Manitoba Hal & Karen Morand – August 2

Manitoba Hal

Manitoba Hal is a guitarist, songwriter and ukulele player. Using a combination of looping technology and effects he creates a performance that is one-of-a-kind. His combination of finger picking and strumming creates an instantly accessible sound that compliments his fresh and inventive originals and arrangements of traditional blues. Manitoba Hal is a consummate blues man, having toured Canada extensively with a ukulele. Picturinghim in his 100 year old cottage in  Nova Scotia, one can’t help wonder how someone can sound like he grew up in the Deep South of the States and play raw, swamp, delta, Cajun and zydeco style blues. Hal developed the blues sound when he lived in Winnipeg Manitoba (where he also got his name).

“Winnipeg, often referred to as the Chicago of the north, is situated in a delta between the Red and Assiniboine rivers. I was born at the blues and when I found that music inside me, I came alive and my soul started expressing itself in songs that flowed with that music. The blues is where my soul came into this world. Where it will end up I don’t know but I’m ready for the journey”.

About why he made the switch from guitar to the ukulele, Hal replies, “I noticed that sonically it occupied this space that was in pitch above my voice. This gave my vocals a lot more room in the song without colliding with the notes of the accompaniment as they did when I played guitar also I noticed that people seemed amazed at the sounds I was producing with the ukulele. The last thing that clinched my decision to switch to uke full time was that for all the years and concerts I’ve given as a guitarist, people usually didn’t tell me stories of their life when I play guitar. [However], people seemed compelled to communicate about their life when the uke is played. I like that.” Peter Hodgson of Mixdown Magazine writes “Manitoba Hal has created something wholly unique and
idiosyncratic out of several elements that already existed. He’s not the first guitarist to switch over to ukulele. Nor is he the first musician to use looping pedals. And he’s certainly not the first guy to play the blues, but the way he approaches the combination of those elements, and mixes it with his own musical sensibilities, is just perfect. A tireless live performer, ambassador for the uke, and all-round great musician.”

http://manitobahal.com/

Karen Morand – singer, songwriter & all ‘round nice gal

Songwriter Karen Morand delivers her home-cooked songs with warm vocals simmering with heart and home. Tucking tender lyrics snugly within comforting, playful melodies Karen radiates with energy in live performances both solo and when accompanied by BOSCO, her acoustic quartet. A graduate from the University of Windsor’s music therapy program as a piano major, Karen enjoys experimenting as a multi-instrumentalist – acoustic guitar, ukulele, accordion (does kazoo count?) and most recently the banjo. Also a mom, teacher, DIY goddess, house concert host and urban chicken farmer; Karen’s songs celebrate the joys and broken parts of real life with hope and love as its foundation.

Since the release of her first CD with BOSCO, “Carry On” (2012) she has enjoyed local favour in the Essex County area and radio play on CJAM and CBC. Karen has played up and down the 401-derful,  joined the Windsor Symphony Orchestra as part of a world premier Six String Nation project, and was a favorite with BOSCO at the 2013 Winterfolk Festival in Toronto. Karen is currently in studio working on her second BOSCO-aided release, “I Think I’ll Lose My Mind Today” to be released June 2014.

www.karenmorand.com

August 2, 2014, at 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:30)
Suggested donation (100% goes directly to the artists): $20
Please email fingalfolk@gmail.com to RSVP. This is a private function and we are trying to keep track of expected guests. Thanks so much.