2010 Deep Roots Music Festival

Morgan Davis

“Morgan’s deep resonating voice and true-to-the-roots guitar work make a great combination. Anyone who appreciates straight-up blues delivered with taut, tough intensity and a good dose of humour will love Morgan Davis.” – James Doran, Ottawa Blues Society.

This Detroit-born, Nova Scotia-residing artist has played the blues throughout Canada, the States, and Europe for almost four decades. His album Painkiller won the 2004 JUNO for “Blues Album of the Year” plus four Maple Blues Awards. In 2007 he released At Home in Nova Scotia – his public love letter to his adopted province. The Coast reports the album “is Bluenose to the core”. We love the blues at Deep Roots when they’re served up by Morgan Davis!

For more visit:

www.morgandavis.com

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Acadia Gamelan Ensemble

Gamelan: An Indonesian orchestra composed mainly of tuned bronze percussion instruments, including gongs, metallophones and gong-chimes.

Acadia Gamelan Ensemble: A group of Acadia Music Students, led by Ken Shorley, who perform traditional Sundanese music, on the instruments of Gamelan Puspa Galih (Mindful Flower), a Sundanese gamelan degung forged by Pak Tentrem (Java). In addition to their traditional repertoire, the ensemble premiered an exciting new work for gamelan and 6-voice choir by Nova Scotia composer Peter Togni in January 2010.

Ken Shorley: has been completely entranced by the sounds, rhythms and textures of Indonesian Gamelan. In 2007, he recorded the CD Sekar Alit – a selection of his own compositions for gamelan. In addition to performing with his own ensemble, he performed in 2008 at the Scotia Festival of Music with Toronto’s Evergreen Club Gamelan.

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Most of the work of this composer, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist is informed by surrealism and improvisation of one kind or another. In the mid 70’s Daniel Heïkalo took part in the post-L’Infonie Montréal avant-garde music scene, co-founding the Ensemble de Musique Improvisée de Montréal. In the 80’s he moved to Nova Scotia.

Daniel has recorded several CD’s including, Thoughts of My Father which earned an East Coast Music Award nomination in 1993 and his latest Horton Landing Improvisations Volume 1 with musician Hugh Blackmer. Daniel lives with his wife, Tamara, and they operate a studio and record production company, Heïkalo Sound Productions.

http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=105466325

For more visit:

www.myspace.com/danielheikalo

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Alice Stops Time

Windsor based band Alice Stops Time make their first appearance at the Deep Roots Music Festival. The band has unique influences from surf and dance music that contributes to their trademark sound. That sound and the bands engaging presence have taken the young group of five from intimate acoustic shows in rural Nova Scotia to larger status stages like Pop Montreal.

Alice Stops Time is quickly breaking into Metro music circles with high energy performances showcasing their own style of rock, surf, blues and dance. The band appeared at Music for Haiti with an acoustic set earlier this year and proved to be a huge hit with the audience. They will also be appearing as guests at Emerging Artists: UNEARTHED in July and have been invited to play at Riverfest as well as showcasing at Contact East in September.

In the meantime Alice Stops Time is working on their live performances and enhancing their song writing craft, discovering new sounds and styles to incorporate into their music. They have been recording some of their latest songs at Codapop Studios and hope to have a new recording to add to their self-titled CD.

“AST is the very epitome of what is all good about the indie scene.” – Darrin Harvey – 89.3 K-ROCK

For more visit:

http://www.myspace.com/stoptimealice

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Thom Swift

A gifted musician and songwriter, Thom Swift is able to draw upon a lifetime of experience to offer up lessons on living, loving & laughter. With two solo albums now released, Swift drew on the experience of many years of touring & performing with the veteran jazz-blues band, Hot Toddy.

The New Brunswick born/Halifax based performer took a chance with his music and branched out into areas where he hadn’t previously been known. One track off his bold, new album has even been making the rounds of the rock stations (Killer). blue sky day, produced by Charlie Austin (Buck65/Joel Plaskett) is a collection of Swift’s sophisticated playing balanced with the earthy intensity of his lyrics. This passion is further enhanced by the group of friends he chose to play with, including starring roles from DRMF favourites Matt Anderson and J.P. Cormier.

The multi-award winner Swift (ECMA, Maple Blues and Galaxie Rising Star awards) has some deep insights to offer from the life he’s led; what he’s seen, what he’s felt and the lessons learned inbetween. With raw emotions and a big sound, Swift reflects on the stories he’s carved out of this life, from leaving home, to battling demons, to finding love & hope & the joys of family.

