City Roots Festival 2007 Performers Bios and Website Links

Further information or interviews contact:
Jane Harbury 416.960.1568 jane@harbury.ca

Anne has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada, adapting her unique violin/fiddle style to the eclectic sounds and musical languages of this country's rich cultural texture. Her fluency is evident in her wide-ranging repertoire, encompassing jazz, rock, classical, country, old-time fiddle, Celtic, Cajun, and Klezmer styles. Jason Fowler, one of Canada's most accomplished acoustic guitar players appears with Anne.

A skilled and clever lyricist, Arlene has a deserved reputation as an engaging performer. Arlene's ability as a storyteller is evidenced each time she performs and was recently formally recognized with a Gemini Award for her co-written play-turned-television-special-soon-to-be-a-feature-film, "Joan of Montreal".

A multiple Canadian Juno Award winner, Bill has received international acclaim for his recordings and live performances. A mainstay on the international roots scene, life on the road is reflected in Bill's music - powerful rhythms and soulful songs, steeped in world beat, blues, cajun, celtic, folk, flamenco, funk and poetry.

Mid-life crisis poster boy Bill Colgate is a bar band singer turned successful actor turned critically lauded and award-winning singer/songwriter . In 2002 Bill won 2nd Grand Prize Overall in the USA Songwriting Competition. The band includes guitarist Cam MacInnes, bassist Stephen Bright and drummer Shiraz Tayyeb.

From acoustic to electric, from a whisper to a scream, the guitar in the hands of Bobby Cameron can evoke the full range of human emotions in a listener. Bobby’s playing is anchored in the Celtic soulfulness of his Cape Breton upbringing and takes full flight in roots, folk, and blues-rock.

Since picking up the guitar at the age of 14 after being inspired by the music of Peter Paul and Mary and others in the 1960s roots scene, Gladstone has continued to develop a unique and captivating finger-style guitar technique that he combines with lyrics, changes and melodies that some regard as quirky.

Danny Marks is the current holder of the Toronto Blues Society's Blues with a Feeling Award for lifetime achievement in music and broadcast, and is currently a host of JazzFM's Bluz FM. This iconic rocker's roots go back to the sixties as a founding member of Capitol Records' group, Edward Bear.

David Celia has played for audiences all over Europe, U.S.A. and Canada. His musical style has been described as "roots-rock with hints of folk wrapped up in a pop package". Three and four part harmonies are usually the first thing that audiences are drawn to as well as the timeless feel of his songwriting.

Dean McTaggart
Shelburne, Ontario-based Dean McTaggart has been on the top end of Canada’s song writing community for the past decade, McTaggart's music career was launched in 1981 as the lead singer/songwriter of the Canadian pop/rock group The Arrows. Dean has won numerous SOCAN and ASCAP Awards for songwriting for songs he penned for Amanda Marshall; and has 2 Juno Award nominations for Songwriter Of Year. In 2002 he released his first solo album. A second solo album has just been released entitled Shed My Skin.
http://www.deanmctaggart.com

These hot pickers give the song top priority. Although the group performs material from the “golden age” of bluegrass and country music, their many original tunes blend well with the old chestnuts. The Boys are Andrew Collins, mandolin, Chris Coole, guitar, Max Heineman, bass, Chris Quinn, banjo, and John Showman on fiddle.

GWT is more than live music and more than spoken word; it is a unique combination of song, story, and music. GWT's material ranges from original compositions to re-worked classics threaded through myths, legends, ballads, peppered with tales of enlightenment and personal experience, with a healthy dose of embellishment.

Greg is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose sardonic outlook and down-to-earth lyrics bring a fresh perspective to the folk-rock, roots-country genres. He wears his Dylan influences proudly on his sleeve. He has played music for live theatre, studied classical saxophone, and released four independent solo CDs in Canada.

Originally a rocker in Australia, Greg came to Canada in the late 1970s first as a solo artist on the prestigious Elektra label, and then heading the Toronto-based country-rock outfit, Southern Cross. Folk and traditional acoustic music has remained an enduring passion. He is also now the senior arts columnist at the Toronto Star.

Heather is a singer/songwriter whose style straddles alt.country, jazz, bluegrass and blues. Her country-soul flavoured compositions have received international accolades and she has been showcased at both NXNE and Canadian Music Week music festivals. Some of her influences are Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams and Leon Russell.

James was the founder of Canada's premier folk group Tamarack, with whom he toured, recorded fourteen albums, and made countless television and radio appearances. He is known for his original songs about Canada's identity and heritage and has been a regular contributor to CBC radio programmes. His songs have been recorded by a number of other artists.

Blues sensation Jimmy was dicovered playing guitar in front of Jeff Healey's Club in Toronto at age 11 and went on to record his 1st CD shortly after. Now at the age of 16, he has three recordings under his belt and has toured internationally and appeared on national television and radio.

Originally the leader of The Norge Union in the 1990s, he moved to Poland and toured Europe. Now back in Toronto, he is recording songs about the Canadian war experience and about social justice issues. He was named “2006 Songwriter of the Year” by Green Man Review. He is also a published essayist.

With an arsenal of powerful, personal songs and a voice described as "smooth-as-buckwheat-honey", it's no surprise Kirsten was weaned on Maria McKee, Patty Griffin, and Natalie Merchant. LATEST - Kirsten is opening for Canadian legend Jim Cuddy at the 2007 Mississauga Waterfront Festival! (June 17, 2007).

