Lynne Hanson: A Little Porch Music with Some Texas Red Dirt

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Who: Lynne Hanson w/ Gilles LeClerc & Jonathan Ferrabee
When: 8:00pm Sat. February 4
Where: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill

Lynne Hanson brings her unique blend of country, roots, blues and folk to our concert stage on Saturday February 4 at 8 pm. Admission is $20 and are available online here and at the Ottawa Folklore Centre, 1111 Bank St.

One of the mainstays of Ottawa’s roots scene, Lynne has been increasingly busy over the last couple of years. She released a well-received debut album, Things I Miss, in 2006, followed by 2008’s internationally-acclaimed Eleven Months, a CD that scored rave reviews in Q and Maverick. Her latest release “Once the Sun Goes Down” is continuing the trend. She was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in 2009 and In 2010 she won the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, presented by the Ontario Arts Council..

In March she leaves for a UK tour supporting Nashville star Gretchen Peters, and in April she is overseas again for a tour in Germany.
Onstage Lynne is a happy-go-lucky storyteller with a gift for the gab and a wink in her eye, engaging her audience just as much with her stories and one-liners as she can with her music. She’s intimate with her audience, as if she were shooting the breeze with old friends at her kitchen table. Or her front porch. Which brings us back to that Texas red dirt …

Claytones Video (Anders Drerup, Kelly Prescott and Adam Puddington)

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If you missed this concert here is a taste of the evening.

Santa’s Beard Raises $1,222 for The Snowsuit Fund

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Congratulations to all the musicians, patrons and volunteers for making Santa’s Beard such a success. Here’s the link to the review in the Ottawa Citizen (http://blogs NULL.ottawacitizen NULL.com/2011/12/18/spirit-of-rasputins-showcase-of-ottawa-bands/ ).

Amanda Bon

Amanda Bon

The Ottawa Valley Special, The Elementals, The Amanda Bon Band and The Gerry Griffin Band provided a stellar evening of music. And thanks to the volunteers who make this event happen: Carol Noel, Elaine Gibson, Isabel Bouchard, Katherine Gunn, Heather Evenchick, Sharon Letovsky, Kate Morgan,  
Mark Evenchick and Hollis Morgan.

And thank you, audience, for making the show a sold out success and for being so generous with your donations.

Here is Kate Morgan’s Gallery of photographs:

 

Missy’s New CD a Sweet Success

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Review by Lynn Stevenson

Missy Burgess wrapped a highly supportive crowd at the Westboro Masonic Hall in a warmth as special as her famous blue sweater to launch her new CD, Play Me Sweet on Saturday.  The evening was a lovefest for Missy with the audience singing along to many of her better known tunes as well as old standards. Fans gave her a standing ovation and left happy and humming into the November night.

Keith Glass, Alrick Huebener and Missy BurgessMissy’s guitar work stumbled in spots, but that hardly mattered as it is her unique voice and larger than life personality that folks were there to see – and they were rewarded with beautiful servings of both.  Down to earth and funny as hell, Missy Burgess is a joy to watch.

Alrick HuebenerWith the talented Alrick Huebener on upright bass and simply outstanding Keith Glass on guitar and electric guitar, there could be no doubt the evening would be a success.  “It could go one of two ways from here,” quipped Glass at the start of the show; it definitely went in the right one. Continue reading →

2011/2012 Concert Lineup

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The Spirit of Rasputin’s membership is very excited about our third season of concerts which begins on September 17 with our traditional opener: Rasputin’s Beard. We will continue to make the Westboro Masonic Hall our primary concert venue. However, we expect three concerts to draw audiences exceeding that hall’s capacity. Accordingly, we have arranged for The Creaking Tree String Quartet and The Sultans of String to perform at the First Unitarian Congregation at 30 Cleary Avenue. Also, Gil’s Hootenanny (always on May Day) continues to grow by leaps and bounds so that event will be held at the NAC Fourth Stage.

e-Tickets for all shows are available on-line now at the e-Store. Printed tickets are available starting August 15 at our Monday night Open Stage upstairs at Whispers, The Ottawa Folklore Centre, 1111 Bank St, and at Collected Works Bookstore and Coffee Bar, 1242 Wellington St. at Holland Ave.

