The Pearl Company

Laura Smith with Ryan MacGrath: A NEW LEAF: October in Ontario: Saturday, October 23: 8:00. $15 advance, $20 at the door. Emerging musician, Ryan MacGrath, and Canadian songstress and icon, Laura Smith, team up to promote his debut full-length album, COOPER HATCH PARIS:  ‘The’ Laura Smith, a household name for many (especially with CBC listeners in the mid-90’s), inspired MacGrath with her captivating songwriting and haunting voice; MacGrath has also inspired his mentor- so much so, that she will be accompanying him on this important first celebration and tour of COOPER HATCH PARIS.

MacGrath and Smith take you on a journey through love and loss, performing both solo and with one another throughout the tour. They will be joined by their accompanists Mike Ritchie and Tony Quarrington.

MacGrath is receiving growing attention. Rising star singer songwriter Amelia Curran refers to MacGrath as a “young Roy Orbison. Perhaps, with more jazz flourishes, heavy-handed romanticism and dramatics akin to Parisian love stories.” www.ryanmacgrath.com www.laurasmith.ca

Jazz Connection Big Band: Friday, October 22.  Doors at 8:30, jazz at 9:00 $15 at the door: They’re back and are gaining a bigger audience 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 jazz.  The JCBB carries us once again into the cool space of surround sound big band music! http://www.jazzconnection.ca

Allosaurus / Bruekke: Saturday, October 16, 8:00. $5 at the door. “The Allosaurus is a second-rate beast in the prehistoric animal kingdom. This Allosaurus, however, presents funky fresh beats and pop melodies blended to mix up your mind with existence and its folly. Chew hard into the music of a strange monster and down with the Tyrannus!” Bruekke describes their music as “Celtic Swamp Americana Canadiana Folk (ish)”.  Both these fresh new Hamilton bands are compelling in their approaches and we are delighted to have them debut at The Pearl.

Presenting Julia Veenstra’s “Colour Unleashed”!

At The Pearl Company Gallery.  Now on two floors! Friday, October 15, at 7:00

From One to Two Galleries and From One to Two Theatre Venues in 6 easy steps….

Come Celebrate These Newly Transformed Spaces. Opening with Julia Veenstra’s Spectacular Show! And finishing with music and dance…..

The can’t-keep-them-down owners of The Pearl don’t let anything stop them; even imminent closure. There are now two galleries (actually three if you factor in the Office Salon Gallery), and two theatre spaces at The Pearl.  We have transformed the first floor (with its super-high ceilings) into both a gallery and a theatre-in-the-round.  Because the superb acoustics on the second floor make it a perfect concert space, it will continue as such…. Ergo galleries on both floors, and, the potential of early theatre, late concert on either floor. Ah, the creativity….

What better way to celebrate this event than to have the deliciously colourful and creative, Julia Veenstra show her large works (yes, there will be small ones too…). And we plan to party. Opening at 7:00; dancing and music at 9:00 (gallery will be open throughout).  Be here!

P.S. Our first theatre piece on the former gallery floor will be an insanely inventive version of Oscar Wilde’s Salome, first two weeks of November.

Jayme Stone Quartet: Tuesday, October 12: 8:00. $20 at the door. $15 students / artists. Two-time Juno winning banjoist, Jayme Stone has a new album based on folk dances from around the world: reels, rachenitsas, morescas and sambas from Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Bulgaria, Italy, Tunisia and North America.   Influenced by Japanese poetry and Brazilian literature, his curiosity started early with the quirky physics of the banjo, and landed him long-lasting lessons with a series of maestros, from Béla Fleck to Bill Frisell. The show will feature fiddle pioneer Casey Driessen, (grammy nominee, plays with Béla Fleck) Ross Martin, guitar (plays with Matt Flinner, Darol Anger, Ron Miles), Joe Phillips, bass (principal bassist with Orchestra London, played The Pearl recently with Rita Chiarelli) http://jaymestone.com

Code Red Blues Festival: Saturday, October 9: 8:00 pm $10 at the door. This festival will showcase local musicians from the New Hamilton Blues Society who have taken the Spectator’s Code Red series to heart and turned it into achingly heart-felt blues ballads and rocksongs.  You will laugh, you will cry; the one thing you will not be is bored… Even Gary Santucci has taken up the challenge… There will also be discussion and commentary – into which you are welcome to join.

