Allison Crowe's Tidings in Nanaimo ~ w. Musical Guests* December 12, 2009

Anticipate joy, thrills and plenty of holiday cheer, laced with overtones of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, jazz and more, when Allison Crowe returns home to Nanaimo for her annual "Tidings" concert at St. Andrew's United Church (311 Fitzwilliam - Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.)

The singer-songwriter, loved for her peerless, and fun, live shows comes together with several of the Harbour City's finest young musicians for this festive celebration in the Old City Quarter. As well as sharing a warm night of song, the event also brings some aid to The Mind's Eye (NYSA) youth newspaper and Woodlands Secondary School Basketball and Band Programs - well-springs of a new generation of athletes, musicians and writers.

The 2009 Tidings concert line-up features guest artists: Emily Blake, accompanied by pianist Laura Wishart; and Hayley Read, Kiana Smith, Mathew Walker, Taylor Manns, Brynn Newman ~ with accompanying pianist Chelsea Peckett.*

Music for the season and all time." Tidings stirs together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "The Yuletide find of the year," says The Record. "Be prepared to be amazed," chimes ChristmasReviews.com
"Allison Crowe has a voice to fall in love with," says UK music industry journal Record of the Day. “She is from Vancouver Island in Canada, descended from Scottish, Irish and Manx stock. She's exactly the sort of artist who can make serious headway on her own label and that's just what she's doing." Longtime NPR broadcaster Ross Hocker calls Allison Crowe's show, "The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life."

When this phenomenon 'from the islands' reached the mainland she steered a path clear of what Joni Mitchell knowingly calls the record business' "style inventions". With Ani DiFranco as a model of integrity, and Creative Commons licensing changing the "game" for resourceful musicians, Crowe created her own label. Since 2003, Rubenesque Records Ltd has released six critically and commercially successful albums: Lisa’s Song + 6 Songs; Secrets; Tidings; Live at Wood Hall; This Little Bird; and Little Light. Crowe's next album is Spiral."The first thing you notice about Allison Crowe is her voice. Rich and dark, it seems to come from a place most singers can only dream of accessing. Then there are the songs. Filled with raw passion and accompanied by Crowe's eloquent piano playing," writes Clodagh O'Connell (The Courier). Hers is a joyous sound: "Elton John meets Edith Piaf."

A sensation at the UK's John Lennon Northern Lights Festival, where she performed on a bill with the Queen's Master of Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and the UK's Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, "Canadian angel Alison Crowe gave one of the weekend's most magical moments," says The Scotsman. Festival Director Mike Merritt describes Crowe as "awesome" and "spine-tingling", noting her performance "put hairs on the back of your neck! She brought the house down."

A true grassroots success, Crowe is praised not only as a singularly talented songwriter - on themes personal as well as worldly - and as an exciting, visceral, performer, but, also, as a supreme interpreter of song. Her vital takes on such 21st century standards as Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and Joni Mitchell's "River" are applauded as "truly transcendent" and her singular covers have achieved broad, even mainstream, popularity, featured by BBC Radio, MOJO magazine and by acclaimed Hollywood director Zack Snyder (300, The Watchmen).

There'll be a cavalcade of talent on-stage at St. Andrew's United Church for Tidings 2009. The commitment and dedication of those who nurture such talent shines through - and explains why Nanaimo is world-renowned for the calibre of it musical ambassadors. The Tidings line-up is especially indebted to Andrea Bertram, Vocalist and Teacher at Andrea Bertram Studio, and Rick Becker, Band Master at Woodlands Secondary School - along with all teachers and mentors in the community, at home, and school.

*Here's fuller word on this year’s line-up of talent:

Emily Blake ~ currently starring in the musical, "A Very Sticky Christmas",
taking place at Theatre BC. In February she’s off to compete as a soprano
vocalist at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Emily is a
Grade 9 student at Woodlands Secondary School where she’s involved in
student council and improv, although she spends most of her time in the band
room playing sax or flute in Jazz and Concert Band and is also in Choir.

Band teacher Rick Becker of the Woodlands Music program mentors Emily and
many young musicians today – just as he did when Allison Crowe attended
Woodlands. Emily studies voice and piano with Sharon and Laura Wishart. For
her Tidings concert vocal performance, Emily is accompanied by Laura on
piano.

Vocal coach Andrea Bertram, also a mentor to Allison, teaches several
Tidings singers - each of whom will be backed by pianist Chelsea Peckett,
official accompanist for the Andrea Bertram Studio. Chelsea, a graduate of
Woodlands, is a veteran of music festivals, concert, dinner theatre, and a
Tidings regular. This year she joins:

Hayley Read ~ an experienced festival and musical theatre performer,
currently studying the role of "The March Hare" in the Kirkwood Academy
production of "Alice in Wonderland" for May 2010. A Grade 12 student at
Wellington Secondary School, Hayley is a member of the indie-rock duo
"Emanate".

Kiana Smith ~ a ‘triple-threat’ performer who just recently won the Regional
Finals of the Legion Talent Competition. A Grade 8 student at Dover Bay
Secondary School Kiana is another Kirkwood performer and will be playing
"The White Rabbit" in "Alice in Wonderland".

Mathew Walker ~ in Grade 11 at Dover Bay Secondary School, Mathew has just
concluded a role in the Dover Bay Theatrix Production of "The Boy Friend"
and is an experienced performer in concerts and music festivals. Like
Allison Crowe, he is a former VIEX "Songbird" winner.

Taylor Manns ~ attends Wellington Secondary in Grade 10. As well as being
another ‘triple-threat’ performer, she’s been awarded top honours at
numerous jazz festivals for her vocals. Taylor will be lending character to
the "Cheshire Cat" in Kirkwood’s production of "Alice in Wonderland".

Brynn Newman ~ now in her first year at Vancouver Island University, she’s
studying business. Brynn was a gold ticket finalist at the last Canadian
Idol and she’s a veteran of festivals, competitions, dinner theatres and
concerts ~ including several “Tidings” shows.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 12, 2009 Doors: 7:00 p.m. Music: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: St. Andrew's United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam, Nanaimo

SOLD OUT - NANAIMO TIDINGS CONCERT - THANK YOU!

Advance Tickets: $20 General/$15 Students & Seniors - all charges incl.
(Door: $22/$17)

Tickets: Andrea Bertram Studio (4000 Rock City Rd.), Lobelia's Lair (8-321 Wesley St.), Mind's Eye-NYSA (290 Bastion St.), House of Indigo (6 Church St.), Thrifty Foods (Longwood Station and Port Place stores), & Woodlands Secondary School (1270 Strathmore St.); & online @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/shoptickets.html

Info: http://www.allisoncrowe.com + http://www.nysa.bc.ca/mindseye.html

Contact: 250-537-1286 or email [email protected]

Official Website: http://www.allisoncrowe.com