"Artword Artbar is a cosy little licensed listening room on Colbourne at James St. N., that always features interesting live music." Graham Rockingham, Hamilton Spectator 03/29/12
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May 12 to 26, 2019. Tickets $15/ $20. Call 905-543-8512. Artword Theatre presents Whoever You Are, a play written and directed by Ronald Weihs, based on a 1952 science fiction short story by Judith Merril.
The human race has built a web around the Solar System that traps alien life forms. A SolSys scout ship returns with aliens aboard and is caught in the web. When a young recruit boards the ship and investigates, it becomes evident that the aliens have what may be an irresistible weapon: they love everybody.
Do we dare let them in? On Phobos (one of the moons of Mars), three people must decide what action to take: two men, a military commander and a psychologist, and one woman, the public information officer.
Performed by Jordan Campbell, Paula Grove and Jay Shand as the team at Phobos Base, and Pamela Gardner as Private Fromm, the new space recruit. Recorded participation by Jon-Gordon Odegaard as the seasoned sergeant. Live soundscape by Dave Gould. Video effects by Ronald Weihs and Judith Sandiford.
Written in 1952, Whoever You Are was Judith Merril’s answer to the “Fortress America” paranoia at the beginning of the cold war, and her protest against the emotional and sexual repression that fueled it. Although the lines today are less sharply drawn, fear of the alien is as prevalent today as it was then.
Like most of Judith Merril’s work, Whoever You Are has fun with the science fiction setting, but uses it to make some serious points. Merril had a major influence on science fiction as one of the main voices for more human themes and complex issues. In her own fiction, and in a series of key anthologies, she championed the position that Science Fiction was about exploring alternative realities.
The play by Ronald Weihs was first developed in 1997, when Ron asked her permission to adapt one of her short stories for the stage. Judith Merril died on September 12, 1997, when the project to put Whoever You Are on the stage was well underway. Just before she went to the hospital, she read a draft of the script. Her most significant comment was that the play must convey the sense of inward-looking paranoia, fear and sexual repressiveness that underlies nationalism and xenophobia.
It seems even more urgent to revisit these themes now, in 2019, 22 years after our first presentation of the play (in our first Artword Theatre on Portland Street), and 67 years after Judith Merril wrote the original story.
Saturday May 25, 2019, at 8:00 pm, $20 door, $15 advance, $10 students. Call 905-543-8512.
The amazing jazz trumpeter Brownman Ali returns to Artword Artbar with his Electryc Trio on their May tour.
The trio, Brownman Ali on electric trumpet, Sean Dennis on 6-string electric bass, and Jacob Aylward on drums, explore the later compositions of Miles Davis.
Monday May 20, Tuesday May 21, Wed May 22, 2019, from 5 to 7 pm. Pint of Science: Hamilton comes to Artword Artbar. Pint of Science is an international festival over 3 days in May. The idea is to bring some of the most brilliant scientists to your local pub to discuss their latest research and findings with you. You don’t need any prior knowledge. It’s a chance to meet the people responsible for the future of science (and have a pint with them). https://pintofscience.ca/team/Hamilton%20Team.
(Followed on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 pm by Artword’s play Whoever You Are .)
Saturday May 11, 2019, at 3:30 and 8 pm, $15. Call 905-543-8512, or Book online
Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone (Spring 2019 edition) returns with a two-show Saturday. We had to turn people away last time, so Sue, Michelle, Dwight and Tony have added a second show.
The 60s Folk Revival sing-along concert features Sue Peters (vocals), Michelle Rumball (vocals), Dwight Peters (vocals, 6 & 12 string guitars) and Tony Laviola (double bass). Imagine an evening in a 1960s coffeehouse in Yorkville or Greenwich Village. 
The lyrics have meaning, the voices are true and the music inspires the audience to join in. Where Have All The Folk Songs Gone recreates the songs of hope and social justice, messages that still resonate today, from songwriters including Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Ian & Sylvia, Peter Paul and Mary, and Phil Ochs. Song-sheets are provided. http://wherehaveallthefolksongsgone.blogspot.ca/
Friday May 10, 2019 at 8:00 pm, $10. Jazz with the Nick Arseneau Sextet: Nick Arseneau compositions and upright & electric bass, Marie Goudy trumpet, John Nicholson tenor sax, Patrick O’Reilly guitar and effects, Josh Smiley piano, and Harry Vetro drums.
