Snow is gently falling outside my window here at the homestead... putting together my playlist for my annual Border City Roots "Fireside" Christmas Radio Hour coming up on Wednesday, December 23rd beginning at 9:00am on CJAM 99.1fm in Windsor/Detroit... I'll be bringing all the radio gear up to my snow-covered cabin in a secret location in the woods to bring you a 90-minute hour of heartwarming Christmas classics beside a crackling fire.  Stream it live or download the podcast at www.cjam.ca!

"Stitches And Incisions" is now available on I-Tunes!  Check it out:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stitches-and-incisions-ep/id1062879620

Thanks so much again to everyone who helped me and Dan out on our travels this year, I played over 71 gigs in 2015! - stay tuned for many more in 2016 and if you'd like me to play live in your town be sure to get in touch!

Merry Christmas!
Allison

Back at the homestead...

Snow is softly falling outside my window here at the ol' homestead near Windsor... resting up and going into a bit of hibernation mode until the springtime... got one more gig to round out the year at The London Music Club for Home County's Home Grown Fundraiser on November 29th! Support Home County with an afternoon of music including The Rizdales, Thames River Valley Boys, myself and more! Doors at 2, show starts at 3pm, $12 in advance at Grooves and the LMC or $15.00 at the door.  Also featuring a silent auction - bring your Christmas list!  Also, Stitches and Incisions will be for sale at the show and more copies are available at Grooves in London, and Dr.Disc in Windsor!

"Border City Roots" is returning to the Windsor/Detroit airwaves on CJAM 99.1fm!  My new timeslot is bright and early Wednesday mornings at 9:00am to 10:30am starting on December 2nd...! Stay tuned for more updates on interviews and features, and my annual 'Fireside' Christmas Radio Hour!  Not in Windsor/Detroit? - tune in on www.cjam.ca.

Huge thank yous to the many, many folks who hosted Uncle Dan and myself along our epic tour.. made so many new friends and reconnected with a lot of my old pals.  Without your help, hospitality and generosity a tour like this would not have been possible - thank you!  Starting to work on booking festivals and touring for summer 2016, so get in touch if you'd like me to perform live in your area!

Easing into winter...
Allison

Day 82 - The Road Home

Arden Manitoba

Waking up this morning in lovely Altona, Manitoba after wrapping up our amazing Home Routes Tour through this beautiful prairie province!  10 great shows in Gimli, Whitemouth, Kenora, Winnipeg, Arden, Inglis, Rossburn, Killarney, Holland and Altona.. with a short side trip to MacNutt Saskatchewan to round out seven provinces and five time zones since leaving Southern Ontario in August!  

The road finally brings us home soon; we've got two more shows in SUDBURY before we wind things down!!!

Thursday NOVEMBER 5th - Sunset Sessions at The Townehouse

Dinner show from 5:30 to 8:30 - no cover!

Friday, NOVEMBER 6th - Fromagerie Elgin

8pm, PWYC

Here's a couple of photos from our adventures in Manitoba (and Sask!)

Allison

Merle arrives in Winnipeg

Gimli's Giant Viking

Perfect Place for a House Concert - Kenora

Naturally - a side trip to Saskatchewan

Farms Near Holland MB

Day 70 - Home Routes Manitoba!

Great times across one of our favourite places in the world - Northern Ontario!  And a few days of rest in Winnipeg before we head out on our Home Routes Tour through Manitoba (and Kenora)!  You need to make a RESERVATION for these concerts; click the link before the date and you'll save your seat as well as get important location information and details... and of course below our upcoming show dates you'll see some photo highlights from Northern Ontario!


