Leonard Cohenites International

LCN and the joys of summer!

2008-09-05T12:27:00.011-06:00

Thanks again to everyone who make the LCN fest such a huge success this summer. With almost 2,000 participants, it was by far the largest event ever hosted by the local Edmonton collective "Leonard Cohen Nights Art Society."

Please take a minute to run through the many photographs taken by participants this July:

The Kim Solez + Tom Turner Images
John + Fiona: Photos + Videos
Eija Arjatsalo Photos
Paula Blanco Photos

If you have any images from the festival which you would like to see added to this list, please contact us at cohenites@gmail.com - please include a link to your images or send small versions of the photos in your message.

Have a great summer! We'll see you next year.

Photos by Paula Blanco

2008-09-05T00:42:00.000-06:00

Event pictures by Eija Arjatsalo

2008-09-05T00:35:00.002-06:00

The Edmonton Event is Over...

2008-08-01T17:09:00.003-06:00

But the fun is just beginning!

Thanks to everyone who made the Edmonton Leonard Cohen Event such an enormous hit.

Unfortunately, I (Lila - the hospitality coordinator and web master) am on vacation until mid-August and will not be able to update the sites until I return.

Make sure to check back in two weeks for photos, articles, and links! If you have any photos, links, or videos of your own, please please please send them to us at cohenites@gmail.com - I will post them as soon as possible. Don't keep your glorious photos all to yourselves - share the joy with your fellow cohenites!

Now get out there and enjoy the summer.....

Information Links

2008-07-25T00:00:00.020-06:00

The biennial Cohen Event organized by The Leonard Cohen Files has combined forces with the annual "Leonard Cohen Nights" festival in Edmonton and for a festival bigger and better than ever! The 2008 event will feature multiple concerts with artists from Jann Arden to Serena Ryder, open mike performances, poetry readings, and a visual arts display as well as a wide variety of participant activities and *for the first time ever!* an official hospitality suite.

This site lists information for participants - both local and international - to help everyone have the best possible experience this summer. Links to specific areas of information are available below or along the left hand side of this page. The artist section contains information on the vast number of performers + artists featured during our event. The activities section includes general activities such as walking tours as well as larger events and concerts.

Please feel free to browse the site and contact us at cohenites@gmail.com if you have any questions or requests.

Sign Up Now! - Purchase your festival pass today! (includes all concerts + events - public + private!)

Click on one of the following links for information:

Tickets - Links to order the Festival Pass + Winspear Concert Tickets
Hospitality Suite - What the suite is and when the best parties are
Festival Activities - Concerts, tours, parties and events
Performers - Professional acts at this year's festival
LCN Open Mike - Cohen covers or your own material: sign up info

Volunteers Wanted! - Spend some time at the heart of the action by volunteering with the festival + get a discount on your festival ticket while you're at it

Accomodations - Where to stay in Edmonton and why
What to do in Edmonton - Unscheduled activities and tourist favourites
How to Get Around - Bus, LRT, Taxi and Rent-a-Car information

Winspear Concert Tickets

Sisters of Mercy Tour

2008-07-22T11:33:00.001-06:00

A Tour of Note: On Friday July 25 join Michael Dorsey, a musician who had the opportunity to play with Leonard Cohen in 1966, on a “Sisters of Mercy” tour of the University of Alberta that includes the home in which Leonard wrote “Sisters of Mercy”.

Ticket Information

2008-06-11T00:30:00.003-06:00

The Festival Pass
Covers all concerts, private + public, including all special events, tours, etc. "The Next Step," Friday's "Hospitality Suite Concert," and the DJ Dance Parties are just a few examples of the additional acitivies covered by the Festival Pass - and all for less than the price of individual tickets to the two public concerts!

The Winspear Concert
Only includes Saturday's main concert (see: The Saturday Concert)

Tickets are also available for the friday night Songwriters in the Round concert, at the Haven Social Club. Contact cohenites@gmail.com for details on the different ticket choices or information on how to purchase tickets.

River Valley Hikes

2008-05-18T00:42:00.003-06:00

Feeling particularly perky? Or just need an excuse to get out into that glorious day?

Check out the River Valley Tours, short hike/walks through the glorious valley at the heart of Edmonton... start at the Hospitality Suite and wander through some of the most beautiful scenery in Alberta.

Picnic in the Park

2008-05-18T00:37:00.003-06:00

Time to get outdoors and enjoy the summer!

Take a short walk from the hospitality suite to Edmonton's glorious riverside parks. Master Cohenite Tori Sheldon is hosting the party... Pick up treats at the Save-on-Foods along the way, or indulge in the snacks sold at the picnic itself.

Bring your blankets + get ready for an old fashioned Edmonton picnic party!

DJ Dance Party

2008-05-18T00:32:00.002-06:00

Join us in the hospitality room for the musical stylings of DJ Hot Philly. A fan of Cohen himself, Philly is sure to bring a high energy + eclectic mix to the party. Come dance till it hurts with fellow Cohenites all weekend long.

Clinker: "On the Other Side..."

2008-05-18T00:26:00.004-06:00

Clinker’s “On the Other Side...” explores Cohen’s continued romance with the light and dark inside our human experience. An audio-visual “deep listening” environment which will draw from the vast depths of emotion written into the words and music of Leonard Cohen.

The lush bass tones of Cohen’s voice provide a point of departure for our journey inside Clinker’s cinema of sound and light. Drawing from years of experience in creating and manipulating music and audio, Clinker will deconstruct and reassemble Cohen’s voice into surreal “bass-scapes” using his unique and sophisticated system of analogue and digital electronics. Clinker’s creation will bathe the audience in an array of Cohen’s “golden” vocal chords augmented with a connection between sonic and visual details. A specially designed sub-sonic sound system will be in place to reinforce the experience of extreme sound-movement through the body.

This piece will also be punctuated with musical adaptations of some of Clinker’s favorite Cohen songs featuring special guest virtuoso guitarist and recording artist, Les Robot. This will mark their first on-stage collaboration together drawing on both artist’s penchant for post-future musical arrangement.

Cohen Films

2008-05-18T00:18:00.004-06:00

The Cohenites have pestered, pandered, and bartered their way into attaining a number of Cohen films. Come check them out at the Stanley A Milner Public Library (across the street from the hospitality suite!)

Attendance is free and open to the public.

This Beggar's Description

Philip Tétrault has been locked up in jails and psych wards, kicked out of the house by desperate friends and family and spent long periods living on the streets of Montreal. However, he is also a talented writer and loving father whose deep family bonds and friendships have helped him come through periods of incredible darkness brought on by his schizophrenia.

Directed by Pierre Tétrault, This Beggar's Description tells his brother Phil's story - one of art, love, and madness - capturing the far-reaching effects of schizophrenia on one man, his friends and his family.

Phil's writing is central both to his life and to this documentary - offering extraordinary insights into street life in Montreal, the beauty of nature and what he calls "the gymnastics of my mind". His unpublished novel, Travels in Schizophrenia, is so intense that to this day Phil can't read it, for fear that it will bring on his schizophrenia.

Today he spends his days with friends on the street, collects cans for beer money, plays his beloved pan pipes and writes as much as he can. Phil is celebrated at the launch of his poetry book in Montreal, which is attended by his old friend and great supporter Leonard Cohen, whose songs are woven throughout the film.

In this powerful and moving portrait, we are reminded that rather than continuing to isolate those with schizophrenia, it is a far richer experience to make a place for them.

The Ernie Game

This romantic feature filmed in wintry Montreal could take place in any city with young people who have left their parents but still haven't made homes of their own.

The protagonist of this drama, Ernie, is extremely alienated. For him, life is a game because he's unable to make anything more of it. But for those who befriend him and eventually turn him loose again, his game is not enough.

The cast includes Jackie Burroughs, who went on to fame in the well-loved TV series Anne of Green Gables. The video also features a memorable performance by Leonard Cohen.

Ladies and Gentleman...Mr. Leonard Cohen

This Jazzy 1965 black and white film portrait catches the imaginative energies, lyrical and comic, of a young Leonard Cohen, the quicksilver Canadian poet, novelist, and songwriter as he was on the verge of pop stardom. This Jazzy 1965 black and white film portrait catches the imaginative energies, lyrical and comic, of a young Leonard Cohen, the quicksilver Canadian poet, novelist, and songwriter as he was on the verge of pop stardom.

Early Bird Breakfast

2008-05-18T00:16:00.002-06:00

Like a bird on a wire... They will flock together?

OK so we're not Cohen. But we do throw a good party! Pop by the hospitality suite for breakfast + get a heads up on scheduled activities for the day. Maybe even meet someone new or plan your own adventure for the day!

