The Songwriters Association of Canada presents
BLUEBIRD NORTH
Where Writers Sing and Tell
Vancouver Show #60
Tuesday June17, 2008
The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
(Corner of Davie & Pacific)
7:30 pm
Tickets $12
Discount at door for SAC members w/ card
Information (604) 224-6201
Featuring
Wil
Carolyn Arends
Joel Kroeker
Joe Mock
Bluebird North celebrates 60 shows in Vancouver with a crackerjack line-up of Canadian songwriting talent: sharing the stage with host/producer Shari Ulrich are Wil (“expansive roots-rock sound and world-weary lyricism”), Carolyn Arends (“warm and soul-stirring pop”), Joel Kroeker (“poised pop-folk…somehow riding the fence between joy and melancholy, happiness and the fear of rejection”) and Joe Mock (beloved to West Coast audiences as Shari and Rick’s cohort in Pied Pumkin, also described as “a voice of erratic charm; warm, comprehensive and plain…”). This is a musical party you won’t want to miss!
Bluebird North: Where Writers Sing and Tell is produced by Shari Ulrich for the Songwriters Association of Canada. For more information on the SAC’s mandate, activities and membership programs please visit www.songwriters.ca.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Wil was born to musical parents, and was influenced early on by listening to them play and sing along to the old crooners and guitar legends such as Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and Hank Williams. He went on to blend his love of old school country with diverse new influences from Led Zepplin to Michael Hedges. In 2002 Wil released his first full length record, “Both Hands.” That year he played over 300 gigs with acts such as Colin James, Matthew Good, Joel Plaskett Emergency and Xavier Rudd. His famously intense live shows have since been described by the Calgary Sun as having so much “power and soul it could stop your heart.” On his second album, “By December,” Wil collaborated with some of Canada’s most respected musicians: Dave MacKinnon (FemBots), 54-40’s Neil Osborne, Broken Social Scene’s Jason Collett, and a host of others known for working with Arcade Fire, Hidden Cameras, Feist, The Weakerthans and Blue Rodeo. The whole shebang was mixed in Nashville by Grammy-winner Trina Shoemaker. Wil is currently touring in support of “By December” and will appear at select festivals and engagements this spring and summer before entering the studio to record his third full length record. www.ibreakstrings.com
Carolyn Arends has released 9 albums and is the author of 2 critically-acclaimed books. 15 of her songs have become top 10 radio singles on the Canadian pop and US Christian charts. She has earned 2 Dove Awards, 3 Juno Nominations, and was recognized as the West Coast Music Awards’ Songwriter of the Year. Her newest project, Pollyanna’s Attic, is already being heralded as her most honest and beautiful work. Accolades aside, Arends is known for songs and books that stir the soul, and a warm, engaging style that leave her audiences feeling like they’ve found a new best friend. Arends graduated from Trinity Western University in Langley, BC with a degree in psychology and English. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband Mark, nine-year-old son Ben, and six-year-old daughter Bethany. www.carolynarends.com
Joel Kroeker began playing guitar while in high school in Winnipeg, performing in different folk, jazz, world beat and rock bands over the years. His debut CD “Naive Bohemian” (1999) reached # 7 on the Canadian National Campus Radio chart. In the year of its release Joel was named Best New Recording Artist by the Alberta Recording Industry Assn., and won the Film Score of the Year category for the documentary “Tokyo Gardens.” Joel’s song “The Wind” was featured in the Canadian film “Ham + Cheese”; and “Joan of Arc,” co-written with Lee Aaron, was featured on the soundtrack of the Canadian film “Life, Death & Mini-Golf.” Joel has also co-written with Annette Ducharme, Emm Gryner, Haydian Neale, Stephan Moccio, Liam Titcomb, Simon Wilcox, and Australia’s Brooke McLymont. Joel’s songs have been covered by Jonas, Pavlo, Deekaye Ibomeka, Patricia O’Callaghan, and Lee Aaron. His latest solo album, “Closer to the Flame”, was released in 2007 on True North Records. www.joelkroeker.com
Joe Mock was part of the emerging West Coast folk scene back in the early sixties, as a member of several groups including the psychedelic band the Mock Duck and, of course, Pied Pumkin. He has spent time in Japan, where he wrote and recorded songs for the Kawai language series “Embarkations,” as well as English versions of 23 of Japan’s top 40 for Daichi Kikaku. Other composition credits include the score for the NFB film ‘Potlatch” and also for the JTP video “Canadian Memories’ by Taki Sekiguchi. Joe is a Juno Award winner for the songs Fear of Flying and I’m Ready, both of which were recorded by Shari Ulrich on A&M. He presently lives in France but tours annually with the Pied Pumkin. www.joemock.piedpumkin.com