Jean-Paul de Roover returns with special guest Lindy Friday, October 8th. 8:00pm $15 at the door. $10 students/artists. With an innovative approach to music, Jean-Paul De Roover is much more than a solo artist. Accompanied by live looping, guitars and a voice used as an instrument, this ‘sonic architect’ builds his songs from foundation to facade before your very eyes. Beginning with dead silence, his performance could lead anywhere: full a capella harmonies, rhythmic tribal beats, noise-layered worlds of ambient rock, campfire-folk, electro-ballads and anything in between. With lyrical content that can be brutally honest, or lovingly truthful, one thing is certain: the originality and creativity of his timeless performances shines through to every listener.  http://www.jeanpaulderoover.com Lindy: Lindy Vopnfjord is the tallest freestanding singer/songwriter in Canada and he has an arsenal of songs to prove it. With a thousand mile stare, this flop eared kid grew up in Winnipeg and has been traveling and singing since the age of four. He has a voice that soars and he captures the audience like no other. Lindy crafts his songs carefully, blending melody and poetry to the fullest. www.myspace.com/lindymusic

Faye Blais / Fours Trio: Thursday, October 7. 8:00pm. $15 at the door. $10 students/artists. Hailing from Northern Ontario, Faye Blais delivers sweet melodies coupled with raw acoustics that turn into the sound-track of our lives. With an equally delectable stage presence, Blais is a force to be reckoned with. This indie-folk princess will win you over with her quick wit, spontaneity and subtle ability to stroke your soul in its warmest places. Back in Canada after recording and touring throughout Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and USA, she has been garnering much attention. She is currently touring to promote her third album/DVD “Here in the Shade – A Night at Sing Sing”, “Young, edgy, and powerfully present, Faye Blais is continuing the thread started by Joni, picked up by Ani and fashioned by Feist.” – Eaglewood Folk Festival.  www.fayeblais.com The Fours Trio will take the stage at 10:00pm as the “after band”, part of the Code Red Blues and Roots Festival. What happens when 3 musicians from 3 different music backgrounds and 3 separate bands get together? The result is a collision of jazz, blues, and original songs together in one great variety show. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fours-Trio/118712221485302

The Art Bus: Sponsored by Judy Marsales Real Estate:

• October 1: Every other 1^st Friday takes us to a number of individual galleries ultimately heading east. This time to the Artic Experience / McNaught Gallery, Gallery on the Bay, Anastasia Gallery, east to the Sunrise Gallery and back to Gallery 435
• October 8: Will include, as 2^nd Fridays always do, the excitement of the James North Crawl, the charm and energy of the Tiger Group Studio Gallery and either the Imperial Cotton Centre for the Arts on Sherman Ave. or the fresh new Ottawa Street Stroll

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

16 Steven is at King William just north of King, 4 blocks east of Victoria, and 2 blocks west of Wentworth.  It’s a three-storey factory/warehouse building. Any other questions?  Either call or email me, Barbara Milne (905 524-0606), barbaramilne@cogeco.ca

The Art Bus and The Pearl Company are promoted, and supported by THEZine: http://www.thezine.ca

Ticket for Change: Tom Wilson with Special Guest Harlan Pepper: Supporting Paul Tetley for Ward 3 Councillor: Saturday, October 2.  8:00pm $45.  We all know Tom Wilson; he has been a creative and prolific writer, artist, and performer for many years in our city. Wilson’s commitment to Hamilton cannot be doubted and he is demonstrating his commitment with this concert in support of better politics. I think we speak for a number of people in our town when we say, change is deeply needed.  Come support us in our efforts and enjoy this superb entertainer who happens to be appearing with Harlan Pepper, the dynamite band that his son fronts!
If you want to know more about the candidate that we are supporting, here is Paul’s website: http://www.paultetley.com