Additional Concerts + Performances

2008-04-01T19:32:00.004-06:00

Thursday Night - "Dance Me" performance
Friday Afternoon - Academic Talks with Dr. Meuller and Ira Nadel.
Friday Night - Clinker performance
Saturday Afternoon - Monsieur Camembert Concert
Sunday Afternoon - Clinker Performance(s)

Monsieur Camembert

2008-04-01T19:30:00.000-06:00

...a brazen and intoxicating blend of jazz, gypsy swing, Latin & East European influences! (The Age, 2005)

If I had to summarise the immense appeal of this group, it is their subtle quirkiness and sense of surprise they engender...you could groove to them all night...
(Diaspora Magazine)

Gloriously melodramatic, extraordinary musical prowess [and] breathless panache… ensemble playing at it’s finest... (Drum Media Magazine)
…a winning tongue-in-cheek insouciance that is instantly intoxicating and highly infectious (The Adelaide Review)

With a vibrant, contemporary edge, triple ARIA Award winning group Monsieur Camembert has been described as eclectic, virtuosic, theatrical and irreverent. Fusing the wild rhythms of Eastern Europe with tango and Latin music, swing, jazz, klezmer, tarantella and French Musette, Monsieur Camembert’s shows have become synonymous with an atmosphere of celebration and spontaneity. This is gutsy, emotive and irresistibly danceable music, played with originality, virtuosity, sensuality and flair.
The most successful world music band in Australian music history, the core group has been performing for more than seven years and has gained a wide audience at a range of events, including national and international music festivals, concert halls, various performing arts and jazz venues, including the Sydney Opera House, The Basement and the Art Gallery of NSW and celebrity weddings. In 2000, they were a featured act at the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony and were broadcast on ABC Radio National's live concert series: “Live On Stage” three times.

Performances over the past few years have included the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, three sell-out concerts in Paris, WOMADelaide in South Australia and Woodford in Queensland, Port Fairy Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Ohel Leah’s Centenary celebrations in Hong Kong, St Kilda Festival in Melbourne and Bellingen Global Carnival. The group has also devised a full-length show Just a Gigolo based on the life and music of Louis Prima, which played to sell-out audiences in Sydney and the Gold Coast. In 2003, they released their third CD, Absynthe, which has now been on the Australian Jazz Charts for a record-breaking 105 Weeks, after more than 6 months at the No.1 position. Absynthe won an ARIA AWARD for Best World Music album. This followed on from their 2002 win in the same category for their Live on Stage CD.

2005 highlights have included a Best World Music Album ARIA for their new double self-titled CD Monsieur Camembert, performances at the Mosaic Festival in Singapore, the Toyota Muster in Queensland, headlining the Cygnet Festival in Tasmania, and the Sydney premiere of a Leonard Cohen tribute show. Plans for 2006 include recording, national touring, festival appearances throughout Australia, performances in New Zealand and a follow up European tour.
Monsieur Camembert is:
Yaron Hallis - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Edouard Bronson - Saxes/Clarinet/Flute
Marcello Maio - Accordion/Piano
Santiago - Lead Guitar
Mark Harris - Double BassJess Ciampa - Percussion

Guest Artists:
Anatoli Torjinski - 5 String Cello/Balalaika
Daniel Weltlinger - Violin
Julian Curwin - Lead Guitar
Shenzo Gregorio - ViolinVladimir Khusid - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Svetlana Bunic - Accordion

Academic Speakers

2008-04-01T16:38:00.002-06:00

As part of "Find Yourself Friday," The Cohenites will be presenting three academic talks on Leonard Cohen with special emphasis on healing, Buddhism and minimalism as they reference his works.

These speakers will present at the Hospitality Suite (in the Westin Hotel) on Friday afternoon. Featured performers are:

Ira Nadel - Infamous in Cohen fan circles as Leonard's Biographer, Ira Nadel has spoken at numerous Cohenites events in the past. He will be discussing "The New Cohen" - recent developments in Cohen's life and art.

Dr. Thomas Mueller - A local Nephrologist, and ex-LCN board member, Dr. Mueller will be talking about Cohen's connections to medicine, meditation, and Buddhism.

Volunteer Registration Form

2008-03-16T16:36:00.003-06:00

Register as a volunteer for the July festival and receive 30% off your festival pass (as well as free bus tickets, snacks, and lots of other perks!)

Register now to receive your discount! Email cohenites@gmail.com or download the registration form from www.leonardcohennights.org/volunteer.doc

Artist Line Ups

2008-03-16T16:30:00.005-06:00

The Saturday Concert

Jann Arden,
Serena Ryder,
Peter Elkas,
Roddy Hart,
Darrell Scott,
Tom Rush,
Ted Bishop (spoken word),
Todd Babiak (spoken word),
Emceed by Kate Hammett-Vaughan

Held at the Winspeare Centre, Edmonton

Fan Event (Friday Night):
Karla Anderson
Ann Vriend
Hospitality suite performances.

Songwriter in the Round Concert (Friday Night):
Peter Elkas,
Roddy Hart,
Darrell Scott,
Tom Rush
Performing a combination of Cohen covers and the performer's own work. Held at the Masonic Hall, Edmonton

Fan Concert (Friday Night)

2008-03-16T16:05:00.004-06:00

Karla Anderson
Ann Vriend

Performances will be at the Westin Hotel Hospitality Suite.

Songwriter in the Round Concert (Friday Night)

2008-03-16T16:03:00.008-06:00

Peter Elkas,
Roddy Hart,
Darrell Scott,
Tom Rush

Performing a combination of Cohen covers and the performer's own work.

Held at the Haven Night Club, Edmonton (151 st and Stoney Plain)

The Saturday Concert

2008-03-16T15:58:00.009-06:00

Jann Arden,
Serena Ryder,
Monsieur Camembert
Peter Elkas,
Roddy Hart,
Darrell Scott,
Tom Rush,
Ann Vriend
Ted Bishop (spoken word),
Todd Babiak (spoken word),

Emceed by Kate Hammett-Vaughan

Held at the Winspear Centre, Edmonton

2008 Edmonton International Event Schedule!!

2008-03-16T15:54:00.021-06:00

All Events are held/start at the Westin Hospitality Room unless otherwise specified.

Wed July 23- "4 Old Songs"
2pm Registration begins
3-7pm Downtown Tours
6-9pm Collage-a-thon

Thur July 24- "Inspiration/Temptation"
8-10am Early Bird Breakfast
11:30-4pm Whyte Ave Shopping trips
4:30-6:15pm Cohen Films at the Library
6:30-10pm “Dance Me” performance at Citadel Theatre
10-10:45pm "The New Step" Play
11pm onwards Collage-a-thon

Fri July 25- “Find Yourself Friday”
1-3pm Sisters of Mercy Tour
5-7pm Academic Talks
8-10pm Songwriter in the Round at Haven and Hospitality Suite concert
10:30pm - Midnight Clinker "On the Other Side..." Live Performance at Citadel Theatre

Sat July 26- “Dance Me to the End”
9:30-1pm River Valley Tours
2:30-4pm Open Mike
8-10pm Winspear Concert
10:30pm onwards DJ Dance Party

Sun July 27 - "Back on Boogie Street"
11-3pm Picnic in the Park party at Rundle Park
3pm, 5pm Clinker "On the Other Side..." Live Performances
8-10pm Monsieur Camembert Concert
10:30pm onwards DJ Dance Party

Mon July 28- "Closing Time"
8-10am Survivor’s Breakfast at College Plaza
1:30pm Bus departs for Banff Mini-Event

The Post Event Party in the Rockies

2008-03-16T14:23:00.007-06:00

The Banff After Party
(Where the cool kids will be post-LCN 08 )

Monday July 28th
 Leave 1pm, arrive 8pm ish via Greyhound
 Drinks at St James' Gate Pub

Tuesday July 29th
 Tunnel Mountain Hike (AM)
 River Kayaking (PM)
 Drinks at the Banff Springs Hotel (Latenight)

Wednesday July 30th
 Lake Minnewanka Hike + Picnic (AM)
 Spa Evening (PM)
 Jam Night at HI Hostel (Latenight)

Thursday July 31st
 Sulfur Mountain Hike (AM)
 Lunch at the summit of Sulfur (restaurant or bag lunch)
 Hot Springs soak (PM)

Friday August 1st
 Shopping! Main St and the Banff Springs Hotel (AM)
 HI Kareoke night (latenight)
 Airport Shuttle or Greyhound back

* Other things you may wish to do in Banff: White water rafting, horse riding, carraige ride, visit Lake Louise (1hr drive or $10 busride), browse the many galleries... or a million other things!

