- Who’s Playing: Stan Rogers Tribute Concert
- Date: Friday, November 15th 2013 - Saturday, November 16th 2013
- Time: 8:30pm
- Venue: Hugh’s Room
- City: Toronto
- Address: 2261 Dundas St. W. Toronto
- Venue phone: (416) 531-6604
- Country: Canada
- Admission: $25 Advance/$27.50 Door
- Age restrictions: All Ages
- More information
- Notes: Hosted by Paul Mills featuring James Keelaghan Ariel Rogers Nathan Rogers Paul Langille Mary Kelly Evalyn Parry For photos and more info go to: http://hughsroom.com/2013/06/stan-rogers-tribute-5/ Paul Mills was Stan Rogers’ record producer and close friend. Since Rogers’ death he has continued working with Stan’s widow, Ariel to ensure that his music continues to thrive. In addition to his distinguished work as a producer, Paul is also an accomplished performer and has been an important part of the Canadian folk music scene and recording industry for almost forty years. He has produced well over one hundred and fifty albums working with artists such as Stan, J. P. Cormier, Sharon, Lois and Bram, Natalie MacMaster, Tanglefoot, Ron Hynes and John Allan Cameron. He is also one of the founding partners of the folk music record label, Borealis Records. Albums produced or engineered by Paul have earned four gold records (sales over 50,000), two platinum records (sales over 100,000), 5 Juno nominations and 5 East Coast Music Awards. Natalie MacMaster’s record, “My Roots are Showing”, which Paul engineered, won the 1999 Juno award for best instrumental album. Sharon Lois & Bram’s recording “Skinnamarink TV”, co-produced by Paul won the 2000 Juno for “Best Children’s Album”. Ron Hynes’ CD “Get Back Change”, received the East Coast Music Awards nod for Best Album and Best Country Album of the year in 2004. Hynes’ 2006 release, “Ron Hynes” also produced by Mills earned him the ECMA Male Vocalist of the Year award. In 2006, Paul released a solo album, “The Other Side of the Glass” to wide critical praise. It received extensive airplay on folk and roots radio programs all over North America and in February of that year was the most played CD by North American folk DJs. He is currently performing extensively with Joanne Crabtree in the duo Crabtree & Mills who are just completing their third recording together. James Keelaghan’s 11th CD, House of cards was released on October 12 2009 by Borealis records. 10 new originals, some of them co-writes with such folk luminaries as David Francey, Karine Polwart and Rose Cousins make it one of his best yet. Called Canada’s finest singer-songwriter by one of the most respected music journalists of the last 50 years, James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, curiosity intent and intensity. His masterful story telling has, over the course of nine recordings, been part of the bedrock of his success, earning Keelaghan nominations and awards – including a Juno (Canada’s Grammy) – and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia. Possessed of an insatiable appetite for finding the next unique story line, Keelaghan forges his pieces with brilliant craftsmanship and monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices on both the Canadian and international singer-songwriter scenes. His journey has attracted fans of literate and layered songwriting to join him on his artistic expeditions, some of which weave their way through marvelously etched historical stories with underlying universal themes, others of which mine the depths of the soul and the emotional trails of human relations. His songbook has enlightened, enthralled, and been embraced, by audiences around the world. “I’ve always had the urge to write,” says the Calgary native who has been calling Winnipeg home for the past few years. “Some things weren’t being said in the way I wanted to say them, some thing were not being written about at all. That’s why i started to write the historical material. That led me to writing my own personal narratives as well.” . Keelaghan is a disciplined visionary with several aces up his sleeve. He loves language and history, a subject in which he earned a degree; he is a skilled thespian, which explains his ability to make an immediate connection with a live audience; and he has an ear for memorable melodies and harmonies that make those melodies glisten. Says Keelaghan, “I’m good for 80 or so books a year, mostly history and non-fiction, but inspiration can come in many forms. I’m always on the lookout for a good story or idea. My sister told me the story that became Kiri’s Piano, a song that visits a dark chapter in Canadian history: Japanese interment camps in the Second World War. The image of someone sacrificing their prized possession in order to maintain their dignity was too powerful to ignore.” Not only does Keelaghan lay claim to a deep catalogue of timeless originals like Kiri’s Piano, Fires of Calais, Cold Missouri Waters, Jenny Bryce, and Hillcrest Mine, he is also a possessive interpreter of outside material, a fine example being his gripping take on Gordon Lightfoot’s epic Canadian Railroad Trilogy from the Lighfoot tribute disc Beautiful. There are also a number of illustrations of his interpretive skills on his 2006 recording A Few Simple Verses, an homage to his roots in traditional music. The closing tune on that spellbinding set, My Blood, written with Jez Lowe, is one of many examples from Keelaghan’s career of his inviting collaboration into his creative process. “I was at the Celtic Colors Festival in 2008,” says Keelaghan, “and the producers locked six of us in a house for a week, and the company included Dave Gunning, David Francey, and Rose Cousins, it was an amazing experience. At the end of it, we had enough material for a complete show.