Streaming Cafe Blog

BarCraft!

2012-02-29T08:37:00.001-08:00

by Joel Thiessen

On March 25 Streaming Cafe is hosting a BarCraft for the MLG Winter Championship of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.

The MLG, or Major League Gaming, was created in 2002 and has been building a massive following of gamers (and spectators) all over the world. Their tournaments legitimize the term Pro-Gamer, attract nut-so crowds, boast prize pots totaling $76,000 and ascend the winners to near-celebrity status (in the gaming world at least).

For those of you who are still wondering if ‘BarCraft’ was a typo, well, it’s not. The term was first used in 2011 and is defined by wiki as “a portmanteau name for watching StarCraft at bars.” (If you are unfamiliar with the term portmanteau then you’re on your own). It might sound kind of corny - to go to a bar and drink and eat with fellow MLG enthusiasts, but is it really that different from a UFC match? Or a football game? The game has full commentator coverage, the vocal ‘woooos’ and ‘boooos’ of live tournament audience and high stakes for the players.

StarCraft II joined Halo: Reach and Call Of Duty as the MLG’s games of choice for it’s Pro Circuit back in 2010. The game’s intense real-time combat strategy has quickly made it a fan favorite and a suspense and action filled show.

Before you pick up your controller to hone your Super Mario Bros skills for a chance at The Title, keep in mind that these competitors train year round and will most likely beat you very, very badly. So rather than embarrass yourself in a one on one, why not play a FUN ON FUN and come down to the Cafe on March 25th!

The official start time for the Winter Championship hasn’t been released yet, so make sure to stay in the loop by joining our BarCraft event at on our Facebook.

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Live Online!

2012-02-18T14:56:00.001-08:00

MBF, or Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, first blew through Streaming Café as part of the Breakout West music festival in October of 2010. He took the stage with a drummer and backing guitarist, and, along with his trademark “flower-on-the-headstock-of-his-guitar”, proceeded to play an energetic set that had the crowd literally up and dancing. By the end of the set our producer was hard-pressed to find a camera angle that could capture MBF, because the dancing hordes had surrounded the stage and were cutting off views of Fitzgerald from all sides. And the term ‘dancing hordes’ is not a fluffy non-accurate description written to spice up an otherwise dreary paragraph; the room was packed, and there were frenetic dancing bodies filling virtually every square foot of the space around MBF.

Endearing Calgary singer/songwriter Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is returning with a new album/EP combo. The "Side A" album portion of the project, Yes, comes out on April 24th with the more intimate "Side B" EP will be coming out in conjunction with his national tour.

Michael hits the road and Kelowna music lovers will get a special treat at MBF’s Saturday, February 25th show at the Streaming Café. If you live out of town and make make it down be sure to watch the show streamed FREE live online @ http://streamingcafe.net/. Viewers anywhere in the world can enjoy direct and personal interaction with MBF via the live chat.

Cafe Chalk Art Masterpieces: Part V

2012-02-15T16:25:00.001-08:00

Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan once said "Advertising is the greatest art form of the 20th century".
On that note we continue on our journey of artistic self-promotion with our fifth installment of Cafe chalk art.

Our 100th Podcast!

2012-02-10T13:54:00.001-08:00

by Joel Thiessen
I vividly remember one chilly December evening in the darkened depths of the Streaming Cafe production office, a conversation had while hanging out after hours. We were flipping through archives upon archives of videos from previous live SC shows, admiring not only the amazing music we've captured but also the artist's personalities that would shine through between songs. The scientifically tested truth that when you see a song performed live - when you see the passion in the singer's face and the guitarist doing that solo-twitch-thing - that song means so much more to you. That was a feeling we've been successful giving back to our viewers through our YouTube videos…but that little extra hint of personality or insight that would come to light when the artist talked about how much a song means to them, or the time they got a bar full of bikers to sing along with a folk-love song - those were the moments we wanted to show again, we just didn't know how.

Subscribe @ http://tiny.cc/267k3

Two years and 100 podcasts later our videos have been featured numerous times on iTunes and watched in over 21 countries. Strangers walk into the Cafe from the street because they recognized the logo on our door. We have managed to re-live some of those classic Cafe moments and share them with you all once more.

It has been exciting to see who all watches our podcasts, its a different demographic than that of our live shows - which is different than those who watch our YouTube videos - which is different again from our daily coffee shop customers! As different as all those audiences might be, they all share some similar characteristics (aside from having great taste in Live Streaming Indie Music And Delicious Coffees), they all see something cool is happening at the Streaming Cafe and they want to support it. And all of us at the Streaming Cafe are extremely grateful for that support!

If there is a show moment that you want to see again, send us an message and we'll see what we can do.
Thanks for watching the Streaming Cafe podcasts. Tell your friends about them.

Here's our 100th podcast that features a performance from Vancouver's Portage & Main.

Cafe Art Display and Showing: Rena Warren

2012-02-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

We are very happy to be displaying some amazing art on our cafe walls for the month of February by Rena Warren of Capricornucopia Artworks. Rena is having a Showing at Streaming Cafe Friday, February 10 at 6:30 - 9pm, so be sure to come down and enjoy these works in person. This showing is featuring her detailed Block Prints and 20% of all art sales goes to Muskan, a non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides art opportunities for children in rural India.
For more info go to the facebook event. Hope to see you there!

Have a look at Capricorucopia Artworks page, wonderful portraits, drawings and info about classes!

Also check out this great article on Rena Warren done by Jennifer Smith at Capital News.

The Block Prints will be on display at the cafe Feb. 3 - 29.

BIO
Rena Warren has over seventeen years experience in teaching art courses throughout the Okanagan. She received a Bachelor in Fine Arts at Okanagan University College and a Bachelor in Education at University of Victoria. Rena has taught for Opus Framing & Art Supplies, Kelowna Art Gallery, Cool Arts Society and in the private school system. In her private practice, she specializes in large-scale oil portraiture in bold fauvist colour and original block print designs. Currently she is working on a series of mandalas in block print.
http://capricornucopiaartworks.blogspot.com/

Mike Edel - "Edel's voice is Damien Rice having a meeting with Dan Mangan..."

2012-02-02T11:28:00.000-08:00

by Makcolm Petch

There must be something about February that attracts Victoria’s Mike Edel to the road life. He played Streaming Café in February of 2011, and now he’s back again this February on the 18^th.

There is a video loop of past SC performances by various artists which plays in the café during the week, and Edel’s “You smile at me” jumps out at me each time I hear it. The song is actually called “Bottom Floor Apartment”, and when I hear the stabbing opening lines/phrases I always think ‘Okay, I’ve heard this before...’, and then as the song builds and gets to the chorus’s line of “you smile at me” I recall that “Oh, yeah – this is Mike Edel”. You can see those same past-performance videos here.

Edel grew up on his family’s grain farm in rural Alberta, but more recently he’s made his home in Victoria, BC. He’s made a name for himself already, with positive reviews in all types of media:

"Edel's voice is Damien Rice having a meeting with Dan Mangan..." See Magazine

"'The Country Where I came From' is not only a wonderful homage to home, wherever that may be, but uses the simplicity of a banjo and hand claps to perfection." Grey Owl Point

“In the last two years that Mike Edel has been in Victoria he has established himself as one of the region’s go-to musicians” Times Colonist

Mike is warm and personable in performance, and that same warmth comes through on his album The Last of Our Mountains, produced by Winston Hauschild (who’s lent his musical prowess to other Canadian acts like Hey Ocean and Hannah Georgas). No doubt that warmth can find some of its origins in the fact that the album sessions were the last time Mushroom Studios’ vintage gear was used in production. Sigh; the end of an era… The Last of Our Mountains is worth having in your collection even just for its historical value – but the music itself is definitely worth owning, too.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mikeedel.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-of-our-mountains"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Last Of Our Mountains by Mike Edel&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Mike Edel has already toured Western Canada five times. It could be that Mike gets bored sitting around in the mild climate of Victoria, or it could be that he loves the challenge of traversing hill and dale during the frigid winter months; in either case, he’s no stranger to covering the long distances between Canadian towns while on the road, and he seems willing enough to do it when there’s snow everywhere.

You don’t have to travel to Medicine Hat for the cold Tongue On Post Folk Festival, nor do you have to catch a ferry and hit Victoria for the Rifflandia Festival (both of which are events Edel has been part of); you can catch Mike Edel live and in-person on Saturday, February 18, right on your doorstep at the Streaming Café, 596 Leon Ave in Kelowna. Not close enough for you? Then watch and listen online at streamingcafe.net, starting live at 7:00 p.m. – and you can interact with Mike and ask him anything you want, whether you’re physically at the café or whether you’re checking in online. We hope to see you there.

St. Columba from Mike Edel on Vimeo.

Indie Jazz? The Keith Price Trio

2012-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

by Malcolm Petch

Keith Price is an indie musician. The Keith Price Trio is an indie group. Mention the term “Indie Musician” and what generally comes to mind is a casually dressed individual (i.e. contemporary hippie-type clothing) toting an acoustic guitar, singing and playing folksy-sounding songs they wrote themselves. The term “Indie Group”, on the other hand, usually conjures up images of earnest young men slamming around on electric guitars, playing self-written music that’s got enough of an edge to keep them slightly off-centre of mainstream but still pushing hard for a record deal; and they, too, are often dressed like modern hippies. This is a definition we’ve already (as in previously) tossed around in our newsletter, boys and girls.

Yet as soon as you hear the name “Keith Price Trio” you think, “Hey, what’s this ‘trio’ business all about?’ – and that’s your first inkling that something other than the pre-fab definition of indie group might be in play here.

Most of the promo photos of Keith Price show him in a casual beard. So far, so good. Some shots show him wearing a baseball cap – a trucker-style nylon mesh baseball cap; again, artist apparel that we’re familiar with here at Streaming Café.

But even the casual observer at this point notes that the guitar accompanying Price in all the shots is a lovely hollow-body electric, worn slightly higher on his body than most rockers would be comfortable with. And in pictures of the whole Trio, the bassist is seen with a double bass (you know, those giant violins that stand on a metal spike).

“Aha!” you say. “This is a jazz group!”

Well, yes. The Keith Price Trio is a jazz group. (And now the ‘trio’ business makes sense). Price hails from Winnipeg, and has made his musical home in Manitoba by choice, even though he was offered a scholarship at New York’s New School University. Price spent time in Boston studying with guitar guru Mick Goodrick, but when it came time to put down roots, his choice was to spend time in the jazz program established by Steve Kirby at the University of Manitoba.

“A jazz group? Aren’t jazz musicians / groups a little too esoteric for the likes of us at Streaming Café?” (SHHH! Don’t let them hear you saying that!!).

Here are a couple of examples of what’s different about Keith Price, and part of why the Keith Price Trio is booked to play SC:

- Price produced Michael Peters’ latest album; Peters is an indie-pop singer/songwriter who appeared at SC back in the early days.

- Keith Price Trio’s new album, Gaia Goya, features covers of tunes by artists like Nirvana, Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent, and Grizzly Bear.

- Six of the tracks on the new album are a suite that Price wrote while on his last tour, and they’re based loosely on Pink Floyd’s album Animals.

Nirvana. Pink Floyd. Definitely not your typical jazz fare. Sufjan Stevens. Definitely part of the faves playlist of most Streaing Café aficionados. Maybe this Keith Price Trio is more SC-like than might be first realized.

Keith’s own words to Michael, our talent-booking (amongst everything else) guy: “I’ve really enjoyed watching/hearing my friends Kim McMechan, James Lamb, and Michael Peters perform at the café. The quality of the recordings is always amazing and the vibe of the place seems really wonderful, even over the Internet.”

We like it when people tell us they like what we’re doing. And it’s good to hear that Price is friends with some of the artists who’ve played here (McMechan and Lamb have each been featured here on multiple occasions). And it’s good to know our live streaming has even reached into the land of Manitoba. But is that enough to make the Keith Price Trio someone we would host at SC?

“I find the jazz world a little too stuffy these days,” Price says, “and have been wondering: why are the folk musicians having so much fun when we are having very little?”

Price says his newest album is intended to reach beyond the confines of the jazz world. His choice to cover material by artists like Nirvana and Sufjan Stevens in his latest work is an intentional decision designed to bridge the gap between the more every-day music lover and the sometimes hard-to-understand world of jazz.

“I’m trying to find a balance with my new music between interesting, creative jazz and material that is accessible to a wide range of people (not just jazz nerds!) without being cheesy.”

Price and his bandmates, Julian Bradford on bass and Curtis Nowosad on drums, have logged a lot of time together. They’ve covered gigs such as CBC Canada Live and the 2010 Montreal Jazz Festival. In a testament to either their courage or their Manitoba hardiness, they’ve elected to tour Canada during these frigid winter months, and they’ll be appearing at Streaming Café on February 11^th.

Landing as it does right in the Valentine’s Day season, an evening with the Keith Price Trio might be the perfect chance for a night out, with warm jazz filling the airwaves – yet jazz that is easy to get into even for the non-initiated listener. Keith has done an amazing job of opening up the world of jazz guitar to everyone through his choice of cover material. We think this is going to be a great night! Saturday February 11, live in person at 596 Leon Ave in Kelowna, or live online at StreamingCafe.net

February Performers | Video Overview

2012-02-01T16:07:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
February is set to be a truly great month of indie music at the cafe. Vancouver indie rockers In Medias Res start off the month Feb. 4th, Streaming Cafe being the first stop of their western Canadian/US tour. Michael Bernard Fitzgerald returns to the cafe, this time killing it with a brass section and also returning to our stage, with his band is Mike Edel from Vancouver Island. Stepping a bit out of our "folk" roots, The Keith Price Trio performs their jazz vibes on the Valentines weekend.
All four performing artists are definitely worth looking into. View videos from this months artists and as always if you can't make it out to the cafe for drinks and music, catch the shows streamed live @ http://www.streamingcafe.net/ - 7pm (pacific standard time)... it's free!

IN MEDIAS RES - Feb. 4th
Formed over a decade ago, Vancouver-based In Medias Res has risen from a fledgling act full of potential to one of the most lauded indie-rock bands in the city. Recently, the band has taken on a new shape, with principle songwriter and frontman Andrew Lee striking out on tour himself but the Streaming Cafe show sees the whole band their to perform a bit of a "stripped down" show. Going to be wicked!

THE KEITH PRICE TRIO - Feb. 11th
Keith Price has thrown a indie flare to jazz. His last album covering well known indie and alternative bands such as Sufan Stevens and Nirvana. He was nominated for the TD Grand Prix Du Jazz and The Galaxie Rising Star awards at the 2010 Montreal International Jazz Fest.
It's a great way to spend your Valentines weekend.

Here's a clip of the trio performing their rendition of indie rock band Grizzly Beat "Ready Able".

MIKE EDEL - Feb. 18th
Mike Edel returns to the cafe having toured non stop for the last year. This time he brings his band with him for his performance. His album "The Last Of Our Mountains" is definitely worth a listen!
Here's an official video "Turn the Lights on Bright" as well as solo performance from his apperance at Streaming Cafe.

MICHAEL BERNARD FITZGERALD - Feb. 25th
We are very privileged to have MBF back at the cafe. Hailing from Calgary, Michael's indie-folk-pop music and personality have brought him a large following across Canada.
Here's his video "Suzie (I Love You)" as well as a performance from his apperance at Streaming Cafe in 2010.

Craig Cardiff shares some tips for indie musicians

2012-01-25T17:27:00.000-08:00

by Nico Boesten - originally posted by the TribeHouse Artist Collective here: http://tribehouse.org

Craig Cardiff came over for a Dutch pancake breakfast after playing 2 very intimate back-to-back shows at the Streaming Cafe. After touring relentlessly for several years, recording a discography of 20 albums, playing well-known venues across North America, having gone through the whole mainstream management thing (Feldman), he now tours alone & manages himself. Hence the name of the company he started, “Agentless“.

