The Pearl Company

Bypass Off Band: Saturday, Mar. 28. 8:00 p.m. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00 – 11:00. Tickets: $15. The ultimate classic progressive rock cover act. If you are a music lover looking for the ultimate progressive rock experience, look no further! Bypass Off pays tribute to the greatest progressive rock groups in history. Bringing the style, sound, and spirit of groups like Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush, Frank Zappa, U.K, Peter Gabriel, etc. to life is their goal. Their musicianship is exceptional, evident in the effortless recreation of some of the most difficult and interesting music in rock history. These are some of the best rock musicians anywhere. Together, they have decades of deep professional experience in everything from rock, jazz, classical, and various world musics. The Band: Sim Bansal: Lead Vocal and Guitar; Olivia Brown: Bass and Vocal; Dave O’Neill: Drums and Vocal; Bob Shields: Guitars; Dave Thierry: Keyboards

A Melodious Musical Montage: POSTPONED?  Waiting on outcomes! Saturday, April 4, 2020. 1-6pm. Doors open at 1pm. Admission: adults $20.00; students $10.00; children under 12 free. A Fundraiser for Musicata Hamilton’s Voices and Connect Theatre. Entertainment will begin at 1:30pm and an eclectic mix of performers and genres from Folk to Opera will appease your ears throughout the afternoon. To appease your eyes, watch artists create works of art inspired by the day’s events in front of you. These will be entered in the silent auction. Purchase a personalized sketch of yourself from an artist. In the midst of all this there will be photographers recording the day. Please visit the numerous areas set up for the silent auction, penny sale, white elephant sale, and to appease your palette visit the food/bake sale table, and the cash bar.
Live Entertainment: Musicata Hamilton’s Voices; Connect Theatre; Lyla Miklos; Joshua Perry Fleming; Sue Hawthorne-Bate; Martin Bate; Gary Santucci; Pamela Blackwood Marques; Jessica Joy; John Stephen; Rapper Ari Nisker; Andy Griffiths; Alfie Smith
Artists: Ted Nisker; Emily Sepa; Robyn Lightwalker; Hayley Pace
Photography: Michael Bray of City Lights Photography; Kasey Bridges; Photography by Laura-Lea
Activities:  Silent Auction; Penny Sale; White Elephant sale; 50/50 draw; Caricatures; Live Interactive Art; Bake Food Sale; Cash Bar
Thank you: Picks N’ Sticks and Walk Off The Earth
Contact Pamela at voicesforhire@hotmail.com or 905-529-0845

Shari Vandermolen & the David Brideau Trio: Postponed? Maybe.  Saturday, May 9. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20. The remarkable Shari Vandermolen is a celebrated vocalist and award-winning performer in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area who has been entertaining audiences for 15 years with her Quartet, Trio or 5-piece band Quarter to Nine.  She is also the lead vocalist for the 10-piece jazz combo SwingLine.  May 9, Shari brings her powerful and impressive vocal stylings back to the Pearl Company for an intimate evening of song with jazz guitarist David Brideau, James Gannett on bass and Vince Waters on drums.  “…hear Vandermolen make jelly of your emotions with her voice and her art…”  – View Magazine
David Brideau is a jazz guitarist, composer, and teacher. A Hamilton native, and honours graduate from the Mohawk Jazz program, David has played all around the GTA with his own groups, the David Brideau Trio and Quartet, as well as being prominently featured in groups with Michael Morobito, Amber-Leigh Palka, and Lauren Perreira among others. He studied under jazz greats Bob Shields, Pat Collins, Kim Ratcliffe, and Mark Ucci and is currently continuing his studies at McMaster University. David often composes his own standards, and released the sold-out EP “Addicted To You” in 2016. Tickets:

Big Johnny Blue: Leap Year Blues & Johnny’s 15th Birthday! Saturday, February 29. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. When Big Johnny (aka John Crawford) was born it was a leap year. This makes him a large unwieldy 15 year old.  And gives us a great excuse for a party!
Big Johnny’s a Hamilton guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Hamilton Blues Society. No matter the venue, Big Johnny captures his audience with the engaging sounds of what he has coined “Hammer Blues”. Guitar: Jon Newton, Bassist: Dano, Drummer: Scott Gardner, Harmonica: Rod McTaggart.
Come; revive your soul with great music and say Happy Birthday in the process!

Peña Latinoamericana: Saturday, February 1. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8 pm – 10:30. Donation: $20 at the door. Hosted by Presencia Latina. Come and enjoy a night of traditional music from Latin America, poetry and warmth to beat the winter blues. There will also be empanadas and drinks at the Latin American Peña Latinoamericana. Musicians Miguel Vasquez, Jose San Hueza, Marcello Puente, Nano Valverde, singer Lil America and poet Constanza Duran.
Vengan a disfrutar de una bella noche de musica y poesia en el Pearl company en Hamilton.  Habrá empanadas y algo de tomar.   Va ser una noche increíble y para pasar calentitos y con cultura los fríos del invierno!