The Nick Arseneau Sextet takes a unified, organic approach to modern jazz. Playing Nick’s original compositions, the group strives to create one voice, rather than playing as a group of divided individuals. When this is accomplished, the improvisational elements of listening and interacting come through strong and clear. Nick’s compositions range from straight-ahead jazz to free jazz, often incorporating elements of punk rock, math rock, and hip hop. Based in Toronto, the group gigs regularly at local clubs. The Sextet is scheduled to release their first full-length recording in Fall 2019. https://nickarseneau.bandcamp.com
http://nickarseneau.com
Thursday May 9, 2019, at 8 pm, $12 advanced, $15 at the door. Call 905-543-8512. Cats Cove Media presents an artist showcase featuring Joe Bass, The Do-Gooders and Tim Collins.
Tim Collins: singer-songwriter in the folk and folk-rock genre.
The Do-Gooders: a hard-acoustic trio made up of Hamilton cellist Geoff Ball, and Burlington guitarists Stu Gritter and Dan Murray. Possessing a penchant for storytelling, they tend to snag bits and pieces from different genres in order to find what best suits their whimsically grim (Grimsical?) tales.
Joe Bass is a guitar, mandolin and bass banjo trio: Sandy James, Eric Marcotte, and Garrett Stratford. Modern folk tales, rootsy genre-bending anthems, and just a dash of small-town nostalgia, Joe Bass offers an adventurous spin on alternative-folk music.
Joe Bass
The Do-Gooders
Tim Collins
Event, Music, Music-folk, Music-rock, Music-singer/songwriter
Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 8 pm, $15. Call 905-543-8512, or Book online
An Artword favourite: The New Cumberland bluegrass band from London Ontario: Tom Burns vocals and guitar, Blair Heddle vocals, mandolin and dobro, Paul Hurdle vocals and banjo, Tom Rutledge string bass, and Darrin Schott fiddle. Featuring inventive solo work, driving rhythms and three part vocal harmonies, New Cumberland’s musical integrity and joy in playing together resonates in every performance. http://newcumberlandband.com/
Friday May 3, 2019 at 8 pm, $10. The Western Swing Band with Sonny Sinclair guitar/ vocals; Peter Arthur bass / vocals; Doug Johnson pedal steel, Domenic Di Nino drums.
Inspired by the country swing style of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, George Strait, The Time Jumpers and Asleep at the Wheel, this band celebrates that great tradition. From country two-step, western swing and Texas waltzes, with sweet vocal harmonies, it’s a bit like travelling back in time to the original days of western swing.
Thursday May 2, 2019, at 8 pm, $15. Call Artword Artbar 905-543-8512, or Book online
The wonderful David Essig returns to Artword on his “short and sweet spring tour – it’s a good chance to catch up with dear friends and audiences and to share some new tunes.” (Only 6 other stops in Ontario.) http://davidessig.com/cms/
DAVID ESSIG was introduced to Canadian audiences in 1971 as a “talented newcomer” at the legendary Mariposa Folk Festival. Now, nearly 50 years later, he continues to pursue an international career as one of Canada’s finest roots music performers. He has appeared at every major folk festival in Canada and at concerts throughout the world. David uses the traditions he grew up with – Bluegrass and Delta Blues – to create timeless original songs. He has released 25 albums and continues to tour across Canada and in Europe, where he has a strong following, especially in Italy. David is a compelling live performer with contemporary original songs that always pay tribute to their roots in traditional country music and Delta blues. Many of his songs, like “Albert’s Cove” and “High Ground,” are considered classics of Canadian roots music. As a producer, David has done over 60 albums with other artists, including the first three albums by both Willie P Bennett and Fred Eaglesmith.
Event, Music, Music-Blues, Music-folk, Music-roots, Music-singer/songwriter
Saturday April 27, 2019, at 8 pm, $15.00. Nearly sold out. For ticket info, email Trevor Powell <trevpowell16@gmail.com>
A special concert: Tracey and Trevor Powell present The Sinners Choir, a trio comprised of three generations of seasoned Toronto sidemen: bassist Terry Wilkins, drummer Adam Warner and guitarist Adam Beer-Colacino. The Sinners Choir takes each player out of their sideman role, showcasing themselves as composers and as singers with a resonant 3-part harmony.
