bcm 91

Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Record Store Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 by LV naSh

book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Performing behind bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 by LInDa mCRae

COnTeST aLeRT! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Songbirds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 by jOanna ChaPman-SmITh

you’ve Got to hear This . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 by baRb bRueDeRLIn

The Three-Legged Stool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 by CeLeSTe DaVIDSOn

Teaching at bluegrass Camps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 by PhaRIS ROmeRO

amP Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 by janeT ROGeRS

be the music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 - 26 by LV naSh & meaGhan CuRSOnS

CD Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-30 by bObby heRROn & STaff

a note about our printing . We print with International Webexpress, Coquitlam, bC . They are committed to supporting environmentally responsible and sustainable forestry, and are the only fSC certified newspaper printer in bC . They’d love to talk to you about printing festival guides,

programmes, newspapers, and more . 604 526 8557

The opinions expressed within these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect bC musician magazine or its affiliates .

no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher .

Mar - Apr 2012, Issue 91ISSN 1918 -560x 91

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C o n t e n t sC o n t e n t s

Meaghan Cursons is a community animateur and BC Musician’s newest multi-purpose team member. She grew up at

music festivals and community halls across BC - from Edgewood to Haida Gwaii - with many stops in between. She currently lends her passion to marketing cultural projects, organizing events, building community and general rabble

rousing. She hangs her hat and makes a bit of music in the old coal town of Cumberland on Vancouver Island.

Richard Chapman has worked with a wide variety of great Canadian artists for

nearly three decades - from the Rheostatics and Herald Nix to Moose Records and The Pointed Sticks. Currently he conducts the Northern Electric collective www.northern-electric.ca.

Janet Marie Rogers is Victoria’s Poet Laureate. A Mohawk/Tuscarora writer from

the Six Nations band in southern Ontario. Born in Vancouver, she has been living on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people (Victoria) since 1994. Janet works in the genres of poetry, short

fiction, spoken word performance poetry, video poetry and recorded poems with music and script writing. You can hear Janet on the radio hosting “Native Waves Radio” on CFUV 101.9fm Victoria and on Tribal Clefs music column every Tuesday with CBC Radio One throughout BC. www.janetmarierogers.com.

Barbara Bruederlin is a freelance writer in Calgary. She is trying to single-

handedly save the arts community in Canada by promoting struggling musicians and theatre troupes. Her reviews appear on the press pages of the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Sage Theatre. Barbara also maintains a blog,

Bad Tempered Zombie. Her writing has been published in Prairie Fire Magazine, Swerve Magazine, Kitschykoo! Subcultural Magazine, and Alberta Views Magazine.

Bobby Herron spent six years as the frontman of the ska band, The B-Sides. He’s played festivals, bars and parties from Portland to Eastern Europe. After three years as co-owner of Jo’s

Bar in Prague and a job at Spinner Records in Vancouver, he has settled in the music mecca known as Cumberland, BC. He continues to write, record, produce and perform. He loves spaghetti, his wife and his daughter.

C o n t r i b u t o r sC o n t r i b u t o r sJoanna Chapman-Smith is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and performer with a flair for work that is unique and vast in scope. Since 2006, she

has toured extensively throughout Canada and Europe and her latest CD, Contraries, saw her profiled on NPR in the USA in 2010. She is also the founder of the SONGBIRDS

TRAVELLING MUSIC SCHOOL. Her upcoming release, Love me Deeply hits BC later this year.

Celeste Davidson Classically trained piano player, Celeste, and rock drummer

husband, Ken, never expected that they would be playing back up to two award-winning fiddlers - their own kids, Chloe & Kyle Davidson! Starting violin at the age of 3, the Kelowna siblings soon

discovered the world of fiddle music, and it was love at first listen! www.chloeandkyle.com

Pharis Romero makes her home in Horsefly, BC. In between teaching at bluegrass, vocal and fiddle camps, she works

as a banjo builder with her husband Jason in their home-based J. Romero Banjos workshop. They released their first duo CD, a Passing Glimpse, in 2011, and are looking forward to a summer of

festivals and camps. In 2012 Keep an eye out for them at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Arts on the Fly (Horsefly, BC) and Artswells (Wells, BC), among others.

Linda McRae spent 8 years touring the world with Platinum recording artists

Spirit of the West. She has since released 3 critically acclaimed solo recordings and in 2007 was awarded a Canada Council Study Grant to work with Grammy winner Jon Vezner in Nashville, TN and clawhammer banjo aficionado Brad Leftwich

in Bloomington, IN. Linda was married in a bail bonds office in Jackson, TN to James Whitmire, a retired donkey rancher-turned poet. They are working on a new CD of their own songs and a one-act play about how they met. www.lindamcrae.com

4 BC Musician | March - April 2012 BC Musician | March - April 2012 5

Everything is becoming ephemeral. Music is being housed in a “cloud.” Think about that for a minute.

A recent Facebook posting*: “Drinking coffee and listening to Sticky Fingers on vinyl, good way to start the morning.” I love that, though I was curious, which issue of Sticky Fin-gers — the one with the functioning zipper? Music is easily dismissed as a aural experience. Or maybe dismissed isn’t fair, that is the end goal, after all. But don’t we need to feel it, too? Literally?

Album art used to give you a visual cue as to what you were buying. Sometimes you would buy things you hadn’t heard because the album art told a story, or promised a story within. Sometimes this was disappointing, but more often ex-citing. Best of all, you could touch it, and quite often pull out a... poster or booklet or signed photo of John or Paul.

Browsing the iTunes store by artist and song title doesn’t

have that same sense of anticipation. Sure, you get to listen to 1’ 30” to decide if you want to spend 99 cents on a single. Then you can get another single and another and another, or go to a web site and stream a custom playlist based on your genre interests. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

If, in the future, we only buy (or stream) what search en-gines find for us, based on our previous buying or listening patterns, it’s going to limit our brain’s ability to bend to new sounds.

Keep this up, you lose the record store, lose the commu-nity, lose the intelligence behind the music, lose those quirky and clever people who can size you up in under a minute and 30 seconds and suggest something new, all without the help of a computer (except when they need to order new stock). This Record Store Day, and every day, consider what we stand to lose. Visit your local record shop and keep touching the product. *Thanks, Todd menzies!

By L V NashJanet Marie Rogers is Victoria’s Poet Laureate. A Mohawk/Tuscarora writer from

the Six Nations band in southern Ontario. Born in Vancouver, she has been living on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people (Victoria) since 1994. Janet works in the genres of poetry, short

fiction, spoken word performance poetry, video poetry and recorded poems with music and script writing. You can hear Janet on the radio hosting “Native Waves Radio” on CFUV 101.9fm Victoria and on Tribal Clefs music column every Tuesday with CBC Radio One throughout BC. www.janetmarierogers.com.

r e c o r d s t o r e d a yr e c o r d s t o r e d a y

Pharis Romero makes her home in Horsefly, BC. In between teaching at bluegrass, vocal and fiddle camps, she works

as a banjo builder with her husband Jason in their home-based J. Romero Banjos workshop. They released their first duo CD, a Passing Glimpse, in 2011, and are looking forward to a summer of

festivals and camps. In 2012 Keep an eye out for them at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Arts on the Fly (Horsefly, BC) and Artswells (Wells, BC), among others.



bandZconnect.com

BAND CONNECT.COMCONNECT

Website for all bands & musicians & the ONE website for those looking to hire.ONE

REMEMBERVinyl Records

Penticton’s neighbourhood

record store

419 Main Street, Penticton BC778.476.5838

Grooveyard_Spec 2/29/12 3:09 PM Page 1

The IslandsBlack Raven Records

1294 Gladstone ave .Victoria V8T 1G6250 590 1033

Ditch Records & CDs784 fort St .Victoria V8W 1h2www .ditchrecords .comditchrecords@shaw .caCelebrating Record Store Day at a new location. Sale, door giveaways, new releases, live music.

Lyle’s Place770 yates St .Victoria V8W 1L4250 382 8422www .member .shaw .ca/lyles .place

Talk’s Cheap556b Pandora ave .Victoria V8W 1n7250 381 9857www .talkscheapvictoria .commail@teenagedepression .ca

The Turntable107- 3 fan Tan alleyVictoria V8W 3G9250 382 5543

Fascinating Rhythms51 Commercial St .nanaimo bCV9R 5G3250 716 9997

Fascinating Rhythm has been a focal point for local music fans of most genres going on 20 years. Find the latest CDs to the old rare vinyl record you need to complete your collec-tion. There is a large collection of old radios, turntables and old stereo equipment.

Cranky Dog Records154 morison St .Parksville bCV9P 2G3250 954 3465

Bop City Records211 Simms St .Courtenay V9n 5W1Tel . 250 338 6621New owners as of April will be in a constant state of Record Store Day celebration!

Saltspring Music250 537 5931box 746Salt Spring Island, bCV8K 2W3 250 537 5931www .saltspringmusic .cominfo@saltspringmusic .com

Saltspring Sound131 mcPhillips ave .Salt Spring Island bC V8K 2T6250 537 0065www .bookbill .com

Dave’s RecordsQ-Cove Plaza, harper RdQuathiaski Cove, Quadra Island

VancouverAudiopile

2016 Commercial Dr .Vancouver V5n 4a9604 253 7453www .audiopile .comhelp@audiopile .com10% off new vinyl and 20% off used vinyl on RSD .

Dandelion Records2442 main St .Vancouver V5T 3e2778 737 7367dandelionrecords@gmail .comRSD specials, 30% off all used vinyl. Bands playing next door all day at Guys and Dolls Bil-liards. Should have most RSD releases this year.

Highlife Records1317 Commercial Dr .Vancouver V5L 3X5604 251 6964www .highlifeworld .cominfo@highlifeworld .comPerformances, sale items available, giveaways, prizes and more. Drop by and help celebrate Record Store Day.

Neptoon Records3561 main St .Vancouver V5V 3n4604 324 1229www .neptoon .comemail: ben@neptoon .com

Red Cat Records4332 main St .Vancouver V5V 3P9604 708 9422www .redcat .caredcatrecords@gmail .comLive performances, sale, and Record Store Day releases.

Scratch Records1 east hastings St .Vancouver V6b 1m9604 687 6355www .scratchrecords .com

Vinyl Records319 West hastings St .Vancouver V6b 1h6604 488 1234www .vinylrecords .catimepeacewarrior@hotmail .comLive music all day and every-thing will be on sale on RSD.

Zoo Zhop Records223 main St .Vancouver V6a 2S7604 875 9958www .zoozhop .comdavidsmind@davidsmind .comZoo Zhop will be hosting an all day music event on RSD.

Zulu Records1972 West 4th ave .Vancouver V6j 1m5604 738 3232www .zulurecords .cominfo@zulurecords .comZulu will be celebrating RSD with storewide sale, exclusive RSD releases, and an all ages party at the end of the day.


160 - 12240 2nd Ave, Richmond (Steveston Village)604 204 0044

www.beatmerchant.com • [email protected]

New CDs • New DVDs • Records • Posters • T-Shirts

Richmond’s Only Music Store

BeatmerchantThe

Record Store


Grooveyard_Spec 2/29/12 3:09 PM Page 1

Fascinating Rhythm has been a focal point for local music fans of most genres going on 20 years. Find the latest CDs to the old rare vinyl record you need to complete your collec-tion. There is a large collection of old radios, turntables and old stereo equipment.

Cranky Dog Records154 morison St .Parksville bCV9P 2G3250 954 3465

Bop City Records211 Simms St .Courtenay V9n 5W1Tel . 250 338 6621New owners as of April will be in a constant state of Record Store Day celebration!

Saltspring Music250 537 5931box 746Salt Spring Island, bCV8K 2W3 250 537 5931www .saltspringmusic .cominfo@saltspringmusic .com

Saltspring Sound131 mcPhillips ave .Salt Spring Island bC V8K 2T6250 537 0065www .bookbill .com

Dave’s RecordsQ-Cove Plaza, harper RdQuathiaski Cove, Quadra Island

www .islandmusic .webs .comUsed vinyl records and CDs. We buy, sell and trade. We specialize in 50s thru 80s vi-nyl. Even if Island Music is not open, and the Upper Realm is open, records can be pur-chased by using the ‘honour system’. Support your local record store!

Around BCSpinner’s Sound Centre

324 Victoria St .Kamloops V2C 2a5250 372 5248dieter .theiss@shaw .ca

Underground Music1331 ellis St ., unit 4Kelowna V1y 1Z9778 478 0215www .undergroundkelowna .comvictor@undergroundkelowna .com

CD Shack22356 Lougheed hwymaple Ridge V2X 2T4604 463 6440thecdshack@hotmail .com

The Grooveyard239 main St .Penticton V2a 5b1250 493 6501www .grooveyard .cainfo@grooveyard .caThe Grooveyard will be partici-pating in RSD once again. “We always try to bring in a vast array of titles and it is exciting

to see vinyl creating some buzz and excitement… nothing beats the sound on vinyl,” they told us.

