Friday, May 18th - 8pm
St James Hall - 3214 West 10th Ave, Kitsilano
Fully accessible, Licensed, All ages
Tickets $32

Tickets also on sale at:
Highlife Records
Rufus' Guitar Shop

Click here for more details including photos, links to performer websites and music samples...

1. Rogue Folk Celebrates a Quarter of a Century! In style!

As we approach the 25th Anniversary of The Rogue Folk Club we have some amazing concerts for you, starting with our 6th Annual Festival Of Gypsy Jazz - April In Paris, which opens this Thursday April 19th with the Marc Atkinson Trio and special guest Daniel Lapp and runs for four nights at St. James Hall, with four spectacular concerts, featuring five hot Canadian bands, plus workshops in Swing Dance, and Gypsy Guitar and Fiddle Styles.

Next week we bring you The Good Lovelies, those charming young ladies from Ontario who sing so beautifully - and a bit cheekily! The week after that we present Quebec bluesman Michael Jerome Browne, with his array of National and acoustic guitars, African and American banjos, Cajun / Blues fiddle and a whole heap of Roots / Blues songs. Our Anniversary weekend kicks off with Jayme Stone, "the Yoyo Ma of the banjo" and his latest band of musical explorers bringing dance music from all over the planet. The Rogue Jubilee Jamboree on May 12th features a celebration of 100 years of Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie and Bill Monroe; 50 years of music by Bob Dylan and The Beatles, and 25 years of Roguery with Steve Dawson and his band accompanying C.R. Avery, Jim Byrnes, and The Sojourners. And the following weekend the inimitable Canadian songsmith Fred Eaglesmith returns with a hot new CD and a fine new band!

Well, we happen to think 25 years at the cutting edge of folk and roots music out here in Lotusland is a pretty remarkable feat of endurance and a testament to the wonderful variety and quality of music to be found across this magnificent nation, as well as the formidable devotion of the volunteers and crew who continue to make this music available to you in a cosy, affordable venue with great sound. We hope you agree, and that you'll join in the celebrations!

2. Rogue Folk Review - new issue out now!

You can read all about these shows in the latest issue of The Rogue Folk Review, which has just been published. It is available now for download on our website. Many of you will receive a copy in the mail in the next day or two.

On the front cover is an article about the Silver Jubilee Concert, and also details of the discount scheme for April In Paris this year: the more concerts you attend at this year's festival, the cheaper they become!

Inside there are full details of the concerts and the bands at April In Paris. And beyond, up to and including Fred Eaglesmith on May 18th.

There are also details of Early Bird discounts for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and how to save money by purchasing yours through The Rogue Folk Club! This is a service we offer our members every year, and is one of the many benefits of membership. Members also receive $4 off each of our concerts, and are able to purchase our Season Ticket bundles of 10, 20 or 30 tickets at a huge saving on the regular ticket price. Members also get to vote at our Annual General Meeting, which might not sound like a big deal to you, but it is of vital importance to us as we seek to demonstrate community support for our programs and to proclaim the democratic nature of the non-profit Society known as The Rogue Folk Club. The AGM takes place at 6pm on Saturday May 12th, immediately prior to the Jubilee Concert, so we encourage you to come down early, read the Annual report, vote in the election of the slate of Board candidates, and show your support.

3. April In Paris - Celebrate the Present with a fond glance into the Past, and some glorious music - made in Canada

That's all in the future. This week is all about celebrating the musical legacy of the pioneering guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, who formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the late 1930s and defined a musical style - and indeed the definitive music of one of the world's greatest cities - when they took the roots of French dance music (Bal Musette), spiced it up with the ancient rhythms and soul of Roma music, and peppered it with the nascent sounds of Afro-American jazz - et, voila! Jazz Manouche / Gypsy Jazz was born! And it still thrives today, not only in Europe, but also here in Canada, and throughout North America, into Australia and even further afield.

