Left and Leaving: Larry Livermore Looks Back

“If there’s one thing I hate about memoirs or documentaries, it’s that they all end up being some version of ‘We did this amazing thing, it was awesome, and then it ended. Too bad you weren’t there, because you’ll never see anything like it again.’”

We didn’t know that Larry Livermore existed before this year. Then, CBC broadcaster and author Grant Lawrence posted on Facebook about Livermore’s second book, How to Ru(i)n a Record Label: The Story of Lookout Records. What does the label that launched Green Day have to do with Canadian indie? Lookout Records, and in some ways Livermore himself, was born at 924 Gilman, the legendary punk venue and social experiment of California’s East Bay. Canadian punk bands Nomeansno, The Smugglers, The Hextalls and Fucked Up have played on the Gilman stage. Livermore also has ties to Mint Records and is friends with The Weakerthans’ John K. Sampson.

Larry Livermore

But Livermore and How to Ru(i)n a Record Label begin in Detroit. That’s where he learned from Motown’s DIY script to “make your own scene, make your own records” and where his stories began during a book signing at Dearborn Music. Before sharing local memories like watching the MC5 lose a battle of the bands in Allen Park and getting in a car chase with Mayor Orville Hubbard’s goons, he prefaced his monologue with this disclaimer: “I can’t get away with bullshitting. People around here have a real ear for bullshit. It’s too hard to believe in anything. We’re too cynical.” Cynical maybe, but Livermore doesn’t come off as a bullshitter. Unlike his incendiary writing that established the Livermore brand, in person and on the pages of his books, he’s straightforward, unpretentious and observant.

Fast forward to the 80s. Livermore was living his first book, Spy Rock Memories, set in a rugged marijuana-growing haven of the Northern California mountains. A mostly fish-out-of-water prequel to How to Ru(i)n a Record Label with some chronological overlap, it lays the groundwork for everything Lookout, Livermore’s development as a writer, musician and purveyor of punk.

Although its subtitle is The Story of Lookout Records, How to Ru(i)n a Record Label is very much the story of the Gilman too. In 1987 a band called Operation Ivy played there, and as Livermore told the rapt audience at Dearborn Music, “It was like the gates of something had opened up to a parallel universe.” But for most people, that universe doesn’t spawn a record label. A year later Op Ivy had signed with the fledgling Lookout Records, followed by a band called Green Day.

Ten years later in 1998, Grant Lawrence penned this write-up of the label’s 10-year anniversary party. A disillusioned Livermore had already walked away from millions of dollars and the label he co-founded.

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened, and we can recommend that you do. We loved Spy Rock, too. But you had to be at the book signing to hear Livermore share insights and timeless advice for any band trying to make it in music.

“A label doesn’t have magic powers. It’s not like you go into studio and here’s a hit.”
“The philosophy was you shouldn’t make money on music. The minute you did, you were kicked out of the scene, you were commercial.”
“Write good songs and you’ll always be able to make a good living.”
“Do your own thing, not somebody else’s.”
“Nirvana tried to play the Gilman, by the way. They were told no one would come.”

“If you lived in a different part of the world, if you were too young or too old to be there, if perhaps you weren’t even born yet, never let anyone tell you that you missed out or that you couldn’t possibly understand what it was like… We all get our moments, and where they begin or how they end is less important than how we experience them, what we do with them, and how they transform us.”

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Show Alert: PUP

PUP 
WSG: 
Ponyshow 
Braided Veins 



Fri., Sep. 12 
Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit, MI 
$10/door

Toronto punk that you can dance to and scream along with.

We like it.

Book Review and Interview: The Lonely End of the Rink

Author Grant Lawrence at his book signing and
reading at Windsor's Phog Lounge last November.

It's May 25. We just opened the patio office for the season. It's 71F (22C) degrees at 9:14 p.m. and the air is filled with the sounds of...

Hockey playoffs. Which seems like reason #1 it's a perfect time to review The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie by author/CBC personality/Radio 3 host Grant Lawrence (even if it officially debuted in Fall 2013).

Reason #2: The book was recently awarded the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award at the 30th annual BC Book Prize Gala for "the most outstanding work published in British Columbia this year.” Lawrence's first book, Adventures in Solitude, won the same award.

Reason #3: Father's Day is coming up and you know you're looking for the perfect gift. Order a signed copy here. What? Your dad isn't into hockey? He's not alone. "I'm shocked at how many Canadians have told me 'I'm not a hockey fan,'" says Lawrence. "For a supposedly hockey-obsessed country, I sure have met a lot of non-hockey fans in the last six months, which I think is a statement on the game becoming too big business and too violent. It's off-putting for the average fan."

