Patchwork Threads

It’s time for a blues show no?  Actually this is a blues meets boogie-woogie meets Patchwork show!

Alan Gerber

Saturday, April 21 @ 8 pm  : $20 per person (100 % to the musician)

Strap on your boogie-woogie shoes, hold on and get ready … Alan Gerber has arrived! This eccentric entertainer is wowing audiences internationally. His amalgamation of boogie-woogie, stunning vocal interpretations and fine musicianship make Gerber an artist of the highest order. His show is exhilarating and captivates audiences of all demographics placing him in high demand to festivals, clubs and theatres nationally, He has participated in major events such as: The Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Blues Festival, Fort Lauderdale Blues Festival, Toronto Harbour Front Blues, Carcassonne Music Festival & many more.

Alan began his career as a singer, songwriter and keyboardist with the group Rhinoceros before embarking on a solo career.  In 1994, he produced and released “Chicken Walk”. He followed that up with “Fools That Try” in 1997 and “The Boogie Man” in 1999. When demand for a live CD began to surface, Alan took the studio on the road and produced “Alan Gerber Live” in 2002. This CD captured his live performance energy and audiences and buyers were quick to stand up and take notice. “Alan Gerber Live” showcased Gerber in all areas of his art. He produced the recording, wrote and performed the songs, and played all instruments on this CD. In 2005 he released the critically acclaimed “Blue Tube”. A quote from Dan Behrman, producer/host of “Espace Musique”, Radio Canada blues show: “He literally explodes from the very start with all the musical colors that Blues-Funk has in its paint box…. Alan Gerber is a sensitive & intelligent lyricist whose positive message is ideally driven home by the right words he uses”.  His latest CD, Queen Of Hearts, was released in 2009.

Please go on youtube for a taste of what this guy can do:                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DywNGVWcrnE  Or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpFlYWCFGGE

Visit his website for more : http://alangerber.org/

RSVP (mleblanc.patchwork@gmail.com) for directions and reminders.

Simply, a show not to be missed. 

Take Don Ross – one of the top guitarists in the world + Brooke Miller – one of this region’s best songwriters – and what do you get?  Magic.  That’s what.  And with a tour schedule that is straining the bindings of their passports, it’s magic that they will be playing in our living room this month.  And with new albums to boot.

www.gobyfish.com/Home.htm

www.brookemiller.ca/

Showtime is 8 pm on Saturday, March 24.

$25 per person will be collected during the show (all proceeds to the musicians)

Email mleblanc.patchwork@gmail.com to rsvp and get more details.

Megan Couture, who blogs for Halifax Magazine, attended Ria Mae’s show at Patchwork on February 17.  This was her first house concert.  Read about her experience at Halifax Magazine’s blog (see blogroll to right for the link).

Ria Mae creates slick pop songs with universal themes of longing, love lost and hearts found. Her debut, full-length album, Under Your Skin, is produced by Asif Illyas (MIR) and is nominated for a 2012 East Coast Music Award for Pop Recording of the Year. 

For the release of Under Your Skin on August 30, 2011, Ria went on tour with Melissa Ferrick and opened for her 17 dates in the US and in Canada. Ferrick is a Boston-based singer-songwriter with two decades of experience, 16 albums (Atlantic Records, W.A.R.?, Right On Records, MPress Records) and a rapid fan base. From Massachusetts to New York and Nashville, Mae and Ferrick made one stop in Toronto at The Horseshoe Tavern for the only Canadian date. Back in Halifax, Ria performed a sold-out CD release show and debuted a music video for the title track “Under Your Skin.”

Ria is the 2011 International Winner at the Mountain Stage New Song Contest in New York City and was invited to showcase at CMJ in October 2011. 2012 will see her performing showcases at Folk Alliance in Memphis, Tennessee, Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Ontario and at the ECMA Festival and Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick on the Rising Star stage. Ria has toured with Rose Cousins, shared stage with Juno award-winner Amelia Curran, Jenn Grant and in the US with Keaton Simons and Arthur Alligood.

A versatile artist, Ria performed the supporting lead role “Emily,” a renegade homeless musician in Snow, a film written and directed by Rohan Fernando. Ria Mae’s on-screen performance premiered at California’s Cinequest Film Festival, won Best Score at the 2011 Atlantic Film Festival and will be in theatres across Canada in 2012.

Details: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 @ 8 PM (there will be 2 sets with a break in between; cds will be available for sale)

$15 per person

Please RSVP via email (mleblanc.patchwork@gmail.com) or by calling 434-8355.   A reminder will go out a couple of days before that will include directions.

Non-alcoholic beverages will be offered.  You are invited to take along any wine/beer/etc. that you wish to enjoy.  There will be a selection of munchies at the break.  Contributions to the munchies table will be graciously accepted and appreciated although not required.

Patchwork is kicking off 2012 with a stellar show featuring multiple Juno Award winner Stephen Fearing.   Stephen’s April 2011 show at Patchwork attracted our biggest audience to date and no wonder – Fearing is one of Canada’s most engaging and entertaining performers.

Mixing powerful lyrics, creative arrangements and brilliant guitar playing, Fearing has built up a loyal and dedicated international audience with a wide range of songs – from his 1988 release Out to Sea, to his 2007 Juno winning album Yellowjacket.  He is a founding member of the highly successful Canadian roots rock super trio, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings,  and has collaborated with many artists including Shawn Colvin, Richard Thompson, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Wilson and Colin Linden.

His latest recording, The Man Who Married Music is a ‘Best Of’ collection, with tracks handpicked by Stephen, featuring some of the best music he has released over his career as well as two brand new tracks No Dress Rehearsal and The Big East West.

The consistent quality of work produced over Stephen Fearing’s two decades plus career has earned him a West Coast Music Award for Best Folk Music Recording and five Juno Award nominations as a solo artist and a faithful international fan base.  On top of that, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings have released seven highly praised and award-winning albums including a Juno Award for “BARK”.   Their seventh album ‘Kings and Queens’ was released in June 2011 and pairs the band with some of their favorite female singers and friends and some of the biggest names in roots, blues and jazz including Roseanne Cash, Holly Cole and Serena Ryder.

Stephenfearing.com

Blackieandtherodeokings.com

Details:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th  @ 8 PM (there will be 2 sets with a break in between; cds will be available for sale)

$25 per person ($20 for students)

 Please RSVP via email (mleblanc.patchwork@gmail.com) or by calling 434-8355.   A reminder will go out a couple of days before that will include directions.

Non-alcoholic beverages will be offered.  You are invited to take along any wine/beer/etc. that you wish to enjoy.  There will be a selection of munchies at the break.  Contributions to the munchies table will be graciously accepted and appreciated although not required.

Please feel free to forward this invitation on to other music lovers you know.