The Rogue’s fall lineup keeps on rolling, and although we are already deep into October, there are still ten concerts yet to come in the final months of 2023.
After a packed September, October started off strong with performances from Guy Davis, Mads Hansen Kapel and the North Shore Celtic Ensemble, as well as The Fugitives.
The month continues with the Spanish strings of Juan Martín’s flamenco guitar this week, and concerts will continue into November with moments such as Jane Mortifee’s end-of-month album release or the dueling guitars of Twanguero and Paul Pigat. The next few months truly have something in store for everyone!
Here is the lineup of performers for the end of October and November:
Juan Martín – Oct. 26 at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James
Juan Martín learned his art in the land of its origin, Andalucía in southern Spain where he spent his early formative years and where he still retains a home. As a teenager he played in local fiestas, weddings and baptisms, developing his knowledge and skills in the disciplines of the purest traditions of flamenco. These early years provided the basis for his career as a solo performer and leader of his own dance companies, a challenging vocation which has brought him international acclaim as an innovative concert performer, broadcaster and recording artist. Reviewers have compared his compositions to those of the great Spanish composers Tarrega and Turina and his compositions often reflect the historic sense of places, people and paintings that characterize the remarkable range and depth of his artistry today including his profound sensitivity to the beauties of sound and rhythmic impetus of which his guitar is capable.
Good Lovelies – Oct. 27 at Mel Lehan at St. James
If art does indeed imitate life, the Good Lovelies have lived lives worth singing about – in all their beautiful and wondrous complexity. Where there is heartache, and heartbreak, endings and beginnings, there is joy, beauty and overcoming the slings and arrows of life through the power of friendship, love, and family. It is this richness of life, and the wide-ranging spectrum of emotions that surface from moment to moment that permeates the much anticipated and long-awaited new album from one of Canada’s most accomplished and harmonious trios, Good Lovelies. The product of their artistic deliberations, We Will Never Be the Same strikes a tone of hopefulness, steadfastness, and perseverance, even when enduring moments of tribulation and even despair.
Connie Kaldor – Nov. 3 at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James
“Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something roars in and it turns you about.”
Connie Kaldor writes this and more about the unexpected twists and turns of life and love. She could well be writing about her personal artistic complexities. Music pundits have tried to define the essence of the prairie-born acoustic performer for a long time, but even the most eloquent have fallen short of perfection. The fact is, Connie Kaldor is a performer without borders. A contradiction in terms. She is a Juno Award-winning singer who has flourished on the folk music scene for over four decades, yet her repertoire of original material blurs musical boundaries, embracing elements of gospel, rock, country and western, folk, blue grass and adult contemporary. Her live performances are legendary and her fan base broad and fiercely loyal. People come back to see her again and again because a Connie Kaldor performance is about more than just the power of music. It is also about the power of personality.
Rum Ragged – Nov. 10 at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James
Formed by Aaron Collis and Mark Manning, Rum Ragged takes a bold approach to the distinct folk music of their home, Newfoundland. These new champions of East Coast music enliven and enlighten audiences with both songs and tune sets which they deliver with an honest swagger that is far beyond their years. With reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge, this young band has quickly become known as the finest purveyors of their great living musical tradition. These 2021 Juno Award Nominees take a bold approach to the distinct folk music of their home with a reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge.
Twanguero and Paul Pigat – November 11 at Mel Lehan at St. James
When two rockabilly virtuosos come together from different sides of the world, magic is bound to happen. Joining local master guitarist and singer/songwriter Paul Pigat (aka Cousin Harley) is Spanish finger-picking sensation and pioneer of Western swing and ragtime in Spain, Diego Garcia (aka Twanguero). Since meeting for the first time a festival in Mexico in 2013, Pigat and Garcia have become kindred musical spirits, joining each other on stage and delivering performances with a complex interplay that takes most duos decades to form. Audiences can expect a mashup up of rockabilly, flamenco, country blues, tango, jazz, ragtime and more performed with pure musicality and an unbelievable surfeit of combined talent and energy.
Jane Mortifee – Nov. 25 at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James
Jane Mortifee’s first love is singing! She has performed as a guest soloist on numerous television and live musical specials such as the Canada Day Special, The David Foster Special, and as an opening act for Bob Newhart at Expo ’86. She was a regular background singer on the Tom Jones, Paul Anka, and Rolf Harris TV series. She has also performed in many solo concerts, as well as in various club bands over the years. A career highlight for Jane was singing background vocals for Ray Charles. Join us for the official CD launch of Jane Mortifee’s new album, Just Here Just Now Just Enough. She will be joined by the talented musicians who were the music makers on this project: Bill Sample on keyboards and piano and background vocals, Miles Foxx Hill on bass, Tim Porter on guitar, Randall Stoll on drums, Tom Keenlyside on sax and Darlene Cooper on background vocals. Jane did the official launch for her last CD on the St James Hall stage 14 years ago. She’s happy to be back!
Mad Pudding – Nov. 26 at Mel Lehan Hall at St. James
Vancouver Celtic-Funk combo Mad Pudding has performed over a dozen times at The Rogue. Their unique blend of instrumental swagger, impeccable harmonies, and powerful original songs and tunes – not to mention rollicking traditional medleys of jigs and reels – they were not only the darlings of the Rogue / Roots / Celtic crowd in Vancouver, but also popular attractions at festivals and concerts and dance halls across Canada and into the USA. They released four CDs plus a 10-year retrospective. The best-loved and most enduring line-up of the band reunites on rare occasions. This is one of those occasions! Mad Pudding play Celtic music with great drive and imagination, blending influences and genres seamlessly – however improbable they might appear to be! (e.g. Leonard Cohen’s “First We Take Manhattan” with a Brahms tune!)
