Acoustic Harvest presents Russell deCarle & Steve Briggs @ 200 McIntosh, Saturday

Singer/songwriter Russell deCarle is joined by guitar ace Steve Briggs for an Acoustic Harvest hoedown in Scarborough. 

Russell deCarle & Steve Briggs

at 200 McIntosh St, Scarborough

Saturday, April 18 at 8 pm

Tickets: $35 plus fees

After decades as the highly respected lead vocalist and bassist with Prairie Oyster, with "six Juno Awards, more than a dozen Canadian Country Music Awards and enough gold and platinum records and #1 singles to fill a living room wall", Russell deCarle continues to write, record and perform moving music. 

With his intimate, smokey, burnished voice, Russell has a knack for inviting audiences into his realm and embracing them with his words of heartbreak and hope, sadness and joy, wisdom and truth....he's truly a thinking singer-songwriter, a balladeer, connecting with people over achingly beautiful songs and stories about the land and world in which we live. His repertoire is eclectic, ranging from Country to Blues to Swing, Jazz, Rockabilly etc. and all delivered in his trademark, soulful voice and mesmerizing stage presence. Russell was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008. 

Russell's two most recent self-released recordings, 2017's Alone In This Crowd and 2024's The End of The Road – both involving his sidekick guitarist Steve Briggs – represent some of finest work of his impressive career.  

Join us for an evening of stellar music and warm vibes. Get tickets right here. 

 

The Rizdales' Tom Dunphy returns to the Cameron House, Saturday

The Rizdales' Steve Briggs will be singing tunes from "Everything Was New" with Burke Carroll, Victor Bateman & Steve Briggs.

Col. Tom's Swinging Door with special guest Tally Ferraro @ The Cameron House, Sunday

Singer/guitarist Tally Ferraro – whose family owns the Cameron House – sits in with Col. Tom and crew from 6pm to 8pm.  

Jamie Oliver, The Country Crooner w/ Steve Briggs & pals @ The Cameron House, Saturday

Jamie Oliver will be joined by guiarist Steve Briggs along with Matt Coldwell, Galen Pelley & Mike Eckert starting at 10 pm.

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Jerry Leger @ Artful Dodger, Sunday

Singer/songwriter Jerry Leger may offer a preview of his forthcoming album Waves Of Desire with Steve Briggs and crew.

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Jamie Oliver @ The Artful Dodger, Sept 7

Odd Country's Jamie Oliver sits in with Steve Briggs and crew at the Artful Dodger (10 Isabella) on Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm.  

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Michelle Rumball Trio @ Artful Dodger, Aug 31

Don't miss the Michelle Rumball Trio filling in for Steve Briggs at the Artful Dodger on Sunday at 4 pm to 7 pm.

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays with Fergus Hambleton @ Artful Dodger, Sunday

Fergus Hambleton (Sattalites, Moonfood) joins Steve Briggs and his crew at the Artful Dodger (10 Isabella), Sunday at 4pm to 7pm.

Writes Steve Briggs:

Had a great rehearsal-slash-hang with Fergus this week here at the studio...so fun! Fergus is a true fan of a really good song, no matter what the genre...the sign of a true blue songsmith. We walked through some Folk to American Songbook, to British Invasion, and of course Fergus' wonderful originals. You're in for a treat.

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays with Fergus Hambleton

Artful Dodger (10 Isabella Ave)

Sunday, August 24

4 pm to 7 pm

 

LINKS

It's Psychedelic Baby Fergus Hambleton interview

Listen to "Waiting For The Moon" by Moonfood cut with Bob & Dan Lanois in 1977 right here.

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Jesse Whiteley @ Artful Dodger, July 27

Singer/pianist Jesse Whiteley joins Steve Briggs and crew at the Artful Dodger this afternoon from 4 pm to 7 pm. Should be fun!

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Helen Stewart @ The Artful Dodger, Sunday

Helen Stewart joins Steve Briggs and crew for his Summer Sundays matinee today starting at 4 pm. It's free!

Here's the scoop...

This week Helen Stewart is our very special guest and we're thrilled to welcome her back. If you love classic country, folk, rock 'n' roll, and R&B then Helen's repertoire can't be beat. Helen is a dynamic performer and a true original.

The rhythm section this week is John Adames, Victor Bateman and myself.

We will also be featuring our wonderful regular guests in the 2nd set as usual!

