Dr. Paul Goobie recently presented $5,000 to Danielle LeBlanc, Frye Festival Executive Director.

Dr. Paul Goobie recently presented a cheque for $5,000 to Danielle LeBlanc, Frye Festival Executive Director.

This contribution brings Dr. Goobie’s total donation over the years to more than $50,000.

The Frye Festival is Canada’s only bilingual, international literary festival and Atlantic Canada’s largest literary happening.

The Frye Festival will take place in Moncton April 23-29, 2012. For more information visit: www.frye.ca .

Jimmy Rankin picked up eight ECMA nominations today.

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Rankin has earned a leading eight music award nominations for the 2012 East Coast Music Awards.

Artist and Industry award nominations were announced today at Casino New Brunswick for East Coast Music Week 2012 to be held April 11–15 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

“Celebrating the incredible talent in Atlantic Canada and supporting the hard work of our artists is our primary focus,” said Su Hutchinson, executive director of the East Coast Music Association. “Preparations are underway for an ECMA Week that will present our artists and industry in exciting new ways.”

Several other artists followed closely behind Rankin including Classified with six nominations and David Myles, The Trews and Matt Andersen each walking away with five.

The presentation of music and industry awards will be distributed throughout the event at various times on showcasing stages, at the Industry Awards Brunch, and at the Music Awards Gala on Sunday, April 15 at Casino New Brunswick in Moncton.

Voting for music and industry awards begins on January 27th and closes March 1st. This year, there are two awards for the fans to vote on – Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year and Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Video of the Year. Fan’s Choice voting opens March 1 and closes April 5, 2012.

Launching today at ECMA.com is the entire showcase schedule for ECMA Week 2012, with artist performance times and award distribution highlights, as well as a few musical surprises and guest performers including Canada’s very own Maestro Fresh Wes.

April 11–15 in Moncton, New Brunswick

GALA PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED TODAY:
ECMA is ecstatic to announce the Music Awards Gala performers for 2012! Andy Brown, Ben Caplan & The Casual Smokers, Catherine MacLellan, Classified, Jimmy Rankin, Joseph Edgar, Kim Stockwood, Lisa LeBlanc, Matt Andersen, Matthew Hornell, Meaghan Smith, Roch Voisine, The Olympic Symphonium , The Once, and Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold will all share the stage Sunday, April 15, at Casino New Brunswick during the last day of East Coast Music Week 2012. To purchase tickets for official ECMA showcases as well as the Awards Gala, please visit http://www.ecma.com/Moncton. Complete showcase schedules will be available on http://ecma.com/event.asp.

Also announced today were highlights from the International Business Program being held in conjunction with East Coast Music Week. Over 50 high-profile international delegates from the around the globe, will descend upon Moncton to do business with the East Coast music industry during East Coast Music Week 2012 April 11 – 15.

“The ECMA and Atlantic Film Festival partnership program, Music & Image, brings together buyers and supervisors from the film and television industry to explore opportunities for today’s musician in the new global marketplace,” Says ECMA Conference Manager Shelley Nordstrom. “The Music & Image 2012 Program presents an In-Conversation Spotlight on Music Placements and an up- close and personal snap shot with some of Atlantic Canada’s finest artists unveiling their Music Placement Success Stories in the world of film and television.”

The ECMA 2012 International Program highlights include advanced Interactive Export Business Development sessions, pre-scheduled One-on-One Business Meetings, spotlights on America, Australia and the United Kingdom, the popular Canadian Music East Coast Style Export Buyers Showcases, and ‘Two for the Show’ – Live Performance Pitch Sessions.

The 2012 Industry Conference – ‘Turn It Up – The World Is Listening’ – features some of the music industry’s biggest and best minds, who will lead four days of seminars, forums, workshops, showcases, and business meetings.

The 2012 International Export Buyers Program and East Coast Music Week have received financial support from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Business Development Program and Service Canada, MUSICACTION, the Department of Canadian Heritage (Interpretation and Translation, and Canada Music Fund) and the Government of New Brunswick. The East Coast Music Association would also like to acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

East Coast Music Week 2012 will take place in Moncton, New Brunswick, from April 11–15.

The event is part of the ECMA’s mandate to foster, promote and develop East Coast music.

