Brock Zeman may only be twenty-five years old, but already he’s released three previous albums with his signature roots style, and been praised by critics for the maturity of his vocals, the depth of his storytelling and his impressive live performances – which he shares with audiences widely and regularly, across North America and Europe.

His fourth album, Welcome Home Ivy Jane, produced by Keith Glass of Prairie Oyster fame, along with Zeman and Steve Foley at Audio Valley, cements Zeman’s talent as a songwriter who balances the grit of everyday life with a lyrical heart. Sung in his deep, rich and twangy vocals and backed by a first rate band, Zeman is, as one reviewer has said, “certainly a rising star” (Atlantic Seabreeze).

Zeman’s vocals often illicit immediate comparisons to Americana greats; Country Music News has said that Zeman has “a voice that begs to be compared to Steve Earle” while Rootshighway claims that “Brock Zeman should have been born in Austin Texas.” But it is Zeman’s songwriting that makes the comparisons to the great singer-songwriters stick.

Sioux Newberry has been surprising audiences since she first cut her teeth as a hip-hop artist while attending University in Guelph, Ontario. Spending sleepless nights spitting, cussing and harmonizing her way through performances with prominent DJs in the Toronto area, she learned to find solace in the charms of folk songwriting and classical vocal training. “In fact,” says this small-town darling, “I have always seen hip-hop as a tool for learning to write better folk music.” Today, where the styles of jazz, country, folk-rock, hip-hop and accapella foot stomp meet, Sioux emerges as a student of reflection, offering songs and stories that consistently demand that her listeners look both inward and outward.

David Newberry has rock and roll in his heart, but somewhere along the way he found that folks like Woody Guthrie, Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt could craft a song and a story like no others. The result is a unique singer/songwriter with a collection of folk songs played by someone who learned his trade in the world of punk. Sweet country songs full of hardship and hope that are sung with the world weary tinge of alt-rock and whiskey. With each performance, David blends the energy and politics of punk rock with the storytelling and lyricism of American roots music.

Together, Sioux and David offer support on each other’s solo material, and present a batch of new songs co-written especially for this project. Their music reflects the realities of everyday life in Canada - highlighting ‘the regular’ in an extraordinary way. It also talks a lot about trains and boats.

While they are extraordinarily different musicians, their unique styles compliment each other, both picking up where the other leaves off. You’ll find their common ground to be both eclectic and coherent, and most of all, realistic and reminiscent of home.

Well about 8-9 years ago Diamond Dave found out he can accually make some money playing music, and has been going hard ever since. Managing approx. 200 gigs a year. Playing mostly upright bass these days Dave keeps busy with 3 different bands, and still occationally doing the rent-a-bass player bit. Washboard Hank:Dave has been playing for Hank about three years now doing lots of cool shows, festivals, having lots of fun, drinkin’ lots o beer. Electric City Ramblers:the work horse band, playing the Pub circit, argicultural events, almost anything. A very versitle band. Members are Dave MaQurrie, lead vocal, guitar and a songbag bigger than Santa’s. Fiddlin Jay Edmonds, mandolin, Fiddle. The County Boys.Daves all original Band. Playing with Tin Can Chris Culgin and Banjo Benj Rowland. 3 songerwriters, 3 singers. Fairly new band but doing really well. Exciting live.

Show starts at 9pm - $3 cover

With the May 2007 release of Time bomb, a collaboration CD with fellow Canadian Roxanne Potvin and American blues guitar heroine Deborah Coleman, powerhouse singer/songwriter/guitarist, Sue Foley has once again solidified her place as one of the leading lights of the contemporary blues scene.

Time bomb’s release comes only a year after Foley’s critically acclaimed 10th studio album, New Used Car, the most accomplished and accessible album of her career, featuring Sue’s smooth purr-to-growl vocal style wrapped around original songs, punctuated by her biting, shiver-inducing lead guitar work. She wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 12 tunes on the disc. “I feel this is the best songwriting I’ve done in my life – the songs just developed so naturally and seemed to write themselves,” says Foley, “it was a remarkable process and it is the strongest work and most satisfying album yet.”

It’s that time again. Jamming. You love it, I love it - we all love it.

Open jamming means that our host with the most, Dave Balfour, will play all night and will invite people up on stage to join in. It’s a great time for both audience and musicians!

Musicians: Bring your instrument of choice (including drums - small stage sized set please) and approach Dave to quickly let him know that you’re there and you would like to join in on the jam. He’ll do his best to rotate you in if at all possible. This is a great event and is catered to most levels of playing. Jamming is fun and helps build your skills. It’s great when it all gels together and it’s entertaining when it doesn’t (doesn’t happen to often!).

Audience: It’s a Wednesday night in the middle of October. It’s the middle of the week. You’re looking for something to do -maybe meet some friends or take in some entertainment. O’Reilly’s Pub in Perth has your answer. The Open Jamming experience with Dave Balfour is a night of amazing music and it’s all FREE. No cover. The music ranges from classic rock to folk to MILD country to blues to hits of today and beyond. It’s a night of fun and friends, music and mayhem.

The show starts at 8pm so both musicians and audience should arrive early for easier setup and best seating. There is a great food menu and drinks so don’t hesitate to come for supper or snacks and drinks prior to the show!

Thanks and see you there!

Mike