The Beatmerchant160-12240 2nd ave .Richmond V7e 3L8604 204 0044www .beatmerchant .comfrankie@beatmerchant .comLive music, giveaways, and in store specials on RSD.

Alberta: CalgaryBreakbeat Vinyl

7816 hunterview Dr . nWCalgary T2K 5C9403 475 2175webmaster@breakbeatvinyl .com

Heritage Posters & Music1502 11th ave SWCalgary T3C 0m9403 802 1846heritagepostersandmusic .comjerry@heritagepostersandmu-sic .com

The Inner Sleeve117 3411 20th StCalgary T2T 4Z6403 242 9899www .theinnersleeve .commusic@theinnersleeve .comWe work hard to order re-leases as they are announced and have always had a great sale on all of our stock for the entire weekend that Record Store Day falls on. Plans are in

the works, but for sure there will be cupcakes.

Melodiya Records2523a 17th ave SWCalgary T3e 0a2Tel . 403 246 8916www .melodiyarecords .camelodiya@telus .netRSD will be celebrated!

Sloth Records736b 17th ave SWCalgary T2S 0b7403 265 6585slothrecords@shaw .ca

Alberta: EdmontonIf you are in Edmonton for the weekend, Sunday April 22 is the 2nd annual Edmonton Music Collectors Show, Sher-brooke Community Hall, 13008 122 Ave. www.edmontonmusiccollec-torsshow.com

Blackbyrd (Myoozik)10442 82 Whyte aveedmonton T6e 2a2780 439 1273www .blackbyrd .cainfo@blackbyrd .caRecord Store Day only, 20% off all new CDs and LPs, 50% off all used product. Planning to line up a couple of in stores. Plus tons of RSD releases.

Freecloud Records10764 101 Stedmonton T5h 2S3780 429 1476www .freecloud .caglotex@moderndigital .netEvery day is Record Store Day at Freecloud! The usual records everywhere, tons of new imports, new releases, and RSD special releases due that day.

continued on page 8



The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl

Edited by Trevor Schoonmaker

Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

216 pages

The Record is the catalogue of an art exhibition that explores the culture of vinyl records within con-temporary art from 1965 to 2010. Originally curated for the Nasher Mu-seum of Art the exhibition brought together the work of 41 artists from around the world. This is not album cover art. It is about the myriad ways that vinyl has shaped itself into mod-ern art practices in every medium: sound, sculpture, installation, draw-ing, painting, photography, video and performance art. It’s a pretty eclec-tic mix including everything from

www.rootsandblues.ca

Celebrating Together!

Tickets /info: 1-250-833-4096

Laurie Anderson’s Viophongraph to Robert Rauschenberg’s Revolver. An-derson’s contraption is a violin rigged up with a 45-rpm turntable above the chin rest and a stylus has been attached to the bow. The violinist can then manipulate the sound coming from the 45 in any way they choose. The Rauschenberg consists of lay-ers of media images printed on five round sheets of plexiglas in a metal case, each layer is set in motion by electric motor and a separate control-ler, so you end up with something that plays like a LP record but produces constantly changing images. It is an endlessly fascinating catalogue and in the course of doing the research for the exhibition the editor found much more art than he could include. One appendix lists 78 artists who are not in the exhibition but whose work merit further exploration. Four Canadian artists contributed to the exhibition and three of them are residents of BC. Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller are internationally renowned sound and multimedia installation artists who live part of the year in Grindrod (the other part in Berlin). And Rodney Graham from Vancouver, who is also internationally renowned as a con-ceptual artist. Of course readers of this magazine will remember him as a guitar player in UJ3RK5. The book is a large format (10.5” x 10.5”) soft cover in full colour throughout. It’s worth looking for, you’ll never see vinyl the same way again.

Listen Records & CDs10433a 124th Stedmonton T5n 1R7780 732 1132www .listenrecords .netlistenrecords@shaw .caAs usual we’ll be having a sale and hope-fully some live music and of course a ton of RSD exclusive releases.

Sound Connection10016 82nd aveedmonton T6e 1Z3780 425 8721sound .connection@hotmail .comThe Gramophone7913 104 Stedmonton, ab T6e 4e1780 425 9181www .gramophone .cainfo@gramophone .ca

continued from page 7

Get your own!Subscribe to BC Musician Magazine so that

you’ll be sure to get your hands on our Annual

Summer Festival Guide which will be published

in late April. It’s a comprehensive list of music

festivals in BC, Alberta, and beyond for you to

plan your year around!

Handy paypal link at www.bcmusicianmag.com


Laurie Anderson’s Viophongraph to Robert Rauschenberg’s Revolver. An-derson’s contraption is a violin rigged up with a 45-rpm turntable above the chin rest and a stylus has been attached to the bow. The violinist can then manipulate the sound coming from the 45 in any way they choose. The Rauschenberg consists of lay-ers of media images printed on five round sheets of plexiglas in a metal case, each layer is set in motion by electric motor and a separate control-ler, so you end up with something that plays like a LP record but produces constantly changing images. It is an endlessly fascinating catalogue and in the course of doing the research for the exhibition the editor found much more art than he could include. One appendix lists 78 artists who are not in the exhibition but whose work merit further exploration. Four Canadian artists contributed to the exhibition and three of them are residents of BC. Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller are internationally renowned sound and multimedia installation artists who live part of the year in Grindrod (the other part in Berlin). And Rodney Graham from Vancouver, who is also internationally renowned as a con-ceptual artist. Of course readers of this magazine will remember him as a guitar player in UJ3RK5. The book is a large format (10.5” x 10.5”) soft cover in full colour throughout. It’s worth looking for, you’ll never see vinyl the same way again.

By Linda McRae

p e r f o r m i n g b e h i n d b a r sClang! The heavy steel door snaps

shut and we are locked in. This is the last of three checkpoints before heading into C Facility at New Folsom Prison, the most infamous of Califor-nia’s maximum security prisons. My husband James and I are guests of Jim Carlson who heads up The Arts in Corrections program and this is day one of our visit.

Preparations for this trip began a year ago after having met Alaskan singer/songwriter Buddy Tabor at a performance in Nashville, where he told me he thought I would be perfect for the program at Folsom. Sadly, we lost Buddy on February 5 to cancer. I admired Buddy for his honesty, ir-reverence and his sense of humour. He was never afraid to tell it like it is, to speak his mind no matter what any-one thought. He knew he was dying and made one last trip to Folsom this past January. He had a tremendous impact on the inmates there and they on him. Buddy lives on through his music and I thank him for introduc-ing us to Jim and this program (www.myspace.com/buddytabor).

I have to admit I felt some trepida-tion, never having been to a maxi-

mum-security prison -or any prison for that matter. The lengthy process of background checks and security clear-ances took some time, but we got the go ahead. We arrived the night before, making our way along Prison Road ear-ly the next morning. There were high razor wire fences on both sides of the road. Winding up and around a couple of hills the prison, not visible from the main road, came into view, grey walls, lookout towers, guards, and the tiniest slits for windows.

Once inside the building and past our final checkpoint we walked down a long, wide corridor, past staff offices, an infirmary, and a couple of guard stations where we were given the once over before heading into the “yard” where the inmates were.

Once again there was the clang of the heavy steel doors and we were in a holding area between two yards where there were some prisoners hanging around. They were all dressed in blue. We were told we were not allowed to wear blue — for obvious reasons, I sup-pose. They looked at us with curiosity but no more than meeting strangers in the street, really. We were not allowed to have a cell phone, computer, record-ers, cameras, or anything of that ilk. A cell phone goes for $2,000 behind bars!

We were led across the holding area through another chain link fence into a 20 x 20-ft. room where about a dozen inmates were waiting for us. Jim had told us that it was against the rules to have any physical contact with them, and if any tried to give us anything, even a piece of paper, it had to be given to a supervisor or guard first before we were allowed to accept it. He introduced us to everyone by first name - Marty, Ken, Big C, “hello, hi, how are you?” etc. - and we all sat down.

Everyone was very friendly, warm, and very welcoming. The room was sparsely furnished with a couple of banquet type tables in the middle of the room and some metal chairs and large cupboards with chain link fronts on them where a few musical instru-ments were stored. There was an an-cient dinosaur computer on a desk at the front of the room that was used for typing up lyrics mostly. There were a few posters on the walls of some of the other performers who had also spent time there - Michael Franti, Roseanne Cash, Buddy Tabor and a few CDs. Real bare bones, little colour but the blue uniforms.

I was immediately struck by how comfortable I felt. I was expecting to feel, well… I don’t know what I was expecting to feel. Intimidated, freaked, scared, trepidation, reservations, etc. but it wasn’t like that at all. I felt at ease and welcome. I think for James it was a cathartic experience. He too had spent time behind bars and had he not cleaned up and become drug and al-cohol free 24 years prior to our visit to New Folsom, he could have ended up being one of the people sitting across the table from me.

I came to realize that “there but for the grace of god go I” - and I’m not even a religious person. I think many of us on the outside could have ended up behind bars because of a bad decision, like getting behind the wheel after one too many drinks, etc.

p e r f o r m i n g b e h i n d b a r s

continued on page 10


After all the introductions James and I talked a little about our lives and what brought us together and what lead us to coming to Folsom in the first place. We weren’t told what any of the prisoners were there for and we didn’t want to know. Once the formali-ties were over everyone played a few songs in a round robin song circle type of situation. There were some incred-ibly gifted writers and some songs that really stuck with me. One was written by a man named Marty Williams who had been in Folsom for over 30 years. He was around the same age as me. I couldn’t imagine spending 30 years behind bars. Like most of the men we met, he will never get out. The first

song he and a fellow inmate and friend did blew me away. It was a blues song that was sung by a big brawny African American man named Big C. Big C is a member of The Crips. The gang is known to be involved in murders, rob-beries, and drug dealing. I never would have guessed it by talking with him and hearing him sing. What a voice. He sang Marty’s song called Chains.

I had a sweet companionas sweet as summer rainshe’d have lived and died for me she’d have rocked away my pain

I could have had love I could have had loveBut I chose these chains

Well folks, there’s not enough room to finish this article in this issue so I will leave it off here and continue with an installment at www.bcmusicianmag.com. It’s been a great experience for me writing these articles and I thank all the folks at BC Musician Magazine for all the great work they’re doing. Until next time…see you somewhere on This Winding Road.

LInda has much more to say about her time at Folsom. Be sure to visit

www.bcmusicianmag.com for the continuation of this story.



Island Mountain Arts located in the historic Cariboo town of Wells, BC and BC Musician Magazine are offering a chance to win a scholarship to attend a four-day intensive Songwriting Band Camp, July 31st – August 3rd with Ca-nadian music legend, Dave Bidini and the Bidiniband.

Each day will feature a series of workshops: songwriting with Bidini; improvising with bassist Doug Friesen (John K Samson; Peter Elkas); arrang-ing with Bidiniband (featuring guitarist Paul Linklater); and production with drummer Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith). The students will work on their songs in the morning, then work with the full band in the afternoon, honing their craft in the presence of four compel-ling and seasoned musicians, all of whom have an established pedigree in musical education and live perfor-mance. Students can choose from the menu of workshops to shape their in-terests, resulting in a live performance at the end of the session.

Applicants are also encouraged to apply to the “Songwriter Workshop and Seminar Support Program,” offered through FACTOR (www.factor.ca), which provides up to $750 towards attending a songwriting workshop (next program deadline June 17, 2012).

Running concurrently with the Adult Songwriting Band Camp is Songwriting Band Camp for ages 6 – 18 with Corwin Fox and Kia Kadiri. Island Mountain Arts is also excited to announce a two-day Ukulele Workshop on August 1 and 2, and a one-day Electronic Composition Workshop on August 3 with Indie star Rae Spoon.

For more information about the

contest or any of the programs offered, visit the Island Mountain Arts School of the Arts website at www.imarts.com, call 1-800-442-2787, or email [email protected]. For more info on the ArtsWells Festival Of All Things Art please visit www.artswells.com.

WHO CAN ENTERThis contest is open to all aspiring or proficient songwriters – self-published or unpublished – who are looking for a chance to improve their song writing skills and further hone their craft.

CRITERIAEntries will be judged on original-ity, melody, composition, and lyrics. Production/Recording quality and vocal ability are not criteria.

