Category: Events

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Upcoming Gigs

Google Calendar rules my life. I was reviewing it today and I suddenly realized I’ve got a ton of gigs coming up (well a ton for me, which is generally more than one).

I’m leaving this here more as a reminder for myself, but if anyone of you would like to join me at these events, I would love to see you there. Yes, you. Don’t look over your shoulder… I’m talking to you. Right now.

DONE: February 11th, 8pm: Voix de Ville (as Professor Taelstrum)

DONE: February 18th, 7pm: Slamtastique Story Slam (as the host)

DONE: February 28th, 7pm: 10 Hours for a Spoken World (as part of the Nuit Blanche)

DONE: March 14th, 8pm: Did You Hear That? CD Launch in Ottawa

DONE: March 15th, 3pm: Telling a couple of Irish stories at Cafe Mariposa for Irish Brunch

DONE: March 15th, 8:30pm: Socks Off Armando (featured teller for an Improv troupe)

DONE: March 20th, 8pm: Tales o’the Green at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse

DONE: March 22nd, 4pm: Driving Out the Snakes III (as the host and seanachi)

March 25th, 7pm: Slamtastique Story Slam (website)

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Tales from the Yellow Door Coffeehouse

Back in October, I told a couple of stories at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse hosted by Marc Nerenberg, deep in the McGill student ghetto. Happily, they were video recorded and they just got posted!

I’ll be featured at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse on December 12th 2014 (Facebook event), so you should join us!

These two stories are also featured on my new CD Did You Hear That?, so you should get your copy today, or come by the CD Launch at Le Mariposa on November 19th 2014 (Facebook event).

The Man with No Story

Lex and the Devil

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New Gigs in November/December!

The “Did You Hear That?” CD Tour has started! In Montreal, I’m hitting both sides of the mountain about one month apart and I’m hoping to book a show in Ottawa as well, so stay tuned.

Tales from the Mariposa

Wednesday, November 19th 2014 at 7pm
Mariposa le Cafe
5434 Cote St-Luc rd
NDG (Montreal)
Facebook event

Tales and Wails at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse

Friday, December 12th 2014 at 8:00pm
The Yellow Door Coffeehouse
3625 Aylmer,
Montréal, QC H2X 2C3
Facebook Event

Come and join us at the Yellow Door Coffeehouse for the Open Stage where I will be the Featured Performer! There will be music, tales, and coffee with comfy seats! All nestled in the comfortable nook of the Yellow Door Coffeehouse.

In October: I’m also performing in Ottawa at (Un)Told on the 27th!

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Driving Out the Snakes II

I’m honoured to announce that I will be hosting the Driving Out the Snakes concert in Montreal on March 16th, 2014. I performed in this concert last year as their seanchaí (storyteller) and this year they asked me to host and be their teller! Here is all the info you need to know. I hope you can join us for what promises to be an incredible night of music, myth, and magic.

Driving out the Snakes II: A St Patrick’s Day Celebration

Resto Griffintown
1378 rue Notre-Dame Ouest,
Montreal, Quebec H3C

>Doors open at 3:00pm
Show begins at 4:00pm
$10 admission for adults
$5 admission for children
Facebook Event
Contact Aine Doan at ainedoan@gmail.com

For the second year in a row, we are inviting you all to join us in driving out the snakes. The event will be MC’d by acclaimed local seanchaí John David Hickey. With live music by two wonderful Celtic folk bands, The Mudlarks and The Bombadils, and a performance of Irish dance by Richard Chalut, this is a celebration that is not to be missed!

—- About the Mudlarks:

The Mudlarks are a brood of misfits spawned in the ooze of the River Thames. They concoct a delicious musical stew drawing ingredients from traditional British Isles sources and a corpus of original work.

Ben’s original compositions draw their inspiriation from local history, including: the adventures of Quebec-bound immigrants who braved the perilous sea-crossings, the bitter memories of survivors of World War II’s Dieppe, and a moving interpretation of the Stan Rogers classic Barrett’s Privateers.

—- About the Bombadils:

The Bombadils are a “charismatic and kind-hearted bunch of rascals.” Their music features a bluegrass and Celtic-inspired voice that combines soaring melodic lines, tight rhythmic energy, and a decidedly contemporary sound.

