Here are three Shivering Songs concerts to see after the tenth anniversary festival is a wrap.
The Shivering Songs brand extends well beyond the five day event that takes place each winter in downtown Fredericton. The festival has become a recognized name in music promotion all year long, curating a healthy mix of folk and family friendly performances in both Fredericton and Moncton.
Looking ahead to the coming year (post-festival, that is), the Shivering Songs gang have already plotted out the first of their 2020 concerts. So if you’re looking for a last minute stocking stuffer, consider gifting tickets to one of these three shows, in addition to buying a seat for yourself of course.
Ben Caplan
Ben Caplan is a songwriter, performer and entertainer in the most time-honoured sense of the word. From the moment he walks onto the stage, you are filled with his infectious spirit, and captivating presence. You can feel Caplan’s comfort and ease as he strides in front of the crowd and begins the controlled collective descent into chaos.
In his latest project, Ben Caplan explores themes of immigration, loss, darkness, love, sex, and God. Caplan is touring with a fresh batch of songs which were originally composed for a new musical play called Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story. The award winning play had its international debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won top festival honours, and has been a smash hit. The play has toured internationally including a seven-week run Off Broadway where it picked up a New York Times Critic’s Pick, and six Drama Desk Award nominations, among other accolades.
Ben Caplan | February 25 | Wilmot United Church | Fredericton | 8 p.m. | Buy Tickets
Rose Cousins with John Paul White
Rose Cousins’ newest offering, Bravado, is the sound of a heart trying to open. It explores the complication of emotion, its irrational tendencies and its wisdom. It invites us to feel the courage it takes to be vulnerable.
Bravado is a record for those who struggle with loneliness and those wishing they had more time alone. It’s for those attempting to make their hearts go in more than one direction and those trying to make it go in just one. It’s for those who present a version of themselves to the world that doesn’t quite match how they feel inside. It’s for those who feel misunderstood or unseen. It’s for those who have a hard time saying what they feel, who hide or can’t let themselves off the hook. It’s for those asking, “is this it?” and questioning if the character they play in the movie of their lives is authentic or just a role they’ve accepted. It’s for those who have a hard time asking for help and for those desperate for and terrified of change.
Bravado will be released worldwide February 21, 2020 on Outside Music.
Rose Cousins with John Paul White | March 20 | Wilmot United Church | Fredericton | 8 p.m. | Buy Tickets
Basia Bulat with Legal Vertigo
Basia Bulat has become one of Canada’s most conspicuous talents. Since releasing her debut in 2007, Bulat has shared a stage with artists including Arcade Fire, The National, Nick Cave, Daniel Lanois, St Vincent, Sufjan Stevens, Beirut, Destroyer, Tune-Yards, The Tallest Man On Earth, and Andrew Bird. She often appears solo in gigantic halls, winning over crowds with an autoharp or charango, stomping feet, two mighty lungs. But her massive talent has also been recognized at scale: her songs have been adapted for major performances with symphony orchestras, and she’s been tapped for prestigious tributes to Leonard Cohen and The Band.
Bulat was born in Toronto. She grew up listening to her mother’s piano students, to Sam Cooke and Stax on the oldies station, later falling in love with Odetta, Stevie Nicks, Sandy Denny and Abner Jay. Although she emerged as part of Ontario’s indie folk scene, befriending members of Ohbijou, Timber Timbre and Great Lake Swimmers, her first three records were recorded in Montreal. The first two, 2007’s Oh My Darling and 2010’s Heart Of My Own, were made with producer Howard Bilerman, an engineer who was then better known for noisy punk-rock albums, while 2013’s Juno- and Polaris-nominated Tall Tall Shadow was produced with Mark Lawson (The Unicorns, Akron/Family) and Arcade Fire’s Tim Kingsbury.
Basia Bulat with Legal Vertigo | St. George’s Anglican Church | Moncton | April 16 | Buy Tickets
Basia Bulat with Legal Vertigo | Wilmot United Church | Fredericton | April 19 | Buy Tickets
