Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Beth Southwell at Vancouver CIty Limits

Vancouver City Limits is a great weekly showcase featuring three acts at the Beaumont Studios theatre that seats 60 in an intimate setting.
So if you are in Vancouver on a Monday, check out Vancouver City Limits, hosted by Bruce Gerresh and Colin Speirs.
They also film all the acts and post a song from each on their youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/vancouvercitylimits

Kat Gillis at The Beaumont Studios

Here is a great singer songwriter from Vancouver, an up and coming force to be reckoned with.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Gotta Go by Claire Hayek


Winner of 'Best Provincial Pop female Artist' and 'Best Provincial Pop CD' by Toronto Exclusive Magazine, Claire Hayek's very distinctive voice, reminiscent of Cher, Paula Cole and Alanis announces the arrival of a singer-songwriter who should be around for a long time to come.
Divided between love and deceit, hope and desperation, mystery and day to day reality, her debut album 'Intention' says it all.
A blend of mixed emotions, colorful melodies and textures, the songs aim straight to the heart and to the human conscience. With the majority of the album written and produced by Claire, 'Intention' announces the arrival of a singer-songwriter-producer with an unbending purpose.
Claire's song 'If Only I' is featured on Violet Femmes Volume 2, out in January 09. as is her own solo CD, Intention.
The official album launch for Intention is now scheduled for the month of February 09.
In the meantime, I invite you to watch 'Charmer' music video teaser on her
Facebook page

The complete video version will be broadcast on Feb 1st.
Listen to Claire at her MySpace page.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Rebel Red sings Love Is A Power Divine

Red's main influences are 60's Folk-Rock, Old-School Rhythm & Blues.

Rebel Red is the project of roots rock singer/songwriter Red - her vocal style is sassy '60s r&b, her raunchy guitar playing sounds like a cross between Duane Eddy and early Keith Richards.....

Red's song "On My Guard" was recently awarded an honorable mention by the 15th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest. This is the song featured on the Violet Femmes Vol 2 CD.
Red was born in New York City and grew up in England. She cut her performing teeth fronting English bands on U.S. overseas military bases for several years, in Germany, Italy and Greece.

“It was hard work - four to six sets a night, six nights a week - but I learned a lot and the soldiers turned me on to some great r&b, soul and country singers, taking me back to my American roots. Hence the cross fertilization in my songs.”

She eventually returned to the States and worked with producer/guitarist Steve Burgh (Willie Nelson, John Prine, Steve Forbert), who produced her first album, "Water Planet", before his untimely death in 2005.

“ Steve gave me my first chance to play and record with authentic roots musicians - another learning curve.”

Red continued to perform on the New York City club circuit, recording three more projects with drummer Richard Crooks (Dr. John), before disappearing for a while to raise two boys, which she threw herself into wholeheartedly.

She re-appeared on the music scene in 2008 with a new cd, "Sex, Religion, Politics".

"Although I am a seasoned performer, when I emerged from the sidelines of motherhood I had to start from scratch in the music world and felt kind of lost. But love of performing is a powerful force, and I soon discovered that I couldn't NOT do it. So, I said OK here goes! and took the plunge. "

"No more doubts now!! Glad I took that plunge!"

Red is currently in the studio tracking the next Rebel Red album (projected street date March 1, 2009).

Musicians Red has collaborated with, past and present: Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash), Erik Lawrence (Levon Helm), Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan), Richie Crooks (Dr. John), the Uptown Horns (Rolling Stones), and many more.