Multi-bill concert blitz in celebration of Willie P. Bennett: 5 venues. Over 20 artists. A different line-up each night

NEWS RELEASE

 Guelph’s Silence February 3, 2018

Stratford, ON (January 24, 2018) – A five-day concert event commemorating the life of Willie P. Bennett, nearly 10 years to the date of his death, is being presented by String Bone Presents!

Rick Taylor

Singer-songwriter and finger-style roots guitarist extraordinaire Rick Taylor, as well as two-time Juno Award winner Jenny Whiteley, and BC Music Hall of Fame recipient Linda McRae, are among the performers who will come together on the Silence stage on February 3, 2018 to celebrate the life of this legendary folk hero. The concert starts at 8:00 pm.

 This multi-bill concert blitz is a co-production by Rick Taylor, who played on Bennett's 1977 Hobo's Taunt recording, and Barry James Payne from String Bone and Rant Maggie Rant. Two-time Juno Award winner Jenny Whiteley will be joining Taylor and Payne as co-hosts.

Jenny Whiteley

“This show marks ten years since Willie’s passing and Barry and I felt that it was important to keep Willie’s legacy alive in a celebration of his life and songs,” says Taylor. “It’s been said that Willie probably wouldn’t want any of this fanfare, but his legacy is too important to ignore. He was one of the most respected songwriters to ever come out of Canada. A songwriter’s songwriter. One of the all-time best. We can’t let his memory fade.”

The full talent line-up for the Guelph performance includes:

Tannis Slimmon

Critically acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Tannis Slimmon, who resides in Guelph, has been performing, recording and touring the world for more than 30 years. Her career highlights include eleven years with the legendary trio The Bird Sisters and her Lucky Blue recording which garnered rave reviews and numerous awards.

Also from Guelph, Scott Merritt is an accomplished Canadian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, as well as a recording engineer and record producer. He has produced recordings for Stephen Fearing, Grievous Angels, Ian Tamblyn, Lynn Miles, The Barmitzvah Brothers, James Gordon, Garnet Rogers, Suzie Vinnick and Fred Eaglesmith.

Roots guitarist extraordinaire Rick Taylor’s career highlights are many, from performances on CBC television and radio, to working with Leonard Cohen, and performing with Colleen Peterson, opening for Gordon Lightfoot and Bruce Cockburn at Massey Hall.

Scott Merritt

Canadian country and folk singer-songwriter Jenny Whiteley, who has collaborated with many renowned Canadian artists throughout her career, is a multiple Juno Award nominee and two-time Juno Award winner.

Canadian folk-roots-Americana musician Linda McRae, who hails from Vancouver and now resides in Nashville, is a former long-time member of Spirit of the West.

Linda McRae

Since going solo, she has released four critically acclaimed recordings and collaborated with many Canadian greats.

Canadian singer-songwriter Barry James Payne is the frontman for the roots-Americana band String Bone. He also performs with Celtic-fusion band Rant Maggie Rant and is the Artistic Director of the Revival House concert series.

 

Barry James Payne

The Willie P. Bennet Tribute Concerts kicks-off at Stratford’s Revival House on February 2^nd and will continue their momentum in early February with three new stops in Ontario: Hugh’s Room in Toronto (Feb. 8), Artword/Artbar in Hamilton (Feb. 9) and the Aeolian Hall in London (Feb. 10). Additionally, Taylor and Payne will be performing in a Willie P. Bennet Tribute Concert in Peterborough on February 11^th.

JUST THE FACTS

Event: Willie P. Bennett Tribute Concert at Guelph’s Silence

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2018

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Silence, 46 Essex Street, Guelph, ON  N1H 3K8

Admission: $25 advance, $30 door (+HST, +FEES – general seating)

Tickets: Eventbrite

More information: http://www.silencesounds.ca/calendar/

  

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From:

Mary-Lou Schagena

Publicist

String Bone Presents

E: mschagena@execulink.com