March 2001

by Paul Castle

Contents:

Vancouver Folk Alliance Conference 2001
London Gigs
Best of the Rest of the UK Gigs

"Oh Canada", a group of us sang, as the Folktrain pulled out of Saskatoon in the early hours of the morning, bound for The Rocky Mountains and the sunshine of Vancouver. The impromtu onboard 'Jonifest' was just one of the many highlights of this musical adventure to the 13th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference.

Karen Bates, my singer songwriter pal from London, and I joined the train half way across in Winnipeg, met at the station by the warm and friendly Alan Rowoth, who along with agent, Charlie Hunter, had organised this trip for around 70 musicians, DJs, agents, journalists and folk fans. Not a lot has changed in Winnipeg since my last visit in the mid-70s. Snow and more snow, and temperatures that make brass monkeys shiver. "Ah, but it's a dry cold", my new Winnipeg friends and hosts, The Bracken family, assured me with a wry smile. They were off to see Danu later that week at Winnipeg's West End Cultural Centre before the Irish group, winners of last month's BBC Radio 2 'Best Folk Band' Award, followed us "over the bump and into the puddle", to quote my new Vancouver friend Rick Scott.

Rick Scott, a much loved children's songwriter and entertainer, festival compere and probably the best Appalachian mountain dulcimer player I've come across, is also a member of the legendary BC band, Pied Pumkin, whose final day showcase at the downtown Virgin Megastore provided the perfect end to a wonderful week of non-stop music.

Photo: Shari Ulrich, Rick Scott & Joe Mock of 'Pied Pumkin' get
the children dancing (2/18/2001)

Rick featured heavily in my week long stay in Vancouver, notably at my first 'showcase' experience, not at the Conference hotel, but at The Carnegie Community Centre, in a much poorer part of town. This turned out to be one of the most memorable of the whole week. Described as 'The Downtown Eastside's Livingroom', The Centre, run by volunteers "to serve people at the very margins of the community", holds a regular weekly morning 'song circle', open to locals and passers through. With the Folk Alliance in town, this week their circle was joined by Rick Scott and other notable Canadian folk musicians including Valdy, and was hosted by local CBC Radio host, David Grierson, who was recording the session for his 'On the Island' show. To quote Rick again, "This is real community".

I could rattle on for hours about the many 'new to me' acts I would love to see touring the UK in the near future - "That was just the best!" was my most over-used phrase during the week - but the thing that probably struck me the most was the more-than-healthy state of Canadian fiddle playing - from Pied Pumkin's Shari Ulrich (also a fine 'operatic gargler' - you had to be there!) to Prince Edward Island's Richard Wood, whose set at The World Ceilidh with Cape Breton's J P Cormier, joined for an encore by Danu , was nothing short of stunning, to April Verch, whose accompanied step dancing beggars belief. Well, I'm 'yeehahed out'!

Photo: Richard Wood with members of Danu (2/15/2001)

But perhaps my 'all round' favourite evening showcase was, fittingly, the one presented on the final night by the Vancouver Committee for Folk Alliance 2001. Once again, compered beautifully by the humorous Rick Scott with fellow Pied Pumkin Shari Ulrich, this turned out to be a richly rewarding journey, from the Chinese traditional music of the fabulous Orchid Ensemble to the "earthy primal groove" of traditional Cuban dance twins The Puentes Brothers, via the totally amazing and unique voice of Canadian songwriter Roy Forbes (the artist formerly known as Bim), the Celtic, bluegrass, Latin and roots fusion of Juno nominees The Paperboys, the three young "ramblin' gals" The Be Good Tanyas (a name for the future if ever I heard one!) and (I'm running out of superlatives) the dazzling Brazilian-born Vancouver resident Celso Machado, who, on Spanish guitar, kora and an amazing array of percussion instruments (including his own cheeks!) was undoubtedly one of the finest musicians I've ever seen. Thank you Vancouver Committee, and the new friends I met along the way who were all so hospitable. "Oh Canada" indeed!

For those wanting a more balanced view of this years FA Conference, here's a good article by fellow Folktrainer, Whitney Smith, for Toronto's 'Now' magazine and check out CBC Radio's 'Backstage Pass' site with features, interviews and sound files.

Before I go back to bed, hope you'll check out the UK Gigs sections below. This month we have a veritable influx of Americana coming over, including Grammy Winner (for Best Traditional Folk Album), Dave Alvin.

Wherever you're bound this month, have a great time.

Paul pdcmusic@freeuk.com

PS. If you would like to receive 'Across the Pond' as a monthly 'plain text e-mail' please let me know.

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