Last weekend ushered in confirmation of what many have been saying for several years now. In winning the Juno award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year for her 2010 release Hunter Hunter, Amelia Curran has officially been recognized as one of the most gifted singer-songwriters on the Canadian scene today. And the opportunity to see her in an intimate setting like St. Bart's alongside another of this country's rising stars, Rose Cousins, is an opportunity not to be missed.
Curran is a seeker. Nearly a decade ago she left St. John's for Halifax, but still pines for Newfoundland every single day. Rich in metaphor, language and instrumentation, Curran's latest album speaks to unrequited longing, the notion of belonging and reflections on love both lost and found. A songwriter by trade, but a writer at heart, Curran believes language is everything. She describes the craft of song-writing as an act of "expressing the inexpressible, a means of describing the indescribable."
Sharing the stage with Curran in this double bill is Cousins. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Cousins now calls Halifax, N.S. home. Upon hearing her for the first time, the clarity and range of her voice is what is initially striking. She explores love and loss, longing and loneliness, and the strength of the human spirit in her skillfully written songs. Her music, combined with her witty onstage banter, makes it customary to both laugh and cry during a live show. She has recently released her second full-length album, The Send Off.
The show starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, at St. Bart's Church Hall in Gibsons. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 ($15 for students and seniors), at Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons, MELOmania in Roberts Creek and WindSong Gallery in Sechelt.
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