogers at a side stage concert and I didn't even know who they were - this was way back. I still remember some of the songs they did."

"Summerfolk was the first place I heard people like Mose Scarlett, Gamble Rogers and Utah Phillips. I was 20 years old at the time and had no inclination I'd end up playing this kind of music....and doing it on a full-time basis for 25 years or so."

Tanglefoot has made headlines throughout the world of folk and acoustic music, attracting a large and enthusiastic audience throughout Canada, the United States and Britain.
Named best vocal group in the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Tanglefoot delivers their music with intensity. Well-known for their full-throated harmony singing, they are also a band with great instrumental agility. Their music has an unmistakable driving sound.

"When I was young I played drums" says Steve. "I was a 'rocker'. My whole ambition was to be Kim Mitchell's drummer. When I was in high school that's what I wanted to do. Al Parrish was in a Led Zeppelin tribute band and Terry comes from that background too. That's how we play - really slamming, only on acoustic guitars instead of with a stack of Marshall amps."

I then asked him about the way they handle the vocal arrangements for the group. "Our harmony approach with Tanglefoot comes out of a specific tradition. It's an all for one, everybody-in style that comes from shanty, lumber camp, mining, railroad and voyageur worksongs. All those kinds of songs are robust in their vocal delivery."

Tanglefoot certainly knows how to deliver traditional songs with vigour but they also take a similar tact when performing their own compositions. They have the ability to write engaging songs that connect with an audience. They tell human stories of folklore, fake-lore, family history, quirky characters, danger, romance and drama.

One can't help but be moved by their endearing themes and true-to-life stories in songs like "Secord's Warning", "Awkward Donald", "Seven a Side" and "Jack the Green".

Their acapella song “Vimy” led to their taking part in the dedication of the restored memorial at Vimy, France on April 9, 2007 (at the same time, the Canadian Celtic Choir was performing the same song on Capitol Hill in Ottawa).

Tanglefoot enjoys the unusual claim-to-fame of having had one of their CDs fly aboard the space shuttle. "The Music In The Wood" CD accompanied Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in April of 2001.

Tanglefoot will play an important role in the Stan Rogers tributes that are a Summerfolk feature this year. I asked Steve about the obvious connection between Stan's work and that of Tanglefoot.

"I always found his voice very compelling. He had a voice that grabbed you. Stan also had a tremendous sense of melody and could really tell a good story. His was a benchmark for muscular Canadian songwriting."

"Stan Rogers came to my high school (OSCVI) and this was not the kind of music I was particularly interested in but I remember sitting in the front row with a bunch of my friends and just thinking he had a cool voice and a lot of stage presence. When he sang "Jeannie C", that was really chilling. "Every seam poured water" - what a powerful image that was. It got through to me."

As with many things in life, what goes around, comes around. The influence that Summerfolk has had on the musicians from this area is clearly displayed in Tanglefoot's Steve Ritchie. "By a kind of osmosis, I discovered I had a proclivity for this kind of music - storytelling, acoustic music."

Tanglefoot has seen many changes in personnel over its existence. Steve performed along with Joe Grant and Bob Wagar, the original Tanglefoot band members, at Summerfolk in 1989. That was one of their first folk festival appearances.

Steve notes the current lineup is one of the strongest. "When Al Parrish joined, the sound got bigger and more aggressive. He brought a physical presence and charisma that took the band up a notch. Then Terry Young joined and he's a very energetic player as well. That took us up even more. The addition of Sandra was something new for us and having my brother Rob back is a real treat for me."

Seeing Tanglefoot one last time on the Summerfolk stage will be special. "Everywhere we play now is a farewell somewhere. There are going to be some poignant moments and I can't help but think that will be one of them. It is going to be a big deal for me, and for all of us, to be out on that amphitheatre stage one last time."

Special Features at Summerfolk

2009-06-29T10:16:00.002-04:00

Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo

Among the many special features at this year's Summerfolk will be Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo.

Ever play a balalaika or balafon? Have you ever blown into a didgeridoo or shofar? Ever strummed an autoharp or plucked a psaltery? All of these traditional folk instruments and about 100 more, covering the musical alphabet from accordion to zampoya, are part of Todd's Musical Petting Zoo.

This fully interactive and hands-on exhibit is a unique opportunity to explore the workings of the instruments and to actually play them.

Todd Crowley is a recently retired high school English teacher from Virginia. His musical instrument of choice - the autoharp. "I have found the diatonic autoharp to be the perfect accompanying instrument for the songs I sing".

"The autoharp lets me keep the instrumental part of the song simple, so the words in story and poetry can take center stage". Todd's M.A. studies at university included research into the life and songwriting of Woody Guthrie. "As a folk singer I want to be part of the oral tradition that gives voice to promoting peace and justice".

Along with the Musical Petting Zoo, Todd is also providing an instrument play station for the Children's Village. Young and old will have a chance to explore the new musical sounds at Summerfolk.

Painting Summerfolk

Artist Peter Beckett will be painting at the Festival using music as inspiration. One day he will work alongside jazz sax player Kenny Baldwin, the next, he will set up near the Gazebo stage.

Beckett and Baldwin are both familiar with improvisation. Their free-jazz, abstract painting collaborations become conversations between two completely different forms of expression.

Kenny Baldwin played music with Graham Caughtry, one of Beckett's favourite Canadian abstract painters from the 60s. Baldwin was part of the Canadian "avant garde" before anyone noticed. At 79 he remains fearless, "Yea tho I walk through the valley of banjos I will fear no evil for I have my alto and tenor to comfort me," he says with a smile.

Peter Beckett is well known for creating large canvases full of colour and movement. "While I was painting outside, the idea of 'painting for landscape' came to mind. If a painter acted as a conduit, taking on the voice of the environment while painting out doors, what would the painting reveal?""It is considered that the studies of Tom Thomson, for example, contain so much more of the experience of spending a day on a northern shoreline than simply, an image. Through all the senses, the inexplicable inclusion of such things as the smell of the woods or the sound of waves meeting the rocky shore are evident".

There will be more on the painting theme at Summerfolk. Dorothy McDonall, one of the 'ChoirGirlz' trio, will be working on a 'Veil Painting'. The technique consists of overlapping transparent veils of watercolors on dry paper. Responding to the atmosphere at Summerfolk she will be layering colours inspired by the ever-changing environment.

"I just never know what will appear, but that's the fun part of the process. It is important to understand that the image is not pre-conceived. It is simply an exercise about being in the moment. And what a fabulous moment a festival is!"

I will be interested to view the works-in-progress of both these artists over the weekend, as I'm sure you will be too, and intrigued to see what the results will be.

David Woodhead's Confabulation

David Woodhead has been a fixture in the Canadian folk music scene for as long as I can remember. His incredible talents on bass guitar have enhanced the performances of many well known musicians on festival stages across the country.

David is bringing his latest project, David Woodhead's Confabulation, to Summerfolk. "It's all about interplay - musical conversations and fabrications from the outer boundaries when folk, poetry and jazz met in an imaginary coffeehouse late one night in a distant past, or an imminent future...".

Joining him will be Cedric Smith, Joran Freeman-Fox, Emilyn Stam & Rich Greenspoon.

Performance Poetry

Lead by Owen Sound's newly appointed poet laureate Kristan Anderson, a team of creative wordsmiths will be exploring the art of spoken word at this year's Festival.

Performance poetry features a broad range of styles, cultural traditions and approaches. Some poets are closely associated with the vocal delivery style found in hip-hop music and draw heavily on the tradition of rhythmic dub poetry. Others employ an unrhyming narrative formula.

Some use traditional theatric devices including shifting voices and tones, while others may recite an entire poem in ironic monotone. Some poets use nothing but their words to deliver a poem, while others stretch the boundaries of the format, tap-dancing or beatboxing or using highly-choreographed movements.

As both a teacher and youth worker, Kristan has a natural passion for helping develop the potential of young people. His goal is to see a spoken word and 'slam scene' develop in the Grey-Bruce region as a creative outlet for youth to develop both confidence and self-esteem.

JumbleJam

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. An innovative approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background. Response to last year's inaugural JumbleJam was so positive, we just had to do it again.

Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper 'curate' 15 volunteer players into 3 bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer. The bands create an original song and perform it on the Down by the Bay stage Saturday evening. Within 8 hours, three songs are written and performed - the energy and excitement of the process is contagious.

Plus...

The Sharing Circle is a place where everyone is invited to bring musical instruments, songs and stories to actively join in the sessions. You can witness the wonders of Fire Poi with Vita Twirlin' Diva and friends at the Summerfolk Circle on Saturday night. Visit the teepee and learn more about First Nations cultural traditions from hosts John Somosi and Kathryn Edgecombe. And last but not least, you can play your music on the Open Stage.

