MUSICFEST 2008 LINE-UP

The Wailers with Elan!

Considered the greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition, The Wailers formed in Jamaica in 1968, and have sold over 250 million records and played to an estimated 24 million people around the world - and this summer they're headed to the Comox Valley! Outside of their groundbreaking work with Bob Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. The current lineup features Elan and MusicFest is thrilled to welcome him back to the Festival after a show stopping performance in 2007. Elan was born in Los Angeles to an Israeli/Moroccan father and Jewish/Native American mother. A chance meeting with the Wailers led the band to be struck by the similarity between Elan's and Bob Marley's voices, and they recruited the Los Angelean as the Wailers' lead singer.

What ties it all together is Taj's abiding interest in musical discovery, particularly in tracing many American musical forms back to their roots in Africa and Europe.
Following his passion, Taj has spent time in the Caribbean, West Africa, Hawaii, Europe, the South Pacific, Australia, South America, and all over the U.S. His music reflects his global perspective, incorporating sounds from everywhere he's lived and traveled.

The Legendary Earl Scruggs
In all the history of bluegrass music there are only two people, without whom bluegrass would not exist as it does today: one is Bill Monroe, the other is Earl Scruggs. In all the discussions of who was the most important, John Hartford said it best, "Here's the way I feel about it. Everybody's all worried about who invented the style and it's obvious that three-finger banjo pickers have been around a long time-maybe since 1840. But my feeling about it is that if it wasn't for Earl Scruggs, you wouldn't be worried about who invented it." The same can also be said about Monroe and perhaps others, as well. But few will doubt the importance of Earl Scruggs and his "fancy banjo". On February 10, 2008, Scruggs was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Deservedly so!

Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas has been described as the Jimi Hendrix and the Charlie Parker of acoustic music. The New York Times has called him "dobro's matchless contemporary master." He has been nominated for twenty Grammy Awards, won nine, as well as countless other awards. Though he got his start in bluegrass, he has made an impact in fields ranging from rock'n'roll to jazz, from blues to Celtic, from mainstream country to contemporary classical. Douglas' legacy includes playing in such bands as Alison Krauss & Union Station, the Whites, J.D. Crowe & the New South, the Country Gentlemen and Strength in Numbers. Having played on more than 1500 albums, he has defined the sounds of many diverse recordings including discs released by Garth Brooks, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Reba McEntire and the late Ray Charles.

The Weakerthans
Critically hailed as one of Canada’s top indie bands and impossible to categorize, the Weakerthans have developed a strong and dedicated following that crosses the boundaries of genres and fashions. Labels like Punk or Alternative or Rock may seem appropriate, but they would hope Honest would do. "We write the only songs we know how to write: songs that reflect the place we come from, musically and geographically, the community we live in, and the struggle for any one person to connect with another in a meaningful way." The Weakerthans appeal to a broad audience with musical influences including punk, folk, country, show-tunes, union hymns, rock, nursery school anthems and beyond. Lyrically, they concentrate on issues of alienation, hope, and survival within a society riddled with injustice and a culture commodified in every possible way.

The Sparrow Quartet with Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
The ladies of Uncle Earl all have separate side projects that keep them hopping on their time off from being a ground-breaking old time quintet. For multi-instrumentalist Abigail Washburn, her latest side project is called The Sparrow Quartet, and features none other than bluegrass banjo legend Bela Fleck, as well as Ben Sollee (cello) and Casey Driessen (fiddle). The Sparrow Quartet toured Tibet recently, before returning home to play a set at the Kent State Folk Festival. This gathering of superlative musicians with adventure on their minds, leaps boundaries and busts genres like there's no tomorrow. First assembled for several U.S. government-sponsored tours of China and Tibet, the quartet explores a mixture of old-time, folk, and bluegrass numbers, as well as intriguing original compositions. A further dimension is added to the music by a recurring Chinese influence: the country's traditional music is deftly incorporated into a number of old-timey "Sino-American folk" tunes, including several showstopping numbers sung in Mandarin.

