APRIL 12, 13, 14
Charlie A’Court – www.charlieacourt.com
Combine a rich, rhythm & blues upbringing with soulful, adult-contemporary song writing and you have the foundation for one of Canada’s brightest new stars. Two-time East Coast Music Award winner Charlie A’Court has toured extensively throughout Canada and abroad, headlining at festivals like the Stan Rogers’ Folk Fest, Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, Kerrville Folk Fest and opening for high profile artists including John Reischman & the Jaybirds, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Harry Manx, Colin James, Mick Taylor, and Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd. Charlie’s modern blues style, mixed with his contemporary songwriting has created a mass appeal and his two albums, Bring On The Storm and Color Me Gone, have been released in Europe. Charlie will be performing with singer-songwriter David Myles in Margaretsville, Amherst and Liverpool.
David Myles – www.davidmyles.com
Singer-songwriter David Myles’ second album, Things Have Changed, departs from the traditional definition of roots music. Co-produced with Charles Austin (Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays, Buck 65), Things Have Changed features horns reminiscent of Al Green’s soul music, Mississippi John Hurt-style finger-picking, and rich vocals that fall somewhere between Chet Baker and Paul Simon. Myles has opted for the “full band” treatment of his songs with horns, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, piano, Wurlitzer organ, guitar, upright bass and drums. The album features some of Atlantic Canada’s finest musicians. Jill Barber, Dale Murray, Matt Murphy, Gabe Minnikin, Tom Easley, Geoff Arsenault, and others join forces to create an album reminiscent of early Ry Cooder, Tom Waits and J.J. Cale. David was recently named a winner in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition. Bringin’ It Home will team David up with Charlie A’Court for concerts in Margaretsville, Amherst and Liverpool. www.davidmyles.com
Dan McKinnon – www.danmckinnon.ca
Award-winning singer, guitarist, songwriter and historian Dan McKinnon has released five albums, including Fields of Dreams and Glory which was nominated for two Music Nova Scotia Awards in 2005. His warm baritone voice, superb guitar arrangements and original compositions have won this native Nova Scotian widespread praise. Dan has performed in numerous folk clubs and festivals in Canada, performed with Symphony Nova Scotia and toured Atlantic Canada and Ireland as part of an International Theatre Festival show about the life and times of Stan Rogers. Dan has also recorded and performed with pub groups McGinty and Evans & Doherty. His music has been played on radio stations across Canada and the U.S. and used in five films. During Bringin’ It Home, Dan will be performing in a songwriters circle with Thom Swift, Jenn Grant, and Tanya Davis. This Songwriters Circle will be presented in Canning, Dartmouth and Lunenburg.
Thom Swift – www.thomswift.com
Thom Swift draws inspiration for his original music from finger-style masters Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins, the essential songwriting of Neil Young and Bob Dylan, the melodies of jazz great Charlie Haden, and even from his father’s operatic voice training. There’s no line between the blues, folk, jazz and ragtime instrumentals that color Swift’s music. An integral member of award-winning East Coast trio Hot Toddy, Swift has performed at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in the U.S., the Blue Balls Festival in Switzerland and the Vienna Jazz Festival in Austria. Swift crafts his songs out of the melodies he discovers playing guitar. With a well-travelled Martin guitar, an old national steel, a ‘43 Dobro and his commanding soulful voice, he’s winning over audiences everywhere he performs. Watch for Swift’s debut solo album in the Spring. Get a preview during Bringin’ It Home when he performs in Canning, Dartmouth, and Lunenburg with Dan McKinnon, Jenn Grant and Tanya Davis.
Jenn Grant – www.jenngrant.com
Singer-songwriter Jenn Grant has been touring in Europe the past two years as a solo artist and occasionally with the pop orchestrial band the Heavy Blinkers. In the past year she has played the Toronto Film Festival, SXSW, CMW, HPX and POP Komm. Grant has also opened for Feist, Ron Sexsmith and Josh Ritter among others, in intimate venues. Most recently, she completed a three week tour of Germany, and is currently touring throughout Canada with a stop in Toronto to play the Horseshoe Tavern during Canadian Music Week. Jenn’s first full length album Orchestra For The Moon, to be released in May, is produced by Jason MacIsaac and David Christensen of the Heavy Blinkers and features such notable guests as Ron Sexsmith, Jill Barber, Matt Mays, Tyler Messick, Dale Murray, and Rose Cousins. Jenn will join Dan McKinnon, Thom Swift and Tanya Davis for Songwriters Circles in Canning, Dartmouth and Lunenburg.
