Alanna J. Brown and Campbell Woods CANCELLED –
Upcoming events –
The Robson – Truong Duo
Sound and Colour: Pictures at a 21st Century Exhibition
Sunday March 17, 2024, 2:00 pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
Music at MERA presents another first in its Blue Jeans Classics series with “Sound and Colour: Pictures at a 21st Century Exhibition”, a multimedia recital by the Robson-Truong Duo featuring cellist Fiona Robson and pianist Raymond Truong.
Riffing on Mussorgsky’s 1874 piano masterpiece “Pictures at an Exhibition,” this duo recital explores the interplay of the visual arts and music, two art forms that have enriched and complemented each other for centuries. Raymond Truong, piano, and Fiona Robson, cello, will transport you from the turn of the 20th century to the present day, by way of Debussy’s colourful cello sonata and a cohort of Canadian composers whose visual inspirations range from Indigenous painter Kent Monkman to a set of medieval tapestries. At the heart of the program is the premier of a new piece by Canadian composer Christopher Goddard, inspired by the work of his great-uncle, painter Walter Tandy Murch.
The Robson-Truong Duo brings this unique program to our intimate concert hall as part of a successful tour across Eastern Canada. The Duo has been featured at masterclasses, house concerts, recitals, and they have the distinction of premiering an original piano reduction for Philip Glass’ Cello Concerto No. 1, with the composer in attendance. Fiona has trained in Canada and Europe and is a founding member of the Lafontaine String Quartet (2018) and the Quatuor Magenta in Paris (2021). As a member of Matt Haimovitz’s Grammy-nominated cello ensemble Uccello, Fiona performed on tour in Toronto, Montreal, New York City and Berlin. Raymond has performed in many other venues including community musical theatre, piano accompanist, and is a founding teacher at The Little Chopin Academy.
We are proud to bring these world-class musicians to our humble stage.
For more information and to listen to music by the Robson -Truong Duo CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30 plus fees at Tickets Please
Depending on availability, tickets may be for sale at the door.
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Valdy
Sunday April 21, 2024, 2:00 pm
McDonalds Corners Agricultural Hall, McDonald’s Corners
Valdy is an icon of the Canadian folk scene who brings his own rich catalogue of his original compositions such as “Rock & Roll Song”, “A Good Song” and “Simple Life” together with other classics of the genre that he has made his own such as “Renaissance” by David Bradstreet, “Yes I Can” by Bob Ruzicka and “Sonny’s Dream” by Ron Hynes.
Valdy has sold more than half a million copies of his eighteen albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to his credit. In 2011, Valdy was appointed the Order of Canada.
A keen empathetic observer with a gentle sense of humour, Valdy is unaffected by all the acclaim and after over 4 decades on the road continues to play large & small venues with the genuine energy and passion of a man still in love with music and life.
Valdy has performed for us twice before and because of the strong interest we used the local Knox Presbyterian Church as the venue. With the Church being unavailable on the only day left open on his schedule, this time Valdy will play at the McDonald’s Corners Agricultural Hall ,194 Camerons Road, McDonald’s Corners. (behind the Highlands County Store).
For video of Valdy live CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30.00 plus fees available at TicketsPlease
$35.00 at the door while availability lasts.
The Andrew Collins Trio
Sunday May 5, 2024, 2:00 pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
When asked if we would like to bring Andrew Collins (a founding member of Creaking String Quartet and the Foggy Hogtown Boys) and his trio to Music at MERA, we managed to say “You Bet”! After that we were pretty much speechless. Best to let others explain why…….
