Mark Berube Goes to Europe

Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few, one of the most underrated acts in the country at the moment have just finished their Canadian tour. They have one more date to play in Montreal on Saturday (November 21) at the Green Room with Erin Lang before heading off to Europe for a few weeks.

If you don't know grab Flowers on the Stones (Mp3) and Yesterday's Halo (Mp3). Then go catch them in Montreal on Saturday or, if you're in Europe or suddenly feel the need to go to Europe - these are the spots to hit:

Nov 25 - Le Lounge, w/ Mina May - Marseille, FR
Nov 26 - Le Père Peinard - Toulouse, FR
Nov 27 - Private function at a winery close to Marseille, FR (Yebo!)
Nov 28 - Le Brise Glace w/ Mina May - Annecy FR

Dec 2 - Le Bourg - Lausanne, CH
Dec 3 - Queen Kong Club - Neuchatel, CH
Dec 4 - Salle du Soleil - Delémont, CH
Dec 6 - Le bout du monde - Vevey, CH
Dec 7 - Hacienda - Sierre, CH

Dec 8 - Olympia opening for Emily Loizeau - Paris, FR
Dec 9 - live performance on Fou Du Roi (Radio) - Paris, FR
Dec 9 - L'international - Paris, FR
Dec 10 - La Laiterie opening for Emily Loizeau - Strasbourg, FR

Coming up on Canada Live: Basia Bulat, Mark Berube, Great Big Sea & More

This is the weekly thing where I tell you what's coming up on Canada Live, or rather I pass it along. Every weeknight Canada Live on CBC Radio 2 brings you live concerts recorded all over Canada. Someone at Radio 2 passes the list on to me, and I pass it on to you.

This upcoming week is pretty Amazing - it includes Basia Bulat recorded at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few recorded at Just For Laughs Montreal (they are not a comedy group, they are pretty insanely good.) Steve Earl recored at Ottawa Buesfest, Great Big Sea recorded at Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and lots more. The full list goes:

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Monday, November 16th, 2009
concert 1: Basia Bulat
recorded at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Basia Bulat made the cover of the Georgia Straight the week of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. And no wonder. This young woman writes songs that could beguile even the most begrudging music fan. Basia says she likes songs that make people want to sing along. She's definitely succeeding in doing that with the songs she writes. Basia and her band played Stage 3 at the festival to a sizeable audience basking the Vancouver seaside sun. This is the sound of contemporary folk music!
concert 2: Gillian Boucher
recorded at the 2008 Celtic Colours International Festival, Sydney Marine Terminal, Sydney, Cape Breton
In the hands of Gillian Boucher, the violin becomes a vehicle of transportation for the mind. Her lyrical approach and sensitivity transcends genres and cultures, transporting listeners to far off exotic places accessible only in imagination. Gillian started touring the world at just 15 - first as a featured performer at Green Linnet's 20th Anniversary Gala in New York, and then throughout North America, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. She has shared the stage with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Solas, Natalie MacMaster, Cappercaillie, The Battlefield Band, Tom Paxton, Brendan Power and many other performers.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
concert 1: Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few
recorded at Le Cabaret Just For Laughs in Montreal
In 2008, Mark Berube completed "What the Boat Gave the River", his follow-up album to his previous "What the River Gave the Boat". The Montreal-based songwriter and pianist shines brightest in his lyrical storytelling. His child-like imagination runs rampant through each song. The music sounds big and dramatically charged with swelling instrumentals and intimate vocals. In this taping, he assembles the Patriotic Few band along with strings for a full-out show at the well-suited venue, Cabaret Just For Laughs in Montreal.
concert 2: The Dean McNeill Quartet
recorded at the CBC Regina Galleria
When Dean McNeill isn't working as the head of the music department at the University of Saskatchewan, performing with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra or leading Saskatoon's Metro Jazz Ensemble, he finds the time to hone his skills as a trumpet player and composer -- oh yes, and be a Dad to a toddler. In this concert we'll hear Dean playing both trumpet and flugelhorn on some of his jazz favorites as well as an original composition. He's joined by guitarist Jack Semple, Carlo Petrovitch on bass and drummer Arlan Kopp.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
concert 1: Steve Earle
recorded at Ottawa Bluesfest
Steve Earle's music and his person have ridden a roller coaster since he first came to North America's attention a few decades ago. He's hit rock bottom and bounced back up again, and candidly tells stories about it in between his own songs and those of Townes Van Zandt. Townes is Earle's latest release, a tribute to his friend. A spectacularly clear and beautiful night in Ottawa made the perfect backdrop to this solo performance at Bluesfest.

