St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage

 

Sandra Whitworth, president and artistic director of the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, which wrapped up its 2014-15 musical season in early June, was all smiles during an interview in late June.

“We had three sold out shows this season,” Whitworth said, “The Great Lakes Swimmers, Harry Manx and Madison Violet. We saw a 15 percent increase in audience attendance as compared to last year. And we have kept our funding and even received a new grant this year.” 

In June, MP Guy Lauzon presented the SLAS board of directors with $25,000 in funding over two years from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. The municipality of South Dundas continues to support the SLAS. 

“We also received a new grant this year, which is from the SOCAN Foundation. SOCAN stands for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada. It was our first time applying and it was nice to have some success.”

“In our fiscal year, we saw moderate growth, and in terms of the actual season, a dramatic upswing in concert attendance numbers. Our numbers are good and we are not compromising our artistic vision,” Whitworth said. 

There were some unexpected challenges for the Stage to deal with this year. 

In early spring, the board was told by the Operating Engineers that the Morrisburg Meeting Centre, which has been home to SLAS concerts since the volunteer organization first began more than seven years ago, would no longer be available.

“It was something of a crisis losing our venue,” Whitworth said. 

But the Stage found a new and welcoming home at Upper Canada Playhouse. The SLAS people sat down with artistic director Donnie Bowes and the Playhouse board of directors, and worked out a schedule which will permit the Stage to continue to present top quality musicians to the community and to visitors to South Dundas. Concerts will now take place in the outstanding facilities  the Playhouse offers.

“We are, I think, with our increasing audience numbers, striking a nice balance between grants and our revenue. And we still continue to keep our concert prices very affordable and competitive,” said Whitworth.

“We are looking at the new line up for our eight concert series, and the artists’ names will be announced later this summer. The first concert at the Playhouse will be October 10. We are also hoping to start more of our school workshops programs in the community. We continue to explore a lot of possibilities.”

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage board is made up of volunteers who devote many hours to bringing top flight artists to South Dundas. On June 25, at the AGM, it was confirmed that the current board will continue for next year.  Sandra Whitworth remains president and artistic director, Tony McCadden is vice president and secretary, Derek Hunter is treasurer and Eric Pietersma is the member at large.

[…]

 

MP Guy Lauzon was on hand at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage on Saturday, June 6, to present the board of directors with $25,000 in funding over two years from the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. 

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage Performances,” Lauzon said, in making the presentation. “Congratulations to the Stage’s organizers and volunteers, who developed this event from a showcase for local artists to an eight-show season that highlights both emerging and professional artists.” 

Sandra Whitworth of the SLAS accepted the cheque on behalf of the board. “The funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage plays a critical part in ensuring that we have the capacity to present high-calibre musicians as part of our annual music and workshop series. We are enormously grateful for the support.”

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, run completely by volunteers, provides a showcase for touring professional musicians and for up and coming emerging artists. The Stage gives audiences, who might otherwise have to travel to large urban centres, the chance to enjoy live, original music right here in South Dundas. The Stage has also arranged workshops with several of these visiting professional artists for  amateur area musicians. 

In recent months, the SLAS has also established a program which brings performers into local schools, introducing a wide range of participatory music to children and their teachers. Educational  musical outreach is an area that the Stage is hoping to develop fully in the future.

Saturday, June 6, was a memorable occasion for the SLAS in other ways as well.

Madison Violet, Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern, with Jakub Zapotonczny, performed before a sold out house, the third sold out concert in the Stage’s 2014-15 concert series. 

This was also the final concert which will  be held at the Operating Engineers, the Morrisburg Meeting Centre, the Stage’s venue since it first launched several years ago. In September, as the 2015-16 concert series kicks off, the SLAS will transfer to the Upper Canada Playhouse venue. 

The St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage board will formally announce the musical artists’ line up and performance dates later in the summer.  