Summerfolk is known for great music, beautiful craft art and delicious food but adding features like these to the mix makes it extra special.

Honouring Stan Rogers a Summerfolk Feature

2009-06-29T09:55:00.004-04:00

Summerfolk has always been more than a series of concerts. The most memorable moments often occur at the workshop sessions and special performances that happen within the Festival.

One of the highlights this year will be two tributes dedicated to Canadian folk legend Stan Rogers. Summerfolk and Stan shared a mutual admiration. The amphitheatre stage at Kelso Beach Park is named in his honour. Each year we close the Festival with his song "The Mary Ellen Carter" and its joyous refrain of "Rise Again".

Part I of the Tribute, hosted and coordinated by Paul Mills, will be held Saturday afternoon in the Down By the Bay tent. "Stories and Songs of Stan Rogers" will feature Ariel Rogers, Tim Harrison, Dan McKinnon, Bill Bourne and the group Poor Angus.

Paul Mills was well acquainted with Stan; he performed alongside him at concerts throughout Canada and the States. Paul was also the producer for several of Stan's recordings.

Part II will be held at the amphitheatre stage on Sunday night. As a lead up to the Finale, some of Stan's most popular songs will be performed by artists who were strongly influenced by his music. For fans of Stan Rogers, this year's Summerfolk will be a special event.

Who was this Stan Rogers fellow and what makes him so celebrated?

Stanley Allison "Stan" Rogers was noted for his rich, baritone voice and his finely-crafted, traditional-sounding songs. His material was often inspired by Canadian history and the daily lives of working people, especially those from the fishing villages of the Maritime provinces and, later, the farms of the prairies and those who toiled on the Great Lakes..

His songs often had a Celtic feel which was due, in part, to his use of DADGAD guitar tuning. Some were in the style of sea shanties, though his brother Garnet once remarked that he would "get seasick crossing a wet lawn". Rogers' legacy includes his recordings, songbook and plays for which he was commissioned to write music.

Stan's songs are often performed by other musicians and are perennial favourites at campfires and song circles. His best known pieces include "Barrett's Privateers", "Northwest Passage", "Make and Break Harbour", "The Field Behind the Plow", "Fogarty's Cove", "White Squall" and "Forty-Five Years".

Stan Rogers died June 2, 1983 at the age of 33 in a fire aboard Air Canada Flight 797 forced to land at the Cincinnati Airport. He was returning from a performance at the Kerrvillle Folk Festival in Texas.

Rogers was born November 29, 1949 in Hamilton, Ontario. He was the eldest son of Nathan Allison "Al" Rogers and Valerie Rogers (née Bushell), two Maritimers who had relocated to Ontario in search of work shortly after their marriage in July 1948. Although Rogers was raised in Dundas (a community in the westernmost part of Hamilton), he often spent summers visiting family in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.

It was there that he became familiar with the way of life in the Maritimes, an influence which was to have a profound impact on his subsequent musical development. He was interested in music from an early age, reportedly beginning to sing shortly after learning to speak. He received his first guitar, hand-built by his uncle Lee Bushell, when he was only five years of age.

He was exposed to a variety of music influences, but among the most lasting were the country and western tunes his uncles would sing during family get-togethers. Throughout his childhood, he would practice his singing and playing along with his younger brother Garnet Rogers, six years his junior.

By the time Rogers was attending high school in Stoney Creek, he had met other young people interested in folk music. He was also dabbling in rock and roll, singing and playing bass guitar in garage bands such as "Stanley and the Living Stones" and "The Hobbits".

Rogers briefly attended both McMaster and Trent Universities but a full-time career in music was calling. He hit the road pursuing his dream of establishing a national identity for Canadian songwriting. It was a dream fulfilled; through his dynamic performances and brilliant songs, he became known throughout most of the English-speaking folk music world.

He was a big man - six feet four and 'built like a fire truck'; with a voice that rumbled from his toes. He could bluff and bellow yet was at heart, a poet and intellect. Often as not, he would sneak away from a gathering to curl up with a book. He made friends and enemies easily, gaining the former for life and often, in time, converting the latter.

Stan appeared at Summerfolk in 1977, 78, 80 and 81. I remember watching the steam rising from his bald head on a cool August night as he worked his magic on us. Once he took the stage, he commanded it with a presence seldom seen since.

When CBC's Peter Gzowski asked Canadians to pick an alternate national anthem, Stan's song "Northwest Passage" was the overwhelming choice. His influence on Canadian folk music is deep and lasting.

The Summerfolk Lineup

2009-06-10T00:53:00.002-04:00

Our theme for 2009 is "The Beat Goes On". For the past 33 years, Kelso Beach Park in Owen Sound has been home to one of the most beloved events in folk music. The Festival in August promises to maintain that tradition.

Summerfolk performers are chosen to represent a wide spectrum of musical tastes. You may not recognize all of the names in the lineup but in this and future articles, I hope to give you a sense of what each of them do. When you come to the Festival, I guarantee that by the end of the weekend, you will have discovered a new act or two that will really impress you. That is part of the magic to discover at Summerfolk.

This year's Festival features first-class Canadian songwriters. Valdy, one of Canada's most successful folk musicians; James Keelaghan who possesses one of the most distinctive voices in folk and musician/adventurer Ian Tamblyn.

Four-time Grammy nominees and Summerfolk favourites, 'Trout Fishing in America' bring their lovable sound back to Kelso Beach Park. This delightful duo of Keith Grimwood and Izra Idlet have carved out an amazing musical career in nearly three decades of writing, recording and performing together. Their pals from Texas, 'The Austin Lounge Lizards' may just steal the show at the Festival with their inventive style of satirical folk, country and bluegrass. This entertaining 5-piece band pokes fun at politics, love and culture in general. Not to be missed!

Alberta-based Bill Bourne will perform with his new trio the 'BOP Ensemble', highlighting the songwriting talents of a hidden gem, Wyckham Porteous and the exuberant, youthful Jasmine “Jas” Ohlhauser.

Summerfolk co-founder Tim Harrison returns to Owen Sound from his new home base in the Gulf Islands. It will be great to have Tim back at the Festival and hear his latest collection of songs. Then there is Evalyn Parry who grew up around folk music and performs a unique blend of music, storytelling and spoken word. From Halifax, Dan McKinnon is an engaging and genuine performer with a warm baritone voice.

A veteran of the folk circuit, Susan Werner has graced the stages of Summerfolk before. Over the course of her career, she has cultivated a reputation as a daring and innovative songwriter with an excellent live show. She composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with a sassy wit and Midwestern charm.

Fellow American Vance Gilbert also returns. Vance is another artist who really shines on stage. Or off it as the case may be. During his last visit to Summerfolk, Vance stepped off the stage, away from the microphones. No one in the Amphitheatre had any difficulty hearing him. All were spell-bound by his electrifying presence.

Philadelphia's 'Hoots & Hellmouth' deliver an energetic, revival-like live show blending soul, folk, country, gospel and rock. Originally formed around the acoustic guitars of Sean Hoots and Andrew "Hellmouth" Gray, this quartet embodies a feisty, independent spirit. This is a band that has energy to burn.

Speaking of bands with energy, 'Tanglefoot' will be making their finale appearance on Summerfolk's Amphitheatre stage. For everything there is a season, and 2009 will be the last for this iconic Canadian folk/roots band. With a huge sound and stunning harmonies, Tanglefoot has become an institution over their two-plus decades. Their infectious music, inspired by the mythology, folklore and history of early Canada, has earned them an international reputation.

And... it doesn't stop there. 'The Aline Morales Band' is a Brazilian percussion troupe. They feature traditional folk styles (forro, coco, afoxe) with tastes of samba, reggae and soul. If some part of your body isn't moving when you hear this group; then there's a serious problem. Lively and youthful, the 'Aline Morales Band' embraces rhythm.

Fans of the "blues" - you'll want to see and hear 'Daddy Long Legs', winners of the 2009 Maple Blues Award for Best New Artist. Then for something completely different, 'The McFlies' travel through time to 'un-cover' the 1980s. Yes that's right - fiddle, accordion, ukulele, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, bongos and congas replace synthesizers and drum machines. 'The McFlies' deliver acoustic versions of the 80's decade in a way that you've never heard before (picture Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" with fiddle and accordion!).

Harmonica virtuoso, Mike Stevens has released a series of acclaimed albums and written several harmonica instruction booklets. He is one of the few players who can play every note of the scale on one harmonica - for anyone who's tried, this is an amazing feat. Mike is credited with pioneering the use of the instrument in bluegrass music and he’s backed the likes of the legendary Bill Monroe, Jim and Jesse and The Carter Family.

