Patchwork Threads

“A master of the finely-turned phrase and the perfectly-pitched line.”
Maverick Magazine

Legendary singer-songwriter, Stephen Fearing, is performing a rare intimate concert at Patchwork House Concerts on Sunday, February 16 (the morrow is a provincial holiday for most). No surprise to us that this one sold out rapidly and we have started a waiting list. You can read more about Stephen below.

But have no fear, other fabulous shows are waiting in the wings:

Mat Hughes & Julia Cunningham will share the stage on Saturday, March 15. Tickets are $25 and available here.

Mat Hughes is a tickler of ivories, a hummer of melodies, a writer of rhapsodies and a sprinkler of cheddar cheese. We’ll not expect that of him on March 15 but having seen him tickle the ivories and hum along to an earlier show here with Daniel James McFadyen, we know that our audience is in for a treat……Not to mention his partner in this show is Julia Cunningham. We were lucky enough to get seats to Julia’s sold out EP release show at the Carleton this fall and man! those tracks are solid!! To see a bit of Mat tickling those ivories, check out this video from the Carleton or his video for Overture . If that does not convince you to buy tickets, watch Julia’s (adorable) video of Dive Deep.

Saturday, May 3 we will present Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper & Sandy MacKay. Tickets are $25 and available here.

Preeper Rhaye MacKay is a folk trio comprised of songbird and Canadian Folk Music Nominee, Jessica Rhaye, guitarist Bill Preeper, and multi-instrumentalist Sandy MacKay. They began working together in the folk-rock band The Ramshackle Parade. This trio has developed a Maritime Appalachian Folk sound with a unique mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation. The singers deliver lush 3-part harmonies, weaving and sharing lead and harmony parts for their own compositions, along with simple, yet elegant arrangements. It’s new folk music at its finest, pulling together inspiration from the likes of Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson, and Bob Dylan. This trio is described as a modern Peter Paul & Mary, creating an intricate vocal blend. Each is an accomplished musician; together they create magic! Sneak peak a few videos here.

More about Stephen Fearing: Stephen Fearing has been named one of the finest songwriters in Canada and has built a national – and international – audience for his music, doing it old school through countless performances at intimate venues and on the concert stages of festivals and theatres across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe. Fearing has released ten albums as a solo artist, featuring a who’s who of musical guests (Bruce Cockburn, Margo Timmons, Rose Cousins, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, and Sarah McLachlan).

In 1996 he co-founded Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden and Tom Wilson. More than 22 years later, with nine albums and a JUNO award to their credit, the band has become one of the most respected names in North American roots-rock. In 1998, Stephen Fearing met Andy White backstage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and a fast friendship was formed. As the duo Fearing & White they have released two critically-acclaimed albums and toured throughout Canada and the UK. More recently, Fearing has been collaborating with the Danish backing band and folk music pioneers, The Sentimentals. In 2023, they releasef their joint album Vejpoesi recorded in Frederikshavn, Denmark and Hamilton. MC Hansen, also with The Sentimentals, will be joining Stephen at Patchwork.

Like the guests on his albums, the many awards and nominations that have come his way over the years speak to the respect he has earned among his peers, presenters, and critics. His abiding love for his craft and ability to delight audiences are further reflected in multiple JUNO and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations and awards and an ever-expanding touring circuit throughout North America, the UK, and Europe. For his album Every Soul’s a Sailor he was awarded the 2017 Worldwide Album of the Year by Blues & Roots Radio and named 2017 Contemporary Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Like all of our house concerts, 100 % of the door will go directly to the artists. We provide the stage, chairs and hopefully a room filled with eager listeners. Snacks and soft drinks will be offered; otherwise it is BYOB. Bringing music-loving-friends and visiting family members is strongly encouraged.

Monique & George