Paul Tessier

Special to The Morning Star

Steve Dawson is what they call a music heavyweight.

He91裸聊视频檚 a musician91裸聊视频檚 musician, successful record producer and multiple Juno award winner (seven Juno awards as artist/producer, 18 times nominated). So when he hand picks people to play with him on a collaborative tour, folks tend to sit up and take notice.

The Vernon Folk-Roots Music Society is pleased to present the Black Hen Roadshow (Steve Dawson, Leeroy Stagger, Steve Marriner of Monkey Junk,and Ndidi Onukwulu) April 18 at the Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre.

91裸聊视频淓very two years or so, I put this tour together where I get a group of musicians who don91裸聊视频檛 necessarily know each other and have not necessarily played together,91裸聊视频� Dawson explains. 91裸聊视频淲e learn each other91裸聊视频檚 songs and then present them in a way that91裸聊视频檚 a little unusual and it gives everybody a chance to perform their music in a way they normally wouldn91裸聊视频檛 with their regular band.

91裸聊视频淏lack Hen Music is my company but the people I include on these shows aren91裸聊视频檛 always in my company or affiliated with me. They91裸聊视频檙e just people I91裸聊视频檝e worked with and met along the way who I like and think would be a good fit.91裸聊视频�

Dawson is originally from Vancouver but for the past five years has been living in Nashville and producing records at his HenHouse Studio.

91裸聊视频淚 produce a lot of records for folks (Bruce Cockburn, Rhiannon Giddens, Jim Byrnes, John Hammond, Oh Susanna, Carolina Chocolate Drops and more). My specialty is slide guitar and fingerstyle picking. I91裸聊视频檝e been playing around Canada for years and years and I tour a lot either on my own, with my own group or with different bands. I have a new record coming out which I91裸聊视频檒l have on tour called Lucky Hand and I91裸聊视频檓 really excited to be collaborating with these folks on tour.

91裸聊视频淟eeroy Stagger is originally from Victoria, B.C. but has been living in Lethbridge, Alta. for many years91裸聊视频�, Dawson says.

Stagger has toured the world on his own and with the likes of Steve Earle, The Pixies and Modest Mouse. His songs have appeared on the television shows Grey91裸聊视频檚 Anatomy and Sons of Anarchy.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a really interesting songwriter and a nice guy,91裸聊视频� Dawson says.91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 very happy to have him on the show.

91裸聊视频淪teve Marriner is an amazing singer, harmonica and guitar player. He91裸聊视频檚 probably best known for his group Monkey Junk who just won a Juno for best blues album,91裸聊视频� Dawson says.91裸聊视频� He was only 13 or 14 when he first started out91裸聊视频攈e91裸聊视频檚 probably 30 now and plays with Colin James and tours a lot with Harry Manx and other people. He91裸聊视频檚 just a fantastic all around musician.

91裸聊视频淣didi Onukwulu is a wonderful singer and is someone I91裸聊视频檝e worked with a lot over the years,91裸聊视频� Dawson comments. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 also originally from British Columbia but now lives in Los Angeles. She has one of the most distinctive voices around91裸聊视频攎ostly soul, jazz and blues but she very much does her own thing, incorporating a lot of different styles. It91裸聊视频檒l be great to have her on the show.91裸聊视频�

This collaborative effort promises to be a full evening on great music.

91裸聊视频淪o what happens is that I91裸聊视频檒l come out and do some of my own stuff,91裸聊视频� Dawson explains. 91裸聊视频淭hen I91裸聊视频檒l bring on the band91裸聊视频攃onsisting of a bass player and drummer91裸聊视频攁nd they91裸聊视频檒l back me up. We then turn into the band and each person on the show does a mini-set, about three songs each. That gives everyone a chance to perform their own material with a band.

91裸聊视频淪o in the first set, you get a real good taste of everybody91裸聊视频檚 music. For the second set, we bring everybody in for the whole set. Everybody jumps in and that91裸聊视频檚 really where the magic happens91裸聊视频攎usic which might never happen again on stage91裸聊视频攁nd that91裸聊视频檚 what makes the tour so unique.91裸聊视频�

Tickets are $30 and available through the Ticket Seller, (250-549-7649), at the Bean Scene Coffee House or cash only at the door, if available. Show time is 7.30 p.m., doors open at 6.30 p.m. Wine, beer and food available at the show. A 20 per cent discount on food purchased at Don Cherry91裸聊视频檚 and at the Lodge Kitchen and Bar is being offered on the night of the show with proof of purchase. For more information, go to or Facebook. Email: info@vernonfolkroots.com.