Folk and Roots Series

Eric Bibb
March 4, 2010 @ 7:30 pm | $30/$27

No stranger to Vancouver audiences, Eric Bibb, son of local musical icon Leon, has been a favourite in our series for quite some time. With a new recording, Booker’s Guitar, slated for release in early 2010, Bibb will be bringing fresh material to his show along with many favourites from the past. Nominated for nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards and winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been appropriately described as “discreetly awesome” and “a total original.” Bibb’s brand of the blues has many influences from gospel and folk to soul and country blues, and it is this fusion of styles that makes it unique. With a laid-back, charming stage persona, Bibb envelopes you with his warm vocals, deft guitar picking and tasty tunes.

Listen: Rocking Chair

Pine Leaf Boys
March 12, 2010 @ 8 pm | $28/$25

Grammy nominated for Best Cajun/Zydeco Album in 2007 & 2008, the Pine Leaf Boys are certainly one of Louisiana’s hottest Cajun bands today. Known for their youthful exuberance and highly energetic shows, the Pine Leaf Boys have breathed new life into Cajun music, reviving ancient songs with thoughtful arrangements and gusto. Th e Pine Leafs Boys have all grown up steeped in the tradition and are committed to preserving this music of their ancestors, while allowing the music to breath and stretch with a fresh sound. Suitable for young and old alike, the Pine Leaf Boys are the ‘real deal’ and rock the Cajun sound with much fl air and zest.

Listen: Blues De Musicien

A Tribute to the Music of the Mississippi Sheiks SOLD OUT
Featuring Dave Alvin, Bob Brozman, Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson, John Hammond, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Robin Holcomb, Colin James, Christy McWilson, Geoff Muldaur, Oh Susanna, Van Dyke Parks, The Sojourners (confirmed acts to date) March 13 & 14, 2010 @ 8 pm | $50/$47

The Mississippi Sheiks, a country and blues string band, has been called the Radiohead of its era, recording over 60 hugely influential songs between 1930 and 1935. Walter Vinson and Sam Chatmon formed the core of the band, with Sam’s two brothers, Lonnie and Armenter “Bo Carter” Chatmon, dropping in when they were in town. The group had a blockbuster hit with Sittin’ On Top of the World, which has since been covered by Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Cream and dozens of others.

The Sheiks practically invented the string band concept in blues and roots music, but when the group disbanded, the Chatmon brothers returned to farming. Bo Carter, for one, died blind and destitute in 1964. Musician Steve Dawson is leading the charge to reintroduce the Mississippi Sheiks to contemporary audiences. In 2009, the Juno Award-winning producer released Things About Comin' My Way, a tribute album with recordings by 17 world-renowned artists, many of whom will play live at this world premiere. Stay tuned for added guest artists!

Presented with Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad

Listen: Jailbird Love Song - Jim Byrnes

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
March 28, 2010 @ 8 pm | $32/$29

Master Scottish fi ddler Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as one of Scotland’s premier musical ambassadors, presents the music of his homeland with unsurpassed eloquence, passion and energy. He links bows with vibrant young cellist Natalie Haas in an exciting weave of rocking, reeling rhythms, poignant melodies and exquisite musicianship. Th e duo has created a buzz among Celtic music lovers at festivals and concerts across the globe. As a student at the Juilliard School in New York, Haas regularly performed with Fraser and was a member of American fi ddler Mark O’Connor’s Appalachian Waltz Trio. Don’t miss this unique union of violin and cello — achingly beautiful and wonderful for the spirit.

Listen: Giga de Tenerife

Ana Moura - DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.
April 28, 2010 @ 7:30 pm | $36/$31/$26
At the Kay Meek Centre

Portuguese chanteuse Ana Moura is one of today’s leading voices of traditional fado just as the style is enjoying a renaissance of popularity. A star in Europe, this stunning 25-year-old fadista embodies this deeply expressive idiom which personifi es the Portuguese psyche. As Moura explains, “It’s very special because it’s all about emotions and feelings. It needs no translation.” One reviewer captures her rich contralto and innate affi nity for the demanding style as he writes of her “rare and primitive quality” and her “natural truth, without eff ort or premeditation.” A co-presentation with the Kay Meek Centre

Listen: A Voz Que Conta a Nossa Historia [The Voice That Tells Our Story]

Wailin’ Jennys and Jeremy Fisher
May 8, 2010 @ 8 pm | $35/$33/$25
At the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

For fans of acoustic music, this is the must-see show of the year! We bring together two of Canada’s hottest acts for a double-bill that is sure to fill your heart and soul. The Wailin’ Jennys are the sublimely talented trio from Winnipeg that has set a standard for beautiful harmonies and instantly hummable tunes. Local singer/songwriter Jeremy Fisher will be rounding out this evening with his fun, rootsy tunes and effervescent personality. He has been compared to the likes of JJ Cale, Neil Young and Paul Simon, but Fisher is definitely an original. Allow him into your heart and you won’t be sorry. A co-presentation with the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

