Headlines:

• Ray Bonneville to Perform Ontario and Quebec in October (September 21, 2024)
• Jake Morley and Blair Dunlop to Tour Western Canada (September 21, 2024)
• Miscellany of Folk to Tour Canada Coast to Coast in October (September 21, 2024)
• Cape Breton’s Lucy MacNeil to Tour the Maritimes (May 26, 2024)
• JMI Welcomes Acid Croft Legend Shooglenifty Back into the Fold (August 26, 2023)
• Spanish Flamenco Legend Juan Martin Touring Canada in October (October 25, 2023)
• England’s Moulettes to Tour Canada in October (August 19, 2023)
• Groove Master Ray Bonneville to Tour Central & Atlantic Canada in September (August 19, 2023)
• American Blues Legend Guy Davis to tour all Regions of Canada in 2023 and 2024 (July 13, 2023)
• Twice Grammy-Nominated Blue Legend Guy Davis Touring in 2024 (November 10, 2022)
• Black Umfolosi Canadian Tour (October 29, 2022)
• JMI is Now Releasing Music to Radio World-Wide (March 30, 2021)
• RIP Jerry Jeff Walker (November 2, 2020)
• Coronavirus Update (March 14, 2020)
• Full Tour – Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers’ Canadian Dates (January 17, 2020)
• JMI Signs Chicago Blues Legend, Jerry Portnoy (November 22, 2019)
• Jake Morley and Braden Gates touring Alberta in November (November 15, 2019)
• Martin Simpson Touring Canada in October (September 30, 2019)
• Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers Canadian Dates Announced (June 26, 2019)
• Minor Empire - Sonic Colliders Concert Series in 2020 and 2021 (April 11, 2019)
• New York City Blues Icon Coming to the Maritimes (March 31, 2019)
• Bay City Rollers to Tour Canada in March, 2020! (January 29, 2019)
• Christmas Day on Planet Earth (December 2, 2018)
• New Signings From JMI (September 20, 2018)
• Ray Bonneville Displays His Blues & Americana Roots on New CD (September 18, 2018)
• Oysters3 Touring in October and November (September 11, 2018)
• Claire Lynch Western Tour Starting in September (September 11, 2018)
• Guy Davis touring Western Canada with Fabrizio Poggi in October (August 28, 2018)
• Electric Strawbs Final Canadian Tour set for October (August 28, 2018)
• Black Umfolosi Back to Canada this August (July 23, 2018)
• James Keelaghan's Summer Festivals (July 9, 2018)
• Guy Davis on the Road, Summer of 2018 (July 9, 2018)
• Martin Simpson Returns to Canada (July 2, 2018)
• Peterborough Show Rescheduled for Keelaghan-McManus Double Bill (May 1, 2018)
• James Keelaghan and Jez Lowe to Tour North America in the Fall (April 12, 2018)
• JMI Signs Folk Legend, Peggy Seeger (March 23, 2018)
• Ray Bonneville to Perform Western and Ontario Dates in March (February 20, 2018)
• Black Umfolosi to Embark on North American Tour in February (January 27, 2018)
• Australia's Shane Howard to Perform Western and Northern Dates (January 11, 2018)

September 21, 2024

Ray Bonneville to Perform Ontario and Quebec in October

Roots singer-songwriter Ray Bonnevillehad a handful of dates in Quebec and Ontario in October. Look for Ray to perform with virtuoso percussionist Geoff Arseneault. Between Geoff’s tasteful backing and Ray’s famous guitar groove you’ll swear it’s a full band on stage, and not just a duo. To put it simply, Ray Bonneville is one of Canada’s finest folk/roots singer-songwriters and a performer of both great skill and great integrity. Ray’s life is like a movie. He did his time in Vietnam during the war, was a busker in Paris, France, a bush pilot in the far north and has lived, worked and played in New Orleans, Austin, Montreal and many other interesting cities. Ray is smart, and a very keen observer of the human condition. If someone is not a fan before they see him, they will be afterwards.

Here is where you can catch Ray and Geoff in October:

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September 21, 2024

Jake Morley and Blair Dunlop to Tour Western Canada

Two of England’s finest young singer-songwriters will tour western Canada together in November.  Blair Dunlop is everything a folk/roots artist ought to be, a brilliant songwriter, a gifted guitarist and a passionate vocalist.  Blair has played pretty much all of the major festivals in both the UK and Europe and also performs in North America, Australia and Europe.  He is the kind of artist people will be talking about the day after the show.

Watch Blair Performing live at Shrewsbury Folk Fest in England

Listen to Blair on Spotify

Jake Morely is a gifted writer and a mesmerizing performer.  His melodies are lush, his lyrics deep and thoughtful, and his guitar playing is unique.  He has played some 500 festivals in Europe, North America and the UK and is great for both concerts and workshops.  Jake has also appeared in Canada numerous times. “Jake Morley is not just your average bloke with a guitar. He stuns crowds with his unique style and is always a show stealer.” BBC Radio, UK

Watch Jake Feature his unique guitar work on YouTube
Watch Jake Perform Feet Don’t Fail Me Now on YouTube

Listen to Jake on Spotify

Here is where you can catch them in November:

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September 21, 2024

Miscellany of Folk to Tour Canada Coast to Coast in October

JMI is very excited to announce that Irish/Newfoundland trad fusion group Miscellany of Folk will tour Canada coast to coast in October. Lead by Benny McCarthy of Danu fame on button accordions and melodeon, the group also features Ireland’s Eddie Costello on vocals and guitar, and Newfoundland’s Billy Sutton (The Fables, Irish Descendants, Ron Hynes, etc.) on fiddle, mandolin and vocals. The group fuses Irish and Newfoundland styles to forge incredible instrumentals, but they also feature contemporary songs by the likes of Ron Hynes. Read more about this group and their remarkable accomplishments here.

