The Pearl Company

KEVIN DEMPSEY TRIO: Friday June 2. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $20 / $15 students/seniors/wage-challenged. Sensational drummer Kevin Dempsey has been a leading figure on the Toronto jazz scene for the past 25 years. He has also toured internationally. He is a founding member of the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra, and frequently performed with Peter Appleyard’s quintet and big band.  Kevin Dempsey Trio features jazz masters John Sherwood (piano) and Mark Godfrey on bass, in the up-close-and-personal ambience of The Pearl Company. Trombonist/bandleader Dave McMurdo calls him “an explosive musical force; an exquisite purveyor of colour and groove; a beautifully rounded player”. He is a member of the Music Faculties of both McMaster University and Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

An Evening with Garnet Rogers & Peter Paul Van Camp:  Saturday, May 20, 8:00pm. General Admission $20: Garnet Rogers: “A brilliant songwriter. One of the major talents of our time.” — The Boston Globe  “The greatest interpreter and vocalist performing in the contemporary folk scene.” — Sing Out.  Since His brother, Stan’s death, the resolutely independent Garnet has established himself as a formidable solo artist.  He sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of small every-day victories; his over-the-top humor and lightning-quick wit move his audiences from tears to laughter and back again. He is delighted to bring PETER PAUL VAN CAMP: Gentleman Rhymester. He’ll Steal your Heart, but Return it Cleaned and Pressed…..” The Rhymester writes: “From Coffee Houses to Folk Festivals, adopting the slogan ‘Appearing Wherever Poetry is Welcome – And Elsewhere’, I have trod some of the show world’s stonier pathways. That’s why, when called upon, it pleases me no little to tighten my collar, straighten my shoulders and expound anew my Aunt Katie’s fervent pledge: ‘I’ll be there with lard in my hair, and my ears pinned back!’” (See for yourself if I’m not…)  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Garnet-Rogers/24500364751  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHyTxGwAdnk   https://www.facebook.com/peterpaul.vancamp   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibrmnMDh1nk

Big Johnny Blue & Special Guest Jerry Johnson; Thom Adkins Opens: Friday, May 19. 8:00pm, $20 / $15 students/seniors/wage-challenged…. Like the blues? You’ll love them Big Johnny Blue style. Big Johnny’s a Hamilton guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and founding member of The Hamilton Blues Society. He is committed to supporting local music and musicians, especially by supporting efforts to tell Hamilton’s blues history, and the power of music to improve the life of every man.
Special Guest, guitar genius Jerry Johnson joins Johnny and Strange Cargo in the telling acoustics at The Pearl….  Thom Adkins: Big Johnny tells me you have to hear this young man to believe him…  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE8p_zRZeIs&index=1&list=PLB3320D903F7A1FCE https://www.facebook.com/bigjohnnyblueandstrangecargo/

CRYBABY! Saturday, May 13. 8:00pm. $20 /$15 students/ seniors/ un(der)waged. CRYBABY is doing a show! Lead singer (and songwriter) Rae Billing has forced them back into the limelight! Rae’s voice and lyrics have been described as a touchstone that is rare on the Canadian landscape; her voice as “honest and pure, assured and desperate at the same time”; her lyrics and music as “full of wide open spaces and bittersweet emotions…handled with gutsy femininity.” The equally important rest of the band: Andrew Aldridge, Steve Koch, Greg Briscoe, James Henry, and Lucky Pete Lambert. “There is a depth to her songs few contemporaries have yet to hone.” Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide.  Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkI7OvCupvs   www.raebilling.com

LIBERTY SILVER & EDDIE BULLEN: Live at the Pearl Company: Friday, May 12. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $20. You’re invited to one of the best live club shows you’ll ever see! Multiple award-winning recording artist Liberty Silver will be joined by Eddie Bullen for an evening of classic soul, blues and jazz presented and hosted by Canadian music media icon, Michael Williams.
Winner of 3 Juno Awards and a Grammy Award for her musical collaborations, Liberty Silver possesses an astounding 6.5 octave vocal range. She has performed thousands of shows, sung at numerous Jazz Festivals, and performed for or with such prominent figures as Barack Obama, Celine Dion, Oscar Peterson, and Gladys Knight.
Pianist, composer, arranger, and producer for TV, radio, and film, Eddie Bullen has worked with Melba Moore, Deborah Cox and Dee Dee Bridgewater.  As a composer and arranger, his work can be heard on Citytv, YTV, and Love and Hip Hop (TV series). Eddie has produced over 150 albums and is currently working on several new ventures.
Event producer and host for the evening, Michael Williams is a dynamic, talented producer and host of talk radio and music-related radio and television programs. Probably best known as one of the founding VeeJays of MuchMusic and the host of its popular Soul in the City series Michael currently presents live weekly music events throughout Southern Ontario, and produces emerging Canadian recording artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JeBSgmCvY   https://www.facebook.com/libertysilvermusic/    www.eddiebullen.com

