JMI: Artist Roster

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Artist Roster To view an artist's short bio:
	ASHELIN (Newfoundland) Ashelin is a band of five sisters from Newfoundland. The girls began singing and dancing to Newfoundland and Irish music as far back as they can remember while learning to play a stunning variety of instruments. Since their first public performance in 1997, they have entertained thousands at such high profile events as the World Podium Influential Leaders series with guest speaker Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and a visit to Qatar for an audience with Queen Sheikah Mozah. Ashelin’s 2010 release “The Road Not Taken” was produced by Grammy Award winning producer/engineer George Massenburg. [top]
	BELLOWHEAD (UK) In two years, eleven piece folk-big-band Bellowhead have literally exploded onto the festival scene and fast became one of the most talked about bands on the contemporary folk circuit. To describe Bellowhead’s music is a very difficult thing indeed - the material is steeped in the English folk traditions of song and dance, but the feel is exciting, intoxicating, slightly sinister and deeply funky. [top]
	BEOGA (IRELAND) Beoga (gaelic for 'lively') are based in County Antrim, in the north of Ireland. The bedrock of their sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition. However, they are not afraid to incorporate other genres' nuances into their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazzola-style jazz, to a raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, their music always returns to a wonderfully bouncy Irish sound. The result is traditional, with a huge sense of fun and adventure and it all works - wonderfully well. The Wall Street Journal describes them as "the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century."[top]
	RAY BONNEVILLE (QUÉBEC) Juno Award-winner Ray Bonneville is a superb singer-songwriter who currently calls Montreal home, but has lived from Alaska to Memphis, to Paris, France. Bonneville's smooth blues styling features impeccable guitar and harmonica, whether he is working solo or with a full band. Ray's *Gust of Wind* was produced by Juno Award winning guitarist Colin Linden, and which took the Juno Award for Blues Recording in 2000. Ray's 2001 mainstage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival with Colin Linden and a full band was one of the highlights of the festival. "A guitar style of exacting persuasive nuances, gut-felt harmonica lines and a voice soaked in whiskey and road-weary sentiment." Planet Jazz. [top]
	ALISON BROWN QUARTET (USA) Jensen Music international is very pleased to have negotiated an exclusive signing for Canada with the Alison Brown Quartet, a jazz-inspired bluegrass group from Nashville who won the Grammy in 2001. Alison got her start playing with artists like Michelle Shocked and Allison Kraus, before taking the music in her own unique direction with the Quartet, and along the way she has performed at The Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall and concert and festival stages all over the world. With banjo, drums, bass and piano, the ABQ is hardly a traditional bluegrass group. Alison is an innovator in the tradition of the finest artists we have worked with, and the musicians ship in the quartet is dazzling. ABQ are unique in that they are equally suitable for folk, country and jazz audiences. [top]
	CALADH NUA (IRELAND) Caladh Nua (meaning 'new harbour' or 'new shelter place') are a five-piece ensemble who have very quickly established a name for themselves as 'the band to watch'. Founded in 2009, Caladh Nua balances innovation and tradition in a repertoire which includes iconic works alongside more recently composed pieces. Their energy is captivating, guaranteed to enthral audiences of every nationality and generation. "Solid traditional music with plenty of flair and lots of musical imagination" (Irish Music Magazine) [top]
	DANÚ (IRELAND) "Best Overall Traditional Band" 1999 Irish Music Awards. Want to know what the future of Celtic in music in Ireland will sound like? Check out Think Before You Think (Shanachie) and see what all the buzz is about. Ireland's Danú have been turning heads all over the world with their exciting blend of traditional music, played on accordion, Uilleann pipes, flute, whistles, bouzouki, fiddle and Mandola. And vocals! Give a listen to the fluent Gaelic singing of Ciaran o' Gealbhain and see why the Chieftains invited him to perform on their latest recording. Danú has completely sold out theatres in the Maritimes, Manitoba, Alberta and B.C. and will tour all regions of Canada in 2001/02. [top]
