16th of July, 2010 ROWDY BLUES @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.) Rowdy Blues consists of some of the top blues musicians from the St. John’s, NL scene going back some 25 years. Each show is a dynamic tour through the blues with rags, instrumentals, and jazz and folk styles mixed in. Packing harps, guitars, mandolins, dobros and a suitcase full of blues, they mean business and play hard…every time! For more information pls visit: http://www.rowdyblues.com/
16th of July, 2010 THE LORI COOPER BAND @ FAT CAT BLUES BAR (51 Pleasant Street) Lori Cooper was singing at age two and playing piano at age six. Her parents often held socials that always included everyone singing and playing and Lori was usually the little star. Lori went on as a classically trained pianist to complete a B.Mus and B.Mus. Ed. from Memorial University’s School of Music. Through the encouragement of friends and blues masters Roger Howse and Wade Pinhorn, Lori put teaching on hold and chose a life of rock & roll. As keyboardist for The Thomas Trio & Red Albino, Lori toured extensively and even competed in a World Talent Competition located in Tokyo representing Canada in front of 13,000 people. In 1991 Lori traded in her life on the road and resumed her other passion teaching. To this day Lori has managed to successfully fill the roles of teacher, school manager, mother and working musician. Along the way Lori has played keys for folk music icon’s The Plankerdown Band, continues to play synth and percussion for musical productions, adjudicates music festivals and has evolved into a prominent member of music education in Newfoundland.In ’96 Lori was encouraged to sing at a Sunday night blues jam by Coop De Ville’s, Wade Pinhorn and Darrell Cooper. Darrell heard a “soulful voice” and asked Lori to special guest with his band. He handpicked a song list and Lori got a taste of the blues which quickly led to a thirst!Lori leads her own band aptly named The Lori Cooper Band and they fill the dance floor at the Fat Cat Blues Bar in St. John’s, Newfoundland on a regular basis. Her zest for life, jubilant spirit and deep love for singing the blues comes through in every song and affects every member of her audience.Lori’s biggest influences have been Etta James, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Carl Weathersby. Also look for her in Three Shades of Blue, a vocal trio that adapts classic songs of various styles and delivers them in a sweet sounding three part harmony accompanied by keyboards.
16th of July, 2010 MATT ANDERSEN @ MAJESTIC THEATRE (390 Duckworth str.) New Brunswick, Canada’s Matt Andersen has a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage. Matt’s sprawling blues, roots and rock musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice and astonishing guitar-playing has sparked a phenomenal buzz on Canada’s East Coast and that grass roots word of mouth cannot be contained any longer!In the past few years, Matt has released an introductory EP along with two critically-acclaimed live fans’ favorites, the full length studio release “Second time around”, “Something In-between” which garnered two East Coast Music awards for Matt (Male Solo Artist of the Year and Blues Recording of the Year), “Piggyback” with harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens and “Live at the Phoenix Theatre”. Along with a very busy touring schedule as a headliner at major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America and the UK, Matt has also shared the stage and toured with David “Honeyboy” Edwards, America, Randy Bachman, the late Bo Diddley, Little Feat and a host of others. For more information pls visit: http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/
8th of May, 2010 JOHNNY REID @ MILE ONE (50 New Gower Street) I worked as the photographer for the magazine “Canadian Musician”. These few shots were picked by the editor: cover page and an article. Thanks Liz, that was an amazing experience of being in-between the huge crowd of spectators and the well-known artist on the stage.
