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Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour

06 Jun 05 - 10:36 AM (#1501156)
Subject: Willie-O & Friends South Ontario Tour
From: Willie-O

Actually, it's known as the Linda Grenier Trio. Linda is a talented singer-songwriter-neighbour of mine with whom (in my alter ego as mild-mannered Bill Cameron) I've been playing lead guitar and mandolin in a bunch of Eastern Ontario venues, everything from smoky dives to the Chateau Laurier Ballroom. The third member of the trio is Sharon Hinbest who is a heck of a flautist (or "Flute Improv Artist" as she prefers).

It'd be great to see some Catters at these shows! Do introduce yourself to me if you come.

Naturally, vast amounts of information are already online at
www.lindagrenier.com

Next week, for the first time, we are taking our act to certain central and southwestern Ontario locations, from Peterborough to Paris with Toronto and Hamilton in between. Mostly we are performing Linda's songs, and a couple of mine, and a few of other peoples'.

While in Toronto we will be making an appearance on Heather Fielding's Acoustic Workshop show, at 89.5 FM or if you're not local to Terana, you can tune in on the livestream broadcast of Acoustic Workshop on CIUT, 89.5 FM between 7 and 8 p.m.

Here's the intinerary:

Linda Grenier Trio "UP THE RIVER" Tour 2005


June 12 - 18

Grassroots Co-Operative Cafe                Sunday, June 12, 2005
705-876-6530
395 Aylmer Street North,
Peterborough, ON K9H 3V9
Set #1 at 1:30 and Set #2 at 3:30

Groovy Mondays @ Holy Joe's                Monday, June 13, 2005
651 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
(This is an open stage series where we will do 2 songs)
Free AMATO's pizza starting at 8pm
www.groovymondays.homestead.com/

TRANZAC (Toronto Australian New Zealand Club)   Tuesday, June 14, 2005
292 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto 416-923-8137
10:00pm to 12:30pm
www.tranzac.org

The Staircase Theatre Cafe - "The Loft"   Thursday, June 16, 2005
Dundurn St. N.
Hamilton 905-529-3000
Songwriting Workshop/Show
$5.00 @ The Door - 8:00pm
www.staircase.org

The Arlington Hotel      Friday, June 17, 2005
106 Grand River St. North
Paris, ON
8:00pm-12:00pm
1-877-833-9083
www.arlingtonhotelparis.com


16 Jun 05 - 12:33 PM (#1502284)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Willie-O

The Linda Grenier Trio's first Ontario tour is well under way, as our intrepid combo has battled vehicular and climatic tribulations to bring our message of timelessly energetic folk-rock to Peterborough and Toronto.

The weather has not stopped us nor daunted the spirits of our intrepid campers who I expect are currently clouding themselves (there's no sun) at the Elora Gorge, while I relax in the comfort of a friend's house in Kitchener. I really wanted to camp out in a leaky tent but this is OK too...

We had a wonderful visit with Heather, live on CIUT on Monday. Anyone hear it? We shared the show with an Australian rockstar-gone-unplugged named Matt Ellis, a very likable and talented young bloke who is on an extended tour of North America.

I also had the singular experience of having an old friend arrive in style to catch my open-stage performance at Groovy Mondays in Toronto--he parked his monstrous City of Toronto street-sweeper outside and popped in on his break, just before I played! I hadn't seen him in at least 25 years. I knew it was him, though, by his fluorescent city-worker vest.

Tonight, Thursday, we will be at the Staircase Theatre Cafe in Hamilton, presenting a songwriting workshop at 8 and performance at 9. Eminently reasonable $5 cover. Linda will be playing her first performance with her brand-spanking new Martin dreadnought
cutaway which was acquired with much fanfare at Long & McQuade yesterday. Bill's semi-vintage (1973, same year he finished high school) Martin O-18 will no longer be the centre of attention for devotees of the cult of Christian Frederick who attend our performances...

Friday June 17, last night of the tour, will see us at the Arlington Hotel in Paris Ontario, a venue which is said to be tres upscale.

Catch us if you can!

Bill Cameron
Unstoppable travelling DSL-borrower


16 Jun 05 - 01:06 PM (#1502314)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Willie-O

And BTW I am travelling in what Marion once described as "Willie-O's homemade wooden truck", because it is the more modern (by 15 years) and dependable vehicle of the two we have to convey us. Emergency backup when the van breaks, which happened twice, but those problems seem to be behind us.


16 Jun 05 - 04:06 PM (#1502441)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Inukshuk

Still looking forward to meeting up with you guys.
I'll bring an instrument or two just in case.


17 Jun 05 - 02:29 PM (#1503082)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Willie-O

Cool. Linda is the bandleader and fabulously organized with set lists and all that, but by all means, we'll see what happens.

W-O
The Last Night Is Upon Us.


19 Jun 05 - 02:47 PM (#1504427)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: GUEST

A most enjoyable experience. Linda is a talented songwriter and a powerful singer. Sharon and Willie-O provide very tasteful back-up. I liked it a lot.


19 Jun 05 - 04:18 PM (#1504497)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Jeremiah McCaw

Don't live too far from either the Staircase (40 km) or the Arlington (15 km) gigs, but the timing sucked swamp water, as I was otherwise obligated those nights.

Hope to catch you in the future, Willie-O. Take care . . .


20 Jun 05 - 08:54 AM (#1505008)
Subject: RE: Willie-O & Friends Ontario Tour
From: Willie-O

Now I'm mystified...Is Guest Inukshuk/Neil (the only Catter I know for sure was at any of the shows)? Anyway thanks for the compliment. I'll pass it to Linda.

Jeremiah, thanks also.

The Arlington was an awesome venue...treated us with true European hospitality. I'd recommend it to anyone. (Long as you understand, it's a bar where there is smoking.) And Inukshuk regaled me with an interesting tale of showing Bill Haley and the Comets the nightlife of SW Ontario, way back when.

The Staircase is a neat place too, where we played to an audience named Dave. (Not as bad as it sounds, there were two Daves and they were most attentive.)

Now home safe and sound, not much richer, but sure had fun.

Next Saturday night, for anyone in Ottawa area, we are playing in our regular venue the Thirsty Moose in Carleton Place. Always a good time.

Bill