Friday, October 16th - GIMLI / HNUSA
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/hnausa-2/

Saturday, October 17th - WHITEMOUTH
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/whitemouth-2/

Sunday, October 18th - KENORA
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/culloden-lake-2/

Tuesday, October 20th - WINNIPEG
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/winnnipeg/

Wednesday, October 21st - ARDEN
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/arden-2/

Thursday, October 22nd - INGLIS
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/inglis/

Friday, October 23rd - ROSSBURN
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/rossburn-2/

Saturday, October 24th - KILLARNEY
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/killarney-2/

Sunday, October 25th - HOLLAND
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/holland-2/

Monday, October 26th - ALTONA
http://homeroutes.ca/concerts/altona-2/

More information at www.homeroutes.ca !

Adventures in Northern Ontario:

Dan Takes On Algonquin Park 

Wawa Goose

Naturally Superior - Rock Island Lodge

Red Rock in The Autumn! 

Day 46: Onwards To Northern Ontario!

Signal Hill - St,John's Newfoundland

Beautiful and breathtaking times here in St.John's Newfoundland... the rock is really as spectacular as they say and the music scene here is incredible.. 6 great gigs in St John's and the surrounding area including Fred's Records where you can pick up a copy of "Stitches And Incisions" and an elusive copy of "Viper At The Virgin's Feet"... one of only a few left in circulation!
From here we have a few days off before we head to Northern Ontario!  We're really excited to be part of this year's Sudbury Oktoberfest in Bell Park on Friday, October 2nd.. and to heading north across Lake Superior for a string of shows before our Home Routes tour in Manitoba.
Here's where we'll be in the next couple weeks - Northern Ontario here we come!

Friday, September 25th - Montreal
Private House Show at Breadwinner's Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/events/929411727140114/

Saturday, September 26th - Eganville
Bonnechere Union Public Library
7:00pm $5.00 suggested donation
www.bonnechereupl.com

Wednesday, September 30th - Barrie
Seniors Residence, Private Event

Friday, October 2nd - Sudbury
Oktoberfest in Bell Park!
8Pm Set on the Bell Park Stage
then later.. 11pm at The Townehouse!
http://www.oktoberfest.nlfb.ca/

Saturday, October 3rd - Sault Ste Marie
Cafe Natura
2:30pm, $5.00 or PWYC
www.cafenatura.ca

Saturday, October 3rd - Sault Ste Marie
House Concert
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
$15.00
Phone: 705.256.2908
david.zub@bellnet
Please contact to reserve your place.
seating is limited to 25.

Sunday, October 4th - Wawa
Naturally Superior Adventures
7:30pm, $10.00
www.naturallysuperior.com

Tuesday, October 6th - Rossport
Serendipity Cafe & Gardens
$10.00 suggested donation
8:00pm
www.serendipitygardens.ca

Wednesday, October 7th - Red Rock
Salls Street House Concerts
8:00pm, $15.00
Reservations at oldschoolmusiclessons@gmail.com

Friday, October 9th - Thunder Bay
Red Lion Smokehouse
9:00pm - Free!
www.redlionsmokehouse.ca

HOME ROUTES TOUR - Manitoba - October 16th to 26th
http://homeroutes.ca/artists/allison-brown-uncle-dan-henshall/

Tuesday, November 3rd - Wabigoon
Green Achers & Pappy's Cafe
8:00pm, $10 or PWYC
www.gaow.ca

Thursday, November 5th - Sudbury
The Townehouse
Dinner Show 5:30pm
www.thetownehouse.com

Friday, November 6th - Sudbury
Fromagerie Elgin
8:00pm PWYC
www.fromagerieelgin.ca

and of course a couple of photos from our recent adventures!

Stopped By The Hank Snow Museum!

Pouch Cove Nfld

Middle Cove NLFD

Cape Spear NFLD 

Day 37: Nova Scotia and Newfoundland!

Greetings from the Union Street Cafe upstairs here in Berwick NS, been having some amazing times here on the East Coast, getting a chance to do a bit of swimming, hiking and resting among a wild string of gigs..!  We have a few more mainland shows before we hit Newfoundland this week for Folk Night at The Ship, two house concerts, a coffeehouse and bar gig and Fred's Records!  Below are a couple photo highlights from our adventures!