Complete List of Nominees

Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year
Artiste de l’année – Choix du public – Présenté par Bell Aliant
BLOU
Dave Gunning
David Myles
George Canyon
Hey Rosetta!
In-Flight Safety
Jenn Grant
Jimmy Rankin
Matt Andersen
Paper Lions
The Trews
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold

Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Video of the Year
Vidéoclip de l’année – Choix du public– Présenté par Bell Aliant
Classified – The Day Doesn’t Die (Feat. David Myles) (Director: RT)
David Myles – Simple Pleasures (Director: Hiep Vu)
George Canyon – Better Be Home Soon (Director: Oswaldo Quiroz)
Ghettosocks – Stolen Kicks (Director: Darrell Faria)
Gypsophilia – Agricola & Sarah (Directors: Sydney Smith, Jason Levangie)
Hey Rosetta! – Bandages (Director: Noah Pink)
Jimmy Rankin – Here in My Heart (Director: Jeth Weinrich)
Jimmy Rankin – I’m Just Saying (Director: Jeth Weinrich)
Matt Andersen – Fired Up (Director: Troy Niemans)
The Trews – Hope & Ruin (Director: Drew Lightfood)
Three Sheet – Stamina (iphone4!) (Director: Aram Kouyouamdjian)
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold – Slippin’ Away (Director: J.P. Poliquin)

African – Canadian Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Musique afro-canadienne
Awakening Souls – God Is Love
Ghettochild – In the Making
Stahmenah – Rasta Love
Stahmenah – Stahmenah Rewind

Album of the Year
Album de l’année
Catherine MacLellan – Silhouette (Producers: David Baxter & Catherine MacLellan)
Hey Rosetta! – Seeds (Producer: Tony Doogan)
Jenn Grant – Honeymoon Punch (Producer: Daniel Ledwell)
Jimmy Rankin – Forget About the World (Producer: Bill Bell)
Matt Andersen – Coal Mining Blues (Producer: Colin Linden)
Ron Hynes – Stealing Genius (Producer: Paul Mills)

Blues Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Blues
Dan Doiron – Even My Guitar is in Love With You
John Campbelljohn – Celtic Blues
Matt Andersen – Coal Mining Blues
The Hupman Brothers – Loveseat Volume 1 & 2
The Terry Whalen Band – The Terry Whalen Band – A Work in Progress

Children’s Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Jeunesse
Art Richard – Chanter, danser et s’amuzzzer avec Art Richard
Colleen Power with Crooked Stovepipe – For Little Ones
Dan Bursey – God is in My Corner
First Nations Songwriting Sessions with Angelo Spinazzola – First Nations Songwriting Sessions with Angelo Spinazzola
Keith Mullins/Thom Swift/Steven Bowers – The Wood Buffalo Youth Song Project
On The Back Porch – Tales Tall & True

Classical Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Classique
Duo Cantilena – The Green Bushes: Dances, Airs and Lullabies
La Tour Baroque Duo – Les caractères de la danse
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra – MUSIKFREUNDE – Friends of Music
Newman Sound Men’s Choir – The Green and Salty Days
Scott Macmillan – Within Sight of Shore

Country Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Country
George Canyon – Better Be Home Soon
Gordie Sampson – Almost Beautiful
Jimmy Rankin – Forget About the World
Ryan Cook – Peaks & Valleys
Tara Oram – Revival

DVD of the Year
DVD de l’année
Art Richard – Chanter, danser et s’amuzzzer (Director: Art Richard/Vincent Bordage)
George Belliveau – George Belliveau ”live” au Rockin’ Rodeo (Director: Botsford Productions)
Scott Macmillan – Within Sight of Shore (Director: Ian Macmillan)
Shelter with Thieves – Live at The Seahorse (Director: Terrance Hand)

Folk Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Folk
Catherine MacLellan – Silhouette
Christina Martin – A House Concert
David Myles – Live At The Carleton
Ian Foster – The Evening Light
Jordan Cameron – My, What a Lovely Hate
Madison Violet – The Good in Goodbye

Francophone Recording of the Year
Enregistrement francophone de l’année
George Belliveau – whisky amer
Luc Tardif – Et sans aucune raison apparente
Tradition – Un Autre

Gospel Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Gospel
Derrick Paul Miller – It Is Well…
Devin Cooke – Be Ready
Elizabeth Deveau – A Joyous Hallelujah
Mike Biggar – The Season
The Sky Family – Celtic Revival