Elliot Brood
Elliot Brood has never been an easy outfit to describe. Since forming in late 2002 their songs have been labeled “blackgrass”, "death country", or even “urban hill billy”, none of which truly capture the essence or the energy of the band. With Elliot Brood, the story telling is paramount. The band presents tales from the dustier side of life in dimly lit rooms with half empty bottles. Rhythmic banjo led stomps and abusive acoustic strumming marry old time thump to paint the scenes and characters that drive their stories. Mark Sasso’s scratchy vocal delivery seems almost impossible at times ranging from whispered lullabies to nightmarish screams. Their energetic and racous live performances have, and continue to captivate audiences everywhere.

Baka Beyond
The best of 'world fusion', these musicians from 6 countries in the Celtic fringes of Europe and the West coast of Africa joined together to play the most original live world fusion sound around. Baka Beyond were originally inspired by Martin Cradick & Su Hart's visits to the Baka Forest People in Cameroon. While there they played music with and recorded the Baka resulting in two albums- a mix of music written with & inspired by the Baka.

Chuck Brodsky
Chuck Brodsky is a down to earth musical storyteller. His dry, barb-witted social commentary combined with a deep underlying compassion, affirms that the best stories are the little things in the lives of everyday people trying to muddle through with some grace. His gift as a writer is to infuse these stories with humanity and humor, making them resonate profoundly with his listeners. His spoken introductions to his songs can be as spellbinding as his colorful lyrics, which he brings to life with a well-travelled voice and a delivery that's natural and conversational. "Reflects the good old U.S. of A., warts and all... colorful tales...reminds us there's a whole wide world outside our doors." Rolling Stone.
www.chuckbrodsky.com

The Carrivick Sisters
These 18 year old twin sisters from South Devon, England are stellar songwriters who play a variety of bluegrass instruments (guitar, mandolin, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies. Their varied musical interests have resulted in a variety of genres being infused into their music. "One of the best young duos I've heard. The girls sing and play as one and their work is characterised by great musicality. They are not only very talented instrumentalists and singers but they write really good songs as well." - Ralph McTell

Dala
Everything's okay! Young people ARE making great music. Whew. Dala. Duo. Divine. Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther formed Dala during the summer of 2002, making use of their talents on guitar and piano. Amanda was born with an innate understanding of music, and has rightfully earned her title as the "Harmony Machine". Sheila studied piano with the Royal Conservatory for 11 years. Combined, their vocal range spans from the darkest depths of the scale to undiscovered, and frightening heights.

Dirk Powell
Dirk Powell has expanded on the deeply rooted sounds of his Appalachian heritage to become one of the preeminent traditional American musicians of his generation. He's recorded and performed with artists such as Loretta Lynn, playing on her Grammy-winning release "Van Lear Rose," Sting, Jack White, Levon Helm, Jewel, T-Bone Burnett, Ralph Stanley, and Linda Ronstadt, among others. His ability to unite the essence of his culture with modern sensibilities has led to work with many of today's greatest film directors, including Anthony Minghella, Spike Lee, Ang Lee, Victor Nuñez, and Edward Burns. Dirk selected and arranged traditional Appalachian material for Riverdance: The Show, in which he also performed on fiddle. For the past several years, he has also enjoyed a strong collaboration with Tim O'Brien, resulting in acclaimed recordings such as "Songs From The Mountain," and performed with his Cajun group Balfa Toujours.

Qristina and Quinn Bachand
This brother and sister duo has been receiving rave reviews from audiences all the way from Vancouver Island to Cape Breton Island! Born and raised in Victoria, B.C. Qristina and Quinn Bachand come from a family with a strong musical heritage that has deep roots in France & Northern Spain. Seventeen year old Qristina is a solid & versatile fiddler with an expressive style that rooted in tradition. Blessed with an acute ear and an intense sense of rhythm, 11 year old Quinn is rapidly establishing himself as a gifted guitar accompanist. They consistently deliver a spirited performance that features their enthusiasm and love of Celtic music. Their repertoire includes Irish, Scottish, French, Cape Breton, Old-Time & Appalachian tunes!

