....2016 seems like it went by at lightning speed; some highlights... filming the video for Radiohead's "How To Disappear Completely", my epic drive and adventures down to Austin, Texas in April, filming the video for "Scavengers" in May, the Brandon Folk Festival in July, playing some fun shows with Karen Morand at the Pelee Island Winery, guesting at the Kingsville Folk Festival, filming the video for "Invisible Line" and my two October concerts with the Assembly Line at the Bank Theatre in Leamington and at The Kordazone Theatre in Windsor!
Snow Covered Cabin in The Woods
I've got my firewood all chopped and my cross-country skis waxed up as I head up to my snow-covered cabin in the woods (in a secret location) to bring you my annual "Border City Roots" Fireside Christmas Radio Hour! This year, I'll be broadcasting by the fireside at a special day and time on Wednesday, December 21st from 9:00am to 10:30am on CJAM 99.1fm in Windsor and Detroit or on www.cjam.ca from anywhere in the world - including the North Pole! I may have a surprise special guest, some special themes, and requests!
Wrapping up the gigging year with Lonesome Lefty's Holiday Homecoming on December 23rd at the Bridge House in Kingsville - cm'on out to the county for some down-home songs to celebrate the season...!
On the 2017 Horizon - I'll be heading out west to Vancouver Island aboard VIA Rail as part of the On Board Entertainment program this March..! I'll be on the Island through March and parts of April and I'm currently booking some shows, so if there's anywhere you think I should do a concert, or if you'd like to host a house concert just get in touch - allisoncbrown@yahoo.com!
Merry Christmas everyone...!!!
Allison
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
November is rolling through to December and the festive season is on the horizon... just a quick update about some end of the year shows coming up! Tuesday, November 29th I join Ron Leary as his Tuesday night guest at The Beer Exchange, playing some dustier songs from the back corners of my repertoire, and I'll be playing a feature concert at the Sho Gallery as part of the On Roots concert series on Sunday, December 4th beginning at 2:00pm.
I'm joined by Vera Colley on accordion and harmony, tickets are $20.00 at the door and you can make your reservation at 226-787-5862. 628 Monmouth Rd in Walkerville!
I'm wrapping up my 2016 gigging adventures with a special Holiday Homecoming show with Lonesome Lefty, Kenneth McLeod & Friends in Kingsville at the Bridge House on December 23rd.
And here's another great new video of solo songs from the fine folks at the Sunparlour Coffeehouse Sessions, hosted by Jan Hall - watch for it on Cogeco TV!
Don't forget that music makes a great gift! I still have limited edition art posters, T-Shirts and Tank Tops and of course, copies of Stitches And Incisions if you'd like to give a great gift this holiday season, get in touch at allisoncbrown@yahoo.com and place your order. Only 50 copies of Stitches and Incisions are left - check out the Merch Page!
Stitches & Incisions - Only 50 Left!
Hope to see you all as we roll into the holiday season - stay tuned for info on this year's "Fireside Christmas Radio Hour" coming soon!
Allison
Monday, November 7, 2016
... the wait is finally over and I'm excited about the launch of my newest video added to my Youtube Channel ! Invisible Line was directed, filmed and recorded live by Ian Fosteron Windsor's waterfront, just below the Ambassador Bridge on August 30th...
Find it here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDltam12WJc
Huge thanks to Ashley Regnier from POP Hair Gallery for doing my hair that day, and to Mike Borgeault for lending us the camera, and to Karen Morand for hosting Ian during his stay in Windsor on tour from Newfoundland...! Hope you enjoy and be sure to subscribe to my Youtube Channel - still on my way to reach my goal of 100 subscribers!
November brings a few shows my way - backing up Vera Colley on Friday, November 18th at Rino's Kitchen for a dinner show beginning at 7:00pm, and joining up with Ron Leary as his Tuesday night special guest on November 29th at The Beer Exchange! December 4th I'll be doing an afternoon concert with the Sho Gallery as part of their On Roots Series, and teaming up with Lonesome Lefty and Kenneth McLeod for a Holiday Homecoming show at The Bridge House in Kingsville on December 23rd... and mark your calendars for the annual Border City Roots 'fireside' Christmas hour on December 22nd on CJAM 99.1fm at 10:30am.