- Lots of time for your own activities and adventures!
- Easy hikes every morning, relax every evening
- Choose your own activities and reconnect with the group whenever you want
- Spa and shopping options for non-athletes (or those who are partied-out)
- Discounts for anyone with a car
- Great way to enjoy the best of Banff within the safety and energy of a group

** For all the activities listed (except shopping/spas/etc), the estimated price is about $350. You can do as little or as much as you want - this price also includes your stay at the hostel + the busride to Banff.

email cohenites@gmail.com to sign up today!

Jann Arden (Saturday Night Headliner)

2008-03-16T14:21:00.002-06:00

Recording artist, Jann Arden continues to be one of Canada’s most talented songwriters and performers. Starting 2007 as Chatelaine’s covergirl and with a personal transformation that people can’t stop talking about, her star will only continue to shine. With 9 CDs, 16 top ten singles, a substantial collection of industry related awards and honours, a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, acting, writing and charity work, Arden is truly an entertainment icon.

In February 2007, Arden released her ninth album, Uncover Me, a collection of Arden’s favorite songs. Uncover Me debuted at #1 on the Digital SoundScan Chart and placed 3rd on the Nielsen’s SoundScan Chart. This was Jann’s highest debut to date spanning her illustrious 15 year recording career.

Led by the hit single “Bring The Boys Home,” Arden takes ownership of these personally selected tracks crafted by some of the best songwriters of our time. The tracks include everything from “You’re So Vain” (Carly Simon) to “At Seventeen” (Janis Ian) to an amazing rendition of “California Dreamin’” (the Mama’s & the Papas). Arden has not forgotten her loyal fans and has included a new original track “Counterfeit Heart.”

Arden has continued to tour at an unstoppable pace. Last summer, she returned from a US tour with Canadian crooner Michael Bublé. This marked her third outing with Bublé – having also toured Europe and Australia in the past 18 months. Her recent Uncover Me Tour, visiting cities across Canada this spring, was one of 2007’s most anticipated and successful tours.

In 2006, Arden was awarded 2 Western Canadian Music Awards, including Pop Recording of the year for Jann Arden. SOCAN honoured Arden with its 2006 National Achievement Award for career success in songwriting, as well as 6 Classic Awards for singles reaching 100,000 spins on Canadian radio and 1 Pop Music Award for the single “Where No One Knows Me.”

Arden is also well known for her comedic talents, abilities as a speaker and as a bestselling author. In the Fall of 2004, Arden celebrated the publication of her second book – a collection from her popular on-line journals. i’ll tell you one damn thing, and that’s all i know! continued where her bestselling first publication, if I knew, don’t you think I’d tell you? left off (much to Arden’s surprise, her first book climbed to #3 on Canada’s Globe and Mail Non-fiction Bestseller list). Arden’s ability to candidly discuss topics ranging from bra size to spirituality has solidified her reputation of being unpredictably entertaining, which explains the sell-out crowds at the notable “My Life, My Way” and “Lifefest” speaking series, presented by Chatelaine.

Arden is no stranger to theatre, having performed in Eve Ensler’s Broadway hit, The Vagina Monologues on stages across Canada. She also returned to the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal to host An Evening at Eve’s Tavern. On the screen, large and small, Arden filmed Jann Takes Manhattan (a documentary-style network television special filmed while performing in New York City), was featured in the Gemini nominated episode of the sitcom Big Sound, and was cast in the feature movies White Lies and Don’t Cry Now.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Millions of records sold worldwide, with 15 top ten singles from eight albums: Time for Mercy, Living Under June, Happy?, Blood Red Cherry, Greatest Hurts–The Best of, Live With the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Love Is The Only Soldier, Jann Arden and her latest release, Uncover Me.
• Winner of 8 (eight) Junos, 8 (eight) 2006 SOCAN Awards, 2 (two) 2006 Western Canadian Music Awards and many other industry accolades including a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
• Active supporter of charities including the 2007 “Cure” Foundation for Breast Cancer and is the 2007 national spokesperson for Kids Help Phone. In 2006, Arden performed for and supported Gilda’s Club of Greater Toronto, Make A Wish Foundation and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Arden also continues to be an active supporter of World Vision

Jann Arden (Headliner)

2008-03-16T14:18:00.003-06:00

Recording artist Jann Arden continues to be one of Canada’s most talented songwriters and performers. Starting 2007 as Chatelaine’s covergirl and with a personal transformation that people can’t stop talking about, her star will only continue to shine. With 9 CDs, 16 top ten singles, a substantial collection of industry related awards and honours, a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, acting, writing and charity work, Arden is truly an entertainment icon.

In February 2007, Arden released her ninth album, Uncover Me, a collection of Arden’s favorite songs. Uncover Me debuted at #1 on the Digital SoundScan Chart and placed 3rd on the Nielsen’s SoundScan Chart. This was Jann’s highest debut to date spanning her illustrious 15 year recording career.

Led by the hit single “Bring The Boys Home,” Arden takes ownership of these personally selected tracks crafted by some of the best songwriters of our time. The tracks include everything from “You’re So Vain” (Carly Simon) to “At Seventeen” (Janis Ian) to an amazing rendition of “California Dreamin’” (the Mama’s & the Papas). Arden has not forgotten her loyal fans and has included a new original track “Counterfeit Heart.”

To view the rest of the article, please click here

Todd Babiak (spoken word performer)

2008-03-16T14:16:00.004-06:00

Todd Babiak grew up in Leduc. He moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. In 1995 he was thrilled to graduate with a BA in Political Science. There was much rejoicing when he learned he would move to Montreal to do a Master's Degree in English literature at Concordia University.

Todd is the culture columnist at the Journal. On the side, he writes novels. His first is called CHOKE HOLD. His second, THE GARNEAU BLOCK, was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and won the City of Edmonton Book Prize. THE BOOK OF STANLEY, his third novel, is published by McClelland & Stewart.

What else? Oh! Todd is on the board of PEN Canada, on the steering committee for Architecture Alberta and the former lord mayor of Old Strathcona. He plays ultimate frisbee, speaks poor French with his daughter and reads books for fun. Please look at http://www.toddbabiak.com/ for more startling information.

Ted Bishop (spoken word performer)

2008-03-16T14:12:00.001-06:00

Ted Bishop has authored books and articles on Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and modernist publishing. His literary non-fiction has appeared in Cycle Canada, Enroute, Prairie Fire, Rider, and Word Carving: The Craft of Literary Journalism. Riding with Rilke was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction, it was nominated for the Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize, and it won the Motorcycle Awards of Excellence. Ted Bishop lives in Edmonton and teaches at the University of Alberta.

Darrell Scott

2008-03-16T14:09:00.000-06:00

Darrell Scott is a powerful musical spirit. A Grammy-nominated artist, an award-winning songwriter, and a first-call session musician, living and working (literally and figuratively) on the fringes of Nashville’s Music Row, Scott occupies his own unique half-acre in this city’s crowded musical landscape. In a town that’s got pigeonholing down to an art, Darrell Scott stands out as a refreshingly mischievous artist.

The Invisible Man, Scott’s sixth release, finds the artist at the peak of his powers, drawing from a rich well of influence and experience to create his most fully realized work to date. From the album’s opening lyric, “In the early morning hours, just before you’re wide awake,” to its closing title, “In My Final Hour,” The Invisible Man traces a thematic arc between waking and sleeping, living and dying, shining a brilliant light on the fleeting moments between.

Scott is a master of both the infectious, Appalachian-inflected riff, and of the instruments that bring them to life. His songs are propelled by his knack for blending tradition-soaked hooks with personal, contemporary lyrics. On The Invisible Man’s 12 tracks, Scott explores themes of love, family, and the joys and pitfalls of the artist’s life. And if the singer sounds a little politicized on songs like “I’m Nobody” and “Goodle, USA” (which is covered by Faith Hill on her latest release under the title “We’ve Got Nothing But Love to Prove”), there are good reasons.

“There were times when I got up on a soapbox on this record,” he says. “But I think we’re living in the weirdest time of my lifetime, and I’m going to say something about it.”

Born on a tobacco farm in the coal-mining center of London, Kentucky, Scott moved as a young child to East Gary, Indiana, a steel-mill town on Lake Michigan near Chicago. His father is a musician, and he grew up around music and creativity. By 16, he was playing roadhouses in Southern California. After some dues-paying years in Toronto and Boston, where he attended Tufts University, studying poetry and literature, Scott finally made the move south.

“Unless you come and start looking around, you could think Nashville is all country radio and Christian music,” he says. “Then you realize that Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, and Mickey Newbury wrote here.”

From his earliest days in Nashville, Scott the instrumentalist gravitated toward the best, with singers like John Cowan, pickers like Sam Bush, and songwriters like Guy Clark employing his utilitarian string-slinging skills.

