MAIN STAGE FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 4
Art Stoyles Band
The ART STOYLES BAND is an energetic group brought together 11 years ago by accordionist Art Stoyles, winner of the 2004 Stomping Tom Connors Award from the ECMA and well known for his Portuguese/European repertoire, musical virtuosity and singular style - no other Newfoundlander plays like Art. Other members of the band include Bob Rutherford (accordion), Gayle Tapper (harp), Johanna Rocco (fiddle) and Len Penton (guitar/vocals/bodhran/whistles).
The ART STOYLES BAND is an energetic group brought together 11 years ago by accordionist Art Stoyles, winner of the 2004 Stomping Tom Connors Award from the ECMA and well known for his Portuguese/European repertoire, musical virtuosity and singular style - no other Newfoundlander plays like Art. Other members of the band include Bob Rutherford (accordion), Gayle Tapper (harp), Johanna Rocco (fiddle) and Len Penton (guitar/vocals/bodhran/whistles).
Shirley Montague
Shirley Montague is a singer/songwriter whose career spans recordings, television, radio and live performance. Originally from North West River, Labrador, she currently resides in the community of Norris Point. She has been praised for her unique guitar styling, and her voice has been compared to that of Joan Baez, Patsy Cline and Emmy Lou Harris. Shirley serves on the board of the province's music industry association and is gifted with one of the Province's most recognizable voices. Her most recent recording, Montage, showcases her versatility as a songwriter, and takes the listener on an emotional roller-coaster with humour, melancoly and points in between.
Shirley Montague is a singer/songwriter whose career spans recordings, television, radio and live performance. Originally from North West River, Labrador, she currently resides in the community of Norris Point. She has been praised for her unique guitar styling, and her voice has been compared to that of Joan Baez, Patsy Cline and Emmy Lou Harris. Shirley serves on the board of the province's music industry association and is gifted with one of the Province's most recognizable voices. Her most recent recording, Montage, showcases her versatility as a songwriter, and takes the listener on an emotional roller-coaster with humour, melancoly and points in between.
Dermot O'Reilly
& Fergus O'Byrne
Since the disbanding of the wildly popular RYAN'S FANCY, these two founding members have pursued very active solo careers in the music business. Both have gone on to participate in all aspects of the entertainment industry including television and radio appearances, recording and producing albums, and extensive touring, performing live concerts and club appearances throughout Canada and other parts of the world. On occasions when these verteran performers join forces they present a memorable evening of entertainment - seeing them live is a treat. (website)
Since the disbanding of the wildly popular RYAN'S FANCY, these two founding members have pursued very active solo careers in the music business. Both have gone on to participate in all aspects of the entertainment industry including television and radio appearances, recording and producing albums, and extensive touring, performing live concerts and club appearances throughout Canada and other parts of the world. On occasions when these verteran performers join forces they present a memorable evening of entertainment - seeing them live is a treat. (website)
Amelia Curran
Amelia Curran was already a well-known actor, singer/songwriter and pianist in St. John's when she arrived in Nova Scotia in 2000 where she recorded and released Barricade, nominated for a 2002 ECMA Female Artist of the Year Award. Amelia and her 7-piece band, the SenseAmelia Project, played extensively throughout the Atlantic Provinces and recorded trip down little road, and earned her a second ECMA nomination (Rock Group of the Year - 2003). Amelia's third and solo album, Lullabies for Barflies, secured her nomination for a third ECMA Award (2004) and a Nova Scotia Music Week Award (2003), both for Female Artist of the Year. Since then Amelia formed and has performed with THE MERCY BAND. (website)
Amelia Curran was already a well-known actor, singer/songwriter and pianist in St. John's when she arrived in Nova Scotia in 2000 where she recorded and released Barricade, nominated for a 2002 ECMA Female Artist of the Year Award. Amelia and her 7-piece band, the SenseAmelia Project, played extensively throughout the Atlantic Provinces and recorded trip down little road, and earned her a second ECMA nomination (Rock Group of the Year - 2003). Amelia's third and solo album, Lullabies for Barflies, secured her nomination for a third ECMA Award (2004) and a Nova Scotia Music Week Award (2003), both for Female Artist of the Year. Since then Amelia formed and has performed with THE MERCY BAND. (website)
Mahers Bahers
Frank Maher (4-stop accordion) of The Battery in St. John's is a legendary figure ("so is a werewolf", says Frank), and recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards for his incredible musicianship and significant contributions to traditional music. Joining Frank are his good friends Jean Hewson (guitar), Christina Smith (fiddle) and Rick West (bodhran). Evolved from Saturday sessions at the Ship Inn, MAHERS BAHERS has performed from St. John's to Vancouver revelling in the playing of tunes extracted from the deep dark recesses of Frank's brain with great pace, passion and humour. At the tender age of 71, Frank released his first solo CD, Mahervelous, garnering two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations in 2005. (website)
Frank Maher (4-stop accordion) of The Battery in St. John's is a legendary figure ("so is a werewolf", says Frank), and recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards for his incredible musicianship and significant contributions to traditional music. Joining Frank are his good friends Jean Hewson (guitar), Christina Smith (fiddle) and Rick West (bodhran). Evolved from Saturday sessions at the Ship Inn, MAHERS BAHERS has performed from St. John's to Vancouver revelling in the playing of tunes extracted from the deep dark recesses of Frank's brain with great pace, passion and humour. At the tender age of 71, Frank released his first solo CD, Mahervelous, garnering two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations in 2005. (website)
Rowdy Blues
ROWDY BLUES is a tour through the back roads of the Blues.
