Lightly snowing outside my window here in London as we ease into March... the snow will melt to reveal some new music and gigs as the seasons start to change again..!
   Couple shows this month - Sunday, March 15th brings me to the Delaware Legion in Delaware for a St.Patrick's Day weekend show as a special guest with Uncle Dan and his Thames River Valley Boys .  Lots more special guests for this fun afternoon - starts at 3pm!
    Later on in the month I'm back along with Leah Morise at the 'prestigious' St. Regis Tavern on Saturday, March 28th as part of the Musical Chairs! series... starts at about 9pm, PWYC and of course there will be the weekly 'sweet draw'!

Still working on booking some shows for my tour out to the East Coast in the summer leading into shows in Manitoba on my Home Routes tour coming up in October... anywhere and everywhere in between I'm looking for shows, so if you'd like me to pay a visit to your town, please send along any suggestions or if you'd like to host a house concert please get in touch allisoncbrown@yahoo.com !

Been lots going on over the airwaves on "Southern Ontario Comfort" on CHRW 94.9fm... had lots of interviews and guests through February and March brings Tia McGraff on March 11th and Manitoba Hal on March 18th - tune in Wednesday nights at 6pm!  www.chrwradio.ca

See you at The Regis on the 28th!
Allison

Another year around the sun for me, as I'm writing on my birthday...
Celebrated by getting my first tattoo - an image you all know and love...

Just like our pal the Groundhog, it's usually the end of February when I finally come out of my hibernation and start to book some shows.. I've got a great one coming up on Thursday, February 26th at the Black Shire Pub here in London with my pals Dave Quanbury and Sarah Burton.  A rare solo set from me - check it out!

And I'll be doing a special show as a guest with The Thames River Valley Boys coming up March 15th at the Delaware Legion, and I'm back at Musical Chairs!  at the St. Regis Tavern on March 28th.

Summer is fast approaching and I'm working on bookings for Eastern Ontario, out to the East Coast and then back across Northern Ontario before my tour of Home Routes house concerts in October 2015.  Me and Dan will be hitting the road in August - let me know if you'd like us to make a stop in your town!
Plans are also coming together for recording in the spring!

See you at the Black Shire on the 26th!
Allison

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