“ Keelaghan has never shied away from collaboration in his live and recorded performances, touring and tracking with master musicians like Oliver Schroer, Oscar Lopez and Hugh McMillan. “If you work with people who are better than you, you become better,” he observes. The sparks of collaboration and the batting of melodies back and forth have produced some wonderful results, says Keelaghan, who is always finding a balance between examining the lighter and heavier sides of life. He ties it all together with a powerful vocal delivery and a commanding stage presence. Admiration and respect for his work amongst his peers is reflected in the words of David Francey who recently stated that “James Keelaghan is a voice in contemporary Canadian songwriting that has helped us define who we are as a people. He writes with great humanity and honesty, with an eye to the past and a vision of the future. He has chronicled his times with powerful and abiding songs, with heart and eyes wide open.” Terry Wickham, the producer of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, is one of many longtime admirers of Keelaghan’s music, and he sums up the artists appeal by saying, “James has become the complete artist. A brilliant tunesmith who has become one of the most engaging performers of our time. You always know the journey with James is going to be great, you just never know what all the destinations are. That is why the curve on his career continues to rise.” It was Dave Marsh, the award-winning American music critic and historian who not so long ago stated that James Keelaghan is “Canada’s finest songwriter.” Those few but powerful words of praise say it all about an artist who continues to set the bar at a lofty height. Ariel Rogers once again joins us in this tribute to her late husband’s music. Since his death, Ariel has worked tirelessly to ensure that Stan’s music remains vital and available for people to enjoy and treasure. For the past 28 years she has managed Fogarty’s Cove Music, the company that manufactures and distributes Stan Rogers’ recordings and handles his publishing interests. This past year she oversaw the remastering of the first five albums of Stan’s recordings and licensed the distribution of Stan’s entire catalogue to the very capable Borealis Records here in Toronto. Ariel is involved in many aspects of volunteerism in her community and sings in her church choir. She spends many happy hours working with several little theatre groups and is often found treading the boards in pursuit of the perfect alter ego! Her beautiful voice and intimate knowledge of Stan’s songs have been a part of almost every Stan Rogers Tribute concert over the past 9 years at Hugh’s Room. We’re delighted that she has agreed to return. Some say he was born into it, some that he was born with it, while others claim he has earned it. With one foot planted firmly in folk music’s traditional roots and the other reaching into its dynamic future, Nathan Rogers isn’t entirely sure what ‘it’ is; singer, songwriter, guitarist, throat-chanter, percussionist, revivalist, or innovator. Whatever it may be, “Nathan has the ability to turn the folk world on its ears.” Like many, it all started at home but what a unique home it was. Nathan’s first experience picking up the guitar was an attempt to copy the challenging riffs his brother David created after studying with celebrated virtuosos Don Ross and Preston Reed. His sister Beth demanded perfection in all vocals as any self-exacting classical voice teacher would, while his mother initiated him into the business side of the music industry. His father and uncle informed both his writing style and an ethos of Canadian people that shines in his lyrics. While others were hiding their braces behind their hands, Nathan was already up high on stages of all sorts. In winter, he traveled with and won solo vocal awards as part of the Appleby Boys Choir. Summers were saved for his first love – appearances at folk festivals and the opportunity to meet, perform with and learn from outstanding musicians. Before he even had an album in hand, Nathan’s reputed vocal ability had him singing on stage with such notables as JP Cormier, The Oysterband, Spirit of the West, John Cameron, Connie Caldor and James Keelaghan. With a degree in comparative religion, an award winning voice and two prized Laskin guitars under his belt, Nathan founded his own record label, Halfway Cove Music. In 2005 