Did you hear FredRock‘s release this morning? The festival, held on the grounds of the Rugby Club on Fredericton’s northside, has grown to 3 days (August 9-11th) and their 1st announcement already has people buzzin’! BUCKCHERRY, CITY AND COLOUR, K-OS, HOLLERADO and MONSTER TRUCK are just the beginning! Their 3 day passes go on sale May 16th @ 10:00 am. Stay tuned for even more announcements through May.

Tomorrow morning Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival will be announcing artists making their Harvest debut in 2013. Their full program is scheduled for release next Tuesday, May 7th and tickets go on sale Saturday, May 11th.

Paddlefest, happening in beautiful St. Andrews, will kick off the 2013 festival season for me. The May long weekend will have Garrett Mason & Keith Hallett, Ross Neilsen Band, Olympic Symphonium, Grand Theft Bus, The Belle Comedians and more providing me with a sweet sound track to my little seaside escape!

Another festival I am keeping an ear open for is Summer’s End Folk Festival in Grand Manan at the end of August. I hear tell they are releasing their line up sometime this week and since I got rave reviews about last year’s event I want to try to work this into my plans.

So tell me, what festival are you most looking forward to this summer? Do you have any recommendations?

Because there is ALOT of music to pick from this weekend!! Here are a few examples …..

Tonight (Thursday) you can enjoy a blend of classic country music with modern satire as Ryan Cook takes the stage at Cedar Tree Cafe

Friday night the Playhouse is the place to be as Thom Swift  celebrates his latest release The Fortunate Few with special guest Matt Andersen featuring Geoff, Brian Bourne & Kevin Breit. You know these guys will be having a great time and you are invited to enjoy it with them!

Saturday night head over to the Charlotte Street Arts Centre for the Justin Rutledge and The Olympic Symphonium show.

And here is a more complete list (to the best of my knowledge) of all your options- click on the events in the calendar listing to the right of the screen for more details

Thursday
Ryan Cook @ Cedar Tree Cafe
Open Jam w/Colton Craft & Genre @ iRock
3 Inches of Blood & Goatwhore @ LAVA Vodka Bar
The Waking Night/Jordan Doucet @ The Capital
Mad Mary @ Dolan’s Pub
Friday
Thom Swift CD Release @ The Playhouse
Tay Creek Folk Festival Event @ James Joyce Irish Pub
The Stanfields @ LAVA Vodka Bar
Mad Mary @ Dolan’s Pub
The Burning Hell/Floogs/The Highest Order @ The Capital
Saturday
Les Hay Babies @ Memorial Hall
Tim Chiasson @ Cedar Tree Cafe
Justin Rutledge & Olympic Symphonium @ Charlotte St Arts Centre
Tristan Horncastle & Southern Drive @ iRock
We’re Doomed! @ The Capital
Mad Mary @ Dolan’s Pub

Canada’s hardest working blues rawk musician, Ross Neilsen, is building excitment around the release of his latest album, Resurrection, by sharing one new song a week! Tomorrow he’ll send out the 4th and you can find it on Ross’s website. As you may have heard, Ross and the band (Karl & Jim ‘The Temp’) made the trek to Louisiana in January this year to record the new album at Dockside Studios with producer Anders Osborne. I’m liking what I’ve heard so far and look forward to getting my copy of the CD next month.  Here is last Tuesday’s selection for your listening pleasure.

And have you heard of Ross’s unique CD release party plans to celebrate Resurrection? Join him and the band at York Street Train Station in Fredericton on Saturday, May 11th for an exclusive dinner experience complete with food, drink, entertainment and your own copy of the new album to take home! Things kick off with gumbo appies, a meal of crawdad etouffe stuffed chicken (imported straight from Louisiana!) with maple glazed sweet potatoes and fiddle heads AND desserts provided by Hot Lollies! Wine and Picaroons will be also be served (included). And once your belly is full and your glass is topped up, the band will cap the night with a live performance of the album. The fun starts at 7:00pm and runs to 11:00pm. Limited to 50 tix and NO TIX AT THE DOOR.

Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at www.pledgemusic.com/projects/ross or contact Ross for help with the transaction.

Seriously?! You will be getting much bang for your buck here and its a great opportunity to show your support & celebrate the success of this very hard working musician!

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the spring weather these last couple days and as the snow disappears and the sun beams stronger I am reinvigorated in my passion for the live music experience. Time to come out of hibernation!

I traveled to Portland, Maine with some good friends last weekend to see Todd Snider in concert. I have to assume many of you have not yet heard of him since he doesn’t often make the mainstream radio playlists however I suggest you look him up if you appreciate the real deal in a songwriting storyteller. He has toured and performed extensively with John Prine and has released 14+ albums since 1994. I could go on and list his successes but what I really wanted to mention was how moved I was by experiencing his live show. I shed tears and busted out laughing throughout the two full sets he performed for us. On the trip home we discussed what made it such a great show and agreed it was filled with intention. He intentionally set the stage for the show with flowers, incense and decorative art. He was present in his performance and authentic with his audience. These are the qualities that hook me and why I continue to seek out a live music experience as often as possible.

In my quest for opportunity to participate in that exchange of energy between musician and audience, I will be at the James Joyce Irish Pub on Thursday night to enjoy the offerings of local musicians Sissy & the Hobos and featuring Josh Bravener. Sissy & the Hobos are a collaboration of talented musicians providing beautiful harmonies and originality in their performance. With the Guitar brothers adding even more energy and creativity, Sissy is sizzling and receiving well deserved accolades. Josh Bravener delivers an enthusiastic performance and is excited about his recent recording and looking forward to the release of his first album. You can expect to hear both creative covers and well crafted originals from both bands and they always show up to entertain their audience!

The measure of a good musical experience for me is ‘Did the music evoke any emotions? Did I feel anything?” It might be feelings of joy, being lonesome, or triumph but if I felt something than the artist has succeeded in my mind. It is an awesome craft to put the right words with the right music to the right timing to evoke an emotion and provide a wide range of people with something they can relate to. In my opinion, these guys are succeeding and I want you to experience them for yourself!