Calm In The Eye Of The Storm is my first album recording in four years. It looks at the personal, political and spiritual dimensions of finding peace in these turbulent times. The arrangements run the gamut from bluesy slide, whirring mandolins, outstanding string bass and percussion to whimsical touches like ukulele, lap steel and vibraphone. I hope you enjoy it.
On Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 EDT I will be doing a special Easter concert that you can watch at https://www.facebook.com/SivanandaYogaCamp. For many years I’ve gone to the Sivananda Yoga Camp in Val Morin, Quebec at Easter time and it has become a special tradition that I look forward to every spring. For anyone who wishes we’d had that last gospel show at Hugh’s Room Live in March, this is your chance to take in a full gospel program. Or maybe you’d just like something that could touch and uplift your soul and spirit in these trying times. I had a great experience and a chance to work out any kinks by doing the Home Routes Online Folk Festival last week so I’m really looking forward to another opportunity to make some music for people. I’ll have my 6, 12 string and old National resophonic, slide guitar and lots of songs from my new album, Calm In The Eye Of The Storm as well as a few from old favourites like Gospel Music Makes Me Feel Alright! and Up Above My Head. To all of you able to tune in, many thanks in advance. ~Ken Whiteley
Thanks SO much to everyone who tuned in. If you missed the live stream you can watch it here … Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous
I’m ready and excited for my first live stream concert right here from the basement at Roxton Road! It will broadcast live at www.facebook.com/homeroutes on April 2, this Thursday, 9 p.m. EDT. I’ll be singing songs from my new album, Calm In The Eye Of The Storm as well as whatever strikes my fancy from the hundreds of songs I know. I was supposed to be performing in Owen Sound this coming weekend and getting ready for a couple of weeks of shows in Alberta and B.C. through Home Routes/Chemin Chez Nous. It won’t take the place of actually sitting with a room full of people and singing together but in these unusual times I’m thrilled to be singing for people. The show will also be archived on YouTube later. Let me know if you can join us or have any requests by email.
Home Routes has created a brand new on-line festival which will feature artist like yours truly who were previously scheduled to tour rural and urban areas across Canada over the coming months. My show will be Thursday, April 2nd, on the Home Routes’ facebook page at 8pm CST, and will run for roughly 30 minutes. If you can’t join me for the live stream, Home Routes will post the concert on their youtube channel.
Sadly the annual Easter Family Weekend Festival at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Val Morin has been cancelled. Also the screening of Liz Marshall’s Midian Farm documentary and benefit concert with yours truly on April 5th at Heartwood Hall in Owen Sound has been postponed until further notice.
Every second Saturday of the month, the stately Home Smith Bar is transformed into a back-porch blues jam by host Brian Blain. Saturday, March 14th I’ll be jamming with Brian and Julian Fauth.
Back by popular demand! Sacred Steel guitarist Nikki D Brown and the Sisters of Thunder will join me at my Sunday Gospel Finale on March 22nd at Hugh’s Room Live on Dundas St. Sacred steel is one of the most exciting forms of music today and Nikki D. Brown and her sisters are some of the most amazing proponents of the style. I first met Nikki through Toronto’s jazz luminary, Jane Bunnett. After that encounter I invited Nikki and her sisters to join me on my Sunday Gospel series last year and they sang and Nikki played on my brand new album Calm In The Eye Of The Storm. You’ll have to hear them tearing it up on Moving Up The King’s Highway! That was so much fun that I took them to with me to the inaugural Freedom Fest in Perth last summer. I’m delighted to have Nikki and her sister Gloria Brown (lead guitar) and cousin Tomika Webb (bass guitar) back for this final show as we explore a unique afternoon of original and traditional gospel and blues.
There will be a screening of Liz Marshall’s Midian Farm documentary on April 5th at Heartwood Hall in Owen Sound. It’ll be great to see some of my ol’ friends from the Midian Farm days and I’ll get to share a few songs with everyone too.
This past year I produced Njacko Backo‘s 12th album entitled A Tous les Enfants de la Terre. This fabulous recording showcases the sweet sounds of kalimba (African thumb piano) and ngoni (African harp) in unique configurations you won’t hear anywhere else. I hope you’ll join us for the album release this Saturday, Feb. 29 at the Small World Music Centre, 180 Shaw Street, Studio 101. Tickets are $25 including the CD online at http://bit.ly/NjackoCDLaunch and in person from African Drums & Art Crafts in Kensington Market. Doors at 7:30pm. Concert starts at 8pm.
This weekend! I’ll be performing at The Winterfolk Blues & Roots Festival in Toronto. Blues & Bluegrass Concert Friday, Feb. 21st from 8pm to 10pm. A Celebration of Lives Concert: Remembering Mose Scarlet, Pete Otis, Joe Hall, Justin Haynes Saturday, Feb. 22 from 5pm to 7pm.
Back by popular demand the Sacred Steel guitarist Nikki D Brown and the Sisters of Thunder will join me at the next Sunday Gospel Matinee at Hugh’s Room Live (March 22). Check my Calendar for more details.
February 10 to 14 I’ll be performing at The Interfaith Devotional Singing Festival On The Wings of Ecstasy in the Bahamas. I’m looking forward to singing with my friends Aviva Chernick and Davod Azad. Check my Calendar for more details.
This week I’m looking forward to catching up with Roots music industry folks at the 32nd annual Folk Alliance International conference in New Orleans.
I’ll be offering a sneak peak ‘n listen of my soon to be released recording, Calm In The Eye of The Storm. This project looks at the personal, political and spiritual dimensions of finding peace in these turbulent times.
My official showcase is Saturday at 4:30pm in Maurepas 3rd Floor. Joining me on stage will be fiddler extraordinaire Rosalyn Dennett and the stellar guitarist/banjoist Rob McLaren. There are also 3 private showcase opportunities for you to catch me unplugged & up close.
Then in February I’ll be performing at The Interfaith Devotional Singing Festival On The Wings of Ecstasy in the Bahamas (Feb 10-14) followed by The Winterfolk Blues & Roots Festival in Toronto (Feb 21-22).