Watch the Guys Performing Live in Germany Here

The tour will start in Vancouver and wrap it up in Halifax.  Here is where you can catch them this fall:

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May 26, 2024

Cape Breton’s Lucy MacNeil to Tour the Maritimes

JMI’s Lucy MacNeil will tour the Maritime provinces in the fall of 2024.  Best-known as the lead vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist for The Barra MacNeils, Lucy will be touring as a trio.  Fans can expect some of the great trad material Lucy is known for as well as new songs from her upcoming solo album which will be released later this year.

Watch Lucy Performing Live on Cape Breton Island

Here is when and where you can catch Lucy in the fall of 2024:

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August 26, 2023

JMI Welcomes Acid Croft Legend Shooglenifty
Back into the Fold

For many years JMI was the Canadian agent for one of Scotland’s most distinct and creative groups, Shooglenifty.  Some years ago after a management change, we amicably went our separate ways as ofttimes happens in this industry.  Today we are genuinely excited to welcome them back to our roster.

Watch for the Shoogs to tour Canadian festivals in the summer of 2024

Not a group to rest on its laurels, the Shoogs, as they are affectionately known, continued to break new ground with every subsequent recording, eventually adding vocals to the mix.  If you are not familiar with these guys, they truly are a group that defies description. Suffice to say, move the chairs and tables, for there will be dancing.  Check them out on Spotify or better still, watch them performing live on YouTube.

As a truly genre defying group, the Shoogs can play not only folk festivals, but jazz and world music festivals, and they are famous for their ability to get massive crowds on their feet and dancing at outdoor events and are an ideal mainstage act. Shooglenifty will tour Canadian festivals in the summer of 2024, details TBA.

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August 25, 2023

Spanish Flamenco Legend Juan Martin
Touring Canada in October

Juan Martin is a giant of Flamenco.  Named as one of the top three guitarists in the world (any genre) by Guitar Player Magazine, Juan has performed at vernerable venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and The Sydney Opera House.  On this outing Juan is touring solo, which means the focus will be exclusively on his magnificent guitar technique.  For fans of guitar, flamenco and just plain old vituosity, this is about as good as it gets.

Juan Performing in Germany On YouTube

Listen to Juan on Spotify

Juan will perform dates from Ottawa to Vancouver.  Here’s where you can catch him in October of 2023.

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August 19, 2023

England’s Moulettes to Tour Canada in October

Trying to describe Moulettes is a lot harder than loving their music.  Often compared to artists as diverse as Pink Floyd and Kate Bush, this group continues to push the boundaries of acoustic, and sometimes electric contemporary songwriting and instrumentation.  What is consistent in every recording they have made is a combination of lush, catchy melodies, ethereal lyrics and a unique sound that blends folk and pop with strings.  On this tour, Moulettes will be heavily featuring strings from their current project, Xenolalia.

They have performed at some of the most prestigious outdoor events in Canada, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. This show is guaranteed to turn heads, and guaranteed to surprise audiences with its unique and fresh take on contemporary songwriting. 

Moulettes String Ensemble Performing on Youtube

Moulettes on Spotify

Moulettes will be performig in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes in October (2023).  Here’s where you can catch them.

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August 19, 2023

Groove Master Ray Bonneville to Tour
Central and Atlantic Canada in September

Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Ray Bonneville will be playing dates in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes in September (2023).  While some think of Ray as a blues artist, that is not quite right.  He is bluesy, without a doubt, but a more accurate description of him would be a roots singer-songwriter.  Visceral lyrics, exquisite guitar work and impeccable rack harp are his calling cards and trademarks.

Watch Ray Performing here on YouTube

Ray has played just about every festival in the country, and hundreds of concert venues, and this solo tour will be sure to bring out his fans.  Here is where you can catch Ray in September.

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July 13, 2023

American Blues Legend Guy Davis
to tour all Regions of Canada in 2023 and 2024

With over 1,000 Canadian shows under his belt, Guy Davis is one of the most popular blues artists ever to tour this country.  Watch for tours of western Canada in October of 2023 and central and eastern Canada in February and March of 2024.  Here’s where you can catch him then.

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November 10, 2022

Twice Grammy-Nominated Blue Legend Guy Davis
Touring in 2024

New York City Blues Legend Guy Davis will tour central and Atlantic Canada from February 29th through March 10th, 2024.  Guy was precluded from touring the same region in October of this year due to a temporary health issue which has been resolved, and he says he is very much looking forward to seeing his old friends again in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes.

This tour will be a solo one, with easy tech and hospitality.  Guy is well known in Canada, having performed hundreds of shows in all ten provinces and two of the territories.  Please let us know if you would like to hold a date, or, you can make an offer here.

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October 29, 2022

Black Umfolosi Canadian Tour

Zimbabwe’s Black Umfolosi is back for another Canadian tour, with dates from BC to Nova Scotia. This time the guys have a new lineup that includes two women, so look for a fresh face on this fan favourite group, and you can watch the new lineup performing recently in Zimbabwe here.

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March 30, 2021

JMI is Now Releasing Music to Radio World-Wide

COVID19 has seen many industries, including our own music industry, take a beating since the pandemic started a year ago, and many people have had to come up with side hustles.

