UPCOMING MANITOBA SHOWS
Do yourself a favour and catch some of these great performers
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November 18, 2009
JOSHUA COCKERILL
Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
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November 15,
2009, TTBTGH & SBFRR are proud to present the return of
pianist/singer/songwriter/Skydigger/all around good guy
Michael Johnston (http://www.michaeljohnston.ca/mj-main.html),
live in Jeff's living room!
Johnston's shows are
wildly entertaining, moving, and memorable (I know, I've seen a
lot of them!). His debut album, Curious Heart, came out in 2005,
not long after he'd moved to Winnipeg. That album landed atop
every list I made that year for statistics (most played song,
album, artist, etc.) and he was unilaterally named my Artist of
the Year. That album is a magnificent debut, filled with
memorable melodies, touching lyrics, and some stellar special
guests. Some artists get special guests to come in and do
backups or play an instrument, but Johnston wrote the songs and
then turned some of them over to the likes of Reid Jamieson, Oh
Susanna, and Andy Maize of Skydiggers to sing. The results are
magical collaborations that show that Johnston, early into his
promising career, could stand alongside seasoned veterans.
In the past
couple of years, Johnston has been a full member of Skydiggers,
a now-legendary roots-rock combo (http://skydiggers.com/),
breathing new life into a band that has stood the test of time
after more than 20 years atop the Canadian music industry (such
as it is!) His writing, playing, and singing is a huge part of
Skydiggers' successful 2008 album, City of Sirens, and Michael
will be at the piano when the band makes its long-awaited return
to the West End Cultural Centre (a venue that the band almost
destroyed when its exhuberent fans came frighteningly close to
plunging through the floor in the 90s! We've been assured that
the new building faces no fear of destruction, although an
exciting, energetic show is guaranteed!)
In the meantime,
he's been hard at work on many new songs, including co-writes
with the likes of Andy Maize, Stephen Fearing, Chris Difford (of
legendary band Squeeze) and many more, some of which we will
hear for the first time on November 15! I'm hoping to convince
him to put out a second record featuring some of those great
songs one of these days, and I'm hoping that you will come help
with my efforts.
Although he spent
years in Winnipeg, Michael Johnston hasn't played his songs to a
Winnipeg audience in quite some time. Whenever he does, people
leave raving, smiling, and looking forward to seeing him again.
I promise you, friends, this will be a night you will enjoy.
It will be an EARLY
show, as it is a Sunday night. Show will start at 7 and you
should be safely in your bed (or living room or whatever
location you prefer) around 10. We enjoy having folks over for
dinner, so anyone interested in a pot-luck style pre-show meal
is welcome to join us around 5:30 (or anywhere thereafter).
Admission is by donation, with all funds going directly to this
talented performer. $15-20 is suggested and appreciated. We are
very family friendly (bring the kids), very welcoming (if you
don't know us well or haven't been here before, you are indeed
welcome), and your company is much appreciated.
Please get back to
me to confirm a seat as soon as possible. Feel free to forward
this email to anyone who might be interested in attending, and
do let me know if you have any questions.
Hope you can join
us!
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November 20
, 2009 , WINNIPEG, MB
