The Pearl Company

Oh My Darling: Friday, September 30. $15 door, $10 Students/Artists (Includes all arts and music!) 8:00pm. With a sweet name and even sweeter sound, Oh My Darling conjures up the right mix of emotion and elation with their unique brand of country. Their prairie roots mixed with bluegrass, Appalachian old time, southern twang, and Franco-folk, makes their style a melting pot of musical languages. Infused with dynamic vocals, brilliant claw-hammer banjo, inspired fiddling, and grooving bass, their music will get your hips swinging, toes tapping, and put your heart right into their hands. Each time Oh My Darling takes the stage, they prove time and again why they’re captivating audiences and attracting an abundance of fans, because boy, can these girls can play! Individually, they are known as some of the hottest players on the Canadian roots scene, but there is strength in numbers, and combined, the foursome is strong as steel.
The songs of Sweet Nostalgia, their second full length release, are strikingly original, while evoking the lexicon of their diverse musical influences. The band has toured ceaselessly, headlining sold out shows across Europe and Canada, becoming crowd favourites at country and folk festivals, and winning the hearts of all who come to experience their energetic live show. It’s this love for live performance that Oh My Darling strove to capture while recording Sweet Nostalgia. with the Juno Award winning producer Steve Dawson. The result is a raw and honest sound that has the exuberance of a live show, and shines a spotlight on each of these girls’ extraordinary talents as musicians and songwriters.” www.ohmydarling.ca

The Jazz Connection Big Band: Thursday, September 29. Doors at 7:30, jazz at 8:00 $15 at the door: They’re back and are gaining bigger audiences every time they play here! Made up of talented musicians from all over southwestern Ontario, the Jazz Connection Big Band is a 20-piece band dedicated to playing great, straight-ahead big band jazz.  They will carry us once again into the cool space of surround sound big band music! http://www.jazzconnection.ca This time they are bringing  renowned jazz pianist Paul Hoffert! Paul has the soul of an artist and the mind of a scientist. By the time he was twenty-six, Mr. Hoffert was an established jazz recording artist, television performer, off-Broadway musical author, film composer, and had studied mathematics and physics at the University of Toronto. He co-founded Lighthouse, a rock band with horns and strings that sold millions of records, and toured the world. He was inducted into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Hoffert has parallel achievements in science and technology; he writes best-selling books: he has received the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour and he is a Fine Arts Professor at York University.   “Paul Hoffert is the ideal visionary for the Digital Age” www.paulhoffert.ca

Kayla Luky: Wednesday, September 21: 8:00. $15 door. $10 artists/students This singer-songwriter from Grandview, Manitoba tells small town stories, chock-full of well-crafted down-home tunes.  If you’re hankering for some home cooking, Kayla Luky’s “The Time it Takes” will satisfy your hometown appetite.  Luky has surpassed the spare, straightforward sound of her previous folk-pop projects and created a bona fide alt-country album. The players inject an audible intensity into already strong songs. Take the title track, which starts with Luky’s heavyhearted harmonica, enough to put you into a melancholy mood, but when the banjo enters the mix, you get a good hard yank at the heartstrings. The bluesy electric guitar is the perfect companion to Luky’s localized lyrics, which concern such community issues as pogey, puck bunnies and coffeeshop complainers.

Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers: Saturday, September 17: 9:00.$15 door. $10 artists/students. Rugged, raspy, and roaring with charisma, former Hamiltonian, now Halifax’s Ben Caplan delivers it all from poetic ballads to frenetic gypsy anthems. There is a depth and musicianship to the songs. Expressive percussion, upright bass, violin, sax, clarinet, flute, and terrific use of call and response sing-along choruses all help Caplan & The Casual Smokers stand out from the masses.
In pace with gypsy-inspired strings, amid the sultry tones of clarinet and saxophone, Caplan has marked his place in the Canadian music landscape with a growling spirit similar to that of Tom Waits. His tours have extended throughout the Commonwealth, the energy of his live show an elegant cacophony gaining attention around the world. Breaking between guitar, banjo, piano, and melodica, Caplan’s stage show is reminiscent of a burly and bearded Freddy Mercury; a raging, strong, and exploratory songwriter, it’s the blues in his soul, pounding with the heart in your chest that makes Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers an unmissable act. www.bencaplan.ca
This Just In!  Zachary Lucky will be joining Ben. “Lucky’s music is a fresh take on traditional folk; a melodic and usually acoustic affair, with an accent on storytelling and a sparse, folky atmosphere. This all combines to create an often minimal soundscape that evokes homespun imagery and the realism of emotion….” – Craig Silliphant
“Lucky’s music is as mature as his attitude — an easy on the ear, soft-spoken affair with a lyrical emphasis on storytelling, offered up through an understated vocal delivery that meshes well with his softly acoustic playing style.” – Planet S Magazine http://www.myspace.com/zacharylucky

