Like the powerful mandolinist and composer at its helm, John Reischman and the Jaybirds fashion a stylish take on bluegrass that seamlessly blends original songs and instrumentals with Appalachian old-time music for a truly unique band sound, sometimes bluesy, sometimes folky, sometimes hard-edged, sometimes haunting. The Jaybirds feature Patrick Sauber on guitar, Trisha Gagnon on bass, Nick Hornbuckle on banjo and Greg Spatz on fiddle. Now in their 20th year, the Jaybirds are simultaneously innovative and unadorned, sophisticated and stripped-down, happily old-fashioned and 21st-century contemporary. The Jaybirds put their own particular stamp on bluegrass, old time and acoustic roots music, with a satisfying blend of traditional and modern styles. There’s plenty here to please both bluegrass traditionalists and lovers of modern American folk music, especially for those with an appreciation of great harmony singing as well as masterful instrumental playing.

Jeremy Gignoux

The Young Novelists are a five-piece, folk-roots band, formed in August 2009. When they first met, Graydon James and Laura Spink had no idea that they would be married one day, much less touring the world together as The Young Novelists. Their previous album made us strangers landed them a 2015 Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist of the Year and a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. The Toronto-based band decided to travel out of the city and into small-town Ontario in order to connect the two places. Their third album In City & Country features songs about 10 small towns in Ontario that tell the universal stories of both parallels while highlighting the differences, similarities, and everything in-between. The Young Novelists create contemporary folk songs that marry their effortless harmonies with darkly poetic lyrics and exquisitely crafted hooks.

Kris Demeanor

Calgary-born songwriter Kris Demeanor delights in exposing the underbelly of western Canadian culture—gambling, drug use, murder, religion, the suburbs. His six CDs of original work explore the darkness and absurdity of these corners of Alberta life. He has become a fixture of Calgary’s spoken word, theatre and music communities, and served a term as poet laureate of Calgary from 2012 to 2014. Kris’ work has appeared in magazines like Alberta Views and Canadian Geographic. In 2009 he was awarded the Best New Magazine Writer Award for his feature piece ‘Get a Real Job’ in Unlimited.

Dan Bern is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, novelist and painter. He is convincing, funny and timely, with an unassuming tip of the hat to the spirits of past greats, all while sounding fresh and original. Dan’s songs pack a punch, and are engaging and often cinematic. His music has been compared to that of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Ochs and Elvis Costello. Bern’s song Talkin’ Woody, Bob, Bruce, and Dan Blues, from the album Smartie Mine, offers a joking take on this influence, in the style of a Guthrie or Dylan talking blues song, and containing a spoof of a Springsteen song as well. When asked about the similarity between himself and Dylan, he once quipped, “I guess Bob Dylan was sort of the Dan Bern of the ‘60s.” He is known for sardonic, literary lyrics, and a range of musical styles,paired with rock instrumentation.

Amy Bishop

Tickets for the following winter 2019 concerts are on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets.

January 26:  The Young Novelists with opening act Kris Demeanor

February 9:  John Reischman and the Jaybirds with opening act Jeremy Gignoux Trio 

February 23:  Gunning and Cormier with opening act Travis Matthews

March 9:  Coco Love Alcorn with opening act Benjamin Williams

March 23:  Carlos del Junco with opening act Trad Trio

April 6:  Madison Violet with opening act Paul Woida