But you definitely shouldn't be off-put by The Lonely End of the Rink as just a hockey book. In this memoir, Lawrence uses the game to explore plenty of universal themes that will resonate with a wide range of readers. Geeks and nerds versus jocks, the bullied versus the bullies, the arts versus sports, the popular versus the unpopular, love and loyalty in the face of adversity and quite literally, finding the courage to face your fears-- and the shots that inevitably come with it. If you love pop culture references, you'll also love Lonely End of the Rink.

You'll learn a lot about hockey and Lawrence in The Lonely End of The Rink; a third book, in progress, will cover his years with The Smugglers. In an email interview with N2DS2W, Lawrence shares what it was like working on The Lonely End of the Rink, its reception with readers, some Michigan memories, and his recipe for success for the Vancouver Canucks.

Lawrence reads from The Lonely End of the Rink at the Phog Lounge.

N2DS2W: Whether on air or paper, storytelling is obviously one of your skills. Is there a storytelling tradition in your family?

GL: Each and every night growing up, we'd have a family dinner, my mom, dad, little sister and me. And each and every night I would beg my dad to tell me stories of his time growing up in Winnipeg. He and his five brothers and sisters grew up on the banks of the Red River in the 40s and 50s and there seemed to be an endless wealth of adventure stories stemming from that river. He also told stories of his teen years... the various part time jobs he got fired from etc. My dad was always an adventurer, so I think I get my storytelling from him. He doesn't tell too many stories anymore unless we really urge him. My mom's father was a joke-teller, so I think I get my love of humour from that side.

N2DS2W: The Lonely End of the Rink is more autobiographical and less character study than Adventures in Solitude. Was that intentional or organic?

GL: Well, it must have been organic because no one has brought that insight up before and I've never really thought about it! Whether I'm yakking on the radio, or with friends in a pub, or sitting down and attempting to write a book, I try to tell a great story. When it comes to the books, I try to tell one arcing story with many exciting small stories contained within, and I try to keep the pace up. I always try to have a beginning, a middle and an ending... whether it's a one-line joke, a two minute radio host break, or a 300 page book, so what I'm trying to say is... what comes out, comes out, but there's a method to the madness!

N2DS2W: How did the process of writing Rink compare to writing Adventures? Was it easier? Harder? Why?

GL: Both had their challenges. With Adventures in Solitude, because it was my first book and I didn't have a publisher for a long, long time, I wrote it over a five year period, starting in 2005, and releasing it once I finally found a publisher in 2010. Five years is a long time and a lot can happen! The book changed and morphed over time. The Lonely End of the Rink on the other hand, was written and released in just two years, without a lot of time for it to morph and change. Adventures went through about 11 different drafts. The Lonely End of the Rink, barely two complete drafts, but I felt I knew what I was doing a little more which streamlined the process a bit. With both books I constantly question myself as to whether any parts of the book are good, and whether people would be interested in reading them. My concern in entertainment, once I have someone's attention, is not boring them!

N2DS2W: You've tapped two topics that are as much a part of Michigan fabric as Canada: the cottage culture and hockey. Have you had a chance to experience either here? Any good stories/memories about visiting Michigan or the Red Wings you can share?

GL: No, I have never experienced cottaging OR hockey in Michigan! In fact, cottaging is about the furthest thing from my mind when I think of Michigan! I think of industry and factories, assembly lines and cars, and rock 'n'roll bands like the Dirt Bombs, the Detroit Cobras, White Stripes, Von Bondies, MC5, Stooges, and the Supremes. I also think of Kalamazoo because my old band The Smugglers had an early song called "Fun In The USA" with a line that went "where the fuck is Kalamazoo?" (we all shouted it). The song was all about our dreams of touring the States, which we eventually fulfilled and then some. When we unexpectedly suddenly drove under the sign for the exit to Kalamazoo (somewhere between Chicago and Detroit, I think?) we all freaked out. We had no idea Kalamazoo was in Michigan!! We thought it was in the Deep South or something. Anyway, we eventually played in Detroit several times, at places like the Magic Stick and the Shelter, and always had GREAT shows. Many Canadians came over from the University of Windsor and we always had great times. I remember one particular after-party in Detroit, when I got "lucky" with a particularly cute lil' Detroit Debbie... I think she thought it was pretty great that she sacked the cool lead singer. She and I went at it so late that the entire band ended up sleeping over at this Detroit party house. The next morning, I went out of lead singer mode and back to regular day Grant mode. I took out my crusty contact lenses that I had slept in and put on my huge horn rimmed glasses, pulled on some checkered pants, and slipped on a really nerdy cardigan sweater. The Detroit girl I had the one-night-stand with looked at me and said "Oh my god... I think I just fucked Urkel".

