Wow... I can't believe we've already made it to Christmas Eve-Eve.. 2014 was the fastest year of my life, moving back to London, working at CHRW 94.9fm as Program Director and so many more highlights.  Playing at Hugh's Room for Michael Wrycraft's Two Sides Of Carole King, playing three great summer festivals (Home County, Pelee Island Unplugged and Kingsville Folk Festival), and second incarnation of the Antiques Freakshow among many other great times.

I wrap up the year with my annual FIRESIDE RADIO HOUR - this time two shows on two different stations.  I return tonight to reprise Border City Roots on CJAM 99.1fm in Windsor/Detroit - Tuesday, December 23rd from 6:30 to 8:00pm as I'll be broadcasting from my snow-covered cabin in the woods beside my crackling fire... and tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, I'll have a special pre-taped show on CHRW 94.9fm at 6:00pm.. tune in the whole night on CHRW for a special For The Folk family Christmas Eve where I pop in for a few songs!

And naturally I've got some major plans for 2015 - including a Home Routes House Concert tour through Manitoba, a bluegrass festival in Owen Sound and my long-awaited visit to the East Coast of Canada!  And a new record by next summer - I promise.  The summer and beyond is booking up fast, so if you'd like me to play a house concert, or at a venue in your town please get in touch!

Merry Merry Christmas to you all and hope to see you in 2015!
Allison

Novembering...

What an amazing October... a whirlwind indeed.  Had a blast at the FMO Conference mid-month, a lovely house concert in Toronto, and the second incarnation of The Antiques Freakshow this Halloween weekend... here's a photo courtesy of Wendy Lewis:

Things really slow down gig-wise for November.. focusing on writing songs for the upcoming record, and booking shows for a huge summer and beyond 2015 - hoping for some festivals and possibly a house concert tour!  Hoping to hit the east coast first, so anyone out east interested in a house concert or has any gig tips let me know!
Although - a couple things kicking off November, with a casual acoustic jam at EVAC on Friday November 7th, and special guesting with The Thames River Valley Boys at the Richmond November 8th...

And as always you can tune in every Wednesday at 6pm on CHRW 94.9fm for Southern Ontario Comfort...

Settling in for a cozy fall ...
Allison

October is on the horizon and jam-packed with gigging adventures and the long-awaited return of THE ANTIQUES FREAKSHOW!
I'm also heading up to Toronto for the annual Folk Music Ontario Conference October 16th to the 19th.. only one showcase appearance on Saturday, October 18th at 1:00am in the Babes 4 Breasts Showcase room bringing together songwriters and musicians to fight breast cancer.  You'll hear me in the lobbies and hallways seeking out the coziest, most schmooze-free zones... can't wait to see so many friends all in one place!

October 25th brings me back up to Toronto for a double bill with Karen Morand at O'Hara House Concerts in the heart of Parkdale! Email ohara.house.concerts@gmail.com for reservations and information - will be a great night of songs in the city!

 

Annnd... THURSDAY OCTOBER 30th at the BLACK SHIRE PUB in London it's the Return of The Antiques Freakshow!

Featuring Freakshow Faves: 

Kate & Rich

Allison Brown & Uncle Dan

Chris Crossroads

and new to the Antiques pile The Vaudevillian!

Plus DJ Lost Boy spinning great 80's and 90's authentic deathwave between sets!

Also - "Southern Ontario Comfort" has switched timeslots for the fall season on CHRW 94.9fm... tune in from 6:00pm to 7:00pm Wednesday evenings right after Shakin' Katz Rockabilly Radio and The Blues Never Die!

See you for this full harvest of great music coming up in October!
Allison

... still basking in the glow of three great festival weekends in the heart of Southern Ontario; the brand new Pelee Island Unplugged and Kingsville Folk Festivals, and a great weekend hanging out at the 20th Annual Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic...
But alas summer is winding down and it's time for me to say a fond farewell to my beloved 1998 Jeep Cherokee with a musical extravaganza August 29th at PHOG in Windsor with my good pal Will Gillespie along with more special guests...

Share your stories about your adventures with me and the Jeep on the Facebook Event Page where I'll also be sharing some of my best Jeep photos from tour adventures.

And from here on out, I'm not up to too much aside from working on songs as part of my Ontario Arts Council grant, gearing up for the Folk Music Ontario Conference in October and getting the school year and pledge drive in gear on CHRW... also keep posted as "Southern Ontario Comfort" will be changing time-slots sometime in the next few weeks.  Had some excellent interview features this summer including Fred Eaglesmith, Bill Poss and Royal Wood...

