Richard Flohil’s Roots Music Guide to NXNE

Here it comes: Another musical orgy (may one use the inelegant phrase “cluster-fuck”?). Five hundred bands, in 50 venues, all over town. How on earth is ANYONE expected to cover this?

Okay, you ought not to miss a NXNE advance event – Alejandro Escovedo at Trinity St. Paul’s on Tuesday June 16. On Thursday there’s a “songwriters in the round” event at the dark and cavernous Lee’s Palace (never was the word “Palace” so badly misused) with Jim Cuddy, Oh Susanna, Jason Plumb, Luke Doucet, Justin Rutledge, Jenn Grant, Royal Wood and more.  One rightly detects the Six Shooter Records ladies and the Starfish Entertainment folk behind this one.

So here’s my list of NEW roots artists you may consider trying to hear. Take Tylenol, ear plugs, and drink sparingly. Good luck!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 17

DAVID BAXTER is a veteran singer-songwriter, producer and guitarist who’s taken 30 years to release his first solo album – a mellow collection of sad songs. Live, though, he rocks out, especially in what has become his “home club.”  (Dakota Tavern 1.00 a.m.)

THURSDAY JUNE 18

SPIRAL BEACH is highly touted as an alt.rock band, and features the young adult offspring of folkies like Nancy White and David Woodhead. In the good ol’ days, they’d be stars on a major label by now. (Yonge Dundas Square t p.m.)

MADISON VIOLET are a female duo with great songs, a charming stage presence, and a new CD on True North. The astonishing young fiddle player is the equally brilliant sister of Ashley MacIsaac (Hugh’s Room, 8.30 p.m.)

KATE SCHUTT, based in Guelph and Philadelphia, proves you can mix folk and jazz, and play guitar brilliantly, with alternately dreamy and powerful songs. (Now Lounge, 10.00 p.m.)

THE MISSISSIPPI KINGS come from Hamilton (name change, anyone?) and are a raucous cross between the Stones and The Band, with some old blues masters chucked into the mix. (Black Bull, midnight).  Incidentally, the Bull has the best patio, but inside is the worst music venue in town.

THE CAVALIERS are a rapidly improving roots band with a striking singer (Britton Allison) and a powerful guitarist (Dan Roth). Well orth staying up late for. (Dakota Tavern, 2.00 a.m.)

FRIDAY JUNE 19

JULIAN TAYLOR is the dreadlocked guy who used to front Staggered Crossing. Now he’s doing quieter, more thoughtful, more acoustic stuff. (Now Lounge, 9.00 p.m.)

LUKE JACKSON is an ex-Brit deeply influenced by Nick Drake and others. On this gig, he’ll be accompanied by a string quartet led by Sahra Featherstone, and you’ll be able to take your earplugs out. (Holy Joe’s 9.00 p.m.)

DEEP DARK WOODS hail from Saskatchewan’s flatlands, and are highly touted.  Expect a combination of early folk, alt.country, gospel and oddly joyful murder ballads. (Dakota Tavern 10.00 p.m.)

HANK PINE & LILY FAWN are Victoria artists, reputedly influenced by vaudeville, snake oil sales pitches, and swampy rock. Haven’t heard it, but I wanna. (Cameron House 11.00 p.m.

JADEA KELLY  works with me. She has an angelic voice (she’s showing up on indie recording dates as a session singer), some unusual country/folk vibes and a really good band. (Mitzi’s Sister 11.00 p.m.)

SATURDAY JUNE 20

ROMNEY GETTY is a tough alt.country singer-songwriter with a killer voice, some good songs, and a solid band. Spends a lot of time in Australia, but she’s based in Collinwood; this early show’s worth catching. (Dakota Tavern 8.00 p.m.)

T.NILE offers acoustic music with a pop sensibility and a roots background. Plays the banjo, too. Loveable, that’s what I call her. (C’est What 9.00 p.m.)

JACK MARKS has a whiskey soaked voice, some killer songs, and he’s about to launch his debut CD. He’s been around for ages under the radar. (Mitzi’s Sister 9.00 p,m,)

JULIE FADER is a singer-songwriter with a great voice and enough charm to silence a football riot. I saw her once sing two songs with Justin Rutledge and I fell in love; I’d like to meet her one day. (Whippersnapper Gallery 10.00 p.m.)

GURF MORLIX made his rep producing Lucinda Williams, is based

in Aistin but has a summer home in Muskoka. An Americana icon with a handful of his own CDs, he writes songs you pay attention to.

(Dakota Tavern 10.00 p.m.)

EMMA-LEE gives you ethereal pop with a bit of an edge and her own songs, which offer more depth than most of the stuff in the pop/folk genre. (Bread & Circus 12 midnight)

THE ROARING GIRL CABARET is a quasi-classical group fronted by fiddle player Miranda Mulholland; I saw them once in the front room of the Cameron, playing on the floor and without a sound system. There were 70 people in the room and you could hear a pin drop. (The Painted Lady 1.00 a.m.)