Inspiring stuff.

We were able to catch a quick little interview with him before he had to catch his flight over to Vancouver for 3 consecutive shows at the Railway Club but the conversation went a lot different than I had expected. I was really interested in hearing his thoughts on the house concert network we're building as part of TribeHouse but it turned out that Mr. Craig Cardiff had a lot more "under the hood" which I was stoked to hear about.

Here’s a guy who works his ass off, has a solid following (6K+ fans on Fbook ain’t shabby), and has dudes like Gordon Lightfoot saying things about him like “(Craig) is a songwriter that needs to be heard”.

I think it would be fair to say he’s one of those “successful” artists.

And, of course, there are hundreds of thousands of other indie, travelling, hard-working musicians who are all wondering what the magic potion is as to how he got to this level. He played the show at the Streaming Cafe with 5 strings because there wasn’t enough time to restring his whole guitar after arriving late on a flight from Ottawa and was quick to admit that there are a slew of guitar players out there that could shred circles around his playing.

So what’s his secret? Here’s what he said...

“Be happy with what you have instead of what could be.”

Love it.

It was a privilege to connect with someone who I would consider a true patron to the world of indie artists. He's got a ton of ideas cooking (sorry, can't spill all the beans because he made me sign an NDA) but one that you should check out is Agentless.ca. Craig Cardiff is someone to follow & watch – some really refreshing views on the music industry & enough innovative ideas to tip a flock of cows.

Craig Cardiff's Website: http://craigcardiff.com

PS: And make sure you check back to http://streamingcafe.net for some clips from his live performance - should be up by the end of the week RIGHT HERE.

Jordan Klassen featured on Bruce Willis' Latest Film

2012-01-12T13:29:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
When checking back at some older videos we had posted on YouTube, I came across a few comments. Those comments lead me to find that Jordan Klassen's music was just featured in a new film starring Bruce Willis & Forrest Whitaker, ‘Catch .44’. The new movie features Jordan's song "Hot Ashes" that he performed at Streaming Cafe in 2010. Some other of Klassen's music has found their ways onto television series' including USA Network’s ‘Royal Pains,’ and the iTunes version of late 90’s TV show ‘Felicity’.

Below is the clip we had posted from his August 2010 show at the cafe. I specifically remember the night of Jordan's performance he barely had a voice left. After sound check, he held his head over a humidifier and sipped tea until he hit the stage. With a bit more rasp in his voice then he might normally have, he still he managed to pull off a solid show.

Jordan is releasing a new EP mid February called "Kindness" and has a free download available on his bandcamp for a limited time. He also has teaser video on his site. http://jordanklassenmusic.com/
Definitely worth checking out!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://jordanklassen.bandcamp.com/album/kindness-ep"&amp;gt;Kindness EP by Jordan Klassen&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Streaming Cafe 2011 Live Compilation!

2012-01-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley

2011 was a great year for us at Streaming Cafe. Our following has continued to grow, not only online, but in the physical sense at our location in Kelowna. We`ve had the new addition of a liquor licence, our pour over coffee bar and the offering of our premium coffee beans from Oughtred Coffee. Our baristas have pursued with passion to bringing the art of quality coffee to our patrons.

We’ve had the pleasure of partnering and hosting many community Arts events and have displayed numerous artists’ works on our cafe walls. We are elated to have seen the cafe seats full for the 80 established and upcoming indie artists that graced our stage.

One of the projects we've been very excited to work on is the release of tracks from these live performances. As an extension of our mantle “to discover, connect and promote independent artists” , half of all proceeds from these live tunes go directly to the artist`s pockets. This has given fans the opportunity to take of a piece of the live show “home” to enjoy, long after the show has ended.

We`ve put together a snap shot of our live shows in the form the Streaming Cafe 2011 Live Compilation, that is now available for download in our store. It features sixteen artists that have performed in front of our handcrafted wood wall this last year and at only $10 is a great way to support Canadian indie music.

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://store.streamingcafe.net/album/streaming-cafe-2011-live-compilation"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Streaming Cafe 2011 Live Compilation by Streaming Cafe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Canadian Workhorse Craig Cardiff

2012-01-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

by Malcolm Petch

Craig Cardiff plays a back-to-back pair of shows at Streaming Café on January 21, helping to kick off another year of fabulous live acoustic shows in front of the wood wall.

The Canadian Icon Gordon Lightfoot says this about Cardiff: “A songwriter who needs to be heard” – and a brief time exploring the music available from Cardiff online backs up that sweeping statement. This isn’t music that can exist unnoticed in the background sonic landscape; Craig Cardiff seems to carry that indefinable presence that draws the listener in to an experience deeper than just a casual listen.

Cardiff was born in Waterloo, Ontario in 1976. He’s part of a musical family, and his two sisters sometimes show up as backing artists on his albums. Known primarily for his soft voice and his use of loops when he performs (voice and guitar loops, not electro-pop percussion), Cardiff is also notable in the music industry for his apparent preference for a wider audience rather than a fuller wallet. He has given away music in different contexts, whether that’s the offering of free album downloads (like his 2010 EP “Songs for Lucy”) or the inclusion of a free CD, designed to be given away to others, in the packaging of his 2007 release, Goodnight (Go Home).

This attitude toward music distribution is not exclusive to Cardiff, of course, but it’s interesting and more than a little coincidental that his record label, MapleMusic Recordings, was also the Canadian home for RadioHead’s physical release of In Rainbows back in 2007. (RadioHead, you’ll recall, stood the industry up on its ear that year by releasing Rainbows completely independently, and first offered the album as a digital download from its website for whatever people wanted to pay – in other words, you could get it free if you wanted to. The industry heavy-weights said that was foolish and suicidal. But the band still went on to sell over three million copies of that album within a year, and won two Grammy awards in 2009 due to its success). Other artists who’ve released music through MapleMusic include David Usher, Colin James, Martha Wainwright, Joel Plaskett, and Spirit of the West.

Cardiff’s newest release is Floods & Fires, produced by Ben Leggett and released late in 2011. The songs have a distinct contemporary singer/songwriter feel to them, and are certainly worthy of a listen prior to Craig’s appearance in Kelowna. Interestingly, Cardiff has also released ‘books’ such as The Book Of Truths and The Book Of Songs, covering topics like lyrics (Book Of Songs) and “curious and candid anonymous sharings from audience members” (Book Of Truths).

There’s not a lot of biographical information about Cardiff floating around online. He’s definitely got a web presence, but other than a few sparse details about who he is and where he came from, most of his online sites deal (understandably) with his music. But that’s the beauty of the live shows coming up at Streaming Café: fans everywhere, both in the café and online, will be able to ask questions of Cardiff live and in-person, and his answers will be available for the whole world to hear. Check out these shows on January 21st in person (at 7pm or 9pm) or online (7pm PST only) and ask all the questions you’ve ever wanted to about everything you’ve ever needed to know about Craig Cardiff – it should be good!

Video Overview of January Performances

2012-01-03T14:24:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
It's a new month, a new year and a new line-up of Canadian indie music at Streaming Cafe. We are entering into our third year of bringing live streamed concerts to music lovers and we are really excited about the artists that are on the horizon! You can get to know this months performers by reading up and watching.
As always if you can't make down to our cafe in Kelowna, all these shows will be broadcast FREE live online at 7pm (PST) @ http://streamingcafe.net/, where via our live chat window you can send in your questions live to the artists.

January 7th - Reuben Bullock
Reuben Bullock is a singer-songwriter from Calgary, Alberta.

Here's a quote that sums up Reuben “Bullock's voice is intimate and immediate; note-perfect to deliver his testaments and make them resonate. He somehow manages to evoke some of the greatest folk singers without even once sounding imitative.” –FFWD Weekly

January 14th - Ma Petite and Portage & Main
Ma Petite is Melbourne born musician, Indiana Avent's solo project. After spending almost a decade in the music industry playing violin for artists such as Bon Iver, Soko, Dan Mangan, Gotye, Jordan Klassen, Lamplight, Zachary Lucky, and Treelines among others, Avent decided to put her own originals out into the world.

Portage & Main performed at the cafe during POP Okanagan Festival back in October and we are happy to have them back for a double bill with Ma Petite.
Portage & Main strikes a chord in the same Canadian vein as Neil Young and The Band, with its southern guitar and haunting vocals. While the boys didn’t physically ride the timeless rails like tramps, the songs are as honest and genuine as if they had, displaying the insight of old souls whose hearts are fixed and bound to a boxcar travelling across the country.

January 21st - Craig Cardiff
One of Canada's most impressive workhorses, Craig Cardiff joins us for what is sure to be an amazing night of music. Craig has released over 14 albums in as many years and continues to tour non stop.
This show will have two seatings, 7pm & 9:30pm (only the 7pm show will be streamed ) and tickets are now available at the Streaming Cafe.

January 28th - Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk
Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk bring their captivating indie folk-pop melodies to cafe to end the month of January.
“Lauren Mann along with her Fairly Odd Folk are lovely. Lovely to hear and lovely to work with. We enjoyed having them at the 2011 Calgary Folk Music Festival. From what I’ve seen, it looks like she’s at the beginning of a promising career.” -Kenna Burima, Calgary Folk Music Festival

Voted Favorite Show of 2011 - Jon Bryant & Jodi Pederson

2011-12-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley

Thanks to everyone who voted for their favorite Streaming Cafe show of 2011!
We are happy to announce that the top voted show was Jon Bryant and Jodi Pederson. The performance was originally broadcast live online on January 22 and really was an amazing show for what was for both their second appearance at the Streaming Cafe. It was East meets West with Halifax native Jon Bryant together with Vernon's own Jodi Pederson. The cafe was packed with eager listeners and we were lucky enough with to partner with Jon and Jodi to release a couple live tracks from the show for download in our store (listen below).

We will be rebroadcasting the entire performance all day New Years day and Eve and will announce the winner of the $50 iTunes card early next week.

Thanks to everyone for helping to make 2011 a great year of live independent music at the cafe!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; href="http://store.streamingcafe.net/album/jodi-pederson-live-at-streaming-cafe"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Jodi&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Pederson live at Streaming Cafe by Streaming &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; Cafe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://store.streamingcafe.net/album/jon-bryant-live-at-streaming-cafe"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Jon Bryant live at Streaming Cafe by Streaming Cafe&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

"BENCHED" | A Photographic Exhibition

2011-12-29T09:10:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
We are very happy to be displaying some amazing photos on our cafe walls by John van der Woude. John is launching his photographic exhibition with an opening reception on January 6th with live music from DJ Rich Taylor. The photos will be showcased for the next month at Streaming Cafe so be sure to come down and take them in.
For more info go to the FACEBOOK event. https://www.facebook.com/events/126256077489292/
Here's a little video invite to the opening reception of "Benched" at the Streaming Cafe on Friday, January 6th from 6pm - 9pm. Hope to see you there!

More About John van der Woude
WEBSITE - http://www.johnvanderwoude.com/
I'm an award-winning artist, initially studying art and design at Camosun College in Victoria, BC and later received my BFA from NSCAD University in Halifax, NS in 2007. I work predominantly in photography and have shown my work across the country and am included in numerous private collections.

I choose photography as the medium for most of my artwork because I've always found photographs interesting in how they challenge how people see themselves and the world around them. A photograph is, but its nature, a visual capture of a moment in real life, but it is nothing more than a snippet, without context and meaning (save the meaning that the viewer imposes on the photograph). All art reflects the viewer, but photography amplifies this by allowing the viewer to know that there is a semblance of truth in every photograph, but allows the viewer to give a false context to the entire scene.

Specifically with this series of photographs, they are, on the surface, simply documentations of the benches in various subway stations, specifically those within the city of Montreal. While there is no human presence being shown, there is still evidence that these benches are used on a regular basis, be it through graffiti, the oil stains from people’s hair or by the general uncleanliness of the surroundings.

But subways are an important part of today’s urban social landscape. When used in urban development, subways ensure a more vibrant, accessible and convenient city for its population and the benches within the stations symbolize a continuous flow of transit-users, where thousands of people from a vast array of different demographics will sit every day. From a societal aspect, it is one of the few places where this takes place, creating a congregation of different income levels, ethnicities, religious beliefs and ages silently interacting every day.

On an aesthetic level, Montreal, with the varied architectural designs for each subway station, creates an interesting juxtaposition between modern design influences from various eras, from the 1960s to the 1990s. And the designs are reflective of the time that they were built, using aesthetics common with the era, to create a design time-capsule that funnels tens of thousands of commuters through its concrete walls on a daily basis. The stations would never look the same if they were built in today's era of cost-effectiveness and functionality. That’s not meant to detract from the design, but rather to suggest that it’s a snapshot of a different design aesthetic where function took more of a backseat to showmanship.

Greg Sczebel Christmas Show Video Highlights

2011-12-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
This last Saturday, Dec 17th we had an amazing festive night of music with Greg Sczebel and friends. The show was not only streamed live on our site and at Castanet where Greg took live questions, but it was also broadcast live on the airwaves at Kelowna's The Q103.1 Greg performed two sold out shows and on a scale of Christmas, i'd have to say there were both equally festive!

Stream Team visits Oughtred Coffee & Tea

2011-12-09T09:54:00.001-08:00

by Joel Thiessen

Beans, Beans the magical seed

the more you sip the more you see

the more you see the more's reveal

that all coffee is not equal.

- Joel Thiessen

Jason, Brad and Michelle in the coffee lab.

Recently a few of us on The Stream Team were given an opportunity to visit the coffee roaster who supplies beans to the Cafe. Oughtred Coffee & Tea make a large claim in saying that they "Specialize in hand picked, certified organic, shade grown, certified responsible, premium estate, small batch roasted coffees." That is quite a mouthful - if that statement were coffee I would've definitely burned a hole through the roof of my mouth. Needless to say, we took them up on their offer for a chance to see what goes on behind the beans.

Right off the bat, as soon as we step out of the car, air in the parking lot wafted with the saliva inducing smell of fresh roasted coffee - we've come to the right place. Right away we are greeted by Micheal Oughtred (son of proprietor John Oughtred) who hands us each a hair net and proceeds to guide us through the office side of the building. To get to where the actual roasting happens we have to move past a small board room which Michael says is for training their customers. He went on to say that getting top quality coffee beans to their customers is only half of what is required for a good cup of coffee, Oughtred is not only dedicated to getting the coffee to you, but also educating you on how to fully utilize and get the most out of every bean.

Next is a coffee lab that is stocked with every brew method imaginable. This is where new bean blends and roasts are tested on different brewing devices (as different methods will extract a variety of flavours and aromas from a single roast) as well, this is where Oughtred will set up a brew station that resembles that of a client's in order to try out and fine tune bean selection and quantities before heading out the the physical location and setting that brew system up.

Freshly imported green coffee beans.

Michael Oughtred shows us their cool roasters!

Once in the roasting facility the truth about Oughtred's small batch boutique roasting becomes very apparent. With no more than 5 workers in the warehouse, every task at hand is done so with precision, pride and efficiency. Green coffee beans are received through the bay doors at the far end of the facility. The beans are separated into origin and species and are stored until their turn to roast. When their time comes the beans are gathered up and once more, scanned for any imperfections before being put in the roaster in 60 lb batches. Oughtred doesn't use the conventional rotating drum-style roaster and instead employs and innovative air convection style roaster called 'Air Bed Roasting' which roasts the beans faster, more accurately and much efficiently. A feature that I thought was very cool was the fact that these roasters actually remove the chaff from the outside of the beans that would traditionally be burnt during the roast, the smoke from the burning chaff would then be absorbed into the bean which really mixes up the aroma and flavour of the roast. But there's no smoke here!