Peggy Seeger is the quintessential hip grandmother. A member of the "First Family" of American folk music, Peggy has performed for more than 50 years, produced 20 solo albums and 200 original songs including the classics "Ballad of Springhill" and "Gonna Be an Engineer".

Sounds great so far doesn't it? But that's just the start.

More on the Summerfolk Lineup

2009-06-10T00:39:00.003-04:00

Let's start off with a look at Summerfolk's dance stage.

The first bit of exciting news, The Lighthouse Swing Band will provide dance music on Sunday afternoon at the Festival. This will be a unique opportunity to dance under the Summerfolk tent to the swing era sounds of a big band.

For those who love to contra dance, and there will be many opportunities to do so, the music of Scatter the Cats will be the perfect fit. Dance caller Bill Russell will be on hand for the weekend along with fiddler Anne Lederman and the enthusiastic Tom Leighton, director of The Summerfolk Choir. Champion fiddler Shane Cook, accompanied by Brian Pickell and Jake Charron, will also keep the contra lines moving.

Quebecois music and dance is a specialty of Benoit Bourque who recently joined the celebrated La Bottine Souriante. His energetic expertise will be welcomed back at Summerfolk.

With cajun twin fiddling, accordion tunes and washboard zydeco, Swamperella is a band that plays infectious music. You won’t be standing still for long - their sound won’t let you!

The 2009 Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival will also highlight music from many other cultures.

Ragleela performs East Indian Music based on traditional form with melodies that take on a familiar and engaging sound. Featuring Uwe Newmann on sitar along with guitar, violin and both Indian tablas and world percussion, this is mesmerizing music.

The acapella group Soul Influence present layered harmonies over the intricate rhythms of Africa. The group is comprised of young people from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and The Democratic Republic of Congo. They deliver a spiritual message - pleasing to the ear and inspiring.

Portuguese Fado music is usually sung by women but you'll be amazed when you hear Tony Gouveia at Summerfolk. Gouveia has emerged as an impressive voice of a new generation of fadistas in North America. He sings this traditional Portuguese folk blues with intensity and passion.

From her early days as a teenage-troubadour on Australia’s folk-circuit, Chloe Hall has blossomed into an engaging and charismatic performer. Chloe is coming with her new trio to give us some music from down-under.

Moving elsewhere around the globe, Scotland's Brian McNeill (of Battlefield Band fame) is one of that country's best traditional players. Head of Scottish Music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance in Glasgow, he is an exceptional performer who commands the stage.

Then there are several additional bands to tell you about.

The full-throttle group Poor Angus will be on hand with highland pipes and Irish whistles accompanied by fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bodhran and bass guitar. The driving bluegrass band Hard Ryde includes some of the hottest pickers in Canada. They were winners at the Last Chance Saloon and as such will perform on the amphitheatre stage at Summerfolk.

Betty and the Bobs are coming. Who's Betty? Who exactly are the Bobs? Well...I'm not sure but I do know Betty and the Bobs are an all-star Canadian 7 piece band that includes the talented and hilarious Wendell Ferguson, folk artist Katherine Wheatley and ex-Moxy Fruvous member Dave Matheson. Rich Greenspoon is on percussion, Soozie Schlanger on fiddle and then there's the fantastic Suzie Vinnick and bassist extraordinaire Dave Woodhead.

Other performers of note include David Celia, Hamilton's Jacob Moon, vocal trio The ChoirGirlz and from Western Massachusetts, Erica Wheeler.

The Festival also highlights the talents of local performers and rightly so. Owen Sound produces some of the best musicians anywhere. The latest songs by Al Walker are featured in his band Suitcase Walker. This band format is an excellent vehicle for his catchy melodies and fine guitar licks. I am also very pleased that Tara & Trevor MacKenzie will be joining us. Both are well-known figures in Owen Sound's music scene.

Dave Carr will be celebrating his 25th year as a Summerfolk MC and the bagpipes of Bob Dixon will continue to be a Summerfolk tradition.

Youth performers abound at Summerfolk. Jon Farmer, Sarah Hillis, Claire McLeish and Liam Sanagan all made their way to Summerfolk via the Discoveries Showcase and Knox Acoustic Cafe. From last year's Open Stage comes Jonathan Jerome.

Ben Whiteley and Suzy Wilde team up in Flashlight Radio. Both come from musical families. Coco Love Alcorn also has a creative family background and with her playful character Ms. Alcorn fearlessly engages audiences in a very unique way.

So these are the performers you can see and hear at Summerfolk 2009. Each have their our sound but when given the opportunity to interact at the Festival, exciting things can happen!

Summerfolk TuneUp

2009-06-02T23:12:00.006-04:00

There was a cool wind but the sun was shining for our first ever Summerfolk TuneUp.
Thanks to Don Miller, we have a nice collection of photos from Sunday, May 31st at Kelso Beach Park.
The concert featured young performers who came through the Georgian Bay Folk Society's 'Discoveries Showcase' and Knox Acoustic Cafe's 'Youth Showcase'.

Left, Sarah Hillis

Tyler Firestone

Below, 2 of Erica Knight

First Rate People:

Claire McLeish, Liam Sanagan &

Lindsay Beckett (missing from

photo the sparkplug Jon Lawless)

Kate Dickinson

Upcoming Concerts - April/May

2009-04-23T11:47:00.013-04:00

Treasa Levasseur - Saturday, April 25
Knox Acoustic Café www.knoxacousticcafe.ca

Layah Jane - Saturday, April 25
Back Eddie's - Paisley Town Hall Theatre www.layahjane.com

Sheesham & Lotus - Thursday, April 30
Mudtown, Owen Sound www.fiddlefern.net

Spring Fling Dance Weekend - May 1 & 2
featuring.....Nils Fredland, Sheesham, Lotus & Tea Time Taylor, Kate McLaren & Scatter the Cats
St. George’s Church Hall, 1049 Fourth Ave. East, Owen Sound www.fiddlefern.net

Ken Hamm - Sunday, May 10
Irish Mountain www.irishmountainmusic.com

Saugeen Songwriter's Circle - Friday, May 29
featuring...Dean Mctaggart, Natalia Zukerman & Danny Brooks
Victoria Jubilee Hall, Walkerton www.deanmctaggart.com

Anne Lindsay & Jason Fowler - Saturday, May 30
Knox Acoustic Café www.knoxacousticcafe.ca

The Arrogant Worms - Saturday, May 30
Victoria Jubilee Hall, Walkerton www.vjhall.on.ca

Discoveries, Last Chance & the 2009 Summerfolk Line-up

2009-03-29T20:43:00.006-04:00

Saturday was a busy and exciting day at the Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound!
Three young performers were selected from the afternoon's 'Discoveries Showcase' to play the 'Young & Hungry' concert, Friday night of Summerfolk - Liam Sanagan, Sarah Hillis and Jon Farmer. (They will join Claire McLeish who was previously selected at the 'Knox Acoustic Cafe Youth Showcase').
Then the 'Hard Ryde Bluegrass Band' was picked for a Summerfolk appearance at the evening's 'Last Chance Saloon'. The judges' decision was not an easy one as all 11 acts that performed were excellent!
I also had the pleasure of announcing the Summerfolk 2009 line-up on Saturday. There will be some amazing performers at this year's Festival:

Coco Love Alcorn
Kristan Anderson
Austin Lounge Lizards
Peter Beckett
Betty & the Bobs
Benoit Bourque
Bop Ensemble featuring Bill Bourne & Wyckham Porteous
Dave Carr
David Celia
The ChoirGirlz
Shane Cook with Brian Pickell & Jake Charron
Todd Crowley's Musical Petting Zoo
Daddy Long Legs
Bob Dixon
Flashlight Radio - Suzy Wilde & Ben Whiteley
Vance Gilbert
Tony Gouveia
Chloe Hall
Hard Ryde Bluegrass Band
Tim Harrison
Hoots & Hellmouth
Jonathan Jerome
James Keelaghan
JumbleJam
Tom Leighton with Anne Lederman
Lighthouse Swing Band
Tara & Trevor MacKenzie
The McFlies
Dan McKinnon
Brian McNeill
Paul Mills
Jacob Moon
Aline Morales Band
Evalyn Parry
Poor Angus
Ragleela
Ariel Rogers
Bill Russell
Scatter the Cats
Peggy Seeger
John Somosi
Soul Influence
Mike Stevens
Suitcase Walker
Swamperella
Ian Tamblyn
Tanglefoot
Trout Fishing in America
David Woodhead's Confabulation with Cedric Smith, Joran Freeman-Fox & Emilyn Stam
Valdy
Vita Twirlin' Diva
Susan Werner
Erica Wheeler

Summerfolk Fans Get Ready

2009-03-25T23:15:00.019-04:00

This Saturday is the Last Chance Saloon in Owen Sound. Hope you can make it and cheer on the performers. One of the 11 acts performing at Last Chance will be selected for inclusion in the Festival programming, joining the 52 already booked. I will be announcing the performer line-up for Summerfolk 2009 at this event.
I also look forward to the Young & Hungry Discoveries Showcase in the afternoon on Saturday. Over the last couple years, I've had the opportunity to book and work with some wonderful young performers who came into the scene through this event as well as through the Knox Acoustic Cafe Youth Showcase.
Come out Saturday if you can and join us for our Spring get-together.
Be sure to check back here at the Summerfolk website - we'll be posting the line-up shortly.
Summerfolk 2009 "The Beat Goes On" - you've gotta be a part of it!

