BeatRoute Magazine Alberta print e-edition - Feb. 2016

The Calgary Folk Music Festival presents the inaugural edition of
Block Heater, a winter music extravaganza February 12-14, 2016
at three live music venues on the Music Mile in the historic community
of Inglewood. Throughout the Family Day long weekend, over
20 local, national and international artists will perform concerts
and collaborative songwriter-in-the-round sessions at Festival Hall
(1215 10 Avenue SE), the Inglewood Music Club (1401 10 Ave SE)
and Ironwood Stage and Grill (1229 9 Ave SE).
• 100 Mile House
• Art Bergmann
• Phil Cook
• Copperhead
• Elliott BROOD
• Alejandro Escovedo
• Frazey Ford
• Jenn Grant
• The Harpoonist
and the Axe Murderer
• Corey Harris
• Jeff Lang
• Scott MacKay
• Catherine MacLellan
• Lorrie Matheson
• The Multifarians
• Northern Beauties
• Tom Phillips
• Colleen Rennison
• Ben Rogers
• Andy Shauf
• Slow Leaves
• The Sojourners
• Emily Triggs
For more information on the artists, tickets and schedule go to
calgaryfolkfest.com
ELLIOTT BROOD
JUNO winners make highly anticipated return to Calgary
Since their beginnings in 2002, Mark Sasso
and Casey Laforet (soon to be joined by
their third band mate Stephen Pitkin) have
crafted unique and memorable songs under the
collective name of Elliott BROOD. Their work is
often somewhat difficult to categorize—swinging
between alternative, folk, country and rock as
they see fit—but they’ve consistently produced
quality music. This creative flair earned them
a spot on the Polaris Prize shortlist in 2009 for
Mountain Meadows, and JUNO nominations in
2006 and 2009, finally culminating in a win in
2013 with Best Roots & Traditional Album of the
Year being awarded to Days Into Years. Following
up on this success is 2014’s Work and Love, which
takes some of their traditional folk elements and
ROOTS
by Aaron Swanbergson
throws them into overdrive. With producer Ian
Blurton (Public Animal, C’mon, Change of Heart)
now in the mix, Elliott BROOD has struck out
into new territory, bringing their music a power
and cohesion that is entirely new. Combine this
with deeply personal and evocative lyrics and we
have an album well worth experiencing. Looking
back at their last decade or so of evolution makes
one wonder just what a 2016 show with Elliott
BROOD will contain. Be prepared for crashing
cymbals, energetic banjo, distortion pedals, or the
sliding twang of country guitar, all combined into
high-energy songs that you won’t soon forget.
See Elliott BROOD at Festival Hall on February 13th
as part of Block Heater.
ANDY SHAUF
sonic blood will spill on the Block Heater stage
by Willow Grier
With a silken hesitancy, or perhaps deliberation akin to Sufjan Stevens or Elliott Smith,
Andy Shauf paints dark portraits with music that somehow shine despite the blackgrey
tones. His captivating vignettes of anti-heroes, and stirring lyrical journeys that
could poetically span generations pull listeners in through empathy, curiosity, and sometimes
even horror. While often
containing beautifully
layered though minimal
instrumentation, the real
draw with Andy Shauf’s
music is the starkly
honest character profiles
he creates. These brief
episodes have the potential
to tear the listener’s
heart to shreds as soon
as it can soothe and put
them back together. Slipping
seamlessly between
the realities he creates,
Shauf evokes all things
macabre and morose,
while his honeyed voice
drifts delicately on the
surface. Now supporting
The Bearer of Bad News
(2015), Shauf will warm
and redden the rooms of
Block Heater, even if it’s
with the spilling of sonic
blood.
Catch Andy Shauf at Lantern
Church on February 13
during Block Heater.
BEATROUTE • FEBRUARY 2016 | 39