Yet there is something uniquely exciting about Canadian gypsy jazz, especially here on the west coast, where stringband mayhem has become a by-word since those heady days when Pied Pumkin first blazed a trail for independent music in the early 1970s, and the west coast tradition continued with Bluegrass bands adopting Swing Dance instrumentation and songs, through bands like The Romaniacs, Spirit of the West, The Bills, Mad Pudding, Gypsalero and onwards to the wonderful bands appearing at April In Paris this week.

• Marc Atkinson Trio plus Daniel Lapp, Thursday April 19th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)
  
  Brilliant, innovative guitarist Atkinson brings his hot trio with special guest Daniel lapp on fiddle and trumpet to form a veritable Gypsy Dance Music Extravaganza
• Van Django CD launch, Friday April 20th, 8pm, St. James Hall
  
  Vancouver string quartet celebrates the release of its second CD, Waltz In The Shape Of A Tree. Incredible original compositions, breathtaking Django tunes, and awesome blends of The Classics with Classic Rock - Gypsy Jazz Style!
• Deanna Knight & The Hot Club of Mars plus Les Imposteures, Saturday April 21st, 8pm, St. James Hall
  
  With a new CD on the way, Vancouver's hottest jazz septet will heat up the dance floor and Deanna Knight will melt your heart - or at least your inhibitions, with her glorious vocal stylings. After Quebec's remarkable all-woman Gypsy Jazz combo Christine Tassan et les Imposteures have charmed and won you over with their scintillating originals and stunning instrumental and vocal panache.
• Denis Chang Manouche Quartet plus Les Imposteures (encore), Sunday April 22nd, 8pm, St. James Hall
  
  A double-bill of Gypsy Jazz from Quebec, with Les Imposteures exploring Django's world from a feminine perspective, and then the blindingly fast guitar work of Denis Chang and his hot band will leave you gasping for superlatives - and oxygen!

Each concert will be preceded by Swing Dance lessons at 7pm. Included in the ticket price!

We'd love to see you as we celebrate Django's music. Come on down and strut your stuff; join in the celebration! Dance! Laugh! Throw off the weight of this persistent winter (forget about hockey!) and celebrate one of Vancouver's newest and most enjoyable Rites of Spring at our April In Paris festival!

Tickets and information on our Concert Calendar or call 604-736-3022

A bientot
Steve

Today's programme commences with a couple of Guitar Workshops, and concludes with an evening concert with two very hot bands from Quebec.

4pm - Michael Dunn (Hot Club Of Mars) gives a Rhythm guitar workshop (fee payable to Michael)

5pm - Christine Tassan et les Imposteures give a gypsy jazz workshop (fee payable to Christine)

7pm - Lucky Falkner of Rhythm City Productions gives Introductory Swing Dance lessons (included in your ticket price)

8pm - Christine Tassan et les Imposteures perform for the second time this weekend, this time focusing on the compositions of - and tunes made famous by - Django Reinhardt.

Last year Les Imposteures were a big hit at the festival - which is why we invited them back. This time they have their principal violinist, Martine Gaumond, who is even more impressive than last year's violinist.

In fact, she is one of the very best we have ever heard in the genre, with a tone and sound reminiscent of the great Stephane Grappelli himself.

If you missed them yesterday we urge you to come along tonight; this exceptional band sounds even more amazing this year!

9:15pm - Denis Chang Manouche Quartet make their Rogue debut. Denis is a phenomenal guitarist, and his band is equally incredible.

They feature Ben Henriques on sax, plus two guitars and acoustic bass, so the sound is slightly different than Les Imposteures' - but no less stunningly impressive and enjoyable.

Don't miss their debut.

At the end of the show last night, members of Les Imposteures and Hot Club of Mars got together for a hot jam session on a couple of Django tunes. Perhaps this evening's show will finish with a similar flourish.

So, April In Paris is almost over for another year. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us make it possible this year, especially all the volunteers, the sound crew, and the performers, dance teachers, and you, the audience members, who have received the music so appreciatively! We would also like to offer special thanks to Saras Vedam & Jeff Miller for looking after Les Imposteures again. You folks are amazingly generous hosts! Thanks also to John and Diana Eastman for the loan of the bass and amp, and to Chuck & Jennie Baker at Rufus' Guitar Shop for the loan of the guitar amp.