“Playing with Sam or trying to sing with Cowan is a really cool thing to do,” Scott says. “And if you’re going to play to support a song, can it get better than supporting a Guy Clark song?” Darrell co-produced two Guy Clark albums Cold Dog Soup and The Dark. Also, Darrell is currently an active member of Steve Earle’s Bluegrass Dukes.

With gigs paying the bills, Scott pursued his solo career, recording two projects (1997’s Aloha from Nashville and 1999’s Family Tree) and a duet album, Real Time, with bluegrass stalwart Tim O’Brien. That album included the Grammy-nominated instrumental, “The Second Mouse,” and the Grammy-winning song, “Long Time Gone.”

It wasn’t long before his songs started to jump off those albums and onto the charts. Scott became one of Nashville’s most decorated songwriters. He was named Songwriter of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International in 2001 and ASCAP’s Songwriter of the Year in 2002.

Back in 2003, Scott launched Full Light Records, distributed by Ryko Distribution. His first move as owner was to make an album on his dad, Wayne Scott, and record This Weary Way, an old-school, mountain country album that was one of last year’s more pleasant surprises.

When putting his own records together, Scott calls on the cream of the crop. The recording roots of The Invisible Man go back to his powerful release, the critically acclaimed Theater of the Unheard – which won 2005 Album of the Year with the Independent Music Awards, and was listed as one of the 2003 Critics Top Albums by Rolling Stone Magazine. The bulk of The Invisible Man was recorded live in Scott’s home studio, utilizing his familiar core group of players, including the rhythm section of world-class bassist Danny Thompson (Richard Thompson, Rod Stewart) and legendary drummer Kenny Malone (JJ Cale, Johnny Cash). Helping to flesh out the new record’s more ambitious soundscapes are guitarist Richard Bennett (Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler), pedal steel & electric guitar wizard Dan Dugmore, John Cowan and Sam Bush from the New Grass Revival, keyboardist Gabe Dixon (Paul McCartney), and spoken word artist Minton Sparks. The Invisible Man was mixed by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss & John Prine.)

On one of The Invisible Man's standout tracks, “Do it or Die Trying,” Scott sings, “Living is a lot like flying, you either do it or die trying.” Subsitute the phrase “live recording,” and you've a got a fair picture of Scott's working method in the studio. It's the same discipline that made his live trio recording, Live In NC (recorded with studio and road veterans Malone and Thompson and released on Full Light in 2004) such an exhilarating listen.

Scott’s impressive team of players lent itself perfectly to The Invisible Man’s without-a-net recording regimen, and these tracks retain an immediacy that would be impossible to capture in an antiseptically separated Music Row session.

“We’re not making music to be music later,” Scott says of The Invisible Man sessions. “It’s going to be music right now. This song is going to be pulled off now. To me, the breakthrough was getting my friends together – and my friends are some of the greatest musicians around – and making it like, no big deal.”

As central as Scott’s own songs are to the project, the spirit of Invisible Man is perhaps best summed up in the album’s only cover song, the harrowing “Shattered Cross,” written by Scott’s friend Stuart Adamson, the late founder of hit Scottish band, Big Country.

“I did that song within a month of Stuart dying,” Scott says. “That morning we were recording in the house, and I said, ‘This is a friend of mine that wrote this. He died last month. This is a powerful song, so let’s start the day there.’ And it was powerful…the song is powerful.”

Scott looks into both the heart of darkness and the bright light of redemption with unblinking eyes. The truth he finds is unveiled in The Invisible Man.

Darrell Scott

2008-03-16T14:06:00.003-06:00

The Invisible Man, Scott’s sixth release, finds the artist at the peak of his powers, drawing from a rich well of influence and experience to create his most fully realized work to date. From the album’s opening lyric, “In the early morning hours, just before you’re wide awake,” to its closing title, “In My Final Hour,” The Invisible Man traces a thematic arc between waking and sleeping, living and dying, shining a brilliant light on the fleeting moments between.

Scott is a master of both the infectious, Appalachian-inflected riff, and of the instruments that bring them to life. His songs are propelled by his knack for blending tradition-soaked hooks with personal, contemporary lyrics. On The Invisible Man’s 12 tracks, Scott explores themes of love, family, and the joys and pitfalls of the artist’s life. And if the singer sounds a little politicized on songs like “I’m Nobody” and “Goodle, USA” (which is covered by Faith Hill on her latest release under the title “We’ve Got Nothing But Love to Prove”), there are good reasons.

To view the whole article, click here

Clinker

2008-03-16T13:56:00.002-06:00

GARY JAMES JOYNES is a dedicated audio and visual artist, composer/musician/vocalist, and sound designer. He is fascinated by the sources of electronic composition and the ever-evolving language of technology; objects and mechanisms stimulate his process. As CLINKER, his work explores meditative spaces and the kinesthetic and synesthetic effects of sound and visuals.

Recent work includes an experimental musical score for the National Film Board of Canada’s feature documentary “Dirt”.

To read the whole article, click here

Clinker (Gary James Joynes)

2008-03-16T13:53:00.003-06:00

GARY JAMES JOYNES is a dedicated audio-visual artist, musician/vocalist, and sound designer. He is fascinated by the sources of electronic composition and the ever-evolving language of technology; objects and mechanisms stimulate his process. As CLINKER, his work explores meditative spaces and the kinesthetic and synesthetic effects of sound and visuals.

Recent work includes PROVODY (2007) a piece which intersects audio and visuals under the tenets of the digital art movement known as Live Cinema. In 2006 music composition, sound/video design and live performance was commissioned for ISABELLE ROUSSEAU’S “BRONZE AGE” AV Project presented at EXPANSE ‘06. Experimental video for ASMUS TEITCHENS “Teilmenge 24” was recently released on TJ NORRIS’s “TRIMIX” CD/DVD compilation (INNOVA Recordings 2007).

Recent invitations and performances include the NEW FORMS FESTIVAL 2007 (Vancouver), INTERACTIVE SCREEN 0.7 (THE BANFF CENTRE - BNMI), opening the 2007 MUTEK FESTIVAL (8th. Edition - Montreal), ELECTROLL’S 1 & 2 (Edmonton), the SEA OF SOUND FESTIVAL 2005 (The Works - Edmonton), and the MUTEK Le PLACARD FESTIVAL in June 2005 (Montreal).

The last few years have seen Clinker’s work performed and exhibited in Canada and abroad in festivals including, SPRAWL - INTERPLAY_4 FESTIVAL 2007 (Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Bristol), STANDART 2003 (Madrid, Spain), the NEW FORMS FESTIVAL 2003 (Vancouver). In May 2003 CLINKER made his premiere outside his native Alberta at the 2003 MUTEK Festival, where he shared the stage with two luminaries of ambient drone, Thomas Köner and Asmus Tietchens.

Roddy Hart

2008-03-16T13:46:00.002-06:00

Twenty-six year old Scotland native Roddy Hart’s mature, self-assured voice is in direct contrast to the songwriter’s youthful appearance. While it typically takes most singer/songwriters considerable time to shape their individual voices and their ability to write with a sense of self, Roddy Hart has done so at a noticeably young age and with relatively little live performance or studio time. One could attribute Hart’s remarkably mature songwriting to his propensity for assimilating his rootsy Americana influences, namely Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Kris Kristofferson, the latter of which has embraced the young songwriter and contributed to his debut release, Bookmarks. Although Hart was predestined to become a musician, it was not until after a five-year stint at law school (which resulted in a first class honors degree) did he focus his efforts on song craft. “I never had any intentions of doing anything other than music, but I just wanted to broaden my horizons – I felt I was too young and unqualified to write about things I hadn’t experienced yet,” Hart says. Like a fine wine, Hart waited to uncork his gifts until they had fully matured, a sense of restraint that is apparent in his vocals.

“The first thing I did when I graduated was record eight songs on an old four-track machine, put together some homemade covers, and sent them off to anyone who would listen.” Despite instantly picking up management and attracting some record company interest, Hart opted to develop his stage craft first – “I felt relatively inexperienced, hadn’t sung in public before, so would just play to anyone, anywhere to get some idea of an audience and how best to play the songs live” – and embarked on a number of shows where he quickly built up a reputation as a promising songwriter and performer, landing him opening spots for John Prine, Ray Lamontagne, and Kris Kristofferson and collaborations with Ryan Adams, Brad Pemberton, and the Trashcan Sinatras.

