Tag Archives: My Sweet Patootie
Massie Hall Promises a Great Summer and Fall Lineup of Talent
by Bill Monahan
NOTE: Click on the album covers to sample music by that artist
Massie Hall, in the little hamlet of Massie just east of Chatsworth, has a full slate of talent lined up for the summer season. The community centre in Massie provides a small venue for these concerts. They set up folding tables and chairs, with a small stage at one end of the room. There is no bar, but snacks and soft drinks are included in the ticket price.
It’s a little stage but it features big talents. Once a month on Saturdays through the summer and fall (and one Friday) a series of high quality performers are scheduled to play. Tickets for the concerts cost $20 each but with every show offering exceptional talent, the opportunity to get a discount by buying tickets for three or more shows at a time is worth considering.
The series kicks off on April 28th with Beggars Road, with a mix of traditional and Celtic sounds blending vocal melody with powerful instrumental texturing to an original repertoire of songs that celebrate the natural beauties of our region. The band evolved from The Shards, a group originally brought together by Bob Robins to perform his original, traditional-flavoured songs. They feature vocals from Larry Dickinson and Justine Maw-Farrar.
The following month, Larry’s brother, Steve Dickinson, returns to Massie Hall for a much-anticipated concert. After several years following musical adventures abroad, recording and touring with members of Bob Segar’s Silver Bullet Band, Steve returned home last year to re-group and consider his musical future. His concert last summer at Massie Hall packed the room with an enthusiastic crowd that was blown away both by his powerful singing and his original songs. He doesn’t play often in the area, so this is a show that is a must-see.
Sharlene Wallace Brings The Harp to Harp and Holly Christmas Concerts
Sharlene Wallace, one of Canada’s most prolific and influential harpists, winner of several international awards, is making room in her busy schedule this Christmas season to play a number of “Harp and Holly” concerts in our area.
“I love the Harp and Holly show,” she says, “I have been sincerely looking forward to this all year.”
Harp and Holly is a special musical journey created by Terry Young and Sandra Swannell several years ago. In what has become a Christmas tradition, it will include a number of concerts starting this Sunday in Sauble Beach and including stops in Guelph, Colpoy’s Bay, Wasaga Beach and finally Owen Sound just a few days before Christmas. With Harp & Holly this world-class trio blends Celtic, New Age and Baroque sounds to immerse audiences in the magic of the Christmas season.
“It’s all beautiful music, a really beautiful uplifting show,” says Sharlene, “The arrangements are very interesting and a nice combination of tunes. I absolutely love this show a lot.”
Join Coco Love Alcorn at Roxy
For her upcoming Dec. 7th concert at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound, Coco Love Alcorn is “building a volunteer, non-auditioned, pop-up choir” to join her on stage. The first fifty people who send her an email at info@cocolovealcorn.com with the subject line “Dec 7 Roxy Choir” will be registered to take part.
Participants will attend a song learning workshop the night before the concert, on Dec. 6th where Coco will teach them three of her original songs. No music reading is required. What is required is that you are available on both nights, and you dress in black. You also have to be okay with being filmed. The bonus is that you get to attend both the workshop and the concert for free. She’s added the free tickets because this concert is in her home town.
When she took a five year hiatus from touring after the birth of her daughter in 2010 she used the time to write new material, but with an inspired twist: the instrument she used to write was her voice, layered with the use of a looper. Like everything she does, the result was music that was not only melodically beautiful but also spiritually uplifting.
When she posted her looped a capella song, The River on You Tube it was taken up by choirs in North America and the UK to be included in their repertoire. Further inspired by the phenomenon, she created her latest album “Wonderland”.
My Sweet Patootie and Emma Wright Join Cast of The Last Waltz
Chris Scerri is lifting the veil on more local performers who will be guests at The Last Waltz. Along with the band that plays The Band, there are many other performers to reference as part of that concert. In this tribute, all of the performers will be local stars. This week Chris announces that Emma Wright, Sandra Swannell and Terry Young will be on the program.
Canadian Folk Music Award winners Sandra Swannell and Terry Young, who live in Woodford when they’re not on the road, are currently preparing their annual Harp and Holly Concert Series. They will joining one of the world’s foremost Celtic harpists, Sharlene Wallace for a series of concerts featuring baroque Christmas songs. This is a side project from their main gig as My Sweet Patootie, the roots and ragtime band that’s attracting attention in the U.K. from their regular touring there. Their annual Harp and Holly concert was born out of a love for timeless music that evokes something about the Christmas season that live in the hearts of all of us. They’ll be playing concerts during the Christmas season at three local venues in Owen Sound, Colpoy’s Bay and Sauble Beach, as well as in Guelph and Oakville.
Being part of The Last Waltz, Meaford Style, gives Sandra and Terry a chance to share music with their community here at home.
“A sense of community,” says Sandra, “That’s what Martin Scorsese captured between the musicians, both on stage and off in the epic film The Last Waltz.”