Coffee Beans mere seconds after coming out
of the roaster.

Next the roasted beans are removed from the roaster and cooled as quickly as possible to prevent the beans from continuing to roast themselves with stored up heat, finally the beans are hand measured, packaged and sealed.

And thus the tour is concluded!

Oughtred prides itself on making the largest little impact on the environment as possible. Just a few of their initiatives include being carbon neutral in their shipping and receiving of beans, using afterburners to remove any and ALL pollution from their roasters, utilizing the excess heat from the roasters to heat their entire facility including reception, meeting room, coffee lab and bagging room. They also recycle a whopping 95% of all waste leaving the facility!

Before we left Michael gave us a little demonstration of a very cool coffee brew technique called a Hario Pour Over. This is a one or two cup technique that is very delicate and allows the coffee beans to express their full range of flavours that are often hidden when brewed using a Drip or French Press. But that will be a How-To write up for another day!

"Hario"

For more information about origins of beans, coffee techniques or ordering information visit Oughtred Coffee & Tea online at www.Oughtred.com.

Christmas Market & Art Show

2011-12-07T08:38:00.000-08:00

Over the past couple of years we've been able to host some incredible arts & craft shows with some top notch artists (to drop a few names, people like Sparky Jones, Suzanne Kruse, Rena Warren, Shauna Oddleifson, Carrie Harper, Nikki Balfour). Now, we've been helping put together a huge Christmas Market, Art Show, & Concert this weekend (Dec. 10 - 11) together with Bo.ttega & TribeHouse where some of these same artists (& others) will be strutting their stuff up at a brand new venue called Bo.ttega. It's a family-friendly thing so if you're around, pop on up to scope out this open house (& the latest word is that there may even be pony rides on Sunday).

Bo.ttega Farm Inn in the heart of South East Kelowna is hosting their first Christmas Open House featuring some of the Okanagan’s Finest Artists, Crafters & Musicians all within Kelowna’s newest venue. Bring your family to enjoy the spirit of the season browsing through the market and experiencing local artisans, crafts, baking and music.

Saturday December 10th and Sunday 11th from 11am – 5pm with a Christmas concert on the 10th at 7.30pm

This two day open house will connect you with outstanding local Etsy crafters in our community, such as Sparky Jones, Suzanne Kruse, Rena Warren, Shauna Oddleifson and many more. Artwork from local artists will be on display for sale including John Revill, Alex Fong, Dave Watland, Nikki Balfour, Carrie Harper, and Steve Huculiak.

Christmas Carols will be echoing through the halls courtesy of local musicians, and you will find savoury European baking, Glog wine (Glühwein), artisan coffee and stollen bread to warm you up while you explore Bo.ttega.

Admission is $2, with all proceeds going to the Kelowna Foodbank, children are free.

Special Evening Event: Christmas Concert, Saturday December 10th – Tribe House is hosting ‘Christmas Presence’, an evening of seasonal songs and stories featuring Andrew Smith, Norm Strauss, Graham Ord, Kim McMechan and Brian Wiebe. This evening event is $10 and tickets are available at Streaming Cafe 596 Leon Avenue, from Bottega during the day on the 10th or by contacting thetribehouse@gmail.com to pre book a ticket.

For more information visit our website at http://bo.ttega.com or on our Facebook page – facebook.com/BottegaKelowna

About Bo.ttega
Bo.ttega is Kelowna’s newest venue – a modern farm inn set against the backdrop of beautiful South East Kelowna. Bottega is one of a small number of retreat venues that offer complete privacy and exclusive use of the entire facility to make your time together something of your own creation. Modern west coast architecture, short term accommodations, and multi purpose meeting and event areas are among the unique aspects of the property.

Directions:
Bo.ttega
4485 Sallows Road.
S.E. Kelowna V1W 4C2
Canada

Phone: 778 477-5771
Email: info@bo.ttega.com

Vote to win! | Top Show of 2011

2011-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley

As 2011 comes to a close, we look back at the 50 live streamed shows produced this year that featured close to 80 artists performing in front of our timber wall stage.

We thought this would be a great time to ask you our audience... "What was your favorite Streaming Cafe show of 2011?"
We`ve compiled the top 10 viewed shows of the year for you to vote on, but feel free to show support for your favorite artist and add them to the list. Simply head to Facebook and cast your vote and be entered to win a $50 iTunes card!
The winning show will be rebroadcast in its entirety on New Years Eve and Day.
Before you head over to vote, have a look and listen to all of our 2011 show video highlights in our Past Performances Section.

TO VOTE CLICK HERE!

Video Overview of December Shows

2011-12-01T13:41:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
We end off the 2011 year in a big way by showcasing some world class talent from with in our British Columbia borders.
Dominique Fricot, The Wild Oaks, Windmills & Greg Sczebel
Our production team will be taking off the Christmas break but the cafe as always will be open for business to serve up some festive egg nog (rum!) latte`s. We`ll be back with a new year of live music January 7th.

Merry Christmas and the best of the season from all of us here at Streaming Cafe and thanks for helping to make this an amazing year of live indie music.

December 3rd - Dominique Fricot
Dominique Fricot is a Vancouver-based solo artist with a lot to offer. Not only does Fricot charm his audiences with his captivating banter, but he also has the ability to move his audiences through song with his heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies. Standing 6 foot 7, Fricot commands the stage with his rich baritone and his emotive fusion of rock, soul, folk and jazz.
Check out this amazing performance from Dominique.

Dominique Fricot - If Baby Could Walk (Live) from Fistful of Sound on Vimeo.

December 10th - Wild Oaks & Windmills
Wild Oaks
The Wild Oaks is the song writing combination of Jacob Verburg and Jesse Clarke (former member of Old Man`s Beard). Together they write music that displays their talent as song writers and musicians. After a few jams in the spring of 2011 the boys found the musical combination incredibly creative and fulfilling. They are very excited about their new project, so look for them in a coffee house or street corner near you.

Windmills
Based out of Kelowna, BC - Windmills is Cory Myraas.
Windmills is described as an electric indie folk-rock band, but more importantly Windmills is a one man loop-artist, meaning every song is created and based around looping melodies and percussion, as well as vocals live during live performances.

December17th - Greg Sczebel and Friends "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time"
Greg joins us once again for what is sure to be an epic night of Christmas cheer!
Greg is a two time Juno winner and his latest holiday single "Perfect" is currently #4 on iTunes holiday charts. Here`s the video for that song.

All these shows will be broadcast FREE live online at 7pm (PST) @ http://streamingcafe.net/, where via our live chat window you can send in your questions live to our artists!

Award Winner Hits The Airwaves at SC

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

by Malcolm Petch

All too often when someone is referred to as an “award-winning artist”, the award turns out to be a relatively unknown presentation from a relatively unknown organization or group. That may seem harsh, but take it from me: I’m an award-winning artist.

Greg Sczebel, on the other hand, is a genuine award-winning artist. He’s taken home nine Covenant Awards (Canadian Gospel Music Association) plus been nominated three additional times. He’s been a finalist, a semi-finalist, and a third-place winner in the well-known International Songwriting Competition (ISC). He’s been a finalist and a two-time Grand Prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, another big one. He’s won four Shai awards (formerly the Vibe awards). He won a Western Canadian Music Award for his album Here To Stay. And, at the pinnacle for Canadian musical artists, he has won two Junos, one in 2005 for his first album (Here To Stay), and the second this year for his newest album (Love and the Lack Thereof).

But it doesn’t stop there: Greg Sczebel, live and in person, has played at Streaming Café! He and we liked it so much that we had him come back. And that was so good that we invited him to do a Christmas special. That, too, was out of the park, so we prevailed upon him again to make his way to our log-pile wooden wall – and he’s going to do it!

Saturday December 17 at 7p.m. and again at 9:30p.m., Greg Sczebel and friends will be honouring us with Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time, an evening of festivemusic and entertainment.

Rumour has it that Greg will have to interrupt a tour with Paul Brandt in order to show up at the café. And if you’ve watched Canadian television at all over the holidays (or probably American TV, too), you’ll know that Paul Brandt has a well-received Christmas tour that he takes on the road each year. So for us to be able to pry Greg away from a gig like that shows how much he likes showing up at SC!

"Perfect" #4 on iTunes

Little side story: when Kelowna was host city for the Western Canadian Music awards in 2010, Greg Sczebel and band were booked to play at one of the local venues (but not at SC). As we were setting up in the café for the musical guests who were to be featured on our stage, Greg and his band trooped into SC to order sandwiches on their way over to the venue at which they were playing. Hats off to the Streaming Café baristas! They make a mean enough sandwich that even artists booked to play elsewhere will take a detour just to nab some good food – I’d say that speaks for itself.

Back to Sczebel and Christmas 2011: Greg released the first single from his new Christmas album at the start of November. Within hours of its release it had climbed to #41 on the iTunes Holiday music chart. And within days it had climbed to #4 – right behind a couple of Bieber songs and right AHEAD of another Bieber song. Here's the video for "Perfect".

And Greg played that song at his Christmas concert with us way back in 2010 – if you were with us in person or online you would have seen/heard this song far before anyone else in the country… makes you think that it’s worth coming out to the gig, doesn’t it?! Here's the video from that performance...

The Christmas event last year was such a success that we’ve decided to do two seatings, one at 7p.m (our normal start time) and a second at 9:30 p.m. Only the first show will be streamed online, so if you can’t make it in person be sure to catch the early show on the website!

Adding to the festivities, for the first time in history we are going to be simul-casting the show on radio station Q103.1, ‘live on the air’ at the same time we’re live on the web (and again, it will only be the first showing, the one at 7 p.m., that will go out over the radio waves).

I would suspect – and of course, I could be wrong – that this is the first time anywhere in the world and at any time in history that a live performance will go out simultaneously on computers via the Internet, on Blackberry devices, on iPhones, and on FM Radio. Just think, even if you’re driving in your car and cannot even safely look at your iPhone (and please don’t if you’re driving!!!), you can still catch the show in real-time on Q103.1

How cool is that?

So, now you’re faced with a choice: should you listen on the radio, on your phone, on your computer, or in-person?

No matter what you decide, December 17^th promises to be a wonderful celebration of Christmas merrymaking and jollification with genuine award-winning artist Greg Sczebel. ~~Come join us at the café at either 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.: tickets are on sale now, $20 advance and $25 at the door~~ (sorry, TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!). Or catch the show online or on-air at 7 p.m.

We will all be Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time.

Merry Christmas

POP Okanagan videos

2011-11-29T14:55:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
Last month The Downtown Kelowna Association hosted Pop Okanagan in the Kelowna city centre. The festival brought 60 bands to the downtown core and we here at Streaming Cafe hosted 8 bands in two days.
Over the last month or so we`ve managed to tackle the video footage from the October weekend and I thought i`d put it up in one post for your viewing pleasure.
On a somewhat similar note a couple of the bands that performed that weekend at the cafe are making their way back in the coming months; Portage and Main (along with Ma Petite) perform January 14th and Sidney York perform April 21st.

Live painting and live music... this Friday!

2011-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Nikki Balfour is holding an art show at the cafe featuring her latest series titled 'Drift'. Jimmy Balfour brings a fresh addition to this show setting with music while Nikki paints. Live painting and live music... pretty cool!
Be sure to come down and take in this unique event.
Streaming Cafe on Friday November 25th, 6-9pm

Nikki's art will be displayed at the cafe from November 25th to December 23rd, so be sure to come down and take it in. Find more about Nikki Balfour on her site @ http://nikkibalfour.com

Cafe Chalk Art Masterpieces: Part IV

2011-11-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley

Here`s the latest collection of our chalk masterpieces. You`ll notice our shiny new Steam Whistle chalk board that has heightened our artists freedom of expression or at very least has brought a consistent green beer theme to every design.

thanks to Vicky & Joel for their endless journey of artistic self-promotion!

Streaming Cafe and Castanet Streaming Mayoral Debate

2011-11-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

Streaming Cafe is partnering with local go-to news source Castanet to bring a mayoral debate live streamed to Kelowna voters. It’s a bit off path from our norm of streaming indie music but we believe it’s a great avenue to support the community by helping voters to make educated decisions on who to cast their ballet at.

The debate will not be streamed on our website but you can take part and watch @ http://www.castanet.net where online and emailed questions will be taken.

Come down in person if you are in Kelowna to the cafe and take in the evening in person.

Here’s an article from Castanet about the evening.

by Wayne Moore

For the first time during this election campaign, you'll have a chance to hear candidates running for mayor debate the issues live through your computer.

Photo: Castanet Staff

(l to r)Sharon Shepherd, Walter Gray, Cal Condy and Ken Chung will all take part in a Kelowna mayoral forum hosted by Castanet Thursday evening

Castanet.net will be hosting a mayoral forum Thursday night from the Streaming Cafe begining at 7 p.m., Castanet has teamed up with The Streaming Cafe to produce and broadcast the forum to give everyone a chance to see and hear the candidates.

Incumbant Sharon Shepherd along with challengers Ken Chung, Cal Condy and Walter Gray will be in attendance.

Kim Ouellette, who is also running for mayor, will not be at the forum. She is not taking part for health reasons.

Each candidate will be given an opportunity to make a brief opening statement followed by a question and answer period.

Questions will come from Castanet reporters and members of the general public.

If you have a question you would like relayed to the candidates, please forward them to news@castanet.net.

Please indicate which candidate you would like the question directed to.

During the live show you can also send in e-mails to news@castanet and tweet questions to: @CastanetNews

iTunes featuring our weekly podcast!

2011-11-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

by Michael Donley
iTunes is featuring Streaming Cafe`s weekly podcast right now on the podcast channel. Pretty cool to see a nice big SC banner on the store!

Our free weekly podcast features performances from our live streamed shows mixed with stories and behind the music insight from the artists.

Over the last two years we have featured close to 90 artists and are proud to continue in support of independent music in Canada.
Thanks for your support in helping to make the podcast a success...keep listening/watching!

Kim McMechan & Norm Strauss - Dual Artist Album Release

2011-11-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

How many local artists do you know who have recorded and released 14 albums? Yep, that’s what I thought.

But Kelowna’s Norm Strauss fits that bill. In fact, he’s part of a dual-artist album release this month along with Kim McMechan, showcasing his newest full-length recording, Twelve-Track Mind.

While Norm is definitely part of the local scene, he’s at least as strongly (if not more so) a part of the global scene, traveling regularly to Germany and other European destinations to do tours and recording. You could just as readily find Strauss in a house-concert setting as you could on a big stage during a huge festival like the annual one that happens in every year in Cologne, Germany.

Strauss’s latest disc was recorded for the most part in his home studio out in West Kelowna, with snippets and pieces being recorded at a few other studios in the region. When it was time to be mixed, however, the data was all sent over to Germany, where it was mixed and mastered in a studio just outside of Dresden. The studio itself is set in a little hamlet called Rhorsdorf in a ‘schloss’, which translates as ‘castle’, although the facility is more like an extremely large manor house or family estate. Strauss went over to oversee the album’s mixing, and then hit the road for a little tour in support of his new project.

Freshly back from that jaunt, Strauss will be marking the Canadian debut of his newest work at Streaming Café on November 19th at 7:00 p.m. C’mon out, hear the new music, and pick up a copy of this new album!

Alongside Norm that evening will be another local artist, singer/songwriter Kim McMechan, who also has a new album to unveil titled Paper Sun. McMechan’s album was produced by Canadian heavy-weight Colin Linden, who (it’s rumoured) also played on a track on Strauss’s new album.

Though she’s only ‘officially’ got one album under her name listed on her website (2006’s Little Grey House), McMechan is no stranger to the world of music and recording. Several of her early songs were popular around the world, being recorded by different artists.

