Carrie Smith, a terrific jazz and blues singer was taken from the world of music on May 20. She was 86. Her career spanned 50 years and she was still recording as recently as 2002. In this period she recorded at least 13 albums and appeared with many contemporaries. Here is a terrific example of her style.
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A second song. This one shows the depth of her classic blues voice. A terrific band as well. And check out the tap dancing.
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With the success of Mumford and Sons, and folk in general, when I run across an English folk musician, I give it a thorough listen. Frank Turner is an English folk singer and songwriter, with some undertones of punk and alternative. He was the singer in a hardcore punk band called “Million Dead”. He embarked on a solo career when the band split up in 2005.  Since the break up, he has recorded 4 EP’s and 4 albums. His most recent album is called “England, Keep My Bones” which was released in June of 2011. The cut I have added here is “If I Ever Stray”, his most recent single release off the album (August 29, 2011).  A very enjoyable video.
Frank Turner Discography and other stuff can be found here.
http://frank-turner.com/blog/music/
Regina band “Library Voices” released their new album on August 23. (Available on iTunes). The album is titled “Summer Lust”, which is what people in Western Canada definitely do for summer. The attached video is their first single released from the album “Generation Handclap”. The band hails from Regina, Saskatchewan and are following up a successful album “Denim on Denim” from 2010. If you like the video, and are interested in hearing more from this band, hit the link*. It will take you to CBC3 and has most of their songs.
Their upcoming tour dates:
| date | city | venue | tix |
| Sep 16 | Saskatoon, SK | Amigos Cantina | |
| Sep 17 | Edmonton, AB | Pawn Shop | |
| Sep 19 | Jasper, AB | Horseshoe Club | |
| Sep 20 | Kelowna, BC | The Habitat | |
| Sep 22 | Vancouver, BC | Biltmore Cabaret (Presented by The Peak 100.5FM) | |
| Sep 23 | Victoria, BC | Rifflandia Festival |  |
| Sep 24 | Victoria, BC | Rifflandia Festival | |
| Sep 25 | Robert’s Creek, BC | The Gumboot | |
| Sep 27 | Penticton, BC | The Barking Parrot | |
| Sep 28 | Nelson, BC | Spirit Bar | |
| Sep 29 | Canmore, AB | Canmore Hotel | |
| Sep 30 | Calgary, AB | The Gateway (Presented by X92.9FM) | |
| Oct 01 | Regina, SK | The Exchange | |
| Oct 04 | Chicago, IL | Beat Kitchen | |
| Oct 07 | Brooklyn, NY | Spike Hill | |
| Oct 13 | Hamilton, ON | Casbah | |
| Oct 14 | Kingston, ON | Mansion | |
| Oct 15 | Wakefield, ON | Black Sheep Inn | |
| Oct 18 | Charlottetown, PEI | Baba’s | |
| Oct 19 | Moncton, NB | Plan B | |
| Oct 20 | Fredericton, NB | Capital | |
| Oct 21 | Halifax, NS | Halifax Pop Explosion – Seahorse Tavern | |
| Oct 25 | Quebec City, PQ | Le Cercle | |
| Oct 26 | Montreal, PQ | Casa De Popolo | |
| Oct 27 | Peterborough, ON | Trash | |
| Oct 28 | Toronto, ON | Horseshoe Tavern | |
| Oct 29 | Guelph, ON | E Bar | |
| Oct 30 | Windsor, ON | Phog Lounge |