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Lauren Best “Sticker Collection” with Dawn and Marra: Saturday, April 16th, 8:00PM show, tickets $15 at the door, $10 students. Self-producing her first album Sticker Collection, Lauren wrote all 12 songs by the time she was 17 years of age. She is backed on the recording by such acclaimed players as pianist/organist Michael Fonfara (Downchild Blues Band, Lou Reed), saxophonist Colleen Allen (Ani Di Franco, Anne Murray, Holly Cole) and award-winning jazz drummer Archie Alleyne. Accompanying herself on piano as well, Lauren’s alt-pop reveals a quirky and remarkably self-assured singer-songwriter, who skillfully draws from a wealth of diverse influences.  This concert at The Pearl will showcase her new horn section!  www.laurenbest.com
Dawn and Marra: From Dundas, Dawn and Marra won the 2010 Hamilton Music Awards Rising Star competition. With the upcoming release of their debut album in fall of 2011, “Never Ask Me Why”, Dawn and Marra’s incredible song writing is showcased with beautiful harmonies and exceptional musicality. With standout tracks like “Maybe” and “Lovin’ You” already creating a buzz, these two young women are on their way.

Big City Life Presents: City Slickers / Social Lite Night: Thursday, April 14, 8:00pm. $20 (no tickets available at the door; see below).  City Slickers is kicking off spring right, gathering fashion gurus, artists, performers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and more.  This is a fun way of net-working so leave your Twitter at home.  This is up close and personal.  Music: DJ Engrish and The Human Race. Artist: Bryce Huffman. Dance Performance: DMD Dancers. Designer: Josette Cacnio. Contact bclhamilton@gmail.com for tickets for this private/public event.

Special Event at The Pearl!

Last Minute Concert Added!
Be part of a Jazz Super-Concert featuring five of Canada’s leading jazz artists!
Saturday, April 9. Doors open 8:30 Start 9:00. $15 at the door

Sophia Perlman – voice  www.myspace.com/sophiaperlmanmusic
John Sherwood – piano  www.johnsherwood.ca
Pat Collins – bass  www.patcollinsbass.com
Joel Haynes – drums www.myspace.com/joelhaynes
Darcy Hepner – saxophone  www.darcyhepner.com

A rare opportunity to see a concert with these top-flight jazz musicians in a unique configuration pulled together by Hamilton’s Jazz Star, Darcy Hepner.

The Laws: John & Michele Law’s CD Release Tour: Friday, April 15.  8pm start. $20/$15 door. Celebrating “10 years and 1 million miles” performing together, and the release of their 6th CD, “Try Love”.  Known for their tight-as-a-glove harmony singing and heartfelt lyrics, The Laws have been touring full-time since 2001, have performed at folk, bluegrass and country festivals, theaters and listening rooms throughout North America and Australia. The Laws are the FIRST Canadians to win the prestigious Chris Austin Song Writing Contest at MerleFest in North Carolina and have been called the best duo out of Canada since Ian and Sylvia.  www.thelaws.ca

“These days it seems the music news brings word of another husband-wife duo making its mark on the contemporary roots scene.   But any such list would be suspect without the addition of Canada’s The Laws.  Their voices blend beautifully–John’s reedy, gritty tenor and Michele’s plaintive, alto drawl (you’ll hear some Emmylou lurking in there) are one of the most beautiful harmonic convergences in contemporary music.”  The Bluegrass Special, New York, NY

Gary Santucci with Randal Hill and Friends: Friday, April 8, 8:30. Doors at 8:00. $15 at the door. $10 Artists & Students. No plastic…  Experimental world beat music.  Anything could happen!  Gary will showcase his oud (bet you haven’t heard him – or maybe anyone else – play it before) and the incomparable Randal Hill will play his fretless tenor banjo; we’ll see what the two of them can bounce off each other.  Be prepared for them to find unusual accompaniment….