Kim started her musical career on the piano (well, she says it was actually in front of the mirror as a ten-year-old with a hairbrush for a microphone) but has concentrated more on guitar in recent years because her piano was so heavy to lug around. An avid poet and photographer as well as a musical artist, McMechan has been spreading her artistic influence over an ever-widening canvas for quite some time. She is also a writer and editor, so the fact that she receives rave reviews for her ability to craft meaningful and authentic lyrics should come as no surprise.

The chance to record with Colin Linden came as a result of winning a FACTOR grant, and Kim headed into the process with eyes and ears wide open. She reports that the album is now finished, which we sincerely hope is accurate, because her show with Norm Strauss is on November 19, not all that far away!

Come join us for this McMechan / Strauss dual-artist album release event. It promises to be a great evening of music!

Here's a FREE track from Kim's new record.
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://kimmcmechan.bandcamp.com/track/happy"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Happy by Kim McMechan&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Norm's new album...

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://normstrauss1.bandcamp.com/album/12-track-mind"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;12 Track Mind by Norm Strauss&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Buffaloswans

2011-11-02T16:37:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

In the tradition of the Traveling Wilburys and other super-groups (or fun-groups or project-groups), BuffaloSwans showcases a number of individual artists who decided to come together as a band.

CBC’s Jon Siddall describes them this way: “Buffaloswans make music you feel you always knew, like a beautiful old friend you keep meeting for the first time.” That’s a great quote; it gives one the sense that sitting in a Buffaloswans gig for the first time would be a truly enjoyable experience, with none of the mind-numbing sensations that can come from an evening of never-before-heard music.

Indie engineer and producer Scott Bell is the hub around which Buffaloswans have formed. As a producer, Bell had contributed in one fashion or another to projects by most of the folks who now make up the band, so when he started feeling like he wanted to get out from behind the console and make a bit of his own music, these were the people he naturally invited to be involved. That recording project from 2006 gradually morphed into a gigging band, and Buffaloswans became a fixture on the Vancouver scene. Joining Bell in the official Buffaloswans line-up these days is JamesLamb on lead guitar, Stephan Mihajlovich on percussion, Steph’s sister Jobi Mihajlovich on keys and BGVs, and James Green on bass.

Yes, some of those names are familiar to long-time SC fans. James Lamb has been with us before, both as a solo artist and as a supporting cast member for other artists. And James Green – well, the name might be known, but we want to assure you that this is not the James Green who is running for mayor of Vancouver as an indie candidate in this month’s municipal elections.

The music of the Buffaloswans is natural and straightforward. The instrumental/vocal arrangements (and use of reverb) are strongly evocative of CSNY, Roy Orbison and other artists of their era; the earlier reference to the Traveling Wilburys is not so far off the mark. As they say on their reverbnation page, the Buffaloswans sound can be found “frolicking somewhere between the dusty vintage past and the psychedelic rafters of the future”.

October marked the release of the band’s second album, The Body Electric, following their self-titled debut album (i.e. Buffaloswans) from 2007. A lot of bands don’t even exist for that long, so to have an album that took a year to record coming out four years after their first album shows that there is a good deal of stick-to-itiveness in Buffaloswans. And yes, that’s right: The Body Electric took a year to record, with the final pieces of the puzzle being trombone, fluglehorn, french horn, saxophone, bass clarinet and cello, all tracked in the first week of May at Ogre Studios this last spring. The album itself was mixed later that same month, wrapping up a year of production work, and all of those ingredients finally saw the light of day (in public, anyway) just last month.

And now they’ve taken it all on the road. Fresh on the tail-end of a romp through southeastern BC, Buffaloswans will be gracing the stage of Streaming Café on Saturday, November 5^th at 7:00 p.m. (596 Leon Ave Kelowna). If you’ve managed to read this blurb before Saturday, then c’mon out and check them out in person! If you can’t make it down to the Café, or if you’re reading this after the fact, then tune in to the Buffaloswans on our website, either live on November 5^th, or via post-show videos on the bands SC performance page.

Video Overview of November Shows

2011-11-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

November is going to be a great month of indie music at the cafe.
Once again we've put together some clips and info so you can get to know the performing artists.

NOVEMBER 5th – Buffaloswans
Frolicking somewhere between the dusty vintage past and the psychedelic rafters of the future, Buffaloswans are a 5 piece beast from Vancouver, BC who play in the fields and forests of Cosmic American Music.
In this video the band the band puts down their instruments for a good old fashion sing-along.

NOVEMBER 12th – Sheree Plett
Sheree Plett returns to the Streaming Cafe for her fourth appearance with the release of her brand new album Hello Night. Her unique vocal texture and endearing songs always always remind us why we love her so much. She is joined by husband Eisenhauer and production whiz and artist in his own right Jonathan Anderson (Jonathan Inc.).
Here's a clip from Sheree's Sept 2010 performance at the cafe.

NOVEMBER 19th – Kim McMechan & Norm Strauss
Both Kim and Norm perform at the cafe to celebrate the release of their new albums!
This past summer Kim McMechan, thanks to a FACTOR grant, recorded her new album Paper Sun with Canadian blues legend Colin Linden.
Norm Strauss releases his 15th full-length solo recording (holy crap!) Twelve Track Mind. He returns to Kelowna fresh off a tour in Germany.

Saturday, November 26th. there will be no show. The Streaming Cafe staff and crew are taking off the night to be carefree and boisterous.

As always if you can't make it out to the cafe to watch these shows in person, they will be streamed live to our site @ 7pm (PST), where you can send in questions via our live chat.

Movember...roam proud!

2011-11-02T08:31:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

Dine Alone Records, home to artists such as City and Colour, Hey Rosetta, Alexisonfire, Attack in Black, and SC faves Yukon Blonde and Grey Kingdom, are up to something this month.

Yep, it’s Movember, and Dine Alone Records are donating their collective faces to raise awareness of prostate cancer Canada.

The label has created a Network page where artists, other labels and fans can join in – and the consolidated efforts will add all the collections together, giving the network a huge amount that will have been raised.

“This is a cause that Dine Alone has always felt passionate about,” says Joel Carriere of DAR and Bedlam Music Management, “and we hope to make this our most successful year ever.”

Artists who have already set up teams and joined the network include Yukon Blonde, City and Colour and The Coppertone. The Coppertone is offering some cool incentives based on donations, and, as an example of what can be done to help, The Sheepdogs (Bedlam Music Management artists) have formed their own team and will be donating $1 from each ticket sold to their November 26 show at Copps Coliseum.

Never heard of Movember? Surely you jest. “Mo” (slang for moustache) and November come together each year for Movember, a challenge to men everywhere to change their appearance (and the face of men’s health) by growing a moustache. The rules are simple: start with a clean shave on the first of the month, and then grow a moustache for the entire month. Guys taking part in this commit to growing a moustache for 30 days. (I can’t find any info on what guys who already have facial hair should do, nor what ladies who want to participate should do…). The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are created for prostate cancer.

Dine Alone is also planning to run auctions throughout the month of Movember for items including test pressings of City and Colour albums previously unavailable to the public (limit of 10 copies), an Alexisonfire Old Crows / Young Cardinals printer spread, a signed Matt Good canvas, a signed book from Nikki Sixx, and a Universal Music bundle that has, among other things, box sets from Nirvana, Sound garden, and Airborn Toxic Event.

“We are asking for people to s upport our efforts by making whatever donation they can in support of Prostate Cancer Canada,” says Carriere.

If you want to participate, or learn more about the auctions when they open up, you can join the Dine Alone Network at http://bit.ly/danetwork and/or you can join the Dine Alone team directly at http://bit.ly/damovember

If you think you’ll look funny with a stache, worry not: you can still catch all the live shows at SC this month from the comfort of your own livingroom without ever having to go out in public – check us out at streamingcafe.net

Happy Movember

Del Barber wins WCMA awards!

2011-10-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Del with CBC Radio's Margaret Gallagher (Anna Kalfa)

by Michael Donley
A big congratulations goes out to Winnipeg's Del Barber, who recently took home two 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards for Roots Solo Recording and Independent Album of the Year.

Since Del's performance at the cafe in October during the 2010 Breakout West Festival, he has been touring non stop and I even by chance heard him on CBC's Q with Jian Ghomeshi in early April. His BOWF performance at Streaming Cafe was not only videoed and recorded in our regular fashion, but CBC came out and recorded the show that they posted as part of their Concerts on Demand series on their site (listen here).
It was a great performance as CBC stated - "The Streaming Café is the perfect place to here him play - on a small stage against a wall made of stacked rounds of dried cherry wood. It was a warm and engaging venue for a singer who plays from the heart."

Here's a clip we put together from his performance at Streaming Cafe.

Cafe Art Display: Cherie Hanson

2011-10-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to be displaying some amazing works on our cafe walls by the talented Cherie Hanson. Her art will be showcased for the next month, so come down and take them in. Visit Cherie's website for more information on her art.

Cherie Hanson's Bio
Cherie Hanson taught English and Acting for over twenty years. After retirement, she began her life as an artist and writer. She has written two poetry anthologies in the past year. Her exhibitions in Canada include Kelowna, Vernon, Summerland, Prince George, Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver. She has displayed art in Sacramento, New York and Los Angles in the United States. Currently she has works for sale in a gallery in Palermo, Italy.

2007 was the year that Cherie attended the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Florence, Italy. Out of the over 800 artists in attendance, her work was awarded one of the 63 jury prizes. In addition, she was selected to have a secondary showing in the Grand Hotel in Florence.
2009 found her in Vienna, Austria attending a juried group show.

Her hand made Christmas cards have been selected by the City of Kelowna as the official card from the Mayor's office.

She has work in two public art installations in Kelowna. Her medallion is in The Spirit of Kelowna public display in city hall and a painted tile in the Park Bench project in the city's North End.

Cherie has adjudicated photography and video production for the Central Okanagan Photography Society and for the Okanagan Film Festival Society.

In addition, Cherie's graphic design can be purchased through the web site Designyouwall.com. The company creates the wallpaper for the show Extreme Makeovers and has done the set decoration for many block buster movies.

Cherie continues to write and is currently working on a book. She teaches art and blogging classes. She is busy creating work for an upcoming show called "Dress Up."

For contact, to view the art, to

250-763-4269
cheriefranceshanson@gmail.com
http://www.cheriehanson.com

Cafe Art Display: Kate O'Hara

2011-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

Streaming Cafe is featuring some more amazing art on our walls by the talented Kate O'Hara. These works will be showcased at the cafe for the next month, so be sure to come down to the cafe and have a look. Visit Kate's facebook for more information on her art.

BIO
Art to me is an unique way of exploring new territories both within me and on the canvas. I love the spontaneity of applying lots of medium and allowing the drips to create something mystical. I enjoy creating evocative and dynamic images that arise from the initial chaos which challenges the viewer to look deep within.
When I paint I want to by-pass self-censoring thought and allow other doors to open. I am totally in a space where my intuition is allowed to be influenced by layers deeper than the surface. I am strongly influenced by German Expressionism and at the same time by what is occurring in my life at the time. Painting portraits allows me to access a new way of expressing myself, touching something very deep within me.

When I paint I feel that I have accessed a new way of expressing myself, something much deeper than before. Using lots of gestural movement, gravity and paint, the essence of my emotion is expessed on canvas and is my way of communicating with others.

POP Okanagan | Two packed nights of Indie music

2011-10-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

Coming out of the success of the BreakOut West Festival last fall, POP Okanagan hits Kelowna this October 13th through 16thwith performances at the Streaming Cafe October 14th and 15th.

BreakOut West was the music festival portion of the Western Canadian Music Awards held in Kelowna last year. It featured multiple artists in multiple venues, and was such a hit that local organizers realized they’d be smart to capitalize on the experience and host an Okanagan-specific festival with the same general format.

POP Okanagan (www.popokanagan.com) builds on the triumph of BreakOut West and gives it a distinctly Valley feel, with as many of the artists as possible coming from right here in the Okanagan (with a few stragglers from that little V-town down in the Fraser Valley). Venues such as the Habitat, Doc Willoughby’s, and, of course, the Streaming Café will play host to these artists, squeezing several performers into each venue during each night of the festival.

While the wrist-bands for access to the whole festival are only $35, if you manage to pick one up before October 1 you can get it for only $20. The wristbands are available at Leo’s Videos and a couple of other locations, or online at the POP Okanagan website. One-evening single-venue passes will be available for $10 at the different venues.

Streaming Café will be presenting shows on Friday and Saturday evenings and will be streamed live online from 8pm to 12am (PST)– catch us online, or on your iPad/iPhone or BlackBerry.

At Streaming Café we will be pleased to play host on Friday to Maurice, Portage & Main, RedBird, Jayson Bendera and on Saturday to Sidney York, Steph Macpherson, Zaac Pick and Kate Morgan.

Needless to say, this will be a mad-cap scramble of an event! We’re anticipating swift changeovers between artists and a high-energy flow of talent through each evening’s festivities. If this is anything like BreakOut West, seating will be at a premium at Streaming Café, and the ability to walk between different venues to catch favourite acts will make the whole weekend a marvelous hub of activity in Downtown Kelowna. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Video Overview of October Shows

2011-10-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
We've got a packed month of music for October with over a dozen acts playing our room.
I've put together a few clips and short description of each artists so you can get to know a bit more about them. Happy listening!

OCTOBER 1st – Snailhouse
Very happy to have a solo performace from Snailhouse at the cafe on October 1st. Feuerstack is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who works on his own music and contributes greatly to the projects of others. He plays guitar in the band Wooden Stars, which won a Juno with Julie Doiron for their alternative album Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars. Snailhouse, the full band version, has included Gara on drums and fellow Arcade Fire alumnus Sarah Neufeld on violin. Mike Feuerstack has toured extensively with both Catherine MacClellanand Olympic Symphonium Feuerstack is part of the band Bell Orchestre. Feuerstack/Snailhouse’s album Lies on the Prize was nominated for a 2009 Polaris prize.

OCTOBER 8th – The Crooked Brothers
The Crooked Brothers are known for their diverse instrumentation, vocal arrangements, and a fascination with the past. Even their name has a contemplative, seasoned aura about it. “The brothers part of our name relates to the archetypical bluegrass, folk, family band idea. We’re essentially brothers every way but biologically,” explains The Crooked Brothers’ Jesse Matas. “The crooked part is derived from a book we all read called “Ironweed” by William Kennedy. He used the term “crooked” to described people after they’ve died. He says ‘they’ve gone crooked’, or ‘he was all crooked’. It seemed to fit with our band. One of our original goals was to see beauty in everything including death.”

OCTOBER 14th & 15th– POP Okanagan Music Festival - Two Nights, 8 bands of live streamed indie music!
POP Okanagan (www.popokanagan.com) builds on the triumph of BreakOut West and gives it a distinctly Valley feel, with as many of the artists as possible coming from right here in the Okanagan (with a few stragglers from that little V-town down in the Fraser Valley).
FRIDAY NIGHT LINEUP: Maurice | Portage & Main | RedBird | Jayson Bendera
SATURDAY NIGHT LINEUP: Sidney York | Steph Macpherson | Zaac Pick | Kate Morgan
Here's a few videos from some of the performers that will be performing that have performed at the cafe in past.

OCTOBER 22nd – Ryan McAllister & Daniel Huscroft
Daniel Huscroft is no stranger to Streaming Café, having played our venue back in November of 2010. This time around he’s bringing Ryan McAllister, a producer and songwriter from the Lower Mainland.

OCTOBER 29th – David Simard, Steel Audrey & Hannah Epperson
David Simard - Described as an avant-garde folk singer, David has been getting some due attention. His name recently appeared on the Montreal Mirror's list for “Best Country/Folk Act” 2009.

Steel Audrey from Vancouver BC is a rowdy-roots-folk band singing over-embellished tales of seedy characters, set to a gritty and energetic live performance.