Really a wonderful summer of gigging and festivals... and settling into early autumn...
Cheers
Allison

August In Deep Ontario South

Home County was an amazing success this year as we celebrated 41 years of London's premiere folk-roots event of the year!  Thanks so much to Jedd House, Uncle Dan & Vera Colley for backing me up on the mainstage and to Leah Morise for singing harmonies on the Gospel Stage.  Thanks to the London Free Press for some lovely photos!

August beckons and I'm spending most of it in my deep south Ontario home with TWO FESTIVAL weekends back to back.  Island Unplugged happens on Pelee Island August 2nd and 3rd..!  Fred Eaglesmith, New Country Rehab, Ron Leary, Tara Watts, Harlan Pepper, The Vaudevillian and MORE!  This lineup is amazing folks - get your tickets and your ferry reservation NOW.  Check it out www.theislandunplugged.org ..!  My set is on Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm and I'll be playing at a finale event at the Westie on the Sunday night!

And.... after a week of Pelee Island camping I head to the big KINGSVILLE FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL..!  The lead-up has been over two years in the planning and the folks out in Kingsville have an absolutely spectacular festival for you featuring Bruce Cockburn, David Francey, Valdy, Jane Sibbery and more - my 30 min set is at 2:30 on Saturday and I'll be part of a Beatles Brunch workshop at noon on Sunday.  Me and Uncle Dan will be hanging at the campground jamming at Jack Miner's... check it out!  http://www.kingsvillefolkfest.org

 

Coming up later in August I'll be hanging out at the Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic in Alymer at Springwater Conservation Area.. singing some backups for Carolyn Mark!  August 15th to 17th weekend!

And I wrap up the summer with a gig down at Phog in Windsor celebrating the official retirement of my beloved Jeep Cherokee on Friday, August 29th.  Will Gillespie is on the bill and I'll be joined by many friends, Chris Crossroads, Vera Colley, Scotty Hughes and more!

August will be BIG in Southwestern Ontario - get your tickets for Pelee and Kingsville!

See you there - Allison

 

ONLY EIGHT DAYS TILL HOME COUNTY!!!

Home County Music & Art & Folk Festival is coming up super soon in Victoria Park here in London on July 18th, 19th and 20th! 

I'm kicking off the festival with the first set of the whole weekend at 6:00pm sharp on the Bandshell Mainstage.  Joining me on the Mainstage is Jedd House on upright bass, Vera Colley on accordion and harmony vocals and the ultimately talented Uncle Dan Henshall on mandolin. Stick around for Trent Severn, Jenn Grant and headliners Whitehorse! I'll also be playing as part of the Bluegrass Bonanza tribute to Ken Palmer at 3:00pm on Saturday, leading the Gospel Workshop with Sweet Alibi, The Schotts, Cold Specks and more on Sunday at noon, and Sunday afternoon an all-gals song swap at 4:30.  This Tuesday, July 15th at 7pm on 94.9fm CHRW's Southern Ontario Comfort I'll be interviewing Saturday headliner Ashley MacIsaac! Check out the full mainstage and workshop schedule at:

http://www.homecounty.ca/schedule/

 

 

We Miss You Kenny! Ken Palmer Tribute 3:00pm Saturday July 19th Home County

COMING UP IN AUGUST!

August 2nd and 3rd;

Island Unplugged on Pelee Island - Book your ferry and campsite NOW!  Spots are filling up fast and the lineup is amazing; Ron Leary, Great Lake Swimmers, Fred Eaglesmith, New Country Rehab, Harlan Pepper... whew - I'm on Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm joined by Scotty "Shooz" Hughes on guitar and Uncle Dan on mandolin. Check it out:

http://theislandunplugged.org/

August 8th, 9th and 10th; KINGSVILLE FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Get your tickets and camping for this one NOW too folks - I'm on again 2:30 in the afternoon on Saturday and I'm in a Beatles Brunch with JP Cormier and more on Sunday!

Be there or be square - seriously - Bruce Cockburn is playing.

http://www.kingsvillefolkfest.org/Kingsville_Folk_Fest/HOME.html

 

And - I'll be singing some harmony with Carolyn Mark at this year's Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic on August 16th weekend in Aylmer and wrapping up the summer on August 29th with a show at Phog commemorating the official retirement of my beloved Jeep Cherokee.

See you out festivalling!!!
Allison

As of today we have only 33 days left until the Home County Music, Art (and Folk) Festival happening July 18th to 20th in Victoria Park in the heart of downtown London!  So excited to be part of a fantastic lineup; and honoured to be kicking off the festival with the first set on Friday, July 18th at 6:00pm.   Super excited!