Classic Piedmont blues, gritty Delta blues and swinging Chicago blues.
Acoustic guitars, wailing harmonica and stinging slide guitar delivered
by top musicians of the St. John's blues scene. The wealth of
blues history in this band is impressive and it all comes out on the
stage. From the London blues revival, to the Illinois university scene,
to a front porch in Alabama, these folks have been there. And keep going
back.... (website)
ROWDY BLUES is a tour through the back roads of the Blues.
Classic Piedmont blues, gritty Delta blues and swinging Chicago blues.
Acoustic guitars, wailing harmonica and stinging slide guitar delivered
by top musicians of the St. John's blues scene. The wealth of
blues history in this band is impressive and it all comes out on the
stage. From the London blues revival, to the Illinois university scene,
to a front porch in Alabama, these folks have been there. And keep going
back.... (website)
The Jason Whelan Band
Jason Whelan has been involved in the music scene for 15 years. As both a performer and producer, he has worked with the best of the best in the industry from Roger Howse to Pamela Morgan as sideman, to founding member of such groups as CONNAMARA and THE PUNTERS. He has played with THE PLANKERDOWN BAND and THE DAMPER DOGS with Fergus O'Byrne and has backed Irish fiddler Seamus Creagh live and on the recently released Island to Island CD. Jason has also engineered or produced over twenty recordings. He released his own CD, Blur, in Jan 2003 and is currently working on a follow-up CD for fall 2006. Tonight he is joined by veteran performers Billy Sutton (drums/acccordion), Greg Walsh (accordion), Patrick Moran (fiddle), Don Walsh (guitar) and Brian Kenny (bass). (website)
Jason Whelan has been involved in the music scene for 15 years. As both a performer and producer, he has worked with the best of the best in the industry from Roger Howse to Pamela Morgan as sideman, to founding member of such groups as CONNAMARA and THE PUNTERS. He has played with THE PLANKERDOWN BAND and THE DAMPER DOGS with Fergus O'Byrne and has backed Irish fiddler Seamus Creagh live and on the recently released Island to Island CD. Jason has also engineered or produced over twenty recordings. He released his own CD, Blur, in Jan 2003 and is currently working on a follow-up CD for fall 2006. Tonight he is joined by veteran performers Billy Sutton (drums/acccordion), Greg Walsh (accordion), Patrick Moran (fiddle), Don Walsh (guitar) and Brian Kenny (bass). (website)
Colleen Power
Bilingual Newfoundland singer/songwriter Colleen Power is best known for her witty lyrics, irresistible melodies and disarming stage presence. Her debut CD, Lucky You Are (2000) helped establish Colleen as one of Canada's premiere songwriters. She won Female and Alternative Artist of the Year at the 2001 Music NL Awards and was nominated for three ECMA awards in 2002. Colleen's second CD, Face and Eyes, was released in 2004 and received two ECMA nominations as well as an Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Award from Music NL. Currently Colleen is writing songs for her full length French recording, Vol de Terre-Neuve. She is backed up by a terrific band - Dave and Geoff Panting, Aneirin Thomas and Curtis Andrews. (website)
Bilingual Newfoundland singer/songwriter Colleen Power is best known for her witty lyrics, irresistible melodies and disarming stage presence. Her debut CD, Lucky You Are (2000) helped establish Colleen as one of Canada's premiere songwriters. She won Female and Alternative Artist of the Year at the 2001 Music NL Awards and was nominated for three ECMA awards in 2002. Colleen's second CD, Face and Eyes, was released in 2004 and received two ECMA nominations as well as an Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Award from Music NL. Currently Colleen is writing songs for her full length French recording, Vol de Terre-Neuve. She is backed up by a terrific band - Dave and Geoff Panting, Aneirin Thomas and Curtis Andrews. (website)