Archive for the ‘Sights and Sounds’ Category

Like all good things, summer must come to an end, and along with that comes the last performance of the Summer Music Showcase.

This coming Saturday, August 28, will feature Dann Downes and the Migrant Workers.  Described as Canadiana, Blues and Roots, and “spooky cool,” this performance is sure to end the series on a high note!

From Downes’ official page at MySpace:

Dann Downes is a musician, broadcaster and academic who was part of the new country movement in Toronto during the 1980s as a lead guitarist and singer-songwriter in bands such as Company Town and Conditioned Response.

His influences include guitarists Scotty Moore, Doc Watson, and George Harrison. His writing influences include Johnny Cash, Fred Eaglesmith, Steve Earle, John Fogerty and Lucinda Williams. For over twenty years Dann has written and performed in the roots/alt. country tradition.

Since 2001 he has lived in Saint John, New Brunswick where he has played with singer-songwriter Grant Heckman in The Shaggy Dogs and as roots duo Heckman Downes. The duo have played with many of the country’s best roots and folk musicians, including: Stephen Fearing, Jay Semko, Matt Anderson, Rose Cousins and Ron Hynes.

As a sideman, Dann has played guitar, banjo, and mandolin on tour and recordings with Jay Semko, Matt Anderson, Babette Hayward, and Brent Mason. Dann has played from Newfoundland to Ontario and has appeared in festivals such as the Acoustic Music Festival in NS, and the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton, NB.

Poking around the Internet like the mouse potato I am, I also found Dann Downes’ Facebook and ReverbNation pages, and I couldn’t resist listening to some of the tunes I found there.  (My favourite, in case you’re wondering, was “A Shot in the Dark.”)  If you’re not a fan of country (and I’ll be honest –  it’s not my usual genre of choice), don’t let that word scare you.   “Country” is not the first word that came to mind — there’s not a single twang to be found!

Dann Downes and the Migrant Workers will be playing in the Saint John City Market on Saturday, August 28, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  You won’t want to miss it!

As part of the 2oth anniversary of the Saint John Buskers Festival, the Saint John City Market is getting in on the act.  The Music Pitch is a “collection of musicians from every genre,” and is running from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM up until Saturday afternoon.  Performances take place outside at the Germain Street entrance, or, in the case of inclement weather, in the food hall solarium.

Here is the schedule for today and tomorrow:

Friday

• 11:00 AM — Tupahn
• 12:00 noon — Calysto Steel Band
• 1:00 PM — Jam, Spots & Hospitals
• 2:00 PM — Marbin
• 3:00 PM — Tupahn
• 4:00 PM — Wet Grow Light

Saturday

• 11:00 AM — Ruth Dunfield
• 12:00 noon — Calysto Steel Band
• 1:00 PM — Tupahn
• 2:00 PM — Jam, Spots & Hospitals
• 3:00 PM — Zingaro Quartet
• 4:00 PM — Marbin

Check out the provided links to learn more about these traveling musicians, and be sure to enjoy their “limited time performances” here in the Port City.

Was just looking at the Saint John City Market’s website to see who’s playing as part of the Summer Music Showcase this weekend, and it’s Laura McNeil and her jazz trio.

This is some bio material I found on the Facebook event page:

Memorable, intelligent songs; Laura’s voice offers a mix of passionate soul and smooth delicacy. From 1920′s style piano and classic jazz to modern ballads and r&b, her intimate style draws the listener in.

A veteran performer, Laura hit the road at age 7 with a family trio travelling throughout NB. Winner of the international Competition “Teen’s N Talent’ at age 17 in Urbana, Illinois, she studied music briefly in college then split her time between teaching music and travelling with various bands as a keyboardist/bgv and featured soloist throughout Canada and the US. She has appeared live on TV and received radio play for several cuts from the “Thirst For You” CD co-written and recorded with husband Mike Biggar.

She opened for Astrid Young in 09 in Hampton, NB and performed on stage as a bgv on the recent Matt Andersen Live at the Phoenix DVD. Her much anticipated CD project of originals is due for release in mid-2010.

You can also hear some of Laura’s music on her official page at ReverbNation.com.

Laura McNeil and her jazz trio will be playing from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM this coming Saturday, July 17, 2010.  Just one more reason to spend some quality time at the Market.