Big names to wrap up Mt. Uniacke concert series

By Jennifer Hoegg

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

Musical siblings Jill and Matthew Barber will wrap up their latest tour with an intimate concert in Mt. Uniacke. Artistic director of the Mt. Uniacke Society for the Arts Moka Case says the April 19 show is almost sold out.

One of only three Nova Scotia shows on the duo’s Sibling Revelry tour -- joining Indian Harbour and Port Hawkesbury -- the evening promises to be a musical treat. Both Ontario natives are well known to Maritime music fans. Jill relocated to Halifax six years ago and Matthew plays in the province regularly.

Just arriving home in Halifax, Jill sounded excited about the Mt. Uniacke gig. “We’re looking forward to it, Matt and I. It should be fun.” She enjoys smaller shows, especially those put on by community members. “We’ve been all the way out West; we were down in Austin, Texas. This is the very last lag. Mt. Uniacke is the very last show- the finale. I think it will be a really cool note to end on.”

They both enjoy the atmosphere of small town venues, Matthew added. “There is a real charm to them.

“Jill has been doing a lot of that over the past few years -- playing the more intimate, smaller towns throughout Nova Scotia. She speaks very highly of the shows she has done in the smaller communities.”

Musical treat

Listening to the brother and sister’s recent releases, it is easy to see how well their tracks suit a small venue. Jill’s first full-length album, For All Time, debuted in late 2006. East Coast Music Awards and Juno nominations have rewarded the album’s “smolky folky” sounds. Matthew’s fourth album, Ghost Notes, was released just last month. Mellower than the Toronto-based musician’s earlier work, the record showcases Matthew’s vocal and songwriting talents.

Saturday night’s audience can expect to hear a selection of songs from both musicians’ repertoires, Jill said. “We mostly support each other on one another’s own material.” Kim Dunn will accompany the pair on the piano.

“I’m doing a healthy selection of stuff from the new album,” Matthew said. “(But) playing solo means that I’m freed up to play anything from my whole catalogue.”

Sibling success

Jill and Matthew love performing together, but the Sibling Revelry tour is a first. “It’s something we have wanted to do for a long time,” Matthew said. “And it made sense with our respective schedules. It was good timing to do it.” The tour coincided with promotion of Matthew’s March release, he added. “(There’s) no one better to (promote) it with than my sister.”

With Ghost Notes so new, Matthew plans to play more dates after a short break to join friends in a Montreal theatre production. “I’ll be touring as much as possible while the new record is fresh.”

After Mt. Uniacke, Jill plans to take a break from two years of almost continuous touring. “I’m happy to be back in my little apartment in Halifax,” she said. “I feel like I’ve been embraced by the East Coast (as) evidenced by the East Coast music Awards and a lot of support from Music Nova Scotia.”

Jill’s career has taken off in her adopted home, and she counts many Halifax-based musicians, including Rose Cousins and Megan Smith, as dear friends. “There’s an abundance of great talent here.” But she’ll return Toronto this summer to record another album, due out in the fall.

Season finale

The Barbers’ gig will also be the finale for MUSA’s first season. “(Jill) is the perfect kind of performer,” Case said. She’s thrilled to have the bonus of both Barbers to close the society’s concert series.

Founded last fall, MUSA’s efforts to bring performing arts to the rural area have been very successful, Case reported. Halifax band Mir opened the concert series in February, playing to 40 people. Internationally known songwriter Dave Cousins entertained more than a hundred in March, after playing across the continent, including New York and Toronto. ‘We’re putting ourselves on the cultural map.

“We’re a bit surprised, but encouraged, at how quickly it has caught on,” Case said. “We’ve got people coming from New Brunswick, PEI, the Valley, and the South Shore.” She thinks the intimacy of the venue and its location between Halifax and the Valley make it desirable meeting place for music fans. The smaller venue means audiences “get a little bit extra out of the artists,” Case added.

MUSA’s volunteers transform the fire hall space into a cozy venue, with cabaret seating, linen tablecloths, quality lighting and sound. A cash bar and ample parking complete the package. Showtime is 8 pm. Tickets are $20available online at www.mountuniackearts.com or in Mt. Uniacke at Eddy’s Variety and Esso.