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...

OK, for those of you who read this newsletter and still haven't seen Steve Poltz, I'm not sure what it is I need to do to convince you to drink the Kool-Aid... Seriously... Steve has done 13 shows at our joint since we opened in May of 2008. "So what?" you say... He lives in SAN DIEGO!  That's what!!!

HIs show on Wednesday, July 7th will be his 14th show. We decided to add it quickly on the heels of his last run of shows because we didn't want to mess with the number 13, even though none of us are superstitious (as I throw salt over my shoulder while knocking on wood avoiding a black cat walking under a ladder, etc.)... Show time is 9 PM. Tickets are still only a $20 pittance.

Steve followed his Carleton shows with an astounding performance at Delta Hotel's recent Habitat For Humanity show in Halifax and knocked the room on its ear. Massive standing ovation. That set was 40 minutes long. At our place he routinely does a couple of hours.

Anyway, this show will probably be his last in the area for a long, long while. You owe it to yourself to come out to see it - especially if you haven't caught his act before. I've said it before and I'll say it again, and again and again, he's the best solo performer I've ever seen and, believe me, I've seen more than you have.

Catch him on CBC's "Q" with Jian Ghomeshi on July 6th. He'll be on the air off the top of the show.

Steve, of course, wrote "You Were Meant For Me" with Jewel. I just found a YouTube video of Steve on stage with Jewel in Kansas City, singing a song they wrote about the place an hour before the show. If you know Steve at all, you'll know he probably wrote most of it! You can see that clip HERE.

Oh, if you don't know, that's Joel Plaskett on the left (he produced Steve's new album, "Dreamhouse." And, uh, that's Steve Poltz on the right...

You may not be familiar with Cheryl Wheeler, but you have probably heard her music. She is very respected as a songwriter by her peers, illustrated by how many of them record her songs: Dan Seals, Peter Paul and Mary, Kenny Loggins, Garth Brooks, Suzy Boggus, Melanie, Bette Midler, Holly Near - you get the picture... If they think she is great, then you owe it to yourself to learn more if you aren't familiar with her.

We're getting Cheryl at The Carleton because she's doing StanFest this year and we're very much looking forward to it. I've never caught her act but those I know who have, tell me she's the kind of artist (much like Steve Poltz) who can take a crowd from laughter to tears and back again, thanks to that rare ability to connect with an audience.

You can check out some video (and there's tons of it) HERE.

Cheryl's on stage at The Carleton on Monday, July 5th at 9 PM. Tickets are $20.

Opening the show is Ariana Gillis

Ariana is also playing StanFest and, although she's young, one doesn't get invited to that festival unless one has some chops! You can see some video footage HERE.

This is a great bill. You shouldn't miss it!

A few months ago, Troy Greencorn from StanFest sent me an email giving me the heads up about a band he was trying to book. It was clear he was awfully excited about them - because he was RAVING - and he included links to some YouTube footage, as well as the band's website... 

Troy's turned me on to lots of good acts but I'd never heard him as insistent as he was this time so I checked it out. To say I was floored would be a grievous understatement. It was more like, "how is it I've never heard of this act before - they're SO GOOD!"

Well, probably because Baskery is from Sweden and they play music one would generally associate with America, except this Swedish take on the genre has a lot more punk in it than you'll hear at The Grand Ole Opry, that's for sure.

So, Baskery is three Swedish sisters - bass, guitar and banjo - that somehow manage to make acoustic music that, at times, is as heavy as any rock band you care to name. It's probably easier if you head to the YouTube Link for the video to One Horse Down for starters - it'll save me a lot of vocabulary searching, trying to come up with something that adequately describes the sound - and then maybe follow some of the other links you'll find there.

Once you've done that, you'll know why I'm pretty excited to announce that the band will be playing The Carleton Music Bar & Grill on Thursday, July 1st. Showtime will be 9 PM and tickets are $20.

I'm pretty certain this band is going to be HUGE so, don't mess up, get your tickets as soon as you can.

Oh, here's a link to the band's EPK (that's Electronic Press Kit, for the uninitiated)...

Opening the show is Chloe Albert (who's also playing StanFest on the weekend. Chloe is new to us but comes highly recommended by people we trust! Winner of the 2008 Canadian Folk Music Awards' Emerging Artist of the Year, this Edmontonian is worth seeing. She'll be doing her own show at The Carelton on July 21st (with Kristina Trites and Emma Cook).