Since the release of their first album, “Fill Your Boots!,” this band of four musicians have wandered cross-continent, performing in canoes on the Tobique River, skiing in the mountains of Sierra Nevada, and riding the VIA rails. They look forward to performing these songs, as well as a number of Irish classics, for this year’s mighty St. Paddy’s day celebration in Montreal.

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Story Slam Finals!

On June 10th 2013, I’m hosting the 2013 edition of the Slamtastique Story Slam Finals. This our 2nd annual Story Slam competition and I’m really looking forward to it. There will be six story slammers competing for the glory and fudge! These six competitors are the winners from this past year (October – May), but only one can be crowned victor!

We’ve also got celebrity judges who will also be telling stories of their own, so that should mix things up nicely. Come check us out!

Slamtastique Finals 2013
June 10th, 2013, 6:30 pm – 7pm
Shaika Café
5526 Sherbrooke Street West/Quest
Montreal, Quebec
Google Maps

For more information about the Story Slams, see Slamtastique.
Facebook event

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Don’t Forget about Sunday Night!

Irish storyteller Mike Burns has been telling stories at Hurley’s Irish pub for almost 20 years on the last Sunday of each month. Normally, he would be performing on February 24th, but he’s away performing in another part of the world. I’m quite honoured to be asked to tell tales in his stead.

February Storytelling at Hurley’s Pub
February 24th 2013, 7pm
Hurley’s Irish Pub
1225 Crescent Street
Montreal, Quebec
Facebook Event

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New Gig for 2013

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope that 2013 fills your lives with happy, exciting stories. If so, I hope I get to hear you tell them!

My 2013 is off to a great start. Irish storyteller Mike Burns has been telling stories at Hurley’s Irish pub for almost 20 years on the last Sunday of each month. Normally, he would be performing on February 24th, but he’s away performing in another part of the world. I’m quite honoured to be asked to tell tales in his stead.

February Storytelling at Hurley’s Pub
February 24th 2013, 7pm
Hurley’s Irish Pub
1225 Crescent Street
Montreal, Quebec
Facebook Event

In an unrelated event, I’ve been toying with a new one-sheet Press Kit. It’s here if you want to see it, and if you have any feedback, please send me an email!

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Tales from the Winds

Riding with the Winds

So… I don’t know if you remember, but back in early June of 2012, I had the immense honour of appearing with Concerto Della Donna in McGill’s Pollack Hall during the Northern Exposure fundraiser. I was called to take part as the storyteller to tell the classic Norwegian tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon (image taken from çizgili masallar zaman blog, artist Mercer Mayer). The hall was almost filled to capacity with over 500 people in attendance.

This was the most ambitious thing I have ever attempted and even up to hours before the show itself, I wasn’t sure I was up to the task. Fortunately, everything went smoothly and we got through it. My heartfelt thanks to maestro Iwan Edwards for his infinite patience and passionate guidance.

Then this past weekend, I was sent the recording of the entire show, including the piece I worked on with the choir. Due to restrictions with rights and such, I can’t post the whole thing, but I can post a clip (which is 2 minutes of the 30-minute piece). In this piece, the heroine is traveling with the East Wind in the hopes of finding her prince who is trapped in the castle that is East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

In this clip, you can hear me telling the tale along with the 17-member Concerto Della Donna. On Stradivarius violin is Caroline Chéhadé and on cello is Michael Nicolas. The piece was composed by Marie-Claire Saindon and the maestro was Iwan Edwards.

Ost for vinden – Ostavind — Concerto Della Donna (2:01)

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May-June Madness is about to begin!

May and June of 2012 is going to be frightfully busy for me in terms of shows and new projects! I think at the end of the marathon, when somebody asks me for a story, I might hand them a book instead.

May

June

Sorry to be so cryptic about that last one, but I’m going to my first rehearsal tomorrow, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen. All I can say right now is that it’s a new type of storytelling project for me and I’ll be on a stage that I have always dreamed of performing on (one of many places). More on that later.

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Wychwood Tales and Wails in Toronto

During the Canadian National Pagan Conference, Gaia Gathering in Toronto in May 2012, there will be a concert that features the melding of the minds and voices.

JD “Hobbes” Hickey of Montreal and the talented musicians of Wychwood Children and Greg Currie will be joining forces to create a mythical, musical epic that has rarely been attempted! You do not want to miss this unique performance!

The event is free for the Gaia Gathering conference attendees and $10 for everyone else.

May 20th, 8pm, $10
New College – Wilson Hall
40 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3
Facebook event page: