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Steve Marriner pays it forward

Where can a local musician “go” musically after becoming identified with a genre and therefore fitting into a specific category of music? Is there room to experiment outside of what the  public expects? Steve Marriner believes that there is not only room to experiment, but also room to bring others along for the ride. The Ottawa music scene is rich and varied, and Marriner is an artist who has an appreciation of that fact, and a very strong connection with where he first began. 

Since his introduction to blues music at an early age, Marriner quickly became recognized as one of Canada’s supreme harmonica players. Early in his career, he began touring extensively – across Canada and the United States, as well as to the UK, and Australia with a musical story-teller and unique creator of songs, named Harry Manx.  That wonderful experience raised Steve Marriner’s public profile and began his foray into becoming the multi-instrumentalist that he is today. Now a collaborator, producer and award-winning performer – Marriner remembers clearly how it all began for him. 

Steve Marriner sat down with me for a few minutes following his solo acoustic performance at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, during which he surprised the audience with a variety of musical choices and also with a couple of unexpected musical guests on stage.

Staying versatile and being spontaneous adds to Steve Marriner’s popularity as a performer. He continues to exercise these abilities while also seeking to share the spotlight with a number of local performers whose reach he feels should be extended. The act of working with others to build a stronger musical community overall is an excellent way to pay homage to his days as beginner on the blues music scene. 

Steve Marriner’s band MonkeyJunk performs on Friday  July 16th at 6:00 pm on the Claridge Homes stage @Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest, in what will be called the MonkeyJunk Power Hour show. Many other incredible performers are expected to join the band on stage. It promises to be an evening of unpredictable musical collaborations and therefore, one that will suit Marriner and his band just fine! This one is not to be missed!

Special thanks to Susan Murphy for camera assistance

Video footage shot using Flip Video ™ Camcorder

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The February Bluebird North Series – Artists sharing stories and songs

It’s commonly said that the sad songs are the best and I doubt you would have found any argument at the NAC’s fourth stage during Ottawa’s  February Bluebird North show. This being my first Bluebird concert I didn’t know really what to expect.

Matthew de Zoete, Kelly Prescott, Steve Marriner

Played in by new host and local songstress Amanda Rheaume, folk and blues artists Lynne Hanson, Kelly Prescott, Matt De Zoete and Steve Marriner took to the stage and gave the crowd a wonderful acoustic set of their work.

Amanda Rheaume, all photos by Bryson Masse

The musicians performed one after another, each taking time to say a few words about the song and its inspiration. As in all good folk stories, the topics meandered from tragic to hilarious and often the two overlapped. The evening was put on by the Songwriter’s Association of Canada, so there was an emphasis on the “talky parts”. But, since I like that kind of stuff, it never took away from the show. Each of the musicians explained how they found motivation in their travels and relationships.

Of the idea behind her song More of the Same, Hanson told the story of her adopted grandfather and the loss of his wife to Alzheimer’s disease. The amazing raw imagery in the lyrics really grabbed me.

De Zoete looked to the past and his Dutch heritage, Prescott wrote about her relationships and Marriner even fit in an amusingly scathing song about a woman so bad he didn’t even have to date her. The take away message was clearly that if you want to keep a clean reputation, don’t piss off a musician.

I really dug the informal format. The full stage allowed the performers to converse and share jokes. While the theme of the music that night seemed to border more on the depressing, the laughs didn’t stop. It didn’t have the rehearsed feeling stage banter often has when you’re watching a group that you know has done this fifty times before.

If I could ask for more, all I would need would be more of the artists playing with each other’s songs. As when it happened, it was fantastic.

The night was special and unique and this is what will bring me back to future Bluebird North performances.

Kelly Prescott

Matt De Zoete

Lynne Hanson

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Bluebird North – Where Writers Sing and Tell

The Songwriters Association of Canada presents
BLUEBIRD NORTH
Where Writers Sing and Tell
Live in the nation’s capital!