Group Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Groupe
Chris Colepaugh and the Crew – Missed A Page
Gypsophilia – Constellation
Hey Rosetta! – Seeds
The Navigators – Soldiers & Sailors
The Olympic Symphonium – The City Won’t Have Time To Fight
The Trews – Hope & Ruin

Jazz Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Jazz
Gypsophilia – Constellation
Jake Hanlon – Follow
Jeri Brown – Storytelling
Ocean Sounds Quartet – Live at the Ship’s Company Theatre
Robin Jessome Quintet – For Whatever Reason

Loud Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Loud
Death Valley Driver – Choke The River
Dischord – Casualties of War
Get Bodied – Harbingers
Hero’s Last Rite – Inevitable is the End
Shelter with Thieves – Someday is Never Soon Enough
Uigg – Of Moose and Men

Pop Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Pop
Andrew James O’Brien – Songs for Searchers
Carleton Stone – Carleton Stone
Classified – Handshakes And Middle Fingers
Molly Thomason – Beauty Queen
Rebekah Higgs – Odd Fellowship
Ria Mae – Under Your Skin

Rap / Hip–Hop Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Rap / hip-hop
Classified
Something Good
Teenburger
Three Sheet
Twin Peaks

Rising Star Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Étoiles de demain
Babette Hayward – You Might Be Somebody
Brooke Miller – Brooke Miller
Carmen Townsend – Waitin’ and Seein’
Keith Mullins – Localmotive Farm
Molly Thomason – Beauty Queen
Ryan Cook – Peaks & Valleys

Rock Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Rock
Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers – Warhorses
Carmen Townsend – Waitin’ and Seein’
Gloryhound – Electric Dusk
Jenn Grant – Honeymoon Punch
Mark Bragg – Your Kiss
The Long Distance Runners – The Long Distance Runners
The Trews – Hope & Ruin

Roots / Traditional Group Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Folklore / traditionnel – Groupe
Bb Sisters – Versatility
Before The Mast – Rolling down
Cassie and Maggie MacDonald – Fresh Heirs
Kenneth and Angus MacKenzie – Pìob is Fidheall
Rawlins Cross – Heart Head Hands
Ten Strings & A Goat Skin – Tri
The Navigators – Soldiers & Sailors

Roots / Traditional Solo Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Folklore / traditionnel – Artiste solo
Angelo Spinazzola – Beautifully Imperfect
Irish Mythen – Open Here
Katherine Moller – Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Haired
Kim Stockwood – Back to the Water

Solo Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Artiste solo
Catherine MacLellan – Silhouette
Classified – Handshakes and Middle Fingers
Gordie Sampson – Almost Beautiful
Jimmy Rankin – Forget About the World
Matt Andersen – Coal Mining Blues
Ron Hynes – Stealing Genius

Songwriter of the Year
Auteur-compositeur de l’année
Classified – That Ain’t Classy (Composer: Luke Boyd)
David Myles – Simple Pleasures (Composer: David Myles)
George Canyon – Sacrifice (Composers: George Canyon & Dean Brody)
Jimmy Rankin – Here in My Heart (Composers: Jimmy Rankin & Patricia Conroy)
Mark Bragg – Roll Baby Roll (Composer: Mark Bragg)
Paper Lions – Stay Here For A While (Composers: Rob MacPhee, John MacPhee, Colin Buchanan & David Cyrus MacDonald)

Song of the Year
Chanson de l’année
Classified – That Ain’t Classy
David Myles – Simple Pleasures
Jenn Grant – Getcha Good
Jimmy Rankin – Here in My Heart
Paper Lions – Stay Here For A While
The Trews – Hope & Ruin

World Recording of the Year
Enregistrement de l’année – Musiques du monde
Chris Church – Across the Sea
Keith Mullins – Localmotive Farm
Mia Martina – Devotion
Stahmenah – Rasta Love
THE FLUMMIES – THE FLUMMIES

2012 Industry Awards
Prix de l’Industrie 2012

Audio Professional of the Year
Professionnel de l’audio de l’année
Chris Colepaugh
Dale Murray
Daniel Ledwell
Dave Skinner
Denmark Productions Recording Studio
Ferguson Music Productions
Jon Matthews
Nick Fowler

