Express and Company @ Sunset Saloon, March 27

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Express and Company
expressandcompany.com

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Live at Sunset Saloon (house concert, West Winnipeg)
7:30
Suggested donation $15-20
All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever) As usual, you can bring a beverage of your choice or food to share if you wish, but we’ll have plenty of both on hand, so feel free to save yourself the trouble and just enjoy whatever’s on hand!

*If for some reason you can’t make it to this show (and we genuinely hope you will), or if you love it that much (as I suspect you will), Express and Co. will be doing another show on March 28 at River City Social Club! Fill out the contact form below and let me know your particulars, and I’ll pass them along to Gord at River City Social Club!

I just love it when something new enters my ears and blows my mind. The joy of discovering something new and amazing never gets old, nor does the joy of sharing the news with others.

One of my favourite discoveries of 2012 was a young lady named Melissa Payne. Her self-titled debut was full of interesting lyrics, great musicianship, and her warm, inviting voice. It was one of those surprising ones – someone I’d never heard of and an album featuring players I didn’t know, but someone impressive and exciting. She’s a talented singer/songwriter, and also an accomplished fiddle player. She took lessons from the Leahy family and toured with Natalie McMaster, so she’s learned from the best.

And she puts those skills to good use backing up Dylan Ireland as Express and Company. Dylan comes from a very musical family who have prepared him well for a promising career leading another of the most impressive debuts I’ve heard in a long time. The songs are just the kind of intelligent, melodic, interesting roots rock that I love.

Express and Company dropped by Steel Belted Radio recently for a conversation and live performances. I was so impressed that I just had to hear more. So we set out to plug a hole in the tour schedule with another stop in Winnipeg. I’m very excited to share this new group with you, and I know that you’ll be impressed with these songs and these musicians. You might not have heard of Express and Company or Melissa Payne yet, but I’d bet that those names will become a lot more familiar to a lot more people over the next few years.

And the next exciting show at The Sunset Saloon is shortly after, when Chris Trapper comes to our cozy confines on April 8! That one promises to be great also!

As if that weren’t enough, we’re proud to welcome back Christina Martin and Dale Murray on April 28!

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March 7 on Steel Belted Radio – New Country Rehab!

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ghost-coverWith a name like New Country Rehab, you know the Steel Belted Crew has to be fans, but they’re more than just a name, these guys are the real deal. Roots rockin’ country just the way we like it, with a killer live show and great songs to boot. They were a big hit at the Winnipeg Folk Festival a couple of years ago and have stopped in our town a couple of times and played to rave reviews.

This week they released a new album, “Ghost of your Charms,” which ups the ante with even better songs and even more amazing musicianship. This one’s bound to break this band wide open, so you’ll want to get on the bandwagon now.

They’re in town for their first show since the CD’s release, Thursday at Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club. It’s an intimate environment with just the right clientèle and atmosphere for rough around the edges powerful music like this. You won’t want to miss that show, I promise.

And, you’ll definitely want to tune in to Steel Belted Radio for a free preview when New Country Rehab drops by UMFM for some conversation and LIVE PERFORMANCES just before the show!

Steel Belted Radio
6:30 – 8 pm Central
101.5 UMFM

This will be good!

Steel Belted Radio – Feb. 28, 2013

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Our first live guests of the year, and what a great way to kick things off. Today we’re joined by Dylan Ireland & Melissa Payne, Express and Company. Their new disc Ontario is one of the best of the year so far, and Melissa got our attention with her fine self-titled CD last year, so it’s a real treat to get to know them and hear them perform live.

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February 24, 2013

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Today we’ve got some exciting house concert news and the return of one of our all-time favourites on Friday. We’ve also got wedding wishes for Amanda & Jason and lots of new and exciting music.

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FAR #163

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ExpressAndCompany-Cover-WebArtist: Album (Label) *JR

1. Express and Company: Ontario (Seventh Fire) *JR
2. Corin Raymond and The Sundowners: Paper Nickels (self)
3. Mary Gauthier: Live at Blue Rock (CD Baby)
4. Gurf Morlix: Finds the Present Tense (self)
5. The Good Lovelies: Live at Revolution (self)
6. Justin Rutledge: Valleyheart (Outside)

The Express and Company on Steel Belted Radio, Feb. 28!

