Music

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. Andersen’s stage presence, buoyed by his spectacular live band (also called The Big Bottle of Joy), is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result—a multi-faceted and poignant body of work—has led him to amass over 22 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube. In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America, Europe and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and more. Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, was the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues Awards.

About Stephen Fearing: 

There are few artists that can be referred to as a ‘roots troubadour, song-writing storyteller and master guitarist’ and Stephen Fearing is one of them.

That description may not cascade off the tongue, but there is no better way to sum up the astonishing career BC-based Stephen Fearing has enjoyed. He has achieved acclaim and accolades for his work as a solo artist, producer, co-founder of roots-rock combo Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (B&RK) and as half of the indie-folk duo Fearing & White.

To date, Fearing has released 13 solo albums, 11 studio albums with B&RK and 2 Fearing & White albums. Stephen’s talent as a songwriter has landed him two JUNO awards (Best Roots & Traditional Album, in both the Group and Solo categories). Fearing picked up the award for ‘Contemporary Singer of the Year’ at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards and the same year, his album Every Soul’s a Sailor won “Worldwide Album of the Year” by Blues & Roots Radio.

About The Sentimentals:

Danish Americana/folk music pioneers The Sentimentals have toured North America and Europe backing Canadian, American, Danish and Swedish artists since 2004, playing 1000+ shows. Past tours include Jonathan Byrd, Ana Egge, Dana Cooper, Matt Harlan, Anthony Da Costa and Slaid Cleaves. The Sentimentals also collaborated on album releases with Matt Harlan (Bow and be simple 2013), Jonathan Byrd (Mother Tongue 2015) and Ana Egge (Say That Now 2016).

This December, the Good Lovelies will once again be taking their annual Christmas show across Ontario and bringing their classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, and original material to London!

Accompanying the Good Lovelies (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Susan Passmore) is a stunning backing band of some of Canada's finest musicians. As a six-piece ensemble, this band will have you tapping your feet, laughing, and singing along by the end of the show. This is a must-see concert.

The Good Lovelies first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and has since compiled a catalogue of studio albums, EPs, a live album and a Christmas collection. They have toured extensively across Canada, the US, Europe, UK, and Australia and have earned a JUNO Award, a Juno Nomination and four Canadian Folk Music Awards along the way.

“Mysticssippi” blues man Harry Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. He has created a unique sound that is hard to forget and deliciously addictive to listen to.

Harry forged his distinctive style by studying at the feet of the masters, first as a sound man in the blues clubs of Toronto during his formative years and then under a rigorous tutelage with Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in India. Bhatt is the inventor of the 20-stringed Mohan Veena, which has become Harry’s signature instrument.

Harry played slide guitar for many years before meeting Bhatt in Rajasthan,in fact he had been living in another part of India for many years already, but he started at the beginning under Bhatt’s tutelage, unlearning most of what he knew about playing a slide instrument. He learned Eastern scales and eventually ragas, deceptively complex and regimented musical patterns that form the basis of Indian composition. Learning the voicings of Indian music is a subtle art that comes with time. Harry spent most of twelve years in India learning that. It was later on that Harry decided to explore the connection between Indian ragas and blues scales which eventually led to the Indo-blues hybrid that has become his style.

Born on the Isle of Man, Manx immigrated to Ontario with his parents when he was a child. He started working with bands as a ‘roadie’ at age 15 and gradually worked his way up to becoming the regular sound man at the well-known El Mocambo (blues) club in Toronto. There he worked with a slew of blues legends. Harry admits that blues is still at the heart of much of his work. “I’ve always had one foot in the blues from those days … what I got from those artists is a groove. That’s what I’m particularly interested in is the groove, and that’s the way I play blues”. “I went to Europe when I was 20 and started making money as a busker,” recalls Manx. “I’ve worked mostly as a musician since then, though I did some theatre work for a while. I was a one-man band with a drums and a cymbals for a time too. It was really a lot of fun”

Manx’s time in India has imbued his music with an intangible spiritual quality. “the song reveals who you are, it’s the vehicle for your message, your inspirational ideas or your story,” explained Manx. “Like many people I’m interested in my own development as a person and that’s represented in my songs, I’m searching for truth through art and spirituality. My songs are a synthesis of everything I’ve absorbed, all my experiences and I share that. I’m glad that it means something to people.”

“Indian music moves a person inward,” he explains. “It’s traditionally used in religious ceremonies and during meditations because it puts you into this whole other place (now, here). But Western music has the ability to move you outward, into celebration and dance. There are some ragas that sound bluesy, and there are ways to bend strings while playing blues that sound Indian. I may be forcing the relationship between the two musical cultures, but I keep thinking they were made for each other. That leads me to more and more experimentation. The journey has been great so far.” Manx is a prolific artist, releasing 12 albums in a 12 year span with no signs of stopping. He has received seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Music Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007.

