October

Pat’s lyrics and music combine an eclectic mix of stories with the upbeat posture of a cowboy. His travels have taken him across Canada, To England, Ireland, France, Spain and the United States; building a steady following everywhere. Having performed many of our music festivals Pat Temple has become a mainstay in the Canadian scene. He has performed in Massey Hall, The National Gallery, The Ontario Place Forum as well as a number of summer festivals.

In the late 1980’s Pat was approached by Michael Timmons, of the ‘Cowboy Junkies’. Michael signed Pat to his brand new label distributed by BMG. Two albums followed. ‘Stone Boat’ and ‘Connecting Lines’ both of which received high praise from the music community. These were followed by ‘Cold Cuts’ which was recorded live at the Horsershoe Tavern. His most recent album ‘One Song at a Time’ features a little-big band production of a western swing style. The song 'Playing Havoc with my Heart’ was made into a video, directed by Sean Danby. It received high rotation on CMT.

Pat has the ability to attract the best musicians to his projects. Guelph natives Lewis Melville and Tannis Slimmons (the Bird Siters), Dave Allen (Cowboy Junies, Barenaked Ladies session player…), roots icon Willie P. Bennett, Russell DeCaarle (Praire Oyster), Vince MacCarone (nominee as top drummer Maple Blues Awards) are just a few of the many musicians who have played in Pat’s backup band ‘The High Lonesome Players’.

Recently Pat has taken a sojourn from the music scene to renovate a 125 year old church into a living space and music studio. He lives in the Kawartha Lakes area now. It is a treat to have him in our region and back performing. Pat will be performing with Frank Barth, Toronto’s top peddle steel guitar player , as well as with Spencer Evans, keyboardist extraordinaire from Kingston. This trio performed recently at the Eaglewood Festival to great acclaim. If you saw them there I am sure you will want to come out to hear more from this band. If you didn’t catch them there you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss them this time around!

November

Always a favourite at Greenbank. Come and enjoy an evening of Gypsy Swing.

"Club Django Sextet of Toronto got the fans bouncing with a combination of gypsy and swing jazz that sounded like front porch music - if your friends and neighbors who come over for a jam session are really great musicians. The founder of the band, Andre "Papy" Seguinot, demonstrated his love for the music of two of his heroes, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. In fact, the band listens to those two's records so much, they titled one of their one original songs "Exact Copy" (sic ...??). With Seguinot on rhythm guitar, Abbey Sholzberg on double bass, Rodion Boshoer on violin, Gerry Duligal on accordion, John Farrel on lead guitar and Tony Oldland on rhythm guitar, the Canadians folk music makers (sic...!) obvioulsly had a ball, swinging with "Minor Swing", waltzing with "I'm Confessin' " (sic ...!) and revving everybody with "Dark Eyes" which they described as the Gypsy National Anthem.

(Mark Bialczak, The Syracuse Post-Standard, June 26 2005)

December

"Ron Sexsmith's heartbreaking folk-pop has been melting converts for the last decade." - Entertainment Weekly

"Sexsmith is one of the finest songwriters we have." - Paste Magazine

"Misfit songs sung by a couple of misfits" is how acclaimed singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith playfully describes his new duet album with longtime band mate and well-known indie rock producer Don Kerr. Teasing aside, Destination Unknown is a seriously stunning release, offering a welcome 21st century answer to the Everly Brothers. Together, with Ron's band, the two have toured the world, sharing the stage with the likes of Coldplay and Elvis Costello, whom along with Paul McCartney and many others, count themselves among Ron's fans. Sexsmith & Kerr's camaraderie is showcased with the lilting, gorgeous harmonies of Destination Unknown.

January

More fun than should be legal! Don't miss Flapjack they are a real treat.

Energetic and passionate about traditional music, Flapjack offers an entertaining and polished performance. This Ontario-based band plays old-time Canadian bush swing, a unique fusion of fiddle tunes, backwoods ballads, kitchen percussion and jug jazz.

Opening for Flapjack will be Denis Moreau  

February

Featuring the fabulous rhythm section of Bucky Berger on Drums and Victor Bateman on String Bass. The Chris Whiteley Band will be performing their unique blend of jump blues, swing and Whiteley originals.  

March

From Chuck's site:

This down to earth musical storyteller, with his dry, barb-witted social commentary combined with a deep underlying compassion, knows that the best stories are the little things in the lives of everyday people trying to muddle through with some grace. His great gift as a writer is to infuse these stories with humanity and humor, making them resonate profoundly with his listeners. His spoken introductions to his songs can be as spellbinding as his colorful lyrics, which he brings to life with a well-travelled voice and a delivery that's natural and conversational. His groove-oriented strumming and fingerpicking draw on influences from the mountains of western North Carolina where he now lives, and from lots of different good old traditional folk stuff of all kinds.

April

"Nominated in 3 categories for the 2005 Maple Leaf Blues Awards: Recording of the Year, Producer of the Year (both for Blues Mongrel), and Harmonica player of the Year." What excuse could you have for missing this show?

From Carlos' site

Reviews: Blues Mongrel

Harmonica master Carlos del Junco reminds people what they've been missing out˜assuming they're not already familiar with him. Blues Mongrel, his fifth release, transcends categorization and the surprises come fast and furious. Such as a total overhaul of Blues With A Feeling, as Carlos and guitarist Kevin Breit, twist it into a hybrid--half Little Walter-ish desolation and half Son Seals-like angst and fury--all surrounded by an arrangement owing as much to avant-garde Jazz as to Blues. Two imaginations like these ensure that this musical envelope will be pushed.

There‚s a kaleidoscopic of musical ideas and shapes: much like Bela Fleck, Carlos del Junco effortlessly blends numerous genres (Blues, Latin, Bluegrass, Jazz, Bebop, Country, Classical, R&B) into a coherent whole. For instance, a tantalizing version of the Man From Flint theme will get you leaping with joy. No Particular Place is lush, lively, and brimming with humor. Other instrumental treats include Let's Mambo, emblematic of the sensuous Latin rhythms that ripple so effortlessly throughout Blues Mongrel. Every one of these 12 glorious tracks is deserving of lavish praise, but Plain Old (Down Home) Blues blazes a special trail by stretching the Blues to its outer edge. Sonny Boy Williamson's Nine Below Zero is given an absolutely spine-tingling updating by dint of the dazzling virtuosity of Mr. del Junco. An extraordinary talent like Carlos del Junco (or Kevin Breit for that matter) would be a household name in most other countries. Blues Mongrel by Carlos del Junco is a triumph, and it merits my highest recommendation.

Gary Tate

http://www.livinblues.com/cdreviews2005/

May

What is there to say about these Old Friends? They opened the first concert in Greenbank and have been back together, separately and in various combinations and roles ever since. Greenbank loves these guys! Come out and meet them again the are guaranteed to have you sitting on a rainbow.

This is a season finale to beat them all! Don't miss this one.