Quebec Scene

Joe Grass

Hailing originally from Moncton, Joe began playing the guitar at age 8 and by the time he was 14 could be found performing in venues throughout the province.

Possessing a musical breadth steeped in blues, gospel, jazz, bluegrass, traditional East Coast music, and a sound that is beyond his young age, Joe's music is a blend of evocative song-writing, contemporary finger-style and lap-slide guitar.

In his short career, Joe has built an impressive list of achievements. He was the winner of the 2004 Ottawa Folk Festival Auditions New Performer-Youth Category and received a Galaxie Rising Star Award. He has shared the stage with Harry Manx, Jackie Washington, Ken Whiteley, Vince Fontaine, Michael Jerome Brown and has opened for artists such as Kelly Joe Phelps. Recently Joe returned from a 16-performance tour of Atlantic Canada with Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Cafe to find out that his self-titled debut release was in high rotation on the Galaxie Folk/Roots network.

Joe currently lives in Montreal where he gigs often with a wide ranging array of local musicians.

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Penny Lang Duo

A veritable Canadian folk legend, Penny is as real as it gets, whether in a duo with Dave Clarke, Rick Fines or Ken Whiteley, or backed by a handful of handpicked musician-friends. In her one-of-a-kind, earthy voice, she brings us old ballads, melancholy blues and hopeful love songs, both traditional and original. She has a way of making any song undisputedly hers; all she has to do is to sing it! Penny has nine critically acclaimed recordings to her credit, including the recent Stone + Sand + Sea + Sky, produced by Roma Baran and Vivian Stoll. A recent Critic’s Pick in New York’s Time Out, her live show is always something special! Workshops include songwriting, country blues, gospel, audience participation. Workshops: Songwriting, country blues, gospel, audience participation. (famgroup)