N2DS2W: How are people connecting with The Lonely End of the Rink? What are the most frequent comments you hear from readers?

GL: The best compliment any writer can receive, at least from my perspective as a memoir writer, is when people say they can relate to what you write. The golden moment is when they can see themselves in the stories, when the stories become universal. With Adventures I pretty much stumbled into that. I had no idea what a common rite of passage it is to reject what your parents hold dear and try to make you love! ([In this case,] a family cabin in the wilderness.) As for The Lonely End of the Rink, I've heard from a lot of very kind readers who were bullied and went through similar situations that I did. Many can relate, and many appreciate the humour that I bring to otherwise serious and violent situations. However, some reviewers have complained there are too many pop culture references in the book! I can't help that!

N2DS2W: What's the most unexpected thing you've experienced as a result of writing this book?

GL: I've experienced two real surprises... I'm shocked at how many Canadians have told me "I'm not a hockey fan..." The other surprise is when actual hockey moms come to my readings and get the book for their hockey playing kids, and some of them are pretty famous! Edmonton Oilers' forward Taylor Hall's mom came to the book launch in Kingston... she bought a book, got me to sign it for Taylor, and gave me his signed rookie card!

N2DS2W: How would you put the Vancouver Canucks on the road to the Cup?

That's a really tough question. I think with any NHL team (except the rare dynasty teams like Detroit!!) there are peaks and valleys over the years, and the highest peaks (Stanley Cup Finals) and lowest valleys (bottom of the standings) happen anywhere from three to ten years apart. Sadly for the Canucks the valley has happened a lot sooner than anyone predicted, which is a huge problem with no immediate easy fix. The team is built on finesse, whereas the league has turned into a muscle league, a brazen bully league where the biggest team wins, a throw back to the 1970s, and the Canucks, as they showed in the Stanley Cup Final, aren't built for that, so it could be a long time before they are a contender again. Sad as I am to say it, I think the Canucks need to rebuild through the NHL draft. Goodbye twins, thanks for getting us close. The tide is out on the Canucks and it could be a long time before it comes back in. And that's from a long-suffering fan!

Lawrence and members of the DTW~R3

Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Event alert: 10 reasons you should attend the Grant Lawrence book signing at Phog Lounge

Mon., Nov. 25 ~ 7 p.m. start ~ FREE
Phog Lounge ~ Windsor
Wsg Crissi Cochrane  
Open Mic Surgery with James O-L after (10:30)
 

1. Because "Grant Lawrence has long been a leading voice in Canadian arts and entertainment. For years, the gregarious and encyclopedic Lawrence has hosted the top-rated CBC Radio 3 Podcast with Grant Lawrence, a monthly showcase of Canadian independent music. Grant also hosts Grant Lawrence Live, a live and interactive daily program on CBC Radio 3′s popular web radio station, also airing on Sirius XM 162. Grant can be heard throughout the week on various CBC Radio One programs such as DNTO, All Points West, RadioWest, On The Coast, and various afternoon programs across the country... Prior to his work at CBC, Grant was the lead singer of the internationally acclaimed Vancouver band The Smugglers."

2. Joe Wiebe, special to the Vancouver Sun, says: "Following in his footsteps, let me say right now that The Lonely End of the Rink is the best book to come out since, well, his first book, Adventures in Solitude. That book was a national bestseller, deservedly so, and Lawrence’s new book surely will be a hit, too. Its rock ‘em sock ‘em examination of our country’s hockey culture reminds me of a Tiger Williams brawl combined with a Wayne Gretzky goal. And in terms of literary prowess, Grant knocks the pads off another famous goalie who wrote some hockey books. What’s his name again? Oh yeah: Ken Dryden." Read more


3. Authors need support as much as musicians.

4. You can helpfully point out Hockeytown across the river.

5. Vancouver broadcaster Cory Ashworth for The Huffington Post: "This book reads like a fast-paced adventure and you don't have to have an ounce of interest in hockey to love every sentence and period. In fact beyond the pads and pucks you'll find one of the most relatable and lovable Canadian tales of growing up a bullied nerd and West Coast Canuck." Read more