His most recent original release, “Om Suite Ohm” was voted by the Montreal daily La Presse as one of only 4 CDs to watch for in 2013. Guitar Player Magazine called it “his most fully realized work to date”. Blend Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues, add a sprinkle of gospel and throw in some compelling grooves. It’s a recipe that goes down easy and leaves you hungry for more.

“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.”
― Kahlil Gibran

If ever there was a time when we need music, it’s now.  Pride Men’s Chorus London is proud to present an inspiring program with “Music of the Heart”; music to help us be inspired and sweep us away from the world’s stresses.

This program will feature music about love and beauty.  You can also expect some seasonal delights!

Come join us as we “Sing Out” and be transported by the magic of song!

Formed by trombonist Seth McNall, this band is made up of the the BEST players in the London area playing New Age, Funk, Rock and Jazz in a big band format.  From finesse to fire - we have it all.

This concert will showcase the complete Nutcracker suite arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn as well as holiday classics featuring vocalist Hilary Welch.

Tony Dekker’s music spans nearly two decades as the lead singer and songwriter of Great Lake Swimmers. Over eight albums, multiple EPs, live broadcasts and reissues, the Toronto based singer-songwriter has established himself as a beloved indie folk artist in his native Canada and beyond. 2013 marked the release of his first solo album, Prayer Of The Woods, which is described as “Folk music that sounds like it was recorded on the periphery between the living room and the surrounding woodland … a humble and traditional folk work, focusing on lyrical analogies and aphorisms” - (Norman Records UK).

Great Lake Swimmers’ record “The Waves, The Wake (Acoustic)” was released digitally on November 8th, 2019 by Nettwerk. A solo acoustic rendering of his band’s most recent album, pared back to acoustic guitar and vocals. No weighty production, no frills, just a haunting voice, lush acoustic guitars, and 12 songs presented in their most stark, minimalist forms. Dekker released a limited edition 12” vinyl format on his own Harbour Songs imprint which was made available through mail order and at live shows.

Great Lake Swimmers released a split 7” single with long-time collaborator Liz Hysen of Toronto band Picastro. “Getting To The Heart Of It” with “Where Are You” and “Thursday” which was released digitally on March 6th, 2020 by (weewerk) while the limited edition 7” vinyl format, Harbour Songs’ second physical release was offered via mail order.

Dekker also provided vocal support on the latest Picastro release, “Exit”, originally released this past November and which was re-released by (weewerk) on February 24th, 2020.

With the pandemic lockdown and cancelled tour dates to contend with in 2020 and beyond, Dekker focused on releasing a series of special releases under the Lockdown Series moniker and were made exclusively available on the Bandcamp platform. “Live In Ottawa At The 27 Club” recorded live in Ottawa, Ontario at The 27 Club on October 3, 2019 was digitally released on May 1, 2020. The mono soundboard feed was recorded by Ryan Palmer with a Tascam DR44WL. It was tweaked and mastered by Andy Magoffin at the House Of Miracles with cover artwork by Adam CK Vollick. “When We Last Shook Hands: Cover Songs Volume 1” was digitally released on June 5th, 2020. This collection of covers was recorded by Great Lake Swimmers over a period of roughly 12 years, between 2007 and 2019. Most of the songs have been released in one form or another as part of compilations, live sessions or album bonus tracks, but there are also a handful of songs which saw the light of day for the first time. The recordings are from such disparate sources as Studio 101 in New Orleans, Mailmen Studios in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and locations closer to home like The House Of Miracles in Ontario. The project was overseen by the bands long-time friend and collaborator, Andy Magoffin, who sonically glued it together and did the mastering. The artwork was created by Adam CK Vollick.

Great Lake Swimmers released a new live track “Your Rocky Spine (2007-04-14)” on Friday, February 25th in lead up to the release of their forthcoming live album entitled “Live At The Redeemer 2007”. This special live concert was released digitally and as a double LP version on (weewerk) on May 14th, 2021.

As the lead singer and songwriter for Great Lake Swimmers, Dekker has been nominated twice for Canada’s Juno Awards, shortlisted and longlisted for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and won a Canadian Indie Award for Favourite Folk/Roots Artist/Group. The band has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as Robert Plant, Feist, Daniel Lanois and Calexico, and have appeared as headliners at many of Canada’s major folk music festivals. The CBC has called them “a national treasure” with a sound that is at once familiar and distinct, using the tools of folk music as the starting point to delve deeper.