Andrew Collins and his trio marry the impeccable workmanship and musicality of classic modern jazz with the fiery attack and infectious smile of furious Bluegrass. With Andrew equally comfortable on Mandolin, Mandocello, Mandola, Guitar and Fiddle ……………………….. underpinned by the rock solid Double Bass, Mandocello and vocals of James McEleney, they perform something that has been described as Chamber Grass. Whatever you call it, you can marvel at the influences, references and nuances or you can close your eyes and loose yourself in stunning playing and invention.— Northern Sky Magazine
“Boundaries? What boundaries? Mandolinist Andrew Collins ignores them all!”— Penguin Eggs
“Light of touch, fast of wit, copiously imaginative, and a musical scholar of the highest distinction, Toronto mandolin virtuoso pulls out all the stops”— Toronto Star
“To call Andrew Collins a master of the mandolin would be putting it mildly…. artfully arranged string music perhaps best described as ‘chambergrass’ shines through – 4/5 stars”— Exclaim! Magazine
“Rendering poetry out of strings…[Collins’] compositional virtuosity…demonstrates his track record as a 5-time Juno nominated and 6-time Canadian Folk Award winner.”— Spill Magazine
When the Andrew Collins Trio bus first picks you up, you might think you are headed straight down the Bluegrass road. Better buckle up folks, these guys gleefully crisscross every lane there is on the music highway.—Music at MERA
For more information and music from the Andrew Collins Trio CLICK HERE
Tickets are $35 plus fees at TicketsPlease
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Double Bill with
Alanna J. Brown and Campbell Woods
CANCELLED due to performer illness
Contact Tickets Please for refunds or credits
Sunday May 26, 2024, 2:00 pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
This show is the result of a talent search of “local” musicians we initiated early this year. Of the large number who responded there were a handful of serious musicians we especially liked. The music of both Alanna J. Brown and Campbell Woods stood out, each having a distinct vibe with a solid catalog of original music, but sharing a similar energy level. We imagined bringing these two together for a double bill would be interesting. Fortunately both Alanna and Campbell agreed. Rather than separate sets, Alanna and Campbell plan to share the stage together, trading their music and stories. We can’t wait.
Alanna J. Brown’s music is a spellbinding combination of her ethereal voice backed up by delicately crafted guitar arrangements. The imagery in Alanna’s introspective lyrics owes much to her decade spent surrounded by the streams and forests of Banff National Park. The apparent beautiful simplicity of her solo performance belies a solid foundation of musical experience and passion.
It has been said that Campbell Woods sings soft songs about hard luck. Nothing new there you say. But the characters in his songs come to life with surprising clarity because Campbell paints with phrases and details that are true. Words that convey much more that the words themselves by igniting our own memories and imagination. Townes Van Zandt and John Prine have blazed this trail and Campbell treads this path with music you will not soon forget.
For more information and music by Alanna J. Brown CLICK HERE
For more information and music by Campbell Woods CLICK HERE
CANCELLED due to performer illness
Contact Tickets Please for refunds or credits
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
The Wanted
Sunday June 9, 2024, 2:00 pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
The Wanted fuse vintage North American folk, blues and country music with rockabilly, bluegrass and rock and roll in a distinctive roots music mash-up with a Canadian ‘edge’ that blurs the lines between Folk and AltCountry,. There’s a small orchestra of instruments here that Natalie Rogers (vocals, guitar), Jeff Rogers (vocals, guitar) and Richard Henderson (acoustic lap steel guitar, vocals) deploy with great skill, combining traditional instrumentation with unique elements such as washboard, bodhran, and acoustic lap steel guitar. The Wanted forge a fresh sound by finding common ground in diverse material.
For more information and music by The Wanted CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30 plus fees available at TicketsPlease
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Duo Cecilia
Sunday June 23, 2024, 2:00
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
It has been several years since we last had the pleasure of bringing Gertrude Létourneau (flute) and Catherine Donkin (piano) to the schoolhouse. Their ensemble, now named Duo Cecilia, is a fusion of French elegance and musical virtuosity. With a focus on French composers such as Debussy and Ravel, Duo Cecilia promises an unforgettable musical journey filled with beauty, depth, and artistry with a program entitled “When Pan meets Syrinx” which evokes narratives and scenes from nature. As before Gertrude and Catherine enjoy introducing each piece with interesting information about the music, the composers and their times, creating a relaxed atmosphere that fits perfectly with the mandate of Blue Jeans Classics.
For more information and music by Duo Cecilia CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30 plus fees available soon at TicketsPlease
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