With loop pedal, fiddle and voice, Hannah Epperson creates intricate and moving musical landscapes. As a talented collaborative artist, she’s been on the road and recorded with Canada’s Miss Emily Brown; performed with Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party, and in Vancouver she is a regular at Café Montmartre, opens for local bands at the Anza and other clubs, and has collaborated with theatrical, visual and musical artists including Zachary Gray of The Zolas.

As always if you can't make it out to the cafe in Kelowna to watch these shows in-person, watch them streamed live online at 7pm and send in your questions directly to the artists via our live chat.

Ryan McAllister & Daniel Huscroft: Oct 22nd

2011-10-01T14:50:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

Daniel Huscroft is no stranger to Streaming Café, having played our venue back in November of 2010. This time around he’s bringing Ryan McAllister, a producer and songwriter from the Lower Mainland.

McAllister is one of the underground undersung heroes who’s had a taste of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow only to have it all vanish like vapour when the weather changed. As lead singer and primary songwriter for the Vancouver band Dakona, McAllister was along for the ride when the band was the focus of a seven-label bidding war about ten years ago. Madonna’s label Maverick Records stood strong, snapping up the band and sending Dakona on a whirlwind of touring around North America. An album, Perfect Change, hit the market in 2003. But even while they were out on the road, a massive internal shuffle at Maverick resulted in the band’s deal melting into nothingness, and the Dakona world-domination experience came to a close.

The band’s choice to sink its early advance from Maverick into setting up a recording studio in Abbotsford paid out some longer-lasting dividends for McAllister, though, by allowing Ryan to follow what he calls his “accidental occupation” of recording and producing other artists’ music.

In an interview with the Aldergrove Star last month, McAllister says he’s taken the knowledge he picked up while working with top-notch engineers and producers during Dakona’s high-flying trajectory and expanded on it in establishing his home-based business, Five Acres Studio.

“When we were recording at Capitol Studios in L.A. we were spending $15,000 a day, and that kind of pressure is counter-productive to creativity,” says McAllister. He prices his own services much lower than that, but don’t be fooled into thinking Five Acres Studios is a typical ‘home studio’ – it may be home-based, but it’s a well equipped professional space. And creativity is more of a focus than ever for McAllister and some of the friends he works with, so all of that equipment gets put to good use.

However, even with all that experience, it was only when he got a push from his fellow former-Dakonian, guitarist Brook Winstanley, that McAllister started working on an album of his own material. Music for a Rainy Town was released at the end of April, and the track ‘This Black Heart’ got enough airplay right out of the gate to make it into the Shore FM Song Search top ten.

McAllister will be featuring his album when he comes through the café on October 22^nd along with Daniel Huscroft. The two of them also perform in a trio called Cowboys and Indians with fellow singer-songwriter Barnaby McRae, though McRae won’t be with them this time through. Showtime is 7pm at 596 Leon Ave in Kelowna, and as always you can catch the show online (and even talk to the artists!) if you can’t be there in person.

Click here for show info.

The Crooked Brothers "...an altogether different breed of folk."

2011-10-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

“Music full of hips and hearts.” Who describes their music that way? “…a heartache stripped and unadorned” …welcome to The Crooked Brothers. If this is the language they use for the website description of their music, can you imagine what their lyrics are like?

The Crooked Brothers stand out. Jesse Matas, Darwin Baker and Matt Foster are a trio of multi-instrumentalists from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and as The Crooked Brothers they craft amazing music with their guitars, mandolins, dobros, and banjos. And the harmonies – you’d almost think these three really were brothers the way their voices blend and complement each other.

A little bit of digging on their website and blog reveals a couple of interesting facts: their first album, Deathbed Pillowtalk (2009), was recorded in a warm log cabin during a cold Manitoba winter. Their newest album, Lawrence, Where’s Your Knife? (released on September 23) was recorded in a warm log cabin during a cold Manitoba winter. Seems to be a bit of a theme happening. Here’s the kicker: all three of The Crooked Brothers spent May and June out in the woods building (wait for it) an 18-foot by 18-foot log cabin destined to be a rental property at Falcon Trails Resort in Falcon Lake, Manitoba, where Jesse runs the ski shop and Matt cooks during the non-folk-festival season (otherwise known in Canada as ‘the wintertime’). If you look closely at the video they’ve posted about their log-building activities, however, you’ll note that there are way more than three guys hauling the logs up to the top of the walls on the cabin. There’s also no mention on their website as to whether working with heavy logs all the time is the reason the brothers became crooked.

Okay, so these three guys spend their winters living in log cabins, and spend their summers (well, one anyway) building log cabins (and playing in folk festivals from coast to coast). Can you get more canadiana than that?

It’s the music that really stands out, though. The Crooked Brothers have a distinctly folk sound, yet it’s refreshingly different from a distinctly folk sound; tight harmonies, yes, and lots of natural instrumentation–very straight-ahead bluegrass, actually–but there are touches and elements in The Crooked Brothers’ music that inject a fresh spark into what they do. Listen to 17 Horses, the opening cut on their new album, and right after the opening bluesy dobro and folksy banjo there’s some foot-stomp/hand clap action that sounds more like, well, … hmm. I don’t know what it sounds like, but it doesn’t sound like bluegrass. But it sounds good.

The Crooked Brothers release their music via Transistor 66 Record Company, a self-described “happily dysfunctional” label who are home to punk bands like Cripple Creek Fairies, rock’n’roll/rockabilly groups like the Hot Live Guys, and folk artists like The Kent Boys or Scott Nolan. It’s a combination that reaches an eclectic audience, obviously, and one that seems to keep the various artists happy.

Catch The Crooked Brothers at Streaming Cafe on Saturday, October 8th at 7pm (PST). Click for more info.

September's dose of music

2011-09-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
We're really happy to have added some new live tracks for download to our store this past month. We've continued our partnership with these talented artists allowing us to bring some magical live moments to fans, friends and family.
Here's what's new!

Treelines performed back in March for their third apperance at the cafe. It was a great show and chance to see the band in a bit of a different light as they performed a stripped down acoustic set.
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Zaac Pick joined us at the cafe for the second time and we were able to capture a couple unreleased tracks exclusively available in our store.
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Kayla Luky from rural Manitoba performed a great solo set the cafe July 11th.
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Abigail Lapell from Toronto performed at the cafe during her Western Canadian Tour in May.

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Fisticuffs aka Jordan Kurtz brought his "Garage-folk" approach to the cafe back in April.
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Adaline: Free sneak peek

2011-09-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

By Michael Donley

I was first introduced to Adaline when by chance I caught her performance at Vancouver's The Media Club in 2008. Although time passed, I always remembered her interesting and refreshing approach to her craft, and the Streaming Cafe was able to have her come down and perform a solo show in March 2010. Later that year, this time with the full force of her band Adaline showcased at the cafe during Break Out West Music festival (watch it!)

Adaline is now getting set to unleash a her second album Modern Romantics this fall and it is sure to be a great listen. The new full length is produced by Hawksley Workman who has produced albums for some well know Canadian talent; Tegan and Sara, Serena Ryder, Jeremy Fisher and Hey Rosetta! to name a few.

Sneak-peek download - "Wasted Time"

“I wanted to take a very European approach to the record,” she says, adding that she and her busiest partner, Hawksley Workman – who played on and produced nine of its twelve tracks – were throwing names like Portishead, Bat for Lashes, La Roux, Beck, and Goldfrapp around when they entered Toronto’s Canterbury Studio for four weeks. “Groove artists,” she calls them. “I wanted it to sound world class. A lot of people seem to be doing these very chill, laid back, organic records, and I kinda wanted to be a little more aggressive in terms of the sounds and production.”

Modern Romantics will be available on November 1, 2011, but for a limited time you can get a free sneak-peek by downloading her pre-release Wasted Time on her Bandcamp page.

Ellen Degeneres Votes for Behind Sapphire

2011-09-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

A few weeks ago Vancouver's Behind Sapphire performed at the cafe as they continued their journey on trying to become the next Peak Performance Project winner. Shortly after their performance the Band crafted a Youtube video Behind Sapphire Wants to Meet Ellen Degeneres, in hopes of connecting with the American talk show host icon. That post lead them to perform for Ellen while she was in Vancouver mid August. Not only did she give the band her approval but also gave them a plug, prompting viewers to vote!

Nicely crafted and executed promo.

Kudos to Ryan at Castanet for posting this and showing off some BC talent.

Here's a clip of Behind Sapphire's performance at the cafe at the beginning of July.

Live Show Downloads - as natural as granola in the morning

2011-09-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch
You’ve been to the live show at Streaming Café, and you’re laughing and chatting with your friends as you leave for the night. You’re full of joyful satisfaction after a wonderful evening of live music and good food. If only there was a way to hold on to this feeling…

Now there is.

We here at Streaming Café are happy to unveil our online music store in conjunction with Bandcamp. As an extension of our mandate to discover, connect and promote independent artists, we’ve partnered with several of our guest musicians to offer downloadable selections from their live performances.

Here’s a bit of history: we started multi-tracking our shows at the end of last year in order to have the ability to remix audio for our YouTube videos. After a while we realized that a lot of the performances we had on tape were remarkably good and very much worth releasing to the general public in a format other than the YouTube videos we’ve been doing. We started a dialogue with some of the artists to see whether this was something they’d be agreeable to. And they’ve jumped at the opportunity, so we’ve got their music up and ready for you.

Basically, our thought has been to offer another resource to the artist, with no cost to them, that they in turn could offer to their fans. And they, the artists, receive a direct split of any proceeds (with no deductions for packaging or distribution or damage, etc etc). The world is full of places which will try to charge the artist something for an opportunity to market their own songs (which they already own, after all), and we figured this was something we could do to give indie artists a leg up.

For everyone else, it means we can enjoy the highlights of some of our favourite shows whenever we want, with all the energy of being live-in-the-moment. The live music is remixed and even mastered to make it as high quality as possible – but it’s still LIVE, with no auto-tuning and no edits or punch-ins; this is as natural as granola in the morning. And we all as fans can keep these live performances on our iPods or computers or whatever as long as we want to.

It’s kinda like nabbing a bootleg recording, except the quality is really good and the artist isn’t getting ripped off in the process.

Did you miss an artist you really wanted to see? Do you want to re-live the fabulous evening you had at Streaming Café? Check out our store – the artist you’re looking for may already have their music available there, and we’re adding new ones virtually every week. http://store.streamingcafe.net/

Video Overview of September Shows

2011-09-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
The month of September brings us a great line-up of performances. We've put together an overview of videos and info so you can get to know the artists.

SEPTEMBER 3rd – Jen Lane with special guest Smokekiller
Jen Lane from Saskatoon, SK performed at the cafe during the 2010 Break West Festival last October. This year Jen was nominated for a WCMA: Roots Solo Recording of the Year. Her 2010 release For The Night was produced and engineered by Vancouver`s Steven Drake, known for his work with The Hip, Michelle Wright and The Odds to name a few.

"Imagine Sarah Harmer going back in time and recording an album in the '70s"
Kevin Kane, the Grapes of Wrath

Jen is joined by Smokekiller aka John Antoniuk, who has performed across the country and showcased at such prestigious music evernts as SXSW and NXNE.

SEPTEMBER 10th – Paper Beat Scissors with special guests Zombifyus
Paper Beat Scissors is the project of relocated Brit Tim Crabtree, following his move to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2008. The last two years have seen national Canadian and European tours, national radio play on CBC and BBC. Juno awarded and Polaris Prize Nominated musician Mike Feuerstack (Snailhouse, Bell Orchestre) just finished recording his debut full length album that will be released in 2011.
Check out this amazing stop motion video of his directed by Chris Tootell, animator for Coraline, Tim Burton's Corpse Bride and Aardman.

Flicker (dir: animator from Coraline using a canon rebel and a plank of wood) from Chris Tootell on Vimeo.

Saskatoon, SK electronic music duo Zombifyus joins PBS on September 10th. Members Bennett Dobni and Josh Feldman are prodigious students of the art of digital and analog synthesis, sample collaging, and audio production. Dobni and Feldman debuted Zombifyus during VF3, sharing the stage with Canada's beloved Chad Vanglaalen.

SEPTEMBER 17th – My Dearest Friends – PLAY FOR CHANGE DAY
My Dearest Friends hail from the west coast of BC and features some members from past bands that have appeared at Streaming Cafe; Prairie Dance Club & Zaac Pick. They describe their sound as falling between The Beach Boys and Reed Rothchild.
This show is also part of the PLAY FOR CHANGE DAY, a non-profit organization that is bringing music education programs to children around the world.

Here’s a steam of one of their tunes.

SEPTEMBER 24th – Steph Macpherson with special guest Omar & the Bear
Splice Stevie Nicks, Sarah Harmer and Jeff Tweedy into one musical entity, sprinkle in Feist's charm, and you have Victoria native, Steph Macpherson's deadly-infectious, harmony-saturated folk/pop style. Steph released her Folk/Pop EP “To You” in Nov. ’09 resulting in 2010 performances that included: Lilith Fair, Western Canadian Music Awards, Rifflandia Festival, Blue Sky Festival, 100.5FM the PEAK Performance Project Top 20, Canadian Music Week in Toronto and two Western Canada tours.

Omar And The Bear perform an opening set for Steph on the 24th. Calgary based Omar And The Bear is brain child of front man Oliver Thiessan and carry a classic folk sound with a modern twist.

OCTOBER 1st – Snailhouse
Very happy to have a solo performace from Snailhouse at the cafe on October 1st. Feuerstack is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who works on his own music and contributes greatly to the projects of others. He plays guitar in the band Wooden Stars, which won a Juno with Julie Doiron for their alternative album Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars. Snailhouse, the full band version, has included Gara on drums and fellow Arcade Fire alumnus Sarah Neufeld on violin. Mike Feuerstack has toured extensively with both Catherine MacClellanand Olympic Symphonium Feuerstack is part of the band Bell Orchestre. Feuerstack/Snailhouse’s album Lies on the Prize was nominated for a 2009 Polaris prize.

As always if you can't make it out to the cafe in Kelowna to watch these shows in-person, watch them streamed live online at 7pm and send in your questions directly to the artists via our live chat.

Playing For Change Day - My Dearest Friends with Brent Tyler

2011-09-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

In a town like Kelowna it is not uncommon to see buskers doing their thing in various locations, especially during the summer months. Voices raised above the downtown traffic, guitar chords spilling out into the streets, instrument cases open to catch coins and bills dropped by passing tourists. You could say these street artists are playing for change.

On September 17, “playing for change” takes on a different meaning when artists and individuals around the world kick into gear for the first annual Playing For Change Day. Playing For Change, in this sense, is “a creative day of action that uses the universal power of music to create positive social change” – and it’s the brainchild of the Playing For Change Foundation, an organization dedicated to connecting the world through music.

Do you remember that viral video from a while back in which various singers and musicians from around the world each played a few moments of the same song (‘Stand by Me’, I think) and then those moments were all put together into one woven-together masterpiece? That was one small slice of a larger documentary being made on music around the world, and that was the start of Playing For Change. The filmmakers involved in that project found themselves getting inexorably connected to the music and people of each community they spent time in, and they came to the conclusion that they wouldn’t be able to simply walk away from it all once their documentary was completed. The film crew found that even in the poorest of villages the people around them were filled with warmth and generosity, and seemed to have in common a prevailing connection through music.

The Playing For Change Foundation formed out of that experience, and now pursues its mission to ensure that anyone with the desire to receive a music education would have the opportunity to do so. There are at least seven different PFC music schools in operation now, from Ghana to Rwanda to Nepal, and there’s no indication that expansion is going to change anytime soon.