September/October Coming Events

2008-09-05T15:06:00.005-04:00

Owen Sound Celtic Festival - Saturday, September 13
Grey Roots Museum & Archives
www.oscelticfestival.com

Sultans of String - Friday, September 19
Old Courthouse, Owen Sound
Ph: 519-371-2995 gbfs@bmts.com

Volunteer Party - Georgian Bay Folk Society - Saturday, September 20
Shallow Lake Community Centre
Baseball game 3:30 - 5:00, Dinner 5:30 - 7:00, Music Jam 7:00 - 12:00
Ph: 519-371-2995 gbfs@bmts.com

Mark Haines and Tom Leighton - Saturday, September 20
http://www.knoxacousticcafe.ca/

Dean McTaggart, Chris Whitley & Michael Johnston - Saturday, September 20
Above Stedman's, Durham - 8:00 pm
www.deanmctaggart.com

Tony Bird - Friday, September 26
Back Eddie's, Paisley
Ph: 519-353-4787 backeddies@bmts.com

Arlo Guthrie - Tuesday, October 28
http://www.collingwoodmusicfestival.com/

Summerfolk 2008

2008-08-24T13:02:00.003-04:00

Wow!!!
Hope you all enjoyed the 2008 Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival. Send your photos and comments summerfolkad@brucetelecom.com

Thanks to Jody Iverson for this photo

Audience Sport for the Summerfolk Quiz ..."Coxless Pairs"

2008-08-13T01:28:00.002-04:00

This year's Summerfolk Quiz will have a "Summerfolk Olympics" theme. You can be part of the audience team - "Team World".

In addition to fun with trivia and musical games we are asking you to compose a song/ditty/verse you can perform at the 'Quiz'.

The Summerfolk Quiz takes place at 3:30 on Saturday at the Down By the Bay Stage.

As you know (and if you don't), The Marathon is the final event of the Olympic Games. And so we come to The Marathon or simply the final event in our Olympic-tinged quiz. In our version, we are asking members of each team to perform a song/ditty/verse... whatever....that incorporates a specific word or phrase about a sport - there will be 9 in all, one for each of 8 Summerfolk performers plus one for the audience.

In the past, they have included items related to Summerfolk, and items that could be seen from the Summerfolk site. Last year, they were quintessentially Canadian!

Now, with the Olympics currently on in Beijing, and the next winter games slated for Canada, we have chosen what we believe are important Olympic competitions.

Your competitive sport (selected in an impartial, random draw) to write about:

Coxless Pairs (rowing)

We wish you good writing. It's good fun!! We look forward to hearing your song at the Summerfolk Quiz.

Your hosts, Richard Knechtel and Dave Carr

Sunday at Summerfolk

2008-08-13T01:20:00.002-04:00

Sunday at Summerfolk begins with a special concert in the Amphitheatre. 'Oh What Joy!' celebrates the day with songs of thanks. Hosted by Connie Kaldor, the 10:30 am show features the uplifting talents of David Roth, the four part gospel harmonies of 'House of Doc' and inspirational messages in song from Kim & Reggie Harris. Being a part of this concert will be the perfect way to start your Sunday at Summerfolk.

At noon the musical action swings over to the workshop stages.

The GAZEBO STAGE hosts 5 workshops on Sunday. 'French Fireworks' will be an explosive display of musical talent with 'The McDades' and 'Le Vent du Nord'. 'Music of the East' has Harry Manx matched up with the Chinese music group 'Red Chamber' and East Indian tabla player Rakesh Tewari from 'DiggingRoots'.

The HOMEMADE JAM schedule starts with 'The Young Writers' workshop followed by Open Stage slots. At 2:00 pm catch Toby Walker, David Amram and Tim Ronan in a workshop exploring 'Blues Music' from 1900 to the present. With more Open Stage slots after that, there is ample opportunity for anyone to play their music at Summerfolk.

At the DOWN BY THE BAY tent you can join in the fun at the 'Canadian Highway' workshop. With 'The Cottars', Stephen Fearing, Mike Ford and 'The Arrogant Worms', there will be lots of laughs, tunes and songs with a Canadian theme. The 'Mixed-Up Bands' session which closes the afternoon is a sight to behold. Performer names are drawn at random and five piece bands are assembled for one-time only performances at Summerfolk!

On Sunday afternoon, two contra dances are planned for OVER THE HILL. 'One O'Clock Stomp' features the music of 'Crowfoot' with dance callers Myra Hirschberg and Tom Calwell. For the second contra dance, 'Hands Four - More Contra', Becky Hill will be the caller with 'Scatter the Cats' providing the music.

'Drum Stories' with Adwoa & Fule Badoe will start off the performances at THE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE. Kids will love hearing Sara Hickman, seeing the magic of Marc Trudel and joining in the action with 'Sheesham & Lotus'. More smiles await with shows from James Gordon, Michael Johnston and Mike Ford to complete the fun-filled music schedule at The Children's Village. In addition to the music, the hands-on craft activities will ensure children have lots to do at Summerfolk.

Summerfolk Choir members return to UNDER THE WILLOWS to prepare for their evening amphitheatre concert. This location is also the home for two workshops on Sunday afternoon - 'The Folk Game' and 'The Heart of the Matter'.

Leslie and Paul Conway of Voyageur Storytelling bring their talents to THE SHARING CIRCLE on Sunday. There will also be a 'Tune Players Circle', Summerfolk's annual 'Drum Circle' and a 'Song Circle'. All are invited to actively participate in these sessions.

At the CRAFTS DEMONSTRATION tent you can view the art of wood marquetry presented by Diane Edwards. Wood marquetry involves gluing carefully cut pieces of veneer onto a rigid base. Various species of wood gives the craftsperson a diverse palette of colours from which to choose.

The CAFE CONCERT at 5:00 pm features the music of 'The Cottars'. Their trademark - Celtic-infused singing, playing and joyous step-dancing in the spirited musical tradition of Cape Breton .

The final 6:30 set at DOWN BY THE BAY is a comedy showdown. 'The Last Laugh' will showcase the wit of 'The Arrogant Worms' up against another hilarious comedy trio, 'Modern Man'. This is bound to be side-splitting fun!

The AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS for Sunday night begin at 6:00 with a performance by The Summerfolk Choir. After their weekend rehearsals, the Choir will be ready to take to the amphitheatre stage at Summerfolk. Joined by guest performers, the Choir concert at Summerfolk is always a heart-warming moment.

Next up is Last Chance Saloon winner David Gillis who hails from Vineland in the Niagara region. David is a well-rounded artist of the highest standard. He will be accompanied by his daughter Ariana who is an up-and-coming performer in her own right.

'Crowfoot' not only play wonderful music for contra dances, but they are a fine Celtic trio in concert. Following them is Summerfolk favourite Jory Nash, then the 'pocket-sized powerhouse' Little Miss Higgins. The songs of 'Little Miss' reverberate with the twang of pre-rock blues and post-Carter Family country music delivered in her signature 'kick up your heels' style.

We are in for a treat as David Roth is up next. His "heavy-mental-easy-listening-protest music" covers a wide variety of subjects, poignant to political, holistic to hilarious. Seeing David in concert is an enriching experience.

A display of high energy Celtic jazz by 'The McDades' is next. The sound of this adventuresome quintet is immersed in the spirit of improvisation. Their arrangements are characterized by the band's virtuosity and interaction on stage.

To close the set of evening concerts, Summerfolk welcomes the return of Connie Kaldor to the amphitheatre stage. Connie is one of Canada’s most significant contemporary folk musicians whose performances are legendary.

The 'Amphitheatre Finale' at Summerfolk touches all present. The singing of 'Irene Goodnight' and 'The Mary Ellen Carter' means Summerfolk is over for another year. We follow the sound of Bob Dixon's bagpipes out of the amphitheatre knowing that the songs, the stories and the spirit of Summerfolk will stay with us.

It has been my pleasure to write these weekly columns on behalf of the Georgian Bay Folk Society. Thank you for reading them and your welcomed responses. Summerfolk weekend is here! I hope you will join family and friends for the 33rd annual Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival.

