GrassRoots Regina Offers the Best of British and Canadian Folk/Roots Music for 12th Season

GrassRoots Regina Offers the Best of British and Canadian Folk/Roots Music for 12th Season

by SaskMusic

August 27, 2018 in Buzz

For its twelfth season of intimate acoustic concerts, GrassRoots Regina has assembled a line-up of some of Canada’s and Britain’s finest musical talent, in one instance paired on the same bill.

“We’re particularly enthused about the coming year,” says GrassRoots Regina co-founder and local music maven Karen Haggman. “Our shows cover folk music’s diverse flavours, from alt-country to bluegrass to blues to storytelling songwriters. As well, we’re excited to introduce a couple of Britain’s most acclaimed acts to Regina audiences.”

The schedule kicks off September 18 with Tom Savage from Kingston, Ontario. He has been likened by music critics to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Townes Van Zandt.

On October 15, Juno-Award winner James Keelaghan shares the stage with England’s Jez Lowe. Keelaghan—lauded as “Canada’s finest singer-songwriter” by Dave Marsh of *Rolling Stone* magazine—draws inspiration from historical events; the fan favourite “Kiri’s Piano” deals poignantly with
Japanese-Canadian internment during World War II. Lowe mines the lives of Britain’s coal industry workers for some of his material.

Oysters 3, the three founding members of Britain’s beloved Oysterband, perform November 1. The high-energy folk-rockers have won several prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards but are possibly best known in Canada for penning “When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down),” made famous on this side of
the ocean by Great Big Sea. Haggman considers this booking to be a highlight of her long tenure as an impresario.

In early 2019, GrassRoots Regina will present Alberta roots artist John Wort Hannam; the popular Toronto bluegrass band The Slocan Ramblers; and Tri-Continental, a bluesy Canadian trio comprising Bill Bourne, Lester Quitzau, and Madagascar Slim. Haggman expects that GrassRoots Regina will add more concerts to the line-up as artists reveal their touring plans.

GrassRoots Regina insists on a concert experience that is casual, friendly, and respectful of both artist and audience. “People often tell us that this is the best concert they’ve ever been to,” says Haggman. “The stripped-down atmosphere makes it easy to feel a deep rapport with a performer. People love to hear the stories behind the songs and to be able to meet the musicians. And the artists appreciate playing to an attentive crowd.”

All of GrassRoots Regina’s concerts this season take place at The Exchange (2431 Eighth Avenue), a licensed venue. The shows start at 8:00 p.m. and usually wind up between 10 and 10:30. Tickets range from $15 to $37, depending on the show. All ages are welcome; children 12 and under get in for free.

New this year, patrons can buy advance tickets online at www.grassrootsregina.com for selected shows, or pick them up at GrassRoots Regina’s ticket vendors, Vintage Vinyl and Traditions Handcraft Gallery.

GrassRoots Regina, a non-profit organization, has presented 120 high-quality folk and roots concerts since 2007. It was founded by five like-minded music lovers: Haggman, Brenda Tacik, Jocelyn Bishoff, Rob Grzebinski, and Roman Tacik.

Back