You'll see below that there are a lot of reasons to get your ass down to The Carleton to see Rob Szabo. I love the guy's voice, and his pop sensibilities are right up my alley, I have to admit. But it stands to reason that if you generally think my taste is decent, chances are you'll like him a lot too, right? Oh yeah, you will!

A “gifted musician” with “the soul of a poet” and “a voice of tremendous power and whimsy”, Toronto-based Rob Szabo is a tireless touring troubadour and an acclaimed songwriter.  His music has been called “accessible yet sophisticated acoustic pop”.  Szabo’s lyrics are beyond-heartfelt and have a "psst, did you know that?” confessional air to them, prompting journalists to compare him to Elliott Smith, for his emotional intimacy, and to “prime Costello” for his lyrical smarts.
 
Life & Limb, Rob’s third full length studio album continues in the tradition he established with his 2006 CD/DVD Like A Metaphor that was championed by Canada’s CBC Radio 1 and 3 with its sleeper-hit single “Breaking Even” who’s animated video went top 10 on Much More Music’s viewer request countdown and peaked at #2 on BRAVO!’s video chart .
 
Co-produced with longtime friend roots/blues dynamo Steve Strongman, Life & Limb was recorded in the serene environs of The Barn studio high on the Niagara Escarpment in tiny Caistor Centre,ON.  The renovated 100 year old barn provided the warm wood-ey sound and a sort of casual intimacy that permeates the record.  If you listen closely you can hear the birds from the daytime sessions and the crickets at night … you can almost taste the sawdust and feel the history …
 
“That Cold Hard Sell”, a tirade about omnipresent advertising and consumer culture stomps the album off to an old-school-Dylan-on-speed start.  Other highlights include “All The Sleepy Souls” a stark sincere pledge of love with swooping cellos and the epic “He Loves You” a twisted romantic plea complete with military snare-drum corps and children’s choir.
 
The album also features an old-timey duet (“Last Night’) penned and performed with Kerri Ough (Good Lovelies) and a who’s who of ace musical guests: Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo), Adam Warner (Royal Wood), Dave King (T Bone Burnett), Karyn Ellis, Jesse O’Brien (Matt Barber), Mike Olsen (Arcade Fire) & Paul Intson (Renowned Film Composer).
 
Rob’s voice remains front and centre throughout, at times tender, at others aggressive, all the while committed to sharing the words he so evidently put so much of his life into crafting.

Opening the show Is our pal, Ian Sherwood. I've stopped counting the number of times Ian has been on our stage - he pops up all the time as a go-to sideman for all kinds of acts - but I'm very much looking forward to hearing Ian do his own material for a change.

It's also nice that Ian is playing with Rob because Mr. Szabo just produced Ian's new album!

This will be a killer double bill and the price is certainly right! Show happens on Wednesday, July 28th at 9 PM. Tickets are only $15.

Coco Love Alcorn is almost ready to have a freaking baby! But not before she plays The Carleton one more time!

Yes, it's true, Coco is with child and she'll be playing our place on Tuesday, July 27th. Show time is 9 PM and tickets are the usual $20.

As you're probably aware, Coco is one of our favourite performers - she's smart, she's funny, she's got a miraculous voice and some absolutey stellar tunes. Can't wait to hear what she has to say about the process of pregnancy!

If you're not aware of Coco, check out some video HERE and HERE...

Here's a little multiple artist bill that ought to be a great night out! Mark it on the calendar - Monday, July 26th... Show time is 9 PM and tickets are a very, very reasonable $15!

Ryan Cook is an award-winning Atlantic-Canadian songwriter from Yarmouth, NS. Ryan performs a blend of the folk, roots, jazz and country/western genres. Ryan has performed more than 260 performances since the release of his "Hot Times" LP in the spring of 2008 which won the Country/Bluegrass recording of the year at the 2008 Music Nova Scotia Awards and was named the 8th best Canadian Country album of 2008 by Country Music News. Ryan has performed on stages across Canada as well as recently at the Ryman Auditorium and Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville, TN . Ryan is currently recording his follow up LP in Nashville, TN to be released in Canada in the fall of 2010

Ryan has played on our stage a couple of times and has never been anything but great.

With her smoky voice and heartworn songs, Laura Merrimen delivers Americana-infused country music that combines vintage arrangements with undertones of folky roots-rock.