Charly Chiarelli and the Sunnamabeaches: Friday, September 16: 8:00.$15 door. $10 artists/students. Charly comes to The Pearl with his close friends Venesio – aka Dennis – De Salvo (a manager at Hamilton’s Canadian Mental Health Association, on guitar) Ron Weihs (co-proprietor of Artword Artbar, on fiddle) and Gary Santucci (Pearl Company, on very classy guitar).  Charly has become internationally recognized as one of the world’s most accomplished storytellers – widely known for his two earlier one-person plays, Cu’Fu and Mangiacake, and now the new hit Sunamabeach, to complete the trilogy. Charly is also a songwriter and virtuoso harmonica player, so, it is no wonder that this collection of four notorious Hamiltonians went on to form a band called the Sunamabeaches! Charly takes on the role of lead singer, harmonica player and at times will tell a story or two… However, any one of the other musician’s may step up to the plate with a story. But make no mistake about it, the focus is on music. And the Sunamabeaches will regale you with unique interpretations of jazz, blues, rock and Sicilian folk tunes – including Charly’s original tunes from his plays (and beyond). Just in case you do not know this, Charly has been inducted into the McMaster University Alumni Hall of Fame, along with inductee notables like Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Eugene Levy!  There you have it, Hamilton’s own SUNAMABEACHES, a must see!

TIM HUS with his Travelin’ Band: Wednesday, September 14. $15 door. $10 artists/students. This is the hardest-working traveling band in western Canada. Rough, rowdy and a whole lot of fun. Endorsed by Ian Tyson, Stompin’ Tom and Corb Lund as “the real thing”, Tim has written some of Ian and Corb’s hits and is also with the legendary Stony Plains Records. Hus and his tougher-than-nails road band are on a cross-Canada tour — on his last two tours Tim and the band were Stompin’ Tom Connors’ backup group and opening artists. Fans can expect some Stompin’ Tom yarns, some seasoned old jokes, and a lot of hard-driving music. Tim’s latest Stony Plain album, Hockeytown, is as hard-edged a piece of Canadiana as you’ll ever find. It includes songs about the Red River flood in Winnipeg, Hank Snow, Saskatoon, the death of country music, fishing in the North Atlantic, Hamilton’s steel industry, and — of course — hockey. www.timhus.ca

Kaleidoscope Brown: featuring ALI BROTHERS with Brownman Ali: With electric trumpet: Marcus Ali – alto sax & EWI: Colin Kingsmore – drums: Ben Miller – 6-string electric bass. Saturday, September 10. $15 door. $10 artists/students.  The Ali Bros embody the essence of jazz improvisational ideology erupting against a backdrop of powerful urban grooves.  Funk, hip-hop, drum’n’bass, R’n’B all colliding with modern jazz textures. Conceived in the spirit of multi grammy winning outfit  “The Brecker Bros”, the ALI BROS embody the essence of jazz improvisational ideology erupting against a backdrop of powerful urban grooves. Latin, funk, hip-hop, drum’n’bass, R’n’B all colliding with modern jazz textures. Their uncanny musical relationship enhanced by blood, Brownman and Marcus Ali together form an incredibly synergistic, almost telepathic bond making them two of the most called upon horn men in the city. They have appeared side by side in countless horn sections in the Canadian professional music scene most notably as the backbone to the multi-award winning latin-jazz ensemble CRUZAO, Juno nominated reggae artist JASON WILSON, with reggathon superstar FITO BLANKO, modern house outfit FUNKY HI-LIFE, african masters RADIO NOMAD, urban songstress SHYANN, pop-rock sensation CROSSBAC, merengue specialists DOMINICANADA, Salsa powerhouse MARRON MATIZADO, Trinidadian Calypso group BACCHANAL ALL-STARS and far too many more to list here…” http://alibros.brownman.com

Read Toronto International Film festival review:

http://brownman.com/Interviews/2005-08-FilmFest/Mythology.html

An Evening with Sheila Gostick: Friday September 9, 8:00pm. $15 door. $10 artists/students. Sheila is the ultimate outsider artist; a legendary rebel comedian and song tosser. Direct from a G20 lockdown…. Banned in Toronto…. The word unique was made for this woman, the brilliant comic monologist that she is. Her delivery is a mix of fun and danger; `I’m not here to comfort, I’m here to afflict the comfortable’ she says.  “Traditional stand-up comics often relieve tension about social issues. Gostick’s mission is to crank it up, to be serious without being solemn, and to make people laugh a split second before they realize how subversive her stuff really is.” Robert Everett Green, Globe and Mail.  This woman is so subversive she does not have a website, email address or voicemail.  Sheila, can I come live with you?