Saturday at Summerfolk

2008-08-13T01:16:00.004-04:00

The Summerfolk gates open at 10:30 on Saturday morning. The musical adventures begin with the workshops at 11:00.

Each workshop has a theme to guide the performers. The musicians, selected for their ability to relate to the theme, take turns performing. Others on stage may join in - it's loose, informal and often revealing. Workshops offer unique insights into the interaction and collective knowledge of the participants.

Here are some of the highlights for each of the workshop stages at Summerfolk on Saturday.

The GAZEBO STAGE has 6 one hour workshops on Saturday. 'History Class' includes Kim & Reggie Harris, Mike Ford and Shoshona Kish & Raven Kanatakta from DiggingRoots. 'World Class' features the music of David Amram and Red Chamber.

HOMEMADE JAM has 2 'how-to' workshops to kick things off. 'Songsmithing' will explore songwriting techniques while 'Fingerwork' will highlight the guitar styles of Toby Walker, Stephen Fearing and David Gillis. HOMEMADE JAM is home to the Open Stage where Summerfolk patrons are encouraged to sign up for a chance to play their music at Summerfolk.

'The Summerfolk R & B Revue' and 'Blues Ain't Feelin' Bad' are two of the exciting workshops scheduled for DOWN BY THE BAY. The afternoon sessions conclude with the 'Summerfolk Quiz'. Hosted by Dave Carr and yours truly, two teams of musicians are pitted against the audience in games of musical knowledge and fun.

The join-in dance sessions are back in a big way at Summerfolk! At OVER THE HILL..., you can participate in contra dancing, enjoy African drum and dance, learn to clog or swing your partner in the 'Country Round-up Swing Dance'.

The shows in THE CHILDREN'S VILLAGE will be spectacular this year. Where else could children see performances by Connie Kaldor, David Roth, Adwoa & Fule Badoe and the magic of Marc Trudel; all in one place!

UNDER THE WILLOWS is the rehearsal area for The Summerfolk Choir. Under the direction of Tom Leighton, audience members can share their joy of singing together. Under the Willows also has 3 workshop sessions between choir practices. 'Lessons in Love' should be an interesting and often visited song topic to investigate.

THE SHARING CIRCLE is a new addition to Summerfolk this year. It is my hope that Summerfolk fans will have an opportunity to bring their instruments, stories and songs... and join-in the circle sessions!

Each of the circles will be hosted by performers from the Summerfolk line-up. Some of the Saturday sessions include 'Spirit Drums', a 'Song Circle', 'Playing with Words' poetry and 'Fiddles & Flutes'. In conjunction with the Sharing Circle we are bringing back STASH YER STUFF - a secure place to store musical instruments on site.
Audience members can also participate in JUMBLEJAM. This is a chance to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk. If you sing or play an instrument and can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop - you might just end up in a band with Michael Johnston, James Gordon or Mike Ford.

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. An innovative, guided approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background. Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper will 'curate' 15 volunteer players into 3 bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer.

Applications will be available at the Information Booth inside Main Gate. Space is limited and participants will be selected purely for the way they fit the mix. The 2 hour song-building sessions will run at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. JumbleJam bands take the stage at 7:00 pm Saturday in the Down By the Bay tent.

Another interesting 'how-to' workshop will be one on FIRE POI in the Summerfolk Circle at 5:00 pm. At 11:00 on Saturday you can see 'Fire Poi' at night - a unique experience, only at Summerfolk!

Make sure to drop by the CRAFTS DEMONSTRATION tent on Saturday afternoon to view the best work of the 44 exhibitors from The Artisan Village. These artists are invited to submit two of their finest pieces to be included in the Exhibition. Cast your vote for the People's Choice Award.

The CAFE CONCERT at 5:00 pm has the acoustic quartet 'House of Doc' performing their mix of gospel, bluegrass and pop music.

So that's an overview of Saturday's daytime activities... now on to the AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS for the evening.

Red Chamber - featuring the unique sounds of China
The Bebop Cowboys - jazzed-up western swing music at its best
David Amram - a magnetic presence armed with charm and incomparable talent
Sara Hickman - playful music from this Austin, Texas performer
Marc Trudel - a performance of this magician's 'Card Solo' routine
Modern Man - with songs that are intelligent, lively and hysterically funny!
Harry Manx - a hypnotic show blending Indian music and the blues
Le Vent du Nord - showcasing the vitality and joy of Quebecois music

Summerfolk's highlight 'CONTRA DANCE NIGHT' also takes place Saturday evening at 7:30. It features the music of 'Crowfoot', one of the hottest bands on the contra band circuit, and the renowned Becky Hill as caller for the dances.

If you head on over to the DOWN BY THE BAY tent, here is what you'll see there on Saturday night.

Things start off with the aforementioned 'JumbleJam' bands at 7:00 followed by the authentic acoustic blues of Toby Walker. Then there is a workshop-style session - 'Twilight Time', showcasing the talents of Stephen Fearing, Michael Johnston and the Winnipeg duo 'Twilight Hotel'.

Next up are 'The McDades' with their fiery blend of Celtic jazz. The festivities at Down By the Bay wrap up with sets by Little Miss Higgins and 'The Cottars'.

So that's Saturday at Summerfolk. Looking over all that is offered, it is amazing that all this music can happen in one place, in one day. But that's Summerfolk for you!

The Sharing Circle at Summerfolk

2008-08-01T00:23:00.004-04:00

A new addition to Summerfolk this year will be The Sharing Circle.

You'll find the Sharing Circle tent just east of the permanent washrooms on site - out on the former beach area. My hope is that Summerfolk fans will have an opportunity to bring their instruments, stories and songs... and join-in!

In conjunction with the 'Circle' we are bringing back 'Stash Yer Stuff' - a secure place to store your instruments on site. The 'Stash Yer Stuff' trailer will be located near the Circle and tended by a volunteer crew.

You can see all the sessions being offered on the workshop schedule. Just click on '2008 Workshop Schedules' on the top righthand corner of the Summerfolk website.

Take a look - find a session or two that interests you and plan on participating. I think it's going to be a really great thing!

From 15 strangers to 3 bands...in 8 hours!

2008-08-01T00:06:00.002-04:00

'JUMBLEJAM' - A new Experience at Summerfolk 2008

How would you like to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk - all in the same day? Thought so!

If you sing or play an instrument and can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop - you might just end up in a band with Michael Johnston, James Gordon or Mike Ford.

Applications will be available at the Information Booth inside Main Gate. Deadline for entries is 11:15 am Saturday, August 16th. Drop off applications at the Information Booth Space is limited and the 15 participants will be selected purely for the way they fit the mix.

Gather at the JumbleJam Zone (just south of the South Gate) at 11:45 to see the band lists. The 2 hour song-building sessions will run at noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. JambleJam bands take the stage at 7:00 pm Saturday in the Down By the Bay tent!

JumbleJam workshops are about creating songs through a unique songbuilding process. An innovative, guided approach makes it possible for anyone to participate in the creation of a song, regardless of musical background. Facilitators Ken Dow and Martin Cooper will 'curate' 15 volunteer players into 3 bands, each anchored by a Summerfolk performer.

For more info on JumbleJam, visit www.creativityhappens.com/jjworkshop

Friday at Summerfolk

2008-07-31T23:59:00.002-04:00

At 4:30 pm on August 15th, the gates open for the 33rd annual Summerfolk Music & Crafts Festival.

One of your first stops should be the Food Village. There you will find delicious treats from any one of the 19 food vendors - wraps, salads, pizza and hamburgers. There is also a selection of international fare - Indian curries, Caribbean jerk chicken, Chinese dishes and Mexican tacos.

Take a table at the 'Cafe of the Senses' and enjoy the music of 'Scatter the Cats' at 5:00 pm. The 'Cats' are a collective of well-known Owen Sound area musicians who perform great tunes with a 'wee' bit of an Irish twist. Then you can polish off you meal with some dessert - homemade butter tarts, cookies, ice cream, yogurt or a piece of pie.

The sound of bagpipes signal the Opening Ceremonies at the Amphitheatre stage. Bob Dixon has been 'piping in' Summerfolk for as long as I can remember. Dressed in his Scottish tartan, Bob's music echoes throughout Kelso Beach Park and calls all to take their seats for the evening concerts.

The first words you will hear are those from Dave Carr, the 'Voice of Summerfolk'. Dave is a veteran Owen Sound broadcaster and music aficionado. Following greetings delivered by the dignitaries, the music begins!