6. You'll get to hear the lovely Crissi Cochrane.

7. You need a Christmas gift for that hockey-crazy friend/brother/dad/nemesis.

8. It's Monday. What else do you have planned?

9. We're all goalies in life. Think about it.

10. Grant Lawrence is King of the Forest.

Event Alert: Grant Lawrence Windsor Book Launch Party

Mon., Nov. 25
Phog Lounge, Windsor
FREE

CBC Radio Host and Author Grant Lawrence will be at the Phog Lounge beginning at 7 p.m. for this free event that includes Grant reading stories from his new book, The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie, as well as a slide presentation, Q+A, shootout contest, a book signing and special musical guest Crissi Cochrane.

https://www.facebook.com/events/391744487618746/

See more book launch tour dates at http://grantlawrence.ca/

Stay tuned for an exclusive N2DS2W interview with the author.

Photo credit: Christine McAvoy

Book Tour Alert: Grant Lawrence - The Lonely End of the Rink

Grant Lawrence Announces Tour Dates For New Book: The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie

 All events will include Grant reading or telling stories from the new book, as well as a slide presentation, a short film, Q+A, book signing, and live musical performances from special guests in select cities.
All events begin at 7pm and are free unless otherwise noted.

Thu Oct 24, Vancouver Launch Party, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Vancouver BC, 7pm-9pm, w/ musical appearance by Bodhi Jones. Sponsored by BCSHF, Douglas and McIntyre, and Phillips Brewing.
Fri Oct 25, Victoria Launch Party, Copper Owl, Victoria BC
Sat Oct 26, Community Theatre, Tofino BC
Sun Oct 27, Courtenay Public Library, Courtenay BC, 3pm
Mon Oct 28, Java Shack, Campbell River BC
Tue Oct 29, Nanaimo Public Library, Nanaimo BC, 6pm
Wed Oct 30, Lucky’s Restaurant, Parksville BC, $20.00
Thu Nov 14, Public Library, Prince George BC
Mon Nov 25, Phog Lounge, Windsor ON
Tue Nov 26, tba, London ON
Wed Nov 27, Toronto Launch Party, Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, Toronto ON, 8pm-10pm, w/ musical appearance by Matthew Barber. Presented by This Is Not A Reading Series and Douglas and McIntyre.
Thu Nov 28, tba, Hamilton ON
Fri Nov 29, Pressed, Ottawa ON
Thu Dec 12, Public Library, Fernie BC

** More dates to be confirmed in Montreal, Kingston, Calgary, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and the Sunshine Coast.

 

Images and Promo: Killbeat 

Two cities, one psyche.

Although set in British Columbia, CBC Radio and TV Host Grant Lawrence's first book, Adventures in Solitude, celebrates a cherished tradition in the Great Lakes region: the northern family cottage/cabin.

This October, Lawrence's second book debuts. It taps into yet another shared love between the Windsor and Detroit, Michigan and Ontario psyches: hockey. On Mon., Nov. 25, Lawrence will be in Windsor at the Phog Lounge signing copies of The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie.

“Like David Sedaris in a Canadian tuxedo, Grant Lawrence’s brutally honest descriptions of his torment at the hands of bullies had me cringing one moment and laughing out loud the next. His passionate and introspective study of his relationship to the game was a real eye opener; as a pro you can easily lose sight of the degree to which hockey holds sway in everyday lives across Canada. I loved it.” - Boyd Devereaux, Stanley Cup champion, Detroit Red Wings.

CBC Music #Searchlight: The Final Round Revealed

The voting for the FINAL ROUND closes Thursday, April 11 2013 at midnight ET.

Sherman Downey and The Ambiguous Case meet The Good Ol' Goats
 
Grant Lawrence calls this the #BattleoftheBrooks
VOTE!  http://music.cbc.ca/Searchlight

The CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award Winners - 2012

Congratulations to the CLASS of 2012 - The CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award winners.

Hottest Pipes (Best Vocal Performance) - Hannah Georgas  "Robotic"

• We first saw Georgas more than two years ago. That she's back on the Bucky radar with her second (self-titled) album is proof there's no such thing as a sophomore curse.

Sexiest Artist - Jaycelyn Brown of Said The Whale
#socialbutterfly Social Media Award - Said the Whale
Most Watchable Song (Best Video) - Said The Whale  "We Are 1980"

• They might be 1980, but 2012 was a whale of a year for the Bucky awards. STW played both sides of the border in April, touring in support of their second full-length album, Little Mountain.

