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This year's In the Dead of Winter music festival is coming toward us like a juggernaut of folk-coloured awesome, and we want to make sure you have the perfect picture of everything on board. There are a few fresh faces unknown to us East Coasters (exciting, yes?!), and some bonafide superstars. Scroll on down and find your remedies for the winter blah'€s.
Lovers of song, this is a night you cannot miss! At the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, on Wednesday, January 25, the In the Dead of Winter music festival presents a master in play and words, an explorer of the human condition deep, a singer with pure Americana soul: Grammy award winning, Shawn Colvin! (Austin, TX) This is a big night in Halifax, and helping to make it an unforgettable soiree is one of the gems we lured away from The Rock to our Playground: Don Brownrigg (Halifax). This truth seeking, darkness soothing songster is certainly a prince for the night.
On Thursday, January 26, the promise of excellence continues. At The Company House, A young woman with a stand out gift for knowing the perfect melodies, Breagh MacKinnon (Cape Breton) takes us along the twists and corners of her thoughts and stories. Her surprisingly young talent and spot on performance is well placed beside Mo Kenney, Halifax'€s latest lauded lyricist and force of music. Mo's fragility/power duality has a swagger that drives her songs straight into the molecules of your brain. Then, to cap off the night, is actor/musician Stewart Legere (Halifax). His lounge-folk singing style is darkened with such sincere delivery and sensitive lyrics that you will want to sing along and make it alright.
Across the street at the Bus Stop Theatre'€s first show of the festival season, are three charming, old-time vibe acts. Jenny Berkel(Winnipeg) opens the night with her resonant smoky voice breathy songs of personal experience and collective history. Berkel then hands the stage over to the howling sounds of Willie Stratton (Halifax); a young songwriter with the lyrics of a weathered storyteller. Weighty drum beats reminiscent of military callings and foot stomping choruses from Stratton helps the intense night of music to pass over into the bluegrass rock blend of The Moonshine Ramblers(Halifax). The Moonshine Ramblers closes the night by taking audiences on a dark walk in a forest with banjos, perfect 60'€s era harmonies, and a little bit of whiskey for good measure.
One of the new venues of IDOW 2012 is the hot art gallery and performance space 2053 Gottingen. Here, the boundaries of industry-made genres are blurred to a folky ground. Classically trained pianist and vocalist Zoe Leger (Halifax) gives jazz a concerted makeover with dips into contemporary classical and funk music. Joe Grass (Montreal) brings some pure contemporary folk to the night'€s mix. His friendly voice, familiar sounding melodies and songs for lyric lovers adds plenty of comfort to the night. Then, Jeff Torbert (Halifax) brings it all together--the folk heart and jazz style--with his mild and earnest voice, melody loving ways and challenging arrangements.
Rounding out the evening, the Eye Level Gallery, where the word is supreme and the expected is the unexpected. Mary Milne (Toronto) sets the tone with her '€winsome acoustic ditties, plaintive piano balladry and rustic country rambles'€ that sometimes venture into music-hall bizarre. Halifax'€s own songman, Kev Corbett, keeps up the pace of clever finesse with his passionate commentaries or noveleque-lyrics, smart guitar and endearing manner. Then, Steven Bowers (Halifax) rounds off the night of wordsmiths with his clear observations of typically less explored subjects wrapped in his warmly plaintive country voice.
Two days in and plenty more rare music memories to find! Friday, January 27 brings us five places to settle into or hop around. At the Spatz Theatre, in the Citadel High School, a member of Canadian music royalty takes over the room with her sweetly bizarre, ever charming ways. Martha Wainwright! (New York/Montreal) Her candid hard hitting lyrics, radiant buildings of soft force and unexpected turn of melodies earn her a right to command your attention and love. Opening for her are the falcon and songbird of contemporary Canadian folk, Whitehorse (Luke Doucet and Melissa McCelland). Their casual and in-step vocals can stroll or command a groove '€˜n'€ swing style that fits well in a country bar.
Back in the North End, at The Company House, a scenic drive is happening. David Simard (Montreal) brings us '€melancholic waltzes and rooftop serenades'€ with simple melodies and a touch of folk-cabaret. Babette Hayward (Saint John) adds a little bit more pop to the folk night. Her earnest and innocent style, quirky phrasing and artful melodies are disarming. Steve Gates'€s (Halifax) sense of humour and compassion for the temporarily lost adds another level of uncovered truths to an engaging evening. And finally, a big night for a big heart, Andrew Sisk (Hamilton) breaks open the concert walls with his CD release party. This country born, urban dweller knows how to raise the trees along a city skyline with his poetic, experimental folk.