Kristen Bertin: Start With My Heart Album Release: Saturday, May 6. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $20/ $30 for couples. Children are free. Singer Songwriter and Country Roots artist Kristen Bertin invites you to join her for an intimate evening of stories and songs that have led to her debut album recorded at the world famous Grant Avenue Studio. Cost of admisson will include a copy of the album; proceeds that evening will go toward Rhielle Buchner’s medical fund.   https://www.facebook.com/Kristenbertin27/

Ron Palangio: Back Burner CD Release! Thursday May 4, Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $20. Ron Palangio was born and raised in North Bay. He moved to Hamilton to study Jazz and Classical Guitar at Mohawk College’s Applied Music Program and worked with professional theatre productions, big bands, dance, pop, rock and country groups.  He has played with the late Bobby Washington, big band leader Harry Waller and singers Al Martino and Clint Holmes. After receiving his teaching degree, his career as a secondary school music teacher included conducting Concert and Jazz ensembles and founding the Golden Horseshoe Musicfest in 2005. Ron finished his teaching career as Head of Arts at Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School. He continues to perform regularly in clubs and private engagements and plans to focus his talents on composition and recording. Back Burner is his first solo jazz CD. Featuring Jordan Abraham-Keyboard, Steve Pelletier-Bass, Roberto Santos-Drums, Sal Rosselli-Tenor Sax and Amy King-Percussion. Opening Act featuring Hamilton Singer Songwriter Shealagh Rose.

Spanjazz: A World Beat Jazz Project: Friday, April 28. 8:00pm. $20.  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, Jeff Plumbley – trumpet, Aidan Sibley – trombone, James Gannett – bass, Tom Bigas – drums and Gary Santucci – guitar. All musicians in this newly-formed group are respected performers in their own fields; their different styles and approaches helps create the unique sound and experience that is Spanjazz. Gary has arranged 14 new charts from the catalogue of his original world beat group, Zarabanda (Tom and Jordan were original members).

Jonathan Byrd & The Pickup Cowboy: Friday, April 21, Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. Tickets $20.  Jonathan Byrd, duo Roots/Americana songwriter, is “one of the top 50 songwriters of the last 50 years,” says Rich Warren in the Chicago Tribune. Scott Alarik, Boston Globe, says, “This rootsy North Carolinian may be the most buzzed-about new songwriter in folkdom. He displays John Prine’s gift for stark little songs that tell big, complex stories, Guy Clark’s lean melodicism, Lyle Lovett’s wry mischief, and Bill Morrissey’s knack for the revealing image.”  Byrd grew up singing in the Southern Baptist church, where his father preached and his mother played piano. He started as a rock musician but it was at an old-time fiddle festival in the mountains of southwest Virginia that he began to assimilate the sounds of southern traditional music. Byrd writes new songs in the ancient style. The Pearl Company is delighted to welcome him back! Listen: Working Offshore https://youtu.be/3rLskCGrYJ0  http://www.jonathanbyrd.com

Carlos del Junco with Jimmy Bowskill: Saturday April 22, at 8pm Tickets: $25. Carlos del Junco is a harmonica virtuoso. Simultaneously sophisticated and raw, del Junco’s taken the 10-hole diatonic harmonica to another realm. He approaches the harmonica like a horn, setting him utterly apart from fellow mouth organists such as Neil Young or Bob Dylan….
Del Junco visits The Pearl every April and this time he brings Jimmy Bowskill.  We get a dose of roots, country and pop infused blues from two masters of their craft who have recently released their new CD “BLUES ETC.” together. Bowskill, of course, began performing at a ridiculously young age.  Creating a sound all his own, he first played on stage at the age of eleven (!) at Jeff Healey’s club in Toronto. The next year he recorded his first album, Old Soul. Bowskill’s second album, Soap Bars and Dog Ears, was nominated for a Juno Award when he was fourteen years of age. http://www.carlosdeljunco.com   https://www.facebook.com/pg/JimmyBowskill Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9PP3Fv4aBs