JMI is no exception. We are now providing a unique service, releasing singles to radio around the world. Our data base, currently at 550 and growing, is very focused radio stations, programs and producers which are friendly towards folk/roots music and singer-songwriters. In Canada, we service more than 200 contacts, primarily at CBC, campus and community stations. Overseas, our carefully curated list targets a very similar radio demographic. In England, for example, we currently have some 90 radio presenters, the vast majority of which are either BBC or folk programs. We have a large data base of similar programs in Australia and have been quite successful there. Other markets include but are not limited to Chile, America, Ireland, Belgium, Croatia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Denmark and Latvia. Past and current clients for this service include Dan Hill, Stephen Fearing, Lennie Gallant, Black Umfolosi and James Keelaghan.

Our service is unique in several ways. First of all, our pricing is very, very competitive. You may be surprised at just how affordable it is to send your music out around the world. Secondly, we have no real interest in commercial stations unless they have programs that are likely to consider the kinds of music we release, all of which is roots or singer-songwriter material. And last but not least, our reach is truly international, and growing. Even if you have released a song already in Canada, we have the option of sending it only to our international contacts. Airplay in markets such as England and Australia can really help to build profile and eventually, to secure dates. If you are interested in learning more, please email us at jensen(at)jproductions.com.

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November 1, 2020

RIP Jerry Jeff Walker

Left to right: Jerry Jeff Walker, Ron Hynes, Bob Jensen

We here at JMI are deeply saddened to hear about the death of a true American legend, Jerry Jeff Walker. He was arguably the greatest of the Texas singer-songwriters, and a seminal and huge influence on the whole outlaw movement that included the likes of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings.

It was our distinct pleasure and privilege to work with an artist of Jerry Jeff’s calibre, and we send out heartfelt condolences to his wife, Susan and son, Django.

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March 14, 2020

Coronavirus Update

Like businesses all over the world, JMI has been closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation around the coronavirus and how it is impacting our tours. There will be some postponements and some cancellations. We are dealing with an avalanche of inquiries and are doing the best we can to stay on top of them. Our priority will be the health of our artists and their fans, and to follow government protocols. This is an extraordinary and unprecedented situation and everyone is doing their best to assess and deal with things as they unfold.

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January 17, 2020

Full Tour – Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers’ Canadian Dates

70s Pop Icon to Perform 17 shows from coast to coast in March

We are very pleased to post the full cross-Canada tour for Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers, which will commence in Halifax on March 4th and wrap up in Chilliwack, BC on the 22nd. Fans can expect to hear all the hits from Les and Co. Here is where you can catch them in March.

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November 22, 2019

JMI Signs Chicago Blues Legend, Jerry Portnoy

Jerry Portnoy, Muddy Waters, Mick Jagger, Bob Margolin

We are very excited to announce exclusive Canadian representation for legendary blues harp man, Jerry Portnoy, Whose credits include six years in the Muddy Waters Blues Band and four in Eric Clapton’s band, as well as six as the leader of the Legendary Blues Band with Pinetop Perkins, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Calvin “Fuzz” Jones. Over the years Portnoy has performed with The Rolling Stones, Wille Dixon, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan and many, many other blues and rock icons. Read his bio here.

Bob Margolin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Muddy Waters, Jerry Portnoy, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson

A Grammy nominee, Portnoy toured in dozens of countries, performing shows across Australia, at Hyde Park, The Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz and The White House. Just about to turn 76, Portnoy has been retired for some years from touring, with only occasional US dates, but he has agreed to come out of retirement to tour Canada next summer. In a recent conversation with JMI’s Bob Jensen, Portnoy lamented that, “The only one left now from the old days is Buddy Guy.” It is true that most of the first generation of electric blues artists are no longer with us, but Portnoy is, a surviving, living legend of Chicago’s golden age of the blues. His touring band consists of Jerry Portnoy/ harmonica & vocals, Rick Russell/ guitar & vocals, Bob Worthington / bass and Ken Gardiner / drums.

Portnoy is available for festivals in the summer of 2020.

Watch Portnoy perform Got My Mojo Working with Muddy Waters

Watch Portnoy perform Holy Mother with Eric Clapton in Hyde Park

Watch Jerry Portnoy Performing live with Guitar Ray

Watch Jerry Portnoy Perform Blues in a Dream

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November 15, 2019

Jake Morley and Braden Gates
Touring Alberta in November

Two brilliant singer-songwriters are teaming up for a tour of Alberta in November. England’s Jake Morley and Alberta’s Braden Gates will share a bill in four markets starting on the 15th. Here is where you can catch them. Nov 15 Airdrie AB Bert Church Theatre Nov 16 Vermilion AB Vermilion Folk Club Nov 17 Grande Prairie AB Grande Prairie Live Theatre Nov 18 Athabasca AB Heartwood Folk Club

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September 30, 2019

Martin Simpson Touring Canada in October

A legend of English folk music and one of the great acoustic guitar players in the world, JMI’s Martin Simpson will tour Canada in October, with dates in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and right across the west, from Saskatchewan to BC. Martin is so busy in England and Europe that we don’t get many opportunities to book tours like this, so don’t this chance to see one of England’s very finest roots artists.

Watch Martin perform Trouble Brought Me Here on YouTube from Rooted, his 21st solo album.

Here’s where you can catch him this month:

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June 26, 2019 

Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers Canadian Dates Announced

JMI is very pleased to announce 11 new dates for Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers. Additional dates in eastern and western Canada will be announced soon.

