Here's one for you... I got an email from Matt McKechnie about booking a band he was working with (Little Jackie Wright) in southern Ontario. They were on their way east and needed a gig in Halifax. I couldn't offer much - except maybe one of our Absolut Thursday night shows - but I offered it to them. Matt got back to me to say the band couldn't, after all, make it out during the time frame he suggested, BUT, he was interested in coming out instead. I thought he was just a booking agent!

Anyway, I checked out the tunes and thought they'd be great for the room. So that's the story and I'm sticking to it. Ought to be a good time... AND, we don't generally do live music on Friday and Saturday nights but, seeing as how they were going to be out here anyway, we decided we'd keep them on to play for the party animals that are The Brier crowd. Oh, yeah, methinks it'll be a good weekend all around, hahaha...

Here's some info Matt sent along to give you an idea of what you're in for...

Growing up, Matt McKechnie was a massive listener of J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) and Led Zeppelin. Having played in garage bands since his mid-teens, he began to adapt and progress with the shifting musical terrain around him while still staying true to his idyllic influences. Graven is more about free-form, switching genres and the ‘meat’ of a song than it is about falling in line. Matt’s songs are truly different and rare and with a solid yet shifting band of ever-talented individuals (all of whom are a part of the homespun collective label ‘GravenRecords’) backing him, his music generates both interest and intensity.

With production and inspiration from folks like Charles Austin in Halifax (producer of Buck 65, Matt Mays, Joel Plaskett) and Dean Watson in Ottawa (producer of Meredith Luce, The Soiree, The Murder Plans), Graven is ready to hit the streets and rumble for the good of soul-singers everywhere.

Sometimes changing all of the players (except for Matt) depending on the sound, Graven is a sonic refuge of hope in the abyss of over-produced generic music. Crossing ranges between folk, hard rock, countrified cottage music and alternative country, Matt McKechnie’s songwriting style cannot be pinned down.

This trip to Halifax is especially significant for Matt & the Graven crew because it is where he first decided to go ahead with his own music due to the recording, production and encouragement of his friend Charles Austin in 2002. It will be Graven's first performance outside of Ontario.

Check out Graven on myspace or on the official site and home of their collectively run record label, Graven Records for new songs and soon to be posted tour and album updates.
 

I first interviewed Susan Crowe what seems like a lifetime ago when the MuchEast show was in its infancy in the early '90s. She seemed to me, at the time, to be a very serious - and perhaps shy - writer who was nonetheless determined to carve out a career for herself. Years down the road it's obvious that she's managed to do just that.

As probably the principal writer in the wonderful Rankin, Church & Crowe collective, her songs are the highlight of that group's performances, as evidenced by their shows at The Carleton last July.

We're very pleased to have Susan back for a show on her own to celebrate the release of her latest collection of songs, Greytown. It takes place on Sunday, March 14th at 9 PM. Tickets are $15. Dinner reservations are recommended for preferred seating.

Oh, when I apply descriptors like "serious" and "shy," don't misconstrue that. Susan will kill me if I don't point out the fact she has - as Joel Plaskett would say, "a wicked sense of humour."

This will be a great show!

Once upon a time, not so long ago, the Tea Party was one of the biggest acts in Canada as well as a major international touring force. During their 15 years together they released 8 albums and sold close to two million records... But all good things eventually come to an end and the band broke up in 2005.

The driving force behind that band, Jeff Martin, will play The Carleton Music Bar & Grill on Monday, March 15th and Tuesday, March 16th. Show time is 9 PM and tickets are $30. Dinner reservations are recommended, as always, for preferred seating.

Since the band's demise, Jeff has been a busy boy, releasing Exile and the Kingdom as a solo record in 2006 and forming The Armada, who's debut album was released in 2008. Along the way there were also a number of live CDs recorded primarily in Ireland and Australia. Jeff still - I think - has a studio in Ireland but currently resides in Perth, Australia with his wife and young son.

