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Coming on
Fe
bruary 10
The Bills
Fans of The Bills
, in other words anyone who has heard them, know that it's no overstatement to call this Victoria-based quintet Canada's acoustic music super-group. As the Glasgow Herald enthused, they are: "the biggest blast of fresh air to come out of Canada since The Band." Their 2016 album Trail of Tales
offers 14 originals showcasing their evocative songwriting, instrumental genius and indefinable sound. Folk? Roots? Jazz? Rock? Classical? World music? Genres need not apply. We're welcoming The Bills back for their fourth CFC appearance.
First Up: Sarah Jane Scouten
By age five, Sarah Jane Scouten was singing a Willie P. Bennett song. Today she is arguably Canada's premiere purveyor of old-timey and bluegrass, channeling Hank Williams and Iris Dement in her superlative songs.
Jeffery Straker
Since his acclaimed debut at the CFC in 2014, Jeffery has added extensive media work to his prolific touring and writing schedule. His dynamic live shows combine showmanship, cabaret, finely-wrought songs and acrobatic vocals that have drawn comparisons to Freddie Mercury. Critics have called
North Star Falling
(2015) a record "of the kind Elton John made in his peak early period," and Vagabond
(2012) "a flawless work of art" and "one of the most faultlessly conceived and meticulously executed [Canadian] albums in a long time."
The Dead South
Regina's The Dead South serve up a gumbo of hard-driving bluegrass with Nate Hilts' gritty vocals and guitar, Scott Pringle (harmonies and mandolin), Colton Crawford (banjo and kick drum), and Danny Kenyon (cello). They wear white shirts and black suspenders, black pants and travellers' hats. They sing about murderous, estranged spouses and runaway lover cousins. Sometimes their fans dress up like them too and dance and sing the night away - but that's not mandatory.
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Who says February 10th is too early to celebrate Valentine's Day? If you're reading this message, it's a safe bet that you're already into music that's a little off the pat
