Ruthie told Judith a few weeks ago that she was working with a completely different group of musicians, a sextet this time, and could they play at the Artbar? So last night, we were introduced to The Sextet. The place was packed (lots of musicians, and some doting parents), and we all had a blast.
The Sextet: Corey McBride – tenor saxophone; Jacob Sinclair – guitar; Ruthie Pytka-Jones – vocals; Victor Vrankulj – bass; Josh Smiley – piano; Mike Rajna – drums.
Emma Rush is Hamilton’s own virtuoso classical guitarist. She plays concerts all over Europe and the US, to great acclaim. She has a special interest in Turkish music, and has followers there as well. Then she comes home to Hamilton and hangs out with her friends. She plays (for example) at the Artbar, where she organizes a World Beat Open Mic once a month.
She organized Guitar Hamilton, and for the last two years she has been bringing internationally renowned classical guitarists to play at the Hamilton Conservatory. Since these concerts are usually on Sunday, when the Artbar is closed, Judith and I have been able to get to most of them. The quality has been superb. More »
We’re having more and more jazz at the Artbar. Artcrawl on July 8 was Aubrey Wilson and her quartet. A long night of singing and playing and passing the tip jar (no admission on Artcrawl). Aubrey sang beautifully, is beautiful, holds the stage like she was born to it. Sean Dowhaniuk on guitar was an excellent foil, inventive and full of musicality. Ethan Tilbury on bass and Sean Bruce Parker on drums provided solid support throughout. More »
On July 6, Artword Artbar served as the Hamilton stop for Pastors for Peace, an annual caravan of buses and vans that carries humanitarian supplies to Cuba through the United States. The supplies are greatly needed, but the overriding purpose is unquestionably to challenge the United States embargo against Cuba.
Pastors 
for Peace is a program of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization based in the United States that “aims to deliver material aid to support the victims of U.S. so-called ‘low intensity’ warfare in Latin America and to initiate education and advocacy projects to campaign for a more just and moral U.S. foreign policy in our hemisphere”. (See http://www.ifconews.org/CubaCaravan). More »
We’re trying to find out as much as we can about the War of 1812, since the the bicentenary is coming up next year. Our play “Rascals and Numskulls”, is about Robert and Phoebe Land was set in the American Revolutionary War. We’re contemplating a “Rascals and Numskulls Part II” about the War of 1812.
Judith and I paid a visit to the Eramosa Karst on July 1. There’s a controversy about the effect of development on the Karst, and we weren’t sure what was being talked about. It is indeed a geologically fascinating area, and a lovely area for a walk in the woods. Here’s hoping it remains intact.
http://www.friendsoferamosakarst.org/Info.htm
It’s been a long time since I added to this blog. I’m trying again. Here’s hoping.
Another busker has received a $65 ticket for playing the violin on the street. This time it was on Summer’s Lane, outside Hamilton Place, Saturday March 13 before the Blue Rodeo concert. He objected that he was on the sidewalk and was doing nothing wrong. The officer wrote him a ticket citing him for playing near a parking lot. The musician pointed out that the entrance to the parking garage was some distance away. More »
It seems that McMaster is planning to phase out their art history program. Some students and others think this is a bad idea, and they make a good case. I signed their petition to save the program. Here’s the information:
Greetings
My name is Adam Belovari and I am a fourth year Honours Art History student at McMaster University. As a student representative for both the Faculty of Humanities and the School of the Arts on behalf of the art history students I want to voice my concern with the university and the Humanities decision to phase out the McMaster University Art History Program over the next three years. More »
As many of you know, Ken Steffler – an excellent singer and guitarist – was served a $65 for busking on King Street.
I wrote a letter to Bob Brattina, copying the mayor, the police board and the Spectator. You can Mark Mcneil’s article in the Spec.
I’m also attaching a link to the letter I wrote.
N.B. There is a mistake in the letter. When Ken told me about the incident, I thought it had just happened, on January 14, but it was really on the previous day, January 13.
Ron & Judith's reviews and views.