“Charlie Hope‘s third album, Songs, Stories and Friends: Let’s Go Play! is full of fun and adventures, with a story thread throughout. Come along with me and my friends to the park! We’ll go on a journey with songs, verses, and the spoken word. You’ll recognize some songs (join in if you like!) and learn some new ones as well. So, bring your lunch, your imagination, your friends, and Let’s Go Play!”
– Liner Notes
“The choir’s repertoire spans from the Renaissance to the Twenty-First Century, and while their selection is primarily classical, they are known to include spiritual, folk and light popular culture selections in their programming to the delight of both choir and audience. Cantus Vocum prides itself in its repertoire of works by Canadian composers and in its ability to continually produce innovative programming to cover a broad spectrum of musical tastes.
Cantus Vocum has found great reception all over the world. They have performed at St. Paul’s Cathedral in England; Beaumont Hamel in France; Ryelandt Hall in Belgium; at the Cologne Cathedral in Germany and in an International Choral Festival in The Netherlands. In July 2004, the choir toured extensively in Italy – a tour which was highlighted by a performance in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. In 2008, the choir had a successful tour of Finland, Estonia, and the Czech Republic in July 2008. Cantus Vocum were warmly received by audiences in the Helsinki Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland; St. Charles Church in Tallinn, Estonia; St. Elizabeth’s Church in Parnu, Estonia, and in St. Salvator Church of Prague, Czech Republic, where they performed a joint concert with the Holy Heart of Mary Alumni Choir, a choir of fellow Newfoundland musicians touring Europe that summer. Most recently, the choir has toured Denmark and Sweden.
While the choir love and are thankful for the opportunities they have had to travel with their music, they value their performances closer to home, and in 2006, Cantus Vocum was a finalist in the CBC National Radio Competition”
– Cantus Vocum’s Facebook
“Formed in 1998, Bump have become one of the most well known rock bands on the infamous ‘George Street’ in North America’s oldest city, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Known for their energized live show and the ability to always bring out a crowd and show them a great time, this band now can be officially recognized as veterans of the music scene with the credentials to back it up. The band released their first album titled 104 in 2007 to great reviews and eventually bringing them their first heavily played single ‘High’. Now on their sophomore album Spaces in Between, this band shows no signs of slowing down.
The current line up has been there since the early days and , with such a collection of influences and musical diversity within its members, it is no surprise that this band has managed to remain a force to be reckoned with every since bursting onto the scene nearly a dozen years ago.
The band members are:
Rob Cook (lead vocals, guitar)
Steve Browne (guitar, vocals)
Steve Randell (bass, vocals)
Trevor Fraize (drums)”
– Bump’s Facebook page
“Andrew Callahan has been playing music from the time he took his first breath. He writes songs that captures things that we all can relate to with very catchy melodies and dance-able beats. Andrews debut album was recorded and produced by Dave Fitzpatrick.”
– Liner Notes
“Irene’s strong, powerful, uplifting , soul searching vocals will have you hand-clapping, toe tapping laughing, crying, and full of goosebumps all in one evening! With a unique voice like Sheryl Crowe and the strength of Vestal Goodman, Irene ignites the stage!”
– Liner Notes
“Chansons Irisées or songs of iridescence (like a rainbow) is a charismatic compilation of Barry’s own French compositions as well as her interpretations of songs by Québecois poet Christine Bernard and the icon of French Chanson, Édith Piaf.
A mélange of sweet melodies, sophisticated jazz, rollicking cabaret and exotic worldbeat, this album is a sensuous and soothing journey through the ever-changing fortunes of the human heart.”
“‘Speechless’, Barron’s first all instrumental album was recorded in his home studio with help from guitarist/bassist Chili Taylor.
Barron plays a variety of instruments on this album that reflects Celtic and old time music genres. Barron performs on guitar, five string banjo, tenor banjo, mandolin and bass.
He opens with ‘Father’s Pride’, a Tony Ellis banjo melody. A fine claw-hammer banjoist, Barron really shines in this realm. Melodic banjo doesn’t get much attention these days but in Barron’s hands, along with an absolutely gorgeous sounding Deering banjo, this track and others in this style are examples of just how expansive a banjo can be in a really creative player’s hands.
Barron sticks to more traditional lines in ‘The Congress Reel’, ‘Flight of the Chinquapin’ and ‘John Brown’s Dream’ on mandolin and tenor banjo in subsequent tracks. There’s also a fine claw-hammer banjo on ‘Foggy Dew/Sally in the Garden’. The lone solo guitar track is the final one, ‘Speechless’.
Throughout we hear the Newfoundland versions of many familiar melodies.
Overall ‘Speechless’ is a good introduction into Barron’s instrumental side.”
– Art Edelstein from www.rikbarron.com
“This, folks, is as close as yer gonna get to a Waylon Jennings kids’ album. Newfoundland folk and roots music veteran Rik Barron uses his considerable talents to create Shine, a wonderfully rustic album for children. Barron’s quavering baritone is very reminiscent of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and his quiet, almost conversational delivery fits his material perfectly.
Barron’s choice of cover songs adds to Shine‘s quality: Butch Hancock‘s “My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own,” Iris DeMent‘s “Let the Mystery Be,” Duncan Wells‘ “Shine,” the Jimmie Davis classic “Nobody’s Darlin but Mine,” and a traditional tune made popular by Raffi, “To Everyone in All the World.” Banjos, open-tuned guitars, and a strong collection of tunes make Shine a great CD for kids and their grownups. Like Barron’s liner notes say, this isn’t a party album: gather the family ’round and listen to this one around the fireplace or out on the front porch.”
-Warren Truitt – Kids Music That Rocks
“Based out of Halifax, NS the band consists of a duo of songwriters (Kris Pope & David Scholten), a killer rhythm section (Jordi Comstock, Ian Sherwood), and a talented composer & keys player (Ian Bent). For bigger shows, a string quartet joins the group, adding the lush layers found on the album.
The band’s debut album All Nations was nominated for ‘Recording of the Year’ at the East Coast Music Awards. Three years of writing, touring, recording, collaborating and general endless philosophizing resulted in a concise and impressive follow up album. Truth & Sky uses a variety of live recordings and studio tracks to further develop the band’s unique atmospheric-folk sound.”
– http://aaacres.com/bio