Listen: Calling All Angels (Wailin' Jennys)  Jolene (Jeremy Fisher)

Past Performances:

Debashish Bhattacharya
September 26, 2009 @ 8 pm | $30/$27

Debashish Bhattacharya is an undisputed master of the Hindustani slide guitar, a custommade, 22 stringed instrument of his own design that has features of the Veena, Sitar, Sarod and Kannur. Hailing from Calcutta, India, Bhattacharya was nominated this year for a Grammy Award for his recording Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey in the traditional world music category. Joining Debashish on tabla will be his brother Subhasis, considered a leader of his generation of Indian percussionists. Known for his lightning-fast playing and spectacular interaction with his brother on tabla, Debashish Bhattacharya’s music, spirit and generosity have won him devotees the world over. For fans of guitar and world music, Bhattacharya’s music brings a new accessibility to both classical and popular Indian songs.

Listen: Sufi Bhakti

Eric Bogle
October 2, 2009 @ 8 pm | $30/$27

Considered Australia’s premier singer/songwriter, Eric Bogle has been sharing his unique Scotsman-goes-down-under view since the late ’70 s. Best known for his popular song The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Bogle has emerged as a contemporary icon in folk music following in the paths of such legends as Woody Guthrie, Gordon Lightfoot and Stan Rogers. Although described as a living legend, Bogle is uncomfortable with labels, but he concedes, “It’s marginally better than being a dead legend.” An evening with Eric Bogle is one with much poignancy, great songs and a good dose of humour.

Listen: And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Chris Smither
October 4, 2009 @ 8 pm | $30/$27

This New Orleans native is one of the finest voices in acoustic blues. His foot tapping style is reminiscent of John Lee Hooker, but make no mistake Chris Smither is an original. Many have covered his tunes including Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt, but it is best to catch Smither performing them with his witty repartee, his great guitar picking, wonderful soulful singing and finely crafted tunes. “Bathed in the glow of passing headlights and neon bar signs, Smither’s roots are as blue as they come. There is plenty of misty Louisiana and Lightnin’ Hopkins in Smither’s weathered singing and unhurried picking. So fine.” — Rolling Stone

Listen: Leave the Light On

Juan Martin
October 23, 2009 @ 8 pm | $36/$31/$26
At the Kay Meek Centre

Originally from Spain and now based out of London, Juan Martin has been voted one of the top three guitarists in the world by the prestigious Guitar Player magazine. This is authentic flamenco, but it is also contemporary and accessible. One of the world’s great flamenco artists, Martin has played the Royal Albert Hall and the Montreux Jazz Festival and has collaborated with the likes of Paco de Lucia, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The Spanish paper El Mundo said of him: “He has a terrifyingly good technique and an absolute dominance of the guitar, filling the concert hall with crystalline clarity.” Performing as a trio with voice and dance, come and be mesmerized by a true maestro. A co-presentation with the KayMeek Centre

Listen: Cuba y Espana

Vagabond Opera
November 6, 2009 @ 8 pm | $28/$25

European Cabaret! Vintage Americana! Balkan Belly Dance! Neoclassical Opera! Old-World Yiddish Theatre! Welcome to the six-piece, Portland, Oregon-based Vagabond Opera. This bohemian cabaret ensemble is described by the Washington Post as “a band of ceaseless charisma, boundless energy, impeccable musicianship and more than a little touch of both the naughty and exotic.” The group delivers passionate offerings of bohemian cabaret for young and old alike. This is opera liberated and reinvented for everyone!

Listen: The Transformation to Marlene

John Reischman and the Jaybirds
November 8, 2009 @ 8 pm | $28/$25

Mandolin virtuoso John Reischman and the Jaybirds are one very fine bluegrass act. With four critically acclaimed albums and two Juno nominations, the Jaybirds have established themselves as one of the freshest, most tasteful bands on the acoustic music scene today. The group fashions a stylish, elegant take on bluegrass that is at once innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned, yet unselfconsciously new. Their live shows feature a genial blend of story-telling and side-show humor that provides the backdrop to their studied performance of original songs, instrumentals, and newly arranged traditional material. Calling all fans of bluegrass music — it doesn’t get much better than this.

Listen: The Jaybird Song

Alpha Yaya Diallo
January 16, 2010 @ 8 pm | $28/$25

Hailing from Guinea, West Africa, Alpha Yaya Diallo is one of the most in-demand world acts touring today, and we are blessed to call him one of our own since 1991. Diallo has released six of his own recordings and two with the African Guitar Summit, a project that continues to tour and grow in popularity. With four Juno Awards as well as multiple nominations, Diallo is recognized as a multitalented musician and electric performer. This performance will celebrate the release of his brand new seventh recording and will feature a number of special guests who contributed their talents to bring this album to life. The evening will feature Diallo’s stellar guitar work in a number of different settings, solo, duo, trio, as well as his full band featuring African dancers.

Listen: Massibidji