Calexico plays up a storm at the Calgary Folk Music Festival 2008
From the 2008 Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival featuring Canadian composers Katie Agocs, Jonathan Berger, Gary Kulesha, and Harry Somers.
Sarah McLachlan in a lovely solo set with some of her best known tunes stripped back to just Sarah's voice and piano or guitar.
Featuring a CBC Radio 2 commission by jazz composer Oliver Whitehead. He's written "Blue Scales quintet" for the unusual combination of violin, viola, cello, bass and piano, and it's all about exploring the influence of Jazz on classical music. It's from the "Music of Our Time" series at the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festval
UHF are Shari Ulrich, Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes. They first joined forces in 1989 and they are all seasoned and prolific songwriters, who continue to have solo careers on the side. This concert was recorded at the Harmony Arts Festival and it captures UHF's warmth, history and humour - as well as their fine music.
The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCO) was held in St. John's this summer and for 5 days the city was a buzz with all things fiddle. It marked the first time the event was held in North America and with the conference theme of "Crossing Over" Newfoundland traditional players were joined by world-class fiddle groups from Canada, Scotland, England, Galacia, Denmark and The U.S. Among the many highlights were Scottish fiddle master Alasdair Fraser and American cello virtuoso Natalie Haas.
An artist who writes infectious melodies wrapped in stinging commentary, Aimee Mann has been a critic's darling since her days in the 80's fronting the group 'Til Tuesday. Her star rose again in 1999 when her songs appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Magnolia.
A highly anticipated debut at the Edmonton Folk Festival, the crowd was treated to songs from her latest album, @#%&*! SMILERS, and gems from her back catalogue.
John Campbelljohn is a blues musician from the kitchen party capital of Celt-dom: Cape Breton, NS. His forte is the slide guitar and more recently the electric steel guitar.
The group is led by accordion player Yves Lambert, co-founder of La Bottine Souriante. This hot acoustic quintet launched dozens of impromptu step dances by an appreciative audience.
Dan Mckinnon's voice is immediately recognizable for its rich and resonant sound, a sound that gets inside of you and makes you feel the wind and rain of the North Atlantic Ocean. A fixture at the Halifax farmer's market for many years, Dan now has a successful international career as one of the maritime regions truly gifted traditional singer songwriters.
Steve Pineo is one of Calgary's most versatile musicians. He's toured with Jann Arden and Tom Jackson's Huron Carol, Paul Brandt and Rita McNeil. As well, he's made several solo albums - the most recent is called "When I Grow Up".
Owen Pallett is known to his fans as the singer, songwriter, violinist, pianist, bassist, harpsichordist, engineer and everything else that makes up the indie-rock one-man band Final Fantasy. In his live performances Pallett plays his violin into loop foot pedals. Then he sings over the music. But this simple description doesn't do justice to the richly imaginative sounds he creates.
Pianist Louise Bessette tips her hat to the 100th anniversary of Olivier Messiaen's birth in this concert of the composer's solo and chamber works.
Dione Taylor is a Juno-award winning vocalist who's at home in blues, gospel and jazz circles. Her most recent CD is called "I Love Being Here with You." For this special show at the Calgary Blues Festival she was joined by the Canadian All-Star band featuring guitarists Jack Semple and Jake Langley.
The musical group Colcannon has developed a distinctive, inventive, and contemporary musical style while still keeping in firm touch with the heart and essence of traditional Irish music. They are more than just another band playing music from the Irish tradition, Colcannon is one of the few groups performing today that has developed their own unique, recognizable and contemporary style while still keeping in firm touch with the heart and essence of tradtional Celtic music.
Festival Vancouver likes to go with themes for its festivals. This year one of those themes is the music of Latin America. That's great news for lovers of the tango and other musical forms having their origins in the city of Buenos Aires. Three different acoustic ensembles offering three shades of musical experiences of Argentina. Recorded in the warm, wooden acoustics of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver.
From the 2008 Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, this session from the "Oral Traditions Tent" explores the British roots in the music of some of the province's finest singers and songwriters.
Mike
Stevens and Raymond McLain play a new and unique combination of musical styles
that reflect their backgrounds in bluegrass, blues and old time country music.
Richie Pollack got his first harmonica in his Christmas stocking. He's fronted all kinds of bands in Calgary bringing new Orleans rock and African influenced intrumentals to the mix.
These days, there doesn't seem to be much appetite for music that rails against injustice or demands social change. But Delf Hohmann, George Miminis and Blair Harvey wear their agendas proudly in a session called "Songs of Hope and Resistance".