Digging into Deep Roots line-up

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

There are a host of fabulous headliners coming to Wolfville next week for the fifth Deep Roots Music Festival.

Among them are Canadian chanteuse Coco Love Alcorn, born in Nova Scotia but who made her first strong imprint on the Canadian music scene in Vancouver. Between her self- titled debut CD in 1995 and her two recent releases, Alcorn has had numerous career highlights including touring and recording regularly with Canadian icons 54.40, joining Ani Difranco on a U.S. tour, performing at Lilith Fair and appearing as guest on nearly 50 albums, including recordings by artists as diverse as Burton Cummings, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jesse Cook, Kinnie Starr and Loudon Wainwright III.

Bluesman Matt Andersen, last year’s runaway favourite, has a new release that confirms he is now a vital part of the East Coast music landscape.

Peter Case’s storied career spans 30 years. After flirting with rock stardom with The Nerves and then The Plimsouls, Case’s 1986 solo debut album (featuring contributions from Ry Cooder, David Hidalgo and Jim Keltner) earned him his first Grammy nod for its masterful songwriting. In 2003, his peers further confirmed his status as a “songwriter’s songwriter” by honouring him with “A Case for Case.” This three-disc set features 47 artists (including John Prine, Dave Alvin, Victoria Williams, Joe Ely and Amy Rigby) in celebration of Case's remarkable songwriting career.

Since their debut in 2000, Genticorum has forged a solid place for itself on the folk and world music circuit, playing festivals, concerts and dances. Their sophomore album, Malins Plaisirs, in 2005 won the Canadian Folk Music Award 2005 for Best Ensemble and was nominated for Juno and Felix Awards. They have recently traveled to England, Scotland, Scandinavia, Germany, Malaysia, Israel, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand.

Ari Hest's voice moves effortlessly from a deep baritone to a soaring falsetto. He is often compared to a young Leonard Cohen. After two major releases on Columbia Records, Hest re-captured his independence with something unique to his legions of fans: the "52" project. Through 2008, Hest is writing and recording one song a week and releasing them to subscribers on his interactive website, www.arihest.com.

Singers, songwriters and housemates Aoife O'Donovan and Kristin Andreassen have been playing music together since 2001, after a chance meeting at a Boston party. They will be joined by New York city guitarist Ross Martin. Andreassen is best known as a member of the all-girl string band Uncle Earl. In 2007, she released an album of her own music and, the same year, was the winner of the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. An acclaimed vocalist, O'Donovan has been turning heads for the past seven years. She is a founding member of newgrass sensations Crooked Still, and this year has been on stages from the Orkney Islands to Vancouver Island. This will mark her third appearance at Deep Roots: she appeared in 2005 and 2006 with the Wild Band of Snee.

WEBLINKS

www.deeprootsmusic.ca

Deep Roots workshops

• Fancy hat and crown making, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 27 in the festival tent with Heather Chamberlin and Marion Copleston

• Beat Your Own Drum runs 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 27 in the tent with Tony Reddin. Make a rhythm instrument, and then march in the parade at noon

• Master-class opportunity with Genticorum’s Pascal Gemme and Elana James of The Hot Club of Cowtown, one of the most noted American fiddlers. Guests: The Fiddlestickers

• African dance Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Al Whittle Theatre with Susan Barratt and the rhythms of Mas Cencerro