Shawna Caspi CD Release Concert

Shawna Caspi is a guitar-picking, classically-trained folkie with a sweet-tooth for a good story, a sly lyrical wit, and a rich, powerful voice. She sings of love, travel, home and heart, distilling each experience into a series of vibrant snapshots, coloured with humour and grace and arranged with care and craft. Her brand-new release, "Apartments for Lovers", is a solo guitar and voice album that showcases her rich voice and remarkable finger style guitar technique.

The concert will take place on Monday, August 25 ' as it's a weeknight, we'll have the music starting at 7:30 pm, doors open at 7:00. Suggested donation is $15, with all proceeds going directly to the performer. You may reserve your seat by calling (705) 305-1687 (the phone is on it's last legs, but will hopefully be replaced shortly) or emailing concerts@takenotepromotion.com. Address and directions will be given upon reservation, but we're located close to downtown Barrie on the north side of the bay, just a little north-east of City Hall. We're still trying to build up our Barrie mailing list, so please do forward this to any music-lovers you know, and encourage them to sign up for our mailing list themselves on our webpage.

Accessibility-wise, we do need to to a bit of work on this house ' there are a few steps up to the front door (but feel free to walk up the grass if it's easier), or two less-steep steps if you come around to the back. Once you're in the house, everything will be taking place on the main level, no steps involved. There is a main floor washroom, although it's not wheelchair-friendly. No pets at the moment, although the previous owners had dogs. A reminder, as always, to please refrain from wearing scents, as some of our "regulars" do have sensitivities.

Shawna Caspi (www.shawnacaspi.com)

'Shawna Caspi has the rare gift of presence, a warm presence that immediately invites audience engagement, from the first strum of her skilled guitar playing to the last exquisite note she sings. Shawna's lyrics show, her music and delivery tell; her songs are beautiful stories that stay with listeners long after the CD is spun, long after the gig is over.' ' Andy Frank, co-founder of Roots Music Canada

Shawna Caspi is a solo singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Canada, with a powerful voice and serious guitar chops. With a commanding stage presence and an inviting charm, she doesn't need a band to deliver an engaging and energetic show. She has all the sound she needs under her fingertips, with a remarkable fingerstyle guitar technique. Shawna's playful wit and sense of a seasoned storyteller makes each performance intimate and captivating, no matter the size of the room. She has played in venues from cafes to soft-seat theatres, from living rooms to festival stages.

"Apartments for Lovers" is Shawna's third full-length album, released just this month (this being August 2014). In contrast to her first two releases, which featured a collection of session players and elaborate arrangements, this new album is a solo guitar and voice record. Shawna's elegant fingerpicking and warm voice are showcased in this project, resulting in a recording that's close-up and honest.

Shawna recently returned from touring British Columbia in June and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland in April. She just performed at the Blue Skies Music Festival and will be at the Summerfolk Festival mid-month. She has performed at the Winterfolk festival in Toronto and has played music on the long haul trains between Montreal and Halifax and between Vancouver and Toronto with the VIA Rail On Board Entertainment Program. She has shared stages with some of Canada's finest folk artists, including Jory Nash, Jon Brooks, Craig Cardiff, Suzie Vinnick, and Garnet Rogers.

'A skilled composer and lyricist; her haunting voice and stunning guitar accompaniment round out this complete folk package. Her personal stories, both humorous and poignant, are told seamlessly through her intriguing lyrics and between-song banter. Every song is a narrative whose clever rhymes and unexpected musical structures ensure that the audience listens to every word, from beginning to end.' ' Joanna Mills, O'Hara House Concerts