HOW TO ENTER• Send 1 song, along with a typed lyric sheet, your name, address and telephone number to:

Bidiniband ContestIsland Mountain Arts

PO Box 65Wells, BC, V0K 2R0, Canada

• You can also enter by e-mail by sending the above information and an MP3 to: [email protected]• The song must be original

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIESAll entries must reach Island Mountain Arts no later than 5:00pm on Friday, April 20, 2012.The winner will be announced by Tuesday, May 1st, 2012.

THE 2012 SONGWRITING PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Full scholarship (value $460) to attend the four-day intensive Songwriting Band Camp in Wells, British Columbia with the Bidiniband.• A performance spot at the 2012 ArtsWells Festival (www.artswells.com), which begins on the last day of the workshop (Friday, August 3) and runs until Monday, August 6, 2012.• A profile in BC Musician Magazine• A profile interview and have music played on CBC Radio’s North by Northwest with Sheryl MacKay

THE RUNNER UP PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Full scholarship (value $460) to attend the four-day intensive Songwriting Band Camp in Wells, British Columbia with the Bidiniband.• Weekend pass to the 9th Annual ArtsWells Festival, August 3 - 6, 2012

Contest Alert!Pre-Festival Workshops

SONGWRITING BAND CAMP

with BIDINIBANDJuly 31 - August 3

Scholarships and bursaries available, for moreinfo about these and other programs:

1-800-442-2787www.imarts.com

ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTSWells/Barkerville, BC, Canada

Bidiniband will be bringing their rock and educational arsenal to Wells for a weeklong Songwriting Band Camp program. Each day will feature a series of workshops: songwriting with Dave Bidini (ex-Rheostatics); impro-vising with bassist Doug Friesen (John K Samson; Peter Elkas); arranging with Bidiniband (featuring guitarist Paul Linklater); and production with drummer Don Kerr (Ron Sexsmith). The students will work on their songs in the morning, then work with the full band in the afternoon, honing their craft in the presence of four compelling and seasoned musicians, all of whom have an established pedigree in musical education and live performance.

Photo: Banff Centre

Enter the BC Musician Magazine

Songwriting Contest and win a spot at

the Bidiniband Camp, plus a performance spot at

the ArtsWells Festival, profile in BC Musician and an

interview on CBC Radio’s NXNW arts program with

Sheryl MacKay. Details at bcmusicianmag.com.

Other Pre-Fest Workshops:SONGWRITING CAMP FOR KIDS AND YOUTH

with CORWIN FOX & KIA KADIRIJuly 31 - August 3

UKULELE (Aug 1 - 2) and ExPERIMENTAL/ELEC TRONIC COMPUTER MUSIC (Aug 3)

with RAE SPOON

ArtsWells Festival Of All Things ArtAugust 3- 6, 2012 • www.artswells.com


By Joanna Chapman-Smith

The legendary Longevity John, promoter and host at the Duncan Garage. Photo Lindsay Chung

s o n g b i r d s

Penticton’s Full Line Music Storewww.skahasound.ca Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

“Your Sound & Lighting Specialists”51 Nanaimo Ave. E., Penticton

250-492-4710

Guitars - Amplifiers - Drums - Keyboards Band & String Instruments - Music Books & Accessories

Music Lessons - Sales & Rentals

The philosophy behind Songbirds Travelling Music School is to share the skills of travelling musicians with the local communities they visit as they tour around.

The idea for Songbirds came to me on one of those sleepless nights. I was thinking about the future. I was thinking about how much I wanted to teach. I have always loved teaching, but in the past few years I have been moving around so much with touring that it didn’t make sense to me to set up a teaching practice at home.

Then I remembered when I was teaching a vocal workshop at Arts on the Fly (the folk festival in Horsefly, BC) some of the women said how much they wished they could have

more lessons. I realized that many of these communities would love to have access to music instructors and I was visiting them all the time. I also realized that this could mean community build-ing, getting to know the people in a place and sharing in something beauti-ful before leading up to a final show.

I began dreaming and planning and talking to people. I drew up a basic concept for Songbirds and started shopping it to all the places I was heading. I was touring around BC with a trio, the other members of which were teachers as well, so I invited them to become additional “staff members”. It worked. We gave a few one-off workshops as we went and then spent a full and fantastic week up in Dunster, BC giving vocal, songwriting, banjo and accordion workshops before perform-ing on our final night in town.

A range of people from the commu-

nity got involved, instruments came out of closets and attics, and we had so much fun during those days - mak-ing music and sharing stories – that at the end none of us wanted to say goodbye. I worked with some of the kids from the town to write a song about community, and they shared their unique experiences of Dunster with me. “When a house gets raised in Dunster,” young Tavish told me brightly, “we help out!” I felt so lucky to find myself in such a supportive and kindhearted place. I was very moved to see everybody getting engaged through Songbirds.

My dream is for Songbirds to be a resource for musicians and music-loving communities alike, helping to bridge between the two. I am currently accepting submissions from touring musicians who would like to be on the “staff” roster, and would love to hear

s o n g b i r d s

from interested communities as well (details be-low). I am thrilled about the future of Songbirds and look forward to con-necting with more communities and artists in the com-ing year. Up next, Songbirds Travel-ling Music School will be migrating to Valemount, BC.

If you are inter-ested in Songbirds for your commu-nity, you can email joannacs .music@gmail .com or visit songbirdsmusic .wordpress .com . To apply to be on staff, email joannacs .music@gmail .com with a bio, picture, and one to three workshops you could lead .

The 2012 Ultimate

Summer Festival

Guide is coming!

Book your ad in this very

special guide before Apr. 1!

Ring us today!

Meg 250 218 0520

Joanne 604 999 4141


Voted best place to eat and hear live music

4638 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna250.764.2301

www.minstrelcafe.com

entertainment charges may apply

Mar 20-21 Zappacosta

Mar 29 Brandon Isaak & Keith Picot

Mar 31 David Vest Trio

Apr 5 Luke Dowler

Apr 9 Connie Kaldor

Apr 17 Loh El on Tour

Apr 19 Linda MaCrae

Apr 30 Erica Sigurdson (comic)

May 9 Jay Aymar

May 16 Rick Fines and Carlos del Junco

By Barb Bruederlin

y o u ’ v e g o t t o h e a r t h i sIt’s band camp without the bunk

beds and music sharing with no illegal downloads. In a darkened room lit only by small pools of lamplight, people jam onto the chesterfield and every avail-able chair. There is a plate of cheese and crackers and a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, but nobody is eat-ing anything. Nobody is talking much either; they are all intent on listening. It’s album night.

On this mild autumn evening in this Vancouver hotel room, a group of rapt listeners are indulging their biggest collective passion — sharing music with friends. This is music sharing in the true sense, the act of listening together. Not passing along MP3s to friends, not sending pirated leaks to one another. Just listening.

None of these people would call themselves musicians, although there is one accomplished clarinet player in the group, along with two fair to middling piano players and one lapsed guitarist. But a mutual need for a life filled with music is what initially brought them all together. Before this weekend, when they all flocked westward from various points around the continent, many of the listeners in that hotel room had never before met in real life. And until recently, some of them only knew the others by their DJ names.

They are all members of the same online radio station, a song-streaming site that combines social networking with a vast musical database. As DJs create playlists and grow their audi-ence, the like-minded find each other amongst the hordes of unwashed in the immense online music commune. Artist recommendations are passed around, favourite tracks are given the nod of approval, and friendships are struck up and solidified. There’s noth-ing like a shared taste for obscure Egyptian dream pop or shoe-gaze revival bands to help music nerds find one another.

There are plenty of similar music sites on the internet. BLIP.fm, Last.fm , Spo-tify, Jango, and Pandora are just a few of the popular sites that cater to the act of announcing your exquisite taste in music to the world. What draws the blip-pers - these folks in this hotel room - to the site that they frequent is the ability to interact with other DJs while explor-ing musical horizons. A Twitteresque message function on the site enables social interaction. You can make a lot of friends in 140 characters or less.

Many DJs tend to log in at the same time each evening. As familiar user names start to scroll along with the streaming audio, the DJs chat while swapping tracks. They learn about each other’s lives. They spend way too many hours playing themed games online with other DJs. Eventually, they crave face time with these blipper friends. So they take the conversation offline and they fly to Vancouver.

Tonight the group is hearing three albums in their entirety; a couple of new releases and someone’s desert island pick. Tomorrow they will listen to three more albums and, like tonight, they will talk about what they heard and why these albums are so important to them. They will ponder the secrets hidden in the lyrics, pour over the minutiae of the liner notes.

On the final night before they scat-ter off to homes wide-flung across the landmass, there is a potluck dinner scheduled at the house of one of the local members. He’s got something planned for after dinner, when the plates have been gathered up and the wine glasses refilled. It’s a modern take on the tribal tradition of the talking stick — the passing of the iPad. His digital music library and sound system are jerry-rigged to a portable tablet, which will be handed around the room. Each person, in their turn, will choose a song that best sums up what the weekend has signified to them. Some of the choices will elicit considerable head-shaking amongst the group, others nods of approval. None of these people lacks a soundtrack to their lives.

They will meet again around the same time next year, in Montreal, with a few more members, but the circle will still be small, the conversations intimate. This time they will host a shortened version of a music-themed PechaKucha Night (the elevator pitch presentation series whereby speakers show twenty slides on the evening’s theme, for 20 seconds per slide).

On PechaKucha Night, each member of the listening group will present five slides that showcase their choices for vital, can’t-die-without-hearing-this mu-sic. Hopefully nobody in the group will be familiar with these choices, because you get bonus points for obscurity. It will be really tough to keep those pre-sentations to a mere twenty seconds per slide, and some presenters will fail miserably. In the excitement they forgot the first rule of music listening club: sometimes you’ve just got to shut up and listen.

y o u ’ v e g o t t o h e a r t h i s


t h e 3 - l e g g e d s t o o l

is pleased to support local events in the Thompson Valley

Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6

Nude SwimMarch 3, 2012The Cariboo Nudist Society will be holding a nude swim from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Westsyde Pool. Everyone is welcome. For more information phone Connie at 250-318-6844.

Kamloops Film FestivalMarch 8, 2012Visit the Paramount Theatre on March 8 for the world’s best independent dramas, comedies, family fare, and thrillers. There will also be fi lmmaking workshops, guest stars, and elite parties.

Buddhist ChurchAnnual Spring BazaarMarch 10, 2012Chow main, sushi, manju, karito and other fabulous fare will be for sale at the Buddhist Church Annual Spring Bazaar on March 10. The event will take place from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Buddhist Temple, located at 361 Poplar Street. Afternoon tea will be available at the bazaar.

Sugar Shack PartyMarch 10, 2012The Francophone Association will be hosting its annual sugar shack party at McQueen Lake Environment Centre. Activities will start at 2 p.m. Everyone

is invited to come and savour the uniqueness of maple toffee followed by traditional supper. Tickets for the supper are limited and are available at the offi ce. For more info call the As-sociation Francophone de Kamloops at 250-376-6060.

Kamloops Wine FestivalApril 13 to 21, 2012 The Kamloops Wine Festival will host seminars, tastings, and special dinners paired with excellent wines between April 13 and 21. The festival kicks off with the Consumer Wine Tasting at the Kamloops Convention Centre on April 13. Over 200 wineries will be repre-sented at the event.

Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6

CELESTE ON HER FIDDLING KIDS -- OR -- SHANE HUMBER ON BEING A CHILD DRUMMER. ALSO HAVE KIDS AND MUSIC BY BOBBY HERRON. EITHER WAY, THESE TWO PAGES CAN BE ABOUT KIDS.

By Celeste Davidson

9th Annual

9th Annual 108 Cabin FeverBluegrass Workshop

Don’t be disappointed, register now!

www.bcbluegrass.com | 800 668 2233

March 28 - April 1, 2012at the Hills Health and Guest Ranch

108 Mile House, BC

When our daughter Chloe begged to play the violin at the age of three, it threw my preconceived plan of teach-ing her piano at the age of seven, right out the window. Faced with her insistence, I started to think seriously about the route we would take in our kids’ musical education. I wanted it to be different than mine, as I often felt like a “one-legged stool” — able to sight read well, but with the huge limitation of needing those little black dots on a white page in order to make music!

For me, the desirable “three-legged stool” for our kids, and any musician, would mean they could: 1) read music well; 2) play by ear, including harmo-nizing and improvising; and 3) memo-rize with ease, giving them a repertoire to draw from at any time, anywhere.

As I began the search for a modus operandi, the journey down an uncon-ventional path began, and we watched as our kids became firmly planted on their three-legged stools.