Tanya Davis – www.tanyadavis.ca
Tanya Davis is a poet. She is a musician and a singer-songwriter and she fuses these elements together in a refreshing matrimony of language and sound, defying convention, side-stepping genre, and captivating audiences in the process. She’s been performing spoken word poetry since 2000, with appearances at festivals on both the West and East Coasts. In the fall of 2005, she began putting into practice her long-term goal of fusing music with poetry, and in April 2006 released her first album, Make a List. Her music can be loosely defined as alt-folk with some pop influence; her poetry is rhythmic and engaging, with well-crafted language that remains simple and easily understood. Tanya has showcased recently during the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax and Canadian Music Week in Toronto. Bringin’ It Home brings Tanya Davis to Canning, Dartmouth and Lunenburg in a Songwriters Circle with Dan McKinnon, Thom Swift, and Jenn Grant.
APRIL 19, 20, 21
Troy MacGillivary – www.troymacgillivray.com
Troy MacGillivray is a multitalented musician who was born into a rich musical tradition. For generations, the MacGillivrays on his father’s side and the MacDonalds on his mother’s side have been proprietors of the Gaelic tradition in Antigonish. With strong traditional roots, the talented fiddler and piano player completed grade seven of the Toronto Conservatory of Music for classical piano, spent four years in a stringed orchestra, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis Xavier University. Troy’s unique approach to piano accompaniment is highly sought after and he has performed all over North America and overseas from Switzerland to Australia. Also well-known for his fiddle playing, he has featured recently at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland, the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax, Folk Alliance in Memphis, Tennessee, and the University of Wyoming. During Bringin’ It Home, Troy MacGillivray will be performing with singer-songwriter Brad Davidge in Sherbrooke, Iona and Dingwall.
Brad Davidge – www.braddavidge.com
Brad Davidge is a very exciting, versatile guitar-player, full of energy and soul, a combination that is not easy to come by. His songwriting abilities are that of a true craftsman; both mature yet current and his vocal abilities are endless, possessing a 4-octave range, with both power and subtlety on demand. Brad is an experienced talent who has shared the stage with the likes of Faith Hill, Don Henley, and Alison Krauss. He regularly performs and records with Natalie MacMaster and has appeared on Good Morning America, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, CBS Morning Show, and ABC’s New Years Eve Special with Peter Jennings. His debut album, Unfolded, has received coast to coast acclaim, including two Music Nova Scotia nominations, (Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year), and an ECMA for Pop Artist of the Year. Brad Davidge will be performing with fiddler and piano player Troy MacGillivray during Bringin’ It Home in Sherbrooke, Iona and Dingwall.
Sons of Maxwell – www.sonsofmaxwell.com
From concert halls to corporate shows, Sons of Maxwell are a big hit with audiences of all ages. Don and Dave Carroll began singing together while attending university and started a full-time music career soon after graduation. Their pop-folk sound combines strong harmonies and thought-provoking lyrics with an interesting blend of musical styles that has made them popular with a broad spectrum of people. The brothers have done prolific work in a relatively short time developing a large, dedicated fan-base. They have released eight albums, including East Coast Music Award-winning Sunday Morning. This past year, the band toured community theatres in Western Canada, performed in the Dominican Republic, and did a promotional tour in Germany. They also gave a raft of performances in music halls and listening rooms. Sons of Maxwell will perform with guitarist Scott Macmillan in Shelburne, Annapolis Royal and Big Pond during Bringin’ It Home.
Scott Macmillan – www.scottmacmillan.ca
Scott Macmillan is recognized as one of Canada’s leading musicians, and for playing an integral role in widening the audience for the music of Atlantic Canada both nationally and internationally. An exceptional guitarist, Scott has been nominated seven times for East Coast Music Awards, receiving the Instrumental Artist of the year Award in 1998, Best Classical Recording for MacKinnon’s Brook Suite in 2002 and Bach Meets Cape Breton with Puirt a Baroque in 1995. His other recordings include Songs of the Cape with The Octet, Guitar Souls with David MacIsaac, and Scott Macmillan Presents the Minnie Sessions volumes, 1, 2 and 3, with guest musician friends. In the spring of 2000, Macmillan and his Minnie Session concept was a weekly feature during a 13-week live to air CBC Radio national series, The Nova Scotia Kitchen Party. During Bring It Home, Scott will be playing in Shelburne, Annapolis Royal and Big Pond with Sons of Maxwell.
APRIL 26, 27, 28
Jill Barber - www.jillbarber.com
Drawing on influences from old-time jazz standards, folk balladry and traditional country, Halifax’s Jill Barber has become one of Canada’s most distinctive young voices. Striking a balance between classic and contemporary songwriting styles, Jill’s East Coast Music Award-winning album For All Time showcases her keen melodic sense, clever and compelling lyrical abilities, and her unique voice. Barber gained national critical acclaim with the 2004 release of her CBC-produced EP, Oh Heart. In 2005, she was awarded Female Artist-Recording of the Year for Oh Heart at the Nova Scotia Music Awards and was nominated for two 2005 East Coast Music Awards in the categories of Best Female Artist and Best Folk Recording. Jill has toured extensively across Canada, and has performed at various folk and music industry festivals in Canada and the US. Jill Barber will join banjo-playing singer-songwriter Old Man Luedecke for Bringin’ It Home concerts in Orangedale, Chester and Truro.