The tour promises to be a unique voyage back to the 1970s, when Les and his Legendary band ruled the world’s pop charts and The Bay City Rollers’ music became the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers. Les brings back the all the thrill and excitement of Rollermania, performing all the original hits including Bye Bye Baby, Shang-a-Lang, Remember, Summerlove Sensation and Give A Little Love plus many many more as well as introducing new songs from the new album Lost Songs. The current Legendary Bay City Rollers bring a new energy to all the classic hits.

Watch live video of Les performing in Canada last time through here.

Here the new dates – stay tuned to this page for more dates TBA.

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April 11, 2019

Minor Empire - Sonic Colliders Concert Series in 2020 and 2021

JMI is pleased to announce some exciting world music shows with Minor Empire for the 2020/21 season.

Minor Empire at Salon IKSV in Istanbul

Minor Empire has made a name for its unique style that can be best described as “collision of folk traditions of Turkey aka Asia Minor, and progressive sonic explorations”. Group will continue its genre-defying, boundary-pushing explorations with a concert series in 2020-2021. Series will feature influential international guests.

First leg of the concert series will feature Eivind Aarset, a pioneering electric guitarist from Norway, known for his solo career as well as his work with Nils Petter Molvaer. With Aarset, Minor Empire will explore the “outer limits of atmospheric universe”.

Second leg will feature Avi Bortnick, rhythm guru, best known for his work on John Scofield’s Uberjam records and world tours. With Bortnick, Minor Empire will explore “funkification of eastern rhythms and odd meters”.

Third leg will include another international musician from Turkey which will be announced in upcoming months.

Listen to Minor Empire on Spotify while you work.

Concerts will feature a repertoire that will be co-creations of the band and the guest artists, as well as music from past records of both the band and the guest artist.

AVAILS: 1st leg: October 2020
2nd leg: January 2021
3rd leg: April 2021

Listen to Minor Empire performing live on YouTube
Listen to Eivind Aarset performing live on YouTube
Listen to Avi Bortnick performing live on YouTube

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March 31, 2019

New York City Blues Icon Coming to the Maritimes

New York City bluesman Guy Davis is coming to the Maritimes for a small string of dates in April. Unfortunately for fans, Halifax is already sold out, but there are still tickets for the other two shows. Here is where you can catch him, and when:

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February 11, 2019

JMI Artists showcasing at Folk Alliance

Some of our very finest live artists will be showcasing at Folk Alliance this week in Montreal and there will be plenty of opportunities to catch them. Here is who will be in Montreal and where you can catch them.

FRU SKAGERRAK This incredible Scandinavian group is part of JMI's Scandinavian String Alliance, who will be touring Canada in July of 2019. Fru Skagerrak takes you on a journey through Scandinavia; from lowlands to mountains, from slow airs to roaring polkas, and everything in between. Three master musicians from each of the Scandinavian countries - the result is an explosion of the sounds that exist in Scandinavian traditional music today.

View Fru Skagerrak's showcase schedule here:

*

JAKE MORELY Jake does not have an official showcase, but he will be very busy with private performances. Jake Morley is one of the UK's most original singer-songwriters at the top of his game. Having played over 400 national and international gigs in the past few years, it's hardly surprising that he has been invited to share stages with many leading lights of modern English songwriting such as Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard and Lucy Rose. Jake may be difficult to categorise stylistically - part acoustic, part pop, part singer-songwriter, part folk - but what's not difficult is to acknowledge his captivating live show, his groundbreaking guitar techniques, his passion for words and ideas and his charismatic power to connect.

Here is when and where you can catch Jake in Montreal

Jake Morley - FAI Showcase times:

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llers to Tour Canada in March, 2020!

JMI has a built a reputation as Canada's folk and blues agency, focusing primarily on roots artists and singer-songwriters from around the world. Every now and then, however, something out of the ordinary comes along that sounds like too much fun to pass up, and in the past, we have worked with the likes of Hollywood legend, Mickey Rooney, The Amazing Kreskin and former Rolling Stones guitarist, Mick Taylor.

So when Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers approached us about doing a Canadian tour, we just couldn't say no. In the 1970s BCR were, for a while, the hottest pop group in the world, hailed as "the biggest thing since the Beatles." They would go on to have countless sold tours around the world and sell 300 million records, more than Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones. Fans will remember songs such as Saturday Night, I Only Want to be with You and Bye Bye Baby, which was a #1 hit for six weeks in 1975.

Bay City Rollers back in the day

Les McKeown's Bay City Rollers continue to tour the world with many sold out performances. Fans in Europe, America, the UK, Australia and Japan can't seem to get enough of them and their incredibly catchy hits. This is pure fun and nostalgia at its best. It's been five years since their last Canadian tour, so the timing is perfect to book them at your venue.

Watch Les and the Bay City Rollers performing live at Casino Rama here on YouTube.

Les McKeown and his Bay City Rollers will tour across Canada from March 4th through 29th, 2020. We already have dozens of inquiries about this tour based solely on rumours that they were coming, so we are expecting a full month, from coast to coast.

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September 20, 2018

New Signings From JMI

We have continued to search the world over for the very best live artists, artists we can feel proud to add to our roster. Over the past six months, we have made a number of new signings from Canada, America and overseas, each of them we feel, measuring up to the many wonderful artists we have so far represented from six continents.

