Grievous Angels

+ a special performance by Steve Marriner feat. Jimmy Bowskill

OCTOBER 21 - $15

Tune in online for an exclusive performance and interview hosted by the legendary Alan Cross, plus a chance to interact with the band in a live Q&A.

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GRIEVOUS ANGELS

For the last three decades, the Grievous Angels have been carving out a unique place in the alt-roots landscape. Their songs, craftsmanship and live performances conjure the tragic beauty of life in Canada’s northern blue collar outposts.

The Angels were formed in the late 1980s as a street-busking operation in downtown Toronto. They soon moved to clubs and then to the festival stage at folk festivals across the country. They have played picket lines, isolated northern reserves, punch-out biker bars and soft theatres. They have toured Canada multiple times and garnered two Juno nominations.

The Angels sound is built around the gritty songwriting of band leader Charlie Angus. The Edmonton Journal once said that Angus sings “flatter than a dirt road in Saskatchewan.” But they meant it as a compliment. They added that “one day his songs will rank up there with Ian Tyson, Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot.” Other critics like the Pittsburgh Post Gazette note that the songs of the Angels “stands up with the best of Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen.”

In January 2021 the band released their 8th and most powerful album so far. 'Summer Before the Storm' captures the atmosphere of our times with its deep uncertainties, social dissonance and people struggling to find a way forward. Spill Magazine calls it a “brilliant folk album and one for our times.” Summer Before the Storm, like the Grievous Angels, is a kick ass journey of hope in unsettled times.

STEVE MARRINER

That Steve Marriner has accomplished as much as he has in the past decade, remains a story that continues to impress on a variety of fronts and for a variety of reasons.

Simply put, it is nothing short of astounding that this Ottawa-raised, Toronto-based musician has driven, guided and participated in so many impressive and acclaimed recording and live performance projects. The multi-instrumentalist, song writing singer sits at, or near the top of the list, as “Canada’s hardest working person in show biz.”

MonkeyJunk, has been a fan and critics favorite since the trio first roared down the track some 13 years ago. The blues-basted trio with whom he sings, writes, and plays ferocious harp, has released six albums. The group has won an impressive number of Juno Awards, and Maple Blues Awards in numerous categories. There’s nothing to suggest that train isn’t going to keep rolling down the track for some time to come.

In addition to having ample opportunities to catch the man with the broad smile and unbridled energy perform with MonkeyJunk, audiences have witnessed Steve play the role of musical foil to Colin James on stage and on the outstanding release Miles To Go. Those same audiences have heard him deliver one tasty lick after another or sing alongside Harry Manx on their 2019 critically acclaimed and chart-topping duo outing, Hellbound for Heaven.

“I like to be on the move. To me, standing still feels the same as walking backwards. Pandemic notwithstanding, I spend at least six months on the road each year. It's been that way for over a decade. Juggling gigs is something I've become fairly adept at. I love it. It energizes me. It keeps things interesting. I started playing harmonica with Colin James in 2016, and I've played guitar for Paul Reddick for about as long. I've occupied the guitar, bass and keyboard seat in Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar at various times over the past five years. I've been producing records and doing session work for a bunch of artists. Not only is it a survival mechanism, but it truly is my passion to have my hands in so many different projects. There's just so much to learn, and it's that learning that sustains me as an artist,” states Marriner, matter-of-factly.

All of this activity and the response to Marriner’s talents combine for the release of his new solo album Hope Dies Last, which he considers to be yet another unique stand-alone departure in his creative journey.

JIMMY BOWSKILL

Multi-award winning Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimmy Bowskill has come a long way since being discovered at the age of 11 by Jeff Healey. Five critically acclaimed albums later Bowskill is celebrated around the world as a musical force to be reckoned with.

“One of the most spectacular performances (at Ukraine’s Koktebel Jazz & Blues Festival) was by Canadian boy wonder Jimmy Bowskill and his band. The opening chords showed that the boy is not simply a wunderkind but an exceptionally brilliant phenomenon in the world of Blues and Rock. His incredible guitar technique and his strong free-flowing vocal skills, along with his volcanic temperament, blew the audience away.” – The Koktebel Resistance, Ukraine

Over the past decade, Jimmy Bowskill has toured extensively in Canada, Germany, France, Mexico, Ukraine, and Japan with the likes of Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Joe Bonamassa, and Deep Purple, to name a few. In support of his Ruf Records’ album releases in Europe, The Jimmy Bowskill Band performed in theatres, nightclubs and at world-renowned festivals throughout Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, and France. Jimmy also recently shared the stage with music legends, Johnny Winter and Dr. John.

In November 2015, Bowskill joined the Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs playing lead, rhythm and pedal steel guitar. In 2016, Blue Rodeo released their album 1000 Arms, which includes Bowskill playing on two tracks.

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About the #UnpluggedTogether series

#UnpluggedTogether is an exclusive online event series featuring world class artists, candid interviews, and live Q&A to help fuel conversations on mental health and the healing power of music. Hosted by internationally acclaimed music journalist Alan Cross, performances have included The Trews, The Standstills, Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace), Cone McCaslin (Sum 41), Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent), Blackbird, Grievous Angels, and more. Fans will also have a chance to interact with the artists in a live Q&A.

See the full lineup at unpluggedtogether.com.

100% of funds raised will support Healing in Harmony - Make Music Matter’s innovative music therapy program for trauma survivors. Learn more about our programs at makemusicmatter.org.

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Ways to show your support:

Buy your ticket now!

Make a donation to Make Music Matter and help transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people with the power of music. At the ticket check out, you can add a donation in just a few extra clicks!

Shop for a cause - order a copy of the Healing in Harmony: Greatest Hits collection on vinyl, and other Make Music Matter merch.

You can make a difference today and help trauma survivors to heal and rebuild their lives with hope and dignity.

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Gold Sponsors:

Canadian Musician Magazine

Canadian Music Week

Alan Cross / A Journal of Musical Things

Revolution Recording

Union Sound Company

Mainstation Music

YSL Pro

Bandzoogle

Grant Thornton

Sonic Boom

Null & Void

Kinspira

BLKWTR

A4A Music

Silver Sponsors:

Long & McQuade

Mike Ormsby / Studio Jiimaan

Media Sponsors:

The Edge 102.1

Promotional Partners:

CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association)

SOCAN

Breakout West

IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards)

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#UnpluggedTogether is produced by Grammy Award-winning music producer David Bottrill and the Make Music Matter event team: Darcy Ataman, Heine Nielsen, Rebecca Purver, Steven Yau, Noa Salamon, Marc Leardi, Blake Bottrill, Claire Leslie-Turnbull

unpluggedtogether.com