The Pearl Company

Justin Rutledge + New Country Rehab – Thursday, May 12. 8:00pm: (Series price: includes Jenn Grant + Jim Bryson – June 17:  2 shows for $30). OR: $18 adv/$22 door individual shows. Rutledge’s powerful new album, ‘The Early Widows’, includes songs co-written with literary giant Michael Ondaatje http://justinrutledge.com New Country Rehab: The band’s unique Outlaw/Indie/Country sound channels Hank Williams Sr. as much as Arcade Fire to create exciting new music. Their debut, self-titled album highlights the group’s original compositions and deep musical palette. www.newcountryrehab.com (more…)

Royal Wood: Wednesday, May 11, 8:00pm $15 advance. $18 door. Singer-songwriter Royal Wood has spent years perfecting his craft of balladry and pop music. His new album is “The Waiting” and with each new release Royal Wood delivers another collection of heartrending and honest tales of love, loss and life more impressive than the last. It seems Wood has found his voice and these songs are his “most personal and introspective to date.” confirming his position amongst the cream of Canada’s songwriting crop. The thoroughly contemporary multi-instrumentalist has a gift for layered, prismatic arrangements. http://www.royalwood.ca (more…)

Fish & Bird with Earth, Wind & Choir: Tuesday, May 10. 8:00. $10 at the door. Fish & Bird are a five-piece indie-folk powerhouse. They do vocal improv, they rock out in 11/8; sometimes it seems like they’re playing bluegrass, and sometimes they might make you cry. Their new album ‘Every Whisper is a Shout across the Void” has all the band’s influences and musical ideas woven tight into a cohesive sound.  Every Whisper explores the relationship between reality and perception exploring the fragility of human interactions, and the fictions we all weave about our own worlds whether we acknowledge them or not. www.fishandbird.ca Earth, Wind & Choir are a newly-formed Hamilton group who love to play with sound. The choir includes Sarah Good,  Melinda Richter and more…

Cinema Insieme Presents: La Febbre (2005): Monday May 9 at 7pm. $10 at the door. Mario is a young geometer of Cremona, a splendid medieval city to the south of Milano, taking courses at the faculty of Architecture, He spends his days performing jobs for a famous architect and he is also in business with 3 friends turning a mechanic shop into a pub. The discovery that he has won a contest for a municipal employee thanks to an application sent by his father four years before and the consequent possibilities of fixed employment will transform his existence. Splendidly shot by Alessandro D’Alatri, played with a lot of passion by a great Fabio Volo, the movie represents an interesting fresco of the contemporary Italian society. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452778/

Charly Chiarelli Returns with the Sunnamabeeches on Sunday, May 8 at 8:00. $10 (Again $20 for any two performances/ $30 for the 3. See below) One performance only for both these unique “Charly” events. Charly’s close friends Venesio (aka Dennis) De Salvo, Ron Weihs and Gary Santucci will join him as a musical ensemble. They will play everything from Frank Sinatra croon tunes to down and dirty Sicilian blues.  You can also expect some far-out stories about ‘mothers’.  (Charly says, ’You know who you are!’) Perfect for Mothers Day….

Melwood Cutlery with Jenny Whiteley: Saturday, May 7. Doors open 8:30, Concert at 9:00pm. $15. On the Road Again: Rare opportunity to see one of Canada’s best live at The Pearl Company! Singer songwriter, Melwood Cutlery is kicking up the dust again, performing songs from his award winning album, CAMPFIRE, and previewing tunes from his upcoming release, LIVE AT THE BLACK SHEEP INN. Melwood will be joined by superb instrumentalists Fred Guignion (Howe Gelb) and Dan Whiteley (Amy Millan). Guinon and Dan Whiteley add energy and virtuosity to this trio’s performances.  Unified by Melwood Cutlery’s gorgeous and intelligent songs, emotive and expert vocals, guitar, harmonica, and piano, audiences can expect a riveting three piece volley of sound and substance. “The hippest songwriter around.” David Francey. “A musical monster.” Joey Wright  www.melwoodcutlery.com

Special guest appearances by renowned singer songwriter, Jenny Whiteley at select shows and we are one of them!  Winner of a Juno roots album award, Whiteley’s integrity and commitment emanate from every syllable she sings as she shares her tales of life on the road less traveled. www.jennywhiteley.com

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!

• May 6: We will visit Gallery on the Bay first, then Anastasia Gallery, Sunrise Gallery out on the Beach Strip, the new Image Gallery 205 on Cannon and the always surprising Gallery 435.
• May 13: Off first to Ottawa Street where we visit Earls Court Gallery, Under the Moon, and Allsorts Gallery . Then to the James North Art Crawl with its blocks and blocks of artists studios and galleries.  We’ll finish the tour at Hamilton’s original Studio Gallery with the long-standing and talented Tiger Group

•    Starting at 6:30 from ‘The Pearl Company’, 16 Steven Street and King William.
•    Please reserve a spot via email or phone, and purchase your trip ($15.00 / $10 students/artists) when you arrive.
•    We finish up at The Pearl for an après-tour wind-down which includes a tour of the building or whatever event is happening on the theatre floor

