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From our friend Ian Robb...
I just wanted to let you know that my Friends of Fiddler's Green bandmate, Alistair Brown, will be performing an Ottawa concert on Wednesday July 31st 2013. at the Rosemount Hall, 41 Rosemount Ave., in Ottawa's Hintonburg neighborhood, The concert will start at 7:30 pm, and tickets are $15. The venue is quite small, so advance reservation is advised, and you can do this on line at www.ianrobb.com/tix
Those of you who know Alistair will also know to expect a bunch of grand songs and stories, old and new, by a veteran performer who is a fine singer and concertina player, and one of the best raconteurs and joke tellers on the folk scene. For those who don't know him, here's a bit of background:
Alistair Brown has been singing the old songs, and new songs written by people who like the old songs, since he was fifteen years old. He began his career helping out in the folk clubs of his native Scotland during the great folk scare of the 60s, opening bottles (and occasionally concerts) for many of the great names in folk music.
From 1972 to 2002, he lived in Canada, where he was active in many aspects of folk song and dance, as a recording artist, radio broadcaster, reviewer, columnist, festival director, dance teacher, university lecturer, and program director at folk music and dance camps. With several visits each year, he continues to make regular appearances in North American folk clubs and festivals, performing solo, or with the Friends of Fiddler's Green, a band which has just celebrated its forty-second anniversary, without maturing in the slightest.
Audiences at concerts and festivals across North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have been entertained and engaged by Alistair's performances, covering the field from big ballads, comic ditties, songs of struggles (usually unsuccessful) against temptation, odes to conviviality and songs of unashamed sentimentality, to outrageously funny stories from a master of the art - all this accompanied by Anglo concertinas and button accordion.
"Little wonder that he enjoys a healthy reputation as a much-in-demand performer... replete with versatility and good humour - a true folk entertainer"... Living Tradition Magazine
"He held our discerning audience in the palm of his hand whilst singing two sets of songs from the folk club tradition, beautifully accompanied on concertina and introduced with humour and authority. He would be welcome back here anytime"... Roger Giles, Devonport Folk Music Club, NZ
nb: this concert will not be licensed, but there are plenty of places to have a beer in the neighborhood afterwards.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you there!