On Thursday, Daniel Lapp and Marc Atkinson trio were in stunning form; one of the best nights of gypsy jazz we've ever had! Friday was a monumental occasion, as Van Django launched their wonderful new CD, Waltz In The Shape Of A Tree, and delivered some mind-blowing sets of music. Copies of the new CD are on sale tonight at the show, by the way. And last night's show was truly memorable - and the best-attended show so far.

Tonight promises to be another stunning night of music - and dancing. Tickets are available at the door.

It would be great to have a full house for the last night of the festival. Don't miss out on the excitement - and the incredible music!

Thanks for your support.
Steve

What a fantastic weekend we had at April In Paris! Such amazing bands! My abiding memory is of three "gypsy" guitarists (including Van Django's Budge Schachte) sitting on the benches on the porch at St. James Hall, long after the audience and volunteers had gone, jamming away on Django tunes. The building was empty and we were locking up, and then we heard the music! It reverberated off the empty building in the construction zone across the street, and it was a perfect ending for our 6th annual festival of gypsy jazz. (I was a bit disappointed that they weren't still there when I went back the next afternoon to return some sound equipment .)

So, what's next at The Rogue?

Well, tonight we have the delectable vocal harmonies of those gorgeous Ontario girls The Good Lovelies. Next week we present the brilliant Blues / Roots renaissance man Michael Jerome Browne from Montreal, and then it's the Rogue's 25th Jubilee Weekend (with Jayme Stone - the Yo Yo ma of the Banjo with his fine band on May 11 and then the Anniversary Show itself, with Jim Byrnes, The Sojourners, Steve Dawson and C.R. Avery taking us down a few diverse memory lanes on May 12) Full details of all our shows on the Concert Calendar.

1. The Good Lovelies, Thursday April 26th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Let The Rain Fall is the rather topical title of The Good Lovelies' latest CD. It was released almost a year ago, a few weeks after their triumphant Rogue debut in January. We had no idea what to expect, but ticket sales rocketed along and the place was absolutely packed last year. Admittedly it was a Friday night, as opposed to a Thursday this time, but even though we didn't know how well known this trio was, it was a full house and very few bands have sold out on their debut appearance.

So what's so special about these young women?

When you hear them sing you are immediately captivated by their glorious harmonies. When you see them on stage you are instantly charmed and enchanted by their beauty and their infectious smiles. And in between songs they have such a great rapport with the audience and each other, and it all adds up to a top notch Show, with a capital S. And the songs!! So many catchy songs, singable, memorable choruses, and such a playful sense of fun that shines through, even on the more reflective numbers there's a hint of a glint in their eyes as they pour out their hearts. Make no mistake, this is one of Canada's finest bands; the sort of band that brings this country together around a radio set (or an iPod and speakers!) carrying on a long tradition of storytellers and humorists in song that stretches back down the years to Connie Kaldor, Stan Rogers, Gordon Lightfoot and even Stephen Leacock. Tickets are selling fast, and it might even be a sold out show again, so grab a ticket online or come down to the show a little early - just to be on the safe side! Doors open at 7pm.

More information on www.goodlovelies.com

2. The Edge On Folk - and Pacific Pickin' - on CiTR fm 101.9

I'll have new music by Canadian artists like Del Barber, Van Django, Denis Chang, Le Vent Du Nord, Linda McRae, Michael Jerome Browne, Jayme Stone, and Fred Eaglesmith, plus lots of surprises. Please join me for the Beltane / May Day edition of The Edge On Folk, this Saturday from 8am to noon on CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

On Tuesday - at 6am!!! - I'll be hosting CiTR's Bluegrass show, Pacific Pickin'. The show runs for two hours, and even I have no idea what's coming this week!

See you at The Rogue!
Steve

Tuesday, June 5th - 8pm
St James Hall - 3214 West 10th Ave, Kitsilano
Fully accessible, Licensed, All ages
Tickets $20

Buy tickets online (no service charges)
Or call 604-736-3022

Tickets also on sale at:
Highlife Records
Rufus' Guitar Shop

Click here for more details including photos, links to performer websites and music samples...