(England) Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys is currently one of the most in-demand and exciting bands on the UK folk scene. Playing their first ever show as a band in May 2016, in just two years they have risen from fringe stages and pubs to barnstorming headline sets at festivals all over the UK and Europe. Sam Kelly has gained a reputation as one of the finest English folk singers of recent years and has pulled together some of the best, most innovative young musicians the UK has to offer to form a genre-defying line-up that seamlessly pulls together traditional folk ballads and tunes, heavy rock-tinged Americana and blues and beautiful, original music. Watch for them to tour the Canadian festival next summer.•

(Turkey-Canada) At the vanguard of progressive world music, Toronto's Minor Empire takes the listener on a voyage of the imagination. As the shamanic focus of the band, vocalist and composer Ozgu Ozman reaches across the geography of her homeland, selecting techniques of expression from the vast vocabularies of the Balkan, Black Sea and other variegated Turkish cultures. Minor Empire has racked up a lengthy list of plaudits for its seamless blend of Turkish traditional music infused with modern sensibilities. Their debut recording, Second Nature, took the Canadian Folk Music Award for World Artist of the Year. Watch for them on the summer festival circuit in 2019.

Watch Minor Empire on YouTube

Listen to Minor Empire on YouTube

•

(ENGLAND) Jake Morley is one of the UK's most distinctive singer-songwriters at the top of his game. Having played over 400 national and international gigs in the past few years, it's hardly surprising that he has been invited to share stages with many leading lights of modern English songwriting such as Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard and Lucy Rose. Jake may be difficult to categorize stylistically - part acoustic, part pop, part singer-songwriter, part folk - but what's not difficult is to acknowledge his captivating live shows, his groundbreaking guitar techniques, his passion for words and ideas and his charismatic power to connect. Jake will tour Canada in July of 2019. Watch for concert tours to be announced soon as well.

Watch Jake on YouTube

Listen to Jake on Spotify

•

(Denmark-Sweden-Norway) Scandinavian String Alliance brings together five of the best roots performers from across Scandinavia. SSA is a touring project created by two Scandinavian bands who are playing and singing traditional as well as newly composed music and songs from Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Their performances feature the Pan-Scandinavian violin trio Fru Skagerrak and the Danish violin and guitar duo Kristian Bugge & Morten Alfred Høirup, and their very individual ways of presenting the music of their homelands. But the two acts also join forces as a part of their show of old Scandinavian joking songs and beautiful love songs, combined with some great traditional dance music and catchy new tunes - all arranged for strings, flutes and voices.

Watch SSA perform an instrumental piece on YouTube

Watch SSA perform a song on YouTube

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September 18, 2018

Ray Bonneville Displays His Blues & Americana Roots
on New CD, At King Electric

AUSTIN, TX – Award-winning singer/songwriter Ray Bonneville will release his new CD, At King Electric, on September 7 via Stonefly Records. Featuring 11 all-original songs, At King Electric was recorded in Austin, Texas and produced by Ray Bonneville and Justin Douglas. In addition to Ray Bonneville (guitars, vocals & harmonica), the band for the recording sessions included Richie Lawrence (electric piano & accordion), and Andre Bohren (drums, percussion & piano), with additional guest artists Gurf Morlix (guitar & bass) and Stefano Intelisano (B3 organ).

Based in Austin for the past 10 years, Bonneville strips his bluesy Americana down to its
essentials and steeps it in a humid, southern vibe, creating a compelling poetry of hard living and deep feeling. His new CD, At King Electric, delivers more than his trademark grit and groove. Songs such as "The Next Card to Fall" and "Codeine" gleam with intimate narratives of characters reaching for hope and wrestling with despair. Rich guitar and harmonica lines resonate over spare and infectious rhythms, while Bonneville's deep, evocative voice confesses life's harsh realities.

"I never had kids, but this will be my ninth studio album since I started writing and performing my own songs," says Bonneville. "I guess you could say that the songs, the records and the folks I meet out on the road have been my family. I get to know the characters in my songs as they reveal themselves to me over the hours, days and nights of writing. This new album is alive with them. There are several characters inhabiting one song in 'The Next Card to Fall;' one who is emotionally rescued by a street parade in 'Papachulalay;' there is the reflective addict in 'Codeine;' the lost and destitute road dog in 'It'll Make a Hole in You;' the prison inmate who calls his estranged brother as his release date nears in 'The Day They Let Me Out.'"

Ray Bonneville, talking about the players he tapped for the new CD: "The recording family for At King Electric included my friend Richie Lawrence, with whom I played many years ago. We'd lost sight of one another for years until we fatefully reconnected to play once again. Andre Bohren, an incredible talent, I knew many years ago as a boy in New Orleans when he lived with his family on the southern shore of Lake Ponchartrain. Gurf Morlix, a wonderfully visceral player, always unique in his approach, is also a good friend. Justin Douglas, a highly skilled studio engineer and trusted co-producer with whom I've made the last few of my records." Ray Wylie Hubbard described Bonneville's music as "Like gun powder and opium;" Jim Withers (Montreal Gazette) called it a "folk-roots gumbo…a languid groove, seasoned with smooth, weathered vocals and propulsive harmonica." Whether performing solo or fronting a band, playing electric or acoustic guitar, Bonneville allows space between notes, adding potency to every chord and lyric. Thom Jurek (Allmusic.com) said of his work, "With darkness and light fighting for dominance…he's stripped away every musical excess to let the song speak for itself."

Often called a "song and groove man," Ray Bonneville has lived the life of the itinerant artist and raconteur. From his native Quebec, he moved to Boston at age 12, where he learned English and picked up piano and guitar. "I grew up the second child in a French speaking Quebecois family of nine kids with a very strict father and we moved around a lot," Bonneville recalls about his childhood. "From a young age, I was always looking to get off on my own and ditch the heavy rules that were imposed on me. I liked to go off into the woods with a fishing pole or a slingshot, and then later as a teenager in the Boston area, with a guitar and a few chords. I really wanted to roam and find a place for myself in the music world." Later, he served in Vietnam and earned a commercial pilot's license in Colorado before living in Alaska, Seattle, and Paris. Six years in New Orleans infused his musical sensibilities with the region's culture and rhythms. Then, a very close call while piloting a seaplane in the Canadian bush proved pivotal: After two decades working as a studio musician, playing rowdy rooms both solo and with blues bands, Bonneville's lifetime of hard-won experience coalesced into an urge to write his own songs.