Thursday, November 19, 2009
concert 1: Great Big Sea
recorded at Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland
It was St. Paddy's Day weekend in St. John's when hometown heroes Great Big Sea hit the stage at Mile One Centre. They were nearing the end of their seven-month international tour in support of their latest CD release, Fortune's Favour. The place went wild as Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, Bob Hallett and a supporting cast of several thousand crazed Newfoundland republicans ramped up the best kitchen party on the planet.

Friday, November 20, 2009
concert 1: Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
recorded at the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton, N.B.
The Maritime provinces have developed a considerable appetite for Cajun and Zydeco music, largely due to the Acadian population -- the Cajun's long lost cousins. And there were many in the capacity audience for Terrance Simien's show at the 2009 Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick this September. From the moment he and his band took the stage, there was festive atmosphere, almost like a mini Mardi Gras with the audience dancing and traditional beads being tossed about.
concert 2: Alicia Borisonik & The Argentinian Project
recorded at the Ottawa Jazz Festival
Alicia Borisonik moved to the Greater Ottawa Area in 1994 to escape the regime in Argentina. She makes her living from music as a teacher of jazz and tango piano as well as a performer in her own band: The Argentinian Project. This concert primarily features songs from her second CD, Busco un Lugar ("Looking for my Home"), which is mostly based on Alicia's return to Buenos Aires in 2006 to spend time studying tango and Argentinian folk music.

CBC Radio 1 broadcast, Fridays at 2:05 PM
Friday, November 20, 2009, on CBC Radio 1
concert 1: Great Big Sea
recorded at Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland
It was St. Paddy's Day weekend in St. John's when hometown heroes Great Big Sea hit the stage at Mile One Centre. They were nearing the end of their seven-month international tour in support of their latest CD release, Fortune's Favour. The place went wild as Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, Bob Hallett and a supporting cast of several thousand crazed Newfoundland republicans ramped up the best kitchen party on the planet.

Canada Live podcast, released on Fridays
Friday, November 20, 2009 on the Canada Live podcast
concert 1: Harry Manx
recorded at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna, BC
Harry Manx's touring has taken him to four continents and his horizon is still expanding. Harry's concerts are like reuniting with an old friend, and with that friend trying out a favourite recipe -- but this time with different herbs and spices. This concert was recorded early in Harry Manx's Bread & Buddha CD release tour. The CD is Harry's ninth album, and focuses mostly on solo material.

Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few on Tour

Montreal's amazing Mark Berube (markberube.com) was one of Amanda Putz's picks for the Polaris Music Prize if you have a listen I think you'll see why. You can actually check out an entire concert recorded Sept. 25, 2008 at Cabaret Juste pour rire, Montréal, QC for CBC Radio 2's Concerts on Demand and if you like that, grab these too.