Event/Venue of the Year
Événement/Salle de spectacle de l’année
Festival of Small Halls
Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival
New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee
SappyFest
The Carleton Music Bar & Grill

Graphic/Media Artist of the Year
Artiste de l’année – Arts médiatiques/Arts graphiques
Cheryl Smith
CHR!S SM!TH
Daniel Ledwell
Jocelyne Vautour
Mark Young
Scott Blackburn

Management/Manager of the Year
Gérant/Maison de gérance de l’année
Forward Music Group
Ian McKinnon/GroundSwell Music
Jason Burns
Jeff Liberty – JL Artists
Music for Good

Media Outlet/Contributor of the Year
Média/Collaborateur des médias de l’année
101.5 The Hawk
Doug Gallant
East Coast Countdown
Karen Mair
Mark Roberts East Coast Music Show
The Buzz
Wendy Bergfeldt

Retail/Company of the Year
Détaillant/Entreprise de l’année
GroundSwell Music
Malkin Music / Cyber PR Army
Marcato Digital Solutions
Sound of Pop

Ron Sexsmith will play Moncton's Capitol Theatre on February 4th.

Canadian singer songwriter Ron Sexsmith will be making a stop at the Moncton Capitol Theatre during his most recent tour Long Player, Late Bloomer, on February 4 at 8 pm. Tickets are currently on sale in the Greater Moncton ticketing Network. Nova Scotia’s Mo Kenney will be the opening act.

Ron Sexsmith
A singer-songwriter acclaimed by a galaxy of artists from Bob Dylan to Elton John, Chris Martin to Michael Bublé, Steve Earle to Lucinda Williams for his insight into the human heart and a melodic purity (to paraphrase admirer Elvis Costello) unheard since the heyday of Paul McCartney, you’ll find Ron straight after the Sex Pistols in any self-respecting encyclopedia of modern music.

Born in 1964, Ron grew up in St Catharines, Ontario. A daydreamer at school, he was selected for a creative writing class and in his high school band he played lead guitar. Ray Davies was Ron’s first and most enduring songwriting inspiration. As a singer, Ron admires Harry Nilsson, Bing Crosby, Bill Withers and Charlie Rich, and places himself in that crooner tradition.

Moving to Toronto, Ron formed a band called The Uncool, and released a cassette, Out Of The Duff. To support himself, Ron got a job as a foot courier, as recalled on the Long Player Late Bloomer song “Michael And His Dad”. In 1991, the limited cassette release Grand Opera Lane, an album recorded with the drummer of his Toronto band The Uncool, first attracted Interscope’s interest. Four years later, the label recognized that not only had they a great songwriter on their books but a singer and guitarist of rare accomplishment too. Ron Sexsmith’s 1995 self-titled “proper” debut, produced by Mitchell Froom, represented the cream of nearly 200 songs that had been road-tested for years in the bars of Ontario and was acclaimed by fans from Elvis Costello down as an instant classic, with Rod Stewart one of several artists to cover the first song, “Secret Heart”.

What has followed is a body of work that very few songwriting recording artists, living or dead, can match for consistently sky-high quality. As legendary record producer to artists from Dylan to U2, Daniel Lanois, told Love Shines, the documentary about the making of Ron’s new album, Long Player Late Bloomer, “Not a lot of people have Ron’s gift: the ability to see a tiny snapshot of a feeling, then expand upon it and deliver a beautiful song. The songs are like Polaroids.” He has released a total of 12 albums in his career.

Among the artists who have covered Ron’s songs are: Rod Stewart, Michael Bublé, k.d. lang, Nick Lowe, Feist, The Brodsky Quartet, Curtis Stigers, Anne Sofie von Otter and Mary Black. It’s a mighty portfolio, one that seemed to finally be validated in 2005 when he won the coveted Juno Award as Songwriter of the Year.

For his 11th album, Long Player Late Bloomer, the award-winning troubadour has paired himself with a fellow Canadian, the producer of bone-crunching classics by Metallica, Mötley Crüe and The Cult: Bob Rock. On June 16, the album was named as a longlisted nominee (one of 40) for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize. On July 6, the album was named as a shortlisted (one of 10) nominee for the 2011 award.

