Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Powerful Singer-Songwriter and Storyteller to Grace Horizon Stage

James Keelaghan scheduled to perform in Spruce Grove on Sunday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m.

James Keelaghan is one of our nation’s finest singer-songwriters. For almost a quarter of a century, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with passion, curiosity, and intensity. Possessed of an insatiable appetite for finding the next unique story-line, along with a beautiful and expressive tenor voice, James forges his lyrics with brilliant craftsmanship and artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily-identifiable voices on the Canadian singer-songwriter scene. Now, Edmonton and area music lovers can enjoy the James Keelaghan experience at Horizon Stage on Sunday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m.

 Alberta-born Keelaghan’s masterful storytelling has, over the course of eleven CDs, been the bedrock of his success. It has earned him multiple nominations and awards - including a Juno - and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia. His musical  journey has attracted fans of literate and layered songwriting to join him on his artistic expeditions, some of which weave their way through marvelously etched historical stories with underlying universal themes, others of which mine the depths of the soul and the emotional trials of human relations.

A disciplined visionary, Keelaghan loves language and history, a subject in which he earned a degree.  He is a skilled thespian, which explains his ability to make an immediate connection with a live audience; and he has an ear for memorable melodies and harmonies that make those melodies glisten. "I’ve always had the urge to write," says the Calgary native who has been calling Winnipeg home for the past few years. "Some things weren’t being said in the way I wanted to say them, some things were not being written about at all. That's why I started to write the historical material. That led me to writing my own personal narratives as well.” His catalogue of timeless originals includes the haunting pieces “Kiri's Piano”, “Cold Missouri Waters” and “Hillcrest Mine”.

Never shying away from collaboration in his live and recorded performances, James has toured or laid tracks with Steven Fearing, Oliver Schroer, Oscar Lopez, David Francey, and Hugh McMillan (Spirit of the West). "If you work with people who are better than you, you become better," he observes. “The sparks of collaboration and the batting of melodies back and forth have produced some wonderful results”. Other artists, including Garnet Rogers, have lovingly covered James’ material and he, on occasion, has interpreted his fellow musicians’ work including a gripping take on the epic “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” on the Gordon Lightfoot tribute disc, Beautiful.

James Keelaghan finds a balance between examining the lighter and heavier sides of life and ties everything together with his powerful vocal delivery and a commanding stage presence. He has performed everywhere from large festivals and concert halls to intimate folk club venues and sometimes invites the audience for a beer after the show. Tickets to see him Up Close & Personal at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove are $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors and, $5 for high school students through the eyeGO program. Tickets can be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. To learn more about James Keelaghan visit www.keelaghan.com.

“James Keelaghan is a voice in contemporary Canadian songwriting that has helped us define who we are as a people. He writes with great humanity and honesty, with an eye to the past and a vision of the future. He has chronicled his times with powerful and abiding songs, with heart and eyes wide open.”
David Francey, Juno Award-Winning Musician

 “A brilliant tunesmith who has become one of the most engaging performers of our time. You always know the journey with James is going to be great, you just never know what all the destinations are.”
Terry Wickham, Producer of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival

“Canada’s finest songwriter.”
Dave Marsh, award-winning American music critic and historian

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