The Flying Cloud meets at the TRANZAC (292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto - between Spadina and Bathurst, just south of Bloor) on Sundays (unless otherwise stated). Concerts start at 8 pm with the doors opening at 7:30 pm. Tickets are at the door, except where advance tickets are available. The concerts are in the Main Hall at the TRANZAC which is smoke-free, though smokers are welcome to use the members lounge should they wish. For more details on the concerts, e-mail Rana at sodhi@ecf.utoronto.ca or phone the FolkPhone - (416 410 FOLK).
Upcoming Events at The Flying Cloud
Here are the performers we had January - March. January 7 Folkal Point (Mariposa at the Cloud) January 14 The Dottie Cormier Band January 21 No Cloud - Chris Langan Weekend January 28 A Night Burns would have liked with Enoch Kent + February 4 Marie-Lynn Hammond & Nancy White (Mariposa at the Cloud) February 11 Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard February 18 Ian Bell February 25 Storytellers Festival - Cabaret March 4 Rick Fielding, Grit Laskin and Paul Mills March 11 James Keelaghan March 17 St. Patrick's Night - Owen McBride + March 18 Tamarack (Mariposa) March 25 Jim Payne / Fergus O'Byrne- Sunday, Apr 1: Popcorn Behavior
Described by the folk magazine, Dirty Linen, as "a fiery celto-grass amalgam" this extraordinary group comes from Vermont. Comprising of 3 virtuoso teenagers (Sam & Stefan Amidon, with Thomas Bartlett), they are joined by former Toronto veteran Keith Murphy, who adds his trademark driving guitar, mandolin and Quebecois-style footwork. Many of you will recall Keith with the highly regarded trio - Nightingale. This group is amazing. Strangest Dream, their latest CD blew me away! It features material ranging from traditional Irish tunes, original compositions and covers of such artists as Tom Waits. Tracks reminded me of David Grisman - Celtic New Grass is an apt description! "These Vermont youngsters evoke a passionate whirlwind tour of various world styles from upstream traditional folk to downtown jazz....This foursome is effervescent with originality. Popcorn Behavior beams with fresh grooves and virtuoso execution." -Flipside Magazine (www.popcornbehavior.com) ($12 / $10)
- Sunday, Apr 8: Guy Davis
GUY DAVIS - "Hailing from Harlem, New York, Red House recording artist Guy Davis is simply one of the finest Delta bluesmen on the circuit today. He is an electrifying performer who has wowed sold out houses everywhere. And now he graces the stage at the Flying Cloud for our first venture with a major blues artist. He's got some Blind Willie McTell and some Fats Waller, some Buddy Guy and some Taj Mahal. He's got some Zora Neale Hurston, some Garrison Keillor, and some Laura Davis (his one-hundred-year-old grandmother). He's a musician, composer, actor, director, and writer. But most importantly, Guy Davis is a bluesman. The blues permeates every corner of Davis' creativity. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to reviving the traditions of acoustic blues and bringing them to as many ears as possible through the material of the great blues masters, African American stories, and his own original songs, stories and performance pieces. "You Don't Know My Mind" (4 stars) Davis' tough, timeless vocals blow through your brain like a Mississippi dust devil". San Francisco Chronicle (www.fortissimo.org/artists/davis/index.html) ($16/$14)
- Thursday, Apr 22: Burns Sisters (Mariposa at the Cloud)
Annie, Jeannie & Marie Burns from Ithaca, NY have been performing in one configuration or another for over 20 years. Originally the younger contingent of the Burns Family Band, they evolved into the current trio augmented by various backing musicians. They sing original folk, country and celtic-influenced material, as well as the occassional traditional (usually gospel) tunes. Nicknamed "The Everly Sisters", their intelligent lyrics and close harmonies "communicate all kinds of human emotion, from sweet and loving to don't-mess-with-me-'cause-I'm-one-tough-woman" {Dirty Linen}. At a recent Mariposa Festival, their CDs were the top sellers, outselling many better known performers. UNMISSABLE! "If I could split myself in three, I would be the Burns Sisters" {Janis Ian}. "Great voices. Great songs. Great hair. I hate them". {Christine Lavin} (www.burnssisters.com) ($16/$14)
- Sunday, Apr 29: Harvey Andrews
As "unquestionably the most influential English songwriter of the past twenty or so years" {Johnny Dankworth -Stable Theatre}, we are very pleased to have Harvey Andrews grace our stage again. He has been described as "one of the finest voices and writers England's produced, a consummate entertainer, craftsman and raconteur." He has performed for over 30 years, produced 12 recorded albums and has been at 36 major UK & N. American festivals including 5 appearances at the prestigious Cambridge festival in England. As our previous audience will attest "[he] is an engaging, warm, humorous performer. His smooth vocal style and great sense of humour draw the audience in, and he holds their attention with the quality of his songs. It is a rare gift" {Rogue Folk, Vancouver}. His songs are powerful - full bloodied, full of insight, reflecting on many of today's turbulent topics. They have become part of the repertoire of many other performers. His commentary and total communication with the audience give his live performances an unparalleled intimacy. This will be a marvellous evening & as a fellow Brummie all I can say is "magic!" (www.harveyandrews.com)