Flowers On The Stones (mp3)
Yesterday's Halo (mp3)

Go see Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few at (Facebook Event)

Oct 7 - University of Guelph - Guelph, ON - Noon show
Oct 8 - The Drake - Toronto, ON w/ Ariane Mercure
Oct 9 - Maxwell's Music House - Waterloo, ON
Oct 10 - King's College - London, ON - w/ Ariane Mercure
Oct 11 - TBA
Oct 12 - TBA
Oct 14 - WECC - Winnipeg, MB - w/ The Ladies of the Canyon
Oct 15 - Exchange - Regina, SK
Oct 16 - SAIT Gateway - Calgary, AB - opening for Lee Harvey Osmond
Oct 19 - The Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC w/ Pugs and Crows
Oct 21 - Logan's - Victoria, BC w/ Ladies of the Canyon
Oct 22 - Joe's Garage - Courtenay, BC w/ Ladies of the Canyon
Oct 23 - Duncan Garage Showroom - Duncan, BC - 8pm sharp!
Oct 24 - Finley's Irish Bar and Grill - Nelson, BC
Oct 25 - Artspace - Prince George, BC
Oct 28 - Black Dog - Edmonton, AB
Oct 29 - Lydia's - Saskatoon, SK
Nov 25 - Venue TBA - Marseille, France w/ Mina May
Nov 26 - Venue TBA - Toulousse, France
Nov 28 - Brise Glace - Annecy, France w/ Mina May
Dec 2 - Le Bourg - Lausanne, Switzerland
Dec 3 - Queen Kong Club - Neuchatel, Switzerland
Dec 7 - Hacienda - Sierre, Switzerland
Dec 8 - L'Olympia - Paris, France - opening for Emily Loizeau
Dec 9 - L'international - Paris, France
Dec 10 - Venue TBA - Strasbourg, France - opening for Emily Loizeau

Mark Berube & the Patriotic Few - Flowers On The Stone

New Video: Dan Mangan - The Indie Queens Are Waiting

Official Music Video for The Indie Queens Are Waiting by Dan Mangan (from 'Nice, Nice, Very Nice,' 2009).



Directed by Trevor Smith, Edited by Darren Bierman, Produced by John Kerr / Crowsnest Films. Shot at The Belmont Diner in Calgary, AB in July 2009.

Musical performers are Dan Mangan (Vocals, Guitar, Glockenspiel), Veda Hille (Vocals, Casio, Piano), Mark Berube (Accordion) - song written by Dan Mangan.

In this video, you'll see members of the following bands: The Fast Romantics, Deon Blyan, The Ex-Boyfriends.

For more information, or if you'd like to purchase anything Dan Mangan related..

http://www.danmanganmusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/danmangan
http://www.twitter.com/danmanganmusic

Vancouver Folk Music Festival Day Two Recap

On the second day, I rolled into the festival just after 10a thinking I was there at a good time but still on the early side. The workshops should just be underway, things just warming up but I didn’t think there’d be all that many people there. As I walked by the Centre Stage I saw that there was already a sea of blankets going far back from the stage, at least half a football field long, much like gold miners staking a claim. I figured that people must have just left their blankets from the night before but from what I was told, that’s not allowed. Right from the get go, there were hundreds of people there ready for some music. I have to say I was impressed and it gives me this image of people fighting for the best claim as in Far and Away.

The first workshop I went to was called “This Riot Life” hosted by Veda Hille and included John K. Samson of the Weakerthans, Mark Berube, Shari Ulrich and Women in Docs. It was a good start to the day but Mark Berube really stood out to me, he got everyone on stage to make some noise in G for him while he sang Barber Shop from What the River Gave the Boat and the second part to Barber Shop off the new album, What the Boat Gave the River. The lyrics really grabbed me and you can check out some of them here