And as the season changes I'm heading into 'hibernation' mode planning and booking shows for the 2017 festival and concert season - if you'd like me to play live in your area, or if you have venue or festival suggestions be sure to send them my way..!
Enjoy the video !!
Allison
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Still feeling the love from the concert weekend in Leamington and Windsor - thanks so much to all of you for coming out to the shows, and being part of two truly excellent nights of music! And to the Assembly Line; Jedd House on Upright Bass, Vera Colley on Accordion & Vocals and of course the always effervescent Uncle Dan Henshall on Mandolin... and our special guest Lonesome Lefty Mike Houston. Stay tuned for when the next Assembly Line show comes together!
Allison Brown & The Assembly Line at The Kordazone Theatre - Photo By Johnny G
String Bone at Revival House ~ Stratford
Had a few more things cookin' in late October; had a chance to join up on background vocals with String Bone for the release of "Love & Highways" at Revival House in Stratford!
I still have prints of the limited edition art posters done by Jodi Green available for sale - they're also on display at Artspeak Gallery as part of the Up The Mesh Count - A Show! Exhibit running until October 30th - check it out!
CJAM Pledge Drive starts this week! Be sure to tune in to the "Border City Roots" PLEDGE DRIVE special on Thursday, November 3rd! I'll also be popping in on the CJAM airwaves throughout the week as a co-host on some other programs so be sure to tune into 99.1fm all week long and be part of the Pledge Drive fun. You can show your love for CJAM at https://grouprev.com/cjamfm or at the top right corner of www.cjam.ca.
Thanks again to you all for making the concert weekend so special - and stay tuned for videos from our night at The Kordazone Theatre, also coming soon, the video for Invisible Line filmed by Ian Foster!
Happy Autumn and see you soon!
Allison
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
THIS WEEKEND..!! The big days are right on the horizon this weekend for two fantastic concerts at The Bank Theatre in Leamington and the Kordazone Theatre in Windsor..! You can still get tickets online in advance up until noon each of the concert days:
or at Dr.Disc, Nancy Johns Gallery or Levigator Press
A reminder that it's CASH ONLY, $15.00 at the door for each concert. Don't take a chance, get your tickets in advance! One of the TOP TEN reasons to get your tickets ahead of time!
Don't forget another blue and purple for some limited edition merch items available for sale at the concert (cash only), Limited Edition Art Posters, hand-screened T-shirts and Tank Tops, and there are only 60 copies left of "Stitches And Incisions", get yours before they run out! Bring two greens and get all three items for $40! These items and more will be part of the "Up The Mesh Count" Art Show at Artspeak Gallery on October 24th, where I'll also be playing a short set.
Have a listen to a feature interview with AM 800's Dan Macdonald on the Hear + Now show - you know you've made it when your voice hits the airwaves of the mighty CKLW!
So thrilled that Dan will be MC'ing Saturday night's Kordazone Theatre show...!
Can't wait to see you all this weekend, October 14th at The Bank Theatre in Leamington, and October 15th at The Kordazone Theatre in Windsor - it's been a big undertaking to present these concerts and looking forward to two fabulous shows, featuring 22 songs from all of my records, favourite covers and classics along with The Assembly Line! See you there!
Allison
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Only a few more weeks until the Allison Brown & The Assembly Line Concert weekend in Leamington at The Bank Theatre on October 14th, and in Windsor at The Kordazone Theatre on October 15th!
Physical tickets for the Kordazone Theatre are available at Levigator Press, Dr.Disc, and Nancy John's Gallery. Physical tickets are now available for The Bank Theatre at Counter Effects and you can reserve by calling the Bank Theatre Box Office at 519-326-8805.
