Our weekly curated list of shows to see and things to do. Highlights include a Lego art exhibit, a folk trio from BC, an award winning classical music “experiment”, and a four band mashup of indie, emo, hardcore goodness. Let the good times roll.
Well, we’ve completely recovered from our annual Harvest hangover (aka complete physical exhaustion) and are ready to begin thinking about live music again. That’s right. It took a solid week! Speaking of solid weeks, here are a few suggested events to make your week (end) spectacular.
Ghostly Hounds + Jon McLeod | Grimross Brewing Company | September 30 | 8 p.m. | View Event
Ghostly Hounds is the folk project of Francesca Mirai, singer-songwriter and banjo player based out of Pender Island, BC. This fall they will be touring cross-country to promote the release of their new album, In The Rubble, with the support of long-time collaborator Val Him on upright bass and special guest Finley Rose on fiddle.
Singer songwriter Jon McLeod will open the show. McLeod blends a variation of indie, folk and blues, then adds a personal twist to the genres creating his own alternative style with a calmly compelling vocal delivery and distinctive guitar playing.
Loveover + Book Buddies + Tortue + Gizmo | Broken Record Bar and Music Room | September 30 | 8 p.m. | View Event
The description of this show on the Facebook event says, “a loud night with some of the Maritime’s Saddest.” Expect in-your-face guitars, lots of onstage energy, probably a few cool haircuts, more catchy songs that you would expect, and on top of that, more fun. Indie rock meets emo hardcore in this four band/three province bill. Not playing favourites here, but this might be the rock show of the week.
Maureen Batt + Greg Harrison: Lighthouse | Fredericton Playhouse | October 1 | 7:30 p.m. | View Event
Fredericton-born, Toronto-based percussionist Greg Harrison will be home this week for a show at the Playhouse with Maureen Batt. As a duo, their project Lighthouse, “explores the tides of grief seamlessly weaving classical, electronic, and pop genres.” The resulting album won a 2022 ECMA for Classical Recording of the Year. This album was created from letters and journals written on a journey through grief, separated into nine tracks. The concept is a marriage between classical and electronic genres that utilizes voice, piano, harmonium, synthesizer, and field recordings. Should make for an interesting live music experience.
Small Town | The Cap | October 1 | 1-8 p.m. | View Event
Chris Thomas reimagined Fredericton using nothing but Lego blocks and his imagination. This art exhibit is a must-see. Joe’s Diner, Tony’s Music Box, Victory Meat Market (and several more) recreated within a landscape rich in urban decay and graffiti. Designed in part to make us reflect on the beauty of our own city when compared to elsewhere, Small Town will make you think. And…who doesn’t love Lego?? Kill Chicago closes the night. Should be a ripper.
Chickahominy Mountain Band | The Tipsy Muse Café | October 1 | 7-9 p.m. | View Event
The Chickahominy Mountain Band defies description, at least in traditional terms. Their framework of country, blues and storytelling, in most parts, would probably fall under ‘Americana’, but make no mistake, these ‘mountain men’ are 100% New Brunswick…probably straight out of a sugar shack somewhere in Charlotte County.
Cover photo: Book Buddies. Respectfully lifted from the band’s Bandcamp page.