Lockeport - Saturday, September 12th - Lockeport Campground And Cottages
with Manitoba Hal!$6.00
7:30pm
http://www.lockeportcottages.ns.ca/

Halifax - Saturday,September 13th - Just Us! Cafe
4:00pm afternoon show, PWYC
5896 Spring Garden Rd
www.justuscoffee.com

NEWFOUNDLAND

St.John's - Tuesday, September 15th - Second Cup
with Port Of Call
8:30 to 11pm
9 Stavanger Drive

St.John's - Wednesday, September 16th - Folk Night at The Ship
$5.00, 9:00pm Open Stage
265 Duckworth Street
https://www.facebook.com/events/467779550064496/?ref=1
http://www.nlfolk.com/folknight.html

St.John's - Thursday, September 17th - The Bull And Barrel
with Jerry Stamp
starts at MIDNIGHT!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bull-and-Barrel/160806670638880

St. John's - Friday, September 18th - House Concert
8:00pm, PWYC suggested $10.00
For info and reservations contact Josh josh.smee@gmail.com

Pouch Cove - Saturday, September 19th - Points East Guesthouse
8:00pm, $20.00, for information and reservations contact Elke
edettmer@nf.sympatico.ca, (709) 335 8315

St.John's - Sept 20th - Fred's Records
1:00pm Afternoon Show - Free!
198 Duckworth St.
www.fredsrecords.com

Saint John NB Waterfront

Fredericton Walking Bridge

Dan Chills Out in Style At the Hollywood Star Room

Harper Don't Mess With Moncton!

Tomato Season !!

Crescent Beach NS

Day 20: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia!

Had some great days in Ottawa and Montreal wrapping up PART ONE of our tour, here on Day 20 waking up in rural Quebec enroute to Saint John, New Brunswick tonight... meeting up with old friends, making connections with new ones, shared the stage with some truly talented folks, had a few jams and great gigs in Ottawa and Montreal!  Lots on deck for the next few weeks as we hit Saint John, Fredericton, Ripples, Moncton, Wolfville and Halifax before touring through the south coast of Nova Scotia and off to Newfoundland!  You can follow our adventures on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/506610346154715/

Here's the full list of dates:
St.John - Thursday, August 27th - Pub Down Under
7pm, PWYC
400 Main St
www.facebook.com/PubDownUnder

Fredericton - Friday, August 28th - Grimross Tap Room
8:30 to 10:30pm, PWYC
600 Bishop Dr.
www.grimross.com

Fredericton - Saturday, August 29th - Ringo's Bar & Grill
7pm to 9pm No Cover!
1185 Smythe St
www.facebook.com/pages/Ringos-Bar-Grill/589863517800851

Ripples - Sunday, August 30th - Hollywood Star Room
4:00pm afternoon show
$10.00 for info call 506-357-8304
1560 route 690 Clarks Corners
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hollywood-STAR-ROOM/590379917668064

Moncton - Tuesday, September 1st - Plan B
9:00pm, PWYC $5 Suggested
212 St. George Street
http://planbmoncton.com/

Wolfville - Wednesday, September 2nd - Wolfville Farmer's Market
5pm to 7pm, PWYC
24 Elm Ave
www.wolfvillefarmersmarket.ca

Halifax - Thursday, September 3rd - Taz Records
Free concert at Taz Records!
5:00pm
1521 Grafton St
www.tazrecords.com

Halifax - Thursday, September 3rd - The Nook
doors 7:30pm, show at 8:00pm $5.00 or PWYC
2118 Gottingen St
www.thenookhfx.ca

Halifax - Friday, September 4th - Company House
with Dave Fultz
8:30pm, $5.00
part of the Halifax Urban Folk Festival..!
halifaxurbanfolkfestival.com
http://www.thecompanyhouse.ca/

Halifax - Saturday, September 5th - The Center
8:00pm, $10.00 or PWYC
with John Muller! http://johnmuller.is/
2616 Windsor Street
www.facebook.com/TheCenterHalifax?fref=ts

Halifax - Monday, September 7th - Open Mic House
Everyone welcome - free!
2539 Agricola, and sign up starts at 9pm

and of course a few photos from the last round of adventures!