Along this path, we discovered many things that were transformative. Here are some:

• Start young — If the spark is there, fan it! Chloe’s first violin at age 3 was a battery-operated toy and Kyle’s was a wooden spoon with a chopstick for a bow. (Of course, there are no age limits with music!)

• Teach them to read music before they read words — age 4 is great. This became our special one on one time and turned into a game.

• Teach them to read music by solfeg-gio — why wait until university? The rest of the world learns music by “do re mi” Solfeggio enabled us to practice violin pieces just by singing them while driv-ing. When Kyle was 4, I remember over-

hearing him quietly singing his Suzuki violin song in solfeggio while playing on his bedroom floor with his hot wheels....

• Keep it fun or they won’t want to play. Chloe played Row, Row, Row your boat in a Rubbermaid bin....

• Have them memorize every song from the very beginning and it will start to happen naturally as they develop that part of their brain.

• Make them sound amazing by play-ing along with them — be their back up! And if you can’t, find someone who can, like Grandma or Grandpa. Then, instead of a lonely exercise, music becomes an activity they can’t wait for and they can’t believe how good “they” sound!

• Give them a reason to practice — Create opportunities for them to share their music in a natural way, with others and for others, on stage and off. Chloe & Kyle learned early that the joy they gave others came back to them, and they were hooked! If you ask Chloe &

t h e 3 - l e g g e d s t o o l


is pleased to support local events in the Thompson Valley

Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6

Nude SwimMarch 3, 2012The Cariboo Nudist Society will be holding a nude swim from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Westsyde Pool. Everyone is welcome. For more information phone Connie at 250-318-6844.

Kamloops Film FestivalMarch 8, 2012Visit the Paramount Theatre on March 8 for the world’s best independent dramas, comedies, family fare, and thrillers. There will also be fi lmmaking workshops, guest stars, and elite parties.

Buddhist ChurchAnnual Spring BazaarMarch 10, 2012Chow main, sushi, manju, karito and other fabulous fare will be for sale at the Buddhist Church Annual Spring Bazaar on March 10. The event will take place from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Buddhist Temple, located at 361 Poplar Street. Afternoon tea will be available at the bazaar.

Sugar Shack PartyMarch 10, 2012The Francophone Association will be hosting its annual sugar shack party at McQueen Lake Environment Centre. Activities will start at 2 p.m. Everyone

is invited to come and savour the uniqueness of maple toffee followed by traditional supper. Tickets for the supper are limited and are available at the offi ce. For more info call the As-sociation Francophone de Kamloops at 250-376-6060.

Kamloops Wine FestivalApril 13 to 21, 2012 The Kamloops Wine Festival will host seminars, tastings, and special dinners paired with excellent wines between April 13 and 21. The festival kicks off with the Consumer Wine Tasting at the Kamloops Convention Centre on April 13. Over 200 wineries will be repre-sented at the event.

Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6Kamloops This Week | 1365B Dalhousie Dr. | Kamloops, B.C. | V2C 5P6

CELESTE ON HER FIDDLING KIDS -- OR -- SHANE HUMBER ON BEING A CHILD DRUMMER. ALSO HAVE KIDS AND MUSIC BY BOBBY HERRON. EITHER WAY, THESE TWO PAGES CAN BE ABOUT KIDS.

9th Annual

9th Annual 108 Cabin FeverBluegrass Workshop

Don’t be disappointed, register now!

www.bcbluegrass.com | 800 668 2233

March 28 - April 1, 2012at the Hills Health and Guest Ranch

108 Mile House, BC

hearing him quietly singing his Suzuki violin song in solfeggio while playing on his bedroom floor with his hot wheels....

• Keep it fun or they won’t want to play. Chloe played Row, Row, Row your boat in a Rubbermaid bin....

• Have them memorize every song from the very beginning and it will start to happen naturally as they develop that part of their brain.

• Make them sound amazing by play-ing along with them — be their back up! And if you can’t, find someone who can, like Grandma or Grandpa. Then, instead of a lonely exercise, music becomes an activity they can’t wait for and they can’t believe how good “they” sound!

• Give them a reason to practice — Create opportunities for them to share their music in a natural way, with others and for others, on stage and off. Chloe & Kyle learned early that the joy they gave others came back to them, and they were hooked! If you ask Chloe &

Kyle, they’ll tell you that their absolute favorite performance was when they were a Saturday night “tweener” act on the Main Stage at Salmon Arm Roots & Blues. Kyle, then 8, peeked out at the crowd of thousands, came back and commented, “there’s a lot of people out there,” and casually went back to play-ing with his Hot Wheels car until show time. The beauty of starting so young, playing so often in so many settings, and emphasizing the sharing of their music vs. performing results in it being as natural as breathing — and they don’t know what “nervous” is… until an adult brings it up!

• Go to fiddle camps and music camps based on the aural tradition. That’s where we (yes, we!) learned to play by ear and had the experience of jamming in an inter-generational setting — all ages and levels making music to-gether — or just running around, being inspired by it all! Along the way, Chloe and Kyle also discovered fiddle contests where they earned cash prizes and dresser tops full of shiny hardware, as well as coveted titles such as BC Twin FIddle Champions, BC Junior Fiddle Champion (Chloe), Grand North Ameri-can Twin Fiddle Champions, and Grand North American Junior Fiddle Champion (Chloe). Contests and fiddle camps have given them opportunities to learn other instruments, meet and jam with some of the best fiddlers in North America and the UK, as well as learn the music and steps of dances that are a part of Canadian culture. It was price-less to see a retired grade one teacher

at the Kamloops Fiddle Contest — 89 years young and spry — ask 10 year old Kyle for the next waltz — they were both great!

• Homeschooling also gave us day-time opportunities to share the music and allowed us time to travel. Wherever we traveled we took the fiddles (Ken’s work is internet-based, so he could continue to work anywhere there was internet). We schooled as we traveled in our RV, which was far more engag-ing than a textbook, especially when it came to geography and history.

For example, heading west from our cross-Canada trip, Chloe & Kyle were reading the Little House on the Prairie series, and we were able to stop at many of the places they were reading about, including Laura Ingalls’ original homestead. Science was also very hands on as we visited numerous science centres and museums across Canada and the US. Because Chloe &

Kyle started to read music before read-ing words, it seemed to make learning to read a very easy progression, and math just seems to make a lot of sense to their musically experienced minds. With no creative boundaries in their minds, just before turning 10, Chloe started to write her own music, with harmony for Kyle, and specific instruc-tions for the drummer and piano player (kind of fun to be able to tell your par-ents what to do!).

From what I’ve seen on our journey, I’m convinced we were all created to share the gift of music — not just from a stage, not just with sheet music, but from our hearts, with family and friends of all ages and skill levels, even if some are just toe-tappers, finger-snappers, and hand-clappers. Together, for the joy of it, ideally on a three-legged stool!

For a glimpse at the last few miles of their journey, as well as the early years, you can check out chloeandkyle.com

Open at 4:30 a.m. every day

OPEN STAGE SATURDAYS 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

CITY BREWS - COUNTRY VIEWSWe Bake our own Muf� ns, Cookies & Squares

Freshly Made Healthy SandwichesOutdoor Deck • Organic, Fair-Trade Coffee

Princeton, BC

255 Vermilion Ave., Princeton, BC(Hwy 3 & Vermilion, across from Chevron)

250 295 3431

Open at 4:30 a.m. every day

OPEN STAGE SATURDAYS 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

CITY BREWS - COUNTRY VIEWSWe Bake our own Muf� ns, Cookies & Squares

Freshly Made Healthy SandwichesOutdoor Deck • Organic, Fair-Trade Coffee

Princeton, BC

255 Vermilion Ave., Princeton, BC(Hwy 3 & Vermilion, across from Chevron)

250 295 3431

Proudly Serving Cowboy Coffee

Coco’sBistro


b l u e g r a s s c a m pBy Pharis Romero

I went to my first bluegrass camp in 2002. I could play guitar but was feeling a bit shy, so I went to a song-writing class. I’d been listening to a lot of Tony Rice, Doc Watson and Bill Monroe and I thought I’d fit right in. That first night at the BC Bluegrass Workshop, out of class and into the jamming scene, I learned a few things:

Bluegrass jammers don’t like tunes in the keys of F# - it’s not fair to the fiddles, the mandolins, or the bass players; Banjo players seem to be unaware of how loud a banjo really is; and, Playing a tune fast doesn’t mean it’s good.

I’ve been teaching at camps for a good ten years now, and those first lessons still resonate. At camp, there are the classes, and then there’s the rest of camp life. You go to the classes to learn, to focus, to grow your repertoire, but the rest of camp life is just as important (if not more). Most camps have an elaborate list of activities for the campers, from band scrambles – where you put your name and the instrument you play into a hat, and are put into “throw together” bands, given 15 minutes to rehearse and then perform for the whole camp – to square dance nights, bluegrass karaoke to Cajun gumbo parties. For some, the classes are the second reason they go; the rest of the camp - and meeting your musical heroes - is the first.

To be in 24-hour exposure to people who live, breathe and eat music changes you. It supercharges you, taking you to new heights of musi-cal interest you didn’t know you had. A few years ago I was teaching at a camp with an 80-year-old fiddler from West Virginia who had come to the west coast for the first time. They played a sublime concert, jammed tunes until sunrise, and then taught all the next day, telling the stories behind the music they played. I can’t think of a better way to get freaked out and worked up about music. You may have

found your lifelong singing partner at a vocal camp. I know that I found my partner in music and life because of bluegrass camps. Sappy, but it’s true.

Camps are a family affair. You may not be related to anyone else there, but by the end of the camp you feel like you might as well be, and you can be damn certain that if your new musi-cal family heads back to camp next year, you’re going too. At Fiddletunes, in Port Townsend, WA, the same camp-ers have been meeting up for nearly 40 years now. People travel from all over North America for it. You wake up in the morning, go to class – maybe to learn from a fiddler from the Hebrides, or an 80-year old accordion player from New Mexico – and then you play your heart out with your camp family in the band workshops, the student concerts, and the country, square or contra dances. It’s just really hard to go home sometimes.

For kids, meeting other kids who are excited about music spins them into an enthusiastic tune-playing whirling dervish. Practicing, performing, start-ing up kids bands, picking up new instruments, and embracing a sense of independence from their parents. I wish I had gone to music camp as a kid. Discovering camp in my 20s is a whole lot better than never finding it, but the sponge-like nature of ten-year-old is hard to get back.

From a teacher’s perspective, teach-ing to a large group for a finite time can really broaden your own level of musicianship. You think about what you’re doing in a different way, and you learn a lot about your own approach to music. And as a student you gain so much from your teacher’s passion for playing and for listening to music. When I was getting into the old time fiddle traditions of the Southern US, a very wise fiddle player told me to listen 90 per cent of the time and play the other 10 per cent. At music camp, you can’t help but listen that much because there is music around you ALL THE TIME. Whether a novice or expe-rienced player, we all can benefit from the considerable ability of a camp to

turn us on to new artists and songs. And this greater sense of the music’s depth and breadth gives you the tools to put your own stamp on the music you’re playing. Vive la music camp!

Camps we’ll be at this spring and summer:

108 Cabin Fever Bluegrass Work-shop: 108 Mile House, BC. March 28 – April 1. Pharis is teaching bluegrass vocals, Jason is teaching bluegrass banjo.

Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop: Crescent Beach, BC. June 1 – 3. Pharis is teaching old time guitar techniques and repertoire.

Voiceworks: Port Townsend, WA June 25 – July 1. Pharis is teaching voice skills-building and early country har-mony classes.

Fiddletunes: Port Townsend, WA. July 1 – 6. We’ll be there hanging out.

Nimblefingers Bluegrass and Old Time Week: Sorrento, BC. August 19 – 24. Pharis is teaching bluegrass vocals, Jason is teaching bluegrass banjo.

The 2012 Ultimate

Summer Festival

Guide is coming!

Book your ad before Apr. 1!

Ring us today!

Meg 250 218 0520

Joanne 604 999 4141

b l u e g r a s s c a m p


BJoe Keithley: “Hey, don’t disturb me when I’m reading BCM!”The acclaimed rock doc Bloodied But Unbowed, which features

Joe prominently, is screening at The Heritage Grill on April 6th with guest panelists and surprise rock ‘n roll sets from two bands.

Photo: Richard ChapmanLocation: Heritage Grill, New Westminster


By Janet Rogers

a m p c a m p

is pleased to support local spring events

Prince George Free Press | 1773 South Lyon St., Prince George, BC, V2N 1T3 | 250 564 0005 | www.pgfreepress.com

Kinsmen Kickin’ it Indoor Garage SaleMarch 3-4, 2012Head down to the Kinsmen Commu-nity Complex between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a huge indoor community garage sale. There will be a conces-sion on site.