For more info pls visit: http://www.canadianmusician.com/ or http://www.johnnyreid.com/
PS. If you need a photographer, give me shout at +1 (709) 749 2871 .. i live in St.John’s, NL 
14th of July, 2010 ELIZABETH SHEPHERD @ DUSK ULTRALOUNGE (14 George Street) Elizabeth Shepherd’s music is less about following a particular tradition than it is about expressing a creative spirit; she is an artist looking to share her take on the world. Which is not surprising coming from someone who grew up in a highly musical family, living all over Canada and France, played tenor horn in the Salvation Army brass band where her parents were ministers, had an early love-affair with hip-hop music, only to wind up studying French poetry, and eventually, classical and jazz piano at McGill University.Her multiple industry accolades have landed her 2 Juno nominations (Canada’s Grammy equivalent), tours in Europe and across and North America, Japan, and most recently, a show at the legendary Hollywood Bowl with Jamie Cullum & Count Basie Orchestra. Fans and critics have drawn comparisons to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and Rickie Lee Jones. And what these names all share is both an accessibility and a distinctness – that quality people can’t quite pin down.Depending on what the song calls for, Shepherd always draws upon her roots – be it Salvation Army origins, poetic singer-songwriter lyricism, the modal inflections of world music, simple and sassy pop, infectiously deep hip-hop grooves, or the harmonic complexities of jazz. Her tunes are always a departure from convention; yet one never has the sense of leaving the home she weaves on stage and invites us to be part of. For more information pls visit: http://www.elizabethshepherd.com/
14th of July, 2010 CREAKING TREE STRING QUARTET @ YELLOWBELLY BREWERY & PUBLIC HOUSE (288 Water Street & 1 George Street). Andrew Collins – mandolin, Brad Keller – guitar, Brian Kobayakawa – bass, John Showman – fiddle. String-band music has long been a staple of Americana. While the four members of Toronto’s Creaking Tree String Quartet pay homage to that tradition, they refuse to be bound by it. Instead, the technically dazzling outfit uses fingerboards to leap stylistic boundaries and fuse intricate styles. The result is a smartly intellectual and yet deeply moving sound that’s a true Canadian original: jazz forms sliding over a rootsy bluegrass base, with flashes of chamber music, reverence and avant-garde experimentation.It’s the product of four adept and accomplished musicians, dedicated to performing unique and exciting material that raises the bar for instrumental acoustic music. They earned a Juno Award nomination for their 2003 debut CD. Their 2005 follow-up “Side Two” won the Pushing The Boundaries trophy at the 2005 Canadian Folk Music Awards, was named Instrumental Album of the Year at the Indie Acoustic Project Awards, and “Old Crow” won Instrumental Song of the Year at the International Acoustic Music Awards. The group’s third album, “The Soundtrack,” was produced by Grammy winner and Nashville veteran Bil VornDick, and is their finest work to date. Already this new release has received rave reviews, been nominated for a 2009 Juno Award, and won two Canadian Folk Music Awards, for Best Instrumentalists, and Pushing The Boundaries. The fourth, as yet untitled album is nearing completion, to be released in fall of 2010. For more information pls visit: http://www.creakingtree.com/
14th of July, 2010 THE FORGOTTEN BOUZOUKI @ YELLOWBELLY BREWERY & PUBLIC HOUSE (288 Water Street & 1 George Street). The Forgotten Bouzouki is the collective name for George Miminis (guitar and vocals), Simon Miminis (drums), Alison Corbett (violin and baglamas), Heather Wright (violin), Matthew Hender (double bass), Holly Hoggin (vocals) and – sitting in the place of bouzouki player for the first time – Darren Browne. It is a group of nonprofessional and professional musicians who love to play Greek music.
18th of July, 2010 That was about having a very good time with the very good people on the yacht “Highland Princess” away from the city’s hot streets and civilization. Enjoy epic sights of the harsh Atlantic wilderness! To be more specific there are pics from Bell Island, Port De Grave, Brigus and different other nice spots around the bay.
27th of May, 2010 WJB Festival Media Launch @ MARTINI BAR (Above Peddler’s On George Street). Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues’ Executive/Artistic Director, Kirk Newhook, was at the Martini Bar on George Street to make the official announcement of the highly anticipated line-up of artists performing at the annual instalment of the Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival. Festival taking place from July 13th to 18th – the City of St. John’s will be immersed in the divine sounds of jazz, blues, and world music delivered by over 200 artists in more than 50 concerts jam packed into the 6 day festival. For more information about the festival pls visit http://www.wreckhousejazzandblues.com/
01st of May, 2010 @ THE SHIP (265 Duckworth Street)
hosted by Steve Abbott and Liz Solo with special guests The Grass Man, Newf – the baby Harp Seal, Lloyd Thomas O’Niell & Clementine Kilkenny.
SCREENING:
Featuring videos by independent bands and musicians using a variety of anymation tools. Featuring the North American premiere of Liz Solo’s machine i am and videos from In Flight Safety (N.S), Crash Jones and DTR (NL), Trace Sanderson (UK), Tom Fun Orchestra N.S.), Down With the Butterfly (N.S.), Jacqueline Poole (N.S.), Jeremy Rice/the Sellouts (NL), Robbie Dingo (UK), Christopher Ball (N.S.), Lesvatar (ON), Second front (International), Claus-Dieter Schulz (Germay), Alasdair Brotherson (UK) and more.