Rory Block
Heralded as “a living landmark” , “a national treasure” , and “one of the greatest living acoustic blues artists” , Rory Block has committed her life and her career to preserving the Delta blues tradition and bringing it to life for 21st century audiences around the world. A traditionalist and an innovator at the same time, she wields a fiery and haunting guitar and vocal style that redefines the boundaries of acoustic blues and folk. The New York Times declared: “Her playing is perfect, her singing otherworldly as she wrestles with ghosts, shadows and legends.”

Maeve Mackinnon
Maeve Mackinnon is one of Scotland's foremost young Gaelic singers. Born and bred in Glasgow, with Skye and Swedish ancestry, Maeve spent her infancy learning to walk and talk at peace marches in the 1980s, and remembers Dick Gaughan as being the first live singer she ever heard. Childhood holidays on the Isle of Jura and her discovery of the Celtic supergroup Capercaillie nurtured her interest in Gaelic song and folk music. Maeve is fast making a name for herself with her fresh and contemporary interpretations of traditional Gaelic and non-Gaelic material. "An achingly beautiful voice" Greenman Review, 2007
www.maevemackinnon.com

Matt Andersen
New Bunswick's Matt Andersen has an enigmatic personality that is coupled with a larger than life showmanship that has been earning him a fervent and steadfast audience wherever he graces the stage.Matt's sprawling Blues, Roots and Rock Musical hybrid with his sorrowing and soulful voice has sparked a phenomenal buzz on the east coast and that grass roots word of mouth can not be contained any longer! Matt Andersen is a Very Real, Rare,Raw talent and career artist that is vital to our musical landscape... Find out what we already know.
www.stubbyfingers.ca

Morgan Davis
Morgan Davis has been on the road travelling across Canada, the United States and Europe for nearly four decades. His performances draw from a rich tradition of country blues, as well as his own contemporary songs infused with wit and a large dose of humour. Originally from Detroit, Davis grew up listening to a prolific mix of rhythm and blues. The music of Ike and Tina Turner,Chuck Berry and Fats Domino was in the air. Over the years he has had the privilege of opening for Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, John Hammond, and Eric Bibb. Morgan has shared the stage with Dr. John, Colin Linden, James Harmon, Sue Foley, Ray Bonneville and the late Dutch Mason. Morgan's songwriting talent received international recognition when Colin James covered his searing ballad "Why'd You Lie".
www.morgandavis.com

Eneida Marta
Eneida Marta has been described as having one of the most beautiful female African voices of present-day artists. She mixes her spectacular voice with rhythms like Gumbe, Morna, Singa, Tina-flamenco, Afro-beat, etc. and sings in Mandinga, Fula, Criol, Futa-fula, and Portuguese. Eneida Marta has always been fascinated by the traditional music of her country, Guinea-Bissau. Its words and music take their inspiration from everyday life. The songs celebrate the brief intense moments of life, the traditions of solidarity between people, especially among women the courage to live through hard times and the struggle to stand up for love and your dreams.
www.griotsound.com/webeneida/

Enoch Kent
Scotland born and now Canada-based, this legendary interpreter and songsmith's love of traditional music was first inspired by his family. His father played the concertina, and popular songs, Scottish songs and old-time favourites were often sung at home. Enoch Kent's own songwriting craft was further developed through The Singers Club (aka "The Critics Group") which he co-founded with internationally renowned folksingers, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger. Since immigrating to Canada in the 60s, Enoch performed in many folk clubs and festivals across the country to wide acclaim. Enoch was recently nominated for the Canadian Folk Music Awards category of Best Singer-Traditional. www.enochkent.ca

Pacific Curls
This high-energy female trio present an eclectic and progressive mix of world roots music with Maori, Pacific and Celtic influences. Pacific Curls show off their consummate musicianship with their impressive array of instruments, including taonga puoro (Maori instruments), ukelele, guitar, cajon (drum), tambourine, stompbox and the fiddle. Pacific Curls is a group that will capitivate,excite and leave you wanting more ...! ".extraordinary, spiritually uplifting yet witty - their voices made in heaven and instrumental skills to match. The sense of a strong and vibrant musical traditional living on in the trio's original songs and melodies and their arrangements was all pervasive... Worth a trip to New Zealand just to see them.." - Wombat Magazine, Australia.
www.pacificcurls.com

