Award-winning musician Craig Cardiff comes to Théatre Lac-brome
The Friday, February 23 show starts at 8 p.m. at Théatre Lac-brome in Knowlton. For music and story lovers alike, it is a chance to take in quality entertainment without having to trek the big city. This is the most recent opportunity to take in Juno-nominated and award-winning singer-songwriter Craig Cardiff. He is returning to Knowlton for the third time in his career.
Donald Finigan, co-owner of Bell Vie Productions with his wife Darleen Bell, describes Cardiff’s down-to-earth approach to music, humour, and storytelling as what leaves a lasting impression on those who attend his performances. “Craig Cardiff is a very special type of performer, one who remains with you long after the show date has passed,” Finigan says. “His sensitivity, his musicianship, and his humanity are all on clear display and delivered with a very pointed and precise accuracy that reminds us all of what we have in common.”
With a repertoire of 16 albums during his 20-year career, the Waterloo, Ontarioborn artist received a Juno nomination for Best Roots and Traditional Album by a soloist artist. He has also received a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Contemporary Singer of the Year. Travelling across Canada numerous times, Cardiff is open to performing in both intimate house concerts and full theatre crowds.
According to his profile, “Cardiff sings songs that expose the human condition, putting a magnifying glass to the clumsier and less proud moments. He can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism. Cardiff makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is.”
Bell Vie Productions is an independent entity that endeavours to bring quality music acts to the Knowlton area and already has a full resumé of presenting award-winning talent such as Matthew Barber, The Once, Donovan Woods, Coco Love Alcorn, and most recently, in October 2017, Megan Slankard and Alex Wong.
Finigan says that for the past few years, Bell Vie Productions focused mainly on The Acoustic Village and will continue to be an integral part. However, the couple is looking to expand their vision in 2018. Finigan has a radio show on CIDI, “The State Of Independents,” a show dedicated to promoting independent music, which first aired on February 3 this year. It is one element of that vision in helping Bell Vie Productions to gain exposure for more artists and vice versa.
“The live music template is very much in a transitional period at the moment as independent musicians are becoming more predominant and the traditional concert ideal is being put to the test. Smaller, more intimate venues and especially house concerts — literally concerts held in people's homes for smaller crowds — are forcing small promoters like ourselves to re-evaluate our options in terms of venues and artists to seek. For Craig Cardiff, given his stature on the Canadian musical landscape and the fact that he has played to a full room twice already in Knowlton, we chose the more traditional venue as it can accommodate a sizeable crowd without losing any sense of intimacy. With its completely renovated lobby, Theatre Lac-brome also provides a very positive space where people can mingle and also meet the artist after the show.”
Doors will open at 7:30. General admission tickets can be purchased for $20 either through Eventbrite (link available at http://craigcardiff.com/tour-dates/ — subject to surcharge) or by contacting 450-558-6557.