The Arrogant Worms: Friday, February 7. Doors: 7:00pm. Show: 7:30. Tickets: $30/$25 students. The Arrogant Worms began in 1991 as a comedy troupe performing songs and sketches on Queen’s University campus radio. The songs were written to make fun of a big dumb world. Luckily, the world is still dumb and The Arrogant Worms (Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson and Trevor Strong) still have plenty to sing about. The shows are fast, furious and family friendly. The wit is quick, the satire is biting and the musicianship is second to none. Their appeal has earned them fans from kids to parents to grandparents to Princess Leia. On earth or in space, everyone digs these Worms.
The Arrogant Worms continue to provide tuneful and silly escapism for everyone who needs it. And if you think you don’t need it, well you’re wrong. You do. The Arrogant Worms know what’s best for you and what’s best for you is The Arrogant Worms. https://www.arrogantworms.com
Chris Patterson – sings and plays the bass. He has a children’s album called “Small Potatoes”. www.chrispatterson.ca   Trevor Strong – sings and plays instruments when he remembers to bring them. He wrote a book called Get Stupid. www.trevorstrong.org  Mike McCormick – sings and plays the guitar. He has two degrees but he can’t find them anywhere. Tix managed by the AWs only at: https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/27418/

New Years at The Pearl: World-beat Jazz & Pearl-beat Dancing! Tuesday, December 31, 8:00 ‘til ?  $75 per person/ $65 Members/Seniors/Un(der)waged. Pricing available for groups. Ticket includes Champagne at Midnight.
There will be a DJ, one hugely satisfying jazz set, and as always a great buffet.

• We promise fun, great conversations, musical magic, and lots of dancing
• Chef Gary Santucci and sous-chef Rod MacTaggart outdo themselves every year; a pan-global buffet arrives throughout the night.
• Cash bar

We need you to RSVP via email, or phone or to buy your tickets online.  We are expecting a crowd so let us know as soon as you do!
https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/27798/

A GRACEWORKS CHRISTMAS: Friday, December 20. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: Suggested donation for Hamilton Food Share: $20. Hosted by Christopher Clause and Graceworks Baptist Church, this is “Not your Grandmother’s church!!” It will be a seasonal evening of music, singing, giving, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. There will be some traditional Christmas songs, and some not-so traditional ones, at a time to be optimistic, inspired and desirous of giving to those in need this Christmas. If you hanker for a Christmas themed evening but are afraid to walk into a church building, this evening is for you. A family friendly event!
Special Musical Guests: Andrew Aldridge, Bob Bryden, Lisa Winn
We have invited Hamilton Food Share to join us and all proceeds raised that night will go towards this fine organization.  Do you still need to find that special gift for someone?  We will also have Lena’s Watercolours joining us selling some great gifts for Christmas, as well as some recordings of our special guest artists on CD

Big Johnny Blue: Concert for Charlene: Saturday, November 30.  Tickets: Suggested $20 or Pay What You Can. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. When Big Johnny (aka John Crawford) lost his wife of 39 years, the charming and highly sociable Charlene, he and his band wanted to do a concert focused on honouring her. If you’ve been to a Big Johnny concert you will have seen Charlene’s warm and welcoming smile. She rarely missed a concert and her unwavering support of John and his band members was a valued addition to every show.
Big Johnny’s a Hamilton guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and founding member of The Hamilton Blues Society. No matter the venue, Big Johnny captures his audience with the winning sounds of what he has coined “Hammer Blues”. Guitar: Jon Newton, Bassist: Dano, Blues Harmonica: Rod McTaggart, Drummer: Scott Gardner.
Come; revive your soul with great music! And say a special goodbye to Charlene. We will all miss her amiable and loving presence.

Gary Santucci’s SPANJAZZ! A World Beat Jazz Project: Friday, November 29. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00pm. Tickets: $20 /$15 students/seniors/ un(der)waged.  A collection of musical compositions inspired by world music rhythms, performed in a jazz context by the 6-piece world-beat jazz ensemble, SPANJAZZ! Featuring: Jordan Abraham – keyboard, Simon Wheeldon – saxophone, Aidan Sibley – trombone, James Gannett – bass, Rob Santos – drums and Gary Santucci – guitar. All musicians are highly respected performers in their own fields; the juxtaposition of their different styles and approaches creates the unique sound and experience that is SPANJAZZ!

