The Barrie Folk Society goes on the road with Dr. Pinkham’s Travelling Medicine Show! Don’t miss your chance to hear the dynamite combo, Manitoba Hal Brolund, Allison Brown, and Leah Morise in the beautiful hills of Oro-Medonte.(near Moonstone. Dr Pinkham’s Travelling Medicine Show features old time country, folk and blues in a performance of sweet harmony and ukulele! No quackery here, just the finest distillation of good song and musical variety!

Manitoba Hal Brolund is a multi-instrumentalist  and the consummate blues ukulele man. He is a powerful vocalist, with a voice as smooth and sweet as Tupelo honey but he can growl like a hurricane on a hot Louisiana night. He can hold his own singing Novelty Jazz tunes from the 1920s and 30s or growling a down home blues.

Allison Brown likes her religion a little bit gritty, takes her country music with a side of syrup and keeps her folk as dusty as the ol’ cabin floor. With a hatful of broken hearts, bad weather, toils of the road and leaps of faith, Allison’s crafted originals matched with classic roots repertoire reflect the striking conviction she brings to her sweet and powerful singing.

Leah Morise can be serious, whimsical, sexy, and slightly naughty in musical settings that cover pop, folk, jazz and blues. Morise has a wonderful voice with hints of Jolie Holland and Maria Muldaur, but still uniquely her own.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start. Suggested donation is $15  (under 14 $7) with all proceeds to the artists.

Contact Jives (cyberfolkie@hotmail.com) 705.322.3349 (leave a message) for reservations and directions. Bring friends, libation of choice and a snack to share should you feel so inclined.

The Barrie Folk Society’s next 6ix Strings at 5ive Points concert takes place on Sunday, April 24, 2 to 4pm at the Downtown Community Theatre.

This month’s concert features Scott Cooper and Drew Parker.

Imagine mixing John Mayer’s pop, Bob Dylan’s folk, and the vocal clarity of Josh Groban. What you’d have is the refreshing new sound of Barrie singer/songwriter Drew Parker.

Drew’s debut acoustic pop/rock album, “On My Way Home,” was mastered by six-time Grammy-nominee and Juno-winner Brad Blackwood at Euphonic Masters. It reached the 2009 Grammy Award’s first round, alongside artists such as Neil Diamond and Jakob Dylan.

Over the past nine years, Drew has traveled the northeastern seaboard performing at venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the White House, and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. He has performed live on Canada’s A-Channel morning talk show “A Morning”, and his music has been played on radio stations like Canada’s Rock 95 and 95.1 The Peak FM. He opened for the 2009 “Sears National Kids Cancer Ride” fashion show featuring Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha, and has performed at Barrie’s huge Kempenfest festival and Barrie’s New Music Festival. His single “Christine” won the award for “Best Folk” at Barrie’s New Music Awards.

“Tiny Increments” is singer-songwriter Scott Cooper‘s third full-length record featuring 11 rootsy, back-to-basics folk pop songs that demonstrate the Midland native’s keen eye for catching love and life’s tiniest and oft-missed moments and stories.

Through several years of critically acclaimed recordings and strong live performances, Cooper has established himself on the Canadian music scene, garnering audience loyalty throughout Ontario, and currently expanding to Quebec and Western Canada. His music has been used in both film and television (you’ve heard him on The Food Network’s smash “The Surreal Gourmet“, CTV’s “Heartland“, and PBS’ “Roadtrip Nation“). Cooper’s music also receives regular rotation on CBC and satellite radio across the country, and has charted on college/campus radio across North America, UK, and Germany. He’s also received rave reviews and national press from The Toronto Star (most notably by legendary music critic John Sakamoto’s Anti-Hit List) and Exclaim! magazine who lauded, “‘Tiny Increments’ contains all the elements that fans of classic Canadian folk rock have come to expect over the last ten years, and Cooper appears poised to add his name to that list of highly successful artists with this album.”

Admission is only $5 and tickets are available at the door. For more information e-mail promo@barriefolk.com.

