Regular Performers
Yvonne McSkimming is a singer/songwriter who speaks to the heart with lyrics that have been described as innocent and intriguing. She performs a combination of new songs and selected material from her CD, Place of Standing. Yvonne is also one of the founding promoters of JSR. Her vision and passion shine through in her both her music and her work. yvonne@singaround.com
Beverley Elliott works primarily as an actress in the film and TV industry, but is also an accomplished songwriter with a country/folk flair that can be heard on her CD Yellow Dress. She considers her greatest achievement to be her young daughter Sally. bevandsally@shaw.ca
Mark James Fortin has been described as raw, powerful, and dynamic. He performs songs that speak to the heart and mind. He is also a founding promoter of JSR and has been performing locally and internationally with the trio FFM who are known for their driving, tender, often sarcastic and satisfying songs. Mark’s last CD was Two Days in Rexdale. markandlorna@telus.net
Show M/C
Denalda Williams "Denny" was born and raised in Burnaby. She is a founding member of Vancouver Theatresports league and worked for Second City during Expo 86. She has done TV, that is mostly boring, except for Six Feet Under and Whose line is it Anyway. She's done lots of movies and commercials, 50th birthday parties and funerals. Her motto is, if you pay, I'll show up. Voice over is her favorite work, because it requires no make up. Her hair is cut by her boyfriend Chris. The gray is courtesy of his kids, Junior and Adam. Her dog Lullabelle....is the cutest dog in the world. denalda@shaw.ca
Featured Performers
FEBRUARY
Coco Love Alcorn is part soul diva, part folk troubadour, part jazz improviser, part revolutionary, and part visual artist. Her expansive stylistic, dynamic and emotional range, along with her vocal prowess, have made her a sought-after performer, respected by her peers and cherished by her fans. With her frequent appearances across Canada in support of her most recent CDs, Sugar and Coco Love Solo, Coco continues to gain new devotees from coast-to-coast with her songs about love, life, social awareness - and new fan favourite, Fiori Modena, a love song for her bicycle. www.cocolovealcorn.com
Christie Grace, a Thunder Bay, Ontario native who now calls Bowen Island, B.C. her home, hails from a long line of performers. The influence of her father, John McCullough, a hugely popular big band soloist, and the intensity of her brother Murray McCullough’s passionate blues stylings are evident throughout her latest effort, dedicated to them both. But make no mistake this CD is Grace on her own terms. Her new CD Contemplation, (produced by jazz great Bill Runge and Grace) is being distributed nationally by EMI Music Canada. Contemplation is for Grace, an opportunity to juxtapose some of her favourite pop tunes with her own quirky originals. Joining Christie on guitar will be Daryl Jahnke.
www.christiegracemusic.com
Melanie Dekker, spirited and sexy artist, exudes passion through her music and performance. Her progressive and commercial acoustic-pop sound and sincere lyrics communicate a freshly intimate musical experience. Melanie's unique guitar playing along with her full vocal range captures the emotional depth of her songs, with a rare combination of power and sensitivity. She has two new albums since October 2006 - REVEALED and ACOUSTIC RIDE. Dekker’s single I Said I was top of the charts in Canada and many of her songs have been featured in Films and TV. www.melaniedekker.com
Blair Packham started out wanting to be Paul McCartney. Then Curtis Mayfield, but soon decided being either John Prine or Steve Goodman might be better. Elvis Costello, any member of the Clash or Andy Partridge of XTC followed. Between 1981 and 1991 Blair wanted to be the lead singer of a band called The Jitters, with whom he wrote some hit songs, including "Last of the Red Hot Fools" and "'Til the Fever Breaks". Finally, he decided he wanted to just be Blair Packham, starting with his first CD, Everything That's Good, in 2001. Completing the followup disc, Could've Been King, in 2003, Blair continues to want to be Blair (but sometimes thinks being Coco Love Alcorn might be cool). www.blairpackham.com
MARCH
Carrie Catherine, born and raised in Saskatchewan, brings her sassy songwriting and poetic lyrics to her live performances. Carrie’s songs narrate the colorful and dramatic journey of a small prairie girl struggling to discover soul music in the unlikeliest of places: the harsh, flat Canadian prairie. With toes tapping and shoulders swaying, audiences are drawn into an intimate search not just for soul but of the soul, as Carrie Catherine struggles to love, leave, and listen to the land she calls home. Carrie’s vivid imagery and smooth, sexy vocals are highlighted on her latest album Green-eyed Soul. www.carriecatherine.com