Hanna Bech Presents “Mirroring”: A Concert and Art Show Where Musicians and Artists Pay Homage to Each Other. Saturday, November 23. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20 / $10 students/seniors/un(der)waged/Artists. Featuring: Robyn Lightwalker & Hanna Bech; Anthony Haley & Wax Mannequin; Petra Matar & Nick Zyla; Carolina Gama & Rachel Nolan. Hanna Bech has done it again…. “You are invited to an evening celebrating creative collaboration among Hamilton artists.  The night features four artists, and four musicians pairing up, exchanging pieces, and creating a new work inspired by the piece they receive.  We think this sounds like fun, and hope you can come enjoy the night with us.”
Tickets at:  https://www.bruha.com/event/5164
Check out the bios of this diverse and exciting group! (more…)

Pamela Blackwood Marques Sings; Gary Santucci Plays: Saturday, November 16. Doors: 6:30pm. Show: 7:00. Tickets: $20/ Seniors: $15/ Students $10/ Under 10 Free. Presenting an Evening of Culture, Comedy, and Courage, Pamela Blackwood Marques Sings Opera with a Fado Flair and Fado with an Operatic Twist.  Favourites such as: O Mio Bambino Caro, La Habenero, Sodade, Besame Mucho, Jeux Interdits. Enjoy opera arias that will engage the senses with partially staged performances, and with the addition of costumes! Hear classical done with a contemporary twist. In honour of Carmina Marques you will hear Fado as never before. Pamela Blackwood Marques is not only a multi-talented performer; she is also a talented costume designer.  Her designs have appeared on the stages of Hamilton Place, and Stratford. She has designed, co-designed and assisted for many local theatre and high school productions and is now dabbling in film! (It was Pamela who did the fabulous costumes for Hamlet at The Pearl.) Gary Santucci’s unique arrangements on guitar, done especially for Pamela, are designed to excite and engage. https://www.facebook.com/pamela.blackwoodmarques.7

KENNEDY ROAD with GRAVEN: Friday, November 15. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20. Kennedy Road is a Toronto-based Americana duo, comprised of Sheila Carabine and Brian MacMillan. He’s the tall one. Their seamless vocal blend and electric on-stage chemistry is perfectly matched by their intense and poignant songs. Sheila comes by collaboration honestly, having spent the last 16 years in the Juno-nominated folk duo Dala. Brian is a much beloved singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who has released three solo albums. He has performed with Barenaked Ladies, Wailin’ Jennys, Garth Hudson, John McDermott and more. With velvety vocals and dreamy guitars, Kennedy Road conjures dusk and memory, grit and grace. This is music from the heart, for the heart. Music Links: KENNEDY – https://youtu.be/b5ec69fWl4Q  – https://youtu.be/hTJv-DyXReU Website: https://www.kennedyroadmusic.com/
GRAVEN: Graven is an alt-folk singer from the Ottawa area who illuminates feelings of honesty, hurt and hope. He has released 11 albums to date and has shared stages with the kooky mister Steve Poltz, The Wooden Sky and many more. His most recent single Hymnal was produced by Jim Bryson (sideman for The Tragically Hip, The Weakerthans) and he has played numerous festivals Graven is currently working on a new album produced by Jim Bryson. Listen: GRAVEN – https://youtu.be/x_rAeUS6zCU  Websites:   https://gravencanada.wordpress.com/

The Jazz Connection Big Band: Saturday, November 9. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20 / $15 students/seniors/wage-challenged. (Tix @ Bruha.ca) Part of the Steel City Jazz Festival! Catch the powerful sound of this fabulous big band in our relaxed, atmospheric venue. They’re a well-established 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, performing only the best modern big band charts from the books of Goodwin, Martin, Menza, Rich, Basie, and many other great contemporary composers. Jazz Connection delivers high energy, uncompromising, straight ahead jazz, funk, and Latin, combining the highest level of musicianship and great charts in an entertaining show that engages both the jazz enthusiast and the casual listener. The excellent acoustics at The Pearl easily accommodate their very cool (or hot!) surround-sound. “This is one of the most exciting, entertaining and musically interesting jazz ensembles to come along in many years – the musicianship, the repertoire and the energy are all of the highest level!” Nick Deutsch – Mohawk College, Faculty of Music.  www.jazzconnection.ca   Listen: http://epresskitz.com/index.php?u=2691

Dean Hollin Sings Nat King Cole! Friday, October 25. Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20 / $15 students/seniors/un(der)waged. Dean Hollin presents another of his sparkling “Musical Biographies”. Jacqueline Sadler joins him on bass with Peter Aylin, and David Chown. We love these biographies of beloved songwriters of the past!  And for this performance he celebrates the music of Nat King Cole. We’ll chat…we’ll sing…a casual, musical and informative evening to be had by all! Born and raised in Hamilton, Dean began his theatrical career during his high school years. Throughout his professional career, Dean has created productions, largely based around the music he loves including the Music of Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Burt Bacharach and now Nat, through his production company – My Eye Productions.  Dean’s concerts are extremely popular.  Reserve your tickets early! “Hollin’s warm, smoky voice and his exquisite charm and enthusiasm radiate affection for his material and his audience.” Gary Smith, Spectator.  http://www.deanhollin.com