Terry Wilkins is a veteran of the Canadian music scene and represents the 70-something demographic. He has been a member of bands ranging from Rough Trade to Lighthouse as well as David Wilcox and a string of visiting jazz and blues artists like Dr. John, John Hammond and Levon Helm among others.
Adam Warner has been in the trenches as a drummer supporting a who’s-who of Canadian musical aristocracy, Steven Page, Jill Barber, and White Cowbell Oklahoma, to name a few. As a singer/songwriter he has released 3 solo albums. Adam represents the 40-something demographic.
Adam Beer-Colacino, the youngest member of the band, represents the 20-something group. Adam has been honing his craft mostly in Toronto, working with such people as Devin Cuddy, Whitney Rose and members of Downchild Blues Band. His guitar playing is influenced by Pops Staples and Freddie King.
Friday April 26, 2019, at 8 pm, $15.Book online
Thursday April 25, 2019, at 7:30, $10. 
Keegan Larose hosts an artist showcase featuring Hamilton-based songwriters sharing their songs and the stories behind them.
Lineup for April 25:
7:30-8:00 Jesse Macrae
8:10-8:40 Keegan Larose
8:50-9:20 Jamie Shea
9:30-10:00 Dave Pomfret
Tuesday April 23rd, 2019 7:30 pm, $10. Special Concert, a double bill of two outstanding solo improvisors: Eli Wallace, from New York on his Barriers solo piano release tour, and Eugene Martynec, from Toronto, performing live electronics. Judith Sandiford will perform live video-mix projections.
Known for creating solo piano improvisations informed by his melange of diverse influences that are directed by his strong compositional sensibilities, Eli Wallace will play an uninterrupted single improvised piece; as similarly displayed on his recent release, Barriers.
Eugene Martynec is a staple of the Toronto improvised music community and will perform a solo electronics set using live interactive music software. Eugene has a long history of collaboration with Artword Theatre (Ronald Weihs and Judith Sandiford) in their Toronto days. He has created electronic sound scores for several of their theatre projects. For four years he hosted Eugene’s Sunday Series, every Sunday evening at Artword Theatre on Portland Street, where the improvising community had a chance to explore and experiment.
It was Eugene who got Judith Sandiford started with her VJ software explorations. In the past they have collaborated on various live-video performances. This concert will be a reunion “duet”.
Saturday April 20, 2019, at 8 pm, $15 /students $10. Jazz with the Alex Tomowich Quartet: Michael Morabito on saxophone(s), Victor Agrippa on EWI (electronic wind Instrument), William Fachin on drums, Alex Tomowich on piano. Alex writes: “We’re back with another evening of wacky and exciting originals, with arrangements of compositions ranging from Joe Satriani to Adrean Farrugia. And some new material!”
Thursday April 18, 2019, at 8 pm, $15. Call 905-543-8512, or Book online
ANNOUNCING a special appearance by Joe Crookston, songwriter, guitarist, painter, fiddler, slide player, eco-village member and believer in all things possible. He’ll surprise you and awaken the cynics. His songs are universal, his rhythm infectious and in concert, he is funny as hell one moment and transcendent the next. http://www.joecrookston.com/
HE BELIEVES IN STORIES: Come to a show. Mystical, and humorous roads, twisting through vivid cinematography. Oklahoma towns, rattlesnake tails, turbary thieves, Galway heather, meter maids and drunk roosters. At the end of the night, you’ll leave inspired.
THERE IS A LONG NOTE & JOE IS REACHING FOR IT: “The Long Note”, a phrase in Irish culture, is that place of resonance and transcendence where the music, the voices, the instruments, and the community ALL come together and unite. Whether he’s picking his 48 Gibson, weaving through lap slide songs or looping his fiddle, he will draw you in. It happens every time.
Watch a YouTube video. It’s good, but it’s not the same. You gotta come to a show. With unwavering courage to be himself, he is literate, poignant and funny as hell.
Event, Music, Music-folk, Music-roots, Music-singer/songwriter
Artword Artbar, 15 Colbourne St, off James St North, one block south of Barton. Click to enlarge.
ArtwordBlog
Wed May 17, 2017. We just received notification of this honour! Artword Artbar selected as one of the 35 best jazz venues in Canada.