Colleen Brown is an amazing singer/songwriter from Edmonton and I guarantee you that she will be a star. Her first album, Foot In Heart, originally released in 2008 has just been re-released on Emm Gryner's label and she's been getting rave reviews for her live shows as well as tons of airplay on Rich Terfry's CBC Radio 2 Drive show. In fact, Rich has graciously agreed to "present" this show at The Carleton.

Of all the press quotes I read, here's the one that rings true for me... "[she is] a national treasure in the making - along the lines of Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot or k.d. lang ." The Edmonton Journal

That strikes me most because when I first listened to Colleen's album I thought to myself that she sounded like a rockin' Joni Mitchell and that comparison isn't frivilous. She's the real deal people, absolutely brilliant, and we'll be sitting at the bar paying attention for this show, believe me!

And, as if that isn't enough...

My old friend, and ex-Haligonian, Eugene Ripper (ex of the legendary Stark Naked and the Fleshtones and inventor of the Fast Folk Underground) will be celebrating the release of his latest recording, Punks and Pushers, with this co-headlining show with Colleen.

Here are some nice quotes about Eugene too...

"One of Canada's most respected
yet underexposed songwriters."
Toronto Star

"Volleying between punk, folk and rock Ripper jumps all over each style,stealing from one and reshaping another until he comes up with a unique sound and vibe all his own." Now Magazine

"Ripper puts spikes back in folk music."
Vancouver Province

This is an unbeatable double bill. Tickets are only $10 and I'm just saying you'd have to be daft to pass this up unless you've got surgery the following morning... Seriously...

Alright, on occasion, when someone I know and trust calls me up and tells me I NEED to book something, and that they know what the deal at the club is, and that it doesn't matter if I haven't heard of them... on occasion, remember, I say, "OK." Such was the case with this show...

Have a look at this clip from the show:

Video Clip courtesy Geoff D'Eon ( thanks Geoff)

Hey, I love all kinds of music, but what do I know about Bluegrass compared to the aficionados that I know exist in this part of the world? Squat, that's what. Sure I know about the Monroes and the Louvin Brothers and yeah, I saw Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? and I've seen some pretty good Atlantic Canadian acts as well... However, once I started my research, it became pretty clear that my trusted friend's advice ought to be heeded. When I read quotes like, "the best harmonica player in the world..." etc., I sit up and take notice. So, over to you, bluegrass enthusiasts!

 Mike Stevens & Raymond McLain played our humble joint on Monday, June 28th. 

I'm sure there are other photos of Mike Stevens out there but I just love the hell out of this particular one! Oh, I should also let you know that Mike has a great album out with Matt Anderson called, Piggyback that he also toured with Matt, so you know this guy can play!

Here's the bio

As a solo entertainer, and with countless world famous musicians, Mike's journey has taken him across the globe. With a history taking him to the deepest roots of traditional bluegrass, Mike has been a regular at the Grand Ole Opry with the likes of Jim and Jesse, The Carter Family and Bill Monroe, to name a few.

Mike's solo act is as unique as his career, inventing looping techniques copied by many in the musical world and captivating audiences everywhere.

For the past eight years, Mike has become more recogniseable in his home country of Canada, equally for his talent and his journeys to the most remote corners of the frozen north. Mike has taken instruments and set-up lending libraries in some of the most desperate places on the planet to offer a creative choice to at-risk native youth. Through this work, Arts Can Circle was born.

untains of eastern Kentucky  to the stages of the Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall, Raymond W. McLain is a dynamic performer of traditional and original  bluegrass and Appalachian music. Director of Morehead State University's Kentucky Center for Traditional Music

I don't know about you, but this looks pretty damn authentic to me!

Here's Raymond's bio...

Raymond grew up in eastern Kentucky where for years he thought the banjo was the only stringed instrument in existence. Raymond’s forty-plus years of entertaining have given him the opportunity to perform throughout the and around the world, including touring as a musical ambassador of the U.S. State Department. Breaking new ground, combining various acoustic music styles, Raymond is a breath of fresh air at symphony orchestra "pops" concerts, residencies, and a variety of music events. For twenty-one years, as a mainstay of THE MCLAIN FAMILY BAND, and as a long-time member of JIM AND JESSE’S VIRGINIA BOYS Raymond had toured extensively and remains a bluegrass and old-time music festival favourite. Among others Raymond has performed with the likes of Doc Watson, John Hartford and Allison Kraus. Raymond’s playing and approach to the banjo is legendary. 

Currently, Raymond performs with harmonica virtuoso, Mike Stevens, a true innovator of bluegrass harmonica. Together, Stevens and McLain play a new and unique combination of musical styles reflecting their background in bluegrass, blues and old time country music.