Dan takes the stage at the Courcelle Pub Open Mic - Montreal

Montreal - Canal

First Poutine of the Tour in Rural Quebec

Naturally a shot of the Parliament Buildings

Turns out an unsigned painting from our pal Shaela (who did my album art) was hanging on the walls of an Ottawa house concert!

Ottawa, Montreal and Maritime-Bound!

The first twelve days of our 95 day tour were fantastic..!  Great shows in Hamilton with Will Gillespie and Orange and Deeps, at the Mantis Eco Fest in London, the Cornerstone in Guelph and three shows in Toronto not including a stop at the Not My Dog open mic night.  Then off to Peterborough where we shared the show with the amazing Griddle Pickers, great times in Perth with a side-stop to check out Westport's music festival, and a truly excellent venue in Kemptville; The Branch where the food does live up to all the hype!

We head to Ottawa today; and we have four shows there before heading out to Montreal and New Brunswick to roll out the month of August before a whole month of shows on the East Coast in September!  Here's all the info on the upcoming dates:

Ottawa ~ Wednesday, August 19th ~ Dinner & Song
6:30pm - reservations!
westborohouseconcerts@gmail.com or 613-323-1782
Suggested donation: $10.00
Bring a dish to share.
https://www.facebook.com/events/416499005201280/

Ottawa ~ Thursday, August 20th ~ Avant Garde
7:00pm PWYC
135 ½ Besserer Street
http://www.avantgardebar.com/

Ottawa ~ Friday, August 21st ~ Pressed
With Ali McCormick & David DaCosta
8:00pm, $5-$10 at the door
750 Gladstone
http://pressed-ottawa.com/

Ottawa ~ Saturday, August 22nd ~ House Concert
$20.00 Reservations contact Laura at leeveegee@gmail.com

Montreal ~ Monday, August 24th ~ Barfly
10:00pm, PWYC
4062 Boul St-Laurent
https://www.facebook.com/BarflyMtl

and the full details are on our Facebook event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1591859664434764/

And so it begins... 

Here's a couple of photo highlights from the first 12 days - hard to believe PART II: The East Coast is right around the corner!

A tiny cardboard version of The Wick! Spotted on Queen West in Toronto

Didn't want to put Dan's fun pants in the dryer

Spill In Peterborough

Here's Dan inside the bucket; scenic Perth construction

Mysterious Military Bunker Site - at the swamp

The Branch in Kemptville with Merle out front

Hamilton, London, Guelph, Toronto, Peterborough, Perth and Kemptville!

Lovely times at Shangrila Yoga this week, officially launching "Stitches And Incisions" in a beautiful outdoor venue... CDs are now for sale at Grooves in London, and Dr.Disc in Windsor.  So glad to be hearing the tracks from "Stitches" on CBC Radio as well as campus stations, and getting excellent reviews!  This week "Stitches And Incisions" made it to number #2 on CJAM's weekly chart!
Getting ready to start up the first leg of the tour with shows in Hamilton, London, Guelph, Toronto, Peterborough, Perth and Kemptville!

Follow the whole Part One of the Tour on Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1591859664434764/

Hamilton ~ Friday, August 7th ~ Homegrown Hamilton
With Will Gillespie
7:00pm to 9:00pm
$6.00 at the door
27 King William Street
http://www.homegrownhamilton.com/

London ~ Saturday, August 8th ~Mantis Eco Festival
4pm set as part of a whole lineup of music!
10 -6pm, Boler Mountain
https://www.facebook.com/events/964163123605763/

Guelph ~ Saturday, August 8th ~ The Cornerstone
9:00pm, PWYC
1 Wyndham Street N.
https://www.facebook.com/thecornerstoneguelph