1. Radio Waves

This has been a tricky week as I've been trying to ascertain whether CiTR 101.9fm will be on the air on Saturday. The Student Union Building and the Transmitter across the street atop Gage Towers are set for maintenance, so it appears that CiTR will not be broadcasting live. There is a possibility that a previous edition of The Edge On Folk will be broadcast from a backup transmitter (probably last week's show, since all my shows tend to be topical and dedicated to the concerts happening in town in the next week or two).

On a more positive note, I will be Sheryl McKay's guest at 8am on Saturday on CBC North By Northwest on fm 88.1 and am 690 to talk about the Rogue's 25th anniversary.

Then I plan to zoom home to broadcast a two hour edition of The Edge On Folk LIVE from 9am to 11am on a streaming URL to be determined (I'll send a very brief update with the actual address as soon as I find out what it will be! I'll also post it on the Rogue website).

If this doesn't work out, there's always Radio Rogue, which has been updated extensively in the last 24 hours, and now includes songs from new CDs by the likes of Eric Bibb, Nanci Griffith, Dar Williams, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Del Barber, Cathy Jordan, Van Django, Denis Chang, Loudon Wainwright III, Le Vent du Nord, Fred Eaglesmith, and Old Man Luedecke, as well as selections by Rogue performers from the recent past and the immediate future.

2. Michael Jerome Browne, Friday May 4th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Acclaimed as An exceptional songwriter and singer. - John McLaughlin (The Province), a roots music expert - Roger Levesque (Edmonton Journal) and a multi-instrumentalist and singer of vast talent - Brad Wheeler (The Globe and Mail), Michael Jerome Browne returns to The Rogue tomorrow night for his third solo concert with us. Michael is a three-time Juno Award Nominee in both the roots and blues categories. He is a multi-instumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American Roots music. His superb new CD, 'The Road Is Dark' is now available on Borealis Records, and he has won several awards including Canadian Solo Folk Artist of the Year in 2008, and Maple Blues Acoustic Artist of the Year. Whether he's gliding a slide across his national guitar, pulling his bow over the fiddle strings to play a lively Cajun waltz, or frailing away on his gourd banjo Michael's passion and virtuosity always shine through. In the true tradition of folk music, his performances inspire us to see the interconnections between the many cultures and influences that gave birth to American Roots Music. Gospel, Blues, Old-Time, Country, Soul and Cajun, expect to hear all of this and more from a performer who's been called a street-smart archivist and an absolute treasure.

Born in South Bend, Indiana, Michael is the son of English professors whose love of music and poetry inspired them to take their nine year old son to the great jazz, blues and folk clubs in their adopted home of Montreal. By the age of fourteen, MJB was already a regular on the vibrant folk and coffee house scene adding banjo, fiddle, and mandolin to his masterful command of all variety of guitars and harmonica. A musician's musician, when he isn't performing his own material he is in demand backing up and recording with artists such as: Eric Bibb, Jordan Officer, and Susie Arioli.

He's in town tonight for a workshop at Prussin Music and I can't wait to hear him in concert again: the new songs are stunning. His previous album, Beautiful Mess, was a tribute to 60s Soul Music, and the latest one takes him back to the roots of the Blues - two of my favourite musical genres! Amongst his new songs is the very topical G20 Rag, which recounts his experiences attending the G20 protests in Toronto a year or two back, and which could - and perhaps should - be adopted as an anthem of the Occupy Movement. www.michaeljeromebrowne.com

3. Jayme Stone's Room Of Wonders, Friday May 11th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

Canada's "Yo Yo Ma of the banjo" has released two outstanding CDs of stringband music in the past few years: Room Of Wonders features dance music from all around the world and starred fiddler Casey Driessen (Sparrow Quartet). Previously he teamed up with Kora wizard Mansa Sissoko to record Africa To Appalachia. I've also seen him with nyckelharpa player Sandra Wong. This time he's bring ace trumpet player Kevin Turcotte, drummer Nick Fraser and cellist Andrew Downing to reinterpret the music on the latest CD and explore many other musical directions. Come and share the Wonder! www.jaymestone.com