Now, in addition to performing, producing & recording, Raymond is the Director of the Bluegrass and Country Music Program at East Tennessee State University, sharing his knowledge & music with students interested in bluegrass & traditional music, culture, instruments & performance.

Check out some great Mike & Raymond video HERE!

I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know much about Tony Cox when it was first suggested I book him at The Carleton, but after doing my due diligence I was blown away and seriously looking forward to seeing him. Then a horrible thing happened - we didn't sell any tickets!

I was horrifiied, and embarrassed, that we might not have an audience for this world-class artist... So I sent out emails to my contact list, offering to put anyone who would come on the guest list if they'd just promise to make a donation to the artist if they thought the performance was worth their time and attention. I won't say I begged people but I certainly coaxed and cajoled and, thankfully, when show time rolled around, we had a pretty decent audience.

And... and people thanked me for it! Not only did they thank me, they thanked Tony by "donating" more money than they would have paid if they'd just bought tickets in the first place! So, we had a happy ending to that story. It was a wonderful night out for all concerned.

In his native South Africa, he's considered a national treasure. For sure he's one of the best guitarists in the world and a brilliant story teller, who draws his tales from a life well lived, traveling all over the planet.

Tony is making his first return visit since that first, eventful, show and will be appearing on Sunday, June 27th. Tickets are only $10 because we don't want to give anyone and excuse to give this a pass. If you were one of the lucky ones last time around, please tell your friends, get some folks together and come out to see him. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Check out some great music at the link highlighted above. To see some cool performance video, go HERE.

As if Tony wasn't enough, opening the show will be New Brunswick's Ryan Leblanc, an insanely talented multi-instrumentalist. The cool thing is, he's a multi-instrumentalist all at the same time! Yeah, I'm not kidding.

Here's his bio, if you don't believe me...

Against the Grain is an appropriate title for Ryan LeBlanc's latest CD. After all, his approach to playing is anything but conventional. Weaving together rich acoustic guitar tones, the unique timbre of a claw hammer banjo, and the sweet, lonely voice of harmonica, Ryan creats layered melodic soundscapes that are nothing short of captivating. A strong rhythmic feel from cajon (Box drum) and djembe is accented by the resonating tones of his instruments as his hands dance gently between fretboard and body. Against The Grain is a live-off the floor samplings of Ryan's unique sounds. No overdubs. No multi-tracking. With up to three instruments being played simultaneously, this musical experience is truly captivating and perfectly compliments this aspiring artists talents. His first album, Down Deep, was released in 2005. His second alblum, Against the Grain, brought him a 2007 ECMA nomination for Instrumental Recording of the Year and won for 2008 World Recording of the Year. Ryan has also showcased at Montreal Jazz and Blues Festival, Stan Rogers, North American Folk Alliance in Texas, Les Nuits Acadienne in Paris, France, Confederation Centre, PEI, Canadian Music Week, Playhouse Theatre with Allison Brown and Oliver Jones, and Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, International Acoustic Guitar Festival in Germany. He has toured the Yukon, England, Germany and France. Catch him if you can. You wont be disappointed. 

Oh, and you can see Ryan's stunning ECMA performance, HERE.

So, there you have it. Two - count 'em, two - virtuoso players, on the same stage, on the same night for a paltry $10. If there's better value for money out there, I don't know where that somewhere is! Again, I offer my personal money-back guarantee. If you come to this show and can look me in the eye at the end of the night and tell me it wasn't worth it - I'll give you your money back out of my own pocket... But I know you won't!

We like to give cool bands a shot on Thursday nights and Dammien Alexander played the room for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We liked it and thought we'd give him another date so you'd get a chance to see him too.

Here's what the Coast had to say about his latest album. Should give you an idea of what to expect!

We Are Who We Have Been Waiting For
(Live Village Records)
Philadelphia-born Halifax resident Dammien Alexander mashes R&B, gospel, hip-hop and funk to support his vocals, which fall between Lenny Kravitz’s and Ben Harper’s. For standout tracks, go to the harmonies and mesmerizing piano of track sixth, “Satellite,” which sounds similar to Coldplay. “Love Jones” tells a humorous, clever tale that will make those out on the Halifax bar scene crack up---either knowingly or derisively. He sings: “It’s 2am. I’m goin’ to the Liquor Dome/to find a pretty young thing and bring her home.” The 13 tracks invite everyone in for a listen.
Genevieve MacIntyre