Everyone is welcome to play at this  open jam sponsored by L.A. Beat. Amy Thiessen will be performing.

 

"Amy Thiessen's new CD is an hypnotic mix of rhythms, both musical and spiritual… a hook-laden album that makes you think and move."

-Russell Bowers (CBC Radio)


Uniting. Conjoining. The pairing of spiritual and physical well-being. In its purest form, yoga is an uncomplicated doctrine. It only makes sense that someone would eventually amalgamate yoga with the divine powers of music.


With her debut independent full-length Give Up The Fight, Calgary, Alberta-based singer/songwriter Amy Thiessen is that soul. Bringing about a musical equivalent to the liberation and soul-satisfying power of this ages-old philosophy, her intensely personal music is steeped in soul-fed folk intertwined with a vast array of styles varying from outright rock to ancient mantras.


At that, boasting accolades including garnering the RAWLCO radio production and AMP radio career development grants in 2010, over 200 performances across the nation, showcases on BTV Ottawa, Atlantic CTV, BTV Edmonton, BTV Calgary and BTV Winnipeg, feature play/charting on campus radio and more, Thiessen's richly enthralling voice and powerful guitar chords are clearly a healing entity to both body and soul.


“All that crap we put ourselves through like guilt, anguish or shame? We need to give it up; stop fighting and resisting ourselves; just be who we are,” she declares, referencing the modus behind both the album and her music in general. “If I see a body, that body is beautiful. Still, I see the potential of where it can go. I try to help people find that expansion and radiance of empowerment. A lot of my music is written from there.”


While nurturing an adoration for singing since youth, Thiessen's musical journey initiated well into her adult life. Realigning her personal goals after a pivotal emotional experience, Thiessen followed her life's dream: venturing to India and developing her penchant for healing work, studying yoga and Buddhism. Embracing everything from a Peruvian Shaman's teachings to her own desire to learn guitar, Thiessen's work truly is world-influenced music with innovation and devout resolution.


“If everyone was truly comfortable and happy with themselves, the rest of the world would by symptomatic of that,” she relates observantly as to her motivation behind performing. “Music is my way of connecting to that somehow. I came back from India and started learning to play the guitar as a part of my plan to deliver that essence to people. That work is exemplified in Give Up The Fight.”

 

"The Sarah Burton Band is comprised of incredible musicians who bring a new, fresh sound to the music scene and Burton’s songs are well crafted, the lyrics are thought provoking and she refuses to settle for mere hooks or formula writing.  This is a band that you should listen to, because it will not be long before they are headlining concerts in large venues. That’s how good they are and they are only going to get better." -- Joe Montague, www.rivettingriffs.com
"...a biting combination of timeless melodies and dark quirky, sharp-tongued lyrics." -- Linda McRae, BC musician magazine
"Sarah is explosive in the manner in which she delivers her message with a multi-dimensional personality and a heavy foot to keep her grounded." -- Fernando Fernandez, unchartedsounds.com
"Sarah Burton is an exceptional folk artist with that little extra flare." -- Lora Ngem, soundline.ca

Sarah Burton packs a deadly musical punch using charisma, charm and a rock and roll attitude. With songs that are at the core, folk, Sarah draws from country, pop and rock to create a sound that is both fresh and familiar.

Lyrically, Sarah blends traditional folk sensitivity with quirky and sometimes sarcastic word play. Honest and intimate, coy and sometimes brash, Sarah writes provocative songs that slide nicely under the skin and into the heart.  

Since 2003 Sarah has graced many stages in Canada with her bitter-sweet irony. She has held two residencies in Toronto, and shared the stage with many talented performers. In 2006 she earned a FACTOR demo award, completed her first cross-Canada tour, and began recording her first CD, Love is for Pussies, with Juno Award-winning producer, John Switzer. 

Love is for Pussies is the story of a self-proclaimed non-expert on Love. Sarah speaks for all sides of the picture – heart-breaker, heart-broken, heart-strong and weak in the knees. Sarah’s playful and still ‘dark around the edges’ release openly incorporates the honest emotional landscape of a woman, as well as the raw side of human emotion. Love is for Pussies is a collection of the playful moods stored somewhere in the darkest corners of the heart. 

The disc features Gary Craig on drums, Steve Briggs on guitar, John Switzer on bass, and numerous special guests, including guitarist/vocalist, Graham Powell, pedal steel magic-maker, Burke Carroll and Flamenco guitarist, Jorge Miguel.
Since the release of Love is for Pussies Sarah has enjoyed a busy touring schedule, gaining notoriety for her energetic live show in the Canadian touring and festival circuit. She was runner-up in Mike Pinder's (of the Moody Blues) songwriting contest, for her song, "I hate you," and she has been selected to perform at many great Canadian festivals. She recently was selected to open for pop starlet, Kate Voegele, at the prestigious Opera House in Toronto, and movie goers can also look forward to hearing two of Sarah's songs in the upcoming horror-flick, Cabin Fever II.