Opening Act: Carter and Ben
Desboro Music Hall 2017 Concert Series
All Ages Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: Advance: $20 ($17.70 +HST), Regular: $25 ($22.12 +HST)
*Advance tickets are only available up to the Box Office hours the weekend before the show or we run out (Note: there is a limit of 25 advance price tickets)
The Redhill Valleys
The Redhill Valleys are an original 3-piece Folk/Rock group from Hamilton, Ontario. Rooted by their influences in southern rock, acoustic Americana and soul, the newly formed trio are forging a musical path all their own. The collaboration of guitarist Danielle Beaudin, bassist Chelsea McWilliams and drummer Tim Allard is built upon a common dedication to the craft of songwriting, unifying the poetic ease of their lyrics with unforgettable melodies, harmonies and guitar riffs.
The path to now began when bassist Chelsea McWilliams and guitarist Danielle Beaudin hit the open road for Nashville, Tennessee. They collaborated on their newly developed material and it wasn’t long before the pair found their rhythm. Drummer Tim Allard joined shortly after their return from the Music City, and it became undeniable that something unique was under way as their individual sounds came together as one. They didn’t know it yet, but this was the beginning of The Redhill Valleys.
The trio dug their heels in over the following year, polishing their live material and playing the local circuit. Songs worthy of a full-length album were quickly coming to life, and a curious hum among the Hamilton music scene was building around their folk, roots, and rock inspired sound. Their collaborative influences brought catchy country choruses, as heard on their new single titled “Wrong Way Turns Out Right”, a Canadiana inspired folk ballad called “Parry Sound”, and unapologetic toe-tappin’ rock via tunes such as “You Can’t Be Alone” and “Ragged and Run Down”. Their set-list crossed genres and touched on the hearts of true music lovers.
After a successful fundraiser, the group was able to raise money to begin the recording process. Their debut album was recorded at Westmoreland Recording Studios in Hamilton, Ontario with producer Carl Jennings. The 12-tracks feature McWilliams, Beaudin and Allard trading off lead vocals, which leads the listener on a multifaceted and deeply rich journey. In the studio, the trio honed in on their respected and multi-instrumental abilities to fine tune and translate the energy of their live performances into the record. With the help of producer Jennings, their sound became distinct and the songs unforgettable.
Released on April 26th 2016, the album is now available for purchase via The Redhill Valleys store and download on iTunes and Bandcamp, and streaming on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music and more!
Redhill Valleys Website
Redhill Valleys Facebook
Redhill Valleys Twitter
Redhill Valleys Instagram
Carter and Ben
This duo is known to captivate their audiences with their dexterity, sincerity, and organic playing style. They take the defining aspects of blues and folk and approach them from different angles resulting in a fresh interpretation of two great genres. Their songwriting has been described as thoughtful, soulful, engaging.
In August of 2016, Carter Rolland and Ben Turcotte released their debut album “Basement Folk”.
Opening Act: Doris Folkens
Desboro Music Hall 2018 Concert Series
**Please note this is a Friday concert (Friday June 1)**
All Ages Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: Limited Advance: $20, Regular: $25
*Advance tickets are only available up to the Box Office hours the weekend before the show or we run out (Note: there is a limit of 25 advance price tickets)
OVER THE MOON
Canadian roots/swing duo Over The Moon‘s Suzanne Levesque and Craig Bignell are awarding multi-instrumentalists/vocalists that met, fell in love, got married and discovered their voices blend so well together that people often tear up upon hearing them sing.
Living on a ranch in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, it’s inevitable there will be a strong sense of place- and the rhythms of the land when you start to make music. When the couple released their debut album, the resonances were there for all to hear. reflecting the pulse of life, lived in a territory that is both dirt-hard rugged and beautiful.
Their music is a wild ride from 40’s sounding western swing and Appalachian old-time, to cowboy blues. Simple and sweet, all of their material has a common thread that speaks of the Canadian west and on their UK release, reviews were glowing. American Roots UK saying it was “Exceptional” and Country Music People adding “There’s so much to enjoy here.” The editor of Maverick Magazine told readers “You will love this” Elmore Magazine, New York “We knew we were on to something special”
Over the Moon Website
Over the Moon Facebook
Over the Moon Twitter
Over the Moon YouTube
DORIS FOLKENS
Born in Burlington, Ontario, Doris Folkens grew up playing a piano which survived the bombing of her grandmother’s house in Hamburg during WW2. She began playing guitar- a more portable instrument- during university. After graduating and settling into a health care career, she went on to study songwriting with Berklee College of Music, where she strengthened her skills at writing songs about family and community.