Poor Angus: Thursday, September 8. 8:00pm. $15 door. $10 artists/students.  A Hamilton-based Celtic ensemble mixing the music of past and present with dynamic arrangements of traditional and original Scottish, Irish and East Coast pieces. They’ve shared the stage with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards, and The Proclaimers, Featuring Ross Griffiths’ masterful highland and uilleann piping and tin whistles, the virtuoso fiddling of Andrew Bryan, the warm voice and fingerstyle guitar of folk music veteran Scott Cameron Smith, the bodhran, guitar and mandolin of Brian LeBlanc, with bass and keyboard player DJ Moons.  Poor Angus is noted especially for their foot stomping vocal harmony. Their first album in 2007, won the Hamilton Music Award for Folk/Traditional Album of the Year; Their second album, “Prime Cuts”, also won the 2009 HMA for Folk/Traditional album of the Year! Greg Quill of the Toronto Star noted: ”Deftly executed instrumental ballads, jigs and reels….Cameron Smith’s “How Many Are The Days” and “Colleen” provide ample opportunity for this gifted writer and singer to prove his worth.” www.poorangus.com

Canadian Theatre Festival: Finish a great summer with some fantastic Canadian theatre!  Led by Dora Award-winning Keystone Theatre from Toronto, the Pearl is thrilled to host their first Canadian Theatre Festival. Aug 18-27.  With ticket prices as low as $15 and with both matinee and evening performances, our Festival fits everyone’s budget and schedule. Single show: $15. Series tickets: $36. Click on the Festival tab above for the daily schedule.

Read Gary Smith’s Review: A pearl of a festival for Canadian Theatre

Shows & Performers:
Keystone Theatre (Toronto) – The Last Man on Earth, by Phil Rickaby, Dana Fradkin, Stephen LaFrenie, Janick Hebert, Ginette Mohr, Richard Beaune, David Atkinson & Kimberly Beaune
Kate Story (Peterborough) – Performances May Be Permanent by Kate Story
Peter Gruner (Oakville) – Cast Away by Peter Gruner
Reaching Symmetry Theatre (Hamilton) – The Dreadful Wedlock of Mr. Lovecraft by Stephen Near
Art is (Ancaster) – Ties by Kevin Land
For more show details click here.
To reserve tickets email info@thepearlcompany.ca or call 905-524-0606

Kaleidoscope Brown Jazz Series LAUNCH featuring BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO (National Jazz Award winners for “Electric Jazz Group of the Year”) Sunday, August 21. 8:00. $15 at the door.

When Paul Simon (of Graceland, Simon and Garfunkel…) called and spirited Brownman off before his scheduled appearance in July, we graciously agreed to let him go on tour with this god of rock and folk IF he agreed to return as the cornerstone of a series featuring several of his own astonishing bands (and groups he’s featured in) to do a series of monthly Saturday concerts at The Pearl that will extend into the new year… starting on an August Sunday. We are calling it the Kaleidoscope Brown Jazz Series! “Kaleidoscope” because of the startling diversity this artist always displays as evidenced by the breadth of music making he’s always a part of.

The first in the series will be the award-winning and internationally acclaimed BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO, which JazzOnline.com writes: “Brownman’s eclecticly powerful electrified trio captures the essence of the later years in Miles Davis’ life, his electric period, without imitation. Brownman’s ELECTRYC TRIO is uniquely his own, yet echoes with the sounds of ‘Bitches Brew’ and ‘In a Silent Way’ right down to Miles’ use of electronics while still managing to stay grounded in the sounds of today. Clearly paying apt tribute to Brownman’s NYC mentor Randy Brecker, they are a truly impressive and energized modern jazz outfit.”