4. Rogue Silver Jubilee w/ C.R. Avery, Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson & The Sojourners, Saturday May 12th, 8m, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

This spectacular concert will be memorable for a whole bunch of reasons, most notably for the unique celebration of the music legacy of Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie and Bill Monroe (all born 100 years ago this year) and the 50th anniversary of the recording careers of Bob Dylan and The Beatles - as described and performed by some Vancouver's finest and most eclectic and entertaining musicians / singers / raconteurs. You may have seen these performers before, but you have NEVER seen them do this before! Not to be missed!! It also happens to be The Rogue's 25th anniversary, and is preceded by the Annual General Meeting, so all members are encouraged to attend and help us demonstrate our community support so that we can request more funding from the three levels of government. We need you! Do yourself a favour and treat yourself to this incredible concert as well (and have some cake!)

5. 25th anniversary T-Shirts! Media Coverage! Guestbook!

We are printing 25th anniversary t-shirts which will be available at our anniversary weekend concerts. Several sizes and colours, and two designs! Show your support and show the world that you too are a Rogue to be reckoned with!

Look out for articles in The Province, Vancouver Sun, Georgia Straight, and other publications in the next few days.

I'll also be a guest on CBC NXNW on Saturday, Folk Oasis on CiTR fm 101.9 on Wednesday night, and - I hope - on Better Days on Coop Radio CFRO 102.7 next Thursday as well.

Please visit our Guestbook on our website and record your favourite memories of The Rogue over the past 25 years. If you have a favourite concert experience to share, please share it with us. There'll be prizes for the best entries - judged and announced during the Anniversary show on May 12th, so please help us mark this grand occasion in the grand - and most personal - style!

6. Vancouver Folk Festival Line-up Announced - and there's a Special Deal for Rogues!

The VFMF takes place July 13 - 15 in Jericho Park and headliners include Lucinda Williams, Ani di Franco, Johnny Clegg, Roy Forbes, Holly Near, H'Sao, Martyn Joseph, Dan Mangan, The Once, Serena Ryder and Pied Pumkin. And loads more! A truly eclectic mix, with some exotic sounds from all around the world. I'm especially looking forward to seeing The Atomic Duo, Minor Empire, Besho Drom, Kat Danser, Dala, and Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole! More details on www.thefestival.bc.ca

Rogue members can purchase advance tickets at a discount from the Rogue. Until June 10th we will have weekend passes on sale for $122. Just mail us a cheque for the full amount - made payable to Rogue Folk Club - or pay by credit card at one of our concerts (or call the office on 604-732-1305 Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 10am to 4pm.)

That's all for now. I'll send that radio URL later on.

Have a great weekend. See you at The Rogue!

Steve

Today (May 10th) is actually the 25th anniversary of the very first Rogue Folk Club concert at The Savoy in Gastown, when our House Band was Stephen Fearing, and the guests were Under The Moss and The Little Mountain Band.

This weekend we have two concerts: Jayme Stone's Room Of Wonders (May 11th) and The Silver Jubilee Concert on Saturday (which is Sold Out), and next week we present the return of Fred Eaglesmith (also Sold Out).

Tomorrow's concert has plenty of tickets available, and it promises to be an enthralling and hugely entertaining evening of dance music from all around the world played by a superb Canadian band.

1. Jayme Stone's Room Of Wonders, Friday May 11th, 8pm, St. James Hall (3214 West 10th Avenue)

The music is as spirited as its creator. It's hard to imagine a room large enough to contain the talent that went into its making, or the varied sounds it surveys. GEORGIA STRAIGHT

The thing that elevates the two-time Juno-winner into the musical stratosphere inhabited by Béla Fleck is not so much technical prowess on the banjo, which is self-evident, but virtuosity placed in the service of artistic vision. - GUELPH MERCURY

Jayme Stone has been called The Yo-Yo Ma of the Banjo (Globe & Mail.) He has two JUNO Awards, the latest for the CD Room Of Wonders, which will be showcased tomorrow night with his superb band (Jayme on banjo, Kevin Turcotte on trumpet, Andrew Downing on cello, and Nick Fraser on drums.) The CD also featured Casey Driessen on fiddle, and Jayme has previously worked with such luminaries as kora master Mansa Sissoko and nyckelharpa diva Sandra Wong, so there might even be the occasional guest performer on stage tomorrow night to further embellish the music.