"Many years ago, I threw away caution to make music my full time job," he declares. "While I'm glad about my decision to devote myself entirely to this way of life, it wasn't until I was in my early forties that I began to write my own stuff. The songs became my constant companions, and I lived to write better and better ones. It may have been a loner's life, but it allowed me the potential for a recording career.

"Lately I've been thinking about how my past, my family history and my songwriting and work as a touring musician have shaped my character and path. I've come to realize how much a part of my chosen family my songs are, and also my fellow musicians, dear friends and fans."

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Semptember 11, 2018

Oysters3 Touring in October and November

After four decades at the forefront of British folkrock, Oysterband have earned their status as legends. The most incredible thing about them though, is not that they still sound as good as they ever have, but that they are also writing the finest material they have ever produced. Oysters3 is an acoustic trio comprising of founding members Alan Prosser, Ian Telfer, and John Jones. Oysterband has been headlining major international festivals for years and selling out theatres around the world to boot.

They will on tour in central and western Canada from October 25 through November 4. Here is where to find them in Canada this fall:

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September 11, 2018

Claire Lynch Western Tour Starting in September

We are excited to announce our second tour of Western Canada with Compass Records Recording artist, Claire Lynch. Last time through pretty much all of her shows were sold out, so we are anticipating a good run this fall. Last year Claire was recently nominated for a Grammy Award, her third one! You can read about it here.

Watch Claire perform live on YouTube.

Here is where you can catch Claire live this autumn in Western Canada:

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August 28, 2018

Guy Davis touring Western Canada with Fabrizio Poggi in October

Few blues artists have performed in Canada more than Guy Davis. We estimate that over the past twenty years we have booked over 700 shows for Guy in all ten provinces and two territories, almost exclusively in theatres and at festivals. He returns for a show that will be completely new to western Canada in the fall of 2018, as he will be packing along one of the greatest blues harmonica players in the world, Fabrizio Poggi of Italy.

Watch Guy and Fab here on YouTube.

Guy's most recent recording is an homage to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee called Sonny & Brownie's Last Train and prominently features Poggi on each track. The record has been getting fantastic reviews and is charting well all over the world. You can listen to it in its entirety here, on Spotify. This is Guy Davis proving once again that when it comes to acoustic blues, he is the real deal; Sonny & Brownie were probably the most lauded and influential acoustic blues duo of all time, and Davis is keeping their names and tradition alive long after each them boarded that last train.

Here is where you can catch this show this fall:

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August 28, 2018

Electric Strawbs Final Canadian Tour Set for October

England's Strawbs have a long and storied history going back more than 55 years. Dave Cousins is fond of telling the story of how his new band, The Strawberry Hill Boys, once did a six week residency in London with another upstart group. The other band was called The Rolling Stones.

The Strawbs are as busy as ever and have no plans on sailing off into the sunset. In 2018, however, the band will mount their final full electric tour of Canada. The line-up will include original members Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, Chas Cronk and Tony Fernandez, all of whom recorded on the classic Strawbs albums of the 1970s. Rounding out the lineup will be keyboardist Dave Bainbridge of the band, Iona. It has been quite a few years since the full electric Strawbs toured Canada. Don't miss this opportunity to catch the last electric tour in this country!

Strawbs on YouTube

Here is where you can catch them in the fall:

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July 23, 2018

Black Umfolosi Back to Canada in August

JMI's globe trotting Black Umfolosi completed a huge six week North American tour this past spring. They will be back in August for some summer dates on both sides of the border. Here is where you can catch them.

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July 9, 2018

James Keelaghan's Summer Festivals

James Keelaghan has seven festivals this summer, from Massachusetts to Vancouver Island and is looking forward to getting back out to some favourite old stomping grounds and reconnecting with musical friends. Here is where you can catch him over the next couple of months. Watch for a tour announcement soon for James' cross country tour with Jez Lowe.

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July 9, 2018

Guy Davis on the Road, Summer of 2018

Guy Davis must have one suitcase full of airmiles. He has performed on every continent except Antarctica, but give him time. He is one determined blues disciple. Guy will be all over the map this summer. Here is where you can catch him.

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July 2, 2018

Martin Simpson Returns to Canada

Martin Simpson is one of the busiest musicians we have the pleasure to work with, so much so, in fact, that it has been very difficult to find time frames when he is available to come to Canada. One of the world's greatest acoustic guitarists, he is also a singer-songwriter and a one of England's most highly awarded folk artists. This summer Martin will be playing some of the biggest folk festivals in Canada, but you can also catch him at a couple of smaller venues. He will be over for a couple of weeks in July, and then back for two major festivals in August. Here is where you can catch Martin Simpson in Canada this summer:

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May 1, 2018

Peterborough Show Rescheduled for
Keelaghan-McManus Double Bill

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April 12, 2018

James Keelaghan and Jez Lowe
to Tour North America in the Fall

Two of the folk world's very finest roots singer-songwriters will be touring North America together in the fall. James Keelaghan needs little by way of introduction to Canadians, as he has been touring from one end of the country to the other for several decades now. Jez Lowe is not unlike James, in that he is a singer-songwriter who has been bringing his songs to audiences the world over for many years. Hailing from England, Jez is as much of a folk institution at home as James is here, and both artists enjoy followings from Australia to Europe and North America.

