ARTESIAN ON 13TH

JOEL FAFARD

Joel Fafard is that rare breed of instrumentalist: the kind whose appeal reaches far beyond the realm of serious guitar enthusiasts. The gifted slide fingerstyle player writes stirring, melodic compositions that paint pictures as vivid as any song with words.

He sings with the sexy, sandpapered-sounding vocal style of the new-generation bluesman. He tells his hilarious between-song stories with the confidence of a late show host delivering his monologue. And when he lets rip a solo on his resonator guitar, it's easy to hear how he earned both a Juno nomination and a Western Canadian Music Award for his skills on the axe. Nominated for Traditional Singer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards 2011!

http://www.reverbnation.com/joelfafard
$12. advance at Mysteria Gallery or $15 at door

THE LONESOME WEEKENDS CD Launch
with guest YOUNG JAMES

The Lonesome Weekends are to the 21st Century what The Byrds were to 1960s Cosmic America: roots music, pure, raw, sweet and soaring; a brunch of vintage AM radio gold, second-hand cowboy shirts, desert peyote, and your grandma?s very best Sunday morning pancakes.

Young James - drawing from influences such as Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Blind Melon, Cuff the Duke, Blue Rodeo and the Jayhawks: Young James offers tightly packaged songs with meaningful content. The result is a unique sound with wide appeal that infuses elements of bluegrass, folk and indie rock.

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/thelonesomeweekends
http://music.cbc.ca/#/bands/Young-James

$12 advance at Mysteria Gallery or Buy The Book; $15 at door
online tickets: www.picatic.com/event613690

WHITEHORSE
(Melissa McClelland & Luke Doucet)

Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet tie the musical knot with their band, Whitehorse, marrying their talent and chemistry on stage as a smoldering duo. Gutsy and resolute in their pursuits of sound and substance, Luke and Melissa's fusion of the personal and professional brings to mind the road-tested romance of Johnny and June.

Individually, Luke and Melissa have been recognized with awards and nominations from the Juno Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Hamilton Music Awards, the Independent Music Awards and Polaris. Together, Luke and Melissa create music that cascades forth, rushing like currents fluid and electric. More than the sum of considerable talents, Whitehorse showcases the rarity of true give and take in partnership, uniting falcon with songbird to dramatic effect.

Listen:http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Whitehorse
http://www.whitehorsemusic.ca/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqs6So11GEE
$15 advance (mid-March) at Mysteria Gallery, Bach & Beyond, Buy The Book, Vintage Vinyl or $20 at door

RED HOT RIOT

Hosted by 4-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee Jayden Pfeifer, Red Hot Riot features a mix of standup, sketch, musical acts and much more!

http://www.facebook.com/redhotriotshow

$10 advance at Mysteria Gallery or at door

40 DAYS AT BASE CAMP
Indie Film by Dianne Whelan
Director in attendance and Q&A afterward.

40 DAYS AT BASE CAMP is a feature length documentary that puts a knife through the heart of the Everest myth with stories of climbers being interwoven with daily life at Base Camp, the history of the mountain and the devastating effect climate change has had on the mountains ecology. The film provides a modern take on the transformation of Everest from what was once a revered sacred space to the mountain theme park it is sadly becoming.

Dianne Whelan is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker and photographer. In April 2120, Whelan traveled to Nepal and Mount Everest Base Camp to shoot her documentary - at 18,000 feet above sea level and over the course of 40 days.

http://www.40daysatbasecamp.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OVQye3_41I

$15. advance at Mysteria Gallery or at door
online tickets: www.picatic.com/event1483690

Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long

The multi-award-winning spoken word performer, Shane Koyczan, and his band the Short Story Long. Their musical range stretches from folk to funk, from ambient to rock, showcasing all of the beautiful in between. A band that is always accessible but by turns hilarious, moving and deeply profound... Koyczan's performances have brought audiences to their feet in New York, London, Edinburgh, Sydney, Auckland, and Los Angeles. The Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics introduced us to Shane Koyczan and with a collective "wow" across Canada, we found the poet of our generation. You only have to hear Shane Koyczan once to be hooked--humane, furious, sexy, political, tragic, and so funny you'll be laughing through your tears.
"Listening to 'My Darling Sara' (I left the ignition on, long after I'd parked, to hear the end of that one)… it all sounds like something's coming - a sound everyone asks for." -Gordon Downie of The Tragically Hip

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/shanekoyczanandtheshortstorylong
$15 advance at Mysteria Gallery or $18 at door
online tickets: www.picatic.com/event3690

DAVID HICKEY
Sounds of the Solar System

David performs with 15 Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls, 8-10 Paiste Planet Gongs, Vibraphone and Santoor!

Experience soothing, meditative and healing music. Each one of the performances is completely improvised and unique. You are invited to sit or lay down as close to the instruments as possible - remember to bring a mat and/or pillow as there will be floor space to lay down. Chairs are also available.

David cites his musical inspirations as Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, John Lennon, George Harrison, Bob Marley, and Frederick Chopin. "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right." Jerry Garcia-The Grateful Dead

http://www.crystaljourney.ca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r237ViPHBxw&feature=related

$20 advance at Mysteria Gallery or at door
online tickets: www.picatic.com/event9773690

ELIZABETH SHEPHERD TRIO

"Cool, smart and sexy." - Globe and Mail. Her music comes straight from her gorgeous soul with subtle funkiness and groove-leanings!

Elizabeth Shepherd is among Canada's most promising talents and she has the widespread critical acclaim to prove it. The rave reviews for her albums as well as sold-out performances at prestigious venues like Tokyo's Cotton Club, London's Jazz Cafe and the Hollywood Bowl.
Described as "pushing the boundaries of jazz," she pushes well past those boundaries to carve out her own niche of smart, sophisticated and adventurous music.

Elizabeth's rhythmically intricate, groove-oriented tunes, sincere lyrics and distinct, soulful voice have earned her a worldwide following. Critics, hipsters and music aficionados from London to Tokyo have been spreading the word for a few years now, and will surely continue to embrace her music.

Listen: http://elizabethshepherd.com/
http://music.cbc.ca/#/artists/Elizabeth-Shepherd
$20. advance at Mysteria Gallery or $25. at door
online tickets: www.picatic.com/event5353690