Write a commentThe Oswego Music Hall is proud to present Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour, as part of its Women in Music Series, on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30pm.
Prior to the concert, the public is invited to the Annual Member Meeting which will take place at 4:30; further details are located on the website.
I'm excited to be kicking off the first year of our new Women in Music Series during Women's History Month with two talented Canadian singer songwriters that put on incredible performances at the NERFA conference, said Tom Lambert, Artistic Director.
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi takes her time crafting lyrics that are poetic and meaningful, often using unusual rhymes and surprising turns of phrase. She spent years on the road playing solo shows at festivals and in concert halls, train cars, backyards, and living rooms, supporting her warm, clear voice with intricate fingerstyle guitar accompaniment, and drawing energy from shifting landscapes and long drives through Canada and the United States. After taking a break from the road to rest, reflect, and write, Shawna returns with her fifth album, Hurricane Coming, a collection of raw, deeply personal songs set against a backdrop of colorful cinematic soundscapes. Shawna also created a series of abstract paintings inspired by the songs on the album, seamlessly combining her work as a musician and visual artist.
Hurricane Coming was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Album of the Year and an Ontario Folk Music Award for Album of the Year, and Shawna’s songs have won awards from Folk Music Ontario and the Songwriters’ Association of Washington. She strives to tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, to empower listeners to come to terms with the parts of themselves and the world that they might find scary, and to look for hope in the dark. Visit https://shawnacaspi.com/ for videos and further information.
Rachael Kilgour is a Canadian-American songwriter and performing artist whose plain-spoken, lyric-driven work and intimate performances have endeared her to listeners and fellow artists alike. The 2015 grand prize winner of the international NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition and winner of the 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest, Kilgour has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center, at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and at the Sundance Film Festival.
Rachael Kilgour's exquisite fourth full-length collection, My Father Loved Me, is a tribute to her late father, produced by JUNO Award-winning songwriter Rose Cousins and recorded in the senior Kilgour's native Canada. In the spare, often gutting language for which she is known, Kilgour gives us a complex portrait of a man as seen through his daughter's eyes. With unwavering acuity she poses questions about identity, inheritance, and grief, and affirms the value of one ordinary working man's life to an often indifferent world. Her oft-noted “unapologetic lyrics” (Rolling Stone) and “master crafted indie folk” sensibilities (Billboard) are on full display in this latest collection of songs. Visit https://rachaelkilgour.com/ for videos and further information.
Tickets are on sale online now at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ ($16-$19), or at the rivers end Bookstore in Oswego, although you may be able to get tickets at the door if it is not sold out. The community is encouraged to buy tickets early to ensure a seat.
Big Sky Quartet appears on The Main Stage on April 13. Big Sky Quartet is an award-winning, original four-piece roots/folk music act based in central Pennsylvania, now in its fifteenth year of music-making and performing throughout the Eastern United States. The band has been recognized for the best harmonies in the region, and recently was awarded Best Trio (2019), Best Folk Band (2021), and the Best Album of the Year in 2021 (Red Fire Rising) by the Central PA Music Awards. All four members come together to bring you music that has been called "beautiful, deep, uplifting, and moving," and "a sound that feels like you're hanging outside on a warm summer evening." And in fact, there's nowhere more the members of Big Sky Quartet would like to be. “Well-crafted songs, lush harmonies, and a sound that feels like you’re hanging outside on a warm summer evening”, The Burg Magazine. Visit https://bigskyquartet.com/home for videos and further information.
Guest Host, Mark Zane, will lead off Open Mic Friday on April 12 and will be followed by performers who sign up that night. Doors open at 6:30 with sign-ups taking place then and throughout the evening, as space allows. Musicians typically play three songs each.
Mark Zane was born and raised in the small rust belt city of Utica and now calls its larger neighbor to the west, Syracuse, home. The struggle of life in old industrial cities can be heard in some of the songs that appear on Mark's debut 2008 CD titled, American Hunger, which features a blend of folk, rock, and even a little country thrown into these 12 original songs. American Hunger was nominated for a 2009 SAMMY (Syracuse-Area Music Award) award in the Americana category. Visit www.reverbnation.com/markzane for videos and further information.
All ages and experience levels are welcome. Budding performers, singer-songwriters and musicians of all genres are given an opportunity to perform in a supportive environment using cutting edge professional sound and lighting equipment.
The wheelchair accessible venue is located in the McCrobie Civic Center, on 41 Lake Street in Oswego. It is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooks Lake Ontario and the Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding the stage with light refreshments available. Cash or check only at the door.
Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers since its inception in 1977. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks — from event support to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at ocpaoswego@gmail.com.
Find more information online at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or email ocpaoswego@gmail.com.
Concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
Oswego Music Hall Events Calendar
Mar 16 The Intention - Jazz by the Lake
Mar 22 Open Mic w/Hosts Frank Stefanek and Julie Clement
Mar 23 Shawna Caspi and Rachael Kilgour (Women in Music Series)
Apr 12 Open Mic w/Host Mark Zane
Apr 13 Big Sky Quartet
Apr 20 Count Blastula w/Special Guest Mike Dubaniewicz Jazz by the Lake
Apr 26 Open Mic w/Host Larry Kyle
Apr 27 Livingston Taylor w/Ash & Eric opening
May 11 Season Finale - Sam Robbins & Emerging Artists Showcase