“Dekker's preoccupation with the Canadian state of mind flourishes in his lyrics. Few songwriters are able to convey the country's harsh beauty as well. …Canadian folk tradition personified in the 21st century” – Exclaim!

“Ambient Zen Americana” – Mojo

“A minimalist, atmospheric compendium of songs with a sonic environment the listener can easily get lost in.” – The Vue

“Dekker has done a masterful job of finding that balance on The Waves, the Wake, which has enough connections to the past to satisfy long-time fans of Great Lake Swimmers even while the singer looks to the future and moves forward as an artist.” – The Georgia Straight

“…Great Lake Swimmers have evolved into one of the country’s finest roots bands…” – Post City

"Each musician is a star soloist in their own right. Playing together has allowed them to develop and mature turning Payadora into a superstar group." - The Whole Note
Payadora is a contemporary chamber music ensemble that performs Argentinian/Uruguayan tango and folk music and original compositions inspired by that tradition. Payadora has self produced two albums and has developed a loyal following across Canada over the past six years. The ensemble balances a combination of virtuosity and creativity, with stylistic accuracy. The ensemble features a collection of some of the most respected chamber musicians in Canada. Founded in 2013, Payadora has become one of Toronto’s most vibrant and sought-after acts. Their broad scope in tango draws from the height of Buenos Aires’ Tango tradition, including compositions by De Caro, Pugliese, Troilo, and Salgan, to the masterful, contemporary sounds of Astor Piazzolla and beyond. Drawing from eclectic backgrounds in Classical, Jazz, Latin, Eastern European folk music, and improvisation, Payadora’s performances exude technical virtuosity, playful spontaneity, and rhythmic vitality.

Their recordings are played regularly on Jazz FM’s Cafe Latino and Classical 96.3. The Argentinean consulate recently made a video in support of Payadora showcasing interviews and live videos from Payadora’s concerts. In addition, Payadora is the featured ensemble in the 2019 documentary “The Sounds of Canada: Argentina.”

Highlights from Payadora’s past performances include sold-out shows at the Ottawa Chamberfest, Indian River Music Festival in PEI, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto Music Festival, the Lula Lounge, the Jazz Bistro, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, and for the Canadian Opera Company's World Music Series at the Four Seasons Centre. Payadora has been featured with the London Symphonia, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony and the Hannaford Street Silver Band, Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, Stratford Summer Music Festival, Leith Festival in Owen Sound, Music in the Morning in Vancouver and Vancouver Island Music Festival.

They are currently collaborating with Grammy award-winning “Yiddish Glory” in concerts and have composed and arranged an entire record of Polish and Yiddish Tango. They will be performing at Queens University and a live TV broadcast for Zoomer Radio.

They received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council to produce a full-length film of 11 pieces in collaboration with PointeTango which they released in 2021.

They were selected to perform their show “Tango in the Dark” with PointeTango Dance Company as part of the Next State Theatre Festival and will be performing five live shows in Toronto in January 2022.

Payadora will be releasing their third album with a grant from the Ontario Arts Council in 2022. Additionally, Rebekah received creation grants from Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Councils to compose new works for Payadora.

Hawksley Workman is a JUNO Award-winning and Gold Record certified singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since his ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls (1999) through to chart-topping singles of 2020, Hawksley has careened between major label international smash hits to Canadiana soaked indie releases. Boasting a catalogue of 17 solo records, Hawksley’s genre defying style strings together folk, chart pop and irrepressible cabaret. His show-stopping vocals on songs about weather, love, heartbreak and tales of end-times have garnered him a league of devoted fans.

Performing over a thousand shows worldwide, Hawksley has headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall and The Olympia in Paris. For a uniquely Canadian artist Hawksley has built loyal fan bases in the UK, France, Norway and Australia launching many successful tours, demystifying and delighting fans while drawing on an enviable catalogue of mischievous favourites, glammy stompers and heartfelt hymns to small town Canada.

This December, the Good Lovelies will once again be taking their annual Christmas show across Ontario and bringing their classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, and original material to London!

Accompanying the Good Lovelies (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Susan Passmore) is a stunning backing band of some of Canada's finest musicians. As a six-piece ensemble, this band will have you tapping your feet, laughing, and singing along by the end of the show. This is a must-see concert.

The Good Lovelies first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and has since compiled a catalogue of studio albums, EPs, a live album and a Christmas collection. They have toured extensively across Canada, the US, Europe, UK, and Australia and have earned a JUNO Award, a Juno Nomination and four Canadian Folk Music Awards along the way.