	ALPHA YAYA DIALLO (GUINEA) Guitarist and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo is one of the hottest acts on the current world music scene. Now based in Vancouver, Canada, he has earned a matchless reputation internationally for the excellence of his musicianship and the excitement of his live shows - whether performing solo or with his band Bafing. Diallo's dexterous acoustic and electric guitar-playing, with its fluid melodic lines and compelling grooves, places him in the front ranks of African axemen. As well as being a uniquely gifted multi-instrumentalist, Diallo writes his own compositions, and sings with a supple and beautifully modulated voice. [top]
	ARCHIE FISHER (SCOTLAND) Archie Fisher is a singer-songwriter of legendary status in the world of folk music. From the early 1960s, Archie has been the leading proponent of Scottish traditional music, and he has taken his songs and those of Scotland to stages around the world, influencing a couple of generations of musicians on both sides of the Atlantic. Archie has performed many times in Canada, both solo and on several tours with Garnett Rogers. Garnett and Archie recorded two albums in Canada; Off the Map - Live and the beautiful Sunsets I've Galloped Into. Two of Archie's songs (Dark Eyed Molly and The Witch of Westmoreland) were covered by the late Stan Rogers. Archie has also toured and recorded with Ireland's Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy. [top]
	SHANE HOWARD (AUSTRALIA) Canada has Bruce Cockburn and America has Pete Seeger. The premiere voice of conscience in Australian folk-rock and one of the country’s greatest songwriters, Shane Howard first achieved notoriety with the rock band, Goanna, releasing *Solid Rock* in 1982. That song that has become somewhat of an anthem on the continent and was one of the first contemporary songs to broach the subject of Aboriginal rights in. The album, Spirit of Place, was released in 35 territories, worldwide. [top]
	JAMES KEELAGHAN (ALBERTA) Juno Award winning singer-songwriter James Keelaghan is one of Canada's most successful and respected musicians, and one of the brightest stars on the world folk scene today. James spent 300 days on the road last year. His touring seldom stops, taking him across North America, Europe, the UK and Australia on a regular basis. James Keelaghan has an uncanny knack for finding incredible stories and turning them into finely crafted songs. A commanding performer, he develops an intimate rapport with audiences through his stories and sense of humour, and then leaves them spellbound with passionate renditions of songs that touch on universal emotions and relate historical events to the present. [top]
	KRAR COLLECTIVE (ETHIOPIA) It is said that the Ethiopian lyre, the krar, is one of the last active descendents of an instrument exported by Semitic nomads to ancient Egypt and beyond over four thousand years ago. It is certain that it's never before sounded quite like it does when Temesgen Taraken plugs it in, pumps it up and hammers out a hypnotic groove as if it were an ancient rock guitar. Four kebero tom drums kick in with their grooving lilt and Genet Assefa lets loose with powerful, soaring vocals, you may be looking twice to make sure this big sound is really being created by just three people. Playing traditional songs from different regions of Ethiopia, making a direct connection to these roots with a contemporary attitude that gets their audience participating in the party. [top]
	GORDIE MACKEEMAN & HIS RHYTHM BOYS (PEI) This four-piece group of seasoned musicians hail from the rich and dynamic PEI music scene and have collectively toured North America and the UK with ECMA winners the Grass Mountain Hobos. Within months of forming the Rhythm Boys and releasing their self-titled debut CD, the band has received two Music PEI awards in 2011 for Roots/Traditional Group of the Year and Instrumental Recording of the Year. A talented dancer, Gordie has been dancing since his childhood. Dubbed "Crazy Legs", his unique style of clogging captivates audiences of all ages. The energetic fiddling and dancing of MacKeeman leads the Rhythm Boys through one rousing and reflecting song after another. [top]
	JUAN MARTÍN (SPAIN) Originally from Spain, and now based out of London, Juan Martin was voted one of the top three guitarists in the world by the prestigious "Guitar Player Magazine." This is authentic Flamenco, but it is also contemporary and accessible. One of the world's greatest Flamenco artists, Juan has played The Royal Albert Hall and the Montreux Jazz Festival, and has collaborated with the likes of Paco de Lucia, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Juan has performed the great concert halls of the world in Russia, Europe, America, Turkey, Hong Kong, Beijing, etc. Truly a giant of the genre. [top]
