2016-2017 Coffee House Season

Before the blossoming of the Yorkville music era, there was a vibrant Bohemian café scene in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood from Bloor St. down to the “old village” by the Art Gallery of Ontario. Spearheading that music scene was Klaas van Graft who serenaded café boulevardiers & was a regular performer at one of Yorkville’s first coffee houses, The Village Corner Club at Avenue Rd. & Pears Ave. He was one of the driving forces behind the first Mariposa Folk Festival. Klaas founded the iconic Canadian folk trio, The Chanteclairs, with Beverlie (Sammons) Robertson & Allan MacRae, playing coffee houses, concert halls, festivals, arenas & stadiums in Canada, the USA & Europe. As a solo performer, Klaas has a devoted following in the American southwest, has represented Canada abroad at Canadian official events, sits in with the big dance bands & still sings with Beverlie (most recently at the Winterfolk Festival & The Spirit of Yorkville event at the legendary El Mocambo). Whether he’s singing in an intimate café, Massey Hall, or at an Argonauts’ half-time show, Klaas connects with the crowd on a personal level. We’re thrilled to bring him back to Muskoka to warm up our winter…oh yes, & Beverlie will be joining him on some tunes too. Come on out & join this multilingual singer who is dedicated to the song & loves hearing his audience sing with him!

GATHERING SPARKS is the graceful collision of Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis - musical friends weaving a textured folk/roots tapestry of finely tuned songs. With contrasting vocals, rich harmonies, and varied instrumentation (acoustic guitars, resonator slide, piano, accordion, ukulele, banjo, percussion and more), Gathering Sparks will touch your heart, move your feet, and get you singing along.

Eve Goldberg has lifted audiences across North America with her heartfelt and insightful songs and solid instrumental work. Her fluid vocals embrace all the styles she loves—folk, blues, country, bluegrass, old time, and jazz—with equal affection and mastery.

Jane Lewis has followed her love of words from the printing press to the spotlight with soul-bending lyrics, transcendent compositions, and crystal clear vocals. Her thoughtful piano and accordion playing, mastery of harmony, and upbeat presence add a sparkle to any stage.

http://www.gatheringsparks.com

Po Cholly

For 40 years, Charlie has been an itinerant bluesman, traveling the globe, hosting concerts and conducting workshops. Charlie has performed frequently at such festivals as the Harbourfront Jazz & Blues Festival, the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Mill Race Festival of Traditional Music and in the eastern US. He has also performed at The Kitchener Blues Festival and the Fredericton Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival. He has played the blues with the Gypsy Kings in France, tango bands in Argentina, reggae players in Jamaica, and flamenco dancers in Spain, where his passion for the blues has always erased national and political borders and brought strange bedfellows together to share the music.

http://www.reverbnation.com/pocholly

Beverlie Robertson

Beverlie is a singer, musician, folklorist and author with a BA in French from U of T and a music minor. She travelled the world with her trio The Chanteclairs, singing folk songs when folk music was main stream, performing on the CBC, CTV, BBC, US and European TV networks. She has performed at festivals such as the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Fredericton Jazz & Blues Festival, the Mill Race Festival of Traditional Music, etc. & at venues such as The Riverboat, Massey Hall, Maple Leaf Gardens & the CNE Grandstand. She sings traditional & contemporary folk music, blues & �tin pan alley,� accompanying herself on 6 & 12-string guitars, dulcimer & autoharp. She sings in English, French, Spanish, & other languages. She was an early member of Mariposa-In-The-Schools, is a founding member of Kaleidoscope-in-the-Schools Muskoka & a director of Muskoka Lakes Music Festival/Muskoka Chautauqua. Her latest book, With Knowing Eyes; Canadian Women in Song, includes traditional & contemporary songs, with music, chords, etc. She taught a course at WLU based on its content. A CD of selected songs is in progress. She is President of Brandy Creek Music & Publications Inc.

http://www.reverbnation.com/beverlierobertson