It's been a long road from Windsor, Ontario to the Carleton stage but I know we'll be in for a couple of stellar nights of music spanning a couple of decades.

Here's a cool YouTube clip of Jeff playing some lap slide and here's an old Tea Party favourite performed solo...

Without doubt, one of my favourite shows last year - hands down - was Po' Girl; partly because it was such a surprise. I don't often find myself booking an act I've never heard of but that's what happened with them. One listen to their new (at the time) album, Deer In The Night, and I was hooked. I figured that even if no one else had heard of them either, at least I might introduce some folks to the band...

Duh, of course other people had heard of them! Enough of them to sell the place out in advance at least. And once the band started playing! Wow, such beautiful, soulful sounds. I am so stoked to have them back again. They are almost the perfect band for The Carleton, if there's any such thing as true perfection.

As if Po' Girl wasn't enough, they are touring the U.S. and Canada with Chicago's JT Nero as an opening act. Holy smokes! It turns out that guy is also extraordinary! This is stacking up to be the show of the year, mark my words.

They'll hit our stage on Sunday, March 21st and Monday, March 22nd. Tickets are only $20. My advice is get them soon, very soon...

Check out this YouTube video of JT Nero and Po' Girl performing JT's song, Sam Cooke. Brilliant...

Here's the press release for some more information on the "No Shame" tour.

It's a new decade and Canadian Urban Roots band Po'Girl is getting proactive! Alli Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Sidelinger, and Mikey "Lightning" August are taking the new show on the road in the USA and Canada throughout February and March for the "No Shame Tour".

Po' Girl will be raising money to benefit the National Children's Alliance http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org in the USA and Little Warriors http://www.littlewarriors.ca in Canada. Partial proceeds of all Po'Girl merchandise sales from their shows will be donated to these groups. Allison Russell of Po'Girl will also be fund raising by collecting donations in support of her running the Athens, Ohio marathon on April 11, 2010 at the conclusion of the "No Shame Tour". One hundred percent of these donations will go to benefit the two child abuse prevention organizations. It's all a part of following their bliss....

Russell is the survivor of ten years of sexual abuse at the hands of her adopted father. She wrote the song "No Shame" in 2006 when she found out that he had been released from prison. Po'Girl recorded "No Shame" on their critically acclaimed album Deer in the Night in 2009. "No Shame" was featured on the radio program The Vinyl Cafe in May 2009. Host Stuart Mclean wrote a beautiful piece about the song and Alli's history; the reception from listeners was overwhelming.

Says Russell, "Stuart's piece and the response to it, gave me the idea that perhaps I could be more actively using my past misfortune and our music to increase awareness and dialogue about the endemic issue of child abuse in North America. Whatever I can do to prevent what happened to me from happening to others, that's what I have to do. It's my responsibility as a survivor. Not everyone is so lucky."

Hailing originally from Canada, Po’Girl weave a blend of musical influences, sweetness, grit & soul into their fresh and original sound. Since the band's birth in Vancouver, BC in 2003 they've been winning devoted and growing numbers of fans across 4 continents and 13 countries with their powerful, passionate and spirited live show. The interplay between Alli, Awna, Benny,and Mikey "Lightning" is truly something to behold. They are distinct voices with incredible harmonies; multiple instrumentalists who bring the perfect sound to each song and songwriters who pen poetic tunes you'll find yourself humming. They'll be heading to Europe for a two month tour of the Netherlands, the UK, and Ireland after the "No Shame Tour". Catch them while you can!

Their latest release, "Deer in the Night" still includes many of the trappings of the trademark Po' Girl sound - the echoes of speakeasy jazz, the western lament, the accordion-strapped ghosts of European folk - but it's all delivered with a soulful clarity and depth only hinted at on previous records. They have also recently released a live album, Po' Girl Live that captures the energy and spirit of the live show, complete with special guests JT and the Clouds.

Po'Girl is spending January recording a new album, "Follow Your Bliss" in Chicago, IL. "Follow Your Bliss" will be released in Europe in May and in North America in June.