Kate Reid and evalyn parry: Friday, May 6. 8:00pm. $15 / $10 artists/students. Are teaming up and hitting the road together to wow audiences with their dynamic and innovative approach to writing. With a penchant for penning quick-witted and entertaining pieces from song to spoken word, Parry and Reid are a pair not to be missed.
evalyn parry, an award-winning songwriter, poet and ironic social commentator, is gifted with a sharp pen, a quirky musical sensibility and a wicked sense of humour. Parry shoots from the hip and aims for the heart. “Fierce, funny, poignant and provocative.” www.evalynparry.com
Kate Reid is one of Canada’s funniest, sharpest new talents – a whipsmart wordsmith with a stage presence cited for her originality, topical songwriting and laugh-aloud humour. Her socio-political musings about identity, love and queer life are matched with an irreverent, often self-deprecating sense of humour Season these songs with one of Kate’s warm, disarming laughs and you’ll understand why listeners of all persuasions have taken such a shine to her. “One woman. One guitar. Lots of attitude”. “Edgy, fun and brilliant” www.katereid.net

Roxanne Potvin: Wednesday May 4: 8:00 pm $15 / $10 students/artists: With her new album “Play” Roxanne Potvin has achieved something that few artists ever succeed in doing – she’s expanded her style and grown as an artist while still keeping the grit and authenticity that is so appealing about her music.

Her past three albums have been wailing the blues with luminaries such as Colin Linden, John Hiatt and Bruce Cockburn.  Steve Dawson who runs the Black Hen label out of Vancouver (and just wowed an audience at The Pearl) encouraged her in her decision to shift direction and helped her keep the songs on “Play” ambitious, while never losing the loose limbed joyful feeling that inspired them.  On the funky keyboard driven “Pretty Girls”, Potvin snarls her way through one of the most biting songs ever written about our culture’s fascination with beauty.  Clearly Roxanne can rock with the best of them when she wants to….  www.roxannepotvin.com

Gerardo Mansang:  “44 Moons” Art Opening May 1, 4:00pm. No charge.  This Colombian artist understands colour, warmth, and symbolism. Very large to small canvases, all in brilliant acrylics.

Latin Film Night; 7:00pm. $10 at the door. Presentation of the Mexican movie,  “Amores Perros” and a musical performance of the Cuban group called “ de Suerte”.  The movie, “Amores Perros”, tells three separate stories interconnected by one tragic event, a fatal car accident. In one, a young man falls in love with his brother’s pregnant wife, while in another a vagrant finds work as a hitman.  Lastly, a perfume saleswoman conducts an affair with a married man in this complex, controversial film which rewards multiple viewings.

The Ali Bros featuring Brownman and Marcus Ali: Friday, April 29: 8:00pm. $15 at the door. Embodying 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.  http://alibros.brownman.com

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 around. They have appeared side by side in countless horn sections in the Canadian professional music scene …. (more…)

Prom at The Pearl: A Fundraiser for Colin Macdonald Community School: Saturday, April 30 at 8:00pm. Pricing: $30 single / $50 couple / $80 for four.  Music by Voodoo Chicken with DJ Andrea Redhill.  Come out, support this unique, friendly, child-centred school, and enjoy a fun evening with lots of entertainment, dancing, and great conversation. 50/50 draw; silent auction; finger foods and appetizers; prom photo booth.  It would be great if you can still wear your prom dress but if you can’t, (for whatever reason) do dress for a fab evening out!  www.colinmacdonald.ca

SIX SHOOTER CONCERT SERIES IN HAMILTON @ the Pearl Company

Christine Fellows + Shotgun Jimmie: Wednesday, April 27
Justin Rutledge + New Country Rehab: Thursday, May 12
Jenn Grant + Jim Bryson: Friday, June 17

Series price: Individual Shows: $18 advance/ $25 at door OR 3 shows for $50 + a free CD from participating artist of your choice. Tickets are available at www.sixshooterrecords.com.  Or you can call The Pearl, we have tickets.

Christine Fellows / Shotgun Jimmie: Wednesday, April 27 8:00. See pricing above. Christine Fellows’ skewed perspective on the possibilities of the three-minute pop song has charmed critics and audiences alike since the release of her debut CD “2 little birds” (2000). Backed by an ever-changing array of instruments – cello, viola, piano, guitar and drums – her songs are alternately tender and terrifying. Described by some as avant-folk, by others as chamber-pop, her music is distinctive. http://www.christinefellows.com/
Shotgun Jimmie: Jimmie Kilpatrick is a previous member and founder of the defunct but legendary Canadian band Shotgun & Jaybird. Shotgun Jimmie is a one-man band that includes both the talent of a vocalist and a songwriter. He successfully launched his first solo album last year. http://shotgunjimmie.net/

Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers: Wednesday, April 20, 8:00 pm $15 / $10 students/artists:  Indie / Jazz / Pop: Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers are a sextet of classically trained musicians that have crafted their own musical niche of operatic indie jazz. Complex song writing and “Winnipeg’s strongest horn section” (The Manitoban) give Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers a stylistic diversity that appeals to indie popsters, big-band lovers and folksters alike. Their diverse repertoire ranges from sing-along pop songs to adventurous theatrical compositions. “This outfit effortlessly blends jazz, pop, rock and folk to create a bombastic sound that has no shortage of swagger.” (Uptown)

“[Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers] takes hundreds of years of musical history from diverse genres and presents it in a way that packs dance floors and makes any musician in the audience run back to their teacher in tears.” (The Uniter) http://www.headinthesand.ca/flyingfoxandthehuntergatherers/