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It’s been a while since we’ve had any guests performing live on the shows, but tomorrow on Steel Belted Radio, we’ll break the silence with two stellar live guests!

Steel Belted Radio
Thursday, February 28
6:30 – 8 pm central
CJUM 101.5 UMFM
www.umfm.com

Stephen Fearing has been kind enough to visit us a couple of times in the past, and it’s always a real pleasure. A thoughtful, intelligent interview and one of the great singer/songwriters in Canada, with an enviable catalogue of great songs and a reputation as one of our most engaging live performers. Stephen has a fine new album, Between Hurricanes, and he’s in Winnipeg to perform a solo show at The West End Cultural Centre on Friday.

Sadly, we must enact the Fred Eaglesmith clause on this one, which states that at any moment, a performer could decide not to hang out with the likes of me. Oh well. Better luck next time!

But we’ve still got:

One of my favourite discoveries of last year was a young singer/songwriter/fiddle player extraordinaire, Melissa Payne. She released a very promising self-titled debut full of interesting songs. But she also plays nicely with others, as she is one half of The Express and Company, along with singer/songwriter Dylan Ireland. Also tomorrow, we expect to announce where you can see The Express and Company live for yourself next month!

I Truly Believe that this Campaign is CRAP

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Check this out, a Kickstarter campaign for a project that sounds amazing: Alejandro Escovedo, Jon Dee Graham, and the rest of the True Believers are getting back together after 27 years of amazing music apart.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1763258740/true-believers-recording-project

Now, I’m a sucker for a good Kickstarter campaign. You got some good music and a great sob story? I’m in. I’ve donated to a whole pile of these campaigns, and usually, I feel pretty good about that (although the waiting game for some of these projects to finally arrive is maddening…)

This, however, has to be the WORST Kickstarter campaign in HISTORY. First off, a great band I’d love to support – True Believers (Alejandro Escovedo & Jon Dee Graham, etc) getting back together. Cool, right?

Well, the old geezers are only promising to record ONE song at this point! Gee, thanks! And you’re telling me that these guys can’t afford to record ONE song? Really? C’mon. And, best of all, for a minimum $25 pledge, you get to DOWNLOAD that ONE song ONE day before the rest of the world can buy it for a buck! No other promised updates or incentives. NOTHING! The next level you can get in at is $1000, and that’ll get you the opportunity to hang out (for 5 minutes, I’m sure) at the recording studio. Woo – hoo! (I got to spend a whole day with Del Barber in the studio and HE offered to buy ME pizza! I hope I don’t owe him a couple grand now.)

I can’t wait to hear the song, but I also can’t believe that they’re serious about this campaign. I also can’t believe that 29 suckers so far have bought in.

These guys, who I previously respected greatly, seem to be making a mockery of crowdfunding!

Thank God for projects like Namedropper, one I’m proud to support. Great people, great pitch, great incentives, great updates, very amazing project – everything this one is NOT!

Christina Martin & Dale Murray @ Sunset Saloon, April 28!

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This show is officially SOLD OUT! If you haven’t confirmed your seat with me, I’m sorry, but we’re packed up tight. Hopefully you can catch Christina & Dale soon, and hopefully you can join us for Ben Kyle on May 10 and Shannon Lyon on July 6! Lots of room at those still!

TTBTGH & SBFRR are proud to present…

I was thrilled to have one of Canada’s finest singer/songwriters and most promising artists stop by my house once, but somehow, lightning keeps striking because we’re over the moon excited to announce that Christina Martin returns to Sunset Saloon for the FOURTH TIME, April 28!