Tamar Ilana & Ventanas: Saturday, April 15. 7.30 doors, 8:00 start. Tickets $20 each. Ventanas formed in 2011 after the stunning vocalist and dancer, Tamar Ilana returned to Toronto following one of several sojourns to Spain to study flamenco song, cante and dance, baile and teamed up with violinist Mark Marczyk of the Lemon Bucket Orkestra. They began exchanging flamenco, Sephardic and Balkan tunes and in no time had put together a repertoire and formed a stellar trans-Mediterranean ensemble that included flamenco guitarist, Dennis Duffin, Middle Eastern percussionist, Jaash Singh, and Greek oud player Demetrios Petsalakis – an eclectic group of well known musicians on the Toronto music scene.  While Ilana’s remarkable voice and intricate flamenco footwork is the heart of Ventanas, together they weave Sephardic love songs from North Africa and the old Ottoman lands, quirky Bulgarian dance tunes, captivating pieces in Greek and Turkish, original songs and deep flamenco. Ilana dances and alternates with her compelling vocals.  Ventanas’ virtuoso musicians offer oud, violin, lyra, baglama, double bass, derbukka, cajo?n, and hand percussion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRTYdFy1Fl0   http://www.nerudaarts.ca/artists/ventanas-tamar-ilana

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Steel City Rovers: Join us to celebrate our 200th show! Friday, April 14, Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00.  Advance: $15.00 / At the door: $20.00. Hamilton’s Steel City Rovers have toured their Celtic to Celtibilly musical styling’s across Nebraska to Colorado, been regulars on Festival stages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan and crossed back and forth across Ontario close to a dozen times. The group has worldwide play of their numerous releases on Celtic and Roots music programming, worked for the entertainment conglomerate, Live Nation and been nominated 3 times in various categories at the Hamilton Music Awards. “Creative, fresh, engaging, and energetic” are descriptors used over and over by those who have attended shows ,and follow the group. Join them as they celebrate their 200th show in their beloved hometown. It will be a show of some favorite past works and the launch of some brand new material!  Website : www.steelcityrovers.com   FB : https://www.facebook.com/SteelCityRovers  Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFGJlhjwHas

The Buddy Rich Project: The Jazz Connection Big Band: Saturday, April 1. Doors at 8:00, Jazz at 8:30. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. The renowned Jazz Connection Big Band is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the birth of one of the worlds greatest musicians with a special concert. In addition to performing many of his best loved pieces they will be presenting a retrospective about his life and music through rarely seen video clips, photos, recordings and narrative (including an audience Q&A). Given that Jazz Connection shows are full capacity events, this special show will undoubtedly be SRO. Reservations are very strongly advised! The JCBB is a well-established 17-piece jazz ensemble comprised of professional musicians, performing only the best modern big band charts. www.jazzconnection.ca   Listen: http://epresskitz.com/index.php?u=2691

King Lear: TONIGHT’S SHOW SOLD OUT. March 23-25 @ 8pm. Tickets $20. The 9M Theatre Company presents its inaugural production: William Shakespeare’s King Lear. The production will showcase many of Hamilton’s talented Shakespearean actors, including actor/musician Jordan Abraham in the title role.
King Lear is a man who gives away his Kingdom and, in doing so, loses himself and his mind. He is alone, fragile, caught in a storm, helpless to stop the tragic events unfolding around him. But just when he has lost everything, it seems he may have found his humanity. A play with ambitions of power, sword fighting, classic speeches, dark humour, disastrous romances, and familial love, it’s sure to have something for everyone. Whether you are a Shakespearean scholar, or looking for an exciting night of theatre and storytelling, here is King Lear!
Cast: Jordan Abraham as King Lear, Krista McNaughton as Cordelia/The Fool, Julian Nicholson as The Earl of Gloucester, Leonard A. Cain as Edmund, the Bastard, Scott Buchanan as Edgar, Sean Emberley as The Earl of Kent, Rebekah Pullen as Goneril, director Liz Buchanan as Regan, Luis Arrojo as The Duke of Albany, Gregory Cruikshank as Oswald/The Duke of Burgandy/Knight, Will Gillespie as The King of France/Doctor/others. Stage Manager/Costume Designer: Robyn Lightwalker.

Fool for Love:  March 2, 3, 4. 7.30 doors, 8:00 start. Tickets $25 each. The idiomatic voice of American playwright and actor Sam Shepard provides the electrical currents that ignite “Fool for Love,” Two former lovers meet in a run-down motel room in the Mojave Desert.  Eddie tries to convince May to rekindle their romance and move to a farm in Wyoming. May has moved on with her life but Eddie is still living in past.  The couple is caught in an emotional power struggle where the past haunts the present. Directed by Paul Groulx, The Artful Gauntlet Theatre Company. Featuring Jennifer Farrugia, Michael Sbrocchi, Rod Mctaggart, Dave Guthrie. You don’t want to miss Sam Shepard’s gritty classic about dangerous love. The play was a finalist for the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.