And Now We Sing

There is something about the fall that I find particularly stirring. Perhaps it’s the explosions of unrefined colour that swathe every treed landscape around here; perhaps it’s the sense of urgency so many silvery clouds and cold frosty mornings imbue within me. I know what lies around the corner and these days feel like a series of gifts. The very ones you have to lock in your heart for safekeeping because by mid-February you’re going to need them. That is always the way.

And Now We Sing, the new record and second full length from London’s own Olenka and the Autumn Lovers feels like a succession of gifts too. Fourteen exceptional songs each comprising a small treasure that will twist around your heart and seize it from the get go. These songs, some of the best I have heard from anyone this year. (Hyperbole be damned.) This is simply one fine record from start to finish. Don’t be surprised if this one figures prominently on the Polaris Prize list of nominees next year.

Olenka Krakus, along with her band of Autumn Lovers has delivered a fine blend of Eastern European tinged folk and urban Canadiana. And Now We Sing, a collection of folk ballads and celebratory songs succeeds because of its grand diversity- Quiet as can be in one moment and rollicking in the next. I imagine this record performed around a roaring campfire- Violins and guitars drawing the listener in and around, warming and enlivening the soul with perfect harmonies. Topping it off, Krakus’ extraordinary voice and wise beyond her years lyrical capacity will leave you more than a little awestruck. With a voice that rivals the sweetest of singers (“Lark”), next delivering poetic words that cut as deep as a sharpened knife (“No Coins”). For the uninitiated, think Gogol Bordello fronted by Patti Smith with Wilco playing in the background.

Standout tracks “Motel Blues”, and my current favourite “Go” showcase the stellar guitar work of Autumn Lover Blair Whatmore. His pedal steel and guitar skillfully weaves its way in and around this record. The results add an original and entirely playful layer to augment the rich sounds of the band. 
Produced by Olenka Krakus, And Now We Sing is a powerful achievement that demands repeated listening. Your favourite song will change with every listen.  The record is a  perfect heartfelt antidote for cold nights and burning soul fires.

Lock this one in your heart too. You never know when you just might need it.

PPPPP

Olenka and the Autumn Lovers:

Olenka Krakus - classical guitar, lead vocal
Sara Froese - violin, vocals
Simon Larochette - trumpet
Daniel Mancini - drums
Kelly Wallraff - cello, vocals
Blair Whatmore - electric guitar, lap steel, mandolin, accordion

Occasional contributions from:

Shawn Clarke - saxophone, glockenspiel, vocals, guitar

http://www.myspace.com/olenkalovers


Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Pop Montreal 2010
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Olenka and the Autumn Lovers have been gradually releasing And Now We Sing on a recent tour of Eastern Canada, premiering the disc in every city they visited. Now its London’s turn as their homecoming show and record release happens this Friday night at the Aeolian Hall.

From Olenka and the Autumn Lovers:

first and foremost, some of you may be aware that Friday will be Blair's last show with the band. it's sad news, but we wish him well in his future musical pursuits. we hope you guys will make an extra effort to come out and see him off.

secondly, our dear friend and bass-guru, Kevin Brasier, is taking the train all the way from Sackville, New Brunswick to join us for the show. we had the fortune of playing with Kevin during a few of our recent Maritimes dates, and we can't wait to share the stage with him again this Friday.

also joining us at Friday's show will be Shawn Clarke on saxophone, Kelly Webb on trumpet, and Christian Hegele on keys/piano. that's right! a fairly large brass contingent and a dollop of keyboard sweetness!

also, Kite Hill will amaze you. we've played a bunch of shows with them over the past few weeks, and each night they get better and more inspiring. we can't wait to share their music with you guys.

finally, Marc Gammal at APK Live has invited us all over to his lovely new venue for an afterparty. bring your tickets to bypass the line, and i think if you mention something about the show to Marc, you get a treat... or a trick, not sure. you'll have to try your luck.