Caledonia Ramblers Snowshoe HikeMarch 4, 2012The Caledonia Ramblers will lead an easy two-hour long snowshoe hike at Ginter’s Field/West End to UNBC Con-nector. Hikers will meet in the parking lot behind City Hall at 8:45 a.m. The cost to carpool is $2. For more informa-tion contact Nowell at 250-562-7485.

Hart Pioneer Centre CraftsMarch 14, 2012Visit with the craft ladies, check out their displays, and pick up crafts at reasonable prices. The event will take place at Hart Pioneer Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Travelling World Community Film FestivalMarch 18-27, 2012BC’s largest documentary film pack-age will land in Prince George for a nine-day screening festival. Environ-mental, human rights, youth, food and social justice issues are just some of the film topics. 23 differ-ent community groups organize the event.

Antique & Collectibles FairApril 14-15, 2012The Hospice Society will hold their popular annual Antique and Collect-ibles Fair at the Prince George Roll-a-Dome on Saturday until 5 p.m. and Sunday until 4 p.m. The venue is wheelchair accessible and there will be a concession booth on site.

Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary CelebrationMarch 19, 2012Rick Hansen and the relay team will roll into PG on March 19. Wheel-chair sports at the civic centre, a toonie swim at the Four Seasons, and a public skate are just a few of the activites planned.

a m p c a m pBand CAMP could very well stand

for Committed Artistic Musicians Preparing.

The Aboriginal Music Program or AMP Camp, now in it’s sixth year, hosts native musicians at emerging, mid and almost made it stages of their careers for an intensive five days of music and business related train-ing. Forget about finding any forgiving recreational director on site. Manitoba Music and Canada Council program-ming ship over a dozen music hungry native artists to the semi-secluded area of Manitoba’s Interlake region, where there is very little distraction and cell phone signals are dicey.

The hyper-focused strategy seems to work wonders as many of the past musicians have come so far along since being participants themselves, they are brought back to the AMP Camp in a mentoring capacity. Musi-cians such as Tracey Bone and Don Amero are big names across Turtle Is-land who have taken the creative and business skills learned at the camp and put them to practical use in their own careers. Mind you, these musi-cians have joined the ranks of Cana-dian musicians waiting to cross-over, but there is something to be said for carving a place for your self just four to five years in.

Even though the AMP is a camp, individuals of age, and older are wel-come. Musicians are required to have at least one professionally produced recording under their belt, $400 and the rest is taken care of. Flights, meals, and training are all provided for by the program. The line-up of industry professionals is very impres-sive, not to mention the program provides valuable face time to meet and rub shoulders with agents who are looking for the next Neil Young or Bryan Adams.

Liv Wade (music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Liv-Wade), is one British Columbia based musician attending AMP Camp this year. She looks forward to meeting

the past participants come mentors as she is very inspired by their success achieved in a short matter of time. Liv is driven by her own dreams of musical success and works hard at it. She will be travelling to Manitoba directly from a self-directed music residency at the Banff Centre where she has been com-posing new songs and soaking in the mountain inspiration for her second CD. She has no set intention of what she looks forward to experiencing the most while there, but says the mar-keting aspect is a skill she could use some help with. Liv understands the courage it takes to put your music out there for the first time. She knows how that experience can leave you feeling very vulnerable. In the AMP Camp set-ting, a sense of community is quickly established and some of those butter-flies are soon put to rest.

I attended AMP Camp in 2010 as a spoken word recording artist looking to bring my craft further onto the music scene side of things. I learned tons. More importantly, I met and have main-tained great relationships with other participants. And a few of those meet-ings have turned into professional col-laborations. In my role as radio host, I

was able to bring that fresh new talent and never heard of names onto the airwaves. As a bonus track, I met Doug Cox, the artistic director of the Van-couver Island Music Festival and was able to forge a professional friendship with him. I have had the honour of do-ing emcee duties at the music festival ever since and just last year, had the great pleasure of performing on stage with the feel-good, righteous soulful band Arrested Development. A ca-reer highlight for me. But let me back up. Doug has been a mentor at AMP Camp several years in a row. Doug has many talents and wears many hats, some of which are his ability to bring the best musical talent to Vancouver Island every year, his well deserved title as best Dobro player in the nation, and his commitment to fostering new talent in the native music scene.

Now, they say that imitation is the best form of flattery. So British Co-lumbia is paying a big compliment to AMP Camp by offering a similar week of music training for native talent in the province. From February 20 to the 25 the Vancouver Community College played host to the Aboriginal Music Lab. Five days of focused program-

ming in song writing, recording, traditional music, social media, promo-tions and music business. The final day featured a concert of newly produced music by the participants. Once again, there are very little stipulations to participate other than having to be 18 years of age or older. The Aboriginal Music Lab mentors include Kinnie Starr – hip hop singer songwriter, David La-roque – guitar producer and educator, Wes Nahanee – traditional Coast Salish music, Ron Dean Harris/Ostwelve – social media, Suzette Amaya – promo-tions and Elaine Bomberry – perform-ing arts activist. The skills brought to this lab are very diverse, which if I know the general vibe on the native music scene today, and I think I do, the mentorship will directly reflect the diverse genres bubbling up from our talented communities today. Let me leave you with a little poem to explain what I mean:

amP campers: Kristie Lane Sinclair, Cris Derksen, Ron Dean harris/Ostwelve, brandy mcCallem, janet Rogers


is pleased to support local spring events

Prince George Free Press | 1773 South Lyon St., Prince George, BC, V2N 1T3 | 250 564 0005 | www.pgfreepress.com

Kinsmen Kickin’ it Indoor Garage SaleMarch 3-4, 2012Head down to the Kinsmen Commu-nity Complex between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a huge indoor community garage sale. There will be a conces-sion on site.

Caledonia Ramblers Snowshoe HikeMarch 4, 2012The Caledonia Ramblers will lead an easy two-hour long snowshoe hike at Ginter’s Field/West End to UNBC Con-nector. Hikers will meet in the parking lot behind City Hall at 8:45 a.m. The cost to carpool is $2. For more informa-tion contact Nowell at 250-562-7485.

Hart Pioneer Centre CraftsMarch 14, 2012Visit with the craft ladies, check out their displays, and pick up crafts at reasonable prices. The event will take place at Hart Pioneer Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Travelling World Community Film FestivalMarch 18-27, 2012BC’s largest documentary film pack-age will land in Prince George for a nine-day screening festival. Environ-mental, human rights, youth, food and social justice issues are just some of the film topics. 23 differ-ent community groups organize the event.

Antique & Collectibles FairApril 14-15, 2012The Hospice Society will hold their popular annual Antique and Collect-ibles Fair at the Prince George Roll-a-Dome on Saturday until 5 p.m. and Sunday until 4 p.m. The venue is wheelchair accessible and there will be a concession booth on site.

Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary CelebrationMarch 19, 2012Rick Hansen and the relay team will roll into PG on March 19. Wheel-chair sports at the civic centre, a toonie swim at the Four Seasons, and a public skate are just a few of the activites planned.

was able to bring that fresh new talent and never heard of names onto the airwaves. As a bonus track, I met Doug Cox, the artistic director of the Van-couver Island Music Festival and was able to forge a professional friendship with him. I have had the honour of do-ing emcee duties at the music festival ever since and just last year, had the great pleasure of performing on stage with the feel-good, righteous soulful band Arrested Development. A ca-reer highlight for me. But let me back up. Doug has been a mentor at AMP Camp several years in a row. Doug has many talents and wears many hats, some of which are his ability to bring the best musical talent to Vancouver Island every year, his well deserved title as best Dobro player in the nation, and his commitment to fostering new talent in the native music scene.

Now, they say that imitation is the best form of flattery. So British Co-lumbia is paying a big compliment to AMP Camp by offering a similar week of music training for native talent in the province. From February 20 to the 25 the Vancouver Community College played host to the Aboriginal Music Lab. Five days of focused program-

ming in song writing, recording, traditional music, social media, promo-tions and music business. The final day featured a concert of newly produced music by the participants. Once again, there are very little stipulations to participate other than having to be 18 years of age or older. The Aboriginal Music Lab mentors include Kinnie Starr – hip hop singer songwriter, David La-roque – guitar producer and educator, Wes Nahanee – traditional Coast Salish music, Ron Dean Harris/Ostwelve – social media, Suzette Amaya – promo-tions and Elaine Bomberry – perform-ing arts activist. The skills brought to this lab are very diverse, which if I know the general vibe on the native music scene today, and I think I do, the mentorship will directly reflect the diverse genres bubbling up from our talented communities today. Let me leave you with a little poem to explain what I mean:

We Are Music

from the hip hop kidsand their brilliant poemsand common beatsto the folk singers cradling guitars like babies crooningraw emotionto the cabaret singershaking her ass to karaoke tracksto the future one-hit-wonderwelding on the weekendsto the costume clad keyboardist finding half notes among fringe to the sexy full-lipped womanstrumming honour songs for her sisterto the black-haired punk rockeroffering off-key originalityto the electronic beat-boxerprogramming digital dance beatsWe are music.

a m p c a m pa m p c a m pShane Koyczan and Short Story Long,

are touring their new release, Remembrance Day (reviewed in BC Musician issue 90, Jan/Feb 2012).

Make sure you see them live!

bC and alberta dates:March 16:

The Dream Café, Penticton, BCMarch 18:

Mary Irwin Theatre, Kelowna, BCMarch 21-24:

Belfry Theatre, Spark Fest, Victoria, BCMarch 25:

Duncan Garage Showroom, Duncan, BCMarch 28:

Orpheus Theatre, Calgary, ABApril 13:

Haven Social Club, Edmonton, ABApril 15:

Cornerstone Theatre, Canmore, ABApril 17:

Vernon Performing Arts Ctr, Vernon, BCApril 18:

The Capitol Theatre, Nelson, BCApril 21:

Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC


By L V Nash

b e t h e m u s i cb e t h e m u s i cWhat becomes so stunningly clear

when compiling a list of music camps on offer in this province (and our fine neighbour, Alberta) is that there is so much. So much! (Which is why the camps we have listed in this issue are by no means comprehensive; there are more.)

The extensive bluegrass offerings, which are a force seemingly indepen-dent of all other musical streams, can fill the season’s calendar. There are plenty to choose from, be it the newly-renamed Nimble Fingers Bluegrass Camp in Sorrento (23 years running!), the Fiddle ‘Treat at Gavin Lake, or the Fiddlefest in the Bulkley Valley. The fabulous Hills Health Ranch at 100 Mile House hosts again the 108 Cabin Fever Bluegrass Workshops at the end of March. It’s as beautiful a time as any to head north and celebrate the beginning of spring by harmoniz-ing with banjos, mandolins, wash-boards and more around a campfire.

Which reminds me, the once-ma-ligned banjo has become one of the most beautiful instruments, all the more so after hearing Corwin Fox’s stylings recently; and if you’ve got a child aged 6 to 18, you’d be very, very wise to send her or him to Wells for the Songwriting & Rhythms Camp with Corwin along with Kia Kadiri. To-gether they will inspire some astonish-ing compositions, I have no doubt. The added bonus is that you’d be in Wells

just before the ArtsWells Festival, so you can stake out an optimum camping location.

Plenty of workshops with guitars for rocking (you go, Girls Rock Camp Vancouver and Camp Rockstar in Camrose!) or something a little more bluesy (hello, Guitar Workshop Plus) are on offer.

If you’ve ever toyed with trying a mu-sic camp, experienced with your instru-ment or just beginning, this is the best year to do it. That’s right, the best year. Because if you didn’t do it last year you might not do it next year. Or you’ll be spending the rest of 2012 wishing you had. No regrets!

Vancouver, Coast and Mountains

Georgia Strait Guitar Workshop, Crescent Beach

gsgw .caHosts several music camps spring through summer, Spring Jam March 2 - 4, Summer Camp June 1 - 3, and Fall Jam November 9 - 11.

W2 Creative Technology Summer Camps, VancouverUtopia DJ Camp

aug 1 - 5for young Women, ages 14 - 18Led by an all-female team of electronic music artists, this week long boot camp will teach young women the basics of music production and dj’ing. Students will learn a variety of skills: how to setup and sound check a P/A system, traditional turntablism, setup and use of digital controllers and turn-tables, cataloguing and maintaining a music

library, and how to create their own mix! No experience required! Utopia DJ Camp is a fun and creative way of empowering young women to mix their favourite songs, and to create their own music. At the end of the boot camp, students will be able to show off what they’ve learned with an optional performance during W2’s 2nd Annual Surge Festival of Urban Digital Culture (July 30-Au-gust 5).