Opening Act: Mo Kenney
As a 20 year-old singer-songwriter from Waverley, Nova Scotia, Mo Kenney is already captivating audiences with thoughtful lyrics, an inviting and distinctive voice, and strong, compelling guitar work. Mo was drawn to music as a child, and after taking lessons at The Halifax Conservatory, a songwriting career was born. When not playing in the high school band Berends Page, Mo was practicing guitar, drums, piano or bass. Mo freely confesses that their early solo recordings at Catfish studio in Bedford “sucked”, but the experience of spending time in the studio and making music further solidified for Mo what the future must hold.

In the summer of 2010, Mo was chosen as one of seven young writers invited to attend Gordie Sampson’s inaugural Songwriter Camp in Ingonish to write songs and perform at a Songwriter Circle with Gordie and Steve MacDougall (Slowcoaster). Next came the attention of artist and producer Joel Plaskett, then opening spots for The Crash Test Dummies and Steve Poltz intrigued not only audiences, but the headlining artists themselves. Mo’s record is being produced by Plaskett and will be released on New Scotland Records in 2012.

Box-office

Tickets for the Ron Sexsmith concert at the Capitol Theatre are now on sale at the Capitol Theatre Box Office, l’Escaouette, Frank’s Music, Monument Lefebvre, Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre, and l’Université de Moncton, at $24.50 and $20.50 plus applicable charges. Tickets are also available by phone at 506-856-4379 or 1-800-567-1922, or online at www.capitol.nb.ca.

Marie-Josée Lord (Photo : Jocelyn Michel)

The soprano Marie-Josée Lord will be on the Capitol Theatre stage Saturday January 14, at 8 pm to present the concert Jambalaya. Tickets are currently on sale in the Greater Moncton ticketing Network.

With her personal style, her voice, her presence, and her choice of repertoire, soprano Marie-Josée Lord delivers a gourmet recital where classical and popular music are gently entwined. Gordon Lightfoot, Verdi, Lama, Bizet, Joni Mitchell, and many other composers make up this special program that flows ever so naturally. The occasional comments will spice things up. The result is so flavourful that you will be asking for seconds!

My Mr. Claus

As I search through my boxes to gather up Christmas ornaments, I slip back in time. I find myself thinking about the many sacrifices my parents, like many parents, make for their children during this ever so meaningful time of year.

Over the years, Santa has become the human face of Christmas; pictures are seen of him everywhere in his long white beard, red coat and carrying his big bag of toys for all good boys and girls.

It is easy to picture the human face of Christmas, the holly jolly red-cheeked man; because he is the man who we all have come to know as Santa. The image of Santa reminds me yet of another man. He is not bearing a white beard nor wearing red. I picture my Mr. Claus. He is your everyday average man who strived during his entire life to make Christmas a memorable occasion for his family. For all of his married years, I am sure he would attest to his angel-like figure, close to his side, hovering over a hot stove preparing meat pies, wrapping presents, home decorating; making all magical and exciting for his family to enjoy.

The lady by his side hoped for more than presents. She wanted somehow to return to a time in her own childhood, when life was simpler and made more sense. Back into time; before the troubles of adult life arrived at her door.

Behind all the fun and decorations, she somehow tried to bring a message of something more to her family. Some key to life, hope or happiness for all, while bearing the worries of getting it all done and thinking how and who was going to pay for it all.

Being a single mother of three children, I feel the lead up to Christmas to be somewhat over whelming. With the ending of November, every spare minute is spent thinking or preparing for that one single day. Some days, I have to look hard and search long to find God in what we have come to call Christmas. My, how so much has changed.

When I was a child, every Christmas Eve my sisters and brother were far too excited to sleep. We were so blessed because my Mr. Claus would arrive at our home early in the evening to sing Christmas carols. While he sang, we kids would whisper amongst ourselves saying, “I hope I get a new pair skates”, while the other would want a new doll. Now kids want a new laptop, a flat screen TV, high priced video games or some other highly expensive toy.

My kids are no different. And I, like most parents, try to give more and more, again and again, in hope that my children will one day come to understand the love and meaning behind giving.

Gift giving was introduced because of the gift God gave to us; his son.

Christmas cards and pictures make Christmas seem so breathtaking and beautiful. In truth, Christmas must not have been what is painted and depicted today.

Should we consider the real setting of Christmas, we would picture a cold and damp journey filled will trials and tribulations encountered by Mary and Joseph along their way to Bethlehem.

