Time: 9 p.m.
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Leeroy Stagger http://leeroystagger.com/
"I believe that love and understanding will right the wrongs in the world," says folk-rocker Leeroy Stagger, who certainly tries to convey the sentiment on his sixth album to date, Little Victories, set for immediate release on February 4, 2011. Released on his own label (newly minted Rebeltone Records), Little Victories showcases Stagger's penchant for evocative lyrics and inspired songwriting.
Little Victories is Stagger's most realized effort to date and he begins the album with a standout track, "Everyone's On Drugs". A haunting tune with far more than just an effortless melody and a tender vocal performance, the song tells a complex tale of substance abuse. As the song progresses, the layers unfold and revelations about the societal implications of self medication bring themselves to the forefront, demonstrating Stagger's thoughtful lyrical style. Tracks such as "Poor Little Rockstar" shine in a stark and ethereal arrangement. "I Believe in Love" (an ode to John Lennon) precedes the beautifully tragic closer "Love Will Let You Down". Produced by Stagger and Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath), Little Victories was recorded at Rebeltone Studios in Lethbridge, Alberta and mixed by Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, Blue Rodeo, Jim Bryson, The Weakerthans). The album features musical guests Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco), Romi Mayes, Daniel Lapp, Christina Zaenker and Geoff Hillhorst (Deep Dark Woods). Also on hand to helm the album were Stagger's core band, The Wildflowers: Kevin Kane (guitar), Tyson Maiko (bass) and Kyle Harmon (drums).
Born in Victoria, British Columbia and raised on a little island on the very west coast of Canada, Stagger spent most of his youth with his grandparents who exposed him to the world of country music. Developing his musical drive early on, Stagger formed his first punk rock band at age 18. Songwriting came shortly after with themes revolving around his childhood, traveling, relationships, substance abuse and the tribulations of life. Having collaborated with one of his icons, Danny Michel, Stagger found commercial success in the song, "Just in Case", which was featured twice on the television hit, Grey's Anatomy.
The life of being on the road and touring at a fast pace did not wear easily on Stagger, who at age 26, realized he had an alcohol problem that was affecting his ability to perform with the commitment and heart his songs demanded. Clean and sober since, Stagger has a strong desire to inspire young musicians that they do not have to succumb to the pitfalls of substance abuse, which can be prevalent in a musician's touring lifestyle.
Little Victories is Stagger's musical imprint for those who have faced difficulties, but refuse to give in. While disappointment is a part of life, we can either spin in or out, and as long as we grasp onto the sense of purpose beneath the challenges, those are indeed our own Little Victories.
Dave McCann http://www.davemccann.com/
Road ghosts, fallen shows and the blur of years built by song, sweat and stage noise. Americana-edged rock and roll tangled with the continuous trail of broken strings, headlights and a hell of a lot of laughter. You’re looking at the guiding force behind Dave McCann and his fourth release “Dixiebluebird.”
Produced by guitarist, producer and Nashville alt-icon Will Kimbrough (Todd Snider, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples), “Dixiebluebird” is Dave’s strongest work to date. A wealth of road and heart worn original material that lays a torch to the influence of Bruised Country Soul, Heartfelt Americana and Southern Tinged Rock and Roll. “Dixiebluebird” also brings transition, with an introduction to Dave McCann and the Firehearts. It’s a new name, but the same superlative line up: long time guitarist Dave Bauer, multi-instrumentalist Pete Loughlin on Bass, Tim Williams on Drums and all the sagacious force of Charlie Hase on the Pedal Steel Guitar.
“Dixiebluebird” was recorded at the Toybox Studio-a backyard studio hidden out in the old neighborhoods of East Nashville. Owned and operated by Eli “Lij” Shaw and aptly named after it’s incredible collection of historic and vintage gear. Beautiful compressors, incredible mics, and the analog MCI console that was rescued out of Florida’s Criteria Studios after the Seventies. It’s recorded the luminaries, Neil Young, Steven Stills, Elvin Bishop, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Eagles, the list goes on and you can sense that historic heartfelt rock influence.
From the title track “Dixiebluebird” to the high-caliber rockers like “Bloodpines” and “Fireheart” or following through to the pendulant swerve of “Tuscaloosa Blues” and “Unfamiliar Ground” you can hear right off what this band is all about...Heart. From the spine chilling and crunch-tangled crackle of the guitars to the uncommonly high standards of song craft, “Dixiebluebird” is full speed. With it’s consistent and matchless musicianship this recording finds itself the benchmark.
