Details: Bluebird North: Where Writers Sing and Tell
The Bluebird North Edmonton Fall 2010/ Winter 2011 season begins on Labour Day Weekend, back for it's 2nd season in our Festival City. After a successful inaugural year, which included a Bluebird North showcase at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Bluebird North Edmonton is back and here to showcase more of Canada’s inspiring songwriters. This intimate and interactive evening of song and story takes place on Sunday, September 5, at The Haven Social Club (15120A Stony Plain Road). Bluebird North is based on Nashville's famed Bluebird Café, which opened in 1982 as a casual gourmet restaurant with some live music. It quickly became a music club first and a restaurant second. In 1985 Sunday writer's nights were added as a chance for new writers to audition and perform before a special guest writer. The Songwriters’ Association of Canada is pleased to present first of four concerts of the second season of Bluebird North Edmonton, produced and emceed by local singer/songwriter Ann Vriend. There will be two sets of music, in which the songwriters take turn playing and talking about their songs, in an "in the round" style, much like the workshops at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.
Performing on stage for this rendition of Bluebird North Edmonton will be:
Matt Masters – "Masters shows off a voice that sounds like he was born to sing country music story-telling songs that reflect the lives of everyday folk and a style that variously evokes such icons as Sun-era Johnny Cash, Stompin Tom, Ian Tyson, and George Jones, while remaining very much himself" (Montreal Gazette). With a rich, deep voice and a comfortable and charming stage presence, Masters has toured Canada, the Middle East, and Europe. He has also launched his own original country and western musical, "Don Coyote", which debuted in Toronto October 4th 2008 as part of the prestigious Nuit Blanche festival, and has performed for the third year in a row as part of Barney Bentall's annual Grand Cariboo Opry.
Terry Morrison – Terry Morrison has been described as “…one of the most intellectually compelling songwriters in town” by the Edmonton Journal. She has performed at many Canadian folk fests and toured throughout North America. Terry has 4 CD’s of original music to her credit and is featured on a number of compilations including a Smithsonian Folkways Collection of Alberta Songwriters. Her music is played on CKUA, CBC, numerous college stations across Canada as well as radio stations in Europe and the USA. Her voice is rich and deep, her melodies, rhythm and lyrics, strong and uniquely her own.
Kevin Cook – "A leading light of the Canadian roots music community", Cook's earliest memories are of his Dad's enthusiastic renditions of Hank Williams and Carter Family songs around the kitchen table. At age seventeen he put together his first band, playing six nights a week in smokey blues clubs. A near career-ending encounter with a tablesaw left Kevin with one less finger, but a little downtime in Mexico provided the chance to get back to his roots as an acoustic musician. Following this, Cook contributed two tracks to the ARIA-nominated "New Songbirds", and produced his solo album "Happy Accident", of which the Vernon Morning Stars writes: "Cook sounds like a man born to sing blues".
Heather Blush – Blush can be described as somewhere between the "Adult Alternative" styles of Sarah Slean and Sarah Harmer, and old "Ella/Louis-style" vocal jazz/blues, while her voice is often compared to Norah Jones and Maria Muldaur. With energetic, audience-engaging shows, she is quickly becoming known for songwriting that covers all bases between witty sarcasm and gutwrenching honesty. After appearing on various radio and television shows across Canada, and performing alongside Stephen Fearing, Ray Bonneville, and Maria Muldaur, Heather Blush has proven audiences can't get enough. "The grooves of blues/jazz combined with roots folk and a bit of humorous insanity makes for a joyful listen...you will notice and enjoy the musical genius that Heather Blush is. Her sultry and raspy voice adds a zest and mature value to the music." Earshot! Magazine.
Don’t miss this intimate and interactive evening of songs and stories, Sunday, September 5 at The Haven Social Club. Tickets are $15 at the door or in advance at Tix on the Square (or $12 at the door for S.A.C. members who show their valid card).
The S.A.C. gratefully acknowledges the support of The SOCAN Foundation and the Government of Canada through the Creators' Assistance Component and Support to Sector Associations Program of the Canada Music Fund.