Friday night's Amphitheatre concert line-up is full of talent! In order of appearance, the schedule looks like this:

Mike Ford - with a great collection of Canadian songs

Natalia Zukerman - an impressive guitarist with cool, sultry vocals

Haines & Leighton - folk music that rocks with an East Coast flare

Toby Walker - talented acoustic blues artist

DiggingRoots - aboriginal music for the present that draws from the past

Kim & Reggie Harris - inspiring singers rich in emotion

Stephen Fearing - with his powerful lyrics and masterful musicianship

The Arrogant Worms - Canada's favourite musical comedy trio

The Amphitheatre at Kelso is magical. The sound system is finely tuned and every seat is a good one. There is nothing quite like listening to music outdoors. Attending an evening concert in the Amphitheatre at Summerfolk is an unforgettable experience.

By Friday night the artisans have their one-of-a-kind works on display. A stroll through the Artisan Village will reveal a fabulous array of handmade items. These creative artisans are selected by jury for the quality of their work and are encouraged to demonstrate and discuss their art.

There's more to do on a summer's night at Summerfolk. The licensed Down By the Bay tent has refreshments and some great music to go with it.

Tim Ronan starts things off at 7:00 pm. Tim was selected from the Open Stage at last year's Summerfolk to perform at this year's Festival. Tim is an enthusiastic player with roots in Celtic and blues music. Next up are two of my favourite local performers - Ken Dow and Martin Cooper. Ken and Martin are at Summerfolk to host the 'JumbleJam' sessions. Together they also perform as 'Love Pants', a duo that's fun and entertaining.

'Sheesham & Lotus' play old-time ragtime and high-steppin' mountain music. They will be a great addition to the festivities in the Down By the Bay tent. Performing on fiddle, banjo, harmonica, hambone, jaw harp and bones, those two musicians are a 'hoot'!

'The Pete Devlin Band' is fourth up on Friday night. Pete is no stranger to Owen Sound music fans and joining him at Summerfolk will be Dave Matthews on bass, guitarist Joel Morelli and Rob Elder on drums. The Winnipeg based group 'House of Doc' follows Pete. This acoustic quartet delivers high energy instrumentation and dazzling four-part harmonies.

'The Bebop Cowboys' wrap things up in the Down By the Bay tent. Canada's hottest western swing band, the jazzed-up 'Bebop Cowboys' are seven sensational musicians.

Along with these shows at the Amphitheatre and at the Down By the Bay tent, Summerfolk also presents the Friday night 'Young & Hungry' concert showcasing the talents of up-and-coming performers.

Host Jory Nash will welcome young musicians Geordie and Evan Gordon, who perform with their musical father James; the charming duo 'Twilight Hotel' and the talented Ariana Gillis to the stage. Closing the concert will be the exciting Cape Breton sounds of 'The Cottars'.

Also on the 'Young & Hungry' bill are three acts from the Grey-Bruce region. Oliphant's Hayden Stewart, Tyler Firestone from Wasaga Beach and Hanover's 'The Stairwell Mystics'. These performers were selected earlier this year for this appearance at Summerfolk.

Wow! Friday night at Summerfolk is action-packed. With three concerts, Summerfolk fans will have plenty of great music to enjoy.

Summerfolk Fast-Approaching

2008-07-31T23:40:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I attended the Home County Folk Festival in London. It was their 35th anniversary and although the weather wasn't perfect, it was a wonderful event in beautiful Victoria Park.

Everywhere I went at Home County, people were talking about Summerfolk. There seems to be a real interest and renewed appreciation for what we do here in Owen Sound at our Festival.

Meanwhile, preparations for Summerfolk are in full swing with a line-up that boasts 49 fantastic acts, a fun-filled children's area and a unique Artisan Village.

Steps have been taken to do our part to help the environment. This year, our Gazebo Stage will be solar-powered and we are making efforts to sort waste efficiently, with a goal to send less material to landfill sites.

Plans have been made to offer an even wider selection of nutritious and tasty fare in the 'Food Village'. You can find a chair and enjoy the music at 'The Cafe of the Senses'.

On a sadder note, as many of you may know, Oliver Schroer passed away early this month in Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital after a 16-month battle with leukemia. He was 52. Oliver was raised in the Markdale area and made his mark as one of Canada's most inventive instrumentalists.

Over a 25-year career, the violin virtuoso produced or performed on more than 100 albums and wrote more than 1,000 pieces of music.

"It wasn't just his playing that made him special, though he was an amazing performer; it was also the clarity of his musical vision," said his longtime musical collaborator, David Woodhead. "He took the violin as far as it could go. There were no boundaries for him. He had a way of bringing things out in other musicians that they didn't know were there. He had such an adventurous spirit."

Schroer leaves his wife Elena, mother Irene, sister Martina, and brothers Andreas and Ansgar.

In previous articles, I have been featuring performers who will be appearing at Summerfolk. With just three weeks to go before the festival, the last three Thursday columns will focus on each day's highlights - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Obviously, with a line-up that totals 49 acts, there are many more performers deserving of a in-depth article. As this will be my last opportunity to tell you more about them, I'd like to cover several in this week's SummerFocus.

Let's start with James Gordon.

When you consider such songs as Mining for Gold, Harvest Train, Frobisher Bay, Fields of Rock & Snow and Lonesome Cowboy's Lament, you have an enduring collection of songs that capture the essence of Canada - these are the songs of James Gordon.

A life-long resident of Guelph, James has had a remarkably diverse career. As a solo singer-songwriter and with the ground-breaking trio Tamarack, he has released over thirty albums and toured across North America and Great Britain.

James has written for symphony orchestras, dance and theatre productions. He has also composed film scores and written family musicals as half of "Jim and Dave". For five years, James was a familiar voice on the CBC radio program 'Basic Black'. He wrote a new, and very silly song, each week for the show.

With a huge repertoire that runs from the historical to the hysterical, James Gordon is never at a loss for songs. Sons Evan and Geordie will be joining their full-service folkie/songwriter Dad for a weekend at Summerfolk.

I saw Toby Walker perform a few years ago at a music conference in New York State. He was one of the most outstanding acoustic blues acts I have ever seen. Because Toby is such an in-demand performer, it took a while to get him to Summerfolk but I know he is going to have a large following at the Festival.

Toby Walker has been a student of the blues for many years, making numerous field trips to study and research the music's origins. With his natural storytelling ability and skillful delivery, he keeps the authentic blues traditions alive with all the old tunings, syncopations, rhythms, tunings, riffs and songs taught to him by the first-generation players.

Watching Toby perform, "where is the other guitar player?" has often been uttered by an astounded listener.

Dean McTaggart continues to make his mark on the local music scene since relocating to this area last year.

Dean's professional career was launched as the lead singer/songwriter of the pop/rock group 'The Arrows'. His writing needs little introduction - he's penned songs for international stars Amanda Marshall, Terri Clark, Wynonna Judd and Anne Murray. Dean has won numerous awards for his songwriting.

Another local performer, Clifford's Juanita Wilkins, has just released a new CD produced by the aforementioned James Gordon at his Pipe Street Studio. Juanita is a very fine vocalist. Images of life in rural Ontario form the basis for many of her compelling songs.

Summerfolk is about storytelling and many of our musical performers are experts at telling stories in song. This year's festival will also feature stories told by poet Liz Zetlin, Voyageur Storytelling and magician Marc Trudel.

When award-winning local poet Elizabeth Zetlin accepted the appointment as Owen Sound’s first Poet Laureate, she said: “I want to promote poetry, honour local poets and poetry in the community, make poetry more than ‘words on a page’ … a way of paying attention and connecting to the people and things around us.”

Liz has performed poems at Owen Sound City Council meetings, in the Library and at poetry house parties - to total strangers on the street and at the Farmer’s Market. Her random acts of poetry may materialize at anytime during Summerfolk.

Leslie and Paul Conway of Voyageur Storytelling are known to local summertime audiences for their Country Supper Storytelling Concerts in Grey and Bruce, but their roots in the folk traditions of storytelling run deep.

Leslie was the founding artistic director of Jewish Storytelling Arts and a long-time member of the Toronto storytelling community. Paul, who started as a singer, came into storytelling through hosting circles at Fort Edmonton Park. They live in Northern Bruce Peninsula, where they create and tell stories full-time.

It was through a meeting with Paul that the idea for Summerfolk's new 'Sharing Circle' came about. When I asked about the best way to facilitate a storytelling component at the Festival, Paul said it works best in a circle format - just like music jams where musicians take turns and go around the circle.

'The Sharing Circle' sessions will include join-in poetry and storytelling circles with Liz, Leslie and Paul as well as drum and music jams.

Combining magic, humour and theatre to create baffling and mystifying illusions, Marc Trudel is considered one of the most innovative newcomers on today's magic scene.

Marc started his professional career by presenting over 1000 shows as the official magician of the 'Just for Laughs' Museum in Montreal. He then toured Quebec performing a mix of school, festival and corporate events. Marc won the 2007 Canadian Championship of Magic with a performance of his 'Card Solo' routine.