On September 17 artists around the world are touting the benefits of this Foundation’s mission to the world. Playing For Change Day will see stages and venues around the world raising funds and awareness for this non-profit organization, and Kelowna will be right up there among them. The theme for this year’s push is “Power To The People”, taking its inspiration from the activism of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in support of the arts and arts education. Theatre Within, Yoko Ono’s ongoing arts education organization, are also benefiting from funds raised on PFC Day.

Canadian indie band My Dear Friends are appearing with Brent Tyler at Streaming Café on September 17. They’ve decided to make their gig that night part of PFC Day, and they invite long-time fans and fresh ears alike to enjoy their music in person (596 Leon Ave in Kelowna) or online (streamingcafe.net) and to join in wholeheartedly to this world-wide day of awareness and action.

For more information on Playing For Change you can visit http://playingforchange.org/ and http://playingforchange.org/news/detail/announcing_the_1st_annual_playing_for_change_day_on_september_17th and for more on My Dear Friends & Brent Tyler, you can find them at http://brentyler.com// and http://www.myspace.com/mydearestfriends

See you on the 17^th!

Snailhouse; Feuerstack’s songwriting gifts

2011-09-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

Snailhouse is booked to play Streaming Café on October 1. What the heck is a snailhouse? “Snailhouse,” according to his bio, “is an ongoing collection of songs by Montreal-based Mike Feuerstack”.

Feuerstack is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who works on his own music and contributes greatly to the projects of others. And he’s got one of the best-written blogs around – it’s easy to tell this guy loves words.

If you’ve never heard of Snailhouse or Fuerstack before, perhaps an overview of some of his connections will help you place him in the circle of Canadian musicians. He’s been producing a new Paper Beat Scissors album (PBS is Tim Crabtree, at SC on Sept 10), which is being mixed by Jeremy Gara of Arcade Fire. He plays guitar in the band Wooden Stars, which won a Juno with Julie Doiron for their alternative album Julie Doiron and the Wooden Stars. Snailhouse, the full band version, has included Gara on drums and fellow Arcade Fire alumnus Sarah Neufeld on violin. Mike Feuerstack has toured extensively with both Catherine MacClellan and Olympic Symphonium (at SC back on May 8, 2010) and, in fact, has OS members Kyle Cunjack and Nick Cobham as part of the big-band version of Snailhouse. Feuerstack is part of the band Bell Orchestre. Feuerstack/Snailhouse’s album Lies on the Prize was nominated for a 2009 Polaris prize. And Snailhouse is now in the entourage of record label White Whale.

The list could go on, but hopefully the picture is getting clearer. This guy knows his stuff, and respected people around him know that he knows his stuff, and call on him regularly to contribute his stuff to their stuff.

Actually, Snailhouse itself could be called a contribution project. Mike writes the songs, and pulls in his friends to help him when he records his music and tours. And his songs are variously classed as “a bit ‘pop’” and “lo-fi” and various other monikers, but the best way to get the sense of what Snailhouse is all about is to listen to the music directly. Several of his albums are on bandcamp (for example, http://snailhouse.bandcamp.com/album/lies-on-the-prize), available both for purchase and for listening.

One thing that seems to strike everyone on deeper listen is the word-craft that has gone into this music. “…his honest, poetic lyricism and dark, brooding vocals completely captivates you as a listener,” says Jessica Russell of TV Guide. “…another collection of Mike Feuerstack’s intricately constructed, beautifully-written songs. Feuerstack’s lyrics are as witty as ever…” says Kate Harper from CHARTattack. And from Alexandra Davis of Here: “Listening to Sentimental Gentleman will make you wonder why the force behind Snailhouse, Mike Feuerstack, isn’t better known. The music and vocals are lovely, but it’s the insightful and clever lyrics that take the album from good to great, as Feuerstack weaves captivating stories about love, dreams and success.”

Exclaim magazine described Feuerstack’s Wooden Stars as ‘engimatic music nerds’ back in 1999, noting, though, the band’s Juno win with Julie Doiron and Feuerstack’s edging toward simplicity since that time.

With the rave reviews coming in as a result of his new album, Sentimental Gentlemen, Mike Feuerstack’s Snailhouse project seems to be around for the long haul. His show at Streaming Café on October 1 promises to be an evening of great music in a listening-room setting. It’s not every week that we get to hob-knob with an alternative-acoustic-pop artist who’s been playing alternative rock shows with well-known acts for more than a decade. We are definitely looking forward to the show!

Cécile Doo-Kingué

2011-08-30T15:44:00.001-07:00

Posted originally by Nico Boesten on the TribeHouse site.

Cécile Doo-Kingué absolutely rocked the Streaming Cafe the other night with her killer trio. What was most impressive was her humble approach. I've never heard anyone so appreciative and pay such close attention to making sure that everyone involved got recognition. At the end of her set, she actually thanked each barista by name along with the entire stage crew.

I caught up with her right before the show and asked her a few questions about what inspires her so you might as well just check that out now...

Ben Caplan EXCLAIM article

2011-08-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

If you haven't heard of Halifax's Ben Caplan before, you soon will. His intense powerhouse vocals and burly look definitely has him standing out from the crowd. He lead me to think, If Grizzly Adams was a musician I think it would be Ben Caplan (minus the bear).

We are very happy to be a hosting Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers for his performance at the cafe on Saturday, December 3rd ... sure to be a great show!

Premier music paper and site EXCLAIM, just posted an article about his upcoming debut full-length release, In the Time of the Great Remembering from Ben Caplan and the Casual Smokers. In the article Ben talks about his line-up of musicians, "I'm a songwriter spoiled by excellent musicians. We're usually a five-piece, but we have gone as big as 11. I live to perform with people who can play their asses off, so bringing together a group of the best talent I could find was top priority."

Have a look at the EXCLAIM article!

Cafe Chalk Art Masterpieces: Part III

2011-08-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

Here's some more of the cafe's chalk art masterpieces from the last few months. Looking at these led me to wonder...where does chalk come from?

"Chalk used on blackboards are made by creatures named foraminifera within the oceans and seas. They gather chalk-like minerals within the sea and create shells from them."
There's some useless information that may never come up in a conversation.
Enjoy!

If you missed the first two chalk art posts check them out below....

http://streamingcafe.blogspot.com/2011/06/cafe-chalk-art-masterpieces-part-ii.html

http://streamingcafe.blogspot.com/2011/03/cafe-chalk-art-masterpieces.html

Cafe Art Display: Jenny Long

2011-08-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
We've been fortunate to have some amazing pieces displayed at the Streaming Cafe for the last few weeks by local artist Jenny Long. On July 16th Jenny painted live during Ari Neufeld’s performance at the cafe where we were able to connect and have some of her works hung on our walls.
Be sure to look more into Jenny Long’s works (http://www.jennylongpainting.com/) and swing by the cafe to see some of her art in person.

Jenny Long’s Bio

Jenny Long completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2003 at Okanagan University College in Kelowna (now UBC Okanagan). Before attending university, Long lived in Denmark for a year, which allowed her the opportunity to absorb a foreign culture and in traveling, realized her desire for visual expression. Upon graduation, Long was honoured with a President's Purchase Award for her painting, along with the invitation to show at the Art Ark Gallery. This commercial gallery served as a successful stepping stone in the beginning stage of Long's career as an emerging artist. Long has been busy over the last few years responding to a seemingly constant demand within the realm of both public and private commissions, one being multiple portraits for The Black Pearl Lounge & Oyster Bar in Penticton, B.C. This exposure allowed for Long to expand her market within her hometown, and opened the door to private portrait and abstract painting commissions as well as sales in limited artist prints. Long's playful, intuitive painting techniques are shared with her students she teaches privately as well as through the Okanagan School of the Arts, who in turn rejuvenate and remind her creative voice to remain true to its own unique expression.

Here’s a clip of Jenny Long painting during Ari Neufeld’s performance at the cafe.

Sarah Brendel with German yellow stockings

2011-08-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Our friends at TribeHouse posted an article about the Sarah Brendel show the other night so we thought we'd include it here. Isn't that nice?

Sarah Brendel traveled over to our western continent and played a great show at the Streaming Cafe last week. It was a full house and there were several people with little black devices (AKA cameras) capturing the event so we thought we could throw you a visual of the night.

It was musically pretty international with Sarah (German) playing with Graham Ord (representing England on banjo, slide, dobro), Marc Heinen (representing Hollnad on drums, percussion), and an extremely last minute violinist, Michael Fraser (Vancouver). Speaking of impromptu, it's always cool to see risks being taken by artists in a live setting by adding unrehearsed musicians to the set - maybe it's the fear or possibility of a train wreck that adds an element of suspense. In this case, no trains were heard but it was a great night with Daniel Moir opening the set.

SIDE NOTE: I had a really fascinating conversation with Daniel about his philosophy on life and particularly the subject of meditation. Don't you find that if you have some background info on an artist that it totally changes how you hear their music? I do.

Sarah's in the middle of recording a new album which will launch sometime near the end of this year - we'll be posting more about this in the coming months. This new album is particularly intriguing since it has a theme of what it means to be (and live) in community. To further solidify my SIDE NOTE, the fact that Sarah & her family have been living in the TribeHouse community castle in Dresden (Schloss Roehrsdorf) for the past couple of years gives her some authority to sing on this subject... don't ya think?

Visit Sarah Brendel's website. It'll be good for you. And while you're on the internet, why don't you go to Daniel Moir's website as well.

Show pics from Australian Trio, The Little Stevies

2011-08-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 23rd we were very fortunate to host The Little Stevies at the cafe as they set out on their first tour through Canada. It was a great night of music from the talented Aussie trio and not only were we able to catch some amazing video (watch 4 clips here) but John from Exquisite Photography was also their to capture some photos to mark the occasion...enjoy!

Video Overview of August Shows

2011-08-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

August brings us a packed line-up of performances from within our Canadian borders and beyond. We start the month off in a big way with a double bill show. From Germany, the amazing Sarah Brendel performs along with young indie folkster Daniel Moir from Vancouver. A staple of CBC radio, Montreal’s Charlotte Cornfield performs Aug 13^th, and Aug 20^th brings established Nashville singer/songwriter Matt Beckler with special guest Andrea Gauster from Kingston, ON. Wrappin’ up the summer month is electrifying Montreal guitarist Cécile Doo-Kingué.

We’ve put together a video overview so you can get to know this month's performers.

AUGUST 6th - Sarah Brendel and Daniel Moir

Sarah Brendel and Daniel Moir are each veterans of the Streaming Café stage (which consists, as you know, of blank floor space in front of the wood wall). Brendel is a petite young lady from Germany who seems, at first glance, like any other demure folk artist. About three seconds after she attacks her music with voracious and vibrant energy, however, that initial impression is quickly corrected: Brendel leaves nothing behind when she shares her music with the world.

Vancouver marks home base for Daniel Moir, a young Canadian who makes his third visit to Streaming Café on August 6th, this time with Sarah Brendel. Moir’s debut EP, the Country and the Sea, charted on college radio and launched a song onto the season finale of NBC’s medical drama, Mercy.

AUGUST 13th - Charlotte Cornfield
Joni Mitchell is an obvious influence on Charlotte Cornfield, at least according to some of the melodies she puts out. Be sure to catch “the next it-girl of folk rock“ and check out the blog we did on Charlotte Confield.

CHARLOTTE CORNFIELD - Harbord & Grace from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

AUGUST 20th - Matt Beckler with special quest Andrea Gauster

Matt Beckler hails from Nashville TN via Columbus OH, and hits Streaming Café on August 20. An indie folk-pop-acoustic blues singer/songwriter who deftly steps outside the lines of genre typecasting, Beckler’s music has fed the soundtracks of TV shows including Alias, One Tree Hill, Life As We Know It, Felicity, Smallville, and America’s Next Top Model. Beckler’s appearance at Streaming Café will be alongside Kingston-based Canadian new-folk singer/songwriter Andrea Gauster.

AUGUST 20th - Cécile Doo-Kingué
Considered one of Montreal’s most electrifying guitarists by local press and groove aficionados, Cécile Doo-Kingué blends blues, soul and afro-folk to create a unique sound. Check out the feature we wrote on Cécile.

As always if you can't make it out to the cafe in Kelowna to watch these shows in-person, watch them streamed live online at 7pm and send in your questions directly to the artists via our live chat.

Charlotte Cornfield "The next it-girl of folk rock"

2011-08-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch
Google “jazz drummer bandleader” and you’ll probably find the likes of Buddy Rich at the top of the list. (Actually, you’ll for sure find Buddy Rich at the top of the list; I just tried it).

But Montreal’s Charlotte Cornfield will no doubt soon take over that spot here in Canada, if her progress-to-date is any indication. Even while working on her jazz drumming degree (BFA in Jazz studies, Concordia, grad 2010) Charlotte found the time to write and record a couple of EPs: It’s Like That Here and Collage Light. And once she had her drumming degree under her belt, Cornfield hit the road locking down the beat for acts such as Bent By Elephants, Takk, Panoramic & True and others.

If you’ve spent any time listening to CBC Radio, or if you’ve heard much campus radio across the country, you’re probably familiar with Charlotte Cornfield’s name – and that familiarity probably doesn’t arise from Cornfield’s time in the jazz-drummer field. Those two EPs she recorded have received countless plays and have enjoyed continued popularity on Canadian and American airwaves. And in adding to that popularity, Cornfield did a 45-stop tour in 2009 in support of her two EPs. (Think about that: 45 stops! That’s a month-and-a-half’s worth of playing every single night! And with a travel day here and there plus breaks, that probably adds up to two solid months of being on the road. And she was 20 years old at the time).

That growing popularity was one of the reasons Cornfield stepped back from her percussion path in the autumn of 2010 to sequester herself in the studio for four months of tracking a full-length album. Two Horses is due out ‘sometime in 2011’, according to early press releases.

Growing popularity was not the only reason for Cornfield’s desire to complete this album, however. In an interview posted in Saskatoon’s Planet S magazine on July 28, Cornfield says that hard work is a built-in philosophy that drives her unceasingly forward.

“I’m always racing against time,” she says. “I think, ‘Oh man, I’m 22 and when Joni Mitchell was 22 she was doing so much more.’ My work ethic always leads me to believe that what I do is never enough, and I’m always looking for the next thing. I feel really good about where I am, but there’s always so much more to do and so many more songs to be written.”

Speaking of which, Joni Mitchell is an obvious influence on Cornfield, at least according to some of the melodies she puts out. There’s even a hint of young Joni in Cornfield’s lyrical voice.

But great songwriting and the ability to perform her music well is not the whole story for Charlotte Cornfield, either. She seems to be one of those people blessed with the uncanny ability to know what to do on the business side of things, too. Rather than scheduling a CD release party while she was still working on her newest album, as some indies are wont to do (leaving them scrambling to fulfill their own timeline, and all-too-often compromising on some aspect of the recording, design and/or manufacturing aspect of their project as a result), Cornfield has been sitting on her finished album for quite a while, waiting until the “time is right” for the full album to see the light of day.

She isn’t sitting on her hands in the meantime, though. Cornfield’s appearance at Streaming Café on August 13th is part of a Western Canada tour she’s been putting together for some time now. And in a savvy demonstration of her understanding of the business side of this, uh, business, Cornfield told us that she has just released two of the tracks from her new album on iTunes, and she’ll be doing a major push for them during this time. “We’ll be doing a ton of promo for the show,” she says.

Cornfield is clearly a good drummer: her degree and the list of bands she supports as a percussionist makes that evident. And her current tour shows that she is a worthy band leader as well, with a number of festival dates listed where she’ll be playing with a full band, on top of the acoustic solo or duo shows she’ll be doing like the one at Streaming Café. With a work ethic like she’s described, it isn’t likely Cornfield will be slowing down anytime soon, either, so watch out, Mr. Buddy Rich, wherever you are: your Google listing may have to take a back seat to Charlotte Cornfield sooner rather than later.