“Swift dives into the project with dark, brooding, pop-inflected tunes that sit atop rich, multi-textured arrangements, elevating each composition beyond anything seen as fleeting”, enthused Blues Revue, an American magazine. “I don’t know any other way,” says Swift. “I write about how the world comes into my world, what I see with my eyes and hear with my ears. There’s no smoke and mirrors, it’s pretty straight up.”

For more visit:

www.thomswift.com
www.myspace.com/thomswiftmusic

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Madison Violet

Fiddling singer Lisa McIsaac and guitarist singer Brenley MacEachern are coming to town to both break your heart and lift you up. Described as alt country with a blend of pop folk-rock, their ability to craft a good song and then present it with their exquisite harmonies and lush instrumentation will have you humming their tunes for days to come.

Touring to the far corners of the planet opening for performers like Chantal Kreviazuk, Indigo Girls, Ron Sexsmith, The Temptations or Ashley McIsaac, these “road dogs” have fine-tuned their act over their nine years together and created three albums of their ‘haunting lovely and refreshing’ music. Their style has been likened to a blend of Neil Young, Dolly Parton, and Simon & Garfunkel ‘walking through the doors of “O Brother Where Art Thou”’ while hastened by an overture by Alison Krause & Robert Plant. All this is channeled into their own unique sound.

Lisa & Brenley’s intelligent & quirky lyrics have a simple poignancy to them, and as the mind fills with vibrant & vivid imagery while they recount tales of broken hearts, life on the road, loneliness and loss, the heart is somehow unburdened of the weight it carries. Madison Violet has a gentle and seductive charm that can easily lure one willingly into dark corners. And you’ll likely leave feeling all the better for it.

Photos: Victor Tarvares & Ron Weyman

For more visit:

www.madisonviolet.com
www.myspace.com/madvioletmusic
www.maplemusic.com/artists/mav/

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The Fabulous Ginn Sisters

The Ginn sisters, Tiffany & Brit, are coming to town, so mothers hide your sons! These gals will steal their hearts and leave everyone wanting more.

Based out of Austin, Texas, The Fabulous Ginn Sisters’ rough & ready sound stole Fred Eaglesmith’s attention, so he took them to his studio in Port Dover, Ontario, to record their 2010 album, You Can’t Take A Bad Girl Home.

Self-described as “a smoky, drunken stumble through a broken-heart junkyard”, the music is laced with buoyant harmonies that ramble around their folksy Americana sound, weaving between pop, rock & country melodies.  Having already carved out a place for themselves in the South with their sweet singing, this new offering lurches them toward an eclectic path that’s infused with some good ol’ rock & roll.

For more visit:

http://www.theginnsisters.com/

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David Myles

Songmeister David Myles does it all: smooth jazz, soulful pop, bluesy folk—yet he defies being tied down by these genres. His warm, personable presence combined with emotion-filled melodies and unique instrumentation has enchanted audiences wherever he performs.

A native of Fredericton who now works out of Halifax, Myles was voted New Brunswick’s choice for the CBC’s Great Canadian Song Quest. He won the 2009 ECMA Folk Recording Award. And he was a winner in the International Songwriting Competition last year as well, judged by the likes of songwriting legends Tom Waits & Brian Wilson.

And on the side, Myles wrote and recorded his 4th album, Turn Time Off, produced in collaboration with DRMF fave Joel Plaskett. His songs cut to the core of our lives; he speaks of human fallibility, of change, of being alive & in love, yet does so without being maudlin or sentimental. In demand and on the ascent, DRMF audiences are sure to be charmed by Myles and his music.

For more visit:

http://davidmyles.com/

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Kim Dunn

Kim Dunn may best be known as a sideman working with virtually everyone in the East Coast music community for 30 years now. After a brief four-year reprieve studying Jazz at St. FX, he found himself in great demand for his abilities as sideman, producer, writer, and arranger. For all his effort and amazing attitude he was awarded the first East Coast Music ” MUSICIAN SPECIAL ACHEIVEMENT” Award.

After playing on countless other CDs, Kim’s first, the self-produced ‘Take This Hammer’, combines a smooth, organic mix of roots/folk with elements of pop, jazz, and blues throughout. The writing is first class all the way, and the cover songs are beautifully arranged; you’ve never heard Blackbird quite like this… But most of all it’s Kim’s singing that comes to the forefront. Kim delivers with a voice that’s soulful, seasoned, and confident.

We look forward to having Kim with us at Deep Roots this year.

For more visit:

http://www.kimdunn.ca/

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The F-Holes

Don’t let their tongue-in-cheek name fool you, rather let their raucous live performance be a testament to their unique blend of country, dixieland, and Manitoba roots music. Since forming in Winnipeg in 2004, The F-Holes have shared the stage with the likes of Juno nominated artists Elliot Brood, Twilight Hotel, Nathan and The Perpetrators, as well as The Weber Brothers and Dan Frechette.

