Feature Article September 2, 2004
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Hootenany packs Maberly Hallby Jeff Green
An informal concert featuring some excellent alternative country singer songwriters took place this past Monday in Maberly. Even though tickets sold for $25, word of mouth was all the publicity needed to sell out the show, which was hosted by Victoria-based Carolyn Mark, and featured Luther Wright, Oh Susanna, Jenny Whitely, and Sarah Harmer.
Carolyn Mark is touring Ontario and was accompanied by her three-member travelling band, who performed songs of their own later in the evening. Carolyn Mark, who is not one to take herself, or anyone else, too seriously, had something outrageous to say, or sing, at every opportunity. She is touring in support of her most recent recording, The pros and cons of Collaboration Her music was fast-paced and often very funny.
Luther Wright, whose most recent recording, with his ever changing band, the Wrongs, is called Guitar Pickin Martyrs, was joined on stage by fiddler Miranda Mulholland and guitarist Dan Curtis, who performed some of his own tunes as well. Although the audience enjoyed everything Luther did, whether playing mandolin on other performers songs or singing his own warped bluegrass numbers, he received the biggest ovation of the night for the performance of a tune off the Wrongs childrens album, Travelling Frog, accompanied by his talented young nephew Louis Murray on the drums.
Oh Susanna, who recently performed at the Blue Skies Festival accompanied by her rockn rolling band, performed material from her popular recent self-titled CD, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar for the most part. Performing as a solo act, the precise images of the lyrics she writes and the strength of her singing have a direct, powerful impact.
Jenny Whiteley, the hometown girl from Elphin, performed some old and some new songs, including a haunting rendition of her song Gloria accompanied by Joey Wright on Mandolin. Later, she was joined by a collection of players, including Sarah Harmer on drums, for a terrific version of her song Halleluyah Hair Cut.
Sarah Harmer was exhausted when she left Toronto on the day of the show, as she told the audience before one of her songs. But meeting up with all the crazy country musicians at the Hall gave her renewed energy, and she performed beautifully, avoiding the material from her recent All of Our Names CD in favour of other songs of hers and other songwriters. Near the end of the evening, she even sang the bluegrass standard, Rocky Top, accompanied by Luther Wright on vocals and Mandolin, Joey Wright, who accompanied just about everyone at one time or another during the night, on guitar, and Jenny Whiteley on bass.
There were some wonderful individual performances on Monday night in Maberly, but the real pleasure of the evening was in the relaxed interplay between musicians who showed up more to enjoy each others musical company than for any other reason.
Proceeds from the concert went to the Brooke Valley School.