Toronto ~ Sunday, August 9th ~ The Tranzac
Southern Cross Room
7:30pm to 9:30pm
PWYC
292 Brunswick Ave
www.tranzac.org

Toronto ~ Tuesday, August 11th ~ The Local
With Will Gillespie!
9:00pm PWYC
396 Roncesvalles
www.thelocalpub.ca

Toronto ~ Wednesday, August 12th ~ Artist’s Garden Co-Op House Concert
7:30pm, $10.00 Tickets at https://eventbrite.ca/event/17276598772/
345 Balliol St.
www.artistsgardencoop.com

Peterborough ~ Thursday, August 13th ~ The Spill
With The Griddle Pickers
9:00pm, $5.00 or PWYC
414 George Street
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spill

Perth ~ Friday, August 14th ~ Golden Arrow Pub
9:00pm – Free Show
71 Foster Street
www.goldenarrowpub.com

Kemptville ~ Saturday, August 15th ~ The Branch
Dinner reservations encouraged
9:00pm $5.00
15 Clothier St. E.
www.thebranchrestaurant.ca

See you there!!
Allison

Stitches And Incisions

Join me for an intimate summer sunset concert celebrating the release of my newest recording, “Stitches And Incisions”, in a beautiful screened tent tucked into the trees at Shangrila Yoga on SATURDAY, AUGUST 1st.  Yoga chairs, prayer benches and pillows available, bring a camp chair if you like. Snacks and refreshments provided, this is an all-ages, alcohol-free event.  Guests are asked to remove footwear to honor and protect the yoga surface at this beautiful alternative music venue.  Tickets are $12.00 in advance at Grooves Records, The VillageIdiot and at Shangrila Yoga.  Doors open at 7:30, show starts at 8:00pm.  Parking available on the street or in the Westside parking lot. 

“Stitches And Incisions” will be for sale on CD for $10.00 cash at the concert, along with a brand new release from Uncle Dan Henshall who will be opening the show.  “Stitches And Incisions” features four songs that previously appeared on the“Secret Identity” EP, those holding blue coupons included with the EP will get three dollars off the new CD.  You can preview the whole album on Bandcamp at https://allisonbrown.bandcamp.com/ or right here on allisonbrown.ca, where you can also purchase a digital version.  

 The Shangrila concert is the second official tour date as Uncle Dan and I hit the highway for over 90 days!  The first leg of the tour takes us from Windsor to Montreal!  The first show is at PHOG on July 30th!  Full details are on the 'shows' page!

Windsor - Thursday, July 30th - Phog

London - Saturday, August 1st - Shangrila Yoga

Hamilton - Friday, August 7th - Homegrown Hamilton

Guelph - Saturday, August 8th - Cornerstone

Toronto - Sunday, August 9th - Tranzac

Toronto - Tuesday, August 11th - The Local

Toronto - Wednesday, August 12th - Artists' Garden House Concert

Peterborough - Thursday, August 13th - The Spill

Perth - Friday, August 14th - Golden Arrow Pub

Kemptville - Saturday, August 15th - The Branch

Ottawa - Thursday, August 20th - Avant Garde

Ottawa - Friday, August 21st - Pressed 

Ottawa - Saturday, August 22nd - House Concert

Montreal - Monday, August 24th - Barfly

Part two of the tour brings us to the East Coast and Newfoundland, Part Three takes us across Northern Ontario and Part Four is our Home Routes tour through Manitoba!

I'm also hosting a free "How To Tour Workshop" on Thursday, July 23rd at London Fuse (402 1/2 Richmond Street Upstairs) from 7 to 9pm... a casual hangout and info sharing session followed by a jam! 

Hope to see you at Phog, Shangrila and along the highway up to Montreal as we embark in August!

Allison

So here's what's happening...