They have entertained a wide variety of audiences ranging from the Children’s Fringe Festival and the Festival du Voyageur, to the Manitoba Stampede and the Fire and Water Music Festival. Their unmistakable vintage inspired sound and zeal for live performance has garnered them acclaim from an array of critics and audiences alike.

For more visit:

http://www.thefholes.ca/
http://www.myspace.com/patrickalexandre

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Meaghan Smith

Meaghan Smith was once deathly afraid of the stage.

She left her native Ontario for Halifax, where she gathered up her courage and threw herself wholeheartedly into the open mic scene. Little by little, her self-confidence grew, and she released The Cricket’s Orchestra. The album’s 11 original songs are rooted in the sound of vintage pop from the 1920s to 40s.

Meaghan’s music has been featured on One Tree Hill, Grey’s Anatomy and (500) Days of Summer.

To further confirm her rising star, Meaghan will be part of the 2010 Lilith Fair tour, a celebration of women in song co-founded by Sarah McLachlan.

For more visit:

http://www.meaghansmith.com/
http://www.myspace.com/meaghansmithmusic

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Ian Janes

Ian Janes returns to Deep Roots with his impeccably crafted new album, Piece of Mine, showcasing his rich, seasoned voice, distinctive guitar playing and beautiful writing.

Maclean’s Magazine named Ian Janes one of the 100 Canadians to Watch. CBC Radio’s Definitely Not The Opera gave Janes his own one-hour special. The East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) featured him on their televised gala (he has received five ECMA nominations to date). And, Thom Fitzgerald used Janes’ music in his award winning film, The Event.

Ian has previously released two albums, As it Seems (2002 Music Industry of Nova Scotia’s Record of the Year), as well as his critically acclaimed debut, Occasional Crush.

Ian Janes first performed in Wolfville when he was a hot-shot teen guitar player, introducing his early songs. By the time we presented him at the first Deep Roots Music Festival he was an established recording artist. His third recording, Piece of Mine, is a definitive snapshot of who Ian Janes is. The songs have depth and relevance, performed with effortless musicality. We are pleased to welcome Ian home to Deep Roots.

For more visit:

http://ianjanes.com/

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Matthew Barber

Matthew Barber is an acclaimed singer-songwriter hailing from Toronto. A fixture on the Canadian music scene over the last five years, Barber has released three records and an e.p. and toured extensively across Canada and abroad, making inroads into Europe, Australia and now the United States.

His sound is largely influenced by the tradition of folk-rock and country singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, Leonard Cohen and Bruce Springsteen, but also by years of immersion in contemporary indie-rock as a college radio d.j.

The one constant in Barber’s songwriting is his knack for a memorable hook (perhaps owing to his enduring love of the Beatles), and in this way he has carved out a unique sound that often defies categorization.

For more visit:
www.matthewbarber.com

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Compañía Azul

Compañía Azul has a heart split between the coasts of Atlantic Canada and the dry earth of Andalusia. Founded by dancer Megan “Azulita” Matheson, guitarist Bob Sutherby, singer Sean Harris and percussionist Tony Tucker, the company strives to bring their own voice to flamenco, melding diverse backgrounds of various musical styles, while maintaining grounded in the flamenco traditions.

All four principal members began their careers with the highly regarded El Viento Flamenco, founded by Evelyne Benais and Bob Sutherby in St. John’s Newfoundland.

Artistic Direction: Megan “Azulita” Matheson
Music Direction: Sean Harris, Bob Sutherby

Megan “Azulita” Matheson
Dance/Choreography/Vocals
Sandra “Tziporah” Bornemann Dance/cello
Sean Harris Vocals
Bob Sutherby Guitar
Tony Tucker Percussion
Guest artist: Ian MacMillan (percussion)

Sandra “Tziporah” Bornemann
Dancing since the age of four, Tziporah(meaning “little bird” in Hebrew) entered into the world of flamenco after being drawn in by flamenco’s compelling rhythms and brazen attitude. She began her studies with Afifa Lahbadi and Bonnie Stewart of Centro Flamenco in Vancouver. Continuing on to study in Halifax at El Viento School of Dance under the instruction of Azulita and Evelyne Benais, Tziporah has developed an undeniable passion for flamenco dance.

Sean Harris
Sean began singing from a very early age and became a versatile performer, tackling classical, blues, rock, gospel and eventually flamenco. His training in Canada and Spain with teachers Juan del Gastor and Patricio Tito helped him develop a flamenco voice that has been described as “rich, soaring and heart-rending”.