[…]

 

When the 156 women who were part of 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas came together last Thursday night, May 7 at the Upper Canada Playhouse, they came together to select three of a proposed 10 local charities/organizations to receive their donations of $100 per woman or $15,600.

They were also delighted to learn that they had been joined by the Scotiabank, Morrisburg’s Community Matching Fund program which brought their donation to $20,000.

Receiving the top vote in the 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas first-time initiative, and a $10,000 donation, was the Dundas County Hospice, headquartered in Williamsburg. Hospice serves residents of Dundas County who have been diagnosed with terminal illness. It provides the terminally ill and their families various in-home services and programs designed to help them remain at home as long as possible. 

Recently, Hospice, which operates out of the J.W. MacIntosh Support Centre, purchased a home in Williamsburg. In addition to providing space for its head office, the home will be a welcoming space for the Hospice day program which provides clients time away from homes and their caregivers.

The second place donation of $6,000 went to the J.W. MacIntosh Senior Support Centre in Williamsburg, and third place and $4,000 was donated to the South Dundas Splash Pad project at the Children’s Park in Morrisburg.

Each of the 10 organizations nominated were in attendance to market their proposal before the voting. 

They included St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, South Dundas Youth Centre, The Dundas County Food Bank, MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre, WDMH Foundation, Optimists Club, Dundas County Community Living, Dundas County Hospice, The Carman House Museum and The Splash Pad.

After the women completed their first round vote the top three (this year four because there was a tie) organizations were given the opportunity to speak on their organization’s project.

In making his presentation to the assembled women, Hospice Board Chair, Bob Pitruniak,  said “I think the 100 Women idea is terrific and regardless of who you choose, all the people of South Dundas are going to benefit.”

In addition to explaining the work of Dundas County Hospice, he told the group of the recent purchase of the home in Williamsburg.  “We need a new furnace, we need central air, we need a new water heater and we need kitchen appliances. That is our project.”

MacIntosh Senior Support Centre, executive director Janet Levere explained the Centre has been supporting seniors in the community for over 24 years. She said the Centre’s project will be to provide financial help to local seniors. “Perhaps to help them pay for their Meals on Wheels or to help them with their heat bill. Whatever is needed to allow them to stay in their homes.” 

Levere said the Centre planned to form a committee that would review the client needs and disburse the money up to $500 per eligible senior in need. 

“We feel honoured to be here tonight, and we will use the funds to directly impact the lives of our clients,” she said.

Rosemary Laurin spoke on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. 

“I think this is a great way to get people talking and thinking of things in our community,” said Laurin on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. Laurin reported the South Dundas community has now raised $173,000 of the $200,000 and if they were to win, the donation would help them to reach their goal.

Dundas County Food Bank secretary Celeste Guse, said the “municipality [South Dundas] has been giving us the facility since the beginning.” She spoke of the upcoming move to the Morrisburg arena and the municipality’s continued generosity in bringing the new location up to code at their expense and fronting an interest free loan of $56,000. 

“The one thing we are asking 100 Women to help with is the cost of a loading door and separate entrance for the volunteers. The doors cost $12,500, and we are asking you to help us fund them. We are hoping we can put a plaque on the door that says ‘100 women of South Dundas provided this door’.”

[…]

 

One hundred and fifty seven women who care about South Dundas came together last Thursday night, May 7, at the Upper Canada Playhouse and together those women made a difference for hundreds of people, young and old, living here in South Dundas .

Together the 157 women voted to donate $20,000 to three organizations who work in South Dundas for youth, the terminally ill, and the elderly.

Receiving top vote in the 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas first-time initiative, and a $10,000 donation, was the Dundas County Hospice, headquartered in Williamsburg. The second place donation of $6,000 went to the J.W. McIntosh Senior Support Centre in Williamsburg and third place and $4,000 was donated to the South Dundas Splash Pad project at the Children’s Park in Morrisburg.

Organizers of 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas, Janeen Wagemans and Tracey and Christyn Veinotte were overwhelmed with the support from the women of South Dundas. When they launched 100 Women Who Care this past January, they were just hoping to get the needed 100. 

