Be Sure to Get Your Tickets!
Thanks to the support of our members and guests, every show in the first half of Season 44 sold out! Plan ahead and order your tickets for the second half of the season now, so that you don't miss out on any of the great music coming our way! And if you're planning to invite friends or family to dates in the second half of the season, don't let the show's popularity put a crimp in your plans! Tickets for every individual show - including special events hosted by the Calgary Folk Club - can be purchased at
calgaryfolkclub.com, or by calling
1-888-655-9090.
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COMING
ON MARCH 11,
A SOLD-OUT SHOW FEATURING:
Mary Gauthier 
Alt-country singer/songwriter
Mary Gauthier
exploded onto the scene with her 1999 album, "
Drag Queens in Limousines
". The album, winning her an IMA award for "Best Folk/Singer-Songwriter" and a four-star rating in Rolling Stone, had critics comparing her to
Steve Earle
,
John Prine
, and
Lucinda Williams
. Embraced by critics, folkies, and No Depression fans alike,
Gauthier
's warmly candid treatment of her fringe-dwelling subjects rings true, as it never verges on sentimental; her characters' downtrodden lives are never coldly exploited. Her latest album, 2013's "Trouble and Love", reflects a human story of love, loss, and a life transformed. marygauthier.com
Sam Baker
Sam Baker, perhaps the most captivating songwriter in America, is a man of few words, with those few always beautifully chosen and fully wrought, placed like stones in a Zen Garden. You'll probably never catch yourself singing one of his songs in the shower, because his melodies generally tend to be as bare-bones serviceable as the raspy scratch of his singing; but by God, you listen to what he has to say, hanging on for every line. Songs on his latest (2013) album, "Say Grace", create tight masterpieces that range from poignant and sorrowful to surprising humour: "My wife God bless her and for what it's worth / thinks she and Taylor Swift / were twins at birth / separated at birth / Earth to wife / wife to earth!"
sambakermusic.com
AND ON APRIL 1:
David Roth 
A songwriter's songwriter,
David
Roth combines a keen social sensibility, quick wit, and sense of mirth, with dazzling musical ability and a strong voice to produce songs that are light-hearted, thoughtful, and uplifting. His music has been performed by dozens of other top musicians, including the likes of
Christine Lavin
,
Anne Hills
, and
Tom Chapin
. His appearances have ranged from singing the national anthem in front of a sold out Chicago Bulls/New York Knicks game, to intimate house concerts and innumerable workshops, to singing for the United Nations, 40th Anniversary celebration. "David has reached our hearts. With voices like his still singing, there's a certainty that the candle will remain lit, the hope reasserted and the dream still sung..."
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, & Mary
davidrothmusic.com
The Young Novelists 
Simon & Garfunkel meet Johnny & June, The Young Novelists are known for their exquisite harmonies and energetic live performances. Through their rich but rustic sound, Toronto roots-rock outfit The Young Novelists deliver a dose of honesty in audible form. Their latest album, Made us Strangers, showcases a significant sonic progression for the band. Ripe with raw but elegant instrumentation and stacked multi-layered harmonies, their pure take on folk-tinged rock has wowed critics and enraptured audiences. Now CFMA recipients for best new/emerging artists of 2015, the road ahead for this group looks as bright and lively as one of their live performances. theyoungnovelists.com
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Get Ready for Season 45 - Lineup Season Pass Info!
We're excited to offer a preview of the Season 45 lineup!
Thanks to the dedication of our artistic director, Suze Casey, we're going to be able to bring you some absolutely stellar acts next season, and we can promise an absolutely stellar experience during the 45th anniversary year of the Calgary Folk Club.
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February 10: TBA
February 24: TBA
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If you're one of the many folkies who would be eager to see every show on that impressive roster - and who could blame you? - you'll be able to find information about purchasing Season 45 Passes posted this Friday, March 11, on our website at
www.calgaryfolkclub.com. New candidates for Season Passes in particular will want to be watching for further details. And, as ever, we are deeply grateful to our members and guests for their enthusiasm and support, in this season, past seasons, and all those to come. A program of this calibre would simply not be possible without you.
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Backstage with Lynae Oliver
In the days following her appearance on stage, Lynae Oliver responded enthusiastically to our request for an interview, going into detail on her creative process, her long experience with the Calgary Folk Club, and the importance of music education.
Calgary Folk Club: You have some pretty extensive experience playing the Calgary Folk Club - what were some of the early experiences like, and how did they compare to your recent show?
Lynae Oliver: The very first time I played the Folk Club, I wasn't nervous until I got on stage, and everybody was so attentive and quiet. I had no idea that an audience could listen so intently. ... This was years ago, so this last show, I knew a bit of what to expect, and to be honest, what I love about the Folk Club is that it really does feel like coming home to family. People are kind, they are honest ... I felt welcomed and embraced. I feel very blessed.
CFC: You've been part of several ensembles and groups in the past - what was involved in making the transition to playing under your own name, as a band-leader?