And, for a special treat we have Scott Cameron Smith as a guest opener. Scott has just released a fine new CD on Fogarty's Cove - Stan Rogers record label. A great voice, he is going to go far. ($14/$12)
- Sunday, May 6: Flapjack (formerly known as Garrison Creek)
CD Release. We're honoured to host Flapjack's CD release party. "Flapjack" is 13 tracks of Canadian music - traditional and original music arranged and/or written by Jay Edmunds and Karen Taylor, with Sam Allison and Teilhard Frost. With vocals and twin fiddles, mandolin, guitar, dobro, harmonicas, 5-string banjo, stand-up bass and kitchen percussion, this album is a feast for acoustic music lovers. A coherent mix of songs and tunes arranged for dancing, this CD has something for both dance fans and new folk music lovers. The sound ranges from straight up fiddle music to Flapjack's unique "bush swing" sound - an interpretation of the musical convergence of rural fiddle music and early jazz as it was first spread to the countryside through radio. Bring your dancing shoes! (www.flapjack.ca) ($12/$10)
- Sunday, May 13: Ian Robb Memorial Sentimental Song Contest (Mariposa at the Cloud)
We're sorry, we couldn't help it, its time! The Ian Robb Memorial Song Contest is back, ruining another perfectly good Sunday night. (And it's even Mother's Day!). Dust off your sickly sweet, your maudlin, your so-bad-it's-funny (we hope), or maybe even just your plain old sweetly sentimental songs and enter the contest. The previous winner, Charlie Cares, returns to sing his twisted take on "My Favourite Things" and brings along his bandmates in Heartwood - Alex Sinclair & Anne Lindsay to help him judge the best (and the worst) and sing a short introductory set. The grand prize is a bottle of single malt scotch & a box of Kleenex, presented by the MC, Tam Kearney. Believe it or not, contest spots usually go fast so don't forget to register with David Warren. ( 416 781 3922) ($10/$8)
- Wednesday, May 16: Garnet Rogers
A welcome return to one of Canada's most acclaimed musicians - Garnet Rogers. His music, like the man himself, is powerful, passionate & highly sensitive, with deep purpose."One of the major talents of our time", Garnet writes extraordinary songs about the everyday struggles of ordinary people and their small victories. He is considered "the greatest male interpreter & vocalist performing in the contemporary folk scene" {Sing Out}. His haunting baritone voice, poetic lyrics and mastery of guitar & violin, combined with his outrageous sense of humour makes his performances spellbinding. This was the case at his last full concert at the Cloud in 1999, as well as for his guest appearance at Cloudfest 2000 (photo). Don't miss it! (www.garnetrogers.com) ($16/$14)
- Sunday, May 20: Anne Lederman's Fiddlesong Trio
"Fiddlesong weaves a dynamic musical tapestry out of many of the voices that shape this country." Anne Lederman brings her inspiring blend of "wild and dangerous" fiddling and her strong traditionally-based singing back to the CLoud in the debut performance of The Fiddlesong Trio - Anne, Tom Leighton and Ben Grossman - a combination too interesting to miss. Traditional and original material drawn from the interconnected wellsprings of Canadian life, this will be a celebration of Anne's recently released CD, "7 Cats", and her yet to be released "Fiddlesong" of original material. On voices, fiddle, feet, bones, jawharp, accordion, piano, citterns, and too many drums to count, The Fiddlesong Trio promises to be an act to keep your ears on for some time to come. (www.annelederman.com) ($12/$10).
- Sunday, May 27: Lucy Kaplansky - Season Finale!
With a voice that New Country described as "sweet and pure as fresh sheets and ice water," Lucy Kaplansky is emerging as one of the most engaging talents in the acoustic world. She came from the Greenwich Village folk scene, where she made her mark singing with Shawn Colvin and recording with him, John Gorka, Suzanne Vega, & Nanci Griffith. As a performer, Lucy combines honesty & emotional intensity with her warmth and humour; as a songwriter her approach is original and powerful. The Tide, released in 1994, received much praise - "[An] astonishing debut album…" {AP}. It also became an acoustic radio mainstay and played on NPR's "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition" amongst others. Her subsequent recordings have received no less praise, while recently, she has joined forces with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the "folk supergroup" CryCryCry. We feel very fortunate to be able to bring Lucy back to the Flying Cloud - a gem of a season finale. (www.lucykaplansky.com) ($16/$14)
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