WHERE: Aeolian Hall 795 Dundas St.
WHEN: Friday Oct. 29, 8:30p
HOW MUCH: $15 adv, $20 @ door

thanks for your love and support,

O and AL

And Now We Sing will be available for sale the night of the show.

Concertgoers are invited to the official after party at The APK Live (340 Wellington St. at York, downstairs). Kite Hill is also on the 9 p.m. bill at the 795 Dundas St. (at Rectory) hall. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, plus applicable charges.

Visit http://www.myspace.com/olenkalovers or http://www.aeolianhall.ca/ or call 519-672-7950

LOLA 2010 September 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 – London Ontario

A friendly reminder that London Ontario’s own LOLA Festival (London Ontario Live Arts) is taking place this weekend.  Since its inception in 2006, LOLA has built a reputation on innovative curation, bold artistic statement and constant growth.  LOLA (London Ontario Live Arts) is a mostly free four day multi-disciplinary excursion into visual art and sound, their aim is to transform London's downtown core through subtle spectacles of the seen and heard. 

 From The LOLA website:

The curatorial theme of LOLA 2010, Conflict//Resolution — stems from an interest in working with the social history and heritage of Victoria Park. A former British Army barrack turned green space, the park is currently home to many war memorials, including decommissioned military equipment. For the past four years, Victoria Park has also served as the central location for the LOLA Festival. In response to this, the art in this year's festival ofthen simultaneously references war and peace, while when possible referencing the history and culture of the park and London.

The musical trajectory of this year’s lineup was, in a sense, borrowed from the expanded and ever evolving musical oeuvre of the late Arthur Russell.  Arthur’s limitless pallet and knowledge of musical languages was nothing short of extraordinary.  Disco, the avant-garde, folk, soul, experimental, ambient, contemporary chamber works, and rock were but a few of the genres Arthur explored.  In following Arthur and his world of echo through boundless musical landscapes, we're taught to appreciate new sounds, textures, subtle abstractions, and sonic colorings we'd yet to acknowledge or understand previously.

The stellar lineup this year is huge and includes Jamie Lidell, Land of Talk, My Brightest Diamond, the Chicago Underground Duo, Born Ruffians, Caribou and closes Sunday night with Text of Light featuring  Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and many more.

The full schedule and artist lineup below.  Please check the LOLA website for maps and additional venue information.  

Thursday, September 16, 2010 

6:30 pm UWO ArtLab Opening Party UWO ArtLab
8:30 pm Downtown Walk (led by Andrew Francis) Rogers Main Stage
10:00 pm Zeus London Music Hall
11:30 pm Jamie Lidell London Music Hall

Friday, September 17, 2010

2:00 pm Wild Domestic Rogers Main Stage
3:00 pm Transmorphous Sound Ensemble Trans/Media Stage
4:00 pm Capillary Action Rogers Main Stage
5:00 pm LOLA Happy Hour The Grand Theatre
5:00 pm Tony Conrad Trans/Media Stage
6:00 pm Trio Tarana Rogers Main Stage
7:00 pm Christopher Willits Trans/Media Stage
8:00 pm My Brightest Diamond Rogers Main Stage
9:00 pm Rhys Chatham Trumpet Trio Trans/Media Stage
10:00 pm Born Ruffians Rogers Main Stage
10:00 pm Invincible APK Live
11:30 pm Pursuit Grooves APK Live

Saturday, September 18, 2010

1:00 am James T. Cotton (Dabrye / Tadd Mullinix) APK Live
2:00 pm Ben Gunning Rogers Main Stage
3:00 pm Thesis Sahib Trans/Media Stage
4:00 pm Minotaurs Rogers Main Stage
5:00 pm Exit 2012 Trans/Media Stage
6:00 pm Fond Of Tigers Rogers Main Stage
7:00 pm White Rainbow Trans/Media Stage
8:00 pm Land Of Talk Rogers Main Stage
9:00 pm Chicago Underground Duo Trans/Media Stage
10:00 pm Bang The Party APK Live
10:00 pm Caribou Rogers Main Stage
11:00 pm The Makeover APK Live