For a kid from Glasgow, Hart has produced an incredibly fresh piece of American sounding music. Bookmarks, to be released spring 2007 on Compass Records, is colored with the nostalgia-inducing twang of the pedal steel, driven by the harmonica’s gutsy tones and filled with weathered yet inspiring melodies delivered in Hart’s tremulous and timeless voice. The first track, “The Life & Times of Joseph Rowe” is a tune of resignation, sustained by the harmonica-filled “She Is All I Need.” Kris Kristofferson and former Fairground Attraction vocalist Eddi Reader join Hart’s rich vocal timbre on the surefire hit “My Greatest Success,” an unabashedly naked confessional, bristling with truth. On “Suffocate,” Hart dips in and out of falsetto while delivering the lines “rip it up and tear it down/burn it to the ground/do you suffocate when you hold me/do you live for the day that I leave,” marking the song as one of the albums gems, and drawing comparisons to Ryan Adams. The final track, fittingly titled “Journey’s End,” echoes the first song, and helps to tie together the record’s prevailing theme of loss, renewal, and loss again, closing an album of memorable songs, stunning collaborations, and moments of rare musical beauty.

Roddy Hart currently resides in Glasgow, Scotland and is planning a tour of the US later this year once he completes a UK tour in support of Kris Kristofferson.

http://www.roddyhart.com/
http://www.myspace.com/roddyhart

Tom Rush

2008-03-16T13:43:00.002-06:00

Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.

Tom Rush began his musical career in the early ’60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.

Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era.
In the early ’70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and “recharge” his creative side at his New Hampshire farm.

Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston’s prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush’s love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences’ love of Rush.

He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early ’60s - to allow established artists and newcomersto share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O’ Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the ’80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation’s finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.

In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covers his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled “The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets”, the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, “River Song,” which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn.
A live CD, “Trolling for Owls” released in 2003 and published by Tom’s NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures Tom’s complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences.

“How I Play (some of) My Favorite Songs”, a DVD released in 2005 by Homespun Tapes. It shows how he pl;ays ten of the memorable songs and guitar arrangements that have long made him one of America’s most beloved performers.

Today, Tom Rush lives in Wyoming when he’s not touring. His voice has grown even richer and more melodic with training, and his music, like a fine wine, has matured and ripened in the blending of traditional and modern influences. He’s doing what he loves, and what audiences love him for: writing and playing …passionately, tenderly…knitting together the musical traditions and talents of our times.
http://www.tomrush.com/
http://www.myspace.com/officialtomrush

Kate Hammett-Vaughan (MC)

2008-03-16T13:34:00.004-06:00

“Kate Hammett-Vaughan is the real deal, a talent all Canadians should recognize.”—Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star

Since moving to Vancouver, BC from her home province of Nova Scotia in 1979, Kate Hammett-Vaughan has established a reputation as one of Canada’s most individual and creative jazz vocalists, and one of the West Coast’s most respected teachers of the art of jazz singing.
Hammett-Vaughan’s ease with all manner of material and her improvisational instincts set her apart from many of her contemporaries. Her highly personal and expressive vocal style incorporates the breadth of her musical interests, from straight-ahead soulful ballads to hard-swinging grooves and improvisational adventures. Her approach is fresh and invigorating, paying tribute to the jazz tradition while interacting and exploring, always seeking to express herself in the moment. Equally at home as a front-line performer or as a member of an ensemble, singing straight-ahead swing or participating in free-improv adventures, Hammett-Vaughan makes sure that what she is performing remains accessible to her audience.

Nominated for three Juno Awards since 1994, she garnered critical praise from all corners for Eclipse (2004), Devil May Care (2002) and How My Heart Sings (1999). Hammett-Vaughan has also received numerous nominations from the Canadian Independent Music Awards and from the National Jazz Awards including Best Jazz Vocalist. She has worked in a number of ensembles over the last two decades, the most notable being her own Quintet and Trio, her long-time bass/voice duo with André Lachance, and in the avant-garde: the improvising jazz trio Garbo’s Hat, and the acclaimed large ensemble, the NOW Orchestra.

Hammett-Vaughan’s artistic sensibilities and musical interests have led her to a variety of related projects, including film scores, guest hosting of CBC television and radio shows, collaborations with modern dance artists and performance artists, and a fulfilling career as a teacher.
http://katehv.com/ - Kate Hammett-Vaughan webpage

Roddy Hart

2008-03-16T13:33:00.005-06:00

One could attribute Hart’s remarkably mature songwriting to his propensity for assimilating his rootsy Americana influences, namely Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Kris Kristofferson, the latter of which has embraced the young songwriter and contributed to his debut release, Bookmarks. Although Hart was predestined to become a musician, it was not until after a five-year stint at law school (which resulted in a first class honors degree) did he focus his efforts on song craft. “I never had any intentions of doing anything other than music, but I just wanted to broaden my horizons – I felt I was too young and unqualified to write about things I hadn’t experienced yet,” Hart says. Like a fine wine, Hart waited to uncork his gifts until they had fully matured, a sense of restraint that is apparent in his vocals.

To view the complete article, click here

Tom Rush

2008-03-16T13:31:00.003-06:00

Tom Rush is a gifted musician and performer, whose shows offer a musical celebration…a journey into the tradition and spectrum of what music has been, can be, and will become.
His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.

Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.

To view the rest of the article, click here

Kate Hammett-Vaughan

2008-03-16T13:29:00.004-06:00

“Kate Hammett-Vaughan is the real deal, a talent all Canadians should recognize.”—Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star

Hammett-Vaughan’s ease with all manner of material and her improvisational instincts set her apart from many of her contemporaries. Her highly personal and expressive vocal style incorporates the breadth of her musical interests, from straight-ahead soulful ballads to hard-swinging grooves and improvisational adventures. Her approach is fresh and invigorating, paying tribute to the jazz tradition while interacting and exploring, always seeking to express herself in the moment. Equally at home as a front-line performer or as a member of an ensemble, singing straight-ahead swing or participating in free-improv adventures, Hammett-Vaughan makes sure that what she is performing remains accessible to her audience.

To see the rest of the article, click here

Karla Anderson

2008-03-16T13:27:00.000-06:00

Karla Anderson burst on to the world music stage in 2005 when her song “What Else Can I Do? was featured in the hit television series “Joan of Arcadia”. The show used two of Karla’s songs but it was “the blanket song” (as her fans call it) that generated overwhelming response from around the world. She followed up that exposure with her debut release “The Embassy Sessions” in August of 2005, and the wheels were set in motion. Since that time Karla’s music has been ingraining itself into the hearts of audiences wherever she appears and wherever the music is played. Her disc has topped the charts on many stations including America’s pre-eminent folk music station WUMB in Boston. Her appearance on the CBC Television Special “Alberta Bound – A Centennial Celebration” brought another legion of new fans. This special featured artists and icons including k.d. lang, Ian Tyson, Jann Arden and Nickleback, while featuring Corb Lund and Karla Anderson as the future of Alberta’s rich musical legacy. In December of 2005, Karla won the “Best New Artist” award at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

The year 2006 saw Karla spending a great deal of her time building a new house for her three boys and herself to move into, but it did not prevent her from appearing at numerous music festivals and music clubs from Vancouver Island to Toronto. She has shared stages with Ruthie Foster, Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, Martyn Joesph, Keiran Kane and Kevin Welch, Harry Manx, David Francey and Gordie Sampson.

Karla will be playing selected festivals and concerts this summer while working her schedule around the recording of her follow up disc. The new disc will be in stores by the fall of this year and Karla will be touring extensively in support of the new recording.

Serena Ryder

2008-03-16T13:25:00.002-06:00

http://www.serenaryder.com/serena.htm
Serena is our subheadliner, a very exciting artist who will be an important part of the Saturday night show.

Serena Ryder is a Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist who grew up in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada. Her best-known albums include Unlikely Emergency and If Your Memory Serves You Well.

Ranging musically between folk, roots, country, and adult contemporary, Ryder’s three-octave range is powerful and well beyond her years. She studied in the integrated arts program at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Peterborough, and performed solo as well as with many of Peterborough’s bands as a teenager.

The Blue Cheese at the Blue Chair

2008-03-12T23:22:00.002-06:00

Monsieur Camembert will be performing at the Blue Chair Nightclub, festival friday at 8pm (see schedule):

The Blue Chair is 9624 - 76 ave
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
reservations and tix: 780 - 989 - 2861
http://www.bluechair.ca/

Survivor's Breakfast

2008-03-10T23:40:00.001-06:00

Volunteers, performers + board members are invited for a celebratory breakfast on the final day of the festival. This post-concert breakfast is a long standing tradition of the LCN Fest, and a great way to finish a week of Cohen.

The breakfast will be at the College Plaza building, in the 2nd floor Meeting Room.

If you wish to attend, please contact Lila Klassen at cohenites@gmail.com to RSVP

"The New Step"

2008-03-10T23:32:00.000-06:00

"The New Step" is the only play ever written by Cohen. Written in 1964, it was released as part of "SELECTED POEMS 1956-68."