Previous releases “Shoot The Horse” (2008), “Country Medicine” (2004) and “Woodland Tea” (2000) garnered Dave international acclaim with fans and critics alike and found him sharing the stage with both legendary performers and the overlooked heros of the musical world. Songs from “Country Medicine” and “Woodland Tea” were also included in the award-winning sound track to the film “Hank Williams First Nation”, as well as the TV series. The film sound track included songs from Joe Ely, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Williams and others. It ended up taking home “Best music in a motion picture” at the Nashville Film Festival in 2005.
John Wort Hannam http://www.johnworthannam.com/
2010 Contempory Album of the Year Winner - Canadian Folk Music Awards 2010 Juno Award Nominee - Roots and Traditional Album of the Year 2009 Grand Prize Winner - Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Competition
2008 North American Folk Alliance Award Nominee
2007 Double Western Canadian Music Award Nominee
2007 New Folk Winner - Kerrville Texas New Folk Songwriting Competition
2007 Grand Prize Winner - Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Competition
2005 Double Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee
2005 Western Canadian Music Award Nominee
2004 Grand Prize Winner - Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Competition
For five years John Wort Hannam taught grade 9 language arts on the largest reserve in Canada – The Kainai Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. BJohn and Darcyut in 1997 he heard a Loudon Wainwright III record and was hooked by the music and the stories. In 1998 he bought a guitar and learnt some chords. In 2002 he quit teaching and began to pursue the dream of being a working musician.
John Wort Hannam comes from a long line of people who make a living using their hands. His great-great grandfather drove horse and buggy for the village doctor. His great-grandfather was a stevedore, his grandfather, a farmer and his father still works as a master carpenter. Wort Hannam now carries on the tradition making his living writing songs and playing music. He independently released his debut CD “pocket full of holes” in 2002 and his 2nd CD “Dynamite and ‘Dozers” in 2004. His third CD “Two-Bit Suit” was released by Black Hen Music in the spring of 2007. In May of 2009 John went back in the studio and recorded "Queen's Hotel".
“Queen’s Hotel” is Wort Hannam’s fourth full-length recording. Once again Juno award winning Steve Dawson takes the helm producing eleven tracks of authentic Canadiana folk/roots music.The writing, although true to John’s narrative story-telling style, is tighter, smarter, more personal, and with a breadth of subject matter not seen on previous recordings. The upbeat “With The Grain” (a song for which Wort Hannam won Grand Prize at the 2009 Calgary Folk Music Festival Songwriting Competition) recalls the conversation where John tells his father he would quit teaching to attempt a shot at performing music. “Worth A Damn”, a timeless sounding duet performed with multi-Juno award winner Jenny Whiteley is reminiscent of a John Prine/Iris Dement collaboration. Despite the title, “Requiem For A Small Town” is a rollicking 3 and a half-minute look at the town that just never quite made it. The poignant but catchy “Lucky Strikes” was written after a visit to Fort Macleod’s infamous Queen’s Hotel. Wort Hannam also revisits two songs from previous independent releases: “Church of the Long Grass” which has been called by some “the un-official anthem of southern Alberta” and “Pier 21” which recounts the immigration of Wort Hannam’s family from the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands,UK to Canada in the late 70’s.
“Queen’s Hotel” was recorded live off the floor at Vancouver’s The Factory. Musicians sat in one room facing each other in a circle and played the songs – no bed tracks, no click, and no overdubs except for a few harmonies. It captures a realness that sounds less like musicians making a record and more like musicians making music that just happened to be recorded.
With many of the same players: JohnWort Hannam on guitar and tenor guitar, Steve Dawson on dobro, national, and weissenborn, John Reischman on mandolin and mandola, Rob Becker on upright bass, Geoff Hicks on percussion, and Jeanne Tolmie,Tyler Bird, and Jenny Whiteley on backing vocals, “Queen’s Hotel” has a pared down and subtler sound compared to Wort Hannam’s previous recordings and leans more on the folkier side of the folk/roots spectrum.
Thriving on live performance, John Wort Hannam is truly happy when he is on the road playing and connecting personally with an audience. He tours extensively in Canada and the US. His many appearances have included a 2009 Mainstage performance at the Kerrville Folk Festival, a 2008 performance at Trafalgar Square and the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC in conjunction to one of John's songs, “Church of the Long Grass” appearing on the prestigious Folkways recording label.
He tours actively as a solo, duo, trio, and at times as a four piece band with John on guitar, tenor guitar, and harmonica and his “guys” Tyler Bird on upright bass (he's also been known to sling an accordion in the van), Scott Duncan on fiddle, and Brad Brouwer on percussion. and will now spend the summer traveling, playing and gearing up for a fall release of “Queen’s Hotel” that will take him across the country and into the US.
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