Helping warm up the winter chill, February ushers in the Ottawa-based music festival and conference MEGAPHONO. Hosting music industry professionals, film/TV music supervisors and more, February 7-9th saw the city light up with over 70 local and regional artists in 20 venues across Ottawa-Gatineau. As part of the line-up, the Friday evening showcased Polaris-prize 2016 nominee Andy Shauf at the Bronson Centre.
Though the stage was stripped down, his performance was not. Shauf arrived with an ensemble of five adept artists including two on clarinet who’s instruments lent their characteristic mercurial mood to his storytelling. With his darker Gemini side shining at times musically, it was twinned with his light-minded side, perfectly evident as he shared jovial moments with the audience. He took to plucking questions from his fans as he worked through a few technical glitches that developed at the start of the set, giving a glimpse of his smile under his cap as he grinned sporadically during the off-the cuff banter. Though he alluded to his new album being an appreciable time off, a comment we hope was levity, his set was a mix of 2016’s The Party, intermingled with his earlier works, and a few glimmers of what’s to come. The evening closed with several new songs, including a tune he performed solo during his 1-song encore. Though 2018’s Foxwarren release will tide us over for now, we’re all looking forward to the Regina resident’s “after” Party.
The event commenced with Oregon’s Haley Heynderickx. Last year saw her first full length album, I Need to Start a Garden, released. Clad in black but for her acoustic guitar, Heynderickx was an amiable opener for the evening. Her folk sound filtered through the theatre pleasingly, and her exchanges with the audience evoked smiles all around.
This tour is short and sweet with 10 stops; only a handful remain south of the border, extending down the east from Portland, ME to Miami, FL over the next two weeks. Get all the details for the remaining shows at tour dates.