Do yourself a favour: check out Charlotte Cornfield’s MySpace page and listen to her music. Buy one of her new tracks or an EP on iTunes. And then mark August 13th in your calendar so you don’t miss her show here in Kelowna at Streaming Café. You’ll be glad you set the time aside. As always, you can connect with Charlotte online at streamingcafe.net, listening to her music and watching her perform live in real-time, and even asking her questions if you’re unable to be here in person.

CHARLOTTE CORNFIELD - Arc Blues from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.

Electrifying guitarist, Cécile Doo-Kingué

2011-08-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch
“Cécile Doo-Kingué blends blues, soul and afro-folk to create a unique sound,” says the bio on Doo-Kingué’s ReverbNation page. Truth was never more succinctly spoken. Crank up her music, and you’d think you were listening to Colin James – at least until the vocal comes in. A couple of tracks later you’ll find yourself doing a world beat groove on a tune with French lyrics. And with the continuity of Doo-Kingué’s rich voice and solid guitar playing running throughout each track, the multi-faceted music makes a single, cohesive package.

Doo-Kingué’s guitar work, whether on electric or acoustic, underpins a wide variety of styles, but it’s clear her musical heart is in the blues. Woman blues singers are much more common than women who play the blues, so to hear a lady play a smokin’ blues electric guitar is a refreshing change. Doo-Kingué says her brother had a lot to do with her picking up the guitar as a youngster and playing the way she does.

“You think blues guitar, how many people will mention Sister Loretta Tharpe before T-Bone Walker?” says Doo-Kingué. “When my brother realized I was getting good on guitar and saw that I wanted to play lead, he told me one of the most sexist things in the world: ‘Whatever you do, don't play like a girl!’ He then handed me a Freddie King tape and a T-Bone Walker tape. ‘Learn these two tapes and you'll be set for life…’ If that doesn't set off a blues fire in you, I don't know what will…”

Since she came to Montreal in 1995, the musical community around her has welcomed Doo-Kingué with open arms. After 17 years in New York, born there to parents who’d immigrated from Cameroon, Doo-Kingué also lived in France for a year-and-a-half prior to her move to Canada. Montreal has been her adopted home for more than 15 years now, after she decided to head there for some schooling.

“I first came up to Montreal for studies. I was working two jobs in Florida, not particularly enjoying life, and unable to afford a solid higher education in the States,” says Doo-Kingué. “I wasn't happy… Close friends suggested I apply to McGill. They thought Montreal would be the perfect city for me: artsy, bilingual, multi-culti, a touch of Europe in America, a laid back NYC, full of eye candy… They were right. Montreal has a beat of its own that I fell in love with, and in which I felt – and still feel – right at home. I've met such wonderful people, friends, a family that just keeps growing bigger and stronger.”

Montreal has long been known for its strong music scene (Montreal jazz festival, and so on), and Doo-Kingué has left a solid impression in several corners. She stands strong as both a musician and a technician, with her guitar-playing abilities allowing her the opportunity to perform with artists as diverse as the Aliens, Tricia Foster, Soul City, Ismael Isaac, and the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir.

Doo-Kingué loves playing with MJGC: “It's one of my favourite acts to play with! There's nothing like accompanying a choir. There is something purely magical about hearing that many voices in harmony; it gives me goose bumps and makes me smile for the duration of the experience. It's a huge pleasure and honour working with Dr. Trevor Payne and so many talented singers and musicians.”

Her strengths as a technician mean Doo-Kingué has also spent time behind the desk mixing albums for United Steel Workers of Montreal, among others, and producing for Dibondoko and herself. Freedom Calling, Doo-Kingué’s self-produced debut album, was released in June 2010. Local critics loved it.

“She is, in my estimation, the best guitarist in the city – male or female,” says Gern F., of United Steel Workers of Montreal. And Bill Brownstein echoes that sentiment in his review in the Montreal Gazette: “She is not only one of the most electrifying guitarists around, but she is also one of the most versatile, covering everything from Afro-folk to funk, blues to bluegrass.”

But accolades can only do so much to give you the feel of a performer. Listening to Doo-Kingué sing, or watching videos of her performing, give the sense that this woman is an established artist, someone who’s comfortable in her own skin. And seeing what she likes to do when she’s not in the spotlight, like helping to start Chick Pickin’ Mondays at a local club (to give a much-needed boost to underappreciated women singers and musicians), solidifies further the understanding that Cecile sees beyond the edge of the stage.
And Doo-Kingué’s philosophy behind her current tour reflects that same “bigger-than-the-music” world-view.

“This western run is the first chapter of a cross-country tour I've baptized ‘Discovering Home’,” says Doo-Kingué. “I recently applied for my citizenship and am determined to visit every province and territory in the country while I wait to say 'I do'. I'm making a conscious decision to be Canadian and want to see and learn as much as I can about my new homeland through experience, not books.”

Cecile Doo-Kingué’s western tour brings her trio to the Streaming Café on August 27th at 7 p.m. Whether you’re already a fan of her music, or whether you’d be hearing it for the first time, the evening promises to be a night of engaging world, soul, and blues grooves. Come on out and meet Cecile Doo-Kingué, or connect with her online through our chat while she’s live at streamingcafe.net

Pics of Ari Neufeld's live album release

2011-07-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

A couple weeks ago Ari Neufeld performed an ispiring show for the release of his new live CD/DVD. Friend and fellow performer Brent Tyler opened the night. Ari was joined by his brother Chris on vocals and Jenny Long, who created an amazing painting during the show (view that painting and others @ www.jennylongpainting.com).

Here's a few pics we took and if you're bored have a listen to Ari's live cuts from his album @http://tribehouse.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-dream-cafe

Joshua Hyslop 'Cold Wind' EP stream

2011-07-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

now available on itunes

It’s always cool to see artists that have performed at the cafe continuing to develop their artistic craft and growing an audience. Abbotsford singer/songwriter Joshua Hyslop has certainly done that in the last year since he played the Streaming Cafe.

I first discovered Joshua well looking over some clips from Vancouver Island based music video site Naked Jams (be sure to check them out!) . His live performances set in a bookstore, a back alley and a local diner, the honest delivery in Josh's voice accompanied by his old whole ridden guitar made for some really cool moments.

Joshua has been keeping great company lately, working with Nettwerk Records who’s roster includes music greats Sarah McLachlan, William Fitzsimmons (who just performed at the cafe a couple months ago) and Ron Sexsmith to name just a few.
After much anticipation he has just released his debut EP Cold Wind with Nettwerk and they've arranged for an exclusive stream. Have a listen to the six-song EP via sound cloud.

Joshua Hyslop - Cold Wind EP by nettwerkmusicgroup

Great things are ahead for Joshua as he continues to emerge as a new fresh Canadian talent.

Here's a clip from Joshua Hyslop's performance at the cafe back in Sept 2010.

Secret indie discoveries

2011-07-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
For me, I think part of the appeal of the independent music scene is that feeling I get with the discovery of an amazing band or song that the mainstream doesn't know about. It makes you feel like you are holding a secret that is all yours.

i thought i'd share my latest secrets and finds with you...Hope you enjoy and find some new discoveries of your own.

cheers.
Samantha Crain
Samantha Crain - "Equinox" by RPMfm

Grey Kingdom

Grey Kingdom - Love Is Fast by theYAC

Abramson Singers

The Abramson Singers - "Fools Gold" by indiemusicfilter

Foxwarren
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://foxwarren.bandcamp.com/track/defeated"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Defeated by Foxwarren&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Jonathan Inc.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jonathaninc.bandcamp.com/track/100-voices"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;100 voices by jonathan inc.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Live Shots - MBF, Grey Kingdom & Young Wife

2011-07-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley photos by Nico Boesten
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald performed a matinee show at the cafe in celebration of his new live album on June 25th. Here's a few shots from that show and some pics from the evening show with Attack In Black's Spencer Burton's side project Grey Kingdom, and grunge girl Young Wife. A packed day of musical fun-ness!

WCMA Nominees at the Cafe

2011-07-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
The 2011 Western Canadian Music Award nominees were just announced at the end of last week and it`s really cool to see some familiar names getting recognition. A hand full of these nominees have performed at Streaming Cafe over the last couple years and I thought this would be a great excuse to showcase these talents in a blog!

The associated Break Out West music festival was held in Kelowna, BC last year and we were very privileged to be a host venue for the festivities in which the cafe streamed twelve bands in just three nights... it was a blast! Winnipeg`s Del Barber was one of those shows.

Since Del`s performance at the cafe in Oct of last year, he has had a Juno Nomination for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year for his 2010 release Love Songs for the Last Twenty and in April he appeared as the musical guest and interview on CBC`s The Q with Jian Ghomeshi.
Del has been nominated for two WCMA`s this year: Roots Solo Recording of the Year and Independent Album of the Year.
Here`s clip from Barber`s Oct 22nd performance at the cafe and we have just featured Del on our weekly ITUNES PODCAST channel.

Jen Lane from Saskatoon, SK who performed at the cafe during the BOWF last October and earlier that year in November was also nominated for a WCMA: Roots Solo Recording of the Year. Her 2010 release For The Night was produced and engineered by Vancouver`s Steven Drake, known for his work with The Hip, Michelle Wright and The Odds to name a few.
Jen Lane is back to perform at Streaming Cafe September 3rd , so be sure not miss it!

It`s was cool to see that young roots/bluegrass up-and-comers Fish & Bird were nominated for Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year. Not only have they thrown their own twist on bluegrass, it just so happens that they are performing this Saturday night, July 9th. Go to our event section info on the show!

Edmonton's Manuela performed at the cafe during her "Different Kind Of Fire" tour in February of 2010 and her album by the same name was nominated for a WCMA`s Urban Recording of the Year.

I encourage you to head to the Break Out festival and WCMA festivities October 20th to 23rd in Whitehorse, YT, but if my encouragement isn`t enough to get you to travel to the Yukon then keep up to date with all the happenings at http://breakoutwest.ca.

From down under...THE LITTLE STEVIES!

2011-06-30T14:19:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch
We’re used to having bands from within BC or Canada as the show-pieces at our venue. Every once in a while we get a treat from outside our borders, and the July 23 appearance of Australia-based The Little Stevies looks like it’s going to be a wonderful performance.

No strangers to international touring, The Little Stevies came to North America twice in 2010. In February the band traveled to Memphis for an industry showcase in front of North Amercian festival organizers, promotors, and booking agents – reportedly stealing the spotlight and receiving overwhelming audience response and support. They carried with them to Tennessee their first full-length album, “Love Your Band”.

Fueled by the positive energy of their premiere North American experience, The Little Stevies started work on their second album as soon as they had returned to Australia. Stepping out of their initial two recording’s DIY roots, TLS sifted through various producers and ended up hiring LA’s Ethan Allan to work with them on their third project. This required flying to the USA a second time for their recording sessions, so late in the summer of 2010 the band headed back to Los Angeles. After four weeks of recording “Attention Shoppers”, the band hit the road again, covering both coasts of the United States and making excursions into Canada – including an appearance at Ottawa’s Ontario Council of Folk Festivals music conference.

Their performance at Streaming Café will be part of The Little Stevies’ third trip to our continent. This time around The Little Stevies are here – exclusively in Canada this time – for a total of seven weeks, playing about 35 times at four festivals and 25 other locations, and putting in at least 3,000 km of on-the-ground driving distance.

It’s not easy to simply categorize The Little Stevies as a ‘folk’ act, despite their three-part harmonies and their association with the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Michael, our talent-booking guy, has classed them as Alternative, Folk, Indie, Pop, and that seems to be a good summary. The tracks from their new release (“Attention Shoppers”) definitely have a poppier sound than earlier work, with tight harmonies and more ‘produced’ arrangements. Their first albums (2007’s “Grow Up” EP, and 2009’s “Love Your Band”), on the other hand, have more of an acoustic/alternative flare that drifts into new folk on occasion.

The Little Stevies have a great music player on their site that allows visitors to listen to some of their newest recordings. It’s a great way to get familiar with the music of this out-of-the-country band before coming to hear them in the café.

The Little Stevies are a big deal in their homeland. For example, in March last year they were the supporting act for Grammy Award-winning country legend Nanci Griffith when she played Melbourne and Sydney, and Griffith even called the three Stevies back on stage at the end of her show to join her in singing the classic “Hammer Song” (you know the one: ‘If I had a hammer…’).

It is a real privilege to have The Little Stevies join us at Streaming Café. Check out their music (http://thelittlestevies.com/) and see what kind of a treat you’ll be in for – and then come out to catch them in person on July 23 at 7:00 p.m. If you can’t be here – like if you’re following the band back home in OZ – then be sure to catch them online at www.streamingcafe.net; you’ll be glad you did!

Ari Neufeld`s Live Album Release Show

2011-06-30T13:59:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch
At long last, Ari Neufeld has recorded a live album, and he’ll be releasing it during a showcase performance at the Streaming Café on July 16.

At long last? Yes, at long last. Anyone who has followed the music and musings of the immensely talented Ari will know that his live performances are stunning, both in their energy level and in their depth of impact. Ari has done a good deal of recording before now, and the recordings are worthy archives of the songs – but his music absolutely comes to life in the live environment, where his guitar playing and vocals and ability to perform percussion with his feet and legs all come together in an amazingly energetic and mesmerizing mix. Ari calls it Full Contact Folk.

And his songwriting is superb. There is a range to Ari’s songwriting that goes well outside the bounds of the ordinary. These aren’t pop songs with quirky hooks that listeners remember for a week and which are then discarded on the ash-heap of mediocrity and past popularity (wow – I like that line; I’m gonna have to write it down). No, these are superbly crafted life packages, with beautiful, memorable melodies and distinctive and original rhythms. And the lyrics are remarkable and full-bodied; they reveal a depth of soul and character which a man as young as Ari is not supposed to possess.

Okay, I realize the previous two paragraphs may sound pompous and presumptuous. And, personally, I usually dislike that type of embellished and embroidered fluff. But I have been a fan of Ari’s since he was in his teens, and those previous paragraphs are actually not exaggeration. I mean, check out this lyric: “You arch your back against the mast of this steeple – I’m picking glances off you like burrs from a thistle; the people all whistle at you…”. Have you ever seen writing like that? Kind of Cockburnesque, but it’s still in its own league. That’s the kind of lyric writing I aspire to. Maybe when I grow up…

"One of the most artistically developed artists I've ever met. I was riveted for two and a half hours as Ari played," says Jim Cressman, President of Cressman-Sakomoto Agency, who handles artists such as Terri Clarke, Charlie Major, Emerson Drive, and Johnny Reid.

That’s why it’s “at long last” that Ari has recorded a live album. This man was built to perform live, and his fans will be glad to hear there is finally a live version of his music capture for posterity.

Entitled “Ari Neufeld Live at the Dream Café”, the album will be released in July, and Ari will be at our Café (the Streaming Café, not the Dream Café) to celebrate on July 16 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Streaming Café for this performance and album release; $20 gets you admittance and a copy of the CD.

If you’ve heard Ari before, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, there are videos of some of his previous performances on YouTube or his own website (http://arineufeld.com/media.cfm), including this one of “Heart Like a Jar Full of Fireflies”, the song I quoted from earlier.

Come check out Ari on July 16. If you know his music, you’ll be glad to know he’s returning to SC. If you’ve never heard Ari before now, then you’re in for a true pleasure. In-person at 7:00 p.m., and live online at www.streamingcafe.net

Video Overview of July Shows

2011-06-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
It`s going to be a really cool month of independent music at the cafe. Here`s a rundown of July`s performers.
Come down to the cafe in Kelowna or watch live online @ http://streamingcafe.net

SATURDAY JULY 2nd
Jasper Sloan Yip - Vancouver singer/songwriter who`s honest and imaginative songs see play on CBC3.

