ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOLK CLUB
2008-09 CONCERT SCHEDULE
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We are pleased to present the Rocky Mountain Folk Club's 34th season. Each night begins with a set by our house band Ceard with Dick Howe on guitar, vocals and bodhran, John Campbell on vocals and guitar, Jim Atkinson on bass, guitar and vocals and Hal Curties on vocals, guitar and emceeing duties. Ceard plays predominently traditional songs but they throw in a few contemporary tunes and bad jokes occasionally. During the rest of the evening we normally present two sets featuring various combinations of touring performers and some of the great local talent available in Calgary. If we have time, we end with the world famous Rocky Mountain Folk Club Choir where audience participation is mandatory! We hope you will enjoy the performers we have selected. | |
| Doors open at 7:30 p.m., concert starts at 8:00 p.m. |
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Friday September 12. Paul Rumbolt and Magnolia Buckskin Paul Rumbolt was born and raised in Newfoundland and has lived in southern Alberta for the last 15 years. He has been involved in a wide variety of musical styles (evident in some of his pub gigs) since an early age, but since the release of his fifth CD "Songsmith" last spring has been concentrating much more on performing his own original material. His songs have been very well received at numerous venues this summer, and he recently made a live appearance on Tom Coxworth's Folk Routes programme on CKUA radio. The band Magnolia Buckskin was formed last spring and consists of Kathy Cook, Natasha Platt, Emily Triggs and Marti Smith, all talented singers, songwriters and instrumentalists with past experience in a variety of Calgary area groups. Kathy last appeared at the Rocky with Charlie Chiasson and Ron Casat at the Rocky's 30th birthday house band reunion show, while the others will be making their first appearance (as far as I know) at the Rocky. Their music could best be described as a blend of roots, folk and gospel, and features great harmony singing, both in unaccompanied numbers, and with guitar, mandolin and accordion accompaniment. Friday October 10 The Steve Fisher Group. The Steve Fisher Group featuring Steve Fisher and Jim McLennan on guitars, Paul Bergman on bass and Bruce Blair on fiddle. An acoustic mix of bluegrass, swing, blues and folk featuring some of the best vocals, fiddle, upright bass, fingerpicking and flatpicking guitar you can hear anywhere. Friday November 7 Wendell Ferguson and Katherine Wheatley. Wendell Ferguson is the six time Canadian Country Musician's Association Guitar Player of the Year. According to The Ottawa Citizen Katherine Wheatley is "a performer to keep you on the edge of your seat". They are best of musical pals. Her heartfelt lyrics and stunning voice and his honest yet irreverent humor make their show both moving and hilarious. One presenter said "An absolutely transcendent concert". Another said "She didn't leave a dry eye in the house. He didn't leave a dry seat". Six time CCMA Guitar Player of the Year, Wendell Ferguson has traveled the globe and accompanied a veritable who's who in both the country field - (George Fox, Duane Steele, Tommy Hunter, Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks) and the folk arena - (Gordon Lightfoot, Quartette, Bob Snider, Cindy Church). He is one of the best loved and most respected guitar players in Canada. Wendell performs his own, very funny songs at Folk Festivals and concert series. "The man writes sharp, witty and head-spinningly brilliant tunes. He's a cross between Roger Miller and Ray Flack. He has more in common with Mark Twain than Shania". (Twangzine). "The Victor Borge of the guitar." According to Country Music News "Wendell Ferguson is recognized by his peers as one of the top pickers in the country and known best as having one of the quickest wits in the game. A talented and funny guy to say the least." Arresting vocals, fine guitar playing and a 'down to earth' feel that some attribute to her years working as a geologist, mark Katherine's work. As well as touring extensively, she has written music for film and television documentaries and has been a musical guest on many shows, including CTV's Canada AM and CBC Radio's Vinyl Cafe. Hubert O'Hearn of the The Chronicle Journal in Thunder Bay wrote "Katherine Wheatley is able to take minor observations in life and find their soul. On stage...she exudes sheer kindness and love. Blessedly, refreshingly, Katherine