Fearing & White: A collaboration between Stephen Fearing and Andy White, CD Release Tour: Wednesday, April 6, 8:00. $22 at the door. The album, also a first for the two individually talented and acclaimed singer / songwriters (who boast nineteen solo albums between them), offers up a unique listening experience. This debut duo album ‘Fearing & White’ is the happy result of a long friendship that has survived both the tyranny of distance and the travails of the road. White now calls Melbourne, Australia, home, while Fearing has recently moved to Halifax on Canada’s east coast. www.fearingandwhite.com
Fearing is well known within the international folk and roots music community as one of its most accomplished songsmiths, storytellers and guitarists. A double Juno award winner in his native Canada, he has experienced commercial and critical success, both in his solo career and with roots/rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings. Northern Ireland born and raised Andy White has earned a global following for blending folk and pop stylings with a poet’s sensibility. Working with the great names of Irish music – Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison – and writing with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Neil and Tim Finn, Andy has won Ireland’s top songwriting awards.  (more…)

Gaslight Alley: CD Release Show: Sunday April 3. 8:00pm, $10 at the door.  Gaslight Alley is a collection of seasoned musicians brought together by Hamilton singer/songwriter Allen Helsdon.  Al has been entertaining audiences for 2 decades with his passionate performances and humorous musings between songs.
The show is in support of their self-titled, debut CD and the airing of their first video.
Gaslight Alley plays a unique blend of rock, blues and fold filled with hypnotizing rhythms and haunting melodies.  Al’s distinctive vocal style, takes the listener on one soulful, groove-laden journey.   http://www.gaslightalley.net

Impact Africa – Benefit Concert & Art Auction: Saturday, April 2 – 730pm to 11pm, $15 admission – kids 12 and under are free.  Remember to bring cash or cheques! All proceeds go to the Mennonite Central Committee’s Generations at Risk – benefiting those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. www.mcc.org
Featuring Music by: Melissa Burke & Friends, Michelle Willis with The Girls are Back in Town, The Great Wooden Trio
Featuring Art by: Dave Hind, David White, Tony DiLorenza, Scott Ireland, Colleen O”Reilly, Jim Chambers, Karyn Black, Heather Vollans, Gary Rjinsburger, Judy Taylore, Christina Vandermark, Amber Edgar, Crystal Sanderson, Tricia Bos

Dala in Concert: Friday, April 1. 8:00pm. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have come a long way in a short time. The two best friends, who met in their high school music class and wrote their first song together in 2002, have since performed at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall a total of seven times. Darlings of the Canadian music scene, Dala are now poised to bring their fresh brand of acoustic pop music back to The Pearl Company for their third visit.
Drawing upon influences like The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, Dala write songs that are both catchy and insightful. Amanda’s ethereal soprano voice blends seamlessly with Sheila’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark.  The sheer joy with which they perform is infectious, turning first-time listeners into instant fans. http://dalagirls.com
Dala’s new album “Everyone Is Someone” was released to critical acclaim.  They’re even nominated for a Juno this week!
“Dala seem bound for a loftier place where substance stands equal to style.” – The Irish Times

Cinema Insieme Presents: Lamerica (1994): Monday March 28 at 7pm. $10 at the door.

Two Italian racketeers come to Albania just after the fall of the communists to set up a fictive firm and pocket the grants. They need a stooge. They choose an old one in a jail : Spiro. But the youngest Italian, Gino, once alone with Spiro, encounters a few problems. Far from his roots, losing his identity in deep Albania, he begins to change.

This award-winning film takes the audience through the devastation of post-communist Albania as it follows the odyssey of a young Italian man who has come to make some easy money but finds himself caught up in the same curious mix of hopeful despair etched into the faces of people he’s come to swindle.

Directed by:    Gianni Amelio ( Le chiavi di casa )  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110299/

Cottage Group Art Opening: Sunday, March 27, 2:00 to 4:00 pm. No admission fee. The Cottage Studio Artists present a show of their work in our second floor gallery. Come celebrate their success and the advent of spring!  Refreshments and conversation also free of charge.

The Cottage Studio is a non-profit group that gathers in a building beside St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church to produce art.  It is run a community of artists in order to support other artists.  Art supplies, studio space, and opportunities for showing their artwork are an integral part of the program.
The cottage was renovated and turned it into a gallery and a pleasant work environment for the artists to call their own through a grant from the Trillium Foundation.