After this I met up with fellow NxEW contributor Brenda and we hung out at Stage 4 for the end of the Northern Exposure workshop hosted by The Paperboys featuring Los Misioneros del Norte, Fito Garcia and Pacifika. It was good, kind of a flamenco vibe coming from the stage especially as they started up La Bamba for their finishing song. The crowd really took to it and everyone was up off the ground dancing.
Later on the same stage was a workshop called Folkestra which featured Rock Plaza Central, Great Lake Swimmers and the Breakmen. This was a fantastic workshop. Someone on stage dubbed it “The battle of the banjos” as every band had a banjo player. It felt to me like all three bands were folk inflected but it was interesting to see them paired up as it kind of contrasted and complimented each other. It was great when Erik Arnesen yelled across the stage, “the chorus is c g c g D!” before the GLS played Still. Maybe you had to be there but the emphasis on D was hilarious. For the last song Chris Eaton borrowed Tony Dekker's guitar so they could play “My Children, Be Joyful”. It was great, they had everyone singing along.
Following this I made my way over to catch Basia Bulat for her full set. When I arrived Jamyang Yeshi was still on stage, which I found surprising as Basia was supposed to go on in 10 minutes. He does some interesting stuff but I’ll admit, I’m more of a rock/pop/electro person so it wasn’t really for me. From what I’ve read he sings traditional Tibetan music. As Basia’s start time came and went, I was starting to wonder if the schedule got changed or something but after quick word from the stage manager and one more song, Basia started setting up.
Basia was amazing, a real highlight of the festival for me so far. People just piled in to fill up the area in front of the stage anxious to see her. She started things off with “I Was A Daughter” and got everyone clapping, it was great. I believe Erik Arnesen from the Great Lake Swimmers was backing Basia up on banjo and guitar and her brother Bobby Bulat was on the drums. Basia played a great set, switching back and forth between Autoharp and guitar, finishing up with Snakes & Ladders then a slow song on stage alone. I’ll probably say this a couple times before I finish all the write-ups, but if you haven’t seen Basia Bulat perform, do so as soon as you can. Look forward to an interview with her coming up later!
Leading up to the Stage 5 @ Twilight concert put on by 100.5 the Peak, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Chris Eaton from Rock Plaza Central. He’s a great guy and I’ll post the interview soon but in a separate post as this one’s getting large enough as it is.
The main act I was looking forward to in the evening concert was Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few playing a full set. Beforehand, on my way over to Stage 5 I managed to catch some of Steven Page's set. He's really talented and it was a pleasure to see him live. It's hard to not think of the Barenaked Ladies when you hear his voice and of course he sang lots of the songs we all know but I'm looking forward to hearing his solo album when it comes out.
Coming back to Stage 5, Mark and his band were just sound checking. When they started, I was just drawn in again by the narratives in his songs, they're the kind of lyrics that make you smile and you want to hear again and again. A pleasant surprise was when Dan Mangan made an appearance on stage to sign some back up vocals even getting up on the speakers to get the crowd to sing along. It was an amazing set to fill the twilight air of Jericho Beach Park. Afterwards I managed to have a short talk with Mark before he made his way out to the Kootenays for the rest of his tour. Again, I’ll put this in a different post for the sake of readability.

Coming back to Stage 5 I managed to catch most of Geoff Berner’s set, a local Vancouverite. With quirky, often satirical lyrics he recently finished his trilogy of Klezmer inspired records. This gives Geoff’s act a really unique feel that makes you feel like you should be dirty dancing at a Jewish wedding, I’d recommend you check him out. His music is huge fun and really interesting in the use of the Klezmer style. I wasn’t sure if he’d perform The Dead Children Were Worth It but was stoked to hear him start it up. I was told I missed the many disclaimer’s Geoff gave about his music, telling the children they didn’t want to repeat some of the words he uses at school.

I had to get going after this but we passed the Proclaimers on the main stage on the way out. As we passed out the gates I could just barely hear them start up I Would Walk 500 Miles. I definitely could relate to that, 12+ hours of folk fest were awesome but exhausting.
- AlexOfAnders
Photos after Basia Bulat by Justin Cameron

CBC's the National on House Concerts

I dunno why Amanda didn't post this herself maybe she didn't have time but there is a story on the CBC site that has everything - it has Amanda, Amanda's house, Mark Berube and info on the who, how and why of house concerts: I've mentioned Home Routes here before (we have a permanent link to them in the sidebar --- >) They also mention Acoustic Roof who I didn't really know about but now need to check out. So if you're interested in the entire concept of concerts at your house, a friends house, your parents house while they're out of town or generally not at a bar or traditional venue - check out the story here: http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/arts/home_concerts.html!