Old Man Luedecke – www.oldmanluedecke.ca
In banjo songster tradition, Old Man Luedecke sings his songs accompanied only by his inspired clawhammer playing and his stomping foot. Old Man Luedecke’s music invokes the spirit of the folk revival of the late fifties and early sixties with a modern edge. The banjo-picking singer-songwriter keeps up a steady touring schedule, whether doing solo gigs, blending his act in with a bill at indie rock shows, or in front of huge beaming festival audiences. Old Man Luedecke has performed at Mariposa Folk Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, and the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. He has appeared recently on the East Coast Music Awards televised broadcast, at Folk Alliance in Memphis and at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. During Bringin’ It Home, Old Man Luedecke will share the stage with singer-songwriter Jill Barber in Orangedale, Chester and Truro.
Steven Bowers – www.sonicbids.com/stevenbowers
A captivating and highly entertaining performer with a powerful, versatile voice, Steven Bowers has solidified his reputation as a gifted songwriter, singer and producer, with the release of his third CD, Tired Light. On the strength of this latest release, Steven was nominated for 2007 ECMA Pop Recording Of The Year, received Music Nova Scotia Award nominations for Songwriter Of The Year, Pop-Rock Recording Of The Year and won the 2006 Music Nova Scotia Producer Of The Year Award (with co-producers Matt Miller and Keith Mullins). Steven Bowers has been a featured performer at special events including Junofest, Canadian Music Week, Riverfront Jubilee, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, Rendezvous Folk!, Asia Relief at Halifax Metro Centre, Songwriter Circle at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre, and the 2005 ECMA Sneak Peek Rising Star stage, among others. Bowers will join John Campbelljohn, Norma MacDonald and Ruth Minnikin for Songwriters Circles in Middle Musquodoboit, Tatamagouche, and Boisdale during Bringin’ It Home.
John Cambelljohn – www.campbelljohn.ca
John Campbelljohn is an exceptional blues musician with great instincts, tastefully concise solos and a no-nonsense approach to giving his fans the good times they have come to expect. Campbelljohn released his debut album in 1993 and, as his originality begged immediate attention, accolades poured in across the next six releases: Blues Artist of the Year, Guitarist of the Year, Slide Guitarist of the Year. Regular nominations and a mantle-full of awards are evidence of the critical praise he receives for both his recordings and his live performances. The distinctiveness of his sound has been applauded and appreciated from Sydney to Stuttgart. In fact, his reputation abroad has blossomed into a German label contract on the Taxim label. Earlier this year, John received an East Coast Music Award in the Blues Recording of the Year category for his latest release Weight of the World. During Bringin’ It Home, Campbelljohn teams up with Steven Bowers, Norma MacDonald and Ruth Minnikin for Songwriters Circles in Middle Musquodoboit, Tatamagouche and Boisdale.
Norma MacDonald – www.normamacdonald.com
For six years Norma fronted a very successful east coast folk act called Highland Heights. The group recorded three albums and toured Canada extensively, with stints in the U.S. and Europe. Acting as multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, accordion), lead vocalist and front person, Norma honed her skills as an entertainer. In the meantime she began to write songs. After the band’s demise she spent almost a year in Japan, teaching English and performing with a band that seemed to form spontaneously upon her arrival. The solitude of living alone in a strange country gave Norma plenty of time to fine-tune her craft as a songwriter. Upon her return to Canada she figured it was high time to do some recording. Norma released her solo debut album, Nothing Is Where It Was, to critical acclaim in September 2005. Norma MacDonald plays in Middle Musquodoboit, Tatamagouche, and Boisdale during Bringin’ It Home. She will be part of a Songwriters Circle with John Campbelljohn, Steven Bowers and Ruth Minnikin.
Ruth Minnikin – www.ruthminnikin.ca
When Ruth’s first band, the Booming Airplanes signed with EMI she was just 17 years old. Now ten years later, she is a musician, visual artist and businesswoman with an impressive roster of national and international tours both as a member of such bands as The Guthries, The Heavy Blinkers, and as a solo artist. Her voice can be consistently enjoyed on radio stations in Canada, the U.S., Germany, France, Belgium, Japan and The Netherlands. Her latest album, Folk Art, was released in 2006. In January, Ruth was featured on CBC Radio One’s afternoon show Freestyle as Artist of the Week. Since then she has performed during Canadian Music Week in Toronto, South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, and toured throughout Alberta. Ruth is performing in a Songwriters Circle with John Campbelljohn, Steven Bowers and Norma MacDonald during Bringin’ It Home. This Songwriters Circle will be presented in Middle Musquodoboit, Tatamagouche, and Boisdale.