	MINOR EMPIRE (CANADA/TURKEY) Minor Empire is the brainchild of guitarist/composer/producer Ozan Boz and vocalist Ozgu Ozman. Inspired by the traditional music of their homeland of Turkey, they've forged a sound that is simultaneously contemporary and traditional, adventurous yet accessible. It represents a confluence of Turkish and Western musical styles. "I see them as coexisting together while keeping their original shapes," Ozan explains. Fleshing out his sonic vision is a stellar cast of musicians, including Ismail Hakki Fencioglu (oud), Didem Basar (kanun), Debashis Sinha (darbuka, bendir, and asma davul), Sidar Demirer (saz), Selim Sesler (clarinet), Michael Occhipinti (guitar), and Chris Gartner (bass). - Winner of the World Group of the Year 2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards. [top]
	OYSTERBAND (UK) Oysterband occupies an unusual position in the world of music, combining folk sensibility and acoustic instruments with rock dynamics and sharp, engaged songwriting. The passion and energy of their live performances has become legendary. Starting as an amateur ceilidh band, their career has grown exponentially to include festivals and tours in 35 countries across Europe, Asia and North America; 12 studio albums, including one with June Tabor; and a collaborative project called The Big Session, which is also the name of the festival they host each year in UK. A new studio CD will be released in 2007. [top]
	RICHARD PERSO (AUSTRALIA) At 20 years of age, Richard Perso is already a veteran of the Australian folk circuit, and one of a new generation of artists incorporating Australian sounds and instruments with new ideas, producing music that is both exciting and unique. A brilliant slide guitarist and a fan of John Lee Hooker, Richard trades in a rack harmonica for a rack didgeridoo. On stage, he performs solo, with three giant didgeridoos and four guitars, including lap steel. Richard has performed at more than 50 different festivals in Australia alone.[top]
	KARINE POLWART (SCOTLAND) Scottish songwriter Karine Polwart combines the economy and universality of the folk storytelling tradition with a probing intellect and compassionate lyricism. Four times winner at the UK-wide BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including twice for “Best Original Song”, the former philosophy tutor and children’s rights activist has collaborated with Canadians James Keelaghan and Dave Gunning, the intellectual maverick of English folk song Chris Wood, UK alt-folk favourite King Creosote, trad groups Battlefield Band and Malinky, and even the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. [top]
	QUARTETTE (CANADA) Since their first appearance at Toronto's Harbourfront venue in the summer of 1993, Quartette has quickly become one of the most electrifying collaborations on the Canadian music scene. The four women, Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford, Gwen Swick and Sylvia Tysoncombine formidable individual talents into an astonishing whole. The soaring harmonies and unique arrangements create a musical mosaic with flavours of folk, country, swing and bluegrass all solidly rooted in traditional music.[top]
	RANKIN CHURCH & CROWE (CANADA) Friends and colleagues Raylene Rankin, Cindy Church, and Susan Crowe, all award winning recording artists, bring their varied musical signatures to the stage in a mix of elegance and accessibility. Folk, country, jazz, contemporary singer-songwriter are blended with a confident ease that makes for richly textured harmonies and a welcoming rapport that invites audiences in, and makes them want to stay. [top]
	NATHAN ROGERS (WINNIPEG) Some say he was born into it, some that he was born with it, while others claim he has earned it. With one foot planted firmly in folk music’s traditional roots and the other reaching into its dynamic future, Nathan Rogers isn’t entirely sure what ‘it’ is; singer, songwriter, guitarist, throat-chanter, percussionist, revivalist, or innovator. Whatever it may be, “Nathan has the ability to turn the folk world on its ears.”. [top]
	SHOOGLENIFTY (SCOTLAND) Scottish supergroup Shooglenifty, or The Shoogs as they are affectionately known to their fans, are a six piece Celtic band who perform instrumental music at the speed of light. Their style is a hybrid of traditional and contemporary influences that caused one audience at the Opera House in Sydney, Australia to leave their seats and join the band on stage. Festival Records' top-selling import, they are a major draw on the North American circuit and have performed in Europe, Australia, South America, Japan, the UK and Malaysia. Shooglenifty has performed at dozens of major Canadian Festivals, headlining outdoor dates from Nova Scotia to Yellowknife. [top]