Guitar Workshop Plus, Squamishaugust 12 - 17www .guitarworkshopplus .comGet ready for a fun, educational, and music-filled experience! Guitar, bass, drum, key-board, and vocal courses are offered for all levels, ages, and styles including blues, jazz, rock, acoustic, classical, and songwriting. Study with professional faculty and world-class guest artists in a supportive learning environment, play in a band, and record a DVD.

Girls Rock & Ladies Rock Camp, Vancouver

girlsrockcampvancouver .cajuly 9 - 13Girls Rock Camp Vancouver is a project for female youth aged 8-18 years. They give young women the opportunity to explore, access, and play music with positive men-tors. As society continues to push unattain-able body image values, we want to reassure the leaders of tomorrow that there is more to being included in the music industry than a microphone and size 0 waistline. At Girls Rock Camp Vancouver they teach young women to pick up their instruments and make noise.

Cariboo Chilcotin CoastB.C. Fiddle ‘Treat, Gavin Lake

july 28 – aug 3The BC Fiddle ‘Treat is a five day workshop


In the heart of Cow Bay, Prince Rupert, where we make everything from scratch.

Check out our famous postcards! Now Licensed!

MUSICIANS/ENTERTAINERS WANTED! Contact us at 250.627.1395

Selling Fair Trade Organic Shade Grown Coffee

Downtown Hope, BCwww.bluemoosecafe.com

b e t h e m u s i cb e t h e m u s i clibrary, and how to create their own mix! No experience required! Utopia DJ Camp is a fun and creative way of empowering young women to mix their favourite songs, and to create their own music. At the end of the boot camp, students will be able to show off what they’ve learned with an optional performance during W2’s 2nd Annual Surge Festival of Urban Digital Culture (July 30-Au-gust 5).

Guitar Workshop Plus, Squamishaugust 12 - 17www .guitarworkshopplus .comGet ready for a fun, educational, and music-filled experience! Guitar, bass, drum, key-board, and vocal courses are offered for all levels, ages, and styles including blues, jazz, rock, acoustic, classical, and songwriting. Study with professional faculty and world-class guest artists in a supportive learning environment, play in a band, and record a DVD.

Girls Rock & Ladies Rock Camp, Vancouver

girlsrockcampvancouver .cajuly 9 - 13Girls Rock Camp Vancouver is a project for female youth aged 8-18 years. They give young women the opportunity to explore, access, and play music with positive men-tors. As society continues to push unattain-able body image values, we want to reassure the leaders of tomorrow that there is more to being included in the music industry than a microphone and size 0 waistline. At Girls Rock Camp Vancouver they teach young women to pick up their instruments and make noise.

Cariboo Chilcotin CoastB.C. Fiddle ‘Treat, Gavin Lake

july 28 – aug 3The BC Fiddle ‘Treat is a five day workshop

with a 18 year history, designed to teach fiddlers and accompanists, old-time fiddle tunes and techniques. Instruction covers fiddle, piano, guitar and mandolin accom-paniment, as well. They feature first-rate instructors, picked from both the local music community and top Canadian artists. The BC Fiddle ‘Treat is ideal for musicians of any age or ability.

Island Mountain Arts, Wellsimarts .comIMA has been running arts programming since 1977. Wells is a hotbed of musical (and artistic) creativity during the summer months. Continually upping the ante of awe-some offerings, the 2012 music programs include: Songwriting Band Camp with Bidini-band; Songwriting and Rhythm Day Camp, ages 6 - 18 with Corwin Fox and Kia Kadiri; Ukulele with Rae Spoon; and Experimental/Electronic Music with Rae Spoon. The 26th Annual International Harp School, August 14 - 18: Beginner - Sharlene Wallace; Intermediate - Alys Howe; from Ireland Máire Ní Chathasaigh for Advanced.

108 Cabin Fever Bluegrass Workshop, The Hills Health Ranch at 108 Mile Ranch

march 28 - april 1Spend a fun-filled four and half days with others who share a love for playing bluegrass music. The 108 Cabin Fever Bluegrass Workshop provides a friendly, non-competitive environment for all players. They provide ample opportunity for class time, special workshops, jam sessions, concerts and many other spontaneous ac-tivities. Join then for a unique one of a kind bluegrass workshop held within the setting of a world-renowned Hills Health Ranch and Resort, located in the beautiful hills of the Cariboo in British Columbia, Canada just outside of the town of 100 Mile House.

Smithers Younger Guitar Camp, Smithers

august 14 -18, 2012 www .smithersmusicfest .com/bvfms/youth-guitar-campAn awesome program specializing in guitar instruction, welcoming youth, ages 10-18, located at Camp Caledonia on Tyhee Lake, Telkwa, BC. The program is designed to help participants explore guitar and creativity skills in a structured and fun environment.

Smithers Adult Guitar Camp, Smithers

august 18 - 23www .smithersmusicfest .com/bvfms/adult-guitar-campInstructors include: Ben Brookes, Jenny Lester, George Stokes, Mark Perry, Mark Thi-beault and guest instructor from out of town is Valdy! Only 25 spots available so don’t wait too long to register.

Northern BC

Northwest FiddleFest, Bulkley Valley, near Smithers

early julywww .northwestfiddlefest .comfiddle, mandolin, guitar, piano, bass .

Thompson-Okanagan

Nimble Fingers Bluegrass and Old-Time Workshop, Sorrento

august 19 - 24 and august 26 - 31www .nimblefingers .caSpend an inspiring, challenging, and joyous week with others who share your passion for bluegrass! Now in their 23rd year, they provide a friendly and non-competitive environment for everyone from beginners to advanced players, with ample opportu-

nity for group learning, electives, organized jam sessions, and many other spontaneous activities.

The Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music

july 9-27, 201www .kissm .caKISSM provides a high calibre of musi-cal instruction in a fun, relaxed, camp-like atmosphere, attracting students from all over western Canada. From classical to jazz, acoustic to electronic, beginner to accom-plished performer, age seven to 70, it is available to everyone.

Kootenay Rockies

11th Annual Fiddle, Piano, & Guitar Workshops

july 16-20, 2012www .kootenayfiddlers .comThe Kootenay fiddlers are pleased to have their 11th annual workshop in the Koote-nays at Selkirk College. Whether you are a beginner or professional, this workshop has something to offer everyone. Classes are designed for learning and fun. Bring your recording device to keep track of all the tunes you will hear.

Suzuki Valhalla Institute 2012, New Denver

august 5 - 10www .valhallafinearts .org/sviThe Suzuki Valhalla Institute is a warm, friendly, well-organized institute now in its eighth year. It provides an inspiring musical program in a beautiful, natural setting well suited for a family vacation.


Classic GuitarsClassic Guitars

465 Main Street, Penticton, BC2 5 0 - 4 9 2 - 5 0 0 7

acoustic & electric

amps & pick-ups

mandolin & violin

strings, cables, cords

lessons & tips Located in downtown Spences Bridge just off the #8and #1 Highways on Riverview Avenue

Monthly music dinner shows ◆ Contact us to book your show!3705 Riverview Ave, Spences Bridge, BC250 458 2256 ◆ [email protected]

The Packing House

OpenEveryday

The Packing HouseLicensed

EstablishmentFREE Wi-Fi

ROCKLAND MORAN on Saturday, March 10thGot the winter blues...The Packing House will blow those blues away with the blues of a different kind...enjoy blues man Rockland Moran.

Linda McRae on Friday, April 13thIf you have never heard the sweet sounds of Linda McRae you don’t

want to miss this show. If you have, you’ll be booking your reservation.Willy Blizzard will make a Special Appearance on May 5th.

Reservations, please.Scarlett Jane on Saturday, May 26th

Andrea Ramola has a presence almost as inspiring as her voice. Now joined by her new band, Scarlett Jane, this will be a show to remember.

b e t h e m u s i cb e t h e m u s i c

www.soundadvice.bc.ca

Toll free ( within BC) 1-800-667-0689

[email protected]

Tel: 250-871-2731

SoundAdviceProduction Services

Pro Audio Solutions for Live Event and Concert Productions

Courtenay, BC, Canada

AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR

FULL LINE ARRAYSPEAKER SYSTEMS

festival sound and lightingevent production & managementpro audio installationssmall venue to full concert

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AlbertaRocker Girl Camp

www.rockergirlcamp.comJuly 2 - 6 CalgaryJuly 9 - 13 EdmontonMore details coming soon! Music camp for girls aged 8 - 16 focuses mainly on writing and jamming etiquette.

MusiCamp Alberta, Red Deer www.musicampalberta.comJuly 22 - August 11MusiCamp Alberta is the provincial residential summer music program for students aged 10 and up. This camp has been running for 55 years. The focus is on performance and preparation. The Faculty comprises high calibre, world-class per-formers and teachers drawn from profes-sional ensembles, orchestras, universities and schools.

Foothills Acoustic Music Institute, Bragg Creek

www.fami.ca

May 18 - 21, August 23-26, October 12 - 14 jam campMusical styles include folk, swing, blues, celtic, bluegrass, country, old timey, roots and traditional; for ages 12 and up. Offering: Instrument-specific classes for the “core” acoustic instruments; Ensemble classes for specific genres allowing musical col-laboration with a variety of instrumentation; Workshops on a wide variety of topics and instruments; Facilitated and non-facilitated jams; A friendly and supportive atmosphere in which to relax, learn and enjoy.

Camp Rockstar, Augustana, Camrose

www.camprockstar.caJuly 29 - August 3, 2012Camp Rockstar is a summer music experi-ence unlike any other in Alberta. Presented by Visionary College, Camp Rockstar is for musicians and singers ages 11 - 17 who want to learn how to rock. For six days you will live music. Future rockers will rehearse and jam with band mates, write songs, and arrange material for a concert on the final day, complete with lights and professional sound, and you will be recorded live!

DiscoverE Summer CampUniversity of Alberta, Edmontonhttp://discovere.ualberta.ca/HomeDiscoverE the science of MusicExplore, the how and why of music, while making music of your own! Collaborating with the Faculty of Engineering, this is an exciting new sum-mer program for children. Science of Music: children in grades 4 through 6 will explore concepts underlying music. Building the Beat: children in grades 7 through 9 will look at mathematical principles as well as the acoustics and science of music making.

Great Canadian Acoustic Music Camp, The Great Canadian Barn Dance, Hillspring

www.gcbd.caJuly each yearImagine… learning and playing with your family, without interruption from daily life, relaxing, enjoying prairie and mountain views, good people, and country cooking. Their instructors are here to share their mu-sical gifts with you and your family. Instruc-tion will be provided in guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass, banjo and vocals.

By Meaghan Cursons



www.soundadvice.bc.ca

Toll free ( within BC) 1-800-667-0689

[email protected]

Tel: 250-871-2731

SoundAdviceProduction Services

Pro Audio Solutions for Live Event and Concert Productions

Courtenay, BC, Canada

AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR

FULL LINE ARRAYSPEAKER SYSTEMS

festival sound and lightingevent production & managementpro audio installationssmall venue to full concert

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Athletic Park. Their mandate is to “build community through fiddle music”. How sweet is that? Their instructors include Daniel Lapp and Qristina and Quinn Bachand. www.victoriafiddlesociety.com

For the songwriters, players and pro-ducers on the island there is the an-nual Vancouver Island Music Awards (coming April 21st at the Fairfield United Church in Victoria). BC Musician is super happy to be on board support-ing this event. The goal of the VIMA is to celebrate the Vancouver Island mu-sic scene, support networking on the island, recognize excellence, empower Island Artists to pursue their musi-cal dreams, and set positive example for youth. As producer James Kasper puts it - it’s all about “Making Beautiful Music Together on Vancouver Island”. www.islandmusicawards.com

How about a great motivator for the songwriters of the island? The Co-wichan Folk Guild (producers of the Is-lands Folk Festival) is holding the 2012 Island Songwriters Contest. They’re putting out the call for the “next great song by a great Island Songwriter” and winners receive studio time, airplay and a live performance at the 2012 Islands Folk Festival. Their 2012 theme is “Ecology and the Environment.” and songwriters are asked to share in a song what “we can do to save our planet”. Their deadline is May 31st

How about back to the Comox Valley (yup, I’m biased ‘cause I live here) for

May retreat they just put up a sheet for folks to offer a 90 minute seminar on any subject and a sheet to request a 90 minute seminar on any subject, and then match them up. Other than that it’s straight jamming day and night.

