Ember Swift w/Vanderpark::Thursday, Feb.9th::Kingston

[Boochawan]

Hey all

We're really excited to be opening for Ember Swift (apparantly no relation to Jimmy) at Elixir in Kingston on Thursday, February 9th.

We'll be doing a stripped-down acoustic set to start off what looks like is going to be a great night.

Peace

booch

[Lazlo]

We're really excited to be opening for Ember Swift (apparantly no relation to Jimmy)

No, but she is a relation of mine. Lucky for you we're not cut from the same cloth so she's not prone to the same behaviour. You should make it through the night relatively unscathed. Just keep your hands off her girlfriend.

[skelter]

i was just doing my rounds to pimp this show:

Ember Swift with special guests Vanderpark! This Thursday, February 9 at Elixir Nightclub (14 Garrett Street). Tickets on sale now at Destinations, Brian's Record Option, Chumleighs, Renaissance Music, Zap Records, Elixir and online at www.rockcrew.ca

Toronto's Ember Swift is both an individual singer-songwriter and a dynamic trio. Alongside of Ember's elastic jazz vocals and lush acoustic guitar are layers of electric violin, bass guitar, drums, percussion and vocal harmonies. Most notably, Lyndell Montgomery, with infectious charisma and musicianship akin to wizardy, has been performing with Ember Swift for over seven years. On drums and percussion, the tours rotate between two talented players: Adam Bowman and Cheryl Reid. Together, they combine folk, jazz, funk, punk, world (ranging from Middle Eastern to Spanish to Eastern European), pop, classical and reggae. They travel fluidly between genres and easily shrug off any attempts to cloak their music in a style category. Their "style" cannot be contained.

Ember Swift and her band speak their minds and their truths boldly and without fear from stages across Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Their songs shed light on issues such as globalization, consumer awareness, food politics, disengaging from capitalist greed, feminism, queer politics, racism and environmentalism. All seven of their independently released albums on their independent record label "Few'll Ignite Sound" weave politics and poetics in and out of daring musical arrangements. They are proud independent artists, by identity not default.

Among recent honours, Ember Swift was nominated for Outstanding Songwriter of the year at the 2003 OUTMusic Awards in New York City and performed at the awards ceremony to uproarious and sustained applause. Her newest album "Stiltwalking" was also [listener] voted #1 in August of 2003 on Outvoice.net, her first ever experience of being number one on a top 40 chart! In recent years, Ember was voted Toronto's Vocalist of the year in 2001 by NOW MAGAZINE and was also one of ten well-known Canadian artists asked to perform at a Joni Mitchell tribute concert for the International World Leaders Conference in late 2001. For this performance, she was awarded high praise from the Joni Mitchell official website.

Her ardent and loyal fan following continues to grow internationally with every performance. And now that Fleming & Associates (the same agency that books Ani DiFranco, Melissa Ferrick, Eric Bogle and Xavier Rudd, among others) is on the case, the momentum of Ember Swift's music career is fuelled with even more belief.

Their label's motto reads: "May the few who ignite sound fuel a change in the night. May the few who fuel change ignite sound into light." It embodies their philosophy that art combined with activism is truly a recipe for hope.

A heady brew of rock, funk, and pop that's hard to deny. When the six members of Toronto-based Vanderpark combine these elements, it results in an exciting, energetic original sound, found both on their new CD All Your Hands, and on stage at one of their many live shows. These sentiments are echoed by the McGill Tribune:

"The great, powerful voices and mastery of the instruments are but two aspects that make these guys pack venues and have such a solid following."- The McGill Tribune, Montreal, QC

Vanderpark is always hard at work, their drive is relentless. They have maintained a loyal following despite band members being previously located in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal for the past four years. Maintaining their loyal following has been a result of a vigorous and intense touring schedule that has taken the band through Central Canada and The Maritimes. As word continues to spread, Vanderpark has been stirring up a scene everywhere they play which hasn’t gone unnoticed. Vanderpark has recently opened for the legendary touring band Little Feat on the Canadian leg of their 2005 Summer Tour. Vanderpark has also shared the stage with triple platinum selling artists The Spin Doctors, as well as Truths and Rights featuring long-time members of both highly acclaimed acts Big Sugar, and Toots and the Maytals.

The future holds much for this young band. The buzz surrounding the release of their debut album, All Your Hands, is spreading fast and hot, as their active word-of-mouth fan base continues to grow. All Your Hands highlights Vanderpark’s uncanny songwriting sensibilities, tight harmony, and serious musicianship.

"All Your Hands is a melodic marvel; thematically mature, gloriously choreographed and rambunctiously funky." - The View Magazine

When listening to All Your Hands, it’s apparent that these boys have an inexorable appetite for progress. Vanderpark’s latest release is constantly in high demand, with the album available in stores nationwide and online at distributors such as iTunes, MSN music service, Napster, Pure Tracks, and Starbucks.

If you haven't heard of Vanderpark, trust me you soon will. This is a band that can’t, and won't, be ignored.

www.emberswift.com

www.vanderpark.com

www.elixirnightclub.com

www.rockcrew.ca

OTHER ROCK CREW SHOWS COMING SOON:

Tomi Swick & onlyforward - Feb 16 at Elixir

Fred Eaglesmith - Feb 23 at Elixir

Metric w/ Islands & Holy Fuck - Feb 28 at Elixir

From Fiction & Sylvie - Mar 2 at Elixir

Cuff The Duke w/ The Hylozoists & Greg MacPherson - Mar 9 at Elixir

Craig Cardiff - Mar 16 at Elixir

Hawksley Workman - Mar 23 at Sydenham Street United Church

The Old Soul & Lederhosen Lucil - Mar 23 at Elixir

Hootenanny! Luther Wright/Oh Susanna/Carolyn Mark/Hank & Lilly/Jenny Whitely/more - Mar 30 at Elixir

[skelter]

tonight!

Doors at 9 PM, show begins around 10 PM ... see you tonight!

[Demsky]

OLA