The
Maple Lounge
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The
Story Of The Maple Lounge
In October of 2003 a local impresario known by some as CVM (midwife of song), started a new music series upstairs at one of Toronto’s oldest and most respected venues. The Rivoli Pool Hall, better known for its DJ nights and Kick-Ass Karaoke, hasn’t really been kitted out for live music like the back concert room downstairs.
But all that is changing, and for a very good reason. The Maple Lounge, so coined for its content and prime sponsor Maplemusic.com, has a mandate that one seldom finds outside of the CBC. That mandate is CanCon (Canadian Content), and lots of it. Every Wednesday night, beginning at a most reasonable hour (8pm) the 'Maple' DJ upstairs plays all Canadian music, from new releases to vintage Canadiana, hailing from one end of this country to the other. At 10pm sharp, there is a 45 minute live solo performance from a monthly featured artist, also Canadian, of course. And then it’s back to the Maple DJ and more cocktail gossip, billiards and quality beer. Did I mention the all Canadian music videos playing on the flat screen monitor above the bar? They’re generously provided by our most necessary funding organization VideoFact. These videos are a visual treat that make even the most nonchalant of us proud to recognize the faces that flash by. Only when you've sat down to an evening of the Stars, Metric, Broken Social Scene, Sarah Harmer, Local Rabbits, Rheostatics, Neil Young, Paul Anka, Blue Rodeo, Alta Moda and the Guess Who do you realize what a vast and bottomless well the term CanCon really represents. And that's just the pre- recorded stuff.
Ask any old industry veteran and they will tell you that a month long residency is just the sort of thing that makes an artist get their chops up to speed and trim the musical fat from their set. The artist has to work hard to keep themselves and their established fans entertained week after week, and work even harder to pierce the sonic bubble that often surrounds pool tables and squeaking bar stools. It also provides a nearly impossible to miss opportunity to catch an artist unencumbered by band or brouhaha. It provides the artist promoting a new album with a weekly chance to snag that elusive review or be seen by the right publisher/label/manager. Though more often than not, it’s just a great opportunity to make sure that all of your friends make it out for a show and a pint at some point, especially for those artists visiting from out of town.
The roster
of talent that has already shown itself on this tiny stage (a collapsible
riser that the folks at the Riv built just for this series) speaks to
the overwhelming richness of our singer/songwriter community. Local heart
throb Reid Jamieson started
it; award winning frontman from the Waltons; Jason Plumb seconded
the motion, Local Rabbit Pete Elkas, the sharp witted and formidable
Arlene Bishop, Graham Powell and Maury Lafoy (Sarah Harmer,
Jann Arden) of the Supers kept the red ball rolling. January
saw one of our country's most treasured songwriters celebrated by his
peers in what can only be described as a uniquely Canadian tribute night.
Ron Sexsmith (somewhat of a ML regular), Bob Wiseman, Bob Snider
and more gathered to cover Kyp Harness on his last night at the
Lounge. All were happy to see him reclaim the stage at the end of the
evening to dish out just a few more of his extremely well penned songs.
Look
to the next two seasons for even more compelling entertainers and songsmiths,
as there seems to be an explosion of talent going on up here. The richly
gifted Lori Cullen takes April to promote her latest gem Uneven
Hill, the cheeky Steve Singh dazzles in May, and the critically
acclaimed, hauntingly beautiful Great Lake Swimmers have June to
serenades us in. If the season lasts a year there will be a compilation
album to prove it. Reid Jamieson is already slated to play the anniversary
show. A fitting choice, given his crucial role in its creation. When the
highly supportive owners of the Rivoli heard his soon to be released record
and wanted an opportunity to hear him regularly, his manager and sweetheart
CVM obliged. A long time friend of the owners, she took advantage of their
interest to create an entire series in the sometimes underutilized but
beautiful space. The Rivoli gang are known for being visionaries, not
just beer sellers, so they happily obliged and have been facilitating
the new direction by putting in stage monitors and a new Rivoli sign for
behind the stage, just above the ubiquitous Canadian flag.
A grown up evening awaits you. No waiting around wondering if 10 o'clock really means 11:30. Your host is a cheering tyrant whose show must go on at the appointed hour, so your babysitter/day job/liver will thank her. The full Rivoli Menu is available, the seating is very comfortable. The artists are not permitted to play covers of non-Canadian songs, that goes for the guest DJs too, and you don’t want to cross her on that. The strange thing is, and perhaps this is all just part of our country's identity, is that your host and founder of the Maple Lounge, is not herself a Canadian citizen. Born in North East England, raised in Nova Scotia from 5 years of age, then hitchhiking to Toronto at 19, our maple mama Carolyn V. Mill is actually a landed immigrant of 30 years. March 27, 2004 will see her finally go for her citizenship test, mobilized by a need to vote to maintain a better way of life in her chosen home. Be sure to ask her if she passed when you see her take the stage some time in April, as it is a test few regular citizens would score that well on. One well known music journalist rightly suggests that perhaps her resume should suffice, peopled as it is by her various gigs working with Molly Johnson, Blue Rodeo, ACTRA and various talent agencies in Canada, but when has art and good sense had anything to do with government? That is precisely why CVM is hosting a music night amongst other things and not running for Prime Minister. What makes us truly Canadian we may never be proud enough to spell out, but listen to the music and you might find an answer all the same.
Oh yes, one last thing - this great Canadian music, live and recorded, every Wednesday night...it’s FREE!
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PLEASE POST & RETAIN FOR LISTINGS
THE SERIES CONTINUES WITH MORE GREAT CANADIAN MUSIC
100% CANCON! NO COVER!