Canada’s own Don Alder is one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world, and one of Canada's premiere harp guitarists. His unique style and energetic performances have been called intense, passionate and awe-inspiring – as is his life-long friendship with Canada’s Man In Motion Rick Hansen. Don’s unique style of playing incorporates fingerpicking with simultaneous percussion on the soundboard to create a wall of sound…a unique weave of deeply textured melody and story. Lyrical and compelling, his original songs are notes of exploration – some passionate and haunting, some hard-driven, others light and teasing. www.donalder.com
Masa Sumide made an impressive debut in 1975 as a member of a three piece band called SIGNAL with the first single selling more than 800,000 copies in Japan. After the disbandment of the group in 1983, Masa changed his style to solo guitar after relocating to Australia in late 1996. The end result is the unique one-man-band approach that is groovy, percussive, inventive and dazzling as well. With an abundant supply of creative energy Masa has continued to release one album a year ever since he put out his first solo guitar album Treadin’ Easy in 1999. The latest CD Happy Together is his 9th. There are also two albums (The Collection / Ain’t Life Grand) available in the USA through Solid Air Records.
(John) Bertram Scott was born in St. John, New Brunswick, raised there and Ft. McMurray, Alberta, but is now based out of Vancouver. He has played local festivals including New Music West and Music Waste, and has been heard nationally on CBC. He has one CD, Thee Unusual Mister..., and is workig on his sophomore recording. amourivore@hotmail.com
APRIL
An award winning songwriter, Ian Sherwood takes catchy melodies and heart-breaking stories and mixes them with intricate guitar playing, saxophones and pop/rock grooves. His fusing of contemporary song styles (from pop to country to jazz) and contemplative lyrics makes him equally at home in front of a large audience or a quiet house concert. His energetic stage show and honest presentation have quickly gained him recognition as a solid vocalist, performer, lyricist and player. www.myspace.com/ian_sherwood
Coco Love Alcorn is part soul diva, part folk troubadour, part jazz improviser, part revolutionary, and part visual artist. Her expansive stylistic, dynamic and emotional range, along with her vocal prowess, have made her a sought-after performer, respected by her peers and cherished by her fans. With her frequent appearances across Canada in support of her most recent CDs, Sugar and Coco Love Solo, Coco continues to gain new devotees from coast-to-coast with her songs about love, life, social awareness - and new fan favourite, Fiori Modena, a love song for her bicycle. www.cocolovealcorn.com
Hailed as "the whiskey sipping darling of the Vancouver country scene", Shiloh Lindsay's music is for somewhere between that after-hours moment in the dimly lit bar when Johnny Cash comes on the jukebox for the last time, and that instant when the sun first starts to turn the sky from darkness to dawn. Spotted at an open mike session, producer John Ellis (Be Good Tanyas, Leeroy Stagger, Jeremy Fisher) offered to produce her debut CD For my Smoke, a collection of songs combining images of the beauty, darkness and determination that have brought her this far. Shiloh's gone as far west as she can without hitting deep water, but she's not done yet. Not by a country mile. www.shilohlindsey.com
MAY
Kyla Rawlins has combined her training in Opera, Musical Theatre and Folk, producing an original and mesmerizing sound. Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta and growing up in Nanaimo BC her musical stylings have blended into a fury of emotions. After years of studying and singing other artist’s music, Kyla decided it was time to see what words, emotions and melodies she had inside herself to express to the world. With over 50 songs written and ready to be heard, Kyla is currently working with her new band (The Kyla Rawlins Band) and is focusing on recording a full CD featuring her three newest songs Golden Skies and Apple Pies, Trying to get through and Wherever you go. www.myspace.com/kylamrawlins
Adam Woodall is a veteran of the urban folk scene and a highly celebrated North Shore musician. Adam released his debut solo album, Songs From My Parents' House in 2000. Shortly thereafter he formed The Adam Woodall Band, and they have been performing together ever since. They recently released Silver Ring, a brand new independent CD. The new record sees the band moving forward musically, while still honouring their rock, folk, and pop roots. www.adamwoodallband.com