We've got a banger this week. Hope to see you at the Artful Dodger on Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. 

Steve Briggs' Summer Sundays w/ Ed Smith @ Artful Dodger, July 13

Singer/guitarist Ed Smith sits in with Steve Briggs & crew at the Artful Dodger (10 Isabella) today from 4pm to 7pm.  

The Odd Country w/ Steve Briggs @ The Cameron House, Friday

Guitar slinger deluxe Steve Briggs adds some tasteful licks to The Odd Country's classic honky tonk set tonight from 6-8 pm. 

The Rizdales' Tom Dunphy releasing solo album Everything Was New

Tom Dunphy is releasing a long overdue solo album "Everything Was New" cut with pals Steve Briggs & Burke Carroll.

Here's the scoop...

The announcement of a solo album by a band's founding member is often the telltale sign of an imminent split due to "creative differences." However, Tom Dunphy's new solo recording project isn't a matter of trouble at home with The Rizdales but more of a busman's holiday. 

When Tom's longtime partner Tara Dunphy took a brief hiatus from London's premiere honky tonk country combo to sing and play fiddle with her friend Lindsay Schindler in contemporary celtic band Maggie's Wake, it was the perfect opportunity for Tom to record an album of his own – something he'd been putting off for at least 22 years. 

Naturally his first calls were to his trusted Toronto pals, guitarist Steve Briggs and pedal steel ace Burke Carroll, who've performed with The Rizdales over the years in various situations and both were delighted to sign on. 

With a stockpile of song ideas that weren't quite right for The Rizdales, Tom convened with Steve and Burke at Adam Plante's Beats Working studio in London, Ontario in 2024 to hammer out the tunes that quickly took shape as "Everything Was New." If the look of the album's cover design by Steve Good brings to mind the artwork of Elvis Costello's 1981 album "Almost Blue," it's not a coincidence. Costello's classic country covers detour was a huge influence on the young Tom Dunphy who got his start playing punk rock covers with high school pals in The Crooked Beat, named after the song by The Clash off the Sandinista! album. 

But hearing Costello's take on old school country gave Dunphy a fresh perspective on the corny stuff his parents played at home. Along with it came a whole new appreciation for the songcraft at the heart of a song with lasting relevance. Those lessons learned from Almost Blue were first applied to Dunphy's honky tonk country band the Juke Joint Johnnys who released one album in 2001, the aptly named Gone For Good. Within the next year, Tom married Tara which gave rise to The Rizdales and now, seven albums later, Tom is finally paying homage to the recording which started him on the path to the soul of country music. 

Thankfully, what Dunphy and crew came up with on Everything Was New is much closer in spirit to the unvarnished honky tonk sound of Ray Price, Wynn Stewart, Webb Pierce and Lefty Frizzell than anything by Elvis Costello or currently coming out of Nashville. You can get a digital copy of the album's first single "You Make Me Shake" via Bandcamp right here, stream it via Apple Music right here or simply have a listen below.  

Tom Dunphy is launching "Everything Was New" in Toronto at The Cameron House (408 Queen St. West) on Saturday, April 12 from 8pm to 10pm and in London, Ontario at The Richmond Tavern (370 Richmond St., London, Ontario) on Sunday, April 13 from 3pm to 6pm. Both events are PWYC. 

One For The Weekend: Michael Brennan

Michael Brennan launches his Front Porch Songs CD w/ Steve Briggs and pals at 12 Isabella on Sunday (March 9) at 4 pm.

Front Porch Songs CD Release Party 

Wayward Angels' singer/songwriter Michael Brennan returns to the Artful Dodger (12 Isabella) for a matinee on Sunday (March 9) at 4 pm to play some tunes from his great new solo recording Front Porch Songs. Joining Michael at his CD launch will be longtime cohorts, namely bassist John Switzer (Jane Siberry, Grievous Angels, Rita Chiarelli), drummer John Adames (Prairie Oyster, Stan Rogers, Rough Trade), and Bebop Cowboys guitar slinger deluxe Steve Briggs (Russell deCarle, Sylvia Tyson). Check out Michael Brennan's song "Dirt" off the new album below and swing by the Artful Dodger on Sunday and pick up a copy of his Front Porch Songs disc.

 

The Rizdales return to The Cameron House, Saturday

Don't miss the way overdue Toronto return of The Rizdales' Tom & Tara for a Cameron show on Saturday. There may be dancing.