I had the opportunity of seeing Marc's 'Card Solo' performance and was very moved by it. It combines pantomime and magic. I think it will be a really exciting addition to Saturday night's amphitheatre concert.

Oh boy, get me going and I just can't stop. When the Sun Times first approached me to do a column, it was suggested I write 750 - 1000 word pieces. Obviously I've exceeded the word count on many occasions ... and here I go again!

The outstanding Sara Hickman from Austin, Texas will be at Summerfolk. Michael Johnston, The McDades, DiggingRoots, Mike Ford, The Cottars, Twilight Hotel, Sheesham and Lotus, David Gillis, Kim and Reggie Harris, David Roth ...all these artists bring their talents to Summerfolk.

I haven't even touched on our dance program, First Nations participants, home-town favourites The Pete Devlin Band or our fire poi activities. Summerfolk is a feast for the senses. People of all ages are inspired and entertained at Summerfolk. It is truly a family event and a proud part of Owen Sound's cultural mosaic.

Celebrating the natural beauty, charm and appreciation of the good life we enjoy in this part of Ontario, this year's theme is "Experience the Sound".

I'll be back next week with a look at Friday night's programming. In the meantime, I invite you to visit the Summerfolk website for a look at the complete concert and workshop schedule www.summerfolk.org

The Musical Adventures of David Amram and Winnipeg's House of Doc

2008-07-14T13:44:00.003-04:00

Musical compartments mean little to David Amram. His compositions and musical activities have crossed fearlessly back and forth between the classical, folk and jazz worlds.

A pioneer player of jazz French horn, he is also a virtuoso on piano, numerous flutes and whistles, percussion, and dozens of folkloric instruments from 25 countries. He is also an inventive and funny improvisational lyricist. He travels the globe with his music and returns home to tend his farm in upstate New York.

The high-spirited Amram traces his love for all sorts of music to a handful of influences. One of his uncles was a merchant seaman who gravitated toward the music of the places he visited. Another uncle introduced him to music by American First Nations people. Amram's Jewish heritage and upbringing in the farming community of Feasterville, Pa, population 200, also played a role in his musical education.

Yet another influence was radio. "Listening to the AM radio in the 1930s, they had jazz and symphony music coming from the same station," says Amram. "There were no demographics then.... I grew up thinking music was a lot of things."

David Amram identifies himself as "a full-time composer who is also an improviser, a conductor and a free-association scat singer" but that hardly covers the range of his work. Amram seems to have done everything there is to do in the world of music.

He has written operas and symphonies, played jazz with Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk, composed the musical scores of the movies "Splendor in the Grass" and "The Manchurian Candidate" (the original version), conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra and played backup piano for Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg reading from their work.

Now in his later 70s, the seemingly inexhaustible Amram tells in his new book, "Upbeat: Nine Lives of a Musical Cat," how he played with "Masai tribesmen in Kenya, country musicians in Texas, in a bell tower in Holland, and at a workshop in New Orleans for 300 flutists." Amram writes, "Improvising words and music on the spot and doing what feels right at the moment is what I have done since my days in the army in 1952."

When President Jimmy Carter gave permission to a group of jazz musicians to go to Cuba in 1977, thereby becoming the first sanctioned Americans to visit since Fidel Castro took over, Amram joined Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, and Earl 'Fathah' Hines for 36 hours in Havana. Dizzy refused to follow the itinerary planned by Cuban officials, telling Amram, "We don't have to give out or take in any propaganda. Let's just hang out. We'll be cool wherever we go." They ended up, happily, in the outdoor gardens of the Havana Libre, jamming with local musicians.

When the World Council of Churches sent Amram to Kenya to put on two concerts in Nairobi, and he found his way to the countryside to play with Masai tribesmen, returning with "two new songs I could play and sing in Swahili."

David Amram is a storyteller - and he's very good at it. For example there's the one about being marooned in an airport in India. He and 100 other passengers learned via the airport squawk box that their flight had been delayed - again. Curses. Anger. What does Amram do? He starts a drum circle to ease the tension. Everyone was giddy when the flight finally took off.

Every year he joins up with Willie Nelson to support Farm Aid. "I feel as strongly about farming and the people who are farmers as I do about people who I work with in music. I was brought up on a farm, it’s just something like music that gets in your blood. Seeing a farm, a family farm, not a factory farm, but something that’s run with love and care, is as beautiful a work of art as any painting or any symphony. It’s real, it’s universal, and it’s something that we all came from."

Even in his seventies, Amram remains busier than most musicians a third his age, conducting here, lecturing there and on the road heading for another gig. On stage he is personable and immediately attracts an audience with his enthusiastic approach. With all that he has done, each show is an intimate celebration of music. David makes everyone a part of it in a way that is neither dry nor superficial.

At home with all kinds of music and musicians, he is a multi-instrumentalist able to draw from links that connect music around the world. David Amram is a folk festival dream come true. He can demonstrate the similarities and differences between wind instruments from nine or ten different countries, and then quickly conduct an improvisational song-writing workshop. Half an hour later he can put together a 14 piece band to perform one of his original compositions in the evening.

David Amram is a musical catalyst of the first order. A truly genuine and outstanding advocate of music.

The Winnipeg folk/roots group HOUSE OF DOC is named after the Wiebe family home which was presided over by Grandfather David ‘Doc’ Schroeder PhD. The family's history in Canada dates back to the late 1800s.

House of Doc is one big happy family - literally. It is comprised of Jesse Krause, Dan Wiebe, his sister Rebecca Harder and her husband Matthew Harder.

You'd think having this much family, blood or otherwise, in a creative setting could lead to drama. But according to Matthew Harder, families and bands aren't so different from each other. "The reality is, bands behave like family eventually." Harder says. "It makes staying together as a band more of a guarantee. Our commitment to the band is stronger because of our commitment to each other."House Of Doc incorporates elements of bluegrass, folk, country, gospel, blues, rock and old tyme music into their sound. An appealing blend of Canadian folk where high and lonesome mountain music meets the wheat field of the prairies. Infusing musical inspirations such as Gordon Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel and Spirit of the West with intricate harmonies and high energy instrumentation, the band packages it all up with a down-home delivery.

The group was born when guitarist Harder, already a professional musician, clearly saw the potential in this remarkable family of musicians. The Wiebe siblings, along with brother David, had been singing together since early childhood on Sunday mornings in their Mennonite congregation. Matthew encouraged them to raise their status as gifted amateurs to the professional level.

Mandolin player Dan Wiebe, the baby of the group, is a serious up and coming songwriter. He is a gifted composer/arranger of classical and choral music as well. Big sister Rebecca Harder plays banjo, flute, a variety of whistles and accordion. She is also a highly regarded music educator.
Bassist Jesse Krause, the newest member of the Docs, replaced David who left the group in 2005. His multi-instrumental capabilities and musical imagination has galvanized House of Doc into an even stronger band.

Dan Wiebe explains, “We have a pretty large instrumental capability - flutes, whistles, harmonicas, bouzoukis, bassoons, piano, guitars, squeezeboxes, and we’re not afraid to use it. I’ve played bassoon with the Winnipeg Symphony. Besides playing guitar Matthew is also a concert pianist. As a group we’ve got a lifetime of singing Sacred music - a cappella and in choirs It’s just a great big smorgasbord of sounds and influences."

The band's album "Prairiegrass" was recorded under the direction of producer Vince R. Ditrich (Spirit of the West), who fortuitously met the group onstage during a workshop at the 2004 Winnipeg Folk Fest and struck up a conversation. “One minute we were chatting about Matthew’s lovely Gretsch guitar and the next minute we decided we’d work together on an album project.”Their latest CD 'East of West', was recorded at the Tragically Hip's ‘Bath House’. The month-long residential session brought out the very best in House of Doc.

Mathew recalls visiting Summerfolk as a youngster when he resided in Ontario. He is very excited about returning to perform on stage at the festival. His parents are long-time folk music fans who plan on accompanying House of Doc to Owen Sound.

Superb four-part vocals define the band. The music they perform is fun and adventuresome. Along with workshop and concert appearances at Summerfolk, House of Doc will be featured in the Sunday morning gospel show "Oh What Joy!".

The Open Stage at Summerfolk

2008-07-11T10:16:00.003-04:00

I am hoping we'll have lots of interest in Summerfolk's Open Stage again this year. Combining the Homemade Jam Stage with the 'Cafe of the Senses' has worked really well - there's always an audience and the crew does a great job making everybody sound good.

Open Stage slots are available on Saturday and Sunday during the day. Each 1/2 hour spot is shared by 2 or 3 performers, providing each participant with approximately 8 minutes time (2 selections).

HOW TO "RESERVE" YOUR SPOT:

A limited number of slots are available for pre-registration (noted as pre-assigned in schedule below). Contact the Georgian Bay Folk Society office to sign up - phone (519) 371-2995 or email gbfs@bmts.com.