Within one month they had their 100 women. “Today we hit 156, which is pretty amazing for such a small community” said Wagemans, Thursday night.  “All of you, for goodness sakes, let’s give ourselves a round of applause. What a wonderful place to live. We are so fortunate.”

The 156 women brought the Women Who Care donation total to $15,700 with each woman donating $100.

That amount climbed to $20,000 with a matching donation of up to $5,000 from Scotiabank, Morrisburg’s Community Matching Fund Program and forced the organizers to rethink their money disbursement

In the end the three-donation decision was made and guidelines were established for the future. As a result, Hospice will not be eligible to win again for three years, the J.W. McIntosh can not be nominated for two years and the Children’s Playground will not be eligible next year.

From the women themselves, 10 organizations were nominated for consideration and all were in attendance to market their proposal before the voting. 

They included St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, South Dundas Youth Centre, The Dundas County Food Bank, MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre, WDMH Foundation, Optimists Club, Dundas County Community Living, Dundas County Hospice, The Carman House Museum and The Splash Pad.

Each of the women in attendance then voted, and the Scotiabank representatives went to work to tally the votes. Due to a tie, it ended up with four groups moving to the final vote including the three winners and the Dundas County Food Bank.

A second vote resulted in the winners being named.

In addition to the support of Scotiabank, 100 Women Who Care received the generous support of Donnie Bowes at Upper Canada Playhouse who provided the venue and Royal LePage Performance Realty who sponsored the reception.

Wagemans wrapped it up by announcing that 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas will return next year. Those wishing to be part of this wonderful initiative are asked to re-join on the website www.womenwhocaresouthdundas.com

Anyone who did not get in for this year’s 100 Women Who Care are encouraged to come aboard for next year…everyone is welcome and together the women of South Dundas can make a difference.

[…]

 

When the 156 women who were part of 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas came together last Thursday night, May 7 at the Upper Canada Playhouse, they came together to select three of a proposed 10 local charities/organizations to receive their donations of $100 per woman or $15,600.

They were also delighted to learn that they had been joined by the Scotiabank, Morrisburg’s Community Matching Fund program which brought their donation to $20,000.

Receiving the top vote in the 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas first-time initiative, and a $10,000 donation, was the Dundas County Hospice, headquartered in Williamsburg. Hospice serves residents of Dundas County who have been diagnosed with terminal illness. It provides the terminally ill and their families various in-home services and programs designed to help them remain at home as long as possible. 

Recently, Hospice, which operates out of the J.W. MacIntosh Support Centre, purchased a home in Williamsburg. In addition to providing space for its head office, the home will be a welcoming space for the Hospice day program which provides clients time away from homes and their caregivers.

The second place donation of $6,000 went to the J.W. MacIntosh Senior Support Centre in Williamsburg, and third place and $4,000 was donated to the South Dundas Splash Pad project at the Children’s Park in Morrisburg.

Each of the 10 organizations nominated were in attendance to market their proposal before the voting. 

They included St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, South Dundas Youth Centre, The Dundas County Food Bank, MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre, WDMH Foundation, Optimists Club, Dundas County Community Living, Dundas County Hospice, The Carman House Museum and The Splash Pad.

After the women completed their first round vote the top three (this year four because there was a tie) organizations were given the opportunity to speak on their organization’s project.

In making his presentation to the assembled women, Hospice Board Chair, Bob Pitruniak,  said “I think the 100 Women idea is terrific and regardless of who you choose, all the people of South Dundas are going to benefit.”

In addition to explaining the work of Dundas County Hospice, he told the group of the recent purchase of the home in Williamsburg.  “We need a new furnace, we need central air, we need a new water heater and we need kitchen appliances. That is our project.”

MacIntosh Senior Support Centre, executive director Janet Levere explained the Centre has been supporting seniors in the community for over 24 years. She said the Centre’s project will be to provide financial help to local seniors. “Perhaps to help them pay for their Meals on Wheels or to help them with their heat bill. Whatever is needed to allow them to stay in their homes.” 