At the Bus Stop Theatre, a different vibe is brewing, and it'€s a sweet tonic for the dancer in you. Tanya Davis, (Halifax) Ms. '€subtlety is never gonna be my specialty,'€ gets the air sparking with her talk-sing, rhythmic ways. Picking up what she lays down is Dinah Thorpe (Toronto). Her bold opinions and engaging beats are a fantastic combo for the academic and the rug cutter. Switch gears into octane highs as synth-pop sets the night'€s beats into the groove. Repartee (St. John'€s) is a dance band made in folk heaven. Simple beats designed to physically move you are kept true with bright vocals telling you stories you want to hear. Then, it'€s the Modern Men'€s (Halifax) 80's soaked, sensual grooves and smooth, deep vocals delivering cotton candy pop and proving that the theme of love owns all decades.
Kim Harris(Corner Brook) compels audiences to listen to their hearts at 2053 Gottingen with her painfully pretty vocals and lyrically sound stories. This songstress sets the tone for a night full of captivating voices, artfully woven stories, and well-traveled songs. Once more, beautiful guitar picking combined with an intelligent ability to pen clever lyrics make Mo Kenney(Halifax) a grand storyteller and an enchanting performer. She is followed by the raw and honest sounds of American roots jewelRosa Pullman (Los Angeles). The compelling spirit of her voice fused with the touch of a harmonica transports you to places of familiarity, adventure and longing. Matthew Byrne(St. John'€s) caps off the evening telling stories through his mesmerizing and refined interpretations of traditional songs from both sides of the Atlantic.
Stroll down to the Eye Level Gallery and you find sounds of beauty and comfort. Joe Grass hits the stage for the second time of the festival. His Americana heavy, Canadiana sweet style is the perfect beginning for the night. Cactus Flower'€™s (Jess Lewis, Halifax) light, bright vocals are grounded like a handmade, decorative kite with her stories of '€colourful characters and heartwarming imagery.'€ Jenny Berkel (Winnipeg) second performance of the festival ends the night with her haunting and starkly honest songs to venture across many landscapes and histories.
The final day of the festival, Saturday, January 28, is a well wrought doozey of a beauty. We have two matinees as well as four nighttime concerts. The New Newfoundland Songcircle with Matthew Byrne, Steven Bowers, and Andrew O'€Brien kicks off the first daytime treat. Shortly after this pure pleasure is a cross-borders and break the boundaries gathering called Where I Come From Songcircle with Rosa Pullman (LA), These Hands (SK), and Caracol (PQ).
The last Company House show of the festival is rich in culture, language, and tradition. Francophone darling, Caracol(Montreal) begins the night captivating audiences with her airy folk/pop sound, complete with retro-soul melodies and arrangements. Lennie Gallant(Rustico) closes the evening with his acclaimed authentic delivery of Maritime spirit and tradition. His gripping melodies and acoustic arrangements are what make him an outstanding and rare talent.
Down at the Bus Stop Theatre, Kev Corbett, Cactus Flower and Mary Milne hit the stage for their second festival performances of song weaving and glory finding. Then, as a means to shoot the night into the stratosphere, you find Halifax'€s soulful songstress, Becky Siamon'€s CD release party! Listen joyfully as her voice digs deep down and soars to force-filled highs in her sultry sweet, country way.
At 2053 Gottingen, another dream cloud of folk with punch is forming. David Simard once again begins a three bill night this time with some fellow modern men of folk. These Hands (Mike Hanson, Prince Albert, Sask.) crafts drifting folk-scapes with his intimate and sparsely designed songs AND holds a promise to be good enough to '€persuade Charles Bukowski to talk sweet to his lover.'€ Jon McKiel (Halifax) on the other hand may give us delicate folk balladry but has a tendency to make his sparse massive with distortion-soaked chaos. Wicked!
Finally, Kim Harris (Amherst) plays her second show of IDOW at the Eye Level Gallery as the leading lady in this male driven lineup. She will commence the show oozing talent and grace through her luscious vocals and heart wrenching tunes. Newfoundlander, Andrew O'€Brien (St. John's) follows Harris'€ performance with his infectious melodies and clever, heartfelt personal narratives. This singer songwriter plucks at every heart string leaving behind a look into the depths of his soul. Stewart Legere (Halifax) once more completes the evening serenading the crowd with his knack for simply delectable piano ballads and effortless lyrical delivery.
Thus ends the winter time wonder and song shiny glory of the 2012 In the Dead of Winter music festival. Buy in advance, see shows often and keep the grind of overcast skies away from your heart.
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