Stay tuned to CHRW 94.9fm on Tuesday nights from 7:00pm to 8:30 on "Southern Ontario Comfort" for Home County features, live performances and interviews leading up to the festival weekend..!

Before July rolls around I'm part of a special double bill Saturday, June 28th at the House Of Harmony house concert series in Fingal... with Shawna Caspi! Email fingalfolk@gmail.com to reserve your spot and for location infomation.

 

Keep your eyes on August as there's tons cookin' for a whirlwind month of gigging - Island Unplugged on Pelee Island August 1st to 3rd, and Kingsville Folk Festival on August 8th -10th.  Get your tickets for both in advance!

Check out this sweet video featuring all the performers heading to Kingsville this August:

 

Lots on the go - see you at all these amazing summer festivals!
Allison

May turns into June soon - and I'll be in beautiful VICTORIA as the calendar turns..!  So excited to be back out west and in one of my favourite places, Vancouver Island.  I'm in Victoria from May 30th to June 9th for the National Campus Radio Conference presented by CFUV 101.9fm.  And - I'm doing two Victoria shows while I'm there and plan on making appearances at the Victoria Folk Society open stage and the infamous Hootenany at Logans. 

Saturday, May 31st I'm at Merlin's Sun Home Concerts with my pals Kaya Fraser and The Blackwood Two!  **advance reservations required**
Suggested $15.00, doors at 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm email timgosley@telus.net or phone (250)598-7488 for reservations and location information 

And the following weekend on Friday, June 6th, The Blackwood Two and I are doing a double bill concert at Solstice Cafe in downtown Victoria presented by CFUV, the NCRC and CHRW. 

And just a reminder that my radio show "Southern Ontario Comfort" is now on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:30pm on CHRW Radio 94.9fm in London - you can stream it online at www.chrwradio.ca and download podcasts of the previous two shows.  Tune in for tons of interviews, special guests and features leading up to summer festivals!

Coming up Friday, June 20th I'll be hosting a patio-concert featuring my pal Ian Foster from Newfoundland... it'll be a cozy night on the rooftop so only 20 seats are available. Email me if you'd like to attend. And on Saturday, June 28th I'll be performing in Fingal at the House Of Harmony house concert series in a double bill with Shawna Caspi - if you'd like a ticket, get in touch and I'll send you the info.

And of course HOME COUNTY is coming up July 18th, 19th and 20th - my set starts the whole show on Friday evening! 

See you in Victoria!
Allison

.. May is on the horizon..got four May shows in the works; at EVAC with Chris Crossroads, and two shows in VICTORIA, BC while I'm there for the National Campus Radio Conference. And - a song of mine and Uncle Dan's was featured in a short film! Check it out here:
Ingelbert Lievaart II: Model Railroad Town from Graeme Bachiu on Vimeo.
and you can download the full song "Model Railroad Town" for only a Toonie! May 1st at EVAC (East Village Arts Collective) Uncle Dan and I join up with the infamous CHRIS CROSSROADS for a performance experience like none other - check it out!

 

Saturday, May 10th I head up the road to Kitchener for a show at Cafe Pyrus with Uncle Dan and Josh Penslar..!  Haven't been up to Kitchener for a while -looking forward to being back! 

And... really excited about heading out to Victoria for TWO SHOWS, and a couple of appearances at some open stages while I'm around for the National Campus Radio Conference.  May 31st I'm at Merlin's Sun House Concert with Kaya Fraser and The Blackwood Two, (timgosley@telus.net for reservations and location information) and the following weekend I re-unite with The Blackwood Two for a show at Solstice Cafe as part of the conference programming - thanks to the fine folks at CFUV for helping us out with this acoustic, all-ages show downtown Victoria!

"Southern Ontario Comfort" has changed timeslots for the summer - you can now tune in CHRW 94.9fm at 7:00pm on Tuesday evenings for the smallest names in the roots folk scene.  "Underground Currents" will return in the fall! 

Lots cookin' as we head towards summer !

Allison

April arrives and spring is finally here in London... springing with tons of gigs and news that's for sure!
Saturday, April 5th brings me to the 'prestigious' St Regis Tavern for Musical Chairs! along with my good pals Uncle Dan Henshall and Will Gillespie for some songs in the round.  We haven't played all together in a while - so excited for this 'reunion'..!  Starts about 9:00, Pay What You Can and yes, there will be a baked goods raffle (if all goes well, ginger cookies baked by me!)