Levere said the Centre planned to form a committee that would review the client needs and disburse the money up to $500 per eligible senior in need. 

“We feel honoured to be here tonight, and we will use the funds to directly impact the lives of our clients,” she said.

Rosemary Laurin spoke on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. 

“I think this is a great way to get people talking and thinking of things in our community,” said Laurin on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. Laurin reported the South Dundas community has now raised $173,000 of the $200,000 and if they were to win, the donation would help them to reach their goal.

Dundas County Food Bank secretary Celeste Guse, said the “municipality [South Dundas] has been giving us the facility since the beginning.” She spoke of the upcoming move to the Morrisburg arena and the municipality’s continued generosity in bringing the new location up to code at their expense and fronting an interest free loan of $56,000. 

“The one thing we are asking 100 Women to help with is the cost of a loading door and separate entrance for the volunteers. The doors cost $12,500, and we are asking you to help us fund them. We are hoping we can put a plaque on the door that says ‘100 women of South Dundas provided this door’.”

[…]

 

What is it about a blues man?

He seems to have a laid back, comfortable, almost folksy way of talking: yet one soon senses the passion, the wealth of life experiences and the powerful sense of humour hovering just beneath this easy-going surface. 

And when a blues man actually picks up his guitar, strums that first chord, and starts to sing, well, like another guitarist once told me, “The blues, the blues is life.”

One of Canada’s greatest blues men is coming to the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage on Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. Harry Manx, known to many as the “Mysticssippi” blues man, the artist who has built a bridge linking the music of East and West, is performing an intimate concert right here in Morrisburg. And fans are clearly overjoyed. Currently, Manx’s concert is sold out, although there is a waiting list.

Harry Manx has dozens of awards and award nominations to his name. He’s a prolific blues artist whose 14th album in 14 years, 20 Strings and Truth, was just released on February 10, 2015. 

Manx’s blues style is absolutely unique. He started in the blues clubs of Toronto, playing the slide guitar.  Eventually, he studied a number of years with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, the Indian master who invented the 20 stringed Mohan Veena, now the signature instrument of Harry Manx. Manx’s blending of two disparate approaches to music has resulted in an unrivalled sound, one that deeply appeals to Manx’s legions of fans, and to critics alike.

“What comes out of us musically is what we put into it,” Manx said. “I like many forms of music, but the two styles that make up my true passion are blues and West Indian. Perhaps I might be forcing that relationship,” he laughed, “but I look for the common ground between the two, and I bring them together when I write. The combination of the two seems to really intrigue people. Exotic sound, I suppose you could say.” 

Although he was born on the Isle of Man, Manx immigrated to Canada when he was a child. Music took hold of him early on. “It was a kind of intuitive pull,” he said. “I knew even as a child that music was drawing me in. When you pursue music, I believe the whole world opens up to you, and takes you to a lot of places. Of course, I love to travel.” Then he paused and added with a laugh, “Almost as much as I love music. Maybe I took up music just for the opportunity to travel.”

Manx is often described as a definitive Canadian artist. “Like most kids, I grew up with exposure to Canadian music. Gordon Lightfoot was, and still is, a big hero to me. I would say that a kind of Canadian veneer has crept into my music. I find it in my attraction to certain rhythmic styles and notes: that is the Canadiana effect.”

“It’s an interesting thing. You can always hear the musician in the music. When he performs, an artist always tells you something about his nature. His music becomes an insightful tour into the soul of that artist. All his experiences, everything that makes him unique, it’s all revealed the moment he picks up his guitar.”

An intense connection with his listeners lies at the heart of Harry Manx’s music.

“I have a goal to inspire people with my words. I write music in the language of the heart. Emotions and life situations interest me. And I always write of things that actually have had an impact on me: I’m not a fiction writer.”