News from Radio-Land! "Border City Roots" is changing time-slots on CJAM 99.1fm in Windsor/Detroit! The show is on hiatus for a few weeks as I ramp up to Thursday, October 20th when I switch to 10:30am to Noon every Thursday. Be sure to tune back in for folk, roots, and more great tunes on your CJAM airwaves.
*** CANCELLED ***
Thanksgiving weekend- ya'lls are hanging with family, we understand and will reschedule this concert for another time in 2017. (Ottawa friends...! I'm coming your way on Thanksgiving weekend for a house concert in Nepean with my pal Ali McCormick (The Lioness of Lanark County) on Sunday, October 9th! Email leeveegee@gmail.com for info and reservations!)
Cancelled - will reschedule for 2017! Happy Thanksgiving!
Looking forward to seeing you all on October 14th and 15th for the concert weekend down here in the Ontario southlands - don't take a chance, get your tickets in advance!
Allison
Don't take a chance - get your tickets in advance online right on www.allisonbrown.ca on the right side of the page! ---->
The Assembly Line features Jedd House on Upright Bass, 'Uncle' Dan Henshall on Mandolin, and Vera Colley on Accordion & Harmony Vocals! Don't miss these special concerts featuring all your favourite songs, old and new! Tickets for both shows are $12 in Advance, and $15 at the door. Physical tickets for the Kordazone Theatre are available at Levigator Press, Dr.Disc, and Nancy John's Gallery. Stay tuned for details on when physical tickets are available for The Bank Theatre - in the meantime you can reserve by calling the Bank Theatre Box Office at 519-326-8805. There are only 70 copies left of "Stitches And Incisions" - you'll be able to get yours along with Limited Edition Art Posters and Handscreened T-Shirts for $15.00 cash only at both shows!
Coming up in September I'll be doing a fun outdoor House Concert with The Assembly Line on Saturday, September 10th in Lakeshore down on the farm! - email if you'd like to attend; allisoncbrown@yahoo.com
Had a blast in August at Kingsville Folk Festival doing some MCing and a few workshops, another great show with Karen Morand at Pelee Island Winery, doing some songwriting up in Stratford with Dayna Manning and at Afternoons In The Alley with the DWBIA... and filmed a video for "Invisible Line" directed by Ian Foster that will be launched this fall!
Here's a few still shots from the video - right on Windsor's riverfront under the bridge!
Allison
Filming "Invisible Line"
Filming "Invisible Line"
Friday, August 5, 2016
Limited Edition Art Posters!
Back from a great time out in Manitoba and aboard VIA Rail - gearing up for more adventures in August... and looking ahead at two big shows in October, at The Bank Theatre in Leamington and at The Kordazone Theatre in Windsor. Jodi Green from Levigator Press created limited edition hand-printed art posters especially for these two concerts. These posters will be for sale at both shows for $15.00, but if you'd like one ahead of the performance you can email me at allisoncbrown@yahoo.com and I can get one your way..!
Don't take a chance - get your tickets in advance!
Coming up on August 12th weekend it's the 3rd Annual Kingsville Folk Festival..! I'll be hosting the Creekside and Pillar stages on Saturday, and I'll be playing as part of the Willie P Bennett Tribute set on Sunday at 8:10pm on the Mainstage - don't miss it!
August 19th, I'm back on Pelee Island for a second show with Karen Morand at the Pelee Island Winery... join us for wine and pizza on their lovely vineyard!
To wrap up August, plans are in the works for a video for "Invisible Line" that will be filmed in Windsor by Newfoundland songwriter and award winning filmmaker Ian Foster.... and the video for "Scavengers" is now up on my Youtube channel - check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH2akhymru0
Lots of things cookin' as August rolls in.. here's a couple photos from our Manitoba adventures!
Allison
Festival season is in full swing and me and Uncle Dan are excited about riding the rails on our second trip as part of VIA Rail's Artists On Board program, taking the Canadian out to Winnipeg on our way to perform at the Brandon Folk Festival on July 22nd - 24th!