NOTE: All concerts are 8pm on Saturday evenings except Gil’s Hootenanny which is 7:30pm on Tuesday May 1st. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime.

Rasputin’s Beard (our traditional season opener)
September 17, 2011 (no cover, pass-the-hat)
Featuring: “Fumblin’ Fingers (http://www NULL.fumblinfingers NULL.ca)“, “Steel Moon (http://www NULL.steelmoonsound NULL.com/)“, “Pouch Cotatoes”, and “Lost Colt (http://www NULL.myspace NULL.com/lostcolt)”
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron
“Hats ‘n Spats” Gala with Sheesham and Lotus
October 22, 2011 $20
A Tribute to Dean Verger with surprise guests and music by Sheesham & Lotus (http://www NULL.sheeshamandlotus NULL.com/ )
Here’s a Youtube of Sheesham and Lotus (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=ABtpGZHhgO0&feature=youtu NULL.be)
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill at Byron
Missy Burgess (http://www NULL.missyburgess NULL.com/) and Keith Glass
November 19, 2011 $20
Our very own “Missy” has a new CD. This is the official “CD Release Concert”
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron 
Santa’s Beard
December 17, 2011 (no cover, pass-the-hat)
Featured performers will be announced in the fall
Extending the Rasputin’s Beard concept to the holiday season, this event will raise funds for a local charity (recipient to be determined).
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron
Anders Drerup (http://www NULL.myspace NULL.com/andersdrerup) with special guests Kelly Prescott (http://www NULL.myspace NULL.com/theprescottsound) and Adam Puddington (http://www NULL.adampuddington NULL.com/)
January 21, 2012 $20
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron
Lynne Hanson (http://www NULL.lynnehanson NULL.com/ )
February 4, 2012 $20
Winner 2010 Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron 
Note: The Creaking Tree String Quartet – has been cancelled and replaced by:The 20th Anniversary Great Canadian Song-Along!!
8pm Friday March 9th and Saturday March 10th

More details to come.
Double bill: John Bowman (http://johnbowman NULL.ca/) & Vince Halfhide with Chris White
April 21, 2012 $20
A shared evening with excellent local acts. (Youtube John (http://youtu NULL.be/0JQDroxrhuE))
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron 
Gil’s Hootenanny sponsored by CUPE
Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 7:30pm MAY DAY $15
Location: This year’s celebration of songs of protest and songs of hope is at the NAC Fourth Stage
The Sultans of String (http://www NULL.maplemusic NULL.com/artists/sos/default NULL.asp)
May 12, 2012 $25
2010 JUNO Award Nominees for Instrumental Album of the Year! 2009 Canadian Folk Music Award triple nominee winning Instrumental Group of the Year.
Location: First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, 30 Cleary Ave, Ottawa
Chrysalis hosted by Missy Burgess
May 26, 2012 (no cover, pass-the-hat)
Ottawans singing other Ottawans’ songs
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron 
Rasputin’s Beard our traditional season closer.
June 16, 2012 (no cover, pass-the-hat)
Bands to be determined.
Location: Westboro Masonic Hall, 430  Churchill at Byron 

More info on some of the featured artists Continue reading →

Oooo weee…hambone and all!

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Review by Hollis Morgan

Hollis (president), Dean VergerAmidst outragious hats, colourful shoes, and folkies waltzing in the aisles, Dean Verger was inducted as Spirit of Rasputin’s first Honourary Lifetime Member on October 22, 2011. The celebration was both lighthearted and heartfelt. Dean, always thoughtful and generous, has never been one to take himself too seriously. So it was suitable that Sheesham & Lotus were there to counter the serious presentations with their comic brand of old-time music. Their tongue-in-cheek motto, old-time music — better than it sounds, set the tone for evening.
Continue reading →