His twelve years living in India, learning to meditate, studying Eastern music, have coloured his compositions. “When I write, I have to keep my music and words separate. I write poetry, then find the music and marry the two, like two hearts beating as one. You might say I take the maple syrup of words, distill it and find the essence of my song. Performing music is what I fit at, and what feels right. That keeps the passion alive for me. And over the years, touring has helped me get better at my art, I believe. I feel good about how I’m playing now.” He did share one anecdote about those long months on tour, separated from his wife and child.

“I once received this email from my wife saying ‘Don’t forget to miss me.’” He paused. “Never have decided whether that was affection or a threat,” he laughed. “But it did lead me to a song I called Don’t Forget to Miss Me that has become very popular.”

Fans are going to be very glad not to “miss” the Morrisburg concert by the incomparable Harry Manx.

The board of the directors of the SLAS has received some big news. Scotiabank Morrisburg, is partnering with the Stage at the Manx concert March 7, to help with a fund raising event for the Stage. “Bank staff will be present at the show collecting donations for us both before the show and during intermission. Everything collected from the audience members will be matched by the branch,” said board member, Sandra Whitworth. “We’re very excited about this opportunity and very grateful to Scotiabank Morrisburg for offering to support our not-for-profit music series this way.”

[…]

 

 Four outstanding artists are coming to the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage. 

On Saturday, October 25, at 7 p.m,  Ana Miura, Annabelle Chvostek, Amanda Rheaume and Graham Greer will take to the St. Lawrence stage to present a one-of-a-kind concert, Babes 4 Breasts. Like-minded Canadian recording artists, who have come together to fight breast cancer through music, these four outstanding singers will dedicate their Morrisburg concert to helping to raise funds for the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, which integrates traditional medicine, alternate therapies, research and development, life style and cancer coaches.

And funds raised from the SLAS show will be specifically earmarked for members of the South Dundas community who use the Centre. 

“There will be some touching moments in the concert,” said Ana Miura, who came up with the Babes 4 Breasts concept back in 2003, “but this is a show that is uplifting, and really a lot of fun. We strive to fight sorrow with joy.”

Since the B4B concerts began appearing across Canada after 2007, featuring a wide range of talented musicians, the program has raised  $100,000 for charity. 

Ana Miura explained that the whole idea of using music to raise funds originally came from the grief she felt when a very close friend lost her mother to cancer.

“I thought, I have to do something. This kind of sorrow has to be combatted.”

She had originally intended to do only one concert, but between 2007 and 2009, the B4B concerts,  featuring artists “who may never have shared a stage before or since,” travelled all across Canada. Many of these artists also came together to create compilation albums, the most recent of which just came out this October. 

What the October 25 concert musicians have in common is an intense care for their communities, and a strong determination to fight breast cancer in every way possible.

“We perform in a song circle on stage,” Miura explained, “where we take turns singing. We musicians are one half of the circle, the audience forms the other half. The audience hears a very unique concert of original songs, and there is always that organic moment when the musicians join in each other’s songs… and we fill up the sound, improvising on stage.” 

The artists coming to Morrisburg are an eclectic and multi-talented group.

Miura  is an international touring star who has shared the stage with the likes of Bruce Cockburn and Joel Plaskett.

Métis singer-songwriter, Amanda Rheaume’s 2013 CD, Keep a Fire, was Juno nominated. 

Annabelle Chvostek, a former member of the Wailin’ Jennys,  saw her CD, Rise, nominated for both a Juno and a Canadian Music Award.

Cornwall’s Graham Greer, one of the original Barstool Prophets,  is also an award winning, hugely popular solo artist.

The talented Steph McAlear of Cornwall will also join the four musicians on percussion October 25.

I asked Graham, Amanda and Annabelle to share some of their personal views of the upcoming concert.

Graham, who is very proud to be an honourary “babe,” said he is “really looking forward to the spontaneous interactions and harmonizing that results from four talented folks together in a wonderful environment in front of a warm and appreciative audience.”

