Folk and Roots Series

Lunasa
September 30, 2010 @ 8pm | $32/$29

Lunasa, formed in 1997, is considered a ‘dream team’ of Irish music. With roots in such legendary bands as the Waterboys and the Sharon Shannon Band, Lunasa has made quite an impact garnering the following proclamation from The New York Times: “This is the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet.” Lunasa has become known for their unique sound with original arrangements and bass-driven grooves that has steered Irish traditional music into surprising new territory, like the younger generation of Nashville musicians such as Béla Fleck or Edgar Meyer, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass into jazz and beyond.

Jayme Stone
October 2, 2010 @ 8pm | $25/$22

Two-time Juno Award winning banjoist, Jayme Stone is a musical adventurer with an open heart. His Africa to Appalachia project, which won the Juno Award in 2009 for Best World Music Recording, brought Stone to West Africa to learn the history of his instrument. His latest project explores music based on folk dances from around the world. Stone has assembled an instrumental ‘A’ list band with Casey Driessen on fiddle and vocals (Sparrow Quartet, Bela Fleck, Tim O’Brien); Grant Gordy on guitar (David Grisman Quintet) and Greg Garrison on bass (Punch Brothers).

Septeto Nacional de Cuba
October 30, 2010 @ 8pm | $38/$35

Formed in 1927, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro de Cuba has been considered the first and foremost champion of the traditional sound of the Cuban Son. Named for its legendary founder, Ignacio Pineiro Martinez, the group has firm roots in the musical explosion of Cuban Son during the 1920s and 1930s. In 2009, the septet made history with its highly acclaimed return to the United States—its first American tour in 76 years—with performances in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago, where it was previously given an award by the city in 1933.

Ruthie Foster
November 3 & 4, 2010 @ 8pm | $35/$32

It is a pleasure to welcome back blues/soul phenomenon Ruthie Foster, a powerhouse of a performer who instantly engages you with her warmth and humour, then blows you away with her voice. She has been racking up the kudos and awards with her first Grammy nomination this year and a 2010 Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist. Her latest release, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, is one funky treat and is getting all the acclaim it richly deserves. There is no substitute, however, for a night of Ruthie live and intimate - treat yourself to a whole lotta love!

Zachary Richard
November 6, 2010 @ 8pm | $30/$27

With deeply entrenched roots in his birthplace of Louisiana as well as being a long-time resident of Quebec, Zachary Richard has been a huge advocate for the preservation of French culture in North America. In 1976, he made his way to Montreal from New York where he would become one of Francophone culture’s most high profile artists. With multiple influences, Zachary Richard’s style is hard to pigeonhole and uniquely his own. His militant environmentalism and cultural activism guides his spirit and certainly his Cajun roots shine through his rootsy tunes.

Barra MacNeils
November 17, 2010 @ 8pm | $36/$31/$26
At the Kay Meek Centre

For such a small place, Cape Breton is mighty in spirit and song. The Barra MacNeils, one of its most famous exports, have been sharing their good humour, robust charm and rollicking tunes for many years with tours across Canada and beyond. One critic described them as “six madly talented siblings whose repertoire varies from wild Celtic party music to original tunes and poignant ballads, always infused with joy.” The Barra MacNeils will feature songs from their Christmas CDs as well as a variety of vocal and instrumental favourites.

Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
Featuring Cindy Cashdollar, Christy McWilson & Laurie Lewis
January 9, 2011 @ 8pm | $30/$27

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Dave Alvin is widely considered to be one of the pivotal founders of the current Americana music scene. Since forming the highly influential roots-rock/R&B band, The Blasters, and throughout his long and critically acclaimed solo career, Dave Alvin has mixed his varied musical and literary influences into his own unique, updated version of traditional American music.

Yamandu Costa
January 16, 2011 @ 8pm | $38/$35

Hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of his generation, Yamandu Costa is simply following in the footsteps of his Brazilian musical forebears with his effortless delivery of such rich, beautiful music. Schooled in the folk music of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay since the age of seven, it was evident quite early that young Costa was exceptionally gifted. Costa plays a seven-string guitar giving his music an extraordinary quality that will intrigue, beguile and astonish you.

Mamak Khadem
January 22, 2011 @ 8pm | $35/$32

As lead singer of the cross-cultural Iranian fusion ensemble Axiom Of Choice, as well as in her subsequent solo career, Mamak Khadem has wowed audiences from far and wide well beyond her Persian fans. In her latest recording Jostojoo (Forever Seeking), Mamak Khadem continues her exploration of Persian poetry set to carefully chosen melodies from her culture’s far-reaching folk and classical repertoire.

Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues
January 28, 2011 @ 8pm | $30/$27

For almost forty years, the defining critics from Rolling Stone, Stereophile, Down Beat, Billboard, The New York Times and The Washington Post have all recognized Corky Siegel as a “phenomenal virtuoso on harmonica... a deft accomplished genius of the Blues.” Today, armed with the same creative genius and instrumental chops which he brought to Chicago blues during the heyday of the legendary Siegel-Schwall Band, Siegel presents Chamber Blues. For fans of blues music and beyond, don’t miss this blues icon doing what he does best - charting new musical territory without compromising his roots.

Red Stick Ramblers
February 23, 2011 @ 8pm | $28/$25

From Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Red Stick Ramblers started making waves around the Gulf Coast area when they first appeared in 2000. Their music has a lot in common with Louisiana cuisine; an initial blast of heat commands immediate attention, but then, slowly but surely, the subtlety creeps in, making for an irresistibly captivating experience. Building stylistic bridges that span the decades and connecting styles as diverse as traditional Cajun, western swing, blues and old-school jazz, the Red Stick Ramblers will have you dancing in the aisles!

Martyn Joseph
March 6, 2011 @ 8pm | $30/$27

Hailing from Cardiff, Wales, Martyn Joseph pulls no punches with his passion-driven rootsy rock. He has been compared to the likes of Springsteen, Knopfler and Dave Matthews, but make no mistake, Joseph is an original and has built a reputation on giving what many have described as the best live music experience of their lives. He has depth with his wonderful narrative lyrics that pull you into his stories, not to mention his powerful vocal pipes and deft guitar playing. As a solo performer, Joseph brings you completely into his world and always bares his soul giving 1000% percent. Don't miss this uniquely talented singer-songwriter who definitely has a great message and always delivers.

Raul Midon
April 2, 2011 @ 8pm | $30/$27

With equal parts earthy soul and latin heart, Raul Midon is a force onto himself. With a silky soulful tenor voice and a dazzling percussive guitar style, Midon has fashioned a syncopated, flamenco and jazz-infused approach in which bass, harmony and melodic lines emanate from his guitar in one slap-happy storm. Blind since infancy, Midon has always experienced the world different than most, with a hyper sensitivity with his remaining senses. Perhaps this gives him an edge, but whatever the case, his blend of old-school soul, Latin, jazz and classic folk-pop have made him a sensation and someone to watch on a career trajectory that is quite remarkable.