Her debut, old-time inspired album is produced by Toronto’s 7x Canadian Folk Music Award winning mandolinist, Andrew Collins, and arrives Spring 2018. Her music is already receiving recognition from the Ontario music scene- she’s the 2017 recipient of Folk Music Ontario’s “Songs from the Heart- Humorous” Award. A rare singer/songwriter, the vibrant narratives of her folk songs will evoke nostalgia for who you are and where you came from.
Doris Folkens Website
Doris Folkens Facebook
Doris Folkens Instagram
Doris Folkens YouTube
Songwriters in the Round
Featuring Karen Morand, Ken Dunn and Gillian Nicola
This will be a slightly different format than our other concerts. All three musicians will be on the stage together. Each performer will tell a story and play their song before rotating to the next performer. We’ll have an hour of songs with a half hour break before another set of music. Come enjoy a fantastic evening of stories and songs.
Desboro Music Hall 2020 Concert Series
All Ages
Doors Open: 6:30pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets:Regular: $25
KAREN MORAND
Karen Morand has roots that run deep. Born in Toronto and based in Southern Ontario, the award-winning singer-songwriter does life off the beaten path, sleeves rolled up with an eye on the eternal. Armed with feisty, powerhouse vocals, she delivers a soul-stirring show: lively, alt- folk with well-worn blues and gritty gospel on the side.
Karen radiates with energy in live performances both solo and accompanied by her acoustic trio, BOSCO (Aaron Verhulst and Benny Santoro). A graduate from the University of Windsor’s music therapy program, Karen enjoys making meaningful connections with her audience and inspiring hope. She is also a music educator, workshop instructor and music director.
Since her first studio release, ‘Carry On’ in 2012, followed by ‘I Think I’ll Lose My Mind Today’ in 2014, and Junkyard Heart in 2016, Karen has maintained an intense performance schedule throughout Ontario and most recently, touring Eastern Canada. Her first solo and most recent release, “Every Flash of Light” (2018) is an EP produced by Danny Gauthier including co-writes with Nashville songwriters Steve Hindalong (the Choir), Kelly Kessler and Linda McRae (Spirit of the West). Other collaborations include her recent pairing with internationally renowned bluesman, Manitoba Hal Brolund as bluesy gospel Americana duo, “Even the Bird Was Free.”
What some folks are saying:
“I met Karen Morand at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals in 2010 where I was a mentor. She was just beginning her career as a singer/songwriter and I was immediately impressed by her warmth and straightforward attitude. She has made great strides since then and has just released her second recording of her own material. Her songwriting belies the amount of time she’s actually been writing and I believe she is on her way to becoming an artist who will be a force on the Canadian music scene” Linda McRae, platinum award winning musician
“Karen Morand is something of a standout in the crowded field of solo singer-songwriters. Her performances and recordings both display a careful attention to craft as well as a broad range of influences. Karen’s material demonstrates her comfort with a variety of styles and genres and her ability to create appealing melodies and lyrics.” Danny Sullivan, Artistic Director, Blue Skies Music Festival
“Songwriter Karen Morand casts power to stir the storm in your soul and part the dark clouds hovering over your heart. Karen drives the engine through songs that clang, grind and chug with bold defiance, shaken faith and cryptic warnings; breathing steam around embraces of the wounded and outcast.” Songstress and CJAM radio host Allison Brown
KEN DUNN
Over the past 30 years, singer-songwriter Ken Dunn has performed at hundreds of venues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Central America, as well as recording 10 albums of original music.
He has shared stages with a number of well-known artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker, David Amram, and Canadian folk icons Valdy, Willie P. Bennett, and Garnet Rogers.
Notable performances include those at Canada’s Festival of Friends, a sold out concert at the historic Santa Ana Theatre in San Miguel, Mexico, the Central California Neil Young tribute show in Paso Robles, California, and Jerry Jeff Walker’s Festival in San Pedro, Belize.
With the intention of promoting peace, social, and environmental justice through music, Ken has also performed a number of benefit concerts, including those for Amnesty International, Biblioteca San Miguel, Playing For Change, L.A. Family Housing, and the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida.
GILLIAN NICOLA
Hamilton’s Gillian Nicola took an unusual route to becoming a folk/Americana singer-songwriter: trained in classical voice, Nicola spent her teens gigging in a classic rock cover band, singing Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin before launching herself into alt-country when she began writing songs. Nicola’s music centres around her chameleonic vocals – at one moment with a hint of tobacco in her voice, the next outright rocking – strummed and finger picked guitar, and versatile, melodic songwriting. Nicola’s songs are often built around open and alternate guitar tunings that allow her to throw her music theory upbringing out the window. Nicola released her debut full-length album, Dried Flowers, on May 3, 2019. Produced by John Dinsmore, the album reached number 3 on the earshot! Folk/Roots/Blues Charts and has received CBC airplay nationwide.
Dried Flowers is “an alt-country-folk-rock masterclass in the affairs of the heart” – Hamilton Magazine.