Sat Aug 16, 11:00 AM Focus Stage Workshop, ‘Character Studies’
Sat Aug 16, 3:00 PM, shade Stage Workshop, ‘Home on the Range’
Sun Aug 17, 11:00 AM, Focus Stage Workshop, ‘Alberta Bound’
Sun Aug 17, 4:30 PM Blues Stage Workshop, ‘Positively Fourth Stage’
(AB)
At the crossroads between Nashville Tennessee, Austin Texas and Calgary Alberta, lives the musical soul of J.R. Shore. Shore, an award-winning songwriter, is equal parts storyteller, social commentator and performer. Shore’s songs provide a glimpse into years gone by, as well as contemporary characters with melody and lyrics that have audiences hanging on every line.
A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Shore began his musical career in the early 90’s with the Grateful Dead inspired, Hiway 2. Original projects, Sgt. Singalong and the Military and Panama Red followed, with Shore developing greater and greater depth in his writing and performing. In 2004, Shore and his wife relocated to Music City, U.S.A. He seized the opportunity to see first-hand, what it takes to write and play with some of the best in the business. Extended journeys through the American South gave Shore a taste of where his music came from. Having the opportunity to rub shoulders with Buddy Miller, Chip Taylor and Guy Clark gave Shore the inspiration to spread his own wings wide and carve his own path. After two years in Nashville, playing such venues as The Bluebird Cafe, Mercy Lounge and The Basement, Shore was ready to return back to his home turf, Calgary, Alberta, and play his songwriting trade in some familiar digs.
Upon his return to the Canadian prairies, Shore turned the Alberta songwriting scene on its head, winning 3 Calgary Folk Fest Songwriting Competitions, and placing as runner-up on two other occassions. Months after his first win, Shore released his debut album, An Impeccable Shine. On the heels of Shore’s critically successful 2008 debut album, An Impeccable Shine, his sophomore record, Talkin’ on a Bus, was released in July, 2010. Produced by Edmonton’s own, Barry Allen, Talkin’ On a Bus was one of the most highly anticipated albums to come out of Alberta this year, reaching the top of the CKUA charts for 8 weeks during the summer. The album made numerous top albums of 2010 lists and was the #2 album on CKUA’s top albums of 2010. The album also rose to the top 20 on the European Americana Charts.
His third album, State Theatre, featuring a whopping 20 songs, was released on January 15, 2013. The double album contains 12 original songs and 8 cover songs. The original songs include the award-winning “Poundmaker” and the cover songs dip into the songbooks of some of Shore’s greatest influences, including John Prine, Neil Young and Gram Parsons. The album has received worldwide airplay, and 5 star ratings throughout North America and Europe, including cracking the top 10 on the European Americana Chart.
Much like one of his influences, Tom Waits, Shore’s performances are rare. As a craftsman of song, these rare performances, as demonstrated with repeated sold-out shows throughout Western Canada, are not to be missed.