Tag: ukulele

Meet Cody Zevenbergen

Meet Cody Zevenbergen

Posted on by desboromh

With a last name like “Zevenbergen”, it’s easy to stand out and be remembered in this area.  (although getting the name actually “right” doesn’t always happen)  So it’ll be easy for you to remember Cody Zevenbergen.  He’s our third performer at our Friday August 25 concert.

Cody has his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Guitar from York University and moved back to this area to be a music instructor while also performing in many local festivals including Summerfolk and Lupercalia.  He has a wide variety of influences, including rock, blues, country and jazz.  So you won’t know what you’ll get in a concert setting!  (making it half the fun).  He is hoping to record an album of his solo material soon but in the meanwhile, he performs with his band, “Frankie & the Wild Years” and teaches in the Grey-Bruce area.

Come on out to support a local up-and-coming musician.  Check out his video below.

Desboro Music Hall 2017 Concert Series
Friday August 25, 2017
All Ages
Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: Advance: $20 ($17.70 +HST), Regular: $25 ($22.12 +HST)
Get Tickets

*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)

Meet Tragedy Ann

Meet Tragedy Ann

Posted on by desboromh

Tragedy Ann, a duo comprising of Liv Cazzola & Braden Phelan, first met romantically.  They didn’t decide to start performing together until later.  Blending guitar, accordion, ukulele and harmonies, they have created their unique sound of thrift-folk.  What is thrift-folk you ask?  It is an amalgamation of well-worn musical fabrics, drawn from traditional folk and blues, that are repurposed and given new life in a bold and dynamic fashion, making it feel both new and well-worn.  Their shows are distinctive, fun and as they say, “known to make audiences laugh, cry, hug complete strangers, and is the only cure for the common cold.”

Their Desboro concert will be their last stop on their “Many Bays, Many Days” tour.  That’s right.  Desboro Music Hall is their closing show!  So if you missed other tour dates, come on out to Desboro on Friday August 25 and find out about thrift-folk.

Desboro Music Hall 2017 Concert Series
Friday August 25, 2017
All Ages
Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm
Tickets: Advance: $20 ($17.70 +HST), Regular: $25 ($22.12 +HST)
Get Tickets

*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)

Meet James & Anne

Meet James & Anne

Posted on by desboromh

So how did they start playing together?  Well, there’s a story…

James and Anne were selected to record a track for a compilation album called Classical Ukulele for release in Japan. “If it weren’t for that recording project,” confides Anne, “I don’t think we ever would have started playing together. It just wouldn’t have occurred to us.” Often the most obvious thing is the thing that’s most easily overlooked. “We chose Schubert’s Ave Maria and arranged it for ukulele and cello. We recorded it in a tiny practise cubicle at the university!” The result? “Absolutely brilliant” (The Folk Diary).

Together, the two of them have created an unexpected duo with ukulele and cello, two instruments not normally found playing together.  They have created a very unique sound within the music industry.  They craft touching, intricate music and in the next moment rock out.  Their concerts keep you engaged and left wanting more.

It’s true: opposites attract. James grew up playing folk, jazz and blues on his ukulele while Anne was exclusively a classical cellist. But the pair’s differences quickly became their biggest asset. The uke is high, the cello is low; the uke plays short notes, the cello long bow strokes; the uke is all about strumming while the cello radiates melody. Like shadows and light in an old photograph, these contrasts are complementary. “We’re like a pair of dancers who can’t step on each other’s feet,” jokes James.

The best thing to do is to just listen to their music.  You won’t want to miss this concert after that.

Check out their Events Page for their bios, videos and links.

Friday May 19, 2017
All Ages
Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm

Buy Tickets Tickets: Advanced: $20 ($17.70 +HST)*, Regular: $25 ($22.12 +HST)

*Advanced 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)

Desboro Music Hall 2017 Concert Series

Get your tickets now and we’ll see you at the Hall.

Meet James Hill

Meet James Hill

Posted on by desboromh

Our next musicians, James Hill and Anne Janelle, are not only partners in life and in music they were first solo artists in their own right.  So we thought we would feature them individually before showing you what they can do together.  Their music is hard to put into a box as they both like to push the boundaries of genres.  Prolific in creating their solo albums, an album together, a family and touring; these two seem to have endless energy.  Between the two of them, they have created at least 9 albums including the Canadian Folk Music Award winning True Love Don’t Weep, which was their first collaborated album.  Sit back and enjoy getting to know them both.

James Hill

James Hill and ukulele go together like peanut butter and jam or macaroni and cheese (at least to us North Americans).  Now how did a boy from Langley, BC get into the ukulele?  Through the wonderful institution of school, of course.  (This is one of those stories that people point to when they say, “Don’t cut arts funding in schools!”)  A boy first introduced to the ukulele at eight ends up becoming “possibly the best ukulele player in the world” (Waikato Times) and all because his school had mandatory ukulele instruction.  During his youth, he played with the Langley Ukulele Ensemble before embarking on a solo career.  He has toured internationally and is played on CBC and has even been called “the Wayne Gretzky of ukulele” by Stewart McLean from Vinyl Cafe on CBC.  Over the years, he has put out quite a few solo albums and is not only an amazing ukulele player, but also a song writer.  He shows us what a ukulele is capable of (things we didn’t even know were possible!).  He is always pushing out and so his music is always fresh and full of surprises.

So if you are a ukulele fan, this is the concert to come see.

Next, we’ll meet up with Anne Janelle, James’ wife and musical partner and then see how they became a pair.

Check out their Events Page for their bios, videos and links.

All Ages
Doors Open: 7pm, Music Starts: 7:30pm

Buy Tickets

Tickets: Advanced: $20 ($17.70 +HST)*, Regular: $25 ($22.12 +HST)

*Advanced tickets are only available up to the Box Office hours the weekend before the show (Note: there is a limit of 25 advance price tickets)

Desboro Music Hall 2017 Concert Series

Get your tickets now and we’ll see you at the Hall.