Three women from Alberta have been performing "The New Step" for the past few months, winning "Best Overall" at the Alberta Drama Festival Association's one act festival this spring. The LCN Festival is happy to bring you a special, half hour performance of this unique play at the Westin Hospitality Suite. (Festival passholders only).

Dr. Thomas Mueller (Academic Talk)

2008-03-01T20:22:00.002-07:00

Dr. Thomas Mueller, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta

Dr. Mueller attended the Medical School at Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany, becoming qualified as an MD and Privatdozent (PhD equivalent). He stayed on at Philipps, completing his residency and combined fellowships in Intensive Care Medicine and in Nephrology. More recently, he served as a Research Fellow in the laboratory of Immunogenetics/Molecular Immunology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School with Prof. David Perkins.

Currently serving as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Alberta in the Division of Nephrology and Transplantation Immunology, Dr. Mueller's research focuses on lymphocyte depletion and immune reconstitution, immune monitoring and gene expression profiles in organ transplantation.

Ira Nadel (Academic Talk)

2008-03-01T20:17:00.001-07:00

Ira B. Nadel (BA, MA Rutgers; PhD Cornell), Professor of English, specializes in biography, the Victorians and such Modernists as Joyce, Pound and Beckett. He is the author of Biography, Fiction Fact & Form (1984), Joyce and the Jews (1989), Leonard Cohen, A Life in Art (1994), Various Positions, A Life of Leonard Cohen (1996), Double Act, A Life of Tom Stoppard (2000), Ezra Pound, A Literary Life (2004), Joyce and His Publishers (2005) and The Cambridge Companion to Ezra Pound (2007).

He has edited The Letters of Ezra Pound to Alice Corbin Henderson (1993); The Cambridge Companion to Ezra Pound (1999) and Ezra Pound, Early Writings, Poems and Prose (2005), as well as Wilkie Collins’ formerly lost first novel, Iolani; or, Tahiti as it Was (1999) and Collins’ The Dead Secret (1997). His edition of The Education of Henry Adams appeared in 1999. With F.S. Schwarzbach he edited, Victorian Artists and The City (1980), with S. Neuman, Gertrude Stein and the Making of Literature (1988) with Peter Buitenhuis, George Orwell: A Reassessment (1988) and with W.E. Fredeman, Victorian Novelists Before 1885 and Victorian Novelists After 1885 (1983). With W.E. Fredeman and John Stasny, he edited The Victorian Muse ( 1989) in 39 vols. Earlier, he edited Victorian Fiction, A Collection of Essays from the Period (1986) and Victorian Biography, A Collection of Essays from the Period (1986). In 2005 he published the Canadian Edition of Style, 10 Lessons in Clarity and Grace with Joseph M. Williams.

Forthcoming is a new edition of his biography of Leonard Cohen (Univ. of Texas Press, 2007), a co-authored work on the Golden Gate Bridge (December 2007) and a biography of the playwright David Mamet to appear in January 2008. He is currently completing an account of the popular writer Leon Uris and an essay entitled “Boxing with Brecht: David Mamet and Bertolt Brecht.

Ira Nadel is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a UBC Distinguished University Scholar and winner of the 1996 Medal for Canadian Biography. He has also been awarded a Killam Research Prize, Mellon and Dorot Fellowships at the Ransom Humanities Research Center, Univ. of Texas at Austin, and a Beinecke Fellowship at Yale. He has lectured in England, Israel, Italy, China, Germany, Monaco, Ireland, the U.S. and, of course, Canada.

Ira Nadel (Academic Talk)

2008-03-01T19:40:00.001-07:00

Monsieur Camembert

2008-03-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

With a vibrant, contemporary edge, triple ARIA Award winning group Monsieur Camembert has been described as eclectic, virtuosic, theatrical and irreverent. Fusing the wild rhythms of Eastern Europe with tango and Latin music, swing, jazz, klezmer, tarantella and French Musette, Monsieur Camembert’s shows have become synonymous with an atmosphere of celebration and spontaneity. This is gutsy, emotive and irresistibly danceable music, played with originality, virtuosity, sensuality and flair.

The most successful world music band in Australian music history, the core group has been performing for more than seven years and has gained a wide audience at a range of events, including national and international music festivals, concert halls, various performing arts and jazz venues, including the Sydney Opera House, The Basement and the Art Gallery of NSW and celebrity weddings. In 2000, they were a featured act at the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony and were broadcast on ABC Radio National's live concert series: “Live On Stage” three times.

To see the rest of the article, click here.

Les Robot

2008-01-25T21:46:00.003-07:00

Emerging from the isolated prairies of Northern Canada the enigmatic Les Robot brings a new sound to the world of guitar. He calls it "Post Future Blues", a progressive form which draws its soul from the deep south and its heart from the "shred guitar" he cut his teeth on.

In June of 2006 Les Robot made his premiere outside of Alberta by winning the prestigious North American Rock Guitar Competition in Buffalo New York.

Les is currently at work on a follow up to his 1st album, with an expected release date in the Summer of 2008.

"He is a true original and clearly loves his craft!"
Stuart Hamm,
Renowned Bassist

Collage-a-thon

2008-01-18T00:12:00.002-07:00

The "Collage-a-thon" is a sort of modern, party version of classic collages. Inspired by Cohen's music + videos, playing throughout the hospitality suite, participants create collages based on one of the festivals 6 themes:

"4 Old Songs"
"Inspiration/Temptation"
"Find Yourself Friday" (Buddhism, religion, minimalism)
"Dance Me to the End"
"Back on Boogie Street"
"Closing Time"

Not into collages? There's plenty to do without getting into the glue.... Check out our massive Cohen library of films + music, relax with friends, or plan the details of your visit to Edmonton with the help of our volunteers.

Unscheduled Activities

2007-12-10T22:03:00.002-07:00

There are tonnes of great activities on the main festival schedule, however there is still plenty of time to pursue your own fun, or simply break from the pack for awhile.

Make sure to check out our interactive maps for recommended malls, restaurants, shopping, and activities as well as bus + LRT stops.

Downtown Edmonton (including the Westin Hotel + concert venues)
University of Alberta
Edmonton
Alberta

Public Transit Passes

2007-12-10T21:47:00.000-07:00

ETS (Edmonton's public transit body) runs both the buses and the LRT. (See: www.edmonton.ca for details.)

As such, you can transfer from buses to the LRT using the same transit pass or transfer. If you need to go to St. Albert for any reason (and why would you? except for the awesome Farmer's Market saturdays) it is a different system and a different fee - but there are buses easily caught downtown.

If you plan to use the bus once or twice, simply pay the regular fee ($2.50). If you booked a hotel/room far from the venues, you will want to buy a ticket pack ($21). If you figure you'll probably use the bus more than 3 times that day, but only maybe once the rest of your time in Edmonton, buy the day pass for that one busy day ($7.50).

If you are unsure, buy a ticket book and donate any left over tickets to our volunteers!

Ticket Books and Day Passes can be purchased at many locations close to the venues - the easiest place to purchase them is at the Shopper's drugmart, in the basement of the Edmonton City Center Mall (about 1 block from the hospitality suite) or at the Central LRT station.

Single tickets may be purchased at the LRT station or as you board the bus (make sure you have exact change when paying on the bus).

	Cash	Ticket Pack (10)	Day Pass
Adult	$2.50	$21.00	$7.50
Youth	$2.25	$18.50	$7.50
Senior	$2.25	$18.50	$7.50

Other Modes of Transportation

2007-12-10T21:30:00.001-07:00

Bus schedules, route maps, and ticket prices are available at: www.edmonton.ca

Rental Cars available at:
Budget (downtown)
Enterprise(downtown)
Rent-a-Wreck (downtown)
Avis (Can't find a location page)

Rent a Bike from the unexpectedly European-styled People's Pedal, which offers bikes for $25 and communal hubs throughout the city to pick up or leave your pedalled wonder.

LRT

2007-12-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

LRT Hours of Operation:
5:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. (Monday to Saturday)
5:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Sunday)

Service frequency:
Weekday a.m./p.m. peak - 6 minutes
Weekday midday - 10 minutes
Weekday evening - 15 minutes
Saturday a.m. - 15 minutes
Saturday midday - 10 minutes
Saturday evening/late night - 15 minutes
Sunday (all) - 15 minutes

Edmonton Maps

2007-12-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

Peter Elkas

2007-12-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

In his first appearance at a 2008 Leonard Cohen Event organizers are proud to welcome Canadian singer songwriter PETER ELKAS

http://www.peterelkas.com/

“He has a wonderfully soulful voice and a great sense of melody that makes me want to write and sing better and try harder.”
Ron Sexsmith’s on Peter Elkas‘ album “Wall of Fire”

PETER ELKAS’ sophomore album “Wall of Fire” is an outpouring of beautiful, introspective songs. “I want people to feel romantic about it,” Elkas says. “It is a romantic record in the sense of romance between a man and a woman, but there’s also a friendship vibe going on.”