The story of Jesus’ birth tells us that he came as a poor and humbled person and not a strong and rich king.

My Mr. Claus sat on his piano stool for hours singing Christmas Carols; often telling the story of his father who loved the song, Silent Night. His father told him that this song reminded him of his own father. He said, “His father missed his own father during the celebration of Christmas.”

My Mr. Claus’ eyes often filled with tears when he sang Silent Night. He did not have to tell me why. I knew he too now missed his father; the man who put meaning into his life.

The legend of Poinsettia; a Children’s Christmas story from Mexico reveals to us that the gift of love is dearer to Jesus than the most expensive present. As the years add on, I understand it is the loss of parental love that my Mr. Claus still longed for.

At 47 years of age, I am realizing that I have become very much like the lady who stood beside my Mr. Claus. I easily picture her face gracefully watching as I gobbled up delicious meat pies. She just smiled as I rushed to be first at her beautifully set table to dig into her perfectly basted turkey. She giggled when witnessing that I was the quickest of all four children to unwrap my every wish under her tree. The tree she took time to decorate every single year.

Her emotional bond to Christmas was fully satisfied knowing she didn’t change the world. She was happy knowing she in some way, gave all that she had, in hope that her children would someday come to know the true meaning of Christmas. For her that was enough.

Christmas means different things to different people. However, hope is the thread that ties a family together on Christmas Day.

Tonight, I find myself thinking about my Mr. Claus and the special lady who stood by his side and by their children’s side. Making perhaps, Christmas a never-ending story; allowing every year for her children to add another chapter to the day we all came to know as “Christmas.” I believe my Mr. Claus and the lady by his side hoped that their children, too, would come to cherish and to share one day, the meaning of Christmas with their own children.

On December 25th, we can choose to remember the birth of Christ. We can follow the teaching of Jesus by reaching out to others and, by his example, love one another. We can offer what help we can to the poor. We can bring meaning to this holiday by being the people we should be and could be, if only we choose to be. We could live out this day, every day of the year, sharing the examples of how Jesus hoped that we would choose to live our lives.

We can remember not to let time slip us by. Before you know it, we will already have sat down to eat turkey with all the trimmings and up to this point, we haven’t spent any quality time thinking of the true meaning of Christmas; bringing for many, love and hope.

My Mr. Claus is my dad. He has been my Santa for 47 years; never changing as years add on. My guardian angel is alive. She is my mother. In me, she instilled the true meaning of Christmas that I hope to share.

As years add on, I realize that I am very much like her. I too want to go back in time. I want to go back to before adulthood arrived at my door. I want to go back into time; when things were just a bit different.

Kim Drisdelle

Kim Drisdelle works with Enterprise Miramichi in Miramichi, NB, where she lives. She is an active member of the community, and for a number of years chaired the White Gold Festival and Miramichi Canada Celebration. Kim completed four years of undergraduate studies at Universite de Moncton in education speciale, as well as two years of undergraduate studies in French Literature and Linguistics at St. Thomas University in Fredericton. The single mother of three children, this is Kim’s first contribution to Bread ‘n Molasses Magazine’s annual Twelve Days of Christmas event.

Leave a comment on this post and you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of Miramichi author, Doug Underhill’s latest book entitled Salmon Country. We’ll draw one winner from everyone who comments on any of our special holiday themed posts for our annual Twelve Days of Christmas event!

Beauty and the Beast cast

The Capitol Theatre presents the young audience production of Beauty and the Beast by the DuffleBag Theatre Company, on Tuesday, December 27 at 7 p.m. The “Nearly World-Famous” DuffleBag Theatre brings the classic fairytale of Beauty and the Beast to life in their signature fun-filled and humorous fashion: using audience members as the stars!

Beauty and the Beast
When an egotistical, arrogant prince unkindly turns an old woman from his castle door on a dark and stormy night, he is taught a lesson in caring more about others than for himself. For his rudeness, the old woman magically transforms him into a “Horrible, Nasty Beast!” who is forced to hide in his castle, away from humanity, and care for an enchanted rose.

