Rita's Tea Room Summer Concert Series
I will be hosting the 6th season of the SONGS ON SUNDAY summer concert series at Rita's Tea Room once again this summer. It all kicks off on July 1st, 2018. As always Flo Sampson will play piano during the meal before I begin the concert portion of the day and as usual it will happen every Sunday throughout July and August. I could not be more excited - It keeps getting better and better each year and we have an amazing line up of music once again. Check here for details as guest Performers will be posted soon.
The Tea Room has also had some amazing renovations, providing extra space for seating and dinning, and offering many more displays and memorabilia - A must see!
Had a great time at the Oak Island Resort last weekend playing with Charlie Acourt, Christine Cambell, Shrimp Daddy, Kev Corbet, and Ronald Hynes - I've been doing this show for a few years now as a member of the house band but this year, thanks to Bruce Morel, I had the opportunity to step up front and present a set of my own as a featured artist....what a thrill. I do the vast majority of my shows solo, and it's a ton of fun to play with full band for a change, and to have people hitting the dance floor and having a pretty rockin time just makes it all that much sweeter...thanks guys. Looking forward to doing it again in Pictou on Feb 4th.
Really excited about opening for Matt Anderson on four shows he will be doing throughout December.
Happy to announce that I picked up a MUSIC NOVA SCOTIA AWARD this past weekend in Truro. I would like to thank everyone who voted, everyone for sending so many heartfelt congratulatory messages along over social media, and I would like to thank Music Nova Scotia for doing an amazing job again this year - your tireless dedication and work ethic is supremely appreciated.
Heading to Truro this weekend to attend the NOVA SCOTIA MUSIC WEEK conference. Very excited about this indeed. I am nominated this year in the blues category and I will be playing a showcase at The NOOK & CRANNY Friday night, November 4th, at 11:45pm. Playing with me will be Ian Janes on guitar and Tom Easley on bass - Ian is also doing a showcase earlier in the evening and Tom and I will be playing for him...pretty cool!
I was so honoured and delighted to have kicked off another WinterJazz series in Charlottetown on November 22nd. It was a great night of music, with the Glen Strickey Quartet backing me up and playing my music so wonderfully - Glen Strickey on sax, Alan Dowling on Drums, Deryl Gallant on bass, and Ian Toms on Guitar.....it truly was an amazing night that left me feeling that I have got to do that kind of thing more often, namely, playing my music with full ensemble, aside from the solo performances that I do on a more regular basis. It gave my music a different take and vibe, allowing the tunes to stretch where and whenever possible, and just made for a night steeped in creative and spontaneous improve,,,,,can't wait to do it again! Thanks fellas.....
This Sunday, August 28th, at Rita's Tea Room will be bitter sweet - I'm super excited about our guest but naturally sad about the fact that this will be the final show for the summer. (possibly one more date on Thanksgiving TBA)
Joella Foulds will be joining us and I could not think of a better way to close out the series. One of the things I love about the Songs On Sunday series is that all of the guests have some kind of connection to Rita,,,,,personally, musically or both, which in my mind simply adds to the special nature of the event. However, there are but a few that can honestly say they have been there in the beginning, performing along side Rita as a member of her band, and thus witnessing the start of her special path and journey - Joella is one of those few. It is because of this that I put Joella in a category that I call the 'Rare-Air Club'.
It is also a time that marks the beginning of Joella's desire to start singing again and I'm thinking a lot of people are happy to hear that, myself included. Joella will be performing some of her own tunes, and some of Rita's as well, and I'm sure she'll have a good story or two to boot.
Please come by if you can.
Heading to PEI on August 15th to play with Dennis Ellsworth at the Victoria Playhouse in beautiful Victoria by the Sea. I recently played there for the first time with Laura Smith and I simply fell in love with the town and the venue. This will be the 2nd show Dennis and I have done together this summer and I feel very fortunate for that. I am a huge fan.
Later on in the week I'll be doing something I haven't done in years - on Friday & Saturday I'll be playing piano for Matt Minglewood. I spent most of the 90's playing in Matt's band,,,put on a lot of miles,,,and had some good times, so I am looking forward to that very much. Check my calendar for details.
Just played Rita's Tea Room with Lucy MacNiel of The Barra MacNiel's and it was an amazing time. I love it when you get to experience someone who is so well know for being part of a very successful group step out on her own, showing everyone another layer. She is something special.
Looking forward to playing Rita's Tea Room on Sunday. This week Douglas September will be the special guest. Douglas has done the Songs On Sunday a couple of times now in summers past and it's always something special. He knew Rita quite well and his personal connection with her is reflected in the music he decides to play - his own compositions as well as some very unique and heartfelt arrangements of Rita's music too….please drop by if you can.
Heading to Ingonish in Cape Breton to play at the beautiful Keltic Lodge for 4 nights. This place is Heaven on earth.
Of course, I'll be doing my regular hosting duties at Rita's Tea Room in Big Pond on Sunday and our special guest this week will be Wendy MacIsaac….
This will all lead into a series of shows that I am doing with Laura Smith, also in Cape Breton(see calendar for details),,,it will be an enjoyable couple of weeks - hope to see you. Come say hi if you're around.
Looking forward to playing keyboards for Heather Rankin, thursday night at Oceanstone resort. See dates for more info & links. It will be an up close and intimate concert at this wonderful venue, on the water, on the Peggy's Cove Road.
PEI: Hitting the road for the Island on Saturday to do a show with Dennis Elsworth at the Trailside (see dates) - I can't tell you how excited I am about this. I'm a huge fan of Dennis's songwriting and singing. I am honoured to have been invited to do this show.
KITCHEN FEST
Looking forward to Playing keys for Heather Rankin - part of kitchen fest at the Gaelic College on Wednesday, July 6th.
The day after I will be playing with Laura Smith at Wentworth Park, Sydney, on the Bandshell. Can't wait for that - I have a couple of very fond childhood memories and stories of the Bandshell.
RITA's TEA ROOM
Kicked off another summer concert series at Rita's Tea Room this past Sunday with special guest Chris Corrigan, and of course Flo Sampson providing the background music during dinner. Was an absolute blast. Next Sunday July 10th, our special guest is Matt Minglewood - not many seats left so book now.(see dates tab)
GRANVILLE ON THE GREEN - July 10
Later on that evening I'll be making my way up Port Hawkesbury to play with Heather Rankin again for the GRANVILLE ON THE GREEN concert
Looking forward to seeing my good pals Breeze & Wilson, who have arrived in Canada from the UK to do some shows….I will be joining them for a couple in Cape Breton.(see calendar)
From there I will stay in the Cape for a few days and take part in Keith Mullins CD release show at the HAT….(see calendar)
,,,AND THEN, I'm heading back down to Sherbrooke Village to take part in the SHERBROOKE VILLAGE ROAD TO STAN FEST SONG CAMP,,,,I am so pleased and excited to be doing this again,,,,I cannot wait!
Just finished one of the most rewarding things I have done in a long time. Recently I was invited by Lara Fawthrop, the music teacher at Sackville High, to carry out some sessions on song writing with her class. We talked a lot about the creative process of writing, ended up collectively composing a pretty good tune, and performed it together at their end of the year concert on June 12…..and the entire process was an absolute blast. Way to go guys and thank you!!!