Having spent two years travelling Europe and India, Angie Inglis is pleased to be returning to JSR. Angie's new songs reflect the highs and lows of being far from home and she hopes to record a new cd in 2009. Until then, you can purchase her debut which features melodic, at times plaintive and sometimes ecstatically victorious songs about life and love. Always honest and revealing, her lyrics and authenticity with leave you feeling less alone, and more alive. www.angieinglis.com
Canada’s own Don Alder is one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world, and one of Canada's premiere harp guitarists. His unique style and energetic performances have been called intense, passionate and awe-inspiring – as is his life-long friendship with Canada’s Man In Motion Rick Hansen. Don’s unique style of playing incorporates fingerpicking with simultaneous percussion on the soundboard to create a wall of sound…a unique weave of deeply textured melody and story. Lyrical and compelling, his original songs are notes of exploration – some passionate and haunting, some hard-driven, others light and teasing. www.donalder.com
(John) Bertram Scott was born in St. John, New Brunswick, raised there and Ft. McMurray, Alberta, but is now based out of Vancouver. He has played local festivals including New Music West and Music Waste, and has been heard nationally on CBC. He has one CD, Thee Unusual Mister..., and is working on his sophomore recording. amourivore@hotmail.com
JUNE
Coco Love Alcorn is part soul diva, part folk troubadour, part jazz improviser, part revolutionary, and part visual artist. Her expansive stylistic, dynamic and emotional range, along with her vocal prowess, have made her a sought-after performer, respected by her peers and cherished by her fans. With her frequent appearances across Canada in support of her most recent CDs, Sugar and Coco Love Solo, Coco continues to gain new devotees from coast-to-coast with her songs about love, life, social awareness - and new fan favourite, Fiori Modena, a love song for her bicycle. www.cocolovealcorn.com
Christie Grace, a Thunder Bay, Ontario native who now calls Bowen Island, B.C. her home, hails from a long line of performers. The influence of her father, John McCullough, a hugely popular big band soloist, and the intensity of her brother Murray McCullough’s passionate blues stylings are evident throughout her latest effort, dedicated to them both. But make no mistake this CD is Grace on her own terms. Her new CD Contemplation, (produced by jazz great Bill Runge and Grace) is being distributed nationally by EMI Music Canada. Contemplation is for Grace, an opportunity to juxtapose some of her favourite pop tunes with her own quirky originals. Joining Christie on guitar will be Daryl Jahnke. www.christiegracemusic.com
Scott Cook sings thoughtful, honest roots music with a barefoot feel. After finishing a philosophy degree in Edmonton, he has spent much of the last seven years on the island of Taiwan, tangling with kindergarteners on weekdays and rocking with his roots and reggae band, the Anglers, on weekends. Summers have brought him home to Canada for cross-country tours, either with the Anglers or alone. All that roaming has inspired his latest "love letter to the world", entitled Long Way to Wander. Live, he accompanies himself with guitar, banjo, ukulele and harmonica, tipping his hat to influences as diverse as folk, blues, oldtime country and reggae. www.scottcook.net
Kaylee Johnston is a passionate seventeen-year-old singer/songwriter. She wrote her first song at the age of nine, and since then has grown and developed numerous alternative pop songs. She began singing at age six and started playing her guitar when she was fifteen. Influenced by singers like Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLauchlan, she began to learn their songs and styles. After only a few months of playing, she was composing on the guitar. Since she turned seventeen, she has been doing open mikes and has just finished her three-song demo with producer Bill Buckingham.
www.myspace.com/thekayleejohnstonproject
Pancho and Sal. Born in Argentina, Pancho has been writing poems all his life. When he moved to Europe, he began touring in many countries and became a troubadour style musician in the 80's.
During this time, he contributed to making more popular the Spanish and South American music. With the Gypsies in the South of France, he created a new dimension of flamenco guitar and rhythms. Sal, who was born in England and raised in Canada, started playing accordion and clarinet at an early age. She met Pancho in Peru and compliments the music with accordion, shakers, chachas, bombo and guitar. www.panchoandsal.com
More bio's to come soon...