The Barrie Folk Society is pleased to present festival favourites, Soul Surfers in a house concert at Ginny and Patty’s on Feb. 26 (8pm). Douglas John Cameron, Adam Crossley and Daniel Roth are the triple threat talents behind SOUL SURFERS. Midland native, Toronto-based Douglas Cameron began writing songs at nine years of age. In 1985, he garnered a Juno nomination for “Mona With the Children” and, during the 90s, recorded three albums for children and over 30 songs for “Ants In Your Pants” (Treehouse TV). Adam Crossley is an acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer, and inspires comparisons to Coldplay, Sting and Ryan Adams with his melodic voice and thoughtful lyrics. Another prodigy, Adam began playing piano and writing songs when he was seven. Daniel Roth, also an accomplished musician from a young age is known for the lush tones and driving melodies which were at the heart of his first band – Harpoon Dodger’s – first release in 2005. Dan released his first independent record as a singer/songwriter in the winter of 2008, and his second album earlier this year. Dan Roth has energy to burn and music has become his fire.

To reserve your seat and get directions, call (705) 431-7182 or e-mail ginnyc649@hotmail.com.

The Barrie Folk Society is honoured to host the release of Connie Kaldor’s latest CD,Postcards from the Road, at the Downtown Community Theatre in Barrie on Friday, Jan. 8.

Fact is, Connie Kaldor is a performer without borders. A contradiction in terms. She is a Juno-award winning singer who has flourished on the folk music scene for over two decades yet her repertoire of original material blurs musical boundaries, embracing elements of gospel, rock, country and western, folk, blue grass and adult contemporary.

She is an artist of substance without pretension, witty and urbane without condescension. She is a fearless chronicler of the human experience without the folksong angst. She has recorded nine albums, sold tens of thousands of copies, but has never had a commercial hit.

Her live performances are legendary and her fan base broad and fiercely loyal. People come back to see her again and again because a Connie Kaldor performance is about more than just the power of music. It is also about the power of personality. What she says between songs is as intriguing as the lyrics she sings.

A musical bard whose music and lyrics have diverse appeal-appropriated for everything from anger management workshops for men to economic news letters to soundtracks for film. “She’s tough and she’s tender. She sings with love and with anger…indecently talented. ” Toronto Star.

The show takes place at the Downtown Community Theatre (1 Dunlop St. W., Barrie). Doors open at 7:30pm; the show starts at 8pm.

Advance tickets are $20 ($25 at the door). Advance tickets are available:

• at Barrie Music Centre (411 Huronia Rd., Barrie); cash sales only. The Barrie Music Centre is open Mon-Thurs, 12 to 9pm.
• mail a cheque to 51 Henry St. Barrie, ON L4N 1C6 to have advance price tickets held at the door under your name.
• email info@barriefolk.com or phone 737-5204 by Jan 5th to arrange advance price tickets held at the door under your name

A great Christmas gift for a Connie fan!

The schedule for this year’s BarrieFolk is now available. Click on “Festival Info“

The fifth annual BarrieFolk: Roots Music Festival takes place on Nov. 6 and 7 at Georgian College. Music starts at 7pm on Nov. 6 with the third annual Youth Song Competition finalists competing for a place in the festival. The evening will be capped off with a special musical presentation by Sheesham and Lotus. This special Friday event takes place in the Rowntree Theatre (H106, CAI Building, Georgian College).

Music starts on Nov. 7 at 11:30am in both the Georgian College Theatre and The Last Class Lounge. Performers include DALA, Jory Nash, Tanglefoot, Sheesham and Lotus, Jill Jambor, Hawp, Tethera, Dentdelion, Good Lovelies, Gordie Tentrees, Dave Thomson, The Brights, Soul Surfers and more!

Friday night tickets are $10 per person. Saturday advance tickets are $30 ($40 at the door). Seniors and students $20.

Tickets are now available online or by phone. New! tickets are also available in Orillia at the Mariposa Folk Foundation (37 Mississaga St. W. or call 705.326.3655.

The next Barrie Folk Society’s 6ix Strings at 5ive Points in the Downtown Performing Theatre on Dunlop Street in Barrie is scheduled for Sept. 27 with Jill Jambor and Dave Thomson. Cost is $10 per person ($5 for seniors and students). Advance tickets available from Onnie Groves at the City of Barrie (ogroves@barrie.ca) or at the door. Refreshments provided by Grandmothers to Grandmothers.