... lots happening.  Lots.  Just wrapped up some great sessions at the House Of Miracles studio and getting ready to release my third record "Stitches And Incisions" in August before heading out on a three month tour with Uncle Dan Henshall to Canada's East (including Newfoundland), Northern Ontario and a Home Routes tour across Manitoba.  Only six or so weeks left before I move into the van!

June and July bring a few shows my way as I get things ready for the big tour.
Saturday, June 27th I'm playing an artist + audience House Concert in Walkerville, with Jedd and Uncle Dan!

And on Saturday, July 4th I'll be doing a trio show with Dan and Jedd at the cool Cherryhill Library here in London. Free!  2:00pm to 4:30!

And next up I'm back in Windsor again on Friday, July 10th for a one-hour solo set at Taloola... unplugged, 8pm, Pay What You Can!

Stay tuned for this year's tour fundraiser and how you can help me and Dan on our big tour, and for details on a CD Release Concert happening in London on Saturday, August 1st at Shangrila Yoga!  It's time to get out your BLUE COUPONS that were included in the Secret Identity EP - you'll get $3 off the new album!

And don't forget that you can order your Allison Brown T-Shirt or Tank Top anytime - I can do custom orders and can print my design on other things like bandanas, tote bags, hankerchiefs... 

See you in the sunshine!

Allison

June tunes...

Had a great string of shows in Kitchener, Toronto and Hamilton and right here in London last night at Call The Office.. great times.  Things slow down a bit gig-wise in June as I slip back into the House Of Miracles recording studio to get some new tracks down before Uncle Dan & I hit the road in August on our long tour out to the East Coast, Northern Ontario, and our Home Routes tour in Manitoba.  We're still looking for concerts in all those areas, so if you'd like to host us, give me a shout!
   I'm hosting a Rooftop House Concert with Jory Nash on Friday, June 26th.. limited seating is available, so if you'd like to attend please email me at allisoncbrown@yahoo.com.  I'll be doing a short opening set to kick things off.

 

And the next evening on Saturday, June 27th,  I head  down to Windsor for a audience + artists House Concert in the heart of Walkerville along with Uncle Dan and Jedd!  To reserve your spot for that one, get in touch with Benjamin at hibouorange@yahoo.ca or send him a text at 519-965-7872. 

This year's edition of Allison Brown T-Shirts and Tank Tops will be ready at the end of June - you can pre-order yours anytime!  This year I may try and find some other colours like dark brown or navy blue.. if you'd like a custom shirt get in touch and I can make one up special for you - they're all hand-screened by me!  Here's another famous person (Shawna Caspi) wearing one of my shirts!

Looking forward to more adventures and hope to see you in London and Windsor in June, stay tuned for new tunes soon!

Allison

May Shows Coming Up!

April is speeding through and in a few weeks I'll be leaving my post as Program Director at CHRW 94.9fm here in London to look ahead at summer and fall touring!  I'll still be continuing my weekly program "Southern Ontario Comfort" at 6pm on Wednesdays - so keep tuning in for some exciting guests and features until August when I hit the big highway out to the East Coast, Northern Ontario and Manitoba.

Once again, I've booked a string of shows right smack dab in what will probably be the last round of the hockey playoffs... Dan and I are playing four Mid-May-Mid-Ontario Shows!  May 20th at the Boathouse in Kitchener (with Jedd on Bass!), May 21st in Toronto at The Central with Will Gillespie and Myke Mazzei, and May 22nd in Hamilton at Homegrown Hamilton also with Will Gillespie.  And we wrap up May with a show at Call The Office with Rodney DeCroo and Great Aunt Ida on May 30th! 

I'm adding show dates like crazy these days - check out the full list right here on allisonbrown.ca, I'm doing a special rooftop House Concert with Jory Nash, a House Concert in Windsor's beautiful Walkerville, a concert at Cherryhill Library here in London and another stop at Taloola, and sealing up July with a show at Phog!  Check it out!  I'm also taking some of the early part of summer to get crackin' on recording more tracks for the album project.

See you guys at these fantastic May shows!
Allison