The goal of the VIMW is “to encour-age anyone who wants to make music, to introduce everyone possible to the joy of making music, and to advance the skills of those who already play.” Basically VIMW is a weekend of musi-cal joy in a beautiful country setting with great music, great food and lots of friends. www.vancouverislandmusic-workshop.com

Fiddling around seems to be a big theme on the island(s) too. In the Comox Valley, Fiddlejam offers an op-portunity for all ages and skill levels to learn and play Canadian Fiddle tunes. Most of the members are fiddlers but they enjoy an awesome backup con-tingent of piano, guitar, stand-up bass, mandolin, banjo and accordion.

Fiddlejam plays a variety of styles including Canadian Old Time, Celtic, French Canadian, Cape Breton and dance music. They hold Contra / Old Time dance at the Merville Hall through-out the year and members perform at the local Farmers Market, Earth Day Festival and various street festivals and market days. www .fiddlejam .ca

A conversation about fiddling around on Vancouver Island wouldn’t be com-plete without mentioning the Victoria Fiddle Society. These guys were a big programming feature at last summer’s inaugral FolkWest Festival at Royal

Vancouver Island is a pretty darn lovely place to live. So are the eclec-tic little islands scattered up and down the coast of my island home. It’s one of those places that just inspire soul searching and music making.

The Jan/Feb edition of BC Musi-cian included a big long list of island venues where you can take music in. The May/June magazine will give us the scoop on island festivals galore. But sometimes the music falls into a zone between ‘performing’ and ‘consuming’. This is the place where music is all about community, making new friends and discovering your own musical gifts.

Whether you want hang out at a local pub and play some familiar cover tunes (see the venue guide for options), swap folk songs at a local art gallery, take in a fiddle camp or a blues workshop, sing labour songs at the local Museum or enter a local contest or showcase - you don’t have to wander far with your instrument (or song) of choice on the Island before you find a place to express your musi-cal self and be part of community building at the same time.

A great example of this participatory music vibe is the Vancouver Island Music Workshop (VIMW) who offer a retreat in May and a workshop in September where the focus is music with a small “m”. “No hype, no stars, just good solid instructors”. At the

By Meaghan Cursons



Northeast News | 9909 100th Ave., Fort St. John, BC, V1J 1Y4 | 877 787 7030 | [email protected] News | 1220B - 103 Ave., Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 2G9 | 250 782 7060 | www.northeastnews.ca

is pleased to support spring local events in the North

The Arrogant WormsMarch 15, 2012 The Arrogant Worms (Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson and Trevor Strong) put on shows that are fast, furious and family friendly. Check them out at the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John at 7 p.m.

Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale March 29-31, 2012The Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale will take place during regular hours. All money raised supports library programs and projects. Please drop off your good condition books for the sale at the library before March 28.

Art Auction April 13, 2012 An elegant gala will be held at the Best Western banquet room that will include a full supper and classical entertainment. For more info ring the Dawson Creek Art Gallery at 250 782 2601.

Home Routes House Concert - Rodney BrownApril 19, 2012 Organized by the founders of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Home Routes house concerts is a monthly series of concerts throughout the winter that will bring great performers from across Canada to Fort St John. Get up close and personal with amazing performers in the comfort of a living room. For more

information contact Retro Relics at 250 787 8822.

Stage North Presents: Hockey Mom, Hockey DadApril 26-28, 2012 Two single parents, Donna and Teddy, engage in the courtship game while cheering their 8-year-old children on at the hockey rink. This romantic comedy takes a serious look at violence in the hockey rink. Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad will be on stage at the North Peace Cul-tural Centre in Fort St. John. For ticket information call 250 785 1992.

Victoria Conservatory of Musicwww .vcm .bc .caOffering a Summer Academies program, the VCM exists to enrich lives through music as a thriving and sustainable regional centre of excellence, open and accessible to all who desire a meaningful connection with music. Guitar, strings, piano, voice, flute and more.

Salt Spring Fiddle Campwww .fiddleworks .ca july 23-27 2012All ages, and a lot more than just fiddle! All abilities from first time to advanced play-ers are warmly invited in a large variety of instruments; fiddle, viola, cello, guitar, man-dolin, concertina, flute, whistle, percussion, choir and classes in dance, improv and art.

The Havenwww .haven .caThe Haven offers personal and professional development that embodies the principles of responsibility, communication and relationship. It’s a place where people of all ages can grow and fulfill their potential, while developing rewarding and respectful relationships with others. They have a tonne of music related programming for those in need of some soul searching. Located on gorgeous Gabriola Island.

music lives become richer when we do more than just play or just listen. Music is also about relationships and playing to build community, raise funds, learn new (and really old) songs, share new tunes, test our skills, and follow our dreams. If you have kids who love mu-sic — send them to camp! I wish you a summer filled with musical discovery, musical soul searching and new musi-cal friendships!

Larsen Music www .larsenmusic .caThese folks are committed to “building healthy communities by offering a wide variety of musical opportunities in a warm and supportive environment” in Victoria. Workshops, music programs, concerts, mu-sic store, and more. Great place to pick up your copy of bC musician magazine.

the annual Miners Memorial Weekend in Cumberland (June 21-23). This event has been going on for over 20 years and brings labour activists, historians, artists, musicians, film makers and lo-cal community members together for a celebration of local and global labour history. And they play music. Lots of it!

Miners Memorial includes a “Songs of the Workers” open mic night where musicians (amateur and professional) share labour and workers songs. Noth-ing warms the heart more than a group of lefties of all ages singing Solidarity Forever (sometimes in Russian) after a night of beers and music. There is lots of other music making over the week-end too including the campground and graveyard ceremony. Check out www.cumberlandmuseum.ca to find out more.

Here’s a list of a bunch of some other cool camps, programs and retreats in the Vancouver Island area. Take a minute to check them out. Our





is pleased to support springlocal events in the Columbia Valley

The Columbia Valley Pioneer | #8, 1008 8th Ave. Invermere, BC | V0A 1K0

250 341 6299 | www.columbiavalleypioneer.com

Adventures of TinTinMarch 9-10 and 15-17, 2012See the Adventures of Tintin at the Toby Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on various evenings.

Open Mic at Pynelogs Cultural CentreMarch 2, 2012Check out the open mic at Pynelogs Cultural Centre at 7 p.m. For more information ring 250-342-4423.

Music Around the World CarnivalMarch 11, 2012Music Around the World Carnival, a Columbia Valley Figure Skating Club fundraising event, kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Eddie Mountain Memo-rial Arena.

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and DanceMarch 17, 2012The Edgewater’s St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and Dance at the Edgewater Community

Hall will feature a roast beef buffet with all the trimmings at 6 p.m. A dance will follow featur-ing live music by L8TE.

Sass Class 101 - Burlesque WorkshopApril 22, 2012Head over to Bud’s Bar & Lounge in Inver-mere if you’re ready to sharpen your perform-ing skills. For registra-tion information call 250-342-4423.

The Cheesecake Burlesque RevueApril 22, 2012Check out the Victoria entertainers at Bud’s Bar & Lounge. The Cheesecakes are known for high-energy acts, lavish costumes, stand out performers, comedic timing, seduc-tiveness, and girl-next- door accessibility.

Victoria Conservatory of Musicwww .vcm .bc .caOffering a Summer Academies program, the VCM exists to enrich lives through music as a thriving and sustainable regional centre of excellence, open and accessible to all who desire a meaningful connection with music. Guitar, strings, piano, voice, flute and more.

Salt Spring Fiddle Campwww .fiddleworks .ca july 23-27 2012All ages, and a lot more than just fiddle! All abilities from first time to advanced play-ers are warmly invited in a large variety of instruments; fiddle, viola, cello, guitar, man-dolin, concertina, flute, whistle, percussion, choir and classes in dance, improv and art.

The Havenwww .haven .caThe Haven offers personal and professional development that embodies the principles of responsibility, communication and relationship. It’s a place where people of all ages can grow and fulfill their potential, while developing rewarding and respectful relationships with others. They have a tonne of music related programming for those in need of some soul searching. Located on gorgeous Gabriola Island.


b e t h e m u s i cHornby Island Blues Workshop

www .hornby-blues .bc .camay 7-11 2012 . One of Canada’s premier blues instruc-tional camps on beautiful Hornby Island. The Hornby Blues Society believes that music creates community, and Blues and Roots music energize the spirit and inspire attitude. In 2012 we continue our unique workshops where we invite a dozen or so of the finest Canadian Blues and Roots musicians around to share their knowledge and inspiration with those 70 students fortunate enough to have successfully registered for the camp.

Celtic Performing Arts and The Pacific Institute of Piping

www .celticperformingarts .com/general-information-summer-school .comjuly 17-22, 2011 A weeklong summer school offering classes in a wide variety of subjects from music to dance, pipes and drums, to sing-ing, harp, fiddle and penny whistle.

Hollyhockwww .hollyhock .caThis incredible retreat on Cortes Island of-fers a wide range of personal, professional and spiritual development programs - many with music as a key component. This place is amazing...and even if the program isn’t about music...it will inspire you to cre-ate some.

Comox Valley Youth Music Centre (CYMC)

www .cymc .cajuly and august 2012Pacific Jazz, Classical and Musical Theatre Camps for youth based in the Comox Val-ley. BC’s longest running music camp!

Headliners School of Performing Arts

www .headliners .caSchool of Rock youth programs, theatre and film classes, workshops and classes and great little performance space for jams and collaborations!

continued from page 24Nanaimo Conservatory of Music

www .ncmusic .caA community musical school offering musi-cal activities for all ages in a non-competi-tive and richly creative environment.

and over on the Sunshine Coast (which I like to pretend is part of Vancouver Island)

Coast String Fiddlers www .coaststringfiddlers .comThe Sunshine Coast School of Celtic music will be 8th – 14th of july 2012 .

Powell River Academy of Musicwww .powellriveracademy .orgA community music school offering excel-lence in arts education to students of all ages as well as adults.Through its training programs in music, dance, theatre, visual arts the students and adults develop their talents and skills; plus acquire a life long” love of the arts”. Pres-ents the International Choral Kathaumixw Festival and Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific.

2012 is our 23rdSpend an inspiring, chal and joyous week with others who share your

passion for music! Workshops in Bluegrass and Old-Time Mandolin,

Banjo, Dobro, Bass, Fiddle, Lead and Harmony Singing,

Songwriting and more. Old-Time dances, band

scrambles, student concerts, new friends, fantastic food, great

accommodation, and loads of jamming!

Held at The Sorrento Centre in Sorrento, BC.

Week 1

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is pleased to support spring events in the Robson Valley

Valemount Arts and Cultural Society Silent Auction and Celebra-tionMarch 12, 2012In celebration of fi ve years of theatre presentations, there will be a celebration auction from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the foyer of Valemount Secondary School. Bid on great items in support of VACS. All proceeds go to the theatre program. Free refresh-ments for all.

Caladh NuaMarch 12, 2012Traditional Irish band Caladh Nua is com-prised of fi ve extremely talented musicians from three beautiful regions in Ireland. The tasteful musical arrangements of Caladh Nua include tradi-tional Irish dance music, traditional songs alongside some more recently com-posed pieces. They’ll be performing at Valemount Community Theatre.

Corin Raymond & The SundownersMarch 28, 2012Dunster Schoolhouse Concert Series will pres-ent Corin Raymond & The Sundowners on March

28. The concert series is a fundraiser for Dunster Fine Arts School. For more information visit www.rob-sonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com/DunsterSchool.

Jesse Peters TrioApril 25, 2012At the Roundhouse Theatre in McBride. $30 advance, $40 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m.

Brian MacmillanApril 28, 2012Dunster Schoolhouse Concert Series will present Brian Macmillan on April 28. The concert series is a fundraiser for Dunster Fine Arts School. For more information visit www.rob-sonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com/DunsterSchool.

Pharis and Jason RomeroMay 12, 2012Dunster Schoolhouse Concert Series will present Pharis and Jason Romero on May 12. The concert series is a fundraiser for Dunster Fine Arts School. For more information visit www.robsonvalleymusic-festivalbc.com/Dunster-School.

The Valley Sentinel | 1012 Commercial Drive P.O. Box 688 | Valemount, BC | V0E 2Z0

800 226 2120 | www.thevalleysentinel.com

The 2012 Ultimate Summer Festival Guide is

starting to perk in the secret laboratories of BC

Musician Magazine and over 15,000 copies of

sweet festival love will be hitting the streets of

BC and Alberta in May of this year. We’d love

for you to be part of the story we tell!

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The Resurrect Christ FoundationLest Ye Sin theresurrectchristfoundation.com

This band has been performing in Fort St. John and the surrounding areas in northern BC for nearly eight years. They describe themselves as more than a simple post voodoo shock folk band. They claim that the Shroud of Turin should contain sufficient genet-ic material to allow for the cloning of Jesus and they are actually a not-for-profit society raising money to achieve that goal.

