Upcoming shows
Sue Decker (March 7th, 2020)
Sue first came to Birdsong as part of a steel guitar showcase, and since that first taste of her music we have been waiting for the chance to have her back. As she tours on her new record, “Outskirts of Love”, we finally have the chance for night of music that is all Sue Decker.
Sue’s soulful voice, earthy slide guitar playing, and ‘outlaw country’ songwriting sensibility make for a powerful combination. Since she started playing music with a rented guitar at a bluegrass jam, Sue has been expanding her musicality wherever her songwriting leads. She followed the release of her first EP, 2015's Live at the Duncan Showroom, with a digital single “Love Never Follows the Rules”.
In 2019, Sue released her debut full length (Outskirts of Love) to international airplay and acclaim: “Decker’s songs and vocals show her to be an artist with a great future . . . marvelous stuff.” (John Valenteyn, Toronto Blues Society). Twelve original songs about love, fear, and faith are delivered on Outskirts with the passion and wit Sue is known for in her live shows. On stage, she creates a sense of community with her playful connection to the audience. You won’t want to miss this one!
http://suedecker.com/
Date and time
Saturday, March 7 7:00 PM
Living room show
Brandon Issak (May 7, 2020)
Brandon Issak has played Gabriola Island before, but this is his first time at Birdsong! Fresh off the release of his new album and a nomination for Blues Artist of the Year at the 2019 Western Canadian Music Awards, we look forward to bringing Brandon to our living room concert series this spring.
"Brandon not only plays his guitar but he plays his audience like a ringmaster in his own circus, always looking for new ways to entertain."-Teresa Mallam, Prince George Free Press.
What separates this Juno award nominated artist from the rest of the pack besides his world-class musicianship and song writing, is his ability to connect and involve the audience in his live shows.
Brandon's affinity for the rawness and spontaneity of the blues is second to none, as anyone who has had the privilege of being a part of his audience will tell you. He brings a firebrand style of guitar as well as incredibly stirring vocals that truly has to be witnessed to be appreciated! He is VERY much in the moment as he rips it up, and we know you'll be impressed with the caliber of showmanship within his performance of songs & stories by this great Canadian artist.
https://www.brandonisaak.ca/
Date and time
Thursday, May 7 7:00 PM
Living room show
Shawna Caspi (June 18th, 2020)
Another first-timer at Birdsong, Shawna Caspi comes to us from Toronto and is a mighty singer, a fingerstyle guitarist, a story sculptor, and a truth teller. Let's hope that Shawna's visit coincides with good weather so we can host her on the outdoor stage!
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi performs solo but there’s a whole band under her fingertips. She believes in poetry and the power of one person and one instrument, accompanying herself with a remarkable lyrical fingerpicking guitar style. Her performances capture audiences with grace and intimacy, whether the setting is a living room, a festival stage, or the bar car of a passenger train. Shawna loves the landscapes of her travels, and while weaving them into her songs, she has also been portraying them on canvases, painting one-of-a-kind works of art inspired by the rich scenery she sees on tour. Shawna’s fourth album Forest Fire is a collection of songs about burning things down and building them up again. When the words get heavy, they are held up to the light of love and gratitude. Shawna strives to be unafraid, to embolden quieted voices, to tell the truth above all else.
Date and time
Thursday, June 18th 7:00 PM
Living room show or Outdoors if the weather co-operates!
Early Spirit (July 3, 2020)
We are excited to kick off our summer concert series with Early Spirit - a band out of Vancouver that is sure to blow you away!
Early Spirit is a Vancouver based, Celtic folk-rock powerhouse, featuring Jay Knutson (Spirit of the West), Ben Kelly (Carmanah, Fish & Bird), Gabriel Dubreuil & Will Chernoff. They have spent the last year touring in support of their debut album Unrelated.
You will not want to miss this show on our outdoor stage - there is lots of room for dancing which we know you will want to do.
REVIEWS:
"This is a hot example of Celtic music and jazz fused together by superb musicians." - The Celtic Connection
"A delicate balance between electric and acoustic songs,dark and catchy rhythms, soft and the ethereal" -The Ottawa Citizen
"The sound is a unique blend of rock and roll energy, of folk lyrical conventions centered around various facets of Canadian life" - Vancouver Province.
Date and time
Friday, July 3 7:00 PM
Outdoor stage