LO:
Barrage was such a large ensemble, the Wild Colonial Boys was an ensemble, and I was just more of a supporting member. I wasn't band leader even for Pear, so this is definitely a new thing for me, and it's both exhilarating and terrifying. At the end of the day, if something doesn't work out, it really is on your shoulders. But then, when it does work out ... I'm glad I took that risk. I love getting to interact with an audience, I love being able to talk about stories, I love being able to be creative, and so as far as that shift goes, I think it was always there, it was just a matter figuring out how to do it.
CFC: You've stated in the past that music education is really important for students. Would you care to elaborate on why?
LO:
Well, I teach violin, as well as performing, and I believe that music in general is incredibly important for youth; there are scientific studies done on how ... it connects the left and right sides of the brain, there are different coordinations and skill sets [involved]... You have to be able to listen, and you have to be able to focus. At some point you start reading music, and it really is like another language. What you're doing is you're expanding your knowledge and the way that your brain works, but also your body, too. It's a whole different type of discipline as well. ... We live in a world right now where everyone is a winner, even if you lose, and a lot of my students have these misconceptions that they have to be perfect when I give them something to practice. It's great that their want is so great, but you have to start somewhere. ... Everybody is not successful the first time. And I think that music teaches that discipline.
CFC:
Could you tell me a little bit about your songwriting process, or where you most often find yourself drawing inspiration?
LO:
Life experience is always inspiration for songs. I think if you talk to many songwriters, there's always some truth to a song, but the rest is not - you make it into a story. Even the Hills of Idaho - I loved all of those experiences... and so of course, that's a big inspiration for me, the way that I grew up. Sometimes it comes from experience, and sometimes it just comes from needing to be creative, and thinking about things, or seeing a friend going through life - I think writing can be very healing. I don't always necessarily do well with appointment writing - I like it to be a bit more organic - but I love the creative process regardless of how it is, whether it's by appointment, or just a thought that springs into your head with a melody.
CFC:
Any final thoughts about your experience on stage, or the Folk Club itself?
LO: I just love them, and I am so thankful to have been able to see old friends and familiar faces, and to get to bring my music. ... I love how participatory everybody is, and just how much they love music. Going from Barrage, with this huge show aspect - we had in-ear monitors, and we had clicks in our ears to make sure we were all together... we were closed off from the audience. We had some ambient mics, but we were closed off. And when I played with the Wild Colonials and began doing things for the Folk Club, and coming in and being part of the house band, it was such stark contrast that it was almost terrifying how quiet and how attentive they listened, and that was ... probably my biggest fear - 'Oh my gosh, they're so quiet and they're listening so much' - any mistake is going to be completely perceptible. They're going to know, and they're going to hear, and they might actually mention it after! Knowing that you're out there naked is very different ... intimidating, actually. In a really positive way! Once I got over myself about being afraid about making mistakes. I still worry - I still want to do the absolute best for every single person that I play for. But to have that perfectionist attitude, it's a challenge in a place where it's so intimate, and people listen so carefully, but it's also beautiful and glorious, because you're embraced for all of it, not just the perfection.
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Calgary Folk Fest hosts Amelia Curran and Clinton St. John
Another exciting event put together by our friends at the Calgary Folk Fest.
Amelia Curran is a Juno-award winner and considered to be Canada's master contemporary songstress. Her songs are three-minute musical dramas; slices of life, love, introspection and heartbreak. Clinton St. John is a multi-instrumentalist and visual artist, whose creative output was born out of boredom of small-town life. Formerly of The Cape May and Pale Air Singers, St. John has been referred to as Flemish Eye Records' poet laureate; a storyteller who builds narrative landscapes and signature companion drawings and paintings.
Together, these two powerful songsmiths promise to put on a rollicking show at Central United Church, this March 12th. For tickets and more information, consult Festival Hall's ticketfly page. Doors for this event are at 7:00PM, with the show following at 8:00PM.
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Calgary Is Hosting the 2016 JUNOs - Volunteers Wanted!
Help make this a memorable showcase of the best of Canadian music.
The 2016 JUNOs are coming to Calgary, March 28 to April 3, 2016!
If you want to be a part of this exciting celebration of Canadian music, the JUNOs are currently seeking volunteers to assist with the festivities. Events will be going off all across Calgary during the weak of the JUNOS, and there will be opportunities for people of all ages to contribute. If you love music, arts and entertainment, the JUNOS want your help!
Volunteer opportunities are already open, so be sure to contact the JUNOs volunteer coordinators right away if you're interested. Please visit
junoawards.ca to submit your application. If you have questions regarding volunteering, please contact
volunteer@junoawards.ca.
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Connect with Us!
Tune in to Alberta's vibrant folk music scene!
For concert videos, interviews with your favourite artists, and a wealth of information about your favourite Calgary Folk Club alumni and upcoming performers, come join the conversation on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram, and
YouTube.
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