The core of the band consists of Josh Giesbrecht, who plays all the instruments and writes all of the songs, his brother, Jared, who rides entirely on the coat-tails of Josh, and drummer Mark Bodner who refuses to appear live with the band. These are supple-mented by a cadre of about 10 musi-cians who may or may not turn out for live performances. This is their second CD and is actually a lot of fun, but you need to have the right sense of humour or it will make you crazy. Although that could be the point. Josh Giesbrecht is trying to drive you insane.

Combine Captain Beefheart with early Mothers of Invention and mash it up with a really bad polka band play-ing Albert Ayler’s Spiritual unity and you get some idea of what’s happen-ing here. Although you are still only scratching the surface. You can listen on their website and you should. Ac-cording to Josh when the Lord says he loves you, he’s lying.

Locarno Una Mas Y Ya Nos Vamos Jerico Beach Music www.jericobeachmusic.com

Locarno is the Latin music project of Paperboys front man Tom Landa. Landa was born in Mexico city to a Mexican father and a Canadian moth-er. He moved to Ontario as a teen-ager and was later reintroduced to Mexican music through Los Lobos, La Pistola y el Corazón. He then began a quest to learn more about the music and this CD is a return to his roots.

He studied the Son Jarocho style in Veracruz and here he modern-izes that sound with elements of Cuban son, folk music and funk. A key contributor to the project is Joby Baker who has co-production credits and amongst other instruments plays bass, piano and fender rhodes. Baker has worked with a number of world and Latin artists including Alex Cuba. Miguelito Valdes plays trumpet and percussion, Sam Esecson on drums and percussion, Kalissa Hernandez on violin and Nick La Riviere on trom-bone. The great guitarists Alpha Yaya Diallo and Marc Atkinson each guest on one track. Seven tracks and a running time of less than 30 minutes, but nothing is wasted and it is a com-pelling effort.

The Falcons Atomic Guitar www.falconbeachmusic.com

Formed 20 years ago as an origi-nal instrumental rock and roll band inspired by The Ventures and The Shadows, this is year of The Falcons. They are releasing three CDs this year. atomic Guitar, which is their first new album in seven years, a 13-track retrospective EP collection, and Rebel jukebox: 10th anniversary edi-tion (completely remixed and remas-tered in analogue). atomic Guitar was recorded live off the floor in analogue at the Russian Community Centre on 4th Avenue in Vancouver. Those of us old enough to remember will know this as the location of the first incar-nation of the Afterthought, one of the original psychedelic clubs on the west coast. There are 13 tracks on the CD, 12 originals and a cover of Sleep Walk, a hit for Santo & Johnny in 1959 and also covered by Jeff Beck.

Although rooted in earlier styles and recording techniques, The Falcons are not a nostalgia act. Their sound is modern, wide-ranging and innova-tive. In their own words, they play Canadian surf, western romance, barbed wire and space crash. In the liner notes Jolly John Tanner says they catapult “you into a perfect Tarantino soundtrack.” Their website contains a useful history of the three great waves of instrumental rock and roll music that everyone should read. Instros for the atomic age indeed.

By StaffC d r e v i e w sC d r e v i e w s


C d r e v i e w sC d r e v i e w s

The Falcons Atomic Guitar www.falconbeachmusic.com

Formed 20 years ago as an origi-nal instrumental rock and roll band inspired by The Ventures and The Shadows, this is year of The Falcons. They are releasing three CDs this year. atomic Guitar, which is their first new album in seven years, a 13-track retrospective EP collection, and Rebel jukebox: 10th anniversary edi-tion (completely remixed and remas-tered in analogue). atomic Guitar was recorded live off the floor in analogue at the Russian Community Centre on 4th Avenue in Vancouver. Those of us old enough to remember will know this as the location of the first incar-nation of the Afterthought, one of the original psychedelic clubs on the west coast. There are 13 tracks on the CD, 12 originals and a cover of Sleep Walk, a hit for Santo & Johnny in 1959 and also covered by Jeff Beck.

Although rooted in earlier styles and recording techniques, The Falcons are not a nostalgia act. Their sound is modern, wide-ranging and innova-tive. In their own words, they play Canadian surf, western romance, barbed wire and space crash. In the liner notes Jolly John Tanner says they catapult “you into a perfect Tarantino soundtrack.” Their website contains a useful history of the three great waves of instrumental rock and roll music that everyone should read. Instros for the atomic age indeed.

Miss Quincy Like the Devil Does missquincey.net

Miss Quincy is running hard. She has a new CD, Like The Devil Does, a new band, The Showdown, and has started an eight-month tour that will take her across Canada before launch-ing the European leg in late March.

Just for the hell of it she also recently starred as the heroine, tied to the railroad tracks, in a new silent movie music video shot by Patrick Shannon. A role that ended with her in the hospital after falling backwards on the tracks. If there was an award for sheer energy she would come first.

This CD is her second and it con-tinues in the spirit of the roots sound that she has already established, but it both ups the musical ante with better musicians and moves down into dirtier territory, just like the devil does. Produced by Tim Williams, a stalwart of the Alberta blues scene, and with the support of an additional eight backing musicians, it has a live gutbucket sound. There are 10 tracks on the CD, nine originals and a courageous cover of Nina Simone’s I Want a Little Sugar in my bowl. With The Showdown she tours as a three piece of electric guitar, drums and upright bass. She says they have never played a boring show and never intend to. We believe her.

Are you sending us a CD?

We realize that many of you feel that your music should speak for itself and that it might be unseemly to engage in self-promotion. But it is not a good idea to send us your CD with nothing but an artist name and a listing of tracks. In fact it is a really bad idea and you shouldn’t bother. Here’s why. All of our CD reviews are written by two guys who do it to help out. We don’t get paid, but we get fed at home so we’re not complaining. Because we don’t get paid we have to work at other jobs and that takes a lot of time that might otherwise be available to research who you are. So why don’t you make this easy? If you are going to take the time to send us your CD tell us who you are.

Where do you live? Tell us something interesting about yourself. Tell us about the CD. Are there other musicians on it? Do they have names? The more information you give us the better chance you have we can get something into print about you. And that’s why you sent the CD right?

The Colorifics What Happened to You www.thecolorifics.com

The Colorifics are fun, cuddly, elegant at times, and musically skilled. They’re cheeky and want you to know that they enjoy what they do because music is about that for many of us. These are some of my impressions when listening to What happened To you.

Based in Vancouver, The Colorifics have been at it since 1995. In their latest recording you can hear the beneficial results of adults consistently playing nice together. Every song on this album is a delight to listen to or dance to with a glass of bubbly something in one of your hands. This is uplifting music for adults who would like a break from auto tuning and horrendously compressed pop albums.

Bernard Boulanger lends tasty, jazzy licks that weave in and out with intui-tive phrasing. Mellissa Bandura’s vocals sound like they were made for these songs. She also lays down some colour-ful fiddle and sultry flute. John Rule on drums and percussion (formerly of Bob’s Yer Uncle/Wingnuts) handles a variety of grooves with his usual flare and solidity. Eric Napier completes the rhythm section nicely on bass.

The Colorifics explore all kinds of exotic musical places from gypsy fla-voured swing to rock and roll to classic jazz. Their songs are sophisticated with-out being pretentious. Put on this disc and move around, waving your hands in the air or just whistle along whenever you feel like brightening up your day.

By Bobby Herron


Continued on page 22

And while you’re there, be sure to pick up the latest issue of BC Musician Magazine!

Please support these great businesses

who support local music in their communities.

web, marketing & admin support for people doing it virtually alone www.time4somethingelse/bandplan.com 250 650 5425Your talent is creating music, ours is creating websites. We could rock together.

C d r e v i e w sC d r e v i e w s

MamagurooveSongs for a Blue Planetwww.mamaguroove.com

Mamaguroove is from Dunster, BC. (I looked on a map because my curios-ity had been sparked.) They must be a hell of a lot of fun to see live. Listen-ing to their latest release, Songs for a blue Planet, I get a sense of their high energy grooves and can imagine their wild stage antics. Beneath all the face paint and mother earth loving rootsi-ness is a smokin’ dance band.

MG kick out horn driven rhythms that range from rubbery funk to righ-teous reggae. The performances and production seem to reflect a desire to capture the live essence of the band. I’m impressed when a musical act can take a song by the slightly peaked looking Bronski Beat and turn it into an organic sounding ska tune. Nice work.

Many of the lyrical themes on this disc have a socially conscious edge to them. With titles like blood Of The nation and World Citizen, Shara Gufstafson, the band’s vocalist seems to want to hit you with a thoughtful message while causing you to dance your ass off.

Songs for a blue Planet is their sec-ond album.

Deanna CarteaOpen Roadwww.deannacartea.com

Deanna Cartea is a Sunshine Coast vocalist with a distinctive style. She’s got one of those voices that are at times 60 per cent air and 40 per cent tone. This, combined with her ef-fortless phrasing, pulled me into the music.

Some of the songs that stand out for me on Open Road are - It’s an-other Day with the guitar textures that remind me of Phil Mansanera of Roxy Music, One More Time and Photo-graph – a dramatic, folky tune which contains one of my favorite instru-ments – accordion. Deanna’s vocals are both expressive and dreamy at times.

There are several guitar players on this album. All clever and proficient. Sometimes it sounds like a guitar player’s showcase. The guitar that appears most consistent is Deanna’s acoustic. I would have liked the drum-mer to have advocated for a bigger sound. These are all production com-ments.

I believe Deanna Cartea should keep making records that contain her winning voice and guitar strumming and her Sunshine Coast brand of tasty songwriting.

Luke Blu GuthrieRoutes & Blufollyarts.com/lukebluguthrie.com

Luke Blu Guthrie sounds like he’s spent time in Nashville, Edmonton, Vancouver and all kinds of rural plac-es in between. His genuine style of songwriting combined with his in-the-pocket guitar playing and his smooth, soulful voice make me wonder if he wasn’t born with a prominent, musical predisposition.

If pushed to assign a genre to Luke’s music, I can only think of the word roots. Many of the flavours of western music such as country, blues, and folk are present on his new album Routes & blu. Luke appears to have a good time effortlessly meshing the styles together with the help of some fellow Vancouver Islanders.

The first song on this album, South-ern Time is a country influenced tune with some sweet slide work. Luke’s clean voice, relaxed vocal style and adept guitar picking pull it back from being full on C&W for me and take the sound into other realms. I like that. The rest of the songs on the album continue to explore the roots and blues musical themes without adher-ing too closely to any particular bag. The result is a lively, original sounding west coast album.

By Bobby Herron


ALBERTA

NORTHWEST TERRITORIESYUKON TERRITORY

ALASKA

WASHINGTON IDAHO MONTANA

Queen Charlotte

Tlell

Masset Prince RupertKitimat

Smithers

Hazelton

Terrace

Fort St. John

Mackenzie

Chetwynd

Prince George

Dunster

Valemount

Quesnel

Williams Lake

Clearwater

Horse�y

Spences Bridge

Clinton

Merritt

KamloopsAshcroft

VernonEnderby

Salmon Arm

Kelowna

Penticton

Peachland

Osoyoos

Oliver

Grand ForksTrail

Rossland

SirdarYmirCastlegar

Revelstoke

NelsonFernie

Cranbrook

Creston

Golden

Fairmont Hot SpringsInvermere

Radium

Kimberley

Calgary

Wells/Barkerville

Bella Coola

HopePrinceton

Chilliwack

Mission/Abbotsford

PembertonWhistler

SquamishCumberland

NanaimoParksville

DuncanVictoria

Qualicum Beach

Saltspring

Edmonton

Campbell River

CourtenayComox

McBride

RichmondVancouver

And while you’re there, be sure to pick up the latest issue of BC Musician Magazine!

Please support these great businesses

who support local music in their communities.

audiopile (604 253 7453 | Vancouver) The blue moose (604 868 0729 | hope) Coco’s bistro (250 295 3431 | Princeton)

The Packing house (250 458 2256 | Spences bridge) The minstrel Café (250 764 2301 | Kelowna)Classic Guitars (250 492 5007 | Penticton)

Zocalo’s (250 331 0933 | Courtenay)

The Waverley (250 336 8322 | Cumberland)Skaha Sound (250 492 4710 | Penticton)

The Royal on baker (250 352 1269 | nelson)Cowpuccino’s (250 627 1395 | Prince Rupert)

The beatmerchant (604 204 0044 | Richmond) Larsen music (204 389 1988 | Victoria)

Thanks to our

Community

Partners!

web, marketing & admin support for people doing it virtually alone www.time4somethingelse/bandplan.com 250 650 5425Your talent is creating music, ours is creating websites. We could rock together.


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