Junior Brown and his Guit-steel

Junior Brown strolls out onto the stage looking like a lanky cowboy in his hat.  But WTF is he carrying?  That weird looking double necked guitar is a fusion of a telecaster and a lap steel that he dreamed up, called a Guit-steel.  Brown fastens it to a stand and lets it rip.

And boy, does it rip.  In fact, it's stunning.  He blends country, rock and roll, Western swing and honky tonk until the strings are smoking.  Junior is blistering fast and, at times, I swear he's channeling Jimi Hendrix.  Not quite what you expect from this country looking dude.  But I like it!  So does Bob Dylan, having signed Junior to support his 2006 tour.

Don't miss Junior Brown's astonishing guitar skills at the Calgary Folk Music Festival, July 26 - 29, 2012.

Shakura S'Aida and Donna Grantis

Shakura S'Aida is a soulful singer of jazz, blues and R&B who performs around the world. She was born in Brooklyn and raised in Switzerland before moving to Toronto.  She is multi-lingual and brings a multiculturalism flavour to her music.  Shakura performed with Mystique in Toronto and a world music band called Kaleefah.  She also performed on the stage in musical productions, TV and films. She is an edgy and powerful performer.

Shakura is appearing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival in July 2012 and is conducting a workshop called Presenting Your Voice 101 at the CFMF Boot Camp.


Donna Grantis plays scorching lead guitar with Shakura.  She is a true guitar shredding wiz who mixes up a rocking psychedelic stew of blues, jazz and funk.  Sort of a mix of Hendrix, Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck.  Donna is also an educator, music director and composer.  She'll be teaching Blues Jamming at the Calgary Folk Music Festival Boot Camp.

I'm ready for some of this. It sounds like it's coming straight from her soul.

Jon Langford

The multi talented Jon Langford was one of the founding members of the influential punk band, the Mekons and is now Chicago's guru of alt-country music.  His music combines a love for country music, rock and roll and politics. His tunes are loose and freewheeling with a boozy, winning attitude, often about murder and death.  Langford is a passionate and intense performer.  He has recorded with many artists, including Alejandro Escovedo, the Sadies, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Chip Taylor, the Old 97s and the Waco Brothers.

Jon is also a prolific and respected visual and comic artist.  His work includes striking portraits of country music icons, including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Langford has recently been working on Skull Orchard Revisited with the Burlington (Ont) Welsh Male Chorus.

Jon is appearing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival July 26 - 29, 2012.  He is conducting a songwriting workshop as part of the CFMF Boot Camp just prior to the festival.  Details at

http://www.calgaryfolkfest.com/events/2012-folk-boot-camp-at-nmc/

John Doe

It seems somewhat anti-business to call yourself John Doe and then start a band with the anonymous name "X".  Despite his apparent lack of self promotion, John Doe is a very busy guy.  

He is, to start, a gifted songwriter.  His lyrics verge on raw poetry and carry a breathtaking force.  In addition, he has one of the finest voices in music and a is a dynamic performer who is sure to engage.

Doe founded the much-praised L.A. punk band X, which is still active. After the heyday of X, he decided to pursue a rootsy, country-rock direction instead of continuing with punk.  He also began appearing in music oriented flicks and then, more big budget movies as well as some television appearances.  He has appeared in over 60 movies and television episodes.  Somehow he finds time to fit both busy careers together.

Here is a version of I Will Always Love You which actually played on a jukebox during a scene in the movie The Bodyguard.  It was never released on cd.

Doe has performed with the country-folk-punk band The Knitters and has released 10 records as a solo artist.  The cd Country Club (2009), featuring Canadian band The Sadies, covers country classics along with original songs.  John’s musical performances and compositions span the rock, country and folk music genres. 

Here's John with the Sadies doing an X song.

John Doe is performing at the Calgary Folk Music Festival, July 26 – 29, 2012.

Sam Baker - Careful Observer

By rights, Sam Baker should not be a guitar player after a terrorist bomb nearly blew his left hand off 20 years ago.  Fortunately, he persevered, learned to play left-handed and created some beautiful music.

Baker’s singing is raspy and almost spoken.  His quiet melodies draw the listener into the stories and his pacing adds tension to the heart rending lyrics.  The unique delivery and distinctive voice will remain with you, long after the songs fade away.  Sam is a treasure and his music is real and filled with humanity.  His raspy stories stand up well to careful listening.

Here's Sam performing a poignant song from his most recent album, Cotton.

Baker is participating in the Calgary Folk Music Festival Folk Boot Camp (July 24 - 26, 2012) where he is teaching a songwriting class called “Unleash Creative Mysteries”.  He will help students get inside their own imaginations and show techniques and writing tools to build on creativity.  He is also performing at the festival itself (July 28 - 29, 2012).

Jim White

Jim White is a Southern American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music can be described as whacked out alternative country with an experimental feel.  White grew up in Florida surrounded by gospel music.  According to various sources, he has been a comedian, a fashion model, a boxer, a preacher, a professional surfer, and a New York cab driver. Before embarking on a music career, White attended film school.

He went through a period of depression and poverty after a bandsaw accident, which resulted in a maimed left hand, seemed to end White's hopes as a musician.  At a party organized by film school friends, White began to perform again.  After writing a collection of simple songs on his guitar, a friend convinced him to record a demo.

His live performances are often off-beat, blending his playlist with open discussion with the audience.  He is known for his insightful storytelling and humourous anecdotes.

He has collaborated with artists including Victoria Williams, Aimee Mann, Barenaked Ladies, and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell among others. 

Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus is a 2004  documentary in which Jim White describes his idea of the rural South, where country music meets Christianity. This journey takes you through a very real contemporary Southern US, a world of marginalized white people and their unique and home-made culture.  He encounters like-minded musicians such as David Johansen, Lee Sexton, The Handsome Family, David Eugene Edwards of 16 Horsepower and  Johnny Dowd as well as some gospel churches.  Jim will be screening Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus at the Calgary Folk Music Festival Boot Camp at the Plaza Theatre on July 27, 2012.  He will be in attendance for a live acoustic performance and Q & A.

Jim is also a visual artist with some whimsical and cynical pieces.

White continues to create extraordinary, eclectic music with Where It Hits You, released earlier this year.  Here he talks about some of the songs.

OK, here I go.

OK, here I go.  This is going to be a music blog.  I have been following new music for years and hopefully, this will help me document and organize my ears.  The name "Diamonds To Coal" was pinched from a Jim White record, "Transnormal Skiperoo".  Jim has been on my mind because he is appearing at the 2012 Calgary Folk Music Festival.  In fact, not only is he appearing, but he is doing a special lecture at the Folk Boot Camp, held at the National Music Centre (formerly Cantos) space on 11th Ave SE in Calgary from July 24 - 26.

Actually, the Calgary Folk Music Festival is a good place to start.  Let's talk about the bands slated to appear this summer.  The festival runs from July 26 - 29, 2012.  There are 67 acts ranging from solo performers to large ensembles.  Don't let the word "folk" put you off.  This is world class music of many different genres which has a very broad appeal.  There is support for local musicians and the festival draws performers from around the world.  At times during this festival, 6 stages are happening simultaneously so the more informed you are, the better you can choose.

Here is Jim White.

Next post:  On to the music!