The whole ball started rolling when Elkas’ manager encouraged him to record some demos as the first step in making a follow-up to his debut album “Party of One”. Armed with tracks written in a Toronto apartment while he was feeling “hopeful and revitalized,” Elkas hit the studio to put together a four-song demo. Shortly after the demos were mailed to potential producers, his phone rang. It was an agent on the line, calling on behalf of Charlie Sexton. He thought Sexton and Elkas would be a perfect match. That was when Elkas “started to get very excited about the possibilities.”

Making an album with Sexton is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Austin, Texas based musician, Sexton has recorded with Ron Wood, Keith Richards and Bob Dylan. His producing credits include Lucinda Williams‘ “Essence” and Edie Brickell’s “Volcano”.

Backed by his band jokingly referred to as “The Elkaholics” PETER ELKAS continues to create “Inspiring music for songwriters, romantics and fans of honest soul”, according to Joel Plaskett, fellow Canadian songwriter and musician. “Aspiring soul men must take note: ‘Wall of Fire’ causes jealousy and then inspiration”.

Don’t miss PETER ELKAS at the 2008 Leonard Cohen Festival!

Ann Vriend

2007-12-10T20:54:00.001-07:00

“Ann Vriend sings with the heart-stopping intensity of Aretha Franklin, plays piano with the ease of Norah Jones and writes songs as powerful in their simplicity as those of Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen”

Elle Magazine

Upon hearing Ann Vriend’s heartbreaking and exquisite voice people of all demographics stop in their tracks.

After which point the content and production of Ann’s writing breathlessly captivates until the very end, of both her stunning live shows and her cinematic, sophisticated pop albums. Her uncompromisingly fresh style has garnered comparisons to eccentrics such as Fiona Apple or Kate Bush, soaring pop epics such as David Gray or Katie Melua, fresh young piano divas such Gavin DeGraw and Sarah Slean, and alternately joyous and heartbreaking as icons such as Emmylou Harris and Paul Simon.

She passionately performs her music around the world, from New York to Berlin, Melbourne to Paris, and in her home and native land of Canada.

Writes American Music Biographer David Ritz:

“Once every generation a singer-songwriter emerges with the creative fire to set the music world ablaze. Ann Vriend has that fire.”

Ann was born in Vancouver, Canada, but moved to Edmonton (Canada) at age 5. At age 3 her parents discovered their toddler could pick out nursery songs on a Fisher Price xylophone; she continued throughout her childhood to play and improvise upon a number of instruments, particularly the piano.

In her teens, the shy Ann was persuaded by her school principal to perform a collection of her original songs at a high school talent show—one of which later landed her a production deal in NYC. Encouraged by the success of this performance, she began singing in public more often, performing and co-writing in local bands. Ann then completed a 2-year program at Grant MacEwan College, where she studied pop and jazz, and gained more experience as a performer.

Within 8 months of graduating, Ann was invited to record at Sony Studios in NYC, with complimentary tickets to a concert of Paul Simon, her biggest childhood influence. That same year, she released an astonishingly popular demo, which garnered her immediate radio play on local stations across the province. A year later she won a songwriting contest which took her to Nashville, and helped fund her debut album, “Soul Unravelling” (2003), which was received with the impatient delight of her growing fan base.

This CD is now in its 5th pressing, while Ann’s sophomore recording, “Modes of Transport” continues to sell and garner rave reviews worldwide.

Ann’s literary writing style reveals the influence of her parents’ record collection of 1970s singer/songwriters such as Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, and Cat Stevens, while her unique vocals are a combination of the clear, vulnerable Nashville sound of Dolly Parton, the skilled playfulness of Cyndi Lauper, and the raw power of soul influences such as Aretha Franklin and Etta James.

The production and arranging on Ann’s newest material takes these earthy elements and mixes them with cinematic, epic, modern pop production, comparable to that of David Gray, Aimee Mann, or even Sigur Ros. The juxtaposition of Ann’s honest writing and voice with somewhat electronic, vast, and sweeping soundscapes is a fresh and moving sound, turning heads and catching the ear of everyone both the public and the music industry. The album will be released in January, 2008, and is produced by Juno Nominated producer Douglas Romanow.

A single from Ann’s upcoming album is already in heavy rotation in her hometown of Edmonton, is in the Top 30 in radio stations in Toronto and Cologne (Germany), and her EP of 5 songs from her upcoming album is already garnering four star reviews.

To buy Ann’s CDs online right now with your credit card, visit http://www.myspace.com/annvriend (scroll down to the heading “About Ann Vriend” and click on the icons/buttons of her albums– this will take you directly to PayPal, where you can purchase the albums securely and no membership is necessary)

Webpage: http://annvriend.com/

Myspace: http://myspace.com/annvriend

Ann Vriend

2007-12-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

“Ann Vriend sings with the heart-stopping intensity of Aretha Franklin, plays piano with the ease of Norah Jones and writes songs as powerful in their simplicity as those of Paul Simon and Leonard Cohen”

Elle Magazine

Upon hearing Ann Vriend’s heartbreaking and exquisite voice people of all demographics stop in their tracks.

She passionately performs her music around the world, from New York to Berlin, Melbourne to Paris, and in her home and native land of Canada.

Writes American Music Biographer David Ritz:

“Once every generation a singer-songwriter emerges with the creative fire to set the music world ablaze. Ann Vriend has that fire.”

Read the whole article here

'Dance Me" Visual Arts Display + Dance Presentation

2007-12-10T20:44:00.003-07:00

by Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn at Citadel Theatre

“Dance Me” … a multi-media arts collaboration is currently being created by Edmonton artist Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn. Cohen’s words are often inseparable from his music. This series of 15 paintings - inspired by words, music, song and dance will be unveiled next July in the Rice Theatre as part of the 2008 International Leonard Cohen Festival. A special event will feature several of Larisa’s paintings being brought to life by the staff, students and alumi of the dance department of Victoria School.

The creation of this collection marks a period of growth in Larisa’s works as she begins to collaborate with other artists to create new ideas and images. Interpreting the works of an internationally acclaimed Canadian icon Leonard Cohen has initiated a dialogue between artist and poet. Combining the visual images with musical and choreographic interpretations of the same thematic materials increases the breadth of the experiences that can be shared with others.

Exhibition Plans - “Leonard Cohen Cafe” in Citadel Theatre

A public, inaugural reception will be held in July 2008 as part of the International Leonard Cohen Festival. The collection will be on display during the festival from July 23 - 29 at the Rice Theatre in the Citadel Theatre building. The Citadel will be turning the Rice Lobby and Theatre space into the “Leonard Cohen Cafe” for the month of July 2008 and would consider hosting other Cohen related shows in that space to compliment our event. Invitations to host future exhibits in Vancouver and numerous other Canadian and international cities have come forward and are currently being considered for future dates.

The Edmonton Connection

Larisa, a recipient of both the City of Edmonton Arts Achievement Award and a Global Woman of Vision Award, has always gone out of her way to share her art and experiences with those around her. The exhibit will include a painting inspired by “Sister’s of Mercy” originally written by Cohen when visiting Edmonton in the 1960’s. Larisa will also be collaborating with some of Edmonton’s student composers and choreographers to bring her ‘images to life” through music and dance.

“Dance Me” is an extension of Larisa’s personal artistic growth from which everyone will be inspired. The visual and multidisciplinary interpretation of Cohen’s works bring an international flavour to the city of Edmonton, continuing to keep it on the map as major Canadian cultural centre of the arts.

More information about Larisa: http://www.artbylarisa.com/

"Dance Me" Visual Display

2007-12-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

by Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn at Citadel Theatre

Read the whole article here

Hospitality Suite

2007-12-10T20:18:00.005-07:00

The 2008 Leonard Cohen Nights Festival is happy to present the first ever 24hr hospitality suite!

New for both the local Edmonton festival and the biennial fan events, the hospitality suite will be available from 2pm Wednesday July 23rd until noon Monday July 28th. It will be on the main floor of the Westin Hotel (10135 100th Street), in the heart of downtown Edmonton.

The suite will have alcohol and food service, but the main focus will be fan activities. Serving as a "Home Base" for all participants and activities, hospitality will be your source for registration, schedules, maps, activity information and so on.

Most of the small concerts and activities will be based around the suite as well. All walking tours will start and end at the Westin. The open mike performances as well as the post-concert parties friday and saturday night will get the Westin rocking all weekend long. Check out the Activities section of this site for details on everything from Collage Parties to academic talks.