The Beast only begins to change his ways when he encounters Beauty, a daring young girl from the nearby village, who stumbles across his castle while searching for her missing father in the forest. Beauty finds her father has been imprisoned by the Beast for harming his enchanted rose. Determined to gain his freedom, Beauty suggests that she take his place instead. Impressed by Beauty’s noble self-sacrifice, the Beast frees her father– but instead of keeping Beauty as a prisoner, he invites her to be his guest. During her stay, she realizes that the Beast is not as bad as he appears, and she brings his good qualities to the forefront. When her father returns to free her with the help of Gaston de la Fromage, the notorious “beast-vanquisher,” everyone discovers that there might be some beauty in the Beast after all!

DuffleBag Theatre Company
Since 1992, audiences across Canada, the United States, and internationally in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam, children and adults alike have been enchanted and enthralled by the wit, clever stagecraft, energetic performances, and audience interaction of a DuffleBag Theatre performance. When the audience is the star, everyone’s dream of living a fairy tale can come true with the “Nearly World-Famous” DuffleBag Theatre!

Box office
Tickets for DuffleBag Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast are now on sale at the Capitol Theatre Box Office, l’Escaouette, Frank’s Music, Monument Lefebvre, Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre and l’Université de Moncton, at $13.50 (adults) and $5.50 (12 and under) plus applicable charges. Tickets are also available by phone at (506) 856-4379 or 1-800-567-1922, or online at www.capitol.nb.ca.

Last year's concert. (Photo by: Karine Wade)

The concerts will take place on December 14-16 at 8pm and on December 17 at 3pm and 8pm. Tickets are currently on sale in the Greater Moncton Ticketing Network.

Baby It’s Cold Outside is a pop standard written and composed in 1936 by Frank Loesser. The song has since been covered by artists of all genres and has become a holiday staple. It will be a part of this year’s concert repertoire. The evening will be divided into two parts: the first a little more introspective, akin to the midnight mass of yesteryear with traditional Christmas hymns and the second part will be more festive, with songs bursting with holiday cheer.

Classical hits from the francophone and Anglophone repertoire
Les Muses’ Monique Poirier can’t wait to present their new Christmas concert to the public: “Our repertoire is always evolving and we have hit song from both the francophone and Anglophone repertoire. We have set up a medley of hits by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton as their Christmas album is definitely a holiday season classic.”

George Belliveau of the Bélivo Brothers adds: “We’ve been having a lot of fun trying to find new songs to vary our repertoire. We will present our own arrangement of Santa Baby and also a series of songs a little more melancholic.”

Roland Gauvin is proud of this concert: “We are very fortunate to have the presence of musicians such as Jean-Pascal Comeau, François Émond, and Denis Hachey as well as the special participation of the Moncton youth choir Les Jeunes chanteurs d’Acadie. I believe this show will please everyone, young and old alike!”

Tickets
Tickets are currently on sale at the cost of $19 to $25 plus service fees. For children 12 years and younger, tickets are $9 plus service fees. They are available in the Greater Moncton ticketing network (Capitol Theatre, théâtre L’Escaouette, Université de Moncton’s student centre, the Dieppe Arts and Culture Centre, and the Monument Lefebvre in Memramcook). For more information, people may phone the Capitol Theatre box office at 506.856.4379 or 1.800.567.1922, visit the website www.capitol.nb.ca or go in person at 811, Main Street in Moncton.

Phil Flowers

Phil Flowers used to be “a bit of a punk”, or so he says. His folk rock oriented People, People might beg to differ at first, but it’s clear after one listen of tracks such as Disguises, that Phil Flowers still has that cynical edge that is normally associated with punk. “When I write songs, I don’t deliberately sit down and decide what subject I am going to write about. I just follow my flow of consciousness and the words just pour out. It’s afterwards that I can decipher my own writing. Disguises is about how we always try to find quick and superficial explanations for different situations in our lives, when in truth, we should look past the façades, dig deeper than what first impressions tend to show us.”

The documentary’s running long; the story is now done and gone.
Let’s simplify, negotiate, the journey of the fifth estate.
Passengers are all out of frame, the driver’s in the passing lane.
The license plates all read the same.

People People

Under the heavy influence of American folk music, blues, and jazz, People People, creates the perfect atmosphere for Flowers’ fiercely imagist lyrics about social heartache, deception, and candour. Influenced by legends such as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and at times Hank Williams, Phil Flowers is not content with the status quo and challenges the conception of what a singer/songwriter should be. Whether he’s scatting or growling, crooning or pleading, he brings the listener in and carries him along.

