Allison Crowe's Nanaimo Tidings: Music for the Season & All Time December 13, 2008

Expect plenty of holiday cheer, laced with overtones of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, jazz and Broadway, as Allison Crowe returns home to Nanaimo for her annual “Tidings” concert at St. Andrew’s United Church (311 Fitzwilliam - Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m.) The internationally-loved and acclaimed singer-songwriter comes together with several of the Harbour City's finest young musicians to bring some aid to Woodlands Secondary School Basketball and Band Programs and The Mind's Eye (Nanaimo Youth Services Association - NYSA) youth newspaper - inspiring a new generation of athletes, musicians and writers.

The 2008 Tidings concert line-up features guest artists: Emily Bourke, Taylor Manns, Jennifer Moffett, Brynn Newman, Mathew Walker; and Chelsea Peckett; plus Mind's Eye visual & literary artworks. (See below for fuller description of each performer and their "Tidings" performance.)

"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 is a stunningly talented performer." Longtime NPR broadcaster Ross Hocker calls Allison Crowe's show, "The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life."

"Treat yourself to one of the mightiest talents on the singer-songwriter scene today," says Bob Muller, song curator at JoniMitchell.com "Ever wonder what it would have been like to listen to a gifted singer/songwriter from Saskatchewan in a small, intimate hall before she became Joni Mitchell? Don't fret the missed opportunity. There's no need to turn back the clock. Check out Allison Crowe," writes Robert Reid in The Record.

Crowe's rare gift and talent in communicating emotions not only make her a thrilling original act, her role as an interpreter is getting much recognition. "Her version of 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)' would give Aretha Franklin goose-bumps," notes Robert Moyes in Boulevard. This month, two major tributes to Leonard Cohen have featured her song contributions.

During her triumphal Beatles Week 2008 concert series, BBC Radio 2 interviewed and recorded Allison Crowe in Liverpool performing "Hallelujah" for an hour-long documentary, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall", that explores the many facets of this Leonard Cohen creation. Other participants include musicians Imogen Heap and Kathryn Williams alongside producers John Lissauer (Leonard Cohen) and Andy Wallace (Jeff Buckley).

UK-based MOJO magazine pays tribute to Leonard Cohen with its December '08
issue which celebrates "deep and moving music, the kind of stuff we need in the run up to the holiday period". Of Allison Crowe's contribution of "Joan of Arc" to its 'All Star Tribute", a cover-mount CD titled "Cohen Covered", MOJO says: "Once famously described by the Vancouver Courier as possessing a style akin to 'Elton John meets Edith Piaf', the Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe is renowned for her ability to blend control and melodrama. Certainly she does so on this spirited cover of Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate classic, a track which also powerfully showcases her considerable talent as a fine interpreter of song."

There’ll be many considerable talents gathered together at St. Andrew’s United for Tidings 2008. As always, the commitment and dedication of those who nurture such talent shines through - and helps to explain why Nanaimo is world-renowned for the quality of its musical ambassadors. For our line-up, we’re especially grateful 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, school and in the city’s vital music scene.

Mind’s Eye Managing Editor Amanda Davis, delights us as MC again this year. Here is a closer look at the "Tidings" concert performers:

~ Seventeen year old Emily Bourke has been playing guitar for three years, but has been singing, practically, since she was born. Her influences include the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Glen Hansard, and her eclectic tastes range from jazz to classic rock. She's performed at several concerts in the Nanaimo area, and is planning on a career in the fine arts. Emily attends Woodlands Secondary School, and has studied music with Woodlands’ Rick Becker (who, like Andrea Bertram, has also taught Allison Crowe)

~ Vancouver Island University student Jennifer Moffett. Jennifer has performed in many festivals, pageants and competitions throughout the province. She has been a VIEX "Songbird" finalist 4 years running and brings experience and expertise to the stage tonight with her cover of a Natasha Bedingfield song "Soulmate", written by Natasha Bedingfield, Mads Hauge and David Tench.

~ Dover Bay Secondary School student, 15 year old Mathew Walker. He was the 2007 "Songbird" winner at the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX) and this past August opened for that competition. He performs locally at events, festivals and concerts. He has chosen to perform for us the first seasonal selection of the evening, "Joseph", words and music by Michael McLean

~ Taylor Manns is 14 and attends Wellington Secondary School. This is Taylor's second opportunity to perform at a "Tidings" concert. Taylor was the Junior Musical Theatre Representative to the Provincial Finals for the Upper Island Musical Festival (UIMF) and was the Runner-Up at that competition in Vocal Variety. This year she performs the Faure, "Pie Jesu", a prayer to bless the season.

~ Grade 12 Dover Bay Secondary School student Brynn Newman. Brynn has performed at past Allison Crowe "Tidings" concerts and locally at competitions and events and festivals. Last Spring she "gold ticketed" to Toronto for Canadian Idol. She has chosen to perform a Faith Hill cover, "A Baby Changes Everything" by K.K. Wiseman, Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols

~ Piano accompanist for Tidings concert performers is Chelsea Peckett. Chelsea is a graduate of the Woodlands school music program. Chelsea studied collaborative piano with Sharon Wishart and at the Victoria Conservatory and is currently studying with Pat Millar. She is the official accompanist of the Andrea Bertram Studio, a freelance musician, and a piano teacher.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 13, 2008 Doors: 7:00 p.m. Music: 7:30 p.m.

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

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

Tickets: 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
Phone 250-537-1286 or email [email protected]

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