Behind Sapphire - Creative Vancouver band who placed in the Top 20 for Peak Performance Project 2010 and 2011.

SATURDAY JULY 9th
Fish & Bird - 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominees for Roots Duo/Group of the Year. This is going to be a great show!

SATURDAY JULY 16th

Ari Neufeld - The talented Ari Neufeld is releasing his new live album "Ari Neufeld Live at the Dream Cafe".

SATURDAY JULY 23th
The Little Stevies - We're very fortunate to have this up and coming Australian Band. Don`t miss out on this show!

SATURDAY JULY 30th

41st & Home - Top 20 for both 2010 and 2011 Peak Performance this up and coming Vancouver creative sound make it a show not to miss.

Climbing THE PEAK!

2011-06-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

Conspiracy theorists would love it. Is there a connection between an artist playing the Streaming Café and their then meteoric rise to the public eye through hitting the top 20 of the Peak Performance Project? Or is it just coincidence?

Treelines, Hilary Grist, Fields of Green, Redgy Blackout,… the list goes on with four more performers who either have played or will play at Streaming Café and who are among the top 20 finalists in this year’s Peak Performance Project.

Behind Sapphire, Maurice,… Some would say it’s merely coincidence, of course, and that this accidental concurrence simply demonstrates Streaming Café’s penchant for booking top-notch talent. Others would say “Hogwash!” to the thought of this being purely serendipity, and would instead declare that behind the scenes there must be something more sinister at work: perhaps the PPP judges are stealthily combing through Streaming Café archives for evidence of the best and most brilliant young performers, or perhaps there are clandestine meetings between the SC talent-buying agent and those in the upper echelons of the PPP, secretly plotting out career moves and advancements for these gifted artists.

Does looking at previous top-20 lists for Peak help things become clearer? Adaline, Ben Sigston, Christina Maria, Chris Arruda, Greg Sczebel, Jess Hill, Steph Macpherson… again the inventory of top-20 artists in Peak includes many who’ve also played at Streaming Café.

Coincidence or conspiracy? Whichever it is, there is no denying that in July alone there are three of the Peak Performance’s Top 20 finalists playing at SC: Jasper Sloan Yip and Behind Sapphire on July 2, and 41st And Home on July 30.

Behind Sapphire have a 2010 album release under their belt and a three month cross-country tour in their pocket, which they called “Oh My, What A Fine Tour” in a nod to their single “Oh My, What A Fine Day” that featured an appearance by Twilight actress Jodelle Ferland in the video. Rumours that Jodelle will be with Behind Sapphire at SC on July 2 are simply that: rumours only, with no basis in truth.

Jasper Sloan Yip has been through a remarkable year, even on top of his Top-20 placement in Peak, with two live performances on CBC Radio One plus a live-recording session of seven songs for CBC Radio 3. His second album, Every Day and All At Once, was released in March 2010, and singles “Kiddo” and “Slowly” received nation-wide radio play. “Today”, another song from the 2010 album, was featured on an episode of ABC’s Brothers and Sisters. Pretty good for a guy whose first album, White Elephant, was recorded at home with a single (and reportedly broken) microphone back in 2007. Yip is currently working on a new release with his band.

July’s schedule will be wrapped up with a performance by Vancouver’s 41st and Home on the 30th. This is a truly individualistic group, formed originally by two science students (Garth Covernton and Thom Kolb, who stumbled across a cello in Garth’s garage), and then brought further to life by the addition of a violinist, a pianist, and a bassist. Their debut album was entitled “Left in Places”, and in July 2011 they plan to release a follow-up EP called “Raised By Wolves”. The July 30th appearance of 41st and Home will be fresh off their Canada Day Peak Performance debut performance in Surrey.

Conspiracy? You’d get a denial on that no matter who you talked to. There were absolutely no behind-the-scenes collusions, say top officials. And we know that top officials are always to be believed, no questions asked. Yet the facts remain: eight of this year’s Peak Performance Project Top 20 finalists (and seven of last year’s finalists) have Streaming Café in their portfolio of venues-played-at. No matter what the top officials may say, it’s still very clear that the country’s highest quality live music is available each and every Saturday night at Streaming Café – and you can enjoy it live in-house or online… see you on Saturday!

Cafe Art Display: Meghan Wise

2011-06-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

Streaming Cafe is featuring some amazing art on our walls by the very talented Meghan Wise. These works will be showcased at the cafe for the next month, so be sure to come down to the cafe and take them in. Visit Megan's website for more information on her art and online gallery.

Meghan Wise's Bio

My earliest memory of painting is from when I was two. It was a hot summer afternoon. My sister and I were painting on the front steps. Our quiet painting slowly progressed into head to toe body paint. I remember the feel of the brush as it swept over my skin, the tingle and crackle of the paint as it dried. I can remember being completely involved and mesmerized by the freedom and adventurous exploration. I feel that my Mother’s amused and yielding reaction to our impulsive desire also allowed me to keep that sense of freedom and adventure that I still feel today when I paint.
My paintings are physical manifestations of my imagination. They are inward explorations of my emotions, how I perceive humanity, nature, civilization and the small details of the world around
me. Each painting is a pondering daydream or a fixated fascination that is ushered into existence through my being.

Download live tracks from Streaming Cafe shows!

2011-06-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley
For over two years now, Streaming Cafe has been streaming free interactive shows and posting clips from those live performances on our site and YouTube channel. At the beginning of this year we started multi-tracking these shows giving us the flexibility of re-mixing the audio of each video clip which lead us to the release of our very first full length live album on April 21st "Pat LePoidevin live at Streaming Cafe". This live album coincided the launch of our new web store, that got us thinking about how we could partner with more artists that have been through the cafe and get some of these amazing live tracks out to fans.

If you've looked anywhere on our site you'll have noticed our tagline "Streaming Café is a listening room inspired to discover, connect with, and promote independent artists."

Continuing with the philosophy of connecting and promoting indie music we have partnered with the performing artists to split the proceeds of all these tracks 50/50 with no upfront costs to the artist what so ever. The concept behind this is not as a cash grab for SC, but being huge live music fans ourselves, the idea of offering a piece of these live shows to fans without draining an artist’s pocket is a cool thing .

In an era of perfect auto-tuned production, the idea of all these live tracks were to leave them raw, unedited and real. Giving fans a true glimpse to the artists live and often stripped down intimate show that we have captured at the cafe.

So far we are featuring tracks from Jon Bryant, The Mountains & the Trees, Jonathan Inc., JJ Shiplett, Old Mare, Mark Irving and the Matthew Joel Band. This is just the beginning of this experiment, so keep checking back to see what new live tracks are up in our Streaming Cafe store!

Cafe Chalk Art Masterpieces: Part II

2011-06-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

by Michael Donley

Once again we are back with the second collage of show-promo-cafe-chalk-art (somehow it just felt like that should all have hyphens). Joel and Vicky,with some help from Sebb, have managed to pull off some creative chalk art with a hint of randomness.

I'd say any chance you have to draw a narwhol, a piece of lamb and an affectionate viking couple is time well spent...enjoy!

If you missed the first Collage check it out here - http://streamingcafe.blogspot.com/2011/03/cafe-chalk-art-masterpieces.html

Show Announcement: Ari Neufeld Live Cd release show

2011-06-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Streaming Cafe is proud to present Ari Neufeld for the release of his new live album "Ari Neufeld Live at the Dream Cafe".

Already having 6 albums under his belt, this show will mark a mile stone for "one-man-band" Ari. It's not only his first live CD but also included in this package is the release of a new live DVD of the same concert.

Ari was one of the very first artists to perform at the cafe and we are happy to have him back for this monumental show.

With a limited seating of only 50 people be sure to secure your spot before you miss out. The $20 ticket includes a copy of Ari's new new live CD and advance tickets are now available for purchase at the Streaming Cafe. (596 Leon Ave.) or charge by phone: 250.980.0002

Find out more about the Aril Neufeld's live project at Tribehouse's blogspot!

Pics from Zaac Pick's Performance

2011-06-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ever so often Jayce from Van Studio Photography takes in a show at the cafe and captures some wicked shots. Here's a few he took during Zaac Pick's amazing performance on June 4th. Enjoy!

Nikki Balfour: Art Showcase

2011-06-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Streaming Cafe is hosting an Artist Showcase this Friday, June 10th featuring original works from local artist Nikki Balfour. The "open house" art show will run from 5pm to 9pm and will also include tunes from "Groove Lounge", local up and coming DJ's.
Some of Nikki's art will be on display at the cafe until June 24th so come down and enjoy!

Nikki Balfour Bio
For me painting is about freedom. I've been devoted to it for the last five years. This has been a time filled with many challenges, joys, and constant growth.

As a painter I am driven by emotions and words, which often create the mood that I desire to portray. I am passionate about exploring new subjects, and am refreshed by discovering new creative outlets.

Freestyle/abstract painting has been a large part of my development as an artist, whether it be working out of my studio or painting on stage with live music. In a live setting, painting and music feed off each other, creating moments of energetic creativity that would otherwise go undiscovered.

My most recent series 'Doorways and WIndows', created layer by layer using only a small palette knife, incorporates the methods and techniques that I've discovered through abstract painting. The result is a body of work that is unlike anything that I have done up to this point. The exciting thing is that no matter what subject or style I approach, these abstract techniques are a foundational thread throughout everything that I paint.

I love color, movement, and the freedom to express myself. Painting allows me to explore new worlds. I look forward to many years of creativity ahead, and fully immersing myself in the possibilities that await me.

Check out Nikki's webpage (http://nikkibalfour.com) and be sure to like her on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NikkiBalfourOriginalArt)!

Grey Kingdom (Spencer Burton of Attack In Black)

2011-06-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

When you read Grey Kingdom’s bio, your first thought is that you’ve somehow stumbled upon the text for a graphic novel. Either that, or the imagination of Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes has spilled over onto Grey Kingdom’s website (though there is rather much more blood than Calvin would normally envision). You’ll have to check it out for yourself to see what I mean.

So you turn to Grey Kingdom’s record label, Dine Alone Records, for more insight. And there it is: the proof that Grey Kingdom is keeping good company with label-mates like Hey Rosetta, Dinosaur Bones, and the ubiquitous City and Colour.

Grey Kingdom is the solo-artist stage name of Spencer Burton, a singer songwriter from Ontario. On CBC Radio 3 he lists himself as a Rock Singer Songwriter, as well as Folk, but it’s obvious from his music that he’s more college-crowd oriented than Top-40 oriented in his writing. And, sure enough, there’s an RSS blog feed from Grey Kingdom: “This Thursday, May 20, I’ll be on 103.7 Brock Radio playing some songs and putting on a few of my favourite records” – Brock Radio being, of course, the college radio station at Brock University in Ontario. So besides his talents as a singer songwriter, Burton also spends time as a late-night disc jockey.

Grey Kingdom’s music is acoustic, natural, and really enjoyable. Also keeping busy as a member of the Canadian indie band Attack in Black, it’s obvious Burton can express himself in a wide range of musical styles. As the solo artist Grey Kingdom seems to land more on the acoustic side of the spectrum, although songs like ‘Haunted’ (the full length version, not the EP version) still feature a full rhythm section.

Burton says his solo career started when he and Daniel Romano, another member of Attack in Black, recorded a few of Burton’s songs in their home studio while the two other members of AiB were away. “I’ve always been writing and recording songs,” says Burton, “I’ve just never really had a place to put them. With Attack in Black the songs would very rarely fit onto a CD. They’re generally a different style of music so we wouldn’t really have a place for them.” Burton and Romano played the songs for Dine Alone Records, who liked them enough to release them. Burton recorded a few more of his songs, and Dine Alone released both an EP and a 7” vinyl of the music (the release entitled “The Grey Kingdom”) – plus a full-length record (entitled “Eulogy of Her and Her and Her”).

The Grey Kingdom- Wood & Wires Live from Adrian Vieni (Wood & Wires) on Vimeo.

Grey Kingdom is on tour promoting his release of “Eulogy of Her…” and will be appearing at Streaming Café on June 25th, along with co-Canadian artist Young Wife.

Young Wife is the touring name of Allie Torrance, a singer songwriter from Saint Catherines, Ontario. She classifies herself as Grunge/Minimalist/Psychedelic, and sounds a little like an energetic Julie Doiron.

June 25th promises to be an evening of well-written songs and enjoyable performances. As always, if you can’t be here in person you can always join us online at www.streamingcafe.net at 7pm Pacific Standard Time.

MBF's Matinée Performance!

2011-06-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

by Malcolm Petch

MBF, or Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, first blew through Streaming Café as part of the Breakout West music festival in October of 2010. He took the stage with a drummer and backing guitarist, and, along with his trademark “flower-on-the-headstock-of-his-guitar”, proceeded to play an energetic set that had the crowd literally up and dancing. By the end of the set our producer was hard-pressed to find a camera angle that could capture MBF, because the dancing hordes had surrounded the stage and were cutting off views of Fitzgerald from all sides. And the term ‘dancing hordes’ is not a fluffy non-accurate description written to spice up an otherwise dreary paragraph; the room was packed, and there were frenetic dancing bodies filling virtually every square foot of the space around MBF.

Needless to say, this type of crowd is not what we’re used to here at the generally “alternative folk” flavoured listening room we call Streaming Café. MBF had definitely left his mark on us.

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is from Calgary. He is working on a new record, but just prior to heading back into the studio he decided to release a live album that consists mainly of material from his appearance at Calgary University’s MacEwan Ballroom in February 2011. The name of the new live record? “I'm working on a studio release but in the mean time I thought I would put out a recording of us playing live in a big room with friends”. Seriously.

But that’s what you’d expect from such a creative artist. A quick overview of his website shows his quirky and pleasantly unorthodox performance personality (say that swiftly four times) with tweets like these from May 27th: “In Calgary it is still raining. At this point the only way I will find happiness is by building a large fort with tarps”, and then: “Once this fort is built I will eat snacks and watch movies within it. You are all invited.” And during his performance at SC in October, MBF wore a red Pistons jersey and brought a pink and gold microphone to sing into. The guy knows how to be memorable, which is a key to surviving and thriving in today’s music world.

MBF's New Live Album

If you haven’t heard it, MBF’s music is engaging right from the start. Even the most dour audience members find themselves starting to bop along to the tracks when MBF is playing. It’s clear Fitzgerald has made strong progress along the journey of writing winsome songs that sound good and feel good from the first listen.

Kelowna music lovers will get a special treat at MBF’s June 25th show at the Streaming Café. Tickets are $20 each for the 3pm matinee performance, but each ticket buyer will also receive a signed copy of MBF’s new life album. Unfortunately, online viewers will have to track down their own copy of the album (but, mind you, the online show is free; it kind of evens out that way). There’s a rumour going around that the live album can be pre-ordered through Calgary’s PrimeBoxOffice.com, but you’d have to see for yourself.

Did you notice that the time for this show is 3:00 p.m.?

We’ve never done a matinee performance before. We wanted to bring MBF in, but we already had artists booked for the 25th – and that was the only day Fitzgerald was going to be in town. So, after much back-and-forth repartee between Michael Bernard Fitzgerald’s agent and our own Michael (Michael Donley, who scours the earth daily finding the best talent around for our live music shows), the show was booked and the date finalized.

There you have it. Come out and enjoy Michael Bernard Fitzgerald in person, 3:00 p.m. Saturday June 25th at Streaming Café in Kelowna BC, and take home a signed copy of his live album; tickets are $20 each (only 50 available). Or join us online (3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, 4:00 p.m. for folks in Alberta, 6:00 p.m. for all those living under Eastern Time) to enjoy what promises to be a dynamic and engaging performance.