“What makes this concert incredibly special is that it is a one time opportunity,” Amanda said. “There won’t be another show with these exact artists on stage singing songs and contributing to an evening all together.”

“The format of the Babes is always a joy, kind of a metaphor for the working together it takes to make changes,” Annabelle said. “It’s always been such a magical and spontaneous collaboration…filled with humour and good old entertainment.”

The Morrisburg Meeting Centre is waiving its rental fee for the show, the tickets were printed free, the sound tech is contributing part of his fee, the Morrisburg Leader is making a donation to the show, and the artists are all performing at a fraction of the fees they might normally command.

“I’m hoping we get a sold out crowd, and that by the time we get to show night we can direct every penny we make on the tickets, maybe even more, to B4B,” said SLAS board member, Sandra Whitworth.

Don’t miss the chance to see some fabulous Babes present a night of extraordinary music: fight the sorrow of cancer with joy.

Tickets are $18 in advance, or $20 at the door. Contact www.st-lawrencestage.com.

[…]

 

MORRISBURG – “Audience members will want to bring their toe-tapping shoes when Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards come to the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage March 22,” said Bill Carriere. “It’s going to be a fabulous evening of American roots music. And with engaging, spunky and versatile musician Melanie Brulée opening for Laura, well, what a night.”

It was a challenge to catch Laura Cortese actually at home. 

Since February, she and band members Valerie Thompson and Mariel Vandersteel have been on a tour that has taken them from India to Uzbekistan. They were chosen to be one of ten bands sent abroad as members of the State Department’s American Music Abroad Program.

“The tour took us to a lot of exotic places: what we learned is that music really is a language that every culture speaks. Music allows you to connect with people at a much deeper level. The experience made me want to continue to develop that connection.” 

An extensive tour, Cortese pointed out, “reminds you of how much you really love your own home and community.”

Home for Cortese was originally San Francisco, and later, to study at Berklee School of Music, Boston. Her true American roots, are part of her band’s critical and popular appeal.

“We are Americans,” Cortese laughed, “and we do go back and forth between a one/two punch of introspection and asking people to clap along with us. Our music is cheerful and exuberant, but in another moment can reflect something deeper.”

Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards are noted for their American roots style, but she claims that there are “so many shades of American music” that labels are perhaps limiting.

Her band mates and she grew up “experiencing different styles of traditional music. Certainly Appalachian music has inspired all three of us: it’s the root of American music, particularly country and blue grass.” 

Cortese began with the violin.

“But I quickly realized that I didn’t like standing staring at a music stand.” A performance camp experience introduced her to the fiddle. She found her musical love.

“I learned that you could create on the fiddle even with others all around you. The fiddle brought humanity to music for me, connecting me with many, many people. The genre is never as important to me as the people.”

The band’s widely acclaimed 2013 album, Into the Dark, reflects themes that seem to intrigue and inspire the band. “Relationships, love, heartbreak; the human connection is vital to me.” Out of an early album, Acoustic Project, “I brought musicians together to explore what I felt was a unique sound, what a string ensemble can do if there are not so many rules, if it is allowed to explore the fringes.”

Valerie and Mariel joined her and “the team energy was phenomenal.”

Connecting with her audiences is itself an energizing experience for Laura Cortese. “We plan to put Saturday’s audience to work clapping and singing,” she laughed. “We want to connect that electrical circuit”

Melanie Brulée, opening for Cortese, “has a special place in our hearts” according to Bill Carriere. The Stage is where she feels she truly got her professional start. “It was the bouncing board to where I am now.”

Brulée is an up and coming, versatile, exciting young artist. From rock (General Electryk) to blue grass to cabaret, to country, “all these genres reflect me. They are all parts of my personality that I can explore musically. I don’t fit in boxes.”

An artist in both french and english, Brulée can do “over the top cabaret, or folksy music, or my new works, perhaps more mature, a bit softer, a bit darker. But,” she laughed, “don’t get attached. My music can change in a minute.”

