Hamilton Guitar Association: November 2009

Friday, November 27, 2009

Alfie Smith at the HGA November 30

“Alfie Smith is one Bad Mother @%*er” Mel Brown. Alfie Smith is a true modern day Blues Man, Blending hard edged Rock and Roll, Gospel, Folk and Jazz with Pure Primal Blues to create his own unique sound. He is adept at many instruments such as 7 string slide guitar, banjo, guitar, 12 sting and lap steel. Alfie’s musicianship has earned him endorsements with Godin Guitar, Composite Acoustics, Eastwood and Stonebridge. First and foremost Alfie is a singer with a deep passionate brooding baritone vocal style in the tradition of the old Blues shouters. Brass & Steel is Alfie’s 5th CD released in October 2007.It has 21 tracks and features Alfie and his band the Hard Cases on six of the songs. The Hard Cases are: Bob Doidge on Trumpet & Bass and James Richards on Drums. He is at ease playing solo or with his band. This is Alfie’s 1st release with Busted Flat Records. Alfie has been a featured performer at Mariposa, Festival of Friends, Home County, Eaglewood, Mill Race, Red Rock, Brampton, Niagara Blues Festival, Harbourfront Blues Festival, Octoberfolk, Orillia Spring Blues, Barriefolk and Orangeville Blues & Jazz festival. Alfie was selected for official showcases at the O.C.F.F. and the 2005 Blues Summit II. He was nominated for Best Blues Album at the 2006 & 2007 Hamilton Music Awards and also nominated for Guitarist of 2007. "Hamilton is blessed with a wealth of great blues guitarists. None is better than Alfie Smith when it comes to the acoustic slide and he's got a voice to match."- Graham Rockingham The Spec "He purrs like a kitten slumbering in a blanket or roars like a lion defending a carcass." - ROBERT REID The Record

Please visit Alfie at: http://www.myspace.com/alfiejohnsmith

Thursday, November 12, 2009

D'Arcy Wickham as featured Performer November 15

D'Arcy has had a wealth of excellent performance experience over the past few years. Feb. 2009 marked D'Arcy's first appearance as a featured performer at Toronto's Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival. June of 2008 was the occasion of another first appearance, this time at the NXNE Music Festival in Toronto. In April of 2008, D’Arcy was one of three featured performers and workshop leaders at the Waterloo Guitar Summit. In December 2007, D'Arcy showcased for the Hamilton Folk Club. On Nov. 17, 2007, he opened for Jon Brooks, and accompanied Jon on a few tunes, at the Acoustic Harvest Folk Club in Toronto. On Sept. 20, 2007, D'Arcy joined Ian North and Clela Errington to open the first City Roots Presents series at the Cameron House in Toronto. D'Arcy was the featured opening act on March 24, 2007 for Oliver Shroer at the Greenbank Folk Society. D'Arcy performed to a sold-out audience at Hugh's Room in Toronto for the release of his CD, Feather Fingers, and opened for Tommy Emmanuel there in 2005.
D'Arcy's first solo recording, "Dust and Loneliness", which was produced by Ian Thomas and released in 2000, received critical acclaim. Tracks from the CD were featured on two composite CD's: Borealis Records' "6 Strings North of the Border" vol. 2 and "Tears of a Thousand Years".
In 2005, D'Arcy released another critically acclaimed CD, Feather Fingers, which was produced by Jason Fowler. Greg Quill of the Toronto Star was particularly impressed with D'Arcy's facility and virtuosity on the guitar.
In August of 2007 the OCFF contacted D'Arcy to congratulate him on winning the instrumental category in the 2007 Songs from the Heart Contest, for his tune "Feather Fingers". D'Arcy showcased his tune at the "Songs from the Heart" awards ceremony at the OCFF conference on October 13.
In August of 2009, D'Arcy was selected as one of 10 finalists in the Canadian Region for the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, on the strength of his song "Malahat Highway".

As a guitar teacher with some 30 years of instructional experience and as an award winning composer, D'Arcy has a wealth of musical background to drawn on in offering workshops: aspects of guitar technique, song writing, history of folk and blues, and live performance.
Well known in folk music circles, an outstanding guitar teacher, performer and composer, D'Arcy would make a great fit for any folk festival or roots music venue.

http://www.darcywickham.com/

S.O.F.G.A.

Southern Ontario Fingerstyle Guitar Association

Some five years ago, I typed finger style guitar into a search engine because that was the type of playing I wanted to explore. Mostly because I was tired of replacing all my lost guitar picks. What I found was the SOFGA, a club dedicated to this guitar style and encourageing new people to learn by providing a non competative performance environment. They met right here in Hamilton, I knew that this was something I had to check out.

What I found was a community of people enjoying each other's music, company and friendship. And the amazing music! Cutting edge acoustic, celtic, old blues , entire bands seems to leap from guitars held by one person. No fake effects or back tape. Each meeting, one great player after the next would play. Then, one of them would take some time to show you thier style.

This is where I found my guitar teacher and mentors and some realley good friends. Though I was just a beginner, these people seemed to have a genuine desire to hear my music. This encouragement was pivital, at a time when the rest of the world just wanted me to forget the whole guitar thing .

Some five years later, when it comes to music, I still don't have it all together most of the time, but I've come a long way, mostly thanks to SOFGA.

Now , it's called the Hamilton Guitar Association but the goal and spirit are the same. That's why I'm happy to slug all the gear up the stairs at the Pheasent Plucker every other week, set up the mics and board, then, watch it all unfold.

Mark V