Steve's Blog
Mark June 3rd on your calendar: Folk Festival ticket deadline and a great concert, too!
Tuesday May 31, 2016

2. Kiérah, Friday, June 3rd 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

Kiérah is a multi award-winning violinist and Celtic fiddler from White Rock. She completed her A.R.C.T. with the Royal Conservatory of Music, receiving one of the highest marks ever given. With an Irish/Scottish heritage, Kiérah's passion, however, is composing and performing traditional and contemporary Celtic fiddle music. An outstanding entertainer, Kiérah captivates her audiences by taking fiddling to a completely different level, demonstrating her mastery of the instrument and radiating her love of the music. She has recorded three albums, with her 3rd - Stonemason’s Daughter - receiving a Canadian Folk Music Award for Young Performer of the Year. She has also written B.C.'s first book of all original fiddle tunes, Kiérah's Collection*. She will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalist and producer Adrian Dolan, most notably of The Bills and The Ruth Moody Band, on piano, accordion and mandolin; and innovative guitarist Adam Dobres of The Ruth Moody Band, with his unique and impressive approach to traditional music. www.irishmadness.com

Click here for Tickets & Information 

* - it was brought to my attention that Paul Gitlitz published a book of his original fiddle tunes in BC some years ago. As far as I am aware Paul was born outside the province, so Kierah's book would be the first published by someone born and raised in BC. I could be mistaken. It really doesn't matter. Kierah is a supremely talented musician, composer, and teacher - and she's still so young! She and her brilliant accompanists will make this show truly memorable, I guarantee it!

3. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Wednesday, June 8th 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

Don't miss the Vancouver debut of Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen at The Rogue. Since Frank left the cold climes of Alaska for the bluegrass hotbed of Washington, D.C., he's built a reputation as a monster mandolinist - and become a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen. Solivan, with banjoist Mike Munford, 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, award winning guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Jeremy Middleton, simmer a bluegrass / newgrass stew from instrumental, vocal and songwriting skills so hot, they've been named Washington Area Music Association's Best Bluegrass Band of the Year for four consecutive years. With their last album earning a 2015 GRAMMY Nomination for Best Bluegrass Album, the eagerly anticipated Family, Friends & Heroes was released in March to great critical acclaim. www.dirtykitchenband.com


Opening act Annalisa Tornfelt is a stunning singer and fiddler who also plays the Swedish keyed fiddle - the nyckelharpa (above). You may have see her at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival a couple of years ago with Black Prairie. www.annalisatornfelt.com

Tickets are available here

4. Danny Michel, Friday, June 10th 8pm, St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

With nominations for three JUNOs, the Polaris Prize, The CBC "Heart Of Gold" and a pile of albums under his belt, Danny Michel is unquestionably one of Canada's finest songwriters. His new CD, Matadora, features an ode to Italian cosmonaut Samantha Cristoforetti - Samantha's In The Sky With Diamonds - which earned him an adoring email sent from the International Space Station! www.dannymichel.com