Studying and performing in Paris, she wrote poetry, and has found in her poems, and those of others, inspiration for her compositions. “My songs are about what I saw, experienced, felt. (She has recently released the EP Sucré/Salé). One of the joys of music is making a connection with others.”

Audiences can make their connection with Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards, and Melanie Brulée on Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m. at the Morrisburg Meeting Centre. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Contact www.st-lawrencestage.com.

[…]

What better musical gift to enjoy this time of year than a concert at the St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage featuring six exciting artists.

The board of directors of the Stage promise it will be a memorable musical show case Saturday, December 14,  at 7 p.m., at the Morrisburg Meeting Centre.

Returning to the Stage are area musicians Stephanie Coleman and Claude Plamondon.

“I hope to be showcasing all new songs,” said Stephanie Coleman. “My songs are related to every day life and relationships; I tend to write from a more real place and often have personal feelings or experiences embedded within a song. I feel that my style of writing lyrics has grown. And I’m extremely glad to be coming back to the Stage.”

Claude Plamondon looks “forward to getting back to the Stage since it’s been a while and that venue is pretty special.” 

Plamondon describes his sound as composite. “I grew up with many different genres of music… but I do have a strong liking for harmonies and guitar music. I’m performing some of my original songs (joined on stage by accordionist Bill Sypes), I hope the audience will enjoy. I find that as I write songs, I feel a need to sing them, especially if the subject matter is personal and close to home.” Claude has been  recording, and performing with Cornwall’s Winston Marley.

Sandra Whitworth of the Stage describes local musician Keegan Larose as “a bit folk and a bit pop.” Still a very up and coming young artist, Larose began playing guitar in grade seven, eventually graduating to solo work in 2008. He has performed at both open mics and organized venues in the Cornwall area. He now does mostly solo work, and will bring his unique sound to his debut at the Morrisburg stage.

Jamie Heath, who also hales from Cornwall, is a “blues man.”  “I play the blues because I love the groove,” Heath explained. “The images that appear in my mind when I sing and play the blues are tangible. In other words, I feel the blues in my bones. The blues is my form of expression.” 

A professional musician for over 20 years, Heath recorded with the MAMMOTH Blues Band and Black Egg Blues, and teaches at Limelight Music Academy. 

“Blues is about the truth of real feelings, feelings of love and loss, feelings of happiness and joy, in fact every human emotion.” 

Musician Amanda Bon, who will be joined on stage by gifted guitarist Danny Artuso, comes from Ottawa. She formed her own band, The Outskirts, in 2010.

While critics and audiences might seek to define Bon’s sound, she has her own unique view. “We take equal parts folk, country and bluegrass and throw them in a blender. (My music) is none of those things, but all of those things at the same time.  I am guilty (I say that jokingly) of continuing the long standing tradition of often writing about love in one way or another.   But my new album has a theme of “homeness”, coming home, being home. I  also write about broader themes of life, people and relationships.” 

She finds it difficult to describe her vocal style, but has heard words like soothing, pure and gentle applied to her voice. She laughs that she is more like “old fashioned country singers, minus the southern accent,”

Debuting at the St. Lawrence Stage, from Port Elgin, is Ben Turcotte, just in his late teens, and, according to Sandra Whitworth, “winning song writing and other awards all over the place.” 

His style has been described as a mix of genres. “I really enjoy many types of music. I play in a Blues-Rock band: I also play a lot of Jazz: I just finished producing a track for a friend’s rap mixtape. I really do enjoy folk and blues the most, and I think that’s where most of my songs start.”

Studying music at university, Turcotte finds the inspiration for his original writing by exploring the “many different layers to dark things. The things I learn usually come out in my songs. Many other songs come from dreams. Dreams are fascinating.”

Tickets for the St. Lawrence Intimate Acoustics concert  on December 14, 7 p.m., are all $10. Contact www.st-lawrencestage.com for information.

[…]