Layah has played countless shows and festival showcases. She won a prize in the Ontario Council of Folk Festival's songwriting competition and was nominated for an American Independent Music Award. In 2006 she won a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Jazz and was nominated in the Best Live Acoustic Act category.

Lynne explores universal themes of love, life and relationships in her songs that are influenced by Neil Young, Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen. She won the 2006 Blues Award for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals' “Songs from the Heart” contest with her hybrid sound that merges thought-provoking lyrics with Texas soul-country.

With her 2000 release, Reptilian, Mia was placed on the Top Ten polls in the Globe and Mail and NOW Magazine and has since toured Canada and the UK and appeared on national television. She writes songs with a love of Joni Mitchells' lyrical stylings and has been favourably compared to Mary Margaret O’Hara and Jane Siberry.

A native of Arnprior, Ontario, Michael started playing music to put himself through school. He ended up playing stages and honky-tonks throughout Ontario and Quebec and found his way to Nashville, Dallas, Austin and Los Angeles. His influences include Guy Clark, Townes van Zandt, Joe Ely and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Mr. Rick was reared on late night radio and vintage vinyl and has developed a style that is a rootsy, folksy mash running the gamut from finger-pickin' country, tub-thumping blues, gospel and Texas swing. He performs mostly old classics and novelty originals influenced by Doc Watson, Bob Wills and Hank Williams.

For more than 30 years, Norm has been winning critical acclaim for his songs with their moving and often humorous insights into life, love, songwriting - and cats! His album “Orange Cats Make the Very Best Friends” has frequent CBC and other radio play and received a 2004 Canadian Indie Music Award nomination in the Favourite Children's Artist/Group category.

Influenced by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and many others, Peter has crafted his own unique expression of writing about life and love. Peter has won awards including the 2005 TIMA (Toronto Independent Music Awards) and the 2003 North American John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Comprising of Paul Quarrington, Stuart Laughton, Chas Elliott, Martin Worthy, Richard Bell and Rebecca Campbell, PorkBelly Futures creates a jazzy, alt.country, blues band. The Porkers reunite the singer/songwriting team of Paul Quarrington and Martin Worthy. Quarrington is one of Canada's best-known literary figures, having won awards for his novels, TV scripts, screenplays and songwriting. www.porkbellys.com

Evoking a raw honesty in his voice, Rob has gained a following in Canada and the US as a roots musician of substance. His songs can be evocative ballads or pop-tinged, blues-flavored compositions. He has played many festivals and earned many nominations for awards and in 2004 won The Philadelphia Songwriters Project Road Song contest.

Royal’s music has been featured on several TV and movie soundtracks including HBO's Regenisis, CBC's This is Wonderland and the film The End of Silence. His songs drift from sad pastoral laments to capering piano pop jubilance influenced by Aimee Mann and Ron Sexsmith. His piano-oriented sound has been enjoyed at numerous festivals.

Sarah sings in a fusion of genres such as folk with blues, cabaret, slam poetry, bluegrass, funk and jazz with multi-layered lyrics. She has played in many festivals in Canada and the U.S. and was chosen as a finalist for the Peacedriven Songwriting Award as well as being nominated for Best Songwriter at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Three outstanding individuals in the world of folk, blues, and swing, Mose Scarlett, Jackie Washington, and Ken Whiteley have created a magical combination, both on recordings and in live concert performances. An internationally acclaimed guitarist, Mose has toured across Canada, England, West Germany, Australia and the U.S.A. His first album, Stalling For Time, was produced by Bruce Cockburn and he has made a number of appearances on a variety of records as well as radio and T.V. performances. Jackie Washington is a recipient of the highly prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Arts Council and was inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction. Several Jackie Washington awards have been created to honour not only his outstanding musicianship but his ability to "get the joint jumpin' and to light up the world". Ken Whiteley has been called a "playing encyclopedia", for his vast repertoire, command of a wide variety of styles including swing, blues and gospel and his prodigious ability on a dozen or so instruments. He has appeared on over 100 recordings and received Juno nominations, a United Way Communications Gold Award and numerous gold and multiple platinum albums for past productions. This threesome have over 125 years of playing experience between them. This is a rare, not-to-be missed appearance for Jackie Washington.

The prairies and big city have provided strong influences for the roots-based music of Sue and Dwight, reflecting their journey from Western Canada to their current home in Toronto. Their lyrics are honest and insightful, weaving stories of rolling prairies, small towns, and big city streets with themes of peace and social justice.

The Players consists of Andrew Penner on vocals, guitar, banjo, bass, percussion and organ pedal board, Dennis Van Dine on bass, piano, clarinet, banjo, percussion and vocals, and Michael "Rosie" Rosenthal on drums, glockenspiel and shouting. Their sound is always changing; chaotic, and stomping on the line between breakdown and bliss. Picture a rabid tractor screaming down towards a tent revival. The Sunparlour players play several instruments at once and they always have a good time.

Tia's gutsy alto, ranging from soul-stirring passion to angelic beauty, has been heard everywhere from CMT Canada, to European radio stations, to the Savannah Folk Music Society and the coveted spotlight of Nashville’s Bluebird Café. She continues to tour and was nominated for Independent Album of the Year by the European Country Music Association.