LOCATION Providing Our concert series a unique venue is held at for both The Strathcona performers THE BOW VALLEY MUSIC CLUB Christie Aspen and Community audience. Association Centre 2019-20 277 Strathcona Drive SW bowvalleymusicclub.org CONCERT SEASON Calgary, AB
sound by NPG Inc.
SEPTEMBER 28 Dave Gunning Duo (NS) The Small Glories (MB) Dave is best defined as a master Roots powerhouse duo The Small craftsman. Over the course of 23 Glories are Cara Luft & JD Edwards, years and 11 albums, the Nova a musical tour-de-force planted Scotian folk singer/songwriter has on the Canadian Prairies. Thrown diligently sharpened his skills, together purely by accident at developing into a poetic storyteller Winnipeg’s venerable West End and emotionally convincing singer Cultural Centre, The Small Glories with few equals. Along with richly- could almost make you believe in deserved peer respect, Dave fate. With a stage banter striking a Gunning has earned a shelf full of unique balance between slapstick music industry honours—currently and sermon, these veteran singer- eight East Coast Music Awards, two songwriters have a way of making Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus a time disappear, rooms shrink, and 2012 Juno nomination. their audiences feel as if they are right there with them on stage. OCTOBER 26
(TX) Shaye is a throwback to the era Tom Russell when great singers lent their America singer songwriter, Tom Russell voices to the best material and has recorded 35 highly acclaimed built their careers on the backs records, and published 5 books, of these great songs. To see including a book on his art and a book and hear Shaye in concert is of his songs. Russell’s songs have been (as one noted radio personality recorded by Johnny Cash, Doug Sahm, commented) “like listening to Nanci Griffith, kd Lang, Ramblin’ Jack the greatest radio show you Elliott, Ian Tyson, Iris Dement, Joe Ely, ever heard”. Subtle and graceful and a hundred others. “Tom Russell is she sings Bobby Darrin to Lynn Johnny Cash, Jim Harrison and Charles Miles to Chip Taylor with an Bukowski rolled into one…writing out ease and comfort that washes of the wounded heart of America.” Shaye Zadravic Trio (AB) over the listener. Lawrence Ferlinghetti
NOVEMBER 16 Russell deCarle (ON) T. Buckley Trio (AB) The Russell deCarle Trio plays an eclectic mix of T. Buckley’s songs blow across the prairies like blues, jazz, country & western, Latin music, R&B a Nor’easter hanging on to their creator as he and western swing, which may surprise those who storms into the Calgary scene. Sprinkling bits remember deCarle as the lead vocalist and bassist of eastcoast lore seemed natural to Buckley, of the iconic Canadian country roots band Prairie a Calgary native, considering his extended Oyster. The truth is, though, that Prairie Oyster was clan was still making music in those parts. always more than a “country” band, and deCarle’s Like the wave of Maritimers who’d left home warm, burnished and intimate voice has always for the promise of the West, Buckley fused honoured an eclectic range of songs. No stranger to awards and accolades; deCarle’s “Oyster years” those distinct regions of Canada in his early earned six Junos, more than a dozen Canadian compositions, producing two albums as leader Country Music Awards and enough gold, platinum of the renowned T. Buckley Trio. and #1 records to fill a living room wall.
NOVEMBER 30 - CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Ennis Belle Plaine (SK) Sisters (NF) Plaine is a singer, a songwriter, and an inventive The Juno Award musician raised on the Canadian prairies. The winning The Ennis ingenuity, lonesome yearning and collaborative work Sisters deliver one ethic of country life have infiltrated her songwriting, of the finest family sound and methods. Belle’s reverence for artists who defy categorization has led her to create a brand of Christmas shows in step-dancing to create an exciting evening that will roots music that combines vintage blues and swing the country. Maureen, ignite your true holiday spirit. Their tightly-woven of the 1940s with classic Grand Ole Opry country. “If Karen and Teresa harmonies produce a sound that only siblings can Patsy Cline and Blossom Dearie had a love child she combine original achieve. The multi-award-winners move audiences would sing like Belle Plaine.” Kelly Jo Burke, CBC songs, holiday with their hilarious sisterly banter and their poignant classics, humorous seasonal sentiments. This show has become a recitations and Irish Christmas tradition you won’t want to miss! JANUARY 18 - ALBERTA NIGHT & ANNUAL FOODBANK DRIVE Martin Kerr A John Prine The Western Duo Tribute Swing Project “You have to make This is the musical people laugh before with Carter Felker, expression of a mutual you have a licence Tom Phillips, TRIBUTE love of western swing to make them cry,” music and a long Kerr explains. Often & Emily Triggs friendship between compared to James bassist Neil Bentley and Taylor, Kerr’s storytelling Calgary has become known as a place where local guitarist Dave Hamilton. is guaranteed to cover musicians put together wonderful tributes that Native Albertans, superlative musicianship the whole spectrum of celebrate the music of artists like Elvis, Dylan and they have travelled as well as the desire emotions. His powerful likes of Bruce Cockburn Hank Williams. Last year saw the first ‘John Prine’ extensively as working to form a western big voice and intricate and Sarah McLachlan, tribute and it was great. Tom Phillips, Carter Felker musicians developing band. That group is the songwriting has earned “What a voice! Pristine, and Emily Triggs will bring a taste of this show, each a deep respect Western Swing Project: him praise from the measured and beautiful.” doing several numbers. John Prine – Alberta style. and admiration for prepare to swing! FEBRUARY 22
