How does a songwriter create a song from nothing? Does it come from a personal experience or a fictional one? Do they write the music first or the lyrics? Come out to The Carleton on Saturday, April 20th at 7:00 PM for an intimate evening with skilled songwriters, Joe H Henry and James Leclaire, as they take turns playing their songs and sharing the stories behind them. Tickets are $20 + HST in advance and $25 +HST at the door.
With a voice “as powerful as a freight train” singer-songwriter Joe H Henry bellows the flames of gritty roots with a whole lot of soul. Since emerging onto the East Coast Music Scene in 2023, singer-songwriter Joe H Henry has been making some serious waves with his unique and powerful voice full of grit and soul, thoughtful lyrics, and an innate ability to connect with audiences from all walks of life; stemming from his years spent travelling with nothing but a backpack, guitar, and his faithful dog. Releasing his ECMA nominated (2024 Blues Album of the Year) debut EP “Keep the Fire Burning” Summer 2023, to a sold out crowd at The Carleton, Henry has quickly become a name to watch with a Nova Scotia Music Awards Indigenous Artist of the Year nomination (2023) and performances at Cavendish Beach, Stanfest, the Halifax Urban Folk Festival, and the Scotiabank Centre as part of the Wildfire Recovery Concert where he received a standing ovation from an audience of 8,000+ for his song “All Hands” written just days before for the first responders and affected families.
From fist pumping, stomp your feet workingman anthems to soulful ballads of love, heartache and loss, James Leclaire‘s songs are all about storytelling. Intensely thought-out lyrics grind through James’ raspy vocal chords with powerful emotion to produce rich, dark imagery that can really punch you in the heart. James Leclaire has played in venues around Ontario and festivals like Ottawa’s Bluesfest and CityFolk. In 2014, the city of Ottawa had James headline the reopening of the historical Lansdowne Park. Over the past 3 years, James dedicated his time to writing and recording and has since finished 37 songs. Some of these tracks feature the musical talent of guitarist/mandolinist Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), drummer Ed Toth(Doobie Brothers), guitarist/pianist John Fraser Findlay(Juno Nominee), harmonicist Mickey Raphael (Nelson/Dylan/Young/Stapleton), and other amazing local musicians. James released the first single from this batch in Aug 2023, and is continuing to release a new single each month.