The two are fast friends who have done many tours together. This fall they will be doing dates across America and Canada from late September into October.

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March 23, 2018

JMI Signs Folk Legend, Peggy Seeger

Peggy with brother, Pete

JMI has had the privilege to work with some of the greatest musical legends in the world, people like Jerry Jeff Walker (USA), Johnny Clegg (South Africa), Bruce Cockburn (Canada), Pete Seeger (USA) and former Rolling Stones lead guitarist, Mick Taylor (UK). Today we announce the signing of one of the great legends of American and English Folk, the one and only Peggy Seeger.

Peggy Seeger is a unique artist who has carved a special place in the folk revivals of both the UK and the USA. Although in her early 80s, her light burns as brightly as ever, with legendary live performances that might include an unaccompanied traditional ballad, followed by an anecdote from her remarkable life, before launching into a topical song about drugs, war, politicians, unions, women, love or ecology. A multi-instrumentalist (piano, guitar, 5-string banjo, autoharp, English concertina and Appalachian dulcimer), she is lauded for her feminist and political songs and has made 23 solo recordings and participated in over a hundred recordings with other artists. As Ewan MacColl's partner and muse, she was the inspiration for MacColl's classic 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' (the title of her much praised recent memoir) yet this is a woman who has consistently followed her own path with passion and vigour.

For a full bio of Peggy Seeger, please click here.

Peggy will be touring Atlantic and Central Canada from October 24th through November 10th of 2019.

Watch Peggy Perform Gonna Be an Engineer on YouTube.

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January 20, 2018

Ray Bonneville to Perform
Western and Ontario Dates in March

Juno-Award winner Ray Bonneville will tour western and central Canada in March. Increased international touring sees Ray having less and less time to get back home to Canada so fans will be happy to see him coming to their towns. This time around Ray will be accompanied by his old band mate, Richie Lawrence on piano, so look for a fresh new angle for the material.

Watch Ray and Richie performing on YouTube

Here is where you can catch Ray and Richie next month:

Mar 14	Saskatoon	SK	The Bassment
Mar 15	Sherwood Park	AB	Sherwood Park
Mar 18	Kingsville	ON	UNICO Community Centre
Mar 20	Ottawa	ON	National Arts Centre
Mar 21	Toronto	ON	Hugh’s Room
Mar 22	Midland	ON	Midland Cultural Centre
Mar 23	Sudbury	ON	The Motley Kitchen
Mar 24	Gravenhurst	ON	Peter’s Place
Mar 25	Peterborough	ON	Private Event

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January 27, 2018

Black Umfolosi to Embark on North American Tour
in February

Black Umfolosi are no strangers to Canadian audiences, having performed hundreds of shows in this country, from coast to coast. In February they will embark on a tour that will take them right across Canada, but also deep into the USA. Fans can expect the same blend of dance and a cappella singing that has made Black Umfolosi something of a legend, and given them a reputation as one of the finest vocal groups from the African continent. Here is where you can catch them in Canada and America starting in February and going well into April.

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January 11, 2018

Australia's Shane Howard to Perform Western and Northern Dates

It's currently high summer in Australia. Not so where Shane Howard is headed. The Australian legend of folkrock and champion of many noble causes is headed not only onto the frozen Canadian prairies next month, but also deep into the artic circle for his first Canadian tour in several years. The Arctic dates will be performed with special guest, Yirrmal, who is one of the continent's brightest rising stars of aboriginal music. Shane's Saskatoon and Edmonton dates will be performed solo.

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December 19, 2017

Martin Simpson New Studio Album
Released on Topic Records

World renowned guitarist, singer and songwriter Martin Simpson releases his 20th solo album in 40 years 'Trails & Tribulations' on September 1st 2017 via Topic Records. The brand-new studio album, his first new solo work since 2013's widely praised 'Vagrant Stanzas', will be available in standard and deluxe CD, digital download and standard vinyl (the latter through Vinyl 180).

'Trails & Tribulations' is a collection of songs about nature, about travels and about real life stories. There are traditional songs, poems and contemporary songs by great writers, and songs that I had to write because nobody else knew what I wanted to say. I travel, I learn songs, I write and try to get better at the skills required for me to do my job. I look at the world as I pass by, on the road, out of the train window, or as I stop and pay close attention to the square foot under my nose. There is so much to see and to hear and to inspire and to try and understand. I had a huge amount of fun playing and recording these songs, using different instruments, different noises, old friends and new ones, all of whom brought so much to the mix. Martin Simpson, April 2017.

Produced and engineered by Andy Bell, 'Trails & Tribulations' features some of Martin's most inventive playing yet, showcasing his virtuosity on a variety of instruments including acoustic guitars, resonator guitars, Weissenbown lap steel guitar, electric guitars, 5 string banjo, ukulele – and voice.

Guest musicians on the new album are: Ben Nicholls (string bass and electric bass guitars), Toby Kearney (drums and percussion), Nancy Kerr (fiddle and viola), Andy Cutting (diatonic accordion and melodeon), John Smith (electric guitar and backing vocals), Helen Bell (strings), Amy Newhouse-Smith (backing vocals) and his daughter Molly Simpson on vocals.