The material on Room Of Wonders includes Bulgarian dance music (Ruchenitsas and Horos), Irish Reels, Brazilian rhythms, Italian wedding music, Norwegian polkas, a Bach allemande, a Tunisian-inspired waltz, an old time / bluegrass breakdown, and a stately Swedish Polska!

Check out these You Tube videos for a glimpse of what to expect tomorrow night; we promise you an incredible evening of music! www.jaymestone.com/videos

If you have eclectic tastes and appreciate stunning musicianship then this concert is definitely for you. We also think that Rogues tend to be musically adventurous and inquisitive types, so this concert is right up your street, so to speak!

If you weren't able to get tickets for Saturday night - or even if you were - we urge you to come out on Friday and be a part of the 25th anniversary celebrations at The Rogue. We'll have new t-shirts for sale, and all sorts of prizes and such.

2. The Edge On Folk, Saturday 8am to noon, CiTR fm 101.9 and www.citr.ca

This week I'll feature music from the first 25 years of The Rogue, with some vintage recordings, one or two live exclusives, and a celebration of the greatest music in the world - folk and roots music, much of it Canadian, that we feature at The Rogue all year round. For a quarter of a century - and counting! There will also be classic recordings by centenarians Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie and Bill Monroe, and a cut or two from Bob Dylan's first LP (maybe even a 1962 Beatles song. Who knows?)

Please join me for this unique celebration of musical milestones.

3. Rogue Folk Club Annual General Meeting, 6pm, Small Common Room, downstairs at the back, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

All members are encouraged to attend as we present the Annual Report for 2011 and ask you to elect the slate of 5 Board members (half the board is elected each year for a two year term.) If you're coming to the concert, come early and join us. If you haven't got a ticket come to the AGM anyway. We need your support to show our funders the depth and loyalty of our core support. (We might even have a ticket or two for the show as a door prize for members who don't yet have one ....)

4. Rogue Silver Jubilee Concert w/ C.R. Avery, Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson Band and The Sojourners, Saturday May 12th, 8pm, St. James Hall

This will be an incredible evening of musical tributes to some of the most influential people in contemporary music history: Robert Johnson (Delta Blues), Woody Guthrie (Folk Song), Bill Monroe (Bluegrass), Bob Dylan (THE best songwriter ever), The Beatles (the most fab and influential pop band ever), and The Rogue (Vancouver's most eclectic music series - since 1987!)

We'll have Birthday Cake! Door Prizes! New and Vintage T-Shirts! etc.

This show is sold out. There will not be a stand-by line. If you don't have a ticket you will not get in. Sorry.

If you made a phone or email reservation for a ticket or Parcel O'Rogues, just make sure you come early. Doors open at 7pm, and show time is 8pm.

We hope to record the show on video and audio because we believe that something as special as this should not be allowed to pass silently into history.

Full details of all our shows can be found on our concert calendar.

Have a great Silvery weekend!
Steve

Thursday, July 5th - 8pm
St James Hall - 3214 West 10th Ave, Kitsilano
Fully accessible, Licensed, All ages
Tickets $24

Buy tickets online (no service charges)
Or call 604-736-3022

Tickets also on sale at:
Highlife Records
Rufus' Guitar Shop

Click here for more details including photos, links to performer websites and music samples...

Tuesday, August 7th - 8pm
CBC Studio 700 - 700 Hamilton Street
Fully accessible, Licensed, All ages
Tickets $20

Buy tickets online (no service charges)
Or call 604-736-3022

Tickets also on sale at:
Highlife Records
Rufus' Guitar Shop

Click here for more details including photos, links to performer websites and music samples...