The Pearl Company

THE JACK STREET SHOW: THE LAST CALL: The Memorial Wake & Celebration of the Life & Work of the late local Artist & Story Teller. Monday, September 16. Doors at 6:00, show at 9:00. Pay what you wish at door. Join Jack’s wife LLLLaura, his family of friends, and his dog, Gonzo in celebrating the man’s life and work. At 9:00 the show be launched with bagpipes and we will showcase the eclectic parade that was Jack’s life: his poetry, his stories, his musical collaborations, his artwork (the retrospective he was working on before he passed away)..  Jack`s favourite music will accompany LLLLaura`s photo slideshow. Bob Ezergailis’ videos of Jack on stage, taken over the years will be projected on the big screen of the main floor theatre. Suggested attire is Gypsy/Hippy/Jack Street style. There will be spirited libations, merriment, great gobs of food, remembrance and lively conversation, all the things Jack loved the most. Truly a multi-faceted, entertaining, and interesting evening not to be missed. A good old “Knees Up” as Jack would say! Pot luck offerings welcome!

Graydon James & The Young Novelists w Ben Somer: How To Combine An Evening Of Original Music With A Book Launch For A Debut Novel: Thursday April 18. 8:00. $15 / $10 students/all artists.  Singer and songwriter Graydon James called his band The Young Novelists when he started it four years ago. And now he’s launching his first novel, a darkly comic satire titled ‘The Mall of Small Frustrations’. The show will be a celebration of songwriting of course, but yes, I think we can expect that Graydon James will read a passage from the new book…  Here’s a musical opinion from the silver (and usually accurate) tongue of Richard Flohil:  “Apart from having one of the best band names at CMW (Canadian Music Week) this time around, this band has a super singer (Laura Spink, aka Mrs. Graydon James) and the band sounds like a rootsier version of Arcade Fire. They knows how to rock, they do…” http://www.theyoungnovelists.com/ Ben Somer is a gifted songwriter, who shares his tales of love and faith with soulful charm and despair. Although his songs have various angles and attitudes, storytelling is always their essence and their aim – particularly on The Last One, Ben’s new sophomore release. His writing blends a heart-wrenching earnestness with his tongue-in-cheek wit, evoking comparisons to Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. www.myspace.com/bensomer

Pearl Review 2^nd Edition Launch! Saturday, June 16. Open House! The Pearl Review Quarterly Lifts off from the Loft on Saturday beginning @ 8:00pm.  Another packed issue of 76 pages for $2.95.  Compelling, inquiring diverse opinions, Photo Essays and Stories.  Join the party; purchase a copy; become a Patron subscriber.  Special patron subscriber packages include Art Bus Certificates, discounts on Pearl Company events and Pearl District products, and a free Gary Santucci CD. (If you are already a subscriber, come by and get your copy and your package!)  Food and refreshments available.

Charly Chiarelli and The Pearl Company Present: Sex and the City, 1300. Saturday, May 7. 7:00pm. $15 at the door. Erotic tales from Boccaccio’s Decameron, told by the storytelling company Raccontamiunastoria (in association with the Italian Federation of Storytelling)  www.raccontamiunastoria.com.  Sexy, deliriously funny, touching and personal, these tales are delivered in English (no subtitles…).  The performances are created and performed by Paola Balbi, Mariella Bertelli, Davide Bardi, and Charly Chiarelli.  The music is arranged and performed live by Charly and Davide Bardi.  A totally engaging experience taking place before a very special concert: see directly above….  Special offer: Both events (Charly / Melwood & Jenny) for $20. Add Charly’s Sunday event=3 events for $30 or any 2 for $20!

“Performances in tribute to the memory of Kerry Schooley” Wednesday November 24. 7:30-10:30pm. Remembering the remarkable man who was so important to the writing and arts community in Hamilton. A tribute concert of various people performing (musical, written, etc.) tributes to Kerry, things he would have liked, some of his work.  Put together by Chris Pannell, Bob Megans and Gary Barwin. Contact: himself@garybarwin.com or 905-525-7545 for more information.

Festitalia Author’s Night: Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00pm.  Free admission. Bryon Prince and Festitalia present Genni Gunn reading from her latest novel, Solitaria and Carole Bertuzzi Luciani reading from her book, I Have a Story for You.  For further information, please contact Bryan Prince, Bookseller at 905 528-4528 or staff@princebooks.net

“The Storyteller’s Tale”: Saturday March 20. 7:30 pm. $15 at the door. Freefall Writing Workshops (www.freefallwriting.com) and The Pearl Company present British storyteller Geoff Mead with Canadian musician Jaron Freeman-Fox (violinist and Indian music aficionado) one week prior to their featured performance at the Toronto Storytelling Festival.  Join us to celebrate World Storytelling Day with this never-to-be-forgotten evening of enchantment. The Storyteller’s Tale is a stirring tale of banditry, betrayal, unlikely friendship, storytelling and dangerous love set in 18th century India. A storyteller and the beautiful young wife of a cruel and powerful warlord exchange stories as they meet, fall in love and part.  Based on the novella The Storyteller’s Tale by Omair Ahmad.  This 2-hour performance marks the story’s Canadian Premiere.  All proceeds donated to Indian charities, by arrangement with the author.   Celebrated in the UK as a master storyteller, Geoff Mead performs traditional stories, runs story-based workshops and teaches storytelling in the UK, Spain, Canada and Japan.  Reserve your seat.  Reception to follow.

Mary M. Cushnie-Mansour: Sunday, January 31 at 2:00. Mary will be launching two new poetry books “Shattered”  and “Memories”. She will be reading selections from them as well as from her collection of short stories. “From the Heart”, which was released in May 2009.  Mary is a freelance creative writer who was born in Stoney Creek.  She now resides in Brantford.