“Their uplifting take on American Folk music, combining it with Jazz, roots and a little bit of pretty much everything else, has the ability to put a smile on anyone’s face.” – Glasgow Americana Festival

"With enough sultry ambiance to be at home in either cocktail lounge or New Orleans street corner, Po' Girl's sentiment never feels forced, the lyricism never cliche or false. They manage to maintain that traditional and nostalgic sound while the breathing fresh life into an old-fashioned genre."- Rolling Stone Magazine

"Po' Girl is rough and smooth, sweet and tart, and would be huge stars in that super-cool alternate universe I've always wanted to live in." - John Schlotfelt, Little Village Magazine

Here's one for you - two of the best acoustic guitar players on the face of the earth... on the same stage... on the same night! Whether you play the instrument or not, this night will blow your mind. The show is on Tuesday, March 23rd at 9 PM. Tickets are only $20.

Antoine Dufour lives in Shawinigan, Quebec. He's won the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, toured all over the planet and has multiple videos on YouTube totalling over 11,000,000 views. In short, he's no slouch and we're thrilled to have him at The Carleton.

Don Ross is simply one of the finest guitar players in the world and the only one to twice win the American National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. Here's what Bruce Cockburn has to say about him: "Nobody does what Don Ross does with an acoustic guitar. He takes the corners so fast you think he's going to roll, but he never loses control."

As Antoine's manager said to me on the phone, "if Antoine is Sidney Crosby, then Don Ross is Mario Lemieux" and that aptly illustrates the connection between the two. Master and student.

Here's some YouTube performance from Antoine and here's some YouTube performance from Don. Watch and be blown away, then get on the phone and buy some tickets! They're available by calling 902-422-6335 with credit card in hand. Dinner reservations are recommended for preferred seating.

This is going to be one hell of a show, mark my words...

A couple of months ago, I was introduced to Thor Kristinsson at The Carleton. He'd apparently just moved to the province from Europe and was enquiring about possibly doing a gig at our place. He told me he was a big deal in Iceland, was a recognized singer/songwriter, as well as an actor with credits that included successful runs in London's West End... "Really?" I thought to myself...

So, I continued to talk to him and went about verifying his story. It checked out... Thor will be playing The Carleton on Wednesday, March 24th at 9 PM. As an incentive to new fans, tickets will be specially priced at only $10 until March 10th. After that, they'll cost you 15 bones.

Thor Kristinsson is an international artist, an actor with West End credits to his name and a singer/songwriter, coming straight to the Carleton from his performance at the East Coast Music Awards.
 
Thor will play songs from his newly released album "Running Naked" along with personal favourites by other artists which include Leonard Cohen and Paolo Nutini. His producer Fred Lavery is nominated as producer of the year at the ECMAs this year for Thor's song "Sunny Day". The same song was recently picked up my Microsoft as part of their Windows 7 internet campaign.
 
Thor comes out with his debut album after an interesting and unusual career. Starting out in smoke-filled cafés in his native Iceland and moving on to songwriting and session-singing, Thor got sidetracked acting and singing in blockbuster musicals such as Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar on the West End in London, England, touring in the UK and Europe for many years.
 
Following a dream and a strong urge to have his own creative say, Thor connected with award-winning producing/engineering team Fred Lavery and Sheppy at Lakewind Sound Studios, creating "Running Naked"; a CD that is a journey through many of life's questions, along with some funny and strange little stories and funky tunes.
 
Thor takes you on a journey with heartfelt songs, songs about strange people and situations, about taking charge, taking chances and living life to the full. With passion, range and a voice that takes your breath away.

"Neoclassic, acoustic singer/songwriter rock. James Blunt, Tom Jones, Cat Stevens and Freddie Mercury cloned. Mixed and stirred in with a delightfully quirky and refreshing hint of fire and ice."

So, we're giving Thor a shot. The songs are strong, the voice is exceptional and I'm dying to find out more about Iceland! Be sure to head to his site to hear the music. It's good.