Merrimen's debut album, Love Letters for Lonely Hunters, highlights the singer's old soul. With influences that range from Townes Van Zandt to Lucinda Williams, the album is steeped with a lingering darkness. Whether on the pulse-driven "Ontario", or the tremolo soaked waltz "Stand Alone", Merrimen demonstrates her ability to craft engaging songs focused around honest lyrics and innovative compositions. Her approach to infusing classic country archetypes into her writing has been acclaimed by outlets such as Herohill, who wrote, "It seems everyone wants to take a kick at the [neo-country and roots] can and revisit the past with their new work. It may all sound authentic, but where you really listen, very few get it right. Young Laura Merrimen is one of those precious few."

Either taking to the stage solo or teaming up with veteran Halifax musicians, Merrimen continues to spread her brand of soulful country throughout Eastern Canada. In the past year she has shared the stage with the Divorcees, Cuff the Duke, Elliot Brood, and The Deep Dark Woods.

One of Eastern Canada’s most talented recording artists, Ryan Roberts, has recently relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to join Special Consensus.

Born and raised in Cape Breton, Ryan's versatility and passion for excellence allowed him to make a very successful living writing, performing, and producing music in Eastern Canada.

An award winning songwriter, Ryan has also composed instrumental scores for film and jingles for commercial radio, and operated his own recording studio.

At the Eastern Canadian Bluegrass Awards, Ryan has been awarded "Songwriter of the Year" from 2005-2009 consecutively.

His songs have been recorded by Rose Cousins, Kevin Davison, The Spinney Brothers, True Blue, Justin Carbone, the Jeanette Williams Band, The Novelty Salesman, and many of his other contemporaries.

Currently Ryan is hard at work in Nashville writing and recording material for his sophomore solo album.

Karen Lizotte showed up a couple of times to do some tunes when Telfer were doing their run of Absolut Thursday shows. The response from the audiences was so good, we decided to let her and the band do a couple of their own shows.

Big voice, big fun... and it's FREE, FREE, FREE. We also do a little tasting each week of some lovely cocktails made with yummy Absolut Vodka. Come on in - you won't be sorry!

The show starts at 10 PM.

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Chloe Albert (Canadian Folk Music Award winner for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2008) is set to headline her own Carleton show on Wednesday, July 21st. Show time is 9 PM and tickets are $10 - cheap!

Chloe did a great job opening for Baskery (July 1st) on her way to StanFest. Oh, she's recording this show and we'll be looking for a particularly "loud" crowd for this one, if you know what I mean.

Helping Chloe on this show will be openers Emma Cook and Kristina Trites, two gals who are pretty darn good in their own rights...

My Toronto friend Cam Carpenter (who signed Sloan and The Headstones, by the way) called me awhile back about finding a date at our place for Jerry Leger, an artist he highly recommended. After having the usual discussion about whether enough people knew who he was to warrant a crowd, Cam suggested that Jerry was (a) keen enough and (b) more importantly, GOOD enough and was willing to take his chances with an audience to the point where he wouldn't even insist on a cover charge but would rather pass the hat at the end of the night.

I certainly can't argue with an artist who's game for that sort of approach. To that end, Jerry will play the room on Tuesday, July 20th. The show will start at 10 PM. This is something we're going to try on for size over the summer. We'll take the usual dinner part out of the equation and hope folks will show up later for some quality entertainment. We're calling it a New Music Night.

And Jerry IS quality. Here's some information and quotes from trusted sources to help you make your mind up!

Jerry Leger is a Toronto based folk/roots songwriter. In the few years he's been on the scene he has self released 3 acclaimed albums and toured Canada and the US. Leger is heard regularly on campus radio and CBC shows, "Q", "Drive", "Mainstreet" and "R3-30". He has opened for such acts as Fred Eaglesmith, Jill Barber, Ron Sexsmith, Skydiggers, Jesse Winchester, Justin Townes Earle, Deer Tick, Dawes, Peter Elkas, Kenny Roby, former Beatle Pete Best and Dave Bidini's Bidiniband.

"One of the best songwriters I've heard in quite some time." -Ron Sexsmith

"Leger is another Canadian songwriting legend in the making" - Jason Schneider, The Record, author of "Whispering Pines"

"Leger has one of those open hearted and unaffected voices that you instantly trust. Songs rich with poetic imagery and character-drivenstories, clearly he is an artist to watch." - Kerry Doole, Exclaim!