But before I hop on the train, I share the stage with KAREN MORAND for an evening of wine and pizza on Pelee Island at the Pelee Island Winery pavilion on Friday, July 15th starting at 4pm. We're back again on August 19th - so book your boat and get out to Pelee and start your weekend with a night of songs and wine!
This is what 110 tickets look like ~ Kordazone Theatre, October 15th!
Couple shows coming up in July, I'm at Phog opening up for Sioux Lookout's Nick Sherman on Tuesday, July 5th... and later that week I'm playing a set from 8:30 to 10pm at the Kingsville Night Market on July 8th...
And soon Uncle Dan and I head up to Manitoba aboard VIA Rail's Artists On Board program to play at the Brandon Folk Festival July 22nd, 23rd and 24th! http://brandonfolkfestival.ca/
Save the dates and stay tuned for updates and a very cool hand-screened poster I'm working on with Up The Mesh Count!
And - summer is here so it's time for you to order your Allison Brown T-Shirts and Tank Tops! I can do custom orders - more info and photos on the Merch Page - $20..!
Back home from a fantastic ramble across Eastern Ontario with Uncle Dan and ready for things to heat up for the summer... it's been under wraps since March, here's that special project I've been so excited about:
Mike Beauchamp and I collaborated on this unique video for Radiohead's "How To Disappear Completely" featuring the Therevox ET-4, a synthesizer-theremin designed and hand-built at Mike's studio right here in Windsor. The video was filmed by Mike, and Martin Schiller and Brian Parent join us on bass and drums. The Therevox ET-4 is about to be showcased at the annual Moogfest in North Carolina! Our cover is also featured as part of CJAM's Singles Club for the month of May, and the video was Synthtopia's 'Sunday Synth Jam'... find out more about Therevox Custom Musical Instruments at www.therevox.com. And don't forget to share, and subscribe to my Youtube Channel, with close to 2000 views we'd love to go viral!
More news for June; have a few Windsor shows coming up.. June 2nd brings me to the Ford City Farmer's market, and Tuesday, June 7th I'm back at Phog with Max Marshall and Richard Garvey kicking off Max's June Tour!
Coming up in July, Uncle Dan and I are back riding the rails with VIA Rail's Artists On Board program as we head out to Winnipeg and the Brandon Folk Festival! Hoping to set up a few Winnipeg shows, so if you'd like to have us for a house concert, or know of a venue we should look into just let me know!
Tickets will be on sale soon for TWO CONCERTS with a full band coming up Friday, October 14th at the Bank Theatre in Leamington and Saturday, October 15th at the Kordazone Theatre in Windsor - so stay tuned for details on when they'll be available - but SAVE the dates!
Here's a couple photos from our adventures on the road in May!
Allison
Hanging out with baby lambs on Amherst Island
Dan hanging out with the lambs
Our Hostess with the Most-ess on Amherst Island - Ali McCormick!
Ok so they gave out the Westport Woman of the Year award after our show... but heck what a photo op!
Back at the homestead near Windsor again after an amazing adventure in Austin, Texas! A solo journey with just me and my faithful van, Merle, I took about three weeks to drive through 6 American states to bring me to the heart of Texas and a truly amazing music city. I also had a chance to volunteer and check out the Old Settler's Music Festival, where I heard some of the best Americana and Bluegrass I've ever heard in my life (highly recommended if you're visiting Texas!), plus made a ton of amazing new friends! More Austin photos are below!
Rounding out April with a special guest spot at the St.Regis Tavern up in London on Friday, April 29th with The Heartaches!
And coming up in May; Uncle Dan Henshall and myself hit the road again up to Quebec and back for NINE shows in central and eastern Ontario! My annual batch of shows right during the Hockey Playoffs will distract you from the fact there are no Canadian teams in the running, soothe your soul with some great nights of music!!!