Rookie of the Year - The Elwins

•  We were pulling hard for Loon Choir, who are rookier than The Elwins (formed in 2007). But we remember liking The Elwins' set at NXNE 2011.

 Best Reason to Buy a Concert Ticket (Best Live Act) - Mother Mother

•  Mother Mother was the very first Canadian indie band one of us saw live (at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, touring with Sam Roberts). They opened with "Hayloft." Quite the intro.

In Memoriam: Most Impactful Break-up - Handsome Furs

• We're so glad we had the opportunity to see them perform in 2011. Thanks for the music, Alexei and Dan, and all the best.

Electronic Song of the Year - Grimes  "Oblivion"

• Shoot, pout pout pout pout, we were pulling for Shout Out Out Out Out.

 Best Reason to Learn French (Best Francophone Song)  - Bernard Adamus'  "Entre ici pis chez vous"

• Hey! Someone we voted for actually won! We love this guy.

 Lifetime Achievement - Nardwuar the Human Serviette

•  Well-deserved recognition for the original doot doola doot doo dynamo.

Golden Bucky (Song of the Year) - Joel Plaskett  "Lightning Bolt"

•  Although "Bolt" isn't our favourite Plaskett song, his performances at this year's Home County Music & Art Festival made us fans, through & through & through.

Fan of the Year - Christine McAvoy

• We can't think of anyone we'd rather pass our tiaras to than CMac. Welcome to the FOTY ranks! Love ya.

Last Day Of #Movember, Still Time For N2D's Russ Gordon

Is it really worth taking a month to raise awareness and money for the issue of men's health, specifically prostate cancer?

Yes. Yes it is. That's why our own writer/stuntman/photographer Russ Gordon has rejoined the prestigious CBC Radio 3 #Movember team.


Check out the Team CBC Radio 3 Movember gallery. (click on OPEN GALLERY) 

Thank you to everybody who donated to me AND the incredible Team CBC Radio 3!

Show Russ some love, ONE DOLLAR at a time! Donate HERE or to the team HERE.

Get checked. It's YOUR ass, don't just sit on it.

Last Day To Vote! CBC Radio 3 ~ 2012 Bucky Awards

Time is almost up to vote for the CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards. Kick it up! All the best in Canadian indie music. All voted on by you, the listener. PLUS, Top Fan Of The Year and Lifetime Achievement.
Cast your vote! Short list voting will be open from Nov. 21 through Nov. 28. The 2012 Bucky Awards will be presented on Friday Dec. 7 on Grant Lawrence Live!.

VOTE HERE. VOTE NOW!

NXNE 2012, Day 3 (Jun. 15): from coast to coast

To borrow one of CBC Radio 3 host Grant Lawrence's pet taglines, Friday night at NXNE was truly a Pan-Canadian set, spanning bands from across the country beginning with...

Lenny "WildWorks" Wu interviewing Grant Lawrence.

Windsor's own The Unquiet Dead at the Cadillac Lounge-- You get a lot for your money with this band, and not just because they're a 10-piece. Although they have a short history together, individually they're talented and seasoned musicians. Fans of Windsor's music scene and beyond will recognize members from The Golden Hands Before God, Magic Hall of Mirrors, Two For The Cascade and Surdaster. The result is a fortuitous assembly with broad musical knowledge, and it shows in their psychedelic-infused folky rock.

Jeremy Fisher (Ottawa) at the Dakota Tavern-- We had arrived early for The Danks' show, and were very glad we did. It turned into one of those great NXNE moments, when you end up at a show you hadn't planned on and know you're seeing a top performance. We were familiar with Fisher of course from Radio 3, but didn't realize how much, as he delivered funny stage banter and song after song we knew and loved, especially "The Scar That Never Heals." By comparison...

  

PEI's The Danks-- were a disappointment. Except for two solid selections from their 2009 album, Who's Afraid of the Danks?, including "Sold Me Out," their set was shambling and more like a practice session. It would have been nice to see them take NXNE a little more seriously.

One of the tough things about festivals like NXNE is choosing between bands you've already seen and know will be great, and trying something new. We reluctantly bypassed Elephant Stone and Parlovr for...

The Provincial Archive at The Painted Lady-- There couldn't have been an odder pairing of band and venue at NXNE. We walked past the scantily dressed young woman gyrating on the bar to hear an earnest set of indie-folk from this cerebral Edmonton band, surrounded by posters of soft porn eye candy. The highlight for us, though, was meeting Ken Beattie of Killbeat Music, who handles publicity for some of the best in Canadian indie.