Wheatley is a truly Canadian original". According to Warren Footz of SEE Magazine "...man, can this serene red head ever play guitar". Friday November 21 Kat Danser plus Seancara Kat Danser brings her powerful and soulful voice back to the Rocky, having last appeared in 2004. Since then she has released a second CD "Somethin' Familiar", which was nominated for Outstanding Blues Recording at the Western Canada Music Awards in 2007, and she continues to tour regularly, for example crossing the country this past summer from the Saltspring Island Jazzfest to the Lunenburg Folk Festival. Seancara members Barbara Rose Olorenshaw (fiddle and vocals) and Chris Daniels (bodhran and more) were founding members of the very successful Calgary band Clanterra. Since then Barbara has performed with numerous other acts including Seanachie and The Sunday Night Band, and Chris performs frequently with Third Reel as well as being heavily involved in the recording side of the music business. In Seancara they are joined by Chris's son Jay Daniels on guitar. Expect an energetic set of both vocal and instrumental numbers. Friday January 16 Robbie Burns Night. This is the night for our very popular Burns celebration. We have haggis, bagpipes and great scotch, . Who could want more? The piper this year will be Don Maxwell, and he is going to bring along a dancer or maybe two to provide some action (his word) during the pipe tunes. Cock of the North consists of Dave Settles, Jim Dauncey and Mary-Lou Dauncey on vocals plus various guitars and bodhrans, plus fiddlers Lesley Jefferson and Derek Marshall. Kilkenny consists of Dick and Jim of Ceard plus Jason McDougall (fiddle), Diana Knaak (whistles), and Denis McMaster on keyboard. Jim Hutchens will address the haggis. Ceard will open the evening as usual, and rumour has it that the Scottish songs will not be monopolised by Dick on this occasion. Friday February 13 Trina Nestibo (Calgary) plus Richard Harrow (Calgary). On Friday Feb 13, the Rocky welcomes back Trina Nestibo along with John Hyde on bass and Charlie Hase on pedal steel guitar. Trina has played at the Rocky before as part of the groups Nothin' But Trouble and Soultree. She has been busy recently with numerous ventures, releasing her first full length CD, touring throughout Western Canada, and hosting regular sessions at Mikey's Juke Joint in Calgary. She has appeared live twice on CBC Radio's Homestretch programme in Calgary, and this Sunday (Feb 8) is scheduled for a live appearance on Tom Coxworth's Folk Routes on CKUA. Also performing Feb 13 will be Richard Harrow. Richard has been in the music business in Calgary for at least 35 years. In the 70s he wrote (among many other things) the songs for the musical "Jerry Potts" and for a couple of years was a member of "The Original Caste". He has been involved in numerous recording, film, mastering and sound activities, notably running Living Room Studios for many years and as sound man at the Calgary Folk Club. In recent years he has found more time to return to his original interest - writing, recording and performing music. Friday March 13 Celtara (Edmonton). Celtara are an amalgam of some of Edmonton's finest Celtic musicians, former members of bands such as Sheelagh Na Gigh, Scona Brae and Murphy's Law. Band members are: Tami Cooper, flute and vocals, Bonnie Gregory, fiddle, harp and vocals, Steven Bell, accordion, piano, vocals, Andreas Illig, guitar and bouzouki and Mark Arnison, bodhran, percussion and vocals. Friday April 17 Steve Palmer (Saskatchewan) plus Toad on the Ceiling (Calgary). Toad on the Ceiling consists of Roxanne Young on fiddle, Sean Sabraw on guitar, Rodger Leeder on mandolin, and Brendan McGuigan on upright bass, and with everyone contributing on vocals. Roxanne is one of Calgary's outstanding fiddlers (celtic, jazz and classical), played for five years with the international touring group Barrage, has recorded and performed with numerous acts from Cirque du Soleil to Alanis Morrisette, and currently plays with the Plaid Tongued Devils and runs the Calgary Contemporary School of Music. Sean and Rodger have both appeared at the Rocky more than once with local favourite The Buccaneers, and Brendan performs regularly with several local groups. Steve Palmer was influenced early on by the music of Doc Watson, and has now been playing folk, gospel, country and blues for around forty years. After years with a number of bands, he now performs more often as a solo artist and is as busy as ever touring throughout Western Canada. |