Sunday, September 19, 2010

12:00 am Bang The Party APK Live
12:30 pm UWO Contemporary Music Ensemble Rogers Main Stage
2:15 pm Light Of East Ensemble Rogers Main Stage
3:30 pm Leaf Bird Rogers Main Stage
5:00 pm Arthur's Landing Rogers Main Stage
6:45 pm Text Of Light (feat. Lee Ranaldo) Rogers Main Stage

Dan Mangan’s "Peculiar Travel Suggestions"

Canadian Fall Tour Announced

I’m not alone in my assertion that Dan Mangan will win the Polaris Prize this year. I mean simple, infallible blogger logic would dictate the talented folkie will win the cash. (Hey, I’ve done the math and just makes sense.) Of course winning that would put the cherry on the top of a very successful Sundae year for Mangan. His 2009 album, Nice, Nice, Very Nice was recently released in the U.S., this time through Arts and Crafts. If that weren't enough there'll be no moss growing under this musician's acoustic guitar as he'll be heading across Canada once again this fall. The extensive tour runs from Montreal all the way to the West coast.

Dubbed the "Peculiar Travel Suggestions" tour, this time out Mangan will be hitting a lot of halls, theatres and churches across this geographically challenging country. Read my friend, (the Badtemperedzombie's) blog for an idea what to expect with her review from his appearance at the Calgary Folk Fest earlier this summer.

The first half of the tour will be opened by the Harbour Coats, featuring Bry Webb of the Constantines. The second half will be supported by the always terrific the Burning Hell.

(This Canadian jaunt will follow a lengthy U.S. outing, and a handful of European shows.)

Dan Mangan Tour dates below:

8/20 Austin, TX -The Parish #

8/21 Norman, OK - The Opolis #

8/22 St Louis, MO - Old Rock House #

8/23 Bloomington, IN - The Bishop #

8/24 Chicago, IL - Schubas #

8/26 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room #

8/27 Dayton, OH - South Park Tavern #

8/28 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place #

8/29 Portland, ME - Space Gallery #

8/31 Boston, MA - Great Scott #

9/1 Brooklyn, NY - The Rock Shop #

9/3 Manhattan, NY - The Mercury Lounge #

9/4 Philadelphia, PA - The North Star #

9/10 Portland, OR - Crystal Ball Room (Music Fest NorthWest) >

9/14 San Francisco, CA-The Fillmore %

9/15 Los Angeles, CA - The Music Box @ The Fonda %

9/17 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse Music Venue %

9/18 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern %

9/23 Eindhoven, NL - Effenaar !

9/24 Hamburg, DE Platzhirsch (Canadian Blast Showcase) ~

9/24 Hamburg, DE -Reeperbahnfestival

9/25 Leipzig, DE - Paris Syndrom

9/26 Fribourg, CH - Fri-Son

9/27 Basel, CH - Parterre

9/30 Saarbrucken, DE - Sparte 4

10/4 London, UK - Hoxton Bar and Kitchen

10/5 Reading, UK - MacDevitts

10/6 Brighton, UK - Komedia

10/7 Bristol, UK - Louisiana

10/8 London, UK - Union Chapel $

10/9 York, UK - House Concert

10/10 Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club +

10/11 Manchester, UK - Night and Day

10/12 Glasgow, UK - Captain's Rest

10/13 Edinburgh, UK - Sneaky Pete's

10/14-17 Ottawa, ON - OCFF

10/19-23 Manhattan, NY - CMJ

10/25 Montreal, QC - Sala Rossa *

10/27 London, ON - Aeolian Hall *

10/28 Toronto, ON - Trinity St. Paul's Church *

10/29 Kingston, ON - Sydenham United Church *

10/30 Ottawa, ON - First Baptist Church *

11/13 Vancouver, BC - The Vogue Theatre ^

11/15 Canmore, AB - Communitea Cafe ^

11/16 Edmonton, AB - Myer Horowitz Theatre ^

11/17 Calgary, AB - Knox United Church ^

11/19 Winnipeg, MB - The Park Theatre ^

11/20 Saskatoon, SK - The Broadway Theatre ^

# with the Wooden Birds

> with Okkervil River, Bobby Bare Jr.