Brasstronaut at the Gladstone Hotel-- was the show we had been waiting for. In fact, we'd been waiting since 2010 to see Brasstronaut (Vancouver) again; their show at the Phog Lounge remains an all-time favourite. They did not disappoint. Their newest release Mean Sun is outstanding, and so was their performance of most of the album's progressive (and sometimes retro) alt-rock to a packed room. It's not just mean that Mean Sun was overlooked for this year's Polaris Prize, it's criminal.

Cobra & Vulture at the Cameron House-- inside the bizarre rabbit warren decorated with giant bugs that is the Cameron House, we closed out the night at 2 a.m. with Montreal's Cobra & Vulture. We were there to support drummer Jeremy MacCuish (Parlovr), but were more than intrigued by vocalists/guitarists Amber Goodwyn and Erin Ross. It will be interesting to see what this alt-rock band does in the future. For now, you get a free download of their two EPs on Bandcamp.
























Photos: Russ Gordon/N2D Images

Yort Party!

We often write about the CBC Radio 3 community and how unique and special it is.
This is a perfect example.

N2D Did Movember

Thanks for donating to a great cause. I might keep it.

Is it really worth taking a month to raise awareness and money for the often ignored issue of men's health, specifically prostate cancer?

Yes. Yes it is. And we thank all of you who donated to the cause.

We here at N2D congratulate our own writer/stuntman/photographer Russ Gordon who threw his face into the ring as a member of the prestigious CBC Radio 3 #Movember team. The team raised $7400 as this goes to post. Not too bad, eh?

Don't stop now. Get involved. Stay involved.

Get checked. It's YOUR ass, don't just sit on it.

CBC Radio 3 presents the 6th annual BUCKY AWARDS.

The Buckys are nominated and voted on by listeners and honour the very best in Canadian independent music released during the current calendar year.

#BuckyAwards is the official hashtag.

Vote HERE for the categories below.

The bottom 2 nominees in each category will be eliminated on Friday, November 18. 
Voting will continue until midnight PT on Sunday, November 27.

•     Best Song
•     Most Canadian Song
•     Best Vocals
•     Best Live Act
•     Best Reason To Learn French
•     Best New Artist
•     Best New Band Name
•     Best Lyric
•     Sexiest Artist
•     Best Video

The 2011 CBC Radio 3 Bucky Awards Gala will be broadcast live on Wednesday, December 7 during Grant Lawrence Live  from 11:00am to 2:00pm PT - 2:00pm to 5:00pm ET.

HCFF 2011: #folkyeah

Yeah, we're still catching up on posts. But what better time to revisit what we did this summer than with the last weeks of fall upon us?

We've heard a lot about the big, multi-day, marathon folk festivals that define summer in Canada for our R3 friends: Winnipeg Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Regina Folk Festival, Dawson City Music Fest, etc., etc. Maybe someday we'll be able to pitch our tent and attend one of these tests of musical abundance, endurance and sleep deprivation, but this summer we put the training wheels on and experienced our first folk festival Jul. 16-17 in London, Ont. at the Home County Folk Festival. Here are our most memorable moments.

• The Adventures in Solitude workshop with CBC Radio 3 host and author Grant Lawrence, Sam Taylor and Marty Kolls. A book well worth reading, two musicians well worth checking out.

Grant Lawrence

Sam Taylor

Marty Kolls 

• The butterfly that landed-- and lingered-- on Grant's back jeans pocket.

"There was a butterfly where?"

• The power failure during Harlan Pepper's set. Unnerved at the first, they stepped up to the plate, off the stage, and performed a great acoustic set. Best part: the boys trying to get the mature audience to sing along to "Reefer": "I smoke a little reefer and hope my problems fade away..."

• Shawarma on the patio of the Barakat Restaurant with R3 friends.


• Emm Gryner. Her new album Northern Gospel is out now.




































• Hawksley Workman. We loved Hawksley, but couldn't help being a little disappointed by his (understandably) family-friendly set list.

• Our "for R3 blogger eyes only" screening of Winning America, CBC Radio 3's first documentary. Kudos to Brent Hodge.













•  A delightful breakfast the next morning at The Bag Lady, with a very hungover overbooked Grant Lawrence and an on-location taping of "Indie Craft Attack."


























• Amazing back-to-back sets Sunday afternoon from Dan Mangan-- giving the audience a preview of his latest album Oh Fortune, already highly lauded just a month after its release on Sep. 27.

• And The Acorn.