The Pearl Company

Four Films Celebrating Black History: Wednesday, February 24. 7:00pm. $10 at the door. Michael Williams (Radio / TV Personality) will be hosting a unique show of film and music. 1) 24 ONE MINUTE MOVIES ON “OUTSTANDING CANADIANS” 2) “THE OBAMA EFFECT ON BLACK CANADA” 3) “STILL BILL” A DOCUMENTARY about Bill Withers, the unexpected superstar. The songs “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lean on Me”, “Lovely Day” and “Just the Two of Us”, are only part of the life of a complex and fascinating character, an icon who left the industry behind but never gave up his soul. Featuring a tribute concert, a soundtrack with previously unreleased tracks, and a rare live performance. http://stillbillthemovie.com/ 4) SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music – the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Harry Belafonte and Julian Bond. The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement, and especially from the black church. The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say, and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence. Produced by Danny Glover.

Tjupurru, Live in Hamilton: Friday, February 12. 10:00pm (post Art Crawl) $15, Art Bus riders $5. A proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australian Kimberleys, Tjupurru plays a unique slide Didjeridu, named “The Didjeribone” because it can slide through different notes and tones – a cross between a didj and a trombone. He picks up his sound through a device called the “Face Bass”, a seismic sensor implanted inside his mouth. With the addition of sampling and electronic effects, Tjupurru has enabled himself to perform as a one man band creating live samples and looping them to create songs and soundscapes that crisscross musical genres. His live show is a must hear. This is an artist bringing something unique to the current music scene. Tjupurru is mixing cultures, technologies and sounds with aural traditions that are thousands of years old. The result he describes as 21st century Didjetronica. The rest of us call it amazing, stunning, revelatory, provoking . . .
Tjupurru’s has played festivals all over the world. He’s in Hamilton for one day only, on his way to play at the Cultural Olympiad, part of the Olympic Games celebrations in Vancouver!

The Undesirables & C.R. Avery (with The Legal Tender String Quartet), Saturday February 20th, 2010 Doors: 7:30pm Show: 8:00 pm. Adults: $17.00 (advance) $20.00 (door) Artists (musicians, etc.)/Students: $10.00 (advance) $15.00 (door) reserve your seat or payable in cash at The Pearl Company. Corin Raymond and Sean Cotton are The Undesirables: Roots music / blues / folk, inspired by anyone who is honest and on fire, and who is saying something real and doing it with conviction and colour. If you stumbled upon a tavern where Tom Waits, Ray Bradbury, Jim Morrison, and Charles Dickens were huddled in a corner exchanging stories, perhaps eavesdropping on them would give you a better idea of what to expect from this Toronto duo.

C.R. Avery: A Canadian music sensation; poet, pianist, singer, beatboxer, and harmonica player with a mix of hip-hop and blues. His lyrics, vocal delivery, energy, and artistry have won him international acclaim. C.R. Avery’s current band(The Legal Tender String Quartet) is no less than classically trained! Tom Waits is a fan and brought C.R. up to perform on stage with him.

The Acoustics: A Valentines Concert: Saturday, February 13, 8:00. $20 at the door. With special guest, the romantic guitar of Gary Santucci. The Acoustics are a happening band. Their CD Forever and a Day came in 2nd place for World Album of the year at the 2009, JPF Music Awards, in Nashville TN. They had two major category Nomination for the 2009 Hamilton Music Awards. Folk/Traditional Recording of the year and Instrumental Recording of the year – The Acoustics – ‘Forever and a Day’.

Gary Santucci: Composer / Flamenco, Classical and World Jazz Guitarist will play his most romantic and compelling pieces in honour of St Valentine.

Rob Lutes. Opening Set: J.P. Riemens: Sunday, February 7, 8:00. $15. Rob Lutes is a soulful singer/songwriter from Montreal with an ever-growing collection of literate, moving meditations on life and love. His ability to encapsulate universal ideas and questions, even the subtle ones, coupled with his gritty, heartfelt delivery and world-class performance chops, have invited comparisons with several legends in the roots genre from John Hiatt to Fred Eaglesmith. “Widely recognized as an gifted songwriter”. – Ottawa Citizen.
J.P. Riemens local singer / songwriter has charmed Hamilton audiences for years. His style leans toward roots/rock and country, calling his particular style “Acid Country”, J.P. is as at home in an intimate acoustic environment as a Concert Hall

Pearl Review Fundraiser: Saturday, February 6, 8:00 $10. Please join us here at The Pearl to help launch the Pearl Review Studio House (located directly beside The Pearl Company). Door Prizes, 50/50, Silent Auction. Food and Beverages. And more!!!

The arts journalism newsprint magazine, The Pearl Review (an exciting new take on the Hamilton Arts Scene and an Arts view of Hamilton issues) is coming right along.  Check out the patron subscriber incentives at www.thepearlreview.ca. This newsmagazine will focus on our individual artists of all disciplines, – the background stories, the big questions, and the lively particulars. First issue projected for Spring 2010. Order your subscription now!

• February 5: First an art show and tour at The Lincoln Alexander Centre, next Arctic Experience/McNaught Gallery, and the Anastasia Gallery. Then we head to the Sunrise Gallery and back to Gallery 435.
• February 12: It’s a second Friday again which definitely means the James North Crawl, the Tiger Group Studio Gallery, and the Imperial Cotton Centre. (more…)