"WSM has been known for 85 years as being one of America 's premier radio stages for new and emerging artists as well as the home of live shows that have brought the world the best talent around. It was a pleasure to welcome Jerry Leger to a live WSM show as part of our Americana series. His genuine talent and songwriting is an example of what has been a part of the WSM playlist for many years." - Joe Limardi, operations manager and radio host, WSM Radio, Nashville

"Stylish album( You Me and The Horse) which hums to the tune of possible Legendary status. At 23, I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for Leger." - R.H., Maverick Magazine(UK)

"Eventually it all comes down to the story you tell, not the phrase you turn, and for such a young man, it's amazing that Leger already has the confidence and charisma to stand behind his tales. His songs are not the type of songs you play for a room full of people, hoping one sticks. His nasally draw and unfiltered admissions are more suited for a more personal listening experience; a rewarding one at that." -Bryan Acker, Herohill

"Strongly grasping the fundamentals of what has made the likes of John Lennon, Hank Williams and Bob Dylan so important to music. Though carefully and creatively forging his own path, not committing forgery." - William Self, Spill Magazine

"Strong songwriting and a compelling voice" - Jian Ghomeshi, writer, producer, radio host of CBC's Q

"5 out of 5" - Alt. Country

"tapped deftly into this quintessentially Canuck quality with an impressive take on roots and country." - Pras Rajagopalan, Chartattack

Check out some video HERE and HERE...

This is going to be a really good night of music. Do yourself a favour and come out to see some of it. And PLEASE try to keep a fiver or two in your pocket to give to Jerry for his hard work!

Here's another case of a trusted friend calling to give me the heads up about an act that (a) I should know and (b) ought to play The Carleton. Once clued in, it's obvious that Elizabeth Shepherd is a great fit for our room.

Following on the heels of the Jazz Festival, we think this will be a great show for festival fans and anyone else who appreciates some smooth sounds for a Monday night. That would be Monday, July 19th to be specific. Show time is 9 PM and tickets are $12. Here's some more info on Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Shepherd’s music is less about following a particular tradition than it is about expressing a creative spirit; she is an artist looking to share her take on the world. Which is not surprising coming from someone who grew up in a highly musical family, living all over Canada and France, played tenor horn in the Salvation Army brass band where her parents were ministers, had an early love-affair with hip-hop music, only to wind up studying French poetry, and eventually, classical and jazz piano at McGill University.

Her multiple industry accolades have landed her 2 Juno nominations (Canada’s Grammy equivalent), tours in Europe and across and North America, Japan, and most recently, a show at the legendary Hollywood Bowl with Jamie Cullum & Count Basie Orchestra. Fans and critics have drawn comparisons to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and Rickie Lee Jones. And what these names all share is both an accessibility and a distinctness – that quality people can’t quite pin down.

Depending on what the song calls for, Shepherd always draws upon her roots – be it Salvation Army origins, poetic singer-songwriter lyricism, the modal inflections of world music, simple and sassy pop, infectiously deep hip-hop grooves, or the harmonic complexities of jazz. Her tunes are always a departure from convention; yet one never has the sense of leaving the home she weaves on stage and invites us to be part of.

I freaking love Jay Smith and I'm happy he's rocking the joint on Absolut Thursday, July 15th.

I've been listening to the progress of his new album and really, really, look forward to its release - whenever that may be. I was a big fan of his Cape Breton-based band, Rock Ranger (best band name EVER), as well as his stellar guitar work with Matt Mays over the past few years. He's a flat-out rock star and you should come out to hear him play with his three-piece outfit. It'll be good for your soul!

I should mention that we also do some Abolut "product testing" on these nights, so get yer ass in gear to get here!

We don't have much time to get the word out but we're doing it anyway! FM Hi Low played one of our Absolut Thursdays last year and we absolut-ly loved them - and invited them to come back to play again when they got the chance. They'll be at The Carleton Music Bar & Grill on Wednesday, July 14th.

It'll be a rockin' night and, as such, will get underway at 10 PM. Cover is a very modest $5.

With band members from Peterborough and Montreal, these guys were one of the big surprises for me last year. A very cool outfit that plays reggae-tinged music with a pop sensibility that both grooves and swings, if you can imagine that.

Actually, you don't need to imagine it, you can watch some video HERE... and HERE

Good times guaranteed, my friends, and we'll make a dance floor! Bring a party with you...