Megan “Azulita” Matheson
Azulita, nicknamed for her blue eyes, began her studies with Evelyne Benais, going on to concentrate her studies with Juana Amaya, Rafael de Carmen and Ángela Gabaldón. She is inspired by the visceral nature of flamenco and its ability to provide a platform for the most complicated set of emotions and is in love with creating rhythms and choreography to do so. On stage she has been described as “stunning”.

Bob Sutherby
Throughout his years in El Viento Flamenco and Los Flamencos, Bob has established himself as a respected flamenco guitarist. Bob is known for his emotional playing, his clear, crisp sound and his ability to accompany a dancer with precision. He has studied in Canada and Spain with Patricio Tito, Juan del Gastor, Miguel Aragón, Juan Martín, Flavio Rodrigues and Arcadio Marín.

Tony Tucker
Tony’s extensive experience with African and Cuban drumming, Newfoundland Celtic and even Hard Rock kit drumming have given him the subtlety and dynamism necessary to a flamenco band.

Photos by Cathy McKelvey

For more visit:

http://compania-azul.com/

Or on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Compania-Azul/109651495725507

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Catherine MacLellan (Photo by Patrick Nichols)

Catherine MacLellan’s pure, ethereal vocals and poetic lyrics have contributed to her becoming one of the most celebrated new singer-songwriters in Canada, and around the world.

Her last album, Church Bell Blues, hit #1 on the iTunes Canada Roots charts, and elicited comparisons to Joni Mitchell. Her highly anticipated third album, Water in the Ground, is a brilliant collection of new songs that affirms her reputation as a prolific and gifted songwriter. It also features some of the most prominent roots musicians in Canada, including Treasa Levasseur, Justin Rutledge and David Baxter.

Catherine has toured with Bruce Cockburn in the USA, with Steve Forbert in the UK, and has showcased in Paris, Cannes, Berlin, New York, London, and Memphis. We are very happy to be able to have her come to Deep Roots this year.

For more visit:

www.catherinemaclellan.com

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Ashley Condon

This year Deep Roots may be your introduction to 26-year-old Ashley Condon who has been winning audiences over with her larger-than-life stage presence and down-to-earth charm. Powerful vocals and thoughtful lyrics give voice to the beautiful simplicity of the every day. Raised here on the East Coast, with its progeny of Celtic and Acadian root music, and with particular old-time country, bluegrass, folk, blues and classic rock influences, Ashley finds a place for all those sounds in her music.

The success of her 2008 debut EP “I’ve Got This Feeling” grabbed the attention of Ontario native, ECMA-nominated producer Joel Hunt (Teresa Ennis), and a highly anticipated spring 10′ release will be the result of their joined creative forces.

Ashley has shared the stage with folk icons Tannis Slimmon, James Gordon, Jude Vadala (The Bird Sisters), Katherine Wheatley and Juno nominee Douglas John Cameron. She has opened for Canadian Folk Music Award Nominees, The Fugitives, and was invited to play at the 2007 Hillside Festival as a member of the Sam Turton Band.

For more visit:

www.ashleycondon.com

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Michael Pickett

Michael Pickett’s mother bought him a harmonica when he was about 13. Influenced by folk-blues greats such as, Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry, Michael began his music career in the early 70’s as a member of Toronto-based band, Whiskey Howl.

Later, he co-founded (and was lead singer and harmonica player) for the blues band Wooden Teeth, and then began developing a career in his own name with the Michael Pickett Band.

He now performs exclusively as a solo acoustic artist touring throughout Canada, the US, the UK and Europe.

Michael’s first two solo CD’s (“Blues Money” and “Conversation with the Blues” earned him two Juno nominations.

He is also the recipient of several Maple Blues Awards, among others. “This songwriter has evolved into an eclectic and captivating storyteller through Delta Blues, Country, Folk, and Americana, revealing a profound understanding of where this music comes from and why it stands the test of time.”

For more visit:
http://www.michaelpickett.com/

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Carmel Mikol

Carmel Mikol is a Cape Breton born singer songwriter whose finely crafted songs are a warm blend of country and folk-rock traditions.

The Halifax Chronicle Herald says her songs are “full of life and personality, while her voice is clear, expressive and direct without overselling the emotion in her soul-bearing songs” (Stephen Cooke).  She recently performed an ECMA Showcase, and her latest album, “In My Bones”, won the Great American Song Contest in the Contemporary Acoustic/Folk category.

The album is a collection of ten original songs that features comforting acoustics, catchy electric guitar and captivating lap steel.

This year’s Deep Roots audiences are certain to be charmed by Carmel Mikol.

For more visit:

http://carmelmikol.com/

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