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Archive of 2014 May:

May
27
2014

Weekend of House Concerts in Alberta

Quick reminder, ALBERTA friends. I am playing two more shows while I’m here.

This FRIDAY in MEDICINE HAT at Blair & June’s place. I met these lovelies through Homeroutes when they hosted a show for me in 2010. We’ve stayed in touch, becoming friends since then. And at long last I have a chance to go back and play another show at their place.

Then SATURDAY I head back to EDMONTON to play at Justina and Jason’s place. You may recognize Justina (full name: Justina Smith) because she is the artist who painted the amazing cover for More than a Hero! Personally, I am excited to see the place where she paints her beauties!

Both of the hosts have told me they are cool with Karyn Ellis fans coming to their shows. To get an invitation and make sure there is room, you need to email them to introduce yourself, make reservations and get directions.

Medicine Hat – Friday May 30th ~ Blair and June Winger at blairwinger@canopycanada.net

Edmonton – Saturday May 31st ~ Justina and Jason Collier at justlittleart@gmail.com

May
27
2014

You’re one in a minion!

Great house concert at in Edmonton this past Saturday in honour of Sam’s birthday! The night was full of highlights:

A fine opening set by local artist, Manuela (who is also an actor, check her out!) Followed by some of the guests jamming during the intermission.

During my set, I was joined by Will Gibson on drums – an impromptu band and a chance to rock out a bit! :D Medical Engineer by day, Will grew up in a musical family and has been playing for decades – total intuit, beautiful player.

Then Sam blew candles out on the cake – the Millennium Falcon. You know what this means? Harrison Ford totally came to my show!

At the wrap of the night I was handed this amazing card drawn by Sam’s niece. “One in a minion singer,” she writes. Shucks! I totally teared up. So sweet.

May
26
2014

Roots Music Canada Review

Great review from Eric Thom on Roots Music Canada of my Toronto show this past March at the Freetimes. His reviews of fellow performers Marina MArina and Orit Shimoni are bang on and worth a read too. (Be sure to check out their music too… wowser!)

(Yes, it is now the end of May… I’ve been to Europe and back since then and realized I haven’t posted it yet. So here it is!)

“I was familiar with Karyn Ellis’ recent release, More Than A Hero but it’s always so much better to watch an artist bring their recorded songs to life on-stage. Soft, delicate touches mixed with deft harmonies and bare bones instrumentation, her strong songs each stand on their own feet.

Supplementing the rich melodic qualities of her work, friend and fellow powerhouse singer, Sue Newberry, joined Ellis as each song permitted, adding spark to each well-written original’s fuel.

Beginning with one of Hero’s highlights, “Rust,” two complementary voices rose as one, entwining themselves around this elegant melody, accompanied by Ellis’ elementary 6-string acoustic guitar. With MM adding additional vocal support and Devin contributing guitar, “I’ll Do Anything” proved slightly reminiscent of Lisa Loeb, vocally, Ellis regularly injecting her warm approach to balladry with subtle pop touches.

Singing solo, her “Cosmic Cowboy” revealed a comparatively harder edge to her vocal approach, slightly overriding the song’s original vulnerability. Leading a singalong with “Be My Girl,” forced her to slightly exaggerate her parts in an effort to spur on the audience, costing this delicate original some of its intimate charm.

Yet, all was quickly redeemed with “River” – an earthy, hypnotic song from Hero which builds slowly, revealing the rich range of Ellis’ voice, its exuberant, catchy chorus transforming the song into something falling midway between southern gospel and an African tribal chant.

The combination of Ellis and Newberry added power to strong material yet it’s the more intimate readings that provide Ellis with her impressive bite.”

READ THE REVIEW / SEE PHOTOS ON ROOTS MUSIC CANADA