Later on in May I'll be backing up Vera Colley at Taloola in Windsor on May 28th; trying out the role of sideperson for the first time in a long while!
Stay tuned here for more updates and new videos coming soon on my YouTube Channel - shooting one at CHRW this weekend that should be up and ready later on in the springtime.
Here's some more Austin photos; hope to see you at this batch of shows coming up soon!
Allison
On South Congress looking towards the Capitol
Bluegrass Monday at Radio Coffee & Beer
Me and Aja McMillan among the Texas Bluebonnets
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Waking up to some strange spring snow as April begins... reminiscing on some great gigs and projects through March; planning an adventure for April that you'll find out more about on the next newsletter - and if you aren't on my email newsletter list you can sign up!
I've gone and done it again, and put my name into CBC's Annual Searchlight contest, so take a minute to vote, and a few more to watch the video of "Invisible Line" filmed by Taylor Campbell at the Atelier Virginianne as part of a night of poetry and music hosted by Marty Gervais.
VOTE: https://www.cbcmusicsearchlight.ca/entries/70702
Still working on some new videos for my YouTube Channel so be sure to subscribe - I've got a really unique video project to share with you soon, it's not ready for the launch yet but can't wait to share it with you all.
And - Uncle Dan & I hit the road again up to Wakefield, Quebec and back this May!
Excited to be back for nine shows in some favourite and new venues. The full info is on the Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/567387716762760/
Sunday, May 8th ~ Peterborough ~ Garnet Tuesday, May 10th ~ Toronto ~ Not My Dog with Ali McCormick
Thursday, May 12th ~ Kingston ~ Musiikki
Friday, May 13th ~ Wakefield ~ Kaffe 1870
Saturday, May 14th - The Branch – Kemptville
Sunday, May 15th ~ Westport ~ The Cove Inn
See you all soon!
Allison
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
So nice to get out of hibernation mode with two great shows down here in Windsor in February... and as we turn the page on another month things are starting to cook up for the spring and summer!
Coming up on Thursday, March 3rd, I'll be performing at a special poetry event hosted by the Sho Art, Spirit and Performance gallery at Atelier Virginianne (1078 Drouillard, Windsor) featuring readings by Marty Gervais and Canada's Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke, and music by Mark Crampsie and Myself..! Starts at 7:30pm, more info is on the Facebook event page:
And, coming up on Friday, April 1st I'll be back in London at the new location of EVAC (East Village Arts Collective) for a concert with Toronto's Mark Martyre as part of his 'Bluebird' tour! Show starts at 8:00pm, $5-10 suggested at the door, tea, coffee and cookies will be available. You'd be a fool to miss this show! And for sure check out EVAC's new space at 755 Dundas Street!
I'm still adding more subscribers to my YouTube Channel... more great videos will be coming soon so be sure to hit subscribe to make sure you don't miss them! My goal is to reach 100 subscribers, 52 and counting as of today!
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
January is slipping away and the first bits of 2016 I've been looking ahead at the year and making plans for more shows, touring, and other exciting musical adventures...
Finally, I've set up a YouTube Channel; here you can find a few new and archival songs for streaming, and I'm planning a series of videos through the coming year. Be sure to subscribe, as I'll be posting new songs every now and then! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuOIkqYH7MvWGINBdjyakA
Coming up in February, I've got two shows here in Windsor... February 25th I'm at PHOG with my good pals RICHARD GARVEY and Uncle Dan! Richard recently recorded a new EP "I Found A Box Of Beer In The Snow".....
And the following Saturday, February 27th I'm back at Taloola for a one hour solo unplugged show!
Right now I'm booking shows for a May tour through Eastern Ontario - up through Peterborough, Kingston area, the Ottawa region and possibly up to Montreal - if you'd like to set up a concert or have a venue suggestion around the neighbourhood, just get in touch!
Of course keep tuning in to "Border City Roots" on CJAM 99.1fm every Wednesday morning from 9:00am to 10:30am... interviews and theme shows coming up through February!