he finally released his debut album, True Stories. Produced by Rick Fenton (former AD of Winnipeg Folk Festival), distributed by Festival and studded with such outstanding roots musicians as Nikki Mehta, JP Cormier, and Murray Pulver, True Stories was met with critical acclaim both at home and abroad. If multiple encores at every show are any indication, Canadian audiences coast-to-coast seem to like it too. Nathan’s performance style leaves the audiences wondering where the rest of the band is hiding. Singing, chanting, playing the guitar and stomping, he fills any stage with “magnificent powerfully clear lyrics and arrangements.” Described as ‘intelligent and witty’, Nathan will ‘move men and women to tears with his sound and conviction.” Nathan continues to earn his place in the Canadian folk and blues canon. As Fenton noted, “I have never seen any musician Nathan’s age who works so hard on his singing and guitar playing.”. Nathan has recently become an adept throat singer, specializing in the Tuvan and Mongolian styles. A cultural tour-de-force in his own right, Nathan now brings a uniquely eastern falvour to a western tradition. Nathan’s new album, “the Gauntlet” is available on Borealis Records and has met with very positive critical review thus far. Please visit www.borealisrecords.com Paul Langille took to the stage at a very young age, singing and playing guitar in dance halls, service clubs, and numerous other venues in and around his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. During this time, Paul learned the basics of performance and stage work – this was fertile ground for a musical prodigy – and he developed a keen understanding of what entertaining was about. In late 2001, Paul was involved in the collaborative recording/ performance ..Tears of a Thousand Years.. which raised funds for the relief effort in New York following the events of September 11th. Paul worked with Orchestra London in their Jeans & Classics series for eight years, contributing strong vocals to many of the Orchestra’s live performances, including special events, corporate shows and, on occasion, doing special performances that featured Paul as the headliner. These shows were always sold-out in advance, which is an incredible compliment to Paul..s vocals, showmanship, and ability to draw a crowd. Over the years, Paul has won numerous accolades and awards, including the prestigious AMPAC (Advertising Music Producers Association of Canada) award for 1986 and was nominated for the COCA (Canadian Organization of Campus Activities )Top Contemporary Artist of the Year award, 1988. In 2008, Paul won the Jack Richardson Award for best Contemporary Singer/Songwriter. These days a musician and artist must utilize all the voices available to him. Paul has many voices, all emanating from the heart and soul. These are Paul’s strongest attributes … strong voice, instrumental work and song writing coupled with an honest passion for his music. Originally from Nova Scotia, now living in Toronto, Mary is a singer, actor, musician, and teacher. Like everyone in her family, she loves stories and storytelling, that is what connects all of her performing. Stan Rogers has long been an inspiration to her and it is truly a pleasure to return to Hugh’s Room to celebrate him. As an actor, Mary recently made her New York debut in Living With Henry, an original Canadian musical that was part of the New York Musical Theater Festival. Living With Henry is a musical play about living with – not dying from – HIV/AIDS. She has originated roles in When All the Slaves Are Free (original musical based on music of Joni Mitchell at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa); Sincerely, a Friend (based on the music of Leonard Cohen, concept and direction by Bryden MacDonald); and Sophie in Sophie Tucker, the Last of the Red Hot Lovers as well as many other book musicals across Canada. She’s sung in hotel bars, at folk festivals, on concert stages, radio, TV and recording studios. Highlights include performing with Symphony Nova Scotia as principal soloist; being taken to space on tape by Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar; and being Assistant Director to the Papal Visit Choir in Nova Scotia. Award-winning songwriter, poet and theatre artist evalyn parry’s witty, personal, highly original work is inspired by a powerful vision of social activism. Steeped in the folk tradition but born to innovate, her genre-blurring performances explore everything from 19th century cycling heroines to bottled water; from feminine protection to the quest for the Northwest Passage. Over the past three years she has toured her acclaimed, multimedia song cycle SPIN (starring The Bicycle) from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to the Northwest Territories; SPIN was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award and evalyn has been the recipient of The Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, The KM Hunter Award for Theatre, a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Production www.evalynparry.com
