The Pearl Company

Shari Vandermolen & David Brideau: Saturday May 5.  Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20. Shari Vandermolen is a renowned 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.  On May 5th Shari brings her powerful and impressive vocal stylings back to the Pearl Company for a more 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… one example is Stormy Weather… I barely weathered that storm intact.”  – View Magazine
David Brideau is a Canadian jazz guitarist, composer, and teacher who has been an active musician for over 15 years. A Hamilton native, and honours graduate from the Mohawk Jazz program, David has played all around the GTA with his own group, 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. He is a recipient of the Dave McMurdo Music Bursary, the Antony Roberts Music Bursary, and the Richard Newell Memorial Scholarship.
Ticets: https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/21098/

DOORS OPEN Hamilton! Saturday & Sunday, May 3 & 4. 11 to 4pm
3^rd Annual Ladybird Spring Fair! The fine musicians and human beings who make up the Ladybird Sanctuary (Melissa McLelland, Lisa Winn, Janine Stoll) will fill the place with music, food, and fun. Come on out and enjoy. All to benefit Ladybird Animal Sanctuary and the rescued animals in their care!  The fair was great fun last year and absolutely packed with people, happenings, food, crafts, and entertainment. Bring your family to the fair and help Ladybird rescue animals in your community! Donations are: “Pay What You Wish”. www.ladybirdanimalsanctuary.com
Dave Gould will be presenting his unique and uniquely fashioned musical instruments.  Based on the fact that you can make music with just about anything, Dave lets his imagination and his musical skills run riot.  Seeing – and hearing – will be believing
Tours will be provided showing off the three floors of the exciting and distinctive building that is The Pearl Company. Comprising the Concert Hall that is considered one of the acoustically-finest rooms on the planet; the unique tiered black box theatre-in-the-round that is getting so much attention these days; the art that is hung in the three galleries; the ambiance which is so often called ‘New York’ and valued as almost impossible to find any more!  It’s here; in Hamilton.  Come visit.

Ladybird Fair Performances: 

• Saturday, at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, features the highly-touted ensemble, The DoneFors, showcasing an eclectic style they term ‘Canadiana vanguard’, which incorporates jazz, pop, rock, world and roots elements. Singer/songwriter, (and Ladybird) Janine Stoll with her expressive versatile voice, and her band pump out a brilliant sound. http://www.thedonefors.com/
• Sunday at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, local solo roots artist and singer/songwriter Mimi Shaw will entertain with The Highnote Ramblers. Deeply influenced by Canadian folk and Americana roots artists, Mimi creates a sound that evokes characteristics of both styles. Her band was voted one of CBC’s top 10 picks for Hamilton’s Supercrawl 2012. http://www.reverbnation.com/mimishaw

Gary Santucci: Original Compositions for Solo Guitar: Saturday, May 3. 8:00pm. $15 door/$10 students/arts workers.  Fans are complaining that Gary doesn’t play enough any more; he’s too busy running The Pearl…. Here’s the response; an intimate evening of guitar music: Classical guitar, World Music, Flamenco, and original compositions from Gary Santucci. Trained in Spain (and Canada) and playing his unique brand of flamenco and world music for over 30 years, he has become a consummate musician whose repertoire spans numerous genres. Among his awards is Best Classical Musician 1982 [Hamilton Wentworth Council of the Arts],  The City of Hamilton Arts Award for Music 2004, and together with Barbara Milne, The City of Hamilton Arts Award 2008 for Lifetime Achievement.  Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzKBk4LxbRU