Hand in hand with his long and storied solo career, Martin has been central to seminal collaborations like The Full English, The Elizabethan Sessions and Simpson Cutting Kerr. He has worked with a dazzling array of artists from across the musical spectrum: Jackson Browne, Martin Taylor, June Tabor, Richard Hawley, Bonnie Raitt, Danny Thompson, David Hidalgo, Danú, Richard Thompson and Dom Flemons, to mention a few. He is consistently named as one of the very finest acoustic, fingerstyle and slide guitar players in the world and is the most nominated musician in the history of the BBC Folk Awards, with a remarkable 31 nods. A true master of his art.

For a full listing of Martin's 2017 concerts, please visit : martinsimpson.com/gigs.

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November 30, 2017

A Grammy Nod for Guy Davis!

Guy Davis and Fabrizio Poggi have been nominated for a 2018 Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album Category for Sonny & Brownie's Last Train. They are up against some stiff competition, including Elvin Bishop, Eric Bibb and some band called The Rolling Stones. We congratulate Guy and Fab and wish them well on Grammy night.

You can listen to Sonny & Brownie's last train on Spotify, here.

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November 29, 2017

Martin Simpson to Tour Canada in October 2019

Martin Simpson is one of England's greatest guitar players, and also a singer-songwriter of some renown. Over nearly four decades, he has constantly been at the forefront of the UK folk scene, both as a solo artist, and in his many collaborations with the likes of Jackson Browne, Richard Thompson, June Tabor, Martin Carthy and many, may more. He has been nominated an incredible 26 times for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, more than any other performer, with 9 consecutive nods for musician of the year, a title which he has won twice.

Martin is so busy in the UK and Europe that we have only managed to get him for one concert tour since 2012 (he has done several festival tours with JMI). Well, we are delighted today to announce that Martin is coming back in 2019, albeit for a short tour. We have ten days for all of Canada on this the next tour, so we expect the dates to go quickly. Martin will be available from October 3 through 13, 2019.

Watch Martin Simpson perform She Slips Away on Youtube

Watch Martin Simpson Singing You Were Never Any Good

Listen to Martin on Spotify while you work

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October 1, 2017

Tony McManus Headed for Western Canada

Often referred to as the greatest Celtic guitarist in the world, Tony McManus spends most of his time touring overseas, but he has found time for some western dates this fall. While Tony is known primarily as a guitarist, he is also a singer who understands the soul of the traditional songs he sings and delivers them with great passion and integrity.

Here is where you can catch Tony in October:

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September 23, 2017

England's Moulettes Touring Canada in October

JMI's Moulettes have really been turning heads on their trips to Canada, which number three now over the past two years. The guys will be back in October, touring from Quebec to British Columbia. If you haven't seen this incredible band yet, you really want to catch them on this tour - some of the best original music we have had the pleasure to tour in years. Here is where you can catch them next month:

Oct 04 L’Assomption QC Theatre Hector-Charland Oct 05 Quebec City QC Palais Montcalm Oct 06 Rimouski QC Spect’Art Oct 07 Montreal QC Theatre Outremont Oct 10 Toronto ON Hugh’s Room Oct 11 Winnipeg MB West End Cultural Centre Oct 12 Calgary AB Festival Hall Oct 13 Sherwood Park AB Festival Place Oct 15 Lethbridge AB Geomatic Attic Oct 17 Kimberley BC Kimberley Arts Centre 64 Oct 19 Duncan BC Duncan Showroom

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September 18, 2017

Guy Davis to Tour Canada in October/November

JMI's blues troubadour, Guy Davis, will return to Canada in November for a solo tour that will take him from Quebec to Alberta. Guy will be returning to some old haunts and also playing a few new venues. Here is where you can catch him.

Oct 30 Toronto ON Hugh’s Room Live Nov 01 Kitchener ON Registry Theatre Nov 02 London ON The Aeolian Nov 04 Gravenhurst ON Peter’s Place Nov 05 Midland ON Midland Cultural Centre Nov 06 Saskatoon SK The Bassment Nov 07 Kamsack SK Kamsack Playhouse Nov 09 Sherwood Park AB Festival Place Nov 10 Red Deer AB Elk’s Lodge

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September 13, 2017

Claire Lynch Returning to Maritimes in October

Compass Records recording artist Claire Lynch will return to the Maritime provinces in October (2017). A lot has happened since her last east coast tour, most of which was sold out. She released North by South, a collection of all Canadians songs, which earned her third Grammy nomination, and she has performed hundreds of shows around North America in the two years since her last foray into the region. Based out of Nashville, Claire is one of America's most respected bluegrass artists.

Here's where you can catch her next month:

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July 26, 2017

Two JMI Artists Included in the Top 50 Guitarists of All Time

Tony McManus and Martin Simpson

Tony McManus and Martin Simpson are known as two of the finest guitarists in the world. The prestigious Guitar Player Magazine recently compiled a list of the top fifty acoustic guitarists of all time and they both made the cut. Tony emailed us to say that he was "tucked in" between John McLaughlin and Joni Mitchell in the alphabetical list. Considering luminaries such as Segovia, Robert Johnson and Tommy Emmanuel are included, Martin and Tony are in some pretty exclusive company. The guys are long time friends, and have also performed together, as you can see in this video.

Over the years JMI has also represented other guitarists such as Bruce Cockburn, Juan Martin and JP Cormier, Luther Johnson of Muddy Waters fame and Alison Brown, who is the top-ranked female banjo player in the world. Fiddlers? We've know a few, from Frankie Gavin to Richard Wood and April Verch. Truth is, we have worked with far too many great players over the past two decades to mention them all, but we do search far and wide to find the very finest musicians in the world. Congrats to Tony and Martin – they both deserve to be on that list.

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