Whole Note Magazine writes: “… captures the essence of the later years of Miles Davis’ life, his electric period. “Brownman Electryc Trio is lively, entertaining and hip … seriously funky, muscular, quick & completely thrilling…”

BROWNMAN ELECTRYC TRIO features:
:: Brownman Ali – electric trumpet
:: Ben Miller – 6-string electric bass (subbing for Tyler Emond)
:: Colin Kingsmore – drums

http://ElectrycTrio.brownman.com for more on the Brownman Electryc Trio.
http://Brownman.com for more on Brownman himself.

See a recent article on B.E.T. by jazz blogger Conrad Gayle: http://torontotown.blogspot.com/2011/06/night-at-trane-studio-with-brownman_18.html

The Kruger Brothers: Sunday August 14: 8:00pm. $25 advance/$30 door : Wow. The world-renowned Krugers are coming to The Pearl! Some call it jazz. Some call it classical. Some call it bluegrass. Certainly, the music of the Kruger Brothers is all of that and more. In an ever expanding body of work, Jens Kruger (banjo, vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar, lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg (bass, vocals) personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. The quality of their writing, and their remarkable facility with their instruments, have made the Kruger Brothers a fixture within the world of acoustic music. From Traditional to New the Kruger Brothers’ powerful artistic statement inspires and enlightens; their song writing is distinguished by rich detail, honesty, and a unique insight into the beauty and complexity of everyday life. The result is unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh. www.krugerbrothers.com This concert will sell out.  Order your tickets soon!

Scott Nolan with special guest Chris Carmichael: Thursday August 11, 8 p.m: $15 door. $10 students/artists: Armed with a guitar and harmonica, and joined by drummer/singer Joanna Miller, Winnipeg’s Scott Nolan will give Hamilton music fans a real treat when he plays his infectious form of country, rock ‘n blues.  Showcasing his tunes about life on the road, good friends, “bad livers” and broken hearts, his speak-easy form of songwriting has earned Nolan two Western Canadian Music Awards nominations (Best Songwriter and Best Roots Album), and an honourable mention at the 2011 International Songwriting Competition (ISC).
Fellow Winnipegger and well-known alt-rocker Chris Carmichael will open the show which Nolan says is never formulaic or predictable. “Every night there’s a real freewheeling aspect. I don’t go by a set list, so every evening is pretty unique.”  www.scottnolan.ca (more…)

Casual Classics at the Pearl: August 6 / August 12. 8 p.m.  $20 (adults) and $15 (seniors/students). August 6 – piano soloist Matthew Li,  August 12 – piano soloist Rudin Lengo.
This summer marks the first season of the Casual Classics concerts at The Pearl Company. Classical pianists Matthew Li and Rudin Lengo will be taking the stage for a casual night of classical music on a grand piano provided by Merriam pianos of Oakville for the occasion.
Pianist Matthew Li has performed across Canada as well as in United States, Austria, China, and Hong Kong and is currently enrolled on scholarship in the Artist Diploma Program at The Glenn Gould School under the aegis of Marietta Orlov. He made his concerto debut in China with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra; he has played at various summer music festivals, including the Mozarteum Sommerakademie in Salzburg, Austria, and the Toronto Summer Music Festival. http://matthewlipiano.com
The rising concert pianist and chamber musician Rudin Lengo takes the stage on the 12th with that same grand piano from Merriam Pianos of Oakville. He began his piano studies at the age of seven at “Servete Maçi” School of Music in Tiranë, Albania and is the Winner of numerous piano awards including UWO London Music Scholarship Foundation, as well as the Grand Prize at the Rotary Music Festival in Burlington. www.rudinlengo.com See “read the rest…” for the Recital Programs: (more…)

Rosie Burgess Trio: Friday August 5. 8:00pm.  $15 at the door, $10 artist/student: This Australian group crosses borders armed with music, love, and a wicked sense of humor.
The Rosie Burgess Trio are a Melbourne based band, one of the many Australian groups crossing the Pacific to bring their brand of musical magic to North American audiences. The music is a blend of blues/ folk and gypsy styles, but it is their remarkable passion, love for their craft and incredible sense of humor that have ignited audiences from Wagga Wagga to Tacoma, from Adelaide to Philadelphia, from Alice Springs to Kansas City and Umundi to Ontario.
Quirky, lovable songs with grooving rhythms, infectious vocals and an electric violin that will have audiences erupting with delight. “When you have heard Rosie perform, you’re sure to be tongue-tied trying to tell people how good she is…” says Dave Ritter, organizer of the Bruthen Festival of Blues and Arts. www.rosieburgess.com