Christina Martin & Dale Murray
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Live at Sunset Saloon (house concert, West Winnipeg)
7:30
Suggested donation $15-20
All are welcome (bring the kids, friends, family, people off the street, whatever)
As usual, you can bring a beverage of your choice or food to share if you wish, but we’ll have plenty of both on hand, so feel free to save yourself the trouble and just enjoy whatever’s on hand!45646_459069970305_4154782_n

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Christina Martin is the full package and someone you do not want to miss seeing: she’s got a smoky, sexy voice reminiscent of Amy Rigby, powerful, personal songs like Lucinda Williams, and catchy hooks that remind me of Shawn Colvin’s best. She’s also a wonderful storyteller, an engaging performer, and a real humanitarian. She  also completed an Artist in Residency with Geriatric Medicine Research (GMR) at Dalhousie University and The Canadian Dementia Knowledge Translation Network (CDKTN). She’s a multiple award winner at the ECMAs and Music Nova Scotia, she runs her own record company, Come Undone, and she’s made it to the Top 10 in the CBC Top 20, after having received the most online votes 4 weeks in a row!

dale-biopicIt’s likely that none of this would have happened without Christina’s producer, arranger, bad-ass guitarist, and now husband, Dale Murray. His family is East Coast music royalty (you may have heard of his Aunt Anne at some point), and he built a reputation as one of Canada’s finest guitarists and producers. He has worked with The Guthries, Matt Mays, and Cuff the Duke, among others.

Last year he really came into his own with an amazing solo album, Dream Mountain Dream, another Music Nova Scotia award winner. We got to hear a preview of a couple of tracks when he joined Christina last year, but now that we know how great he is, we might just make him pull his own weight and sing a few more songs – they’re great!

These two should be (and will soon be) playing much bigger venues, but they’re still kind and humble enough to visit us at The Sunset Saloon, and we’re eternally grateful. Please join us for this intimate, engaging, amazing evening of music and merriment.

Christina and Dale joined me to co-host and perform on Tell the Band to Go Home last year! Relive the magic!

Help us out and press one of those “Share This” buttons below to spread the good word and encourage others to join us!

Let the world know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Episode #484 Sunday, February 24, 2013

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Today we’ve got some exciting house concert news and the return of one of our all-time favourites on Friday. We’ve also got wedding wishes for Amanda & Jason and lots of new and exciting music.

Artist – Song title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – WPG=Winnipeg artist

2:00 – 2:30 pm

Del Barber – Can’t Turn Around – recorded live on UMFM – CDN – WPG
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison – Leavin’ – Cheater’s Game
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison – Long Way Home – Cheater’s Game
Gurf Morlix – My Life’s Been Taken – Finds the Present Tense
Corin Raymond – Dutch – Paper Nickels – CDN
Corin Raymond – Brand New Song – Paper Nickels – CDN

2:30 – 3:00 pm

Jason Isbell – Shotgun Wedding – Sirens Of The Ditch
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Heart On A String – Here We Rest
Amanda Shires – What Happened Last Night? – Southern Independent, Vol. 3
Todd Snider – West Nashville Grand Ballroom Gown – Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables
First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar – The Lion’s Roar
Langhorne Slim & The Law – Song for Sid – The Way We Move

3:00 – 3:30 pm

Christina Martin – Marina – Sleeping with a Stranger – CDN
Shannon Lyon – Backyard Song – recorded live @ Sunset Saloon – CDN
Chris Trapper – Long Goodbye – The Few & The Far Between
Ben Kyle & Carrie Rodriguez – Your Lonely Heart – We Still Love our Country
Express and Company – Out by the Trees – Ontario – CDN

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Stephen Fearing – As the Crow Flies – Between Hurricanese – CDN
Stephen Fearing – Blue Line – Blue Line – CDN
Stephen Fearing – The Assassin’s Apprentice – The Assassin’s Apprentice – CDN
Blackie & The Rodeo Kings – Nickels And Dimes – Kings Of Love – CDN
Ricky Young – Suitcase Afternoon – Learn to Steal

Steel Belted Radio – Feb. 21, 2013

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Some rockin’ good tunes, shows seen and missed, new stuff, Junos, and previewing next week’s live guests!

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