Marc Atkinson Trio

Multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger/producer Marc Atkinson is co-founder, composer and performer in the acclaimed band, The Bills and the leader and composer of the internationally renowned Marc Atkinson Trio. The music of this virtuosic group is melodically captivating, sensually charged and ferociously, technically awe-inspiring. Embracing a lifetime of musical influences, Marc and the Trio have just released their fourth CD, The Marc Atkinson Trio IV, praised as the finest yet. The Trio has toured North America, England and Europe and has received standing ovations everywhere they perform from the Montreal Jazz Festival to the Vancouver International Folk Festival to DjangoFest Northwest. Marc Atkinson is backed by Joey Smith on bass and Reuben Wier or Chris Frye on rhythm guitar.

Kobo Town

Kobo Town is a Toronto-based group whose music draws its inspiration from traditional calypso, roots reggae and dub poetry. Named after the vibrant and turbulent neighbourhood in old Port-of-Spain where Calypso was born, the group strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. "Merging calypso, roots reggae, acoustic performance, dub studio techniques and Trinidadian/Jamaican cultures, Kobo Town is a unique, stylistic, transnational composite of rhythm, poetry and activist journalism."- Brent Hagerman, Exclaim!

Juane Toujours

Like their home city of Brussels, Jaune Toujours is an explosive mix of cultures, languages and styles of music: rock, chanson, ska, gypsy, balkan or brassband, anything goes. The band has an excellent live reputation in Belgium and abroad. Jaune Toujours play with their guts and aim at the audience’s feet. Moreover, their intelligent and poetic lyrics translate a sincere social commitment. Led by singer Piet Maris, with his energetically-pumped small accordeon plus a hot rhythm unit of double bass and drums and a wild and incisive trumpets and reeds section, they have a very fully-formed, complete sound and rhythmic approach whose components and inspiration are difficult to pin down. Not like a fusionist thing where now you hear this influence, now another; this is so natural that it feels like it's always been there...

Tao Ravao and Vincent Bucher
From Madagascar beaches to Louisiana mangroves, Tao Ravao and Vincent Bucher's songs open up freedom tracks. They roam along with the wind, blowing harmonica melodies ; they tumble down after zebus chase on brisk kabossy rythm ; and they indulge in delightful tropical siesta's drowsiness. With a deep sense of humanity, those songs carry the best seeds for love. When you listen to these guys, you figure the soul of their ancestors flying above their afro-blues. This exotic duo is Tao Ravao, a malagasy singer/guitarist, accompanied by the talented Vincent Bucher on the harmonica.

Patti Lamoureux
Now a Comox Valley resident (lucky for us!), Patti is a 3-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Champion. Originally from Manitoba, Patti as the first female and first westerner to accomplish this feat. She has been playing fiddle since the age of 4 and recorded her first album at the age 12. A 7-time Manitoba champion and 3-time Grand North American Champion, Patti continues to captivate audiences with her incredible fiddling skills.

Short Story Long
You only have to hear Shane Koyczan read once to be hooked - humane, furious, sexy, political, tragic and so funny that you’ll laugh through your tears. With musical accompaniment from the Short Story Long, Shane moves from subdued, deep, sad love poetry to power chord hip-hop meta-meter. He brings enormous vitality and virtuosity to every performance.His warmth, wit and sincerity are a hit with crowds of all ages. His lyricism inspires audiences and readers alike because Shane’s poems speak directly to the heart. MusicFest is thrilled to welcome Shane back after a memorable and moving performace with Tonnes of Fun University (TOFU) in 2005

Mansa Sissoko & Jayme Stone
Jayme Stone is a juno award winning accomplished banjo player “bridging jazz, bluegrass and everything in between with smart compositions, playful jams and a great sense of purpose. It’s music that’s difficult to describe, but easy to love”. CBC Radio. Mansa Sissoko is one of the new generation of singer-songwriters from Mali, West Africa. A griot by birth, Mansa weaves his music around the sound of traditional instruments and lyrics which encourage people in their day-to-day life. He is unique in that he sings and accompanies himself on the kora, a 21-stringed harp.