Wednesday February 3, 2010
The National Arts Centre, Fourth Stage
(Northeast corner of Queen and Elgin Streets)
7:30 pm
Tickets available at the NAC Box Office ($15/$12 for SAC members)
http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/boxoffice/tickets.cfm

Featuring:
Lynne Hanson
Steve Marriner
Kelly Prescott
Matthew de Zoete

Bluebird North is an intimate, interactive musical showcase that brings together some of Canada’s most inspiring songwriters to share their songs and stories.  On February 3rd, 2010, Bluebird North is presenting a diverse group of Canadian song writing talent in the nation’s capital.  Ottawa is proud to present host Amanda Rheaume along with star-studded cast including: Lynne Hanson (winner of 2006 Blues Award for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals “Songs from the Heart” contest), Steve Marriner (2010 Maple Blues Award for Male Vocalist of The Year), Kelly Prescott (regular airplay on CBC 2 Morning and Radio 2 Drive as well as the U.S. syndicated radio show, “Altville”) and Matthew de Zoete (a sweet tenor as piercingly pleasant as Mississippi John Hurt or the young Alex Chilton).  Be sure not to miss the Ottawa performance in this intimate setting.

Bluebird North: Where Writers Sing and Tell is produced by Amanda Rheaume for the Songwriters Association of Canada.  For more information on the S.A.C.’s mandate, activities and membership programs please visit www.songwriters.ca

Bluebird North is endorsed by the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.

For media interviews, accreditation or any other information please contact:
Will Cook, (819) 776-1996 or william.cook@videotron.ca

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Ottawa-born Lynne Hanson has been attracting critical praise since the release of her debut CD Things I Miss in late 2006. The song “River By My Side” from that disc won the 2006 Blues Award for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals “Songs from the Heart” contest, while the title track was chosen as one of the best songs of 2006 by the Indie Acoustic Music Project. Some call it country, some call it roots-and-blues, others call it rough around-the-edges folk. Lynne Hanson calls her musical style by her own name: porch music with a little Texas red dirt.  It’s a sound that’s been receiving rabid applause from enamoured critics and devoted fans in Canada, the US Southwest, Europe and Australia. Accompanied by fine instrumentation and blessed with a soulful voice that’s been compared to Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Hanson is one of the most captivating female singer-songwriters on the Americana scene today.  www.lynnehanson.com

Steve Marriner is a multi-instrumentalist, widely recognized as one of Canada’s premier harmonica players. He has toured, recorded and performed internationally with artists like Harry Manx, Sue Foley and MonkeyJunk.  In addition to his 2007 debut, Going Up, Steve has appeared on a number of artists’ recordings including Harry Manx, David Gogo, Trevor Alguire, and Steve Dawson.  In January 2009 Steve was honoured with 2008 Maple Blues Award for “Harmonica Player of The Year.”  This year Steve has received two more Maple Blues Award nominations: (has WON!) Harmonica Player of The Year and Male Vocalist of The Year.  www.stevemarriner.com

Kelly Prescott possesses a rich, bluesy voice well beyond her years. Being raised in a musical household has given Kelly the confidence and ease to pursue her own musical goals. She is a third generation performer, from both sides of the family, and this has given Kelly the roots and foundation to follow her heart into music.  In April, 2009 she and brother, Kaylen recorded their debut album under the name of “Prescott”. The CD has garnered great reviews as well as performances at Ottawa Bluesfest, along with shows from Vancouver to Montreal. The duo has had regular airplay on CBC 2 Morning with Tom Allen and Radio 2 Drive with Rich Terfry, play on Bob Harris and Karen Millers BBC 2 shows in the UK, and the U.S. syndicated radio show, “Altville”.
http://www.myspace.com/kellyprescottmusic

Combining elements of pop, rock, and folk music, Matthew de Zoete writes songs built on strong melodies and honest lyrics.  The 27-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, approaches his craft much like an Old World artisan, applying a loving hand to songs whose melodic invention and attention to detail consistently catch the listener off guard.  Extensive touring throughout North America and Europe have earned the Hamilton musician a reputation for intelligent songwriting and dynamic performances, as well as comparisons to Nick Drake and Elliott Smith.  Matthew has released two albums:  Across the Sea (2006) and Bottom of the World (2008).  www.matthewdezoete.com

Ottawa Tonite will be covering this fantastic event at the NAC on February 3rd, and will be sharing the experience with you! 

You can look forward to interviews and clips and a first-hand account of the “Bluebird North” experience!

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