 

Next up we make your Good Friday a little bad in the goodest of ways down in Windsor at Villains Beastro.. Friday, April 18th I take the stage again along with Will Gillespie, Uncle Dan and Vera Colley.. starts about 10pm, Pay What You Can

 

April 24th I'm back for my second time at Call The Office with Uncle Dan opening up for Black N' Bluegrass and the Slocan Ramblers, $5 dollars in advance $7 at the door, starts about 9 or so... Robocop loves Bluegrass so be sure and stop by.

 I'm also thrilled to report I've been awarded a songwriting grant from the Ontario Arts Council's Popular Music program... so yes, that means there will be new songs this year.  Lots of songs.  Way more than ever before.

Thanks OAC!

 

And yep - summer is exploding with festivals; Home County in London, Island Unplugged on Pelee Island and the very first Kingsville Folk Festival in Kingsville - more dates to be announced!

Talk about a springboard into the hot part of the year... see you out there!

Allison

 

Marching on...

The snow is still falling outside my window here in London, but springtime is on the horizon as we slide into March... Played some really fun shows through February at Villains down in Windsor, and at the St.Regis and EVAC in London... cooking up lots of great gigs across Ontario for the spring and summer.

Things have been going well at my new job at CHRW Radio 94.9fm where I've been learning the ropes in my new role as Program Director.  And - happy to announce a new roots/folk program I'm hosting Friday afternoons at 12:30... "Southern Ontario Comfort" hit the airwaves February 21st and will bring you the best in roots music every week, so tune in at 94.9fm in London, or online at www.chrwradio.ca.

I'm really thrilled about being part of a tribute concert to the music of CAROLE KING at HUGH's ROOM in Toronto!!  Presented by award winning artist and presenter Michael Wrycraft, "Two Sides Of Carole King" reflects Ms. King's early compositions, as well as her beloved album "Tapestry".  I get two numbers plus joining up with everyone for the finale - will be a fantastic show and a stellar lineup including Treasa Lavasseur, Jory Nash, Kim Beggs, Graydon James and more..!

And - the next night I join up with Shawna Caspi, Vera Colley, and new mama Nancy Dutra for a song-swap at the Tranzac March 15th at 7:30pm... c'mon by and check it out..!

Wednesday night of that week on March 19th I'm helping kick off the Lineup Launch for this year's HOME COUNTY (Folk) Music and Art Festival..! The big reveal happens at the London Music Club and I'll be opening for Doghouse Rose; "Uncle" Dan joins up on mandolin!

Here's a fun video of Me and Dan from the St. Regis taken by Dennis Siren... enjoy!
Allison

2013 was an amazing year of gigging and adventures - more on the horizon for 2014.. lots of news for the new year!

I'm moving back up to London to take on the role of Program Director at CHRW Radio 94.9fm broadcasting on campus at Western University...!  I'll miss Windsor but certainly London feels like home too, great to be back and with such an exciting job ahead of me helping shape the CHRW airwaves and working with all the fantastic volunteers.  Be sure to tune in!

But bittersweetly, the move up to London ends my Jammy-Award winning program "Border City Roots" on CJAM, you can still download some show podcasts including the Fireside Christmas Radio Hour and my show finale featuring my top ten albums of the year on www.cjam.ca.
Plans are in the works to perhaps return to co-host CHRW's "For The Folk" or perhaps a new adventure in radio that may be syndicated to CJAM... I'll keep you posted here on www.allisonbrown.ca.

Also new for January launched Volume 3 of the Walkerville Mix Tape!  Really thrilled to have my song "All Our Emergencies" , inspired by the Grace Hospital site, as the lead track of this compilation album of all Windsor artists - you can download the full comp at http://betruewindsor.com/

Got a few shows cookin' in the next while - coming up, a Birthday return to Windsor with a show featuring my traveling pals Brendan J Stephens & Willow Walker otherwise known as "The Vaudevillian"- you've seen the stickers, you heard them busking on Ouelette this summer and dropping in on some open stages... now hear them in a real ruckus show at Villians Beastro on Friday, February 7th - I'll be opening the show along with some surprise special guests!

original poster concept by Minnie Heart

On the horizon - I'll be up in Toronto for a really special show at Hugh's Room as part of A Man Called Wrycraft's tribute concert to the music of Carole King...!  I'll have some guests joining me for my two songs showcasing Carole King's "Brill Building" years as well as a classic song from "Tapestry" - March 14th!  And on the 15th, I'll be hosting another stellar songster showcase at the Tranzac.

Stay tuned here for more updates... 2014 is off to an amazing start!
Allison