% with the Walkmen, Japandroids

! with Tim Knol

~ with Evening Hymns, Woodpigeon, The Mountains & The Trees, Hannah Georgas

$ with Osyterband

+ with Junip

* with the Harbour Coats

^ with the Burning Hell

Bolt the Doors - Grinderman is Back!

With a second album out next month, Nick Cave’s darkly raucous, garage-blues alter-ego incarnation Grinderman (which features three of the Bad Seeds) has announced an extensive tour including fifteen North American dates this fall. Kicking off Nov. 11th in the Big Smoke, shows run through December 1st ending in San Diego (see full tour dates below). This one is a definite not miss.

On the road to promote their new record, Cave plus Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos will follow up its 2007 self-titled debut with the nine track Grinderman 2, set for release Sept. 13th in Europe and Sept. 14th in North America.   The album will be preceded by the single “Heathen Child,” on September 6th as a two-track digital download with the non-album B-side “Star Charmer.” A limited-edition colored-vinyl 12-inch also will be released, with an extra B-side: “Super Heathen Child,” featuring guitar work by King Crimson mainman Robert Fripp.

Tracklist: Grinderman, Grinderman 2

1. “Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man”
2. “Worm Tamer”
3. “Heathen Child”
4. “When My Baby Comes”
5. “What I Know”
6. “Evil!”
7. “Kitchenette”
8. “Palaces of Montezuma”
9. “Bellringer Blues”

Grinderman Fall Tour Dates:

UNITED KINGDOM
Sept. 25 | Rock City, Nottingham, England
Sept. 27 | University, Leeds, England
Sept. 28 | Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland
Sept. 29 | Academy, Manchester, England
Oct. 1 | Hammersmith Apollo, London, England

EUROPE
Oct. 4 | Les Docks, Lausanne, Switzerland
Oct. 5 | Volkshaus, Zurich, Switzerland
Oct. 6 | Live, Milan, Italy
Oct. 7 | Atlantico, Rome, Italy
Oct. 9 | Ljubljana 1000, Krizanke, Slovenia
Oct. 10 | Gasometer, Vienna, Austria
Oct. 11 | Muffathalle, Munich, Germany
Oct. 13 | Haus Auensee, Leipzig, Germany
Oct. 14 | Columbiahalle, Berlin, Germany
Oct. 15 | E-Werk, Cologne, Germany
Oct. 17 | Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
Oct. 18 | Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium
Oct. 20 | Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Netherlands
Oct. 21 | Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Oct. 23 | Falkoner Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Oct. 24 | Power Station, Randers, Denmark
Oct. 26 | Cite de la Music, Paris, France
Oct. 28 | Groningen De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands

NORTH AMERICA
Nov. 11 | The Phoenix, Toronto, Ontario
Nov. 12 | Metropolis, Montreal, Quebec
Nov. 13 | House of Blues, Boston, MA
Nov. 14 | Nokia Theatre, New York, NY
Nov. 16 | 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
Nov. 18 | Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
Nov. 19 | Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, TN
Nov. 20 | Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN
Nov. 22 | Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL
Nov. 23 | First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Nov. 26 | Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov. 27 | King Cat Theater, Seattle, WA
Nov. 29 | Warfield, San Francisco, CA
Nov. 30 | Music Box, Los Angeles, CA
Dec. 1 | House of Blues, San Diego, CA