On-site registration is on a first-come, first-served basis (noted as festival sign-up below).

You must be in possession of a ticket for that day or be on site as a volunteer.

If all the pre-assigned slots are not filled prior to the festival, those time slots will be available for festival sign-up. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your assigned performance time and check-in with the Homemade Jam crew.

* YOUR CHANCE TO PLAY SUMMERFOLK:

One performer from the weekends' Open Stage will be offered the opportunity to join the performers' line-up for next years' Summerfolk! That selection will be done by our Homemade Jam Tent crew and will be announced from the Amphitheatre Stage at approximately 8:30 on Sunday evening.

HOMEMADE JAM TENT SCHEDULE:

Saturday;
11:00 - workshop
11:45 - workshop
12:30 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)
1:00 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)
1:30 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)
2:00 - workshop
3:00 - Open Stage Slot (festival sign-up)
3:30 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)
4:00 - Open Stage Slot (festival sign-up)

Sunday:
12:00 - workshop
1:00 - Open Stage Slot (festival sign-up)
1:30 - Open Stage Slot ( pre-assigned)
2:00 - workshop
3:00 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)
3:30 - Open Stage Slot (festival sign-up)
4:00 - Open Stage Slot (pre-assigned)

Summerfolk Concert Schedule

2008-07-09T13:36:00.003-04:00

AMPHITHEATRE CONCERTS 6:00 - 11:00 pm

FRIDAY
Mike Ford
Natalia Zukerman
Haines & Leighton
Toby Walker
DiggingRoots
Kim & Reggie Harris
Stephen Fearing
The Arrogant Worms

SATURDAY
Red Chamber
The Bebop Cowboys
David Amram
Sara Hickman
Marc Trudel
Modern Man
Harry Manx
Le Vent du Nord

SUNDAY
The Summerfolk Choir
David Gillis
Crowfoot
Jory Nash
Little Miss Higgins
David Roth
The McDades
Connie Kaldor
Finale

SUNDAY MORNING 10:30 am
'Oh What Joy!'Connie Kaldor, Kim & Reggie Harris, House of Doc & David Roth

DOWN BY THE BAY CONCERTS

FRIDAY 7:00 pm - host Eve Goldberg
Tim Ronan
Love Pants
Sheesham & Lotus
Pete Devlin Band
House Of Doc
The Bebop Cowboys - Juanita Wilkins at break

SATURDAY 7:00 pm - host Mike Ford
Jumble Jam
Toby Walker
'Twilight Time' - Twilight Hotel, Michael Johnston & Stephen Fearing
The McDades
Little Miss Higgins
The Cottars

SUNDAY 6:30 pm
'The Last Laugh' - Modern Man, The Arrogant Worms & Mike Ford

CAFE CONCERTS 5:00 pm

FRIDAY - Scatter the Cats
SATURDAY - House of Doc
SUNDAY - The Cottars

YOUNG & HUNGRY - FRIDAY 7:00 pm
James Gordon & Sons
Tyler Firestone
Twilight Hotel
The Stairwell Mystics (formerly known as Driftar)
Ariana Gillis
Hayden Stewart
The Cottars

Quebec's 'Le Vent du Nord' and Prairie Blues Artist 'Little Miss Higgins'

2008-07-09T13:22:00.004-04:00

At first, LE VENT DU NORD sounds very much like a traditional Celtic group. But then the voices come in. Not only is much of their vocal work four-part harmony, but it's in French as well.

Le Vent du Nord is a band dedicated to preserving and sharing the musical heritage of Francophone Canada. This quartet of musicians from Quebec is one of the best-known groups in a exploding French Canadian folk revival."When I was young, it was considered a shame to play this music," says Nicolas Boulerice of the band. "But now, it is becoming à la mode."
All the group members are in their early 30s and come from musical families. Rejean Brunet performs on bass, accordion and piano. He grew up playing music with his brother Andre in the small town of Lacolle. Boulerice says that he and guitarist, Simon Beaudry, grew up surrounded by music. "Traditional singing and dancing - we were just born into it. But we also research for new repertoire, and Olivier (Demers), the fiddler, he composes a lot of tunes - so we have a mix of new and old."

That mix is at the core of Le Vent du Nord's approach. The group's instrumentation includes fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, accordion, guitar, piano and bass. The overall sound can have the gentle lilt of concert ensembles such as the Chieftains, but also the flavor of crossover groups like Steeleye Span and the pioneering French group Malicorne."The new generation has re-appropriated this music," Boulerice says. "Taking it not as a historic thing but something that is still in movement. We bring what is in our own tradition but also other styles. In the way we play chords, you can hear we studied a little jazz. In concert especially, we like to kick a little bit like a rock 'n' roll band."Boulerice's main instrument, the hurdy-gurdy, is a medieval invention. Its French name, vielle à roue, translates roughly as "wheeled fiddle". It consists of a wooden wheel the player turns with a crank in his right hand - this acts like a never-ending bow. The left hand pushes keys that act like a fiddler's left-hand fingers."This was part of the old French roots," Boulerice says. "When settlers first arrived 400 years ago, they had bagpipes and hurdy-gurdies. But it was probably hard to keep in tune because of the weather and the instrument is quite fragile. It was also not the easiest thing to bring across the ocean."Boulerice began playing the instrument 12 years ago. He was already working as a pianist but fell in love with the unique sound of the hurdy-gurdy."It impressed me because it has one foot in the past and another one in the future." he says. "It is very old, born in the 12th century, and at the same time it's very modern because nobody knows it. And it's like the synthesizer of the Middle Ages: Sometimes it sounds like an electronic instrument, but it also has this drone like a bagpipe. So I was attracted by this ambiguity."Le Vent du Nord recently released its third CD, "Dans les Airs," and has been touring North America and Europe. Boulerice says it is interesting playing their music for audiences in other areas and that language is less of a barrier than some people might expect.
"I think it's like when I was young and I was listening to a lot of Anglo-Saxon music and American music," he says. "I didn't know anything about what the Beatles were talking about, but I loved it.""And this traditional style, it also has enough musicality that you don't really need to understand the lyrics to enjoy it."

Jolene Higgins, better known as retro-country blues artist LITTLE MISS HIGGINS, is a pocket-sized powerhouse who mixes originals with 1930s Memphis blues standards. Accompanied by musical and life partner David Mark, her guitar work is rooted in a vintage sound and her energized stage show is full of gutsy, spirited songs.

Born in Independence, Kansas, Jolene was 13 when the family moved to Brooks, Alberta. After high school she studied theatre in Victoria and Red Deer. She performed at the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival before her musical career started to take off. "I still consider music as performing - telling stories as well as playing music. I have a hard time standing still".

"When I started playing guitar I listened to Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. That took me farther back to find out who they were influenced by. Hearing people like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, I kept digging farther back. Who was Billie Holiday influenced by? Bessie Smith. Who was Bessie Smith influenced by? Minnie McCoy".

Higgins' musical world was soon bound by the songs, stories, mannerisms, fashions and ribald excess of the all but forgotten artists who were the pioneers of rock 'n' roll in the 1930s and '40s. It helped, she noted, that they lived very theatrical lives, onstage and off.

"Memphis Minnie was really cool because she also played guitar". Higgins plays an old-fashioned but smokin' style on her 1960s Kay archtop guitar played through a Fender Blues Junior amplifier, getting the warm tone you would have heard from the early electric guitars.
Jolene and David, who uses the stage name Foy Taylor which is always a cute part of their show, reside in Nokomis, Saskatchewan. Another prairie town, this one is located about halfway between Saskatoon and Regina. Nokomis was at one time the point where the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National rail lines crossed. These days it's a small and isolated bit of the prairies' fabled past, home to just 400 people.
"I'm definitely a prairie girl. I spent a year in Victoria, which is beautiful, but I realized that I'm a prairie person". Indeed, the big country of Saskatchewan figures prominently in Higgin's songs. In her country blues style, she sings of the wind, the emptiness of the landscape and getting dirty fingernails from tending the garden.

“Junction City”, her album inspired by life in Nokomis, was nominated in the Blues Album category for the 2008 Juno Awards. The five foot two singer/guitarist was also nominated in the Favourite Blues Group or Duo category of the 8th Annual Indies Awards.

Bound to be a big hit at this year's Summerfolk, the songs of Little Miss Higgins reverberate with the twang of pre-rock blues and post-Carter Family country music coming alive in her signature 'kick up your heels' style.

"It will be nice to get east," said Higgins, who made her Toronto debut last October at the Free Times Café. "But it's also nice to get back to a place like Nokomis, somewhere quiet, with a house and garden. I get a lot of inspiration from that".