	THE SPINNEY BROTHERS (NOVA SCOTIA) From the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada, the Spinney Brothers debuted their band in 1992, showcasing a tight brother duet vocal style that was immediately recognized for it's energetic and distinctive sound. The cornerstone of the Spinney Brothers musical identity is the sound of traditional, southern-flavoured bluegrass music. The first generation bluegrass legends have been an important musical influence, yet their music is equally shaped by their personal lives and local heritage. By incorporating original material, which draws from various sources, the Spinney Brothers effortlessly intertwine the past with the present. [top]
	NANO STERN (CHILE) 26 year old Nano Stern is a world music virtuoso and Chilean rising superstar. He has firmly placed his stamp on the burgeoning Latin folk/world music scene. It is his incredible technique, musicality and authentic delivery of tender and delicate poems of love and loss that sit alongside political and anthemic tributes to his home and the world at large that has his audiences talking for days. *"young Chilean Fernando 'Nano' Stern is a live phenomenon...." Andrew Cronshaw, FRoots, UK, April 2010* [top]
	THE STRAWBS (UK) The Strawbs have enjoyed major success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early 1970s, as well as the hit albums, their hit singles "Part of the Union" and "Lay Down" topped the charts. From the mid-1970s they spent more time in the States and Canada where their albums charted for five years as they toured with Santana, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa. The Strawbs also headlined major Canadian venues, such as Maple Leaf Gardens and The Montreal Forum. Rick Wakeman played with the Strawbs for two years before he achieved world-wide success with Yes, and as a solo artist, and the much loved Sandy Denny made an album with the Strawbs before she joined Fairport Convention. [top]
	SYLVIA TYSON (ONTARIO) Sylvia Tyson is no less than an icon in Canadian country and folk music. From her collaboration with Ian Tyson (Ian & Sylvia) on stage, studio and television in the sixties and seventies to seven solo albums, her career has earned her a place in the Canadian Music, Country Music and Songwriter's Halls of Fame, not to mention receiving Canada's highest civiian award, the Order of Canada. Sylvia is also currently a vital part of Quartette, along with Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford and Gwen Swick. [top]
	JERRY JEFF WALKER (USA) Jerry Jeff Walker is a true legend, and one of the greatest singer-songwriters America has ever produced. While he is best known for penning *Mr. Bojangles, which has been covered by a wide variety of major artists, Jerry Jeff is a prolific artist who has turned in many fine records, and who is as busy as ever, recording and touring. Jerry Jeff has worked with some of America's most respected singer-songwriters, including Willie Nelson* and Jimmy Buffet, with whom he penned *Railroad Lady*. He is no stranger to Canadian audiences, and we look forward to bringing him back to the True North. [top]
	WONGAWILLI (AUSTRALIA) In Australia, bush bands are typically large groups who perform traditional music on instruments such as bush bass, lagerphone and barcoo dog, an improvised rattle originally used for moving sheep in a paddock. Bush bands evolved in the Outback, playing music for bush dances, in which the dance program was usually based on dances dating from colonial times. Wongawilli is Australia’s most traveled bush band, having completed many tours of Australia, Europe, the UK and China. It would be difficult to find a better proponent of Australian folk music than this incredible group. [top]
	GABRIEL YACOUB (FRANCE) France's legendary Gabriel Yacoub first came to the fore as teenage back-up guitarist and singer with Brittany's pioneering Celtic harpist, Alan Stivell. In the early 1970s Stivell's blend of rock and the Old World inspired Yacoub to form Malicorne, a French contemporary of Fairport Convention. While Yacoub's time with Malicorne focused on traditional French material with his trademark harmonies and Old World instruments such as the smallpipes and hurdy gurdy, he is a also a brilliant songwriter, with a dozen solo recordings to his credit. [top]