Corin Raymond (Ontario), the prairie’s Scott Cook, and BC songwriter Raghu Lokanathan: Friday, October 1: 8:00pm doors / 8:30pm show. $20 / $12 students/artists. Three singer/songwriters from across the country.
Corin is the Toronto-based troubadour who is also half of the Undesirables, (whom we have met several very cool times at The Pearl). He is showcasing his second solo album, ‘There Will Always Be a Small Time’, an impressive work anyone’s reckoning. There is nothing small time about Raymond’s talent (John Prine comparisons often come his way). He’s a young man writing songs that sound like they’ve been around a lot longer than Corin himself. http://www.myspace.com/corinraymond
Raghu Lokanathan joins them performing from his ‘Blue Girl’ album, an album that takes bold risks and vividly spins the stories of characters that are as likable and warped and dignified and unlikely as the grinning man himself; clever, sympathetic songs that showed a dark, and darkly humorous, edge.  “He writes songs like they used to a long time ago.” Utah Phillips http://www.raghumusic.com
“Scott Cook, a world-traveling songwriter with his heart forever on his sleeve, has distilled his travels down into songs powered by a sharp eye for imagery, a healthy dose of humanity, and the unforgettable voice, that at the same time intones the rigors of the road and the most comfortable couch you have ever slept on.” -David Francey  http://www.scottcook.net

Festitalia Author’s Night: Tuesday, September 28 at 7:00pm.  Free admission. Bryon Prince and Festitalia present Genni Gunn reading from her latest novel, Solitaria and Carole Bertuzzi Luciani reading from her book, I Have a Story for You.  For further information, please contact Bryan Prince, Bookseller at 905 528-4528 or staff@princebooks.net

The Judy Monologues: Sunday, September 26. Two shows at 4pm and 7pm. $10: A new one-act performance piece, based on rare voice recordings that Judy Garland made in the 1960s for her never-written autobiography. Conceived and directed by Darren Stewart-Jones, the play also features vintage film footage and some of Garland’s music. The production debuted earlier this month at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre in Toronto.

“Not many people have heard this material that is floating around out there in cyberspace,” says Darren Stewart-Jones, who also appears in the production. “Excerpts from the tapes have been used previously in a one-woman show and also as part of a short film. It really is juicy stuff and I thought this would be a unique way to bring it to people’s attention. It is a rare glimpse into the private thoughts of a Hollywood Legend.”

Stewart-Jones and two other actors recite the monologues. “I thought having men perform the material was fitting considering the influence Garland has had on the gay community over the years.” The piece also features Garland look-alike Kimberly Roberts, who plays out silent vignettes in between monologues. Film clips from Garland’s heyday round out the piece.

Tickets for The Judy Monologues are and can be purchased in person at The Pearl Company, 16 Steven Street, Hamilton or by calling 905-524-0606.

For further info, please contact Baby Gumm Productions at 416-836-7793 or at babygummproductions@gmail.com

Charly Chiarelli: Saturday, September 25. 8:00pm. $15 / $10 artists/students.  We’ve all heard Charly do Cu’Fu in English, now we get to hear him do it in Sicilian! You’ve known about French immersion, now we have Sicilian immersion…. No matter what language he speaks, Charly is hysterical!

Charly Chiarelli & Friends:Friday, September 24. 8:00pm $15 / $10 artists/students.  Charly is heading to Italy next week for a star turn which will include both his music and his story telling.  Charly plays one mean harmonica and even meaner blues.  But you ain’t heard nothin’ until you have heard the blues Sicilian style…. One of the friends will be Gary Santucci…..