Shari Ulrich Trio (BC) Blue Moon Marquee (BC) Shari is a celebrated touring recording artist and Blue Moon Marquee is a Gypsy Blues band that multi-instrumentalist (violin, mandolin, piano, guitar, currently makes its home in an island shack on dulcimer, harmonica). From Pied Pumkin through the coast of the Salish Sea. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/ The Hometown Band, and now as a solo artist guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass with 25 albums – including UHF, Barney Bentall (vocals/bass/drums) write and perform original & Tom Taylor (BTU), and more recently The High compositions influenced by anything that swings, Bar Gang, a 7-piece bluegrass band. Her work has jumps or grooves. Deeply infused in the soul of their garnered Juno awards and nominations, induction music are Louis Armstrong, Blind Willie Jonson, into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, and a Charley Patton, Howlin’ Wolf, Screaming Jay 2014 CFMA for Songwriter of the Year. Hawkins, Memphis Minnie, and Django Reinhardt. MARCH 14 TWIN BILL
Ray Bonneville (ON/TX) Jack Semple (SK) Often called a “song and groove man,” Bonneville An absolute virtuoso, Juno and Western has lived the life of the itinerant artist. He’s an Canadian Music Award winner, Jack is one acclaimed raconteur and strips his bluesy Americana of those rare guitar players who leaves a down to its essentials, then steeps it in the humid crowd speechless. He is also a fabulous grooves of the South, creating a compelling poetry of singer. Listening to and watching Jack play hard living and deep feeling. “Ray Bonneville can be fills one with a sense of having witnessed an counted upon to deliver albums of uncluttered, lyric- event in time, one not soon to be forgotten. driven blues.” Donald Teplyske, Fervor Coulee APRIL 4 Diyet & The Love Soldiers (YK) Diyet & The Love Soldiers is alternative country, folk, roots and traditional with quintet. The Bills are renowned for catchy melodies and The Bills (BC) their instrumental virtuosity, lush stories deeply rooted With two previous JUNO nominations vocal arrangements, evocative song- in Diyet’s Indigenous including Juno Award winning producer, Bob and multiple Western Canadian Music writing, and a refreshing sound that world and northern Hamilton, this multi-instrumental trio from the Awards under their belts, expect transcends musical boundaries and life. Backed by Yukon has a sound that can fill a big stage or musical magic from this extraordinary defies simple categorization. The Love Soldiers capture an intimate room. APRIL 18
Susan Aglukark Over The Moon (AB) (NWT/Ontario) Singer / songwriter Susan Aglukark Suzanne Levesque (Travelling is one of Canada’s most unique artists and a Mabels) and Craig Bignell (Pear, leading voice in Canadian music. She blends the etc.) have wonderfully joined their Inuktitut and English languages with contemporary considerable talents—vocals, pop music arrangements to tell the stories of banjo, bass, guitar. The duo her people, the Inuit of Arctic Canada. The moves from folk to country-swing emotional depth and honesty of her lyrics; her effortlessly and the rapport with pure, clear voice and themes of hope, spirit and their audiences is immediate and encouragement have captivated and inspired obvious. listeners from all walks of life. Her award list is extensive and impressive, and includes three Junos. MAY 9
Shaela Miller Trio (AB) Shaela Miller has spent the majority of her life in the windy southern Alberta city of Lethbridge honing her skill as a songwriter. Her affinity for classic country greats gives her an unparalleled disposition as an original The Good the musical essence of The Good Lovelies from ambassador of a new wave of country The Good Lovelies. Kerri impressive to peerless. Over music. When asked to describe her Lovelies (ON) Ough, Sue Passmore, the course of their decade- music she replies simply: “Honky You hear a lot these and Caroline Brooks plus career, they’ve covered Tonk”. But that’s certainly not all it is. days that something are immensely talented plenty of stylistic ground, Touching ballads, dance hall shuffles is greater than the vocalists and songwriters adding tinges of pop, roots, and dark alt-country are all part of the sum of its parts; in their own right; however, jazz, and even hip-hop to package. With a voice that will send yet there’s really no it’s their voices interwoven their country folk core. shivers up your spine, Shaela’s musical better way to describe in harmony that elevates force is unabated and unrivaled.