Launched on November 25, 2010, People People was recorded, mixed, and engineered at several locations in Moncton, NB by Derrick Aubie. The album was mastered by Marc “Chops” Arsenault at Hatchpost. Phil Flowers, in addition to singing, playing the acoustic guitar and harmonica, surrounded himself with Hub City musicians such as Christien Belliveau (electric guitar), Jeremy McFarlane (bass guitar), Pascal Raîche-Nogue (drums and percussions), and Julie Doucette (piano). All music and lyrics are by Phil Flowers, except One Trick Pony on which he collaborated with Jeremy McFarlane for the music.

Phil Flowers

Born and raised in Moncton, NB, Phil Flowers studied philosophy at Université de Moncton. Following the untimely dissolution of the band The Courage of Being, Phil Flowers went off on his own with the intention of making music that reflects the anxieties of existence and the integrity of true art through traditional forms. With the release of his debut album, People People (2010), Phil Flowers did just that. His album was received very positively by his peers and the public, his music likened to Sam Roberts and Wilco; his words to Kerouac and Dylan.

2011 also marked Phil Flowers’ first appearance at the East Coast Music Week, where he performed as a showcasing artist. Phil has played over 15 dates this year including two showcases and a few spots on summer festivals including Sunseekers Ball Music & Arts Festival and has played alongside Bernard Adamus, Keller William, Joe Grass, Les Païens, The Haunted Hearts, The Divorcees and Backyard Devils.

For more information on Phil Flowers: www.myspace.com/philflowers or http://philflowers.bandcamp.com.

Shaun LeBlanc

The song tells their story – the story of two people who finally found their soul mates. Not only are the lyrics inspired by their relationship, but the melody and arrangement were inspired by his wife’s personality: free spirited, down-to-earth and ‘Wonderful’.

Caught you gazing at the moon
It was no déjà vu
For once I had a clue
I knew what to do
You made me a believer
And it keeps getting better
With you – cause you are wonderful

Shaun LeBlanc

Born and raised in Southeastern New Brunswick, Shaun has had a lifelong dream of making, playing and living music. After a very personal life-changing event in early 2011, Shaun is finally putting music first and introducing himself to the regional music scene.

Shaun released his first EP Start Something in front of a sold out crowd in Downtown Moncton in the fall of 2011, and is currently working on a full length album with the help of his new band mates Serge Hall and René Rossignol, and music producer Robin Anne Ettles.

Upcoming Shows

November 26: Plan B (212, St George Street, Moncton)
December 3-4: Botsford Station (232, Bostford Street, Moncton)
December 16: Café Aberdeen (140, Botsford Street, Moncton)
December 18: St. James Gates (14 Church Street, Moncton)

For more information on Shaun and his music, “like” him on Facebook at facebook.com/shaunleblancpage.

Beth Powning

The Attic Owl Reading Series and the Writers’ Federation of New Brunswick with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to present Beth Powning at La Teraz, 154 Church Street, in Moncton. Keeping with the Attic Owl Reading Series’ new tradition, a local author, K. Cooper, will open the evening. The readings will begin at 8pm.

A pre-event dinner will be held at 6pm at La Teraz. Cost is $25. Anyone interested in the dinner should let Ed Lemond know before Monday the 14th. Ed’s email address is elemond@bellaliant.net .

Beth Powning’s work has been widely published in books, anthologies, and magazines. She is known for her lyrical, powerful writing and the profound emotional honesty of her work. She is the author of Seeds of Another Summer; Shadow Child: An Apprenticeship in Love and Loss; The Hatbox Letters; and Edge Seasons. Her latest novel, The Sea Captain’s Wife, is published by Knopf (Canada) and Penguin/Plume (USA). It was short-listed for the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, in Canada; and is a Barnes and Noble Discover Award Book for May/July, in the USA. It is being translated into French by Editions Perce-Neige, with distribution in Canada and France. Beth has also recently won the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for High Achievement in English-Language Literary Arts.

K. Cooper is the author of the novel Hub City Survival, and has a very active blog site featuring her life as a writer. She is an actress and has performed in several local theatre productions. She grew up in Riverview and Alma and now lives in Moncton.

Admission by donation. Refreshments served. All are welcome!