Even if you plan on partying with other fans at a separate venue during the week, make sure to stop in for a few activities or a quick bite -- otherwise, you run the risk of "You should have been there" stories for the next two years....

[The festival pass gives you access to all the public concerts, as well as all the private events held at the Westin]

Peter Elkas

2007-12-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

In his first appearance at a Leonard Cohen Event, organizers
are proud to welcome Canadian singer songwriter PETER ELKAS

h ttp://www.peterelkas.com/

“He has a wonderfully soulful voice and a great sense of melody that makes me want to write and sing better and try harder.”
Ron Sexsmith on Peter Elkas' album “Wall of Fire”

Read the whole article here

Volunteers Wanted!

2007-12-10T19:28:00.004-07:00

This festival does not form spontaneously every year - it is carefully built by a team of fantastic volunteers, most notably our Board of Directors and Dr. Kim Solez, the President of the society.

However, as our festival grows so too do our staffing needs. We are looking for volunteers during the 2008 event, people of all ages, professions and walks of life. The more the merrier!

We ask that you volunteer at least two 4hr shifts during the festival. Please send an email to cohenites@gmail.com specifying what area (below) you would be most interested in, and what days you are arriving/departing. There will be a special breakfast on the final day of the festival, as well as many other perks, for the volunteers + board members... But the biggest perk will be the pure joy of being involved with such an amazing festival!

Areas you can volunteer for:
Hospitality and Registration (Indoors, near the booze and food, at the center of everything)
Security (keeping an eye on those of us too inebriated to sleep and making sure no-one ransacks the room between 3-7am)
The Picnic (working with Tori to organise food/activities for the friday afternoon picnic party - outdoors!)
Tour Leaders (You don't need to be local - Ideally, I want to pair one Edmontonian and one international guest for each tour)
Hospitality (mornings: help people find event locations, tour groups. Evenings: helping set up each night's theme and running errands for the evening's performers)

*****Please note!: you will not be working your little tail off the entire shift. The idea is to have people readily available in the hospitality room at all times, but you are welcome to volunteer with friends or socialize during your shift. Tour leaders will have specific duties, of course (like making sure the tour doesn't go off track) but again the idea is to relax and have fun, even for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering but not sure if it will interfere with your enjoyment of the festival, please email me and I will be happy to discuss the responsibilities --and lack there of-- for volunteers****

Cohen-esque Open Mike

2007-12-10T19:09:00.001-07:00

The mandate of our festival is to help people discover (and rediscover) the joys of Leonard Cohen's poetry and music through performances by amateur and professionals alike. In addition to performances of Cohen's songs, we also have a visual arts show featuring art inspired by Cohen's work, which has varied wildly over the years. We are expanding in 2008 to include open mike sessions for Cohen-based poems and songs. We are out to prove that we are oh-so-much-more than just people who like Cohen.

We are people inspired by Cohen!

That's right! If you've written a poem or song inspired by your love of Cohen, you can now perform it in front of a friendly and welcoming audience. The piece does not need to be written in Cohen's style, nor sung monotone with ethereal female back up singers (though that sounds like a lot of fun)... It can be on any topic or in any form. The purpose of these events is to explore the effect Cohen has had on our work and our perspective of the world - to see how listening to his music has changed or inspired us.

To sign up for the Cohen-inspired poetry or music open mike, please email cohenites@gmail.com
In your email, please include:
-The type of piece you would like to perform (poem or song)
-Estimated length (try timing yourself as you recite/sing it - this will give you a general idea)
-Title of the piece
-Your full name and contact information
-Any technical requirements (do you need a guitar? Do you have a pick up or are you playing acoustic?)

If you are interested in playing a song but wish to be paired up with a singer (or vice versa), please contact me at cohenites@gmail.com as well, and I will do my best to find you a partner or partners.

Open Mike - Cohen Covers

2007-12-10T18:04:00.000-07:00

If you love to sing along or strum your guitar while listening to classic Cohen albums, this is the event for you! Perform your own version of your favourite song in front of a like-minded and welcoming audience.

The Cohen Covers open mike is being run by Andrew Darbyshire, darby50@ozemail.com.au

Send an email with your full name, song choice and any technical needs (for instance, are you bringing your own guitar or do you need to borrow one? Do you play acoustic or does your guitar have a pick up installed?). Please sign up early to get the song you want -- we are limiting each song to one performance (to avoid two hours of "Famous Blue Raincoat" - much as we love it).

The Westin Hotel - "Home Base"

2007-12-09T23:52:00.000-07:00

The Westin Hotel is the ideal location for Cohenite accommodation during the festival this July. It is not simply near most of the venues -- it is one of the main venues! There will be a wide variety of events held at the Westin July 23-28 (Wednesday thru Monday), including open mikes, a poetry evening, a rocking dance party and much much more. (See the "Activities" section of this site for details). In addition to the 24hr hospitality suite, where registration will be held, and numerous activities hosted in or near the Westin, it is also across the street from our main concert venue (no need to fight with an unfamiliar bus system)!

Plus, you get a discount! (Whoo hoo! Who doesn't love a discount?) Make sure to identify that you are with the "Edmonton 2008 International Leonard Cohen Event” group when booking your room to secure the rates listed below. (The room must be guaranteed for late arrival by either credit card or first nights payment.)

-------
Book early or miss out!

http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0710099535&key=1969B

24 HOUR WESTIN TOLLFREE RESERVATIONS: 1-800-WESTIN1 (937-8461)

CUT-OFF DATE
The “cut-off date” for accepting reservations into room block is June 24, 2008. Reservation requests received after 5:00 p.m. local time at the Hotel on the cut-off date will be accepted at Hotel’s prevailing rate, based on availability. The rooms are likely to go quickly and we strongly advise booking by April 15th.

These guest room rates will also be offered by the hotel 2 days prior and 2 days after the meeting dates, subject to availability of rooms at the time of reservation.

Lister Hall - Dorm Rooms

2007-12-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

For those looking for a more affordable option than the Westin Hotel, we have a block of 60 first-come-first-serve rooms reserved at the University of Alberta's dormitory, Lister Hall. http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/conferenceservices/na v01.cfm?nav01=23453

The rooms rent from $39CAD and feature all the usual dormitory perks, such as thin walls and shared washrooms.

Unfortunately, unlike the dormitories in classic college movies, the dorms at the UofA are quiet zones and there are restrictions on drinking. SO - do your partying at the hospitality suite (at the Westin Hotel) which is open 24hrs a day starting 2pm on July 23 until 8pm July 28th. Booze, food, and all your favourite fans, without being "shushed" by an overzealous academic.

Lister Hall is about a 5 minute LRT ride from downtown (where the hospitality suite and the majority of events/activities will be held). See the "Getting Around" section on this site for LRT schedules and prices. Alternatively, it is a 45minute walk or $7.50CAD taxi ride.

Hostels - Downtown and Whyte Ave

2007-12-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Hostel http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel011010.en.htm is a nice, European-style hostel along the infamous Whyte Avenue (near the university campus). Shared rooms start at $22/night and private rooms at $60/night. Membership is not required, but only costs $20-30 (depending on where you're from) and gets an additional discount per night. PLUS anyone traveling around Canada post-festival should note, a Hi-hostel membership card entitles you to 20% off Greyhound bus tickets. Whyte Ave is not as easily accessible as the downtown hotels or the University Campus, but buses are available (see "Getting Around" on this site for details). It is about a $10 cab ride from the Westin to Whyte Ave, or a 70minute walk.

There is also a new hostel downtown, (about 6 blocks from the Westin), called Go! Backpackers Hostel http://www.gohostels.ca/. There is no membership and rooms start at $25/night, but apparently there is a discount for foreigners. It is about a $5 cab ride or a 15 minute walk from the Westin.

Please note, while I have estimated walking times, both hostels are in areas very close to popular bars and pubs. This means the walk can be less than pleasant after dark (unless you enjoy being hassled by drunk college students).

Additional Downtown Hotels

2007-12-08T00:37:00.000-07:00

You may wish to consider these hotel options if the Westin does not suit your needs (or you miss the discount cut off). All rooms are first-come-first-serve and subject to availability (meaning we have not reserved a block of rooms, like we have at the Westin). Both hotels are about 5 blocks from the Westin (where most of our events are being held), or a 5-10minute walk.

Days Inn Downtown - $99/109 single/double
http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/ ... andInfo=DI
contact: Freida Valji number: 780-423-1925 email: mailto:daysinn@compusmart.ab.ca

Holiday Inn Express Downtown - $110 single/double
http://www.hiexdowntown.com/
contact: Diane Fehr number: 780-701-3315 email: mailto:sales@hiexedmonton.com