***********************
CVM & MapleMusic.com present:
The Maple Lounge - 3rd Season!
Upstairs
@ the Rivoli Pool Hall
Every Wednesday @ 8pm
No Cover!
Spinning
ALL Canadiana >
> From Blue Rodeo to Broken Social Scene >
> Hang Loose > Shoot Pool > Support Canadian Music >
> Sounds Good.
Monthly Residency
by Featured Solo Artist
45 Min Live Acoustic Set @ 10pm every week
> APRIL: Lori Cullen > MAY: Steve Singh > JUNE: Great
Lake Swimmers
Your Host:
CVM. Maple DJ, Contests, Videos, every week .
Listen to new releases and vintage vibes. Full menu
available!
* Launch
Party Pix:
http://www.reidjamieson.com/maplelounge.htm
* Kyp Harness ...All-Stars night on the 28th - Ron
Sexsmith, Bob Wiseman and Very special guests cover Kyp!
http://www.reidjamieson.com/maplelounge/kyp/kyp.htm
Make a request. Make it Canadian. mapledj@kitchenink.com
Videos generously provided by: VideoFact & MuchMusic
Early weeknight action starting @ 8pm. Show at 10pm sharp!
--------------------
Lori Cullen
April 7/14/21/28
http://www.loricullen.com
A vibrant presence in Toronto’s crowded singer/songwriter scene,
Lori Cullen has consistently received high praise. Her first solo CD Garden
Path and her latest disc Uneven Hill have both garnered four Ns from NOW
Magazine and raves from critics all over. Her collaborative jazz CD So
Much made several prominent Best Of 2003 lists and shows how versatile
her muse can be. Lori is currently attracting well deserved attention
for her astoundingly lush and fragile vocal style. First time listeners
draw diverse comparisons from Joni Mitchell to Bjork, the common element
that Lori shares with these artists is an uncompromising artistic vision
and a voice that defies description. Poetically observational lyrics and
alternative guitar tunings win her admiration and leave her unclassifiable.
Lori will bring her magical music to the Lounge this April, accompanied
by her multitalented producer Chris Gartner (Thinbuckle, Mia Sheard).
Steve Singh
May 5/12/19/26
http://www.stevesingh.com
Fasten
your life jackets and bob safely above the reef of poison tipped words
from one of our city’s true entertainers. Steve’s latest disc
‘I Will Not Break our Heart’ is a lyrical lie that shows it’s
real meaning once you’ve spent the night identifying with the mundane
pain felt by the colourful characters in his songs. Given to tales of
psychics and squirrels, with a sugar shack voice that’s bound to
make you hungry for another round of heartache. His quirky performance
style is clever pop at its best. Steve has toured the world of late, sucking
in critics at the BBC, Billboard in NY and the folks at Exclaim! here
at home. And now it’s your turn.
Great Lake
Swimmers (t.dekker)
June 2/9/16/23/30
http://www.greatlakeswimmers.com
Great Lake Swimmers is actually the solitary brainchild of southern Ontario
singer-songwriter T. Dekker. The Montreal Mirror says: "Deliciously
simple, slow, spare, sad-sack melodies and vintage folk stylings threaten
to pull you into their undertow." GLS's simply self-titled debut
was deemed by the Toronto Star as "an early candidate for the year's
most subtly intoxicating album... the music relies on a delicate combination
of voice and acoustic guitar-lightly coloured by piano,
accordion, lap steel and a low, choral hum of crickets." Recorded
in an abandoned grain silo, the record actually includes crickets, but
it is Dekker’s truly sad and cuttings lyrics carried out by his uniquely
haunting voice that make the songs quite unforgettable. Voted Favourite
Folk/Roots Artist at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards
Every Wednesday
@ The Rivoli Pool Hall - 334 Queen St. W.
416 - 596 - 1501
http://www.rivoli.ca
http://www.maplemusic.com/maple_lounge.asp
----------------------------------
Note to Artists: Please be sure to sign the flag when you
visit! - Wanna get played at the Maple Lounge? Just drop
your CD off at The Rivoli Pool Hall for the Maple DJ. No
press kits please. - To inquire about setting up a
residency for your solo artist, please send bio and link
to cvm. - Wanna be a guest DJ? Maybe put a mix of your
favourites onto an all Cancon CD? just email cvm. -
Please support Canadian music! Drop by the lounge to hear
the latest releases, win prizes, shoot pool or just
hang. - Make it a regular thing. And thanks, eh? xcvm
----------------------------------
Last Season
at The Maple Lounge
January -Kyp Harness - http://www.kypharness.com
February - Arlene Bishop - http://www.arlenebishop.com
March - Maury Lafoy & Graham Powell -
http://www.thesupers.com
-
October - Reid Jamieson - http://www.reidjamieson.com
November - Jason Plumb - http://www.jasonplumb.com
December - Peter Elkas - http://www.localrabbits.com/
MAPLE LOUNGE PRESS:
Toronto Sun – January 13, 2004 - MARY DICKIE
Kyp Harness celebrated at The Maple Lounge
http://www.kypharness.com/floatsite/press/articles/sun_01_
13_04.html
Toronto Sun
- Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - MARY DICKIE
Canadian reflection - Reid Jamieson hosts, plays and DJs
the Rivoli's Maple Lounge Canuck night
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicArtistsJ/jamieson_reid.html
ChartAttack.com
- Wednesday November 12, 2003 @ 03:30 PM
Peter Elkas Lounges With Maple, Tours With Plaskett
http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2003/11/1209.cfm
Tandem -
October 19, 2003 - Kerry Doole
On The Beat - Maple pride.
http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3268