Meet the songwriters! 

– Josée Brault: Known for her powerful vocals, dynamic stage presence, and hippie vibe. You may have seen Josée around town hosting the Cardinal Brewing open mic and performing with her band SoulFusion at various local venues. Her vibrant and original global sound is inspired by her travels to India, China, Africa, and elsewhere. In her ‘day job,’ Josée teaches practical singing. Her most recent album, Like Nobody Else, is available on Spotify and will be available to purchase at the show. 

– Larry Cool: Larry is a singer songwriter from Saint Lazare who is often heard in local venues. He has been playing and writing songs since his early teens. Larry is a finger picker who plays in a roots music style. His songs are sincere and honest, and his delivery is powerfully genuine. His most recent album was recorded live at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The CDs will be available to purchase at the show. 

– Jennifer Dahl: Learned to play the guitar at 9 years old, and started writing her own songs soon after. Jennifer’s original songs centre around love, life experiences, and self-discovery. She is currently working on her first album, to be released very soon. 

– Briana Doyle: Her soaring, heartfelt vocals are frequently compared to Joan Baez, Jann Arden, and Judy Collins. Briana is currently working on her debut solo album, which will be released later this year. The album’s lead single, Take Me Home, has aired on CBC Radio One, Canoe FM, CRFC Folk Everything, CKCU, and other community radio stations. She performs with Seiji Gutierrez in the bands Pagoda Starling and The Breeze. Over the years, Briana has facilitated songwriting groups and workshops and will be launching a new weekly songwriting circle at Cardinal Brewing in September.

– Brian Gallagher: A prolific acoustic Folk troubadour, Brian has released four solo albums, three with the popular band Happenstance, as well as one collaborative project with musicians in Kansas and Nashville called As The Crow Flies. His most recent release, Surroundings Familiar, as well as some of his other work, will be available to purchase at the show. Brian also hosts an open mic at Kirkland Resto-Bar and performs both solo and in the duo Times 2. 

– Seiji Gutierrez: As a child, Seiji was recognized as a classical guitar prodigy, but over time his interests turned towards other genres. The influence of his early training comes through in his delicate and precise fingering and the nuanced sensitivity of his performance style. Seiji performs often with Briana in the bands Pagoda Starling and The Breeze, and hosts weekly acoustic jams and a monthly open mic at Rube Restaurant. He also programs Greenwood’s Music on the Lawn series and organizes other local concert events. 

– Lucien Lavoie: This young up-and-coming Flamenco guitarist is from Hudson but has been living in Granada, Andalusia to learn authentic Andalusian guitar techniques.  He is in his fourth and final year at the Rafael Orozco Superior Conservatory of Music in Cordoba. 

– Jeff Waters: An experienced and solid performer influenced by Elton John, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Freddy Mercury. Jeff is currently working on his first original album, which reflects his eclectic musical style, ranging from Reggae, Folk, Calypso, and Rock.