Sunday October 27, 2019 • 3PM, Doors at 2pm

Concert Hall at Victoria Hall
55 King Street West, Cobourg K9A 2M2

The incredible Dave Young Trio and friends take the stage at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg.

Group of Seven: The great American trumpet player and official jazz ambassador for the USA in the 50s and 60s, Louis Armstrong, was once asked: “What is Jazz?” His answer is famous: “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” Conversely, there is scarcely any debate about what constitutes classical music. – symphonic music written by Europeans in the period 1600 to 1850 and mostly played by large ensembles. In classical music, the composition largely controls what the musicians perform; in jazz, while the musicians might play within a predetermined chordal structure improvisation rules the day as musicians “talk to each other” in musical performance. (Note: This was written by a non-musician – KP).

Read more: The Dave Young Trio - Featuring the Penderecki Quartet

Thursday October 31, 2019 • 7:30 pm, Doors at 7pm

Ken Prue presents John Wort Hannam Band at the Loft Cinema.

John Wort Hannam – In 2001 John Wort Hannam quit his teaching job and spent 10 months depleting his savings while sat at his kitchen table, wearing a lucky hat, writing his first ten songs. Those songs would become his first recording Pocket Full Of Holes, released in 2003.

Seventeen years later, the Alberta musician is releasing his seventh full-length recording Acres Of Elbow Room and has a few feathers in that lucky hat for his first six offerings. Feathers that include a JUNO nomination, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Album of the Year, a CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, a Kerrville Texas New Folk win, and numerous Western Canadian Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award nominations.

Recent years have seen a great deal of change in John’s life – becoming a Dad, turning 50, a move to the “big city” of Lethbridge, a long, deep bout of depression, and episodes of losing his singing voice. But John has emerged a better songwriter, a better singer, and a better player. On Acres Of Elbow Room, John has further refined his lyrical style and has landed squarely on his niche in the folk-roots world. He’s spent years learning the craft of songwriting and is taking those tools to write some of his most personal songs. He has, quite literally, found his voice.

Ken Prue: I listened to a lot of John’s songs after he asked to play The LOFT. I danced in my chair to some of them, and I wept to some.

Watch and listen to this one that sums up the damage done by residential schools as much as anything I have ever read or heard:

Man of God by John Wort Hannam : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFGuhZLJH8A

Tickets: Vic Hall Box Office $25 + fees

Sunday November 3, 2019 • 3:00pm, Doors at 2:30pm

Ken Prue presents singer/songwriter Nicole Lisa Craig live on stage at the Loft in Cobourg.

Get ready to be taken on a musical and emotional journey through lyrical landscapes and majestic soundscapes in a beautiful, art-deco, 1922-vintage former worship space. Nicole Lisa Craig is a singer/songwriter who blends elements of New Age and Pop with Classical and World music influences. Her angelic vocals over electric classical synth guitar blend magically with veteran guitarist David Henman’s soaring guitar riffs. David Henman was the co-founder of April Wine, has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and has received a Juno Award. They will be joined by Tom Nagy on Bass.

Tickets: $25 + fees Victoria Hall Box Office

Friday, November 8, 2019 • 7:30 pm

The Nick Maclean Quartet featuring Brownman Ali – ‘The Big Canada-West Tour’

Herbert Jeffrey “Herbie” Hancock has long been considered one of the greatest visionaries in the history of jazz, as both a pianist and composer. Helping to redefine the role of the rhythm section in modern jazz art, Hancock was one of the primary architects of the “post-bop” sound, and was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace music synthesizers and funk music. The multi-award-winning Nick Maclean Quartet led by Toronto’s fast-rising, highly-in-demand 27-year old piano sensation, Nick Maclean, and featuring “Canada’s preeminent jazz trumpet player,” Brownman Ali, pays tribute to this legendary artist over 2 sets: the first set featuring music from Hancock’s tenure with Miles and his time on Blue Note Records, while the second set delves into Herbie’s funkified sounds from his group, Headhunters.

Cobourg is the 5th stop in a 35 gig, 34 day tour from Toronto to Victoria and back. Does this make Nick Maclean and Brownman Ali the hardest working jazz crew in Canada? They’ve played The LOFT often enough to be proclaimed our honorary Browntasaurs in residence. Grab your tickets early and show them some love. – ken

Tickets: Victoria Hall Box Office $25 + fees

Sunday November 10, 2019 at 3:00 PM, at the Loft

Les Amis Concert

Kaili Maimets, Flute 
Rachel Mercer, Cello
Angela Park, Piano

Rachel Mercer Trio

A cello, piano, flute trio performing at an international masters level.

Read more: Rachel Mercer Trio - November 10, 2019