Russell deCarle previews new album The End Of The Road with "Mean Streak"

Russell deCarle's forthcoming album The End Of The Road is out March 18. Check out "Mean Streak" below.  

 

You can order a copy of Russell deCarle's new album from his site right here. 

Celebrate Patsy's 90th at Toronto's annual Patsy Cline Birthday Bash

After a two year hiatus, Heather Morgan brings back her Patsy Cline Birthday Salute with an all-star cast of Toronto artists Sept. 8th

Here's the scoop...

After a two-year break, one of Toronto’s longest-running music events — the annual tribute to singer Patsy Cline — is returning to Lula Lounge on Thursday September 8. 

Hosted and curated by Heather Morgan, this will be the 15th time that the event’s been held to commemorate Cline’s legacy; the all-star concert is being held on what would have been Cline’s 90th birthday.

Only 30 when she died in a plane crash in 1963, Cline’s influence on generations of singers is as strong as ever. One of the best remembered artists from country music's golden age, the songs she was associated with are interpreted today by artists in many different genres.

Artists at the Lula Lounge concert include jazz singers Julie Michels and Sophia Perlman, blues-based artists Ginger St. James and Danny Marks, the Daniel-Raum trio led by classical violinist Erica Raum, trombonist-singer Charlotte McAfee-Brunner, cabaret singers Sonya Jezebel Coté and Samantha Windover as well as roots country artist Russell deCarle, Kathryn Rose and Helen Stewart. (see full list below).

The 15th annual celebration of the music of country singer Patsy Cline

featuring 13 local artists performing their favourite Patsy Cline songs

at Toronto's Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West)

on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022

Showtime: Doors at 7:00 p.m.; show 8:30 p.m. sharp (note early start)

Tickets: $25 advance, $35 at the door available here. 

Dinner reservations guarantee seating: call (416) 588-0307, or visit online @ www.lulalounge.ca/

More details @ Facebook page right here

 

Performers for this year's show

Sonya Jezebel Coté (chanteuse, actor, author)

Russell deCarle (now solo; once lead singer with Prairie Oyster)

Kathryn Rose (singer-songwriter, international road warrior)

Laura Hubert (formerly with the late-lamented Leslie Spit Trio)

Danny Marks (blues guitarist/singer, busiest player in  town))

Charlotte McAfee-Brunner (old-school jazz trombonist and singer)

Julie Michels (Toronto-based jazz singer)

Heather Morgan (founder of the annual Patsy Cline events)

Sophia Perlman (jazz singer with soul)

Ginger St James (Hamilton-based blues rocker)

Helen Stewart (veteran old-school country singer)

The Daniel-Raum Trio (a classical group’s take on Patsy Cline)

Samantha Windover (a regular at this show since she was 14)

The artists will be accompanied by a band led by guitarist Steve Briggs including Dennis Pendrith (bass), Teddy Hawkins (drums/harmony vocals), and Dennis Keldie (keys, accordion) and Burke Carroll (pedal steel).

Patsy Cline Birthday Bash @ Lula Thursday

It's lucky number seven for Toronto's own Heather Morgan who's once again hosting her hugely successful annual Patsy Cline birthday celebration at the Lula Lounge on Thursday (September 6) marking the late country legend's 80th.

As usual, Morgan has assembled a fabulous cast of more than 20 local performers to sing Patsy's songs including Mary Margaret O'Hara, Russell deCarle, Lori Yates, Alex Pangman, Colonel Tom Parker, Kathryn Rose, Danny Marks, Tressa Levasseur, Paul Reddick, Laura Repo and others tastefully backed by the superb backing band led by the Bebop Cowboys' guitar picker deluxe Steve Briggs with Dennis Pendrith on upright bass, Nichol Robertson on guitar, James Gray playing piano and Ted Hawkins on drums. Along with paying tribute to one of country music's greatest voices, Morgan's warmly welcoming event also works quite nicely to bring together musicians from various cliques within the Toronto roots music community in a relaxed setting.

Tickets are $15 will be available at the door of the Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas St. West) which opens at 7 pm with the show getting underway at 8:30 pm sharp. A donation from the evening's proceeds will be made to ArtsCan Circle: www.artscancircle.ca in support of at risk youth in remote native Canadian communities. There's lots of standing room at the Lula Lounge but if you want a guaranteed seat, dinner reservations can be made by calling 416-588-0307 or simply email: reserve@lula.ca