Paul Tessier

Special to The Morning Star

Steve Dawson is what they call a music heavyweight.

He害羞草研究所檚 a musician害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淓very two years or so, I put this tour together where I get a group of musicians who don害羞草研究所檛 necessarily know each other and have not necessarily played together,害羞草研究所� Dawson explains. 害羞草研究所淲e learn each other害羞草研究所檚 songs and then present them in a way that害羞草研究所檚 a little unusual and it gives everybody a chance to perform their music in a way they normally wouldn害羞草研究所檛 with their regular band.

害羞草研究所淏lack Hen Music is my company but the people I include on these shows aren害羞草研究所檛 always in my company or affiliated with me. They害羞草研究所檙e just people I害羞草研究所檝e worked with and met along the way who I like and think would be a good fit.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 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. I害羞草研究所檝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 I害羞草研究所檒l have on tour called Lucky Hand and I害羞草研究所檓 really excited to be collaborating with these folks on tour.

害羞草研究所淟eeroy Stagger is originally from Victoria, B.C. but has been living in Lethbridge, Alta. for many years害羞草研究所�, 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 Grey害羞草研究所檚 Anatomy and Sons of Anarchy.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a really interesting songwriter and a nice guy,害羞草研究所� Dawson says.害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檓 very happy to have him on the show.

害羞草研究所淪teve Marriner is an amazing singer, harmonica and guitar player. He害羞草研究所檚 probably best known for his group Monkey Junk who just won a Juno for best blues album,害羞草研究所� Dawson says.害羞草研究所� He was only 13 or 14 when he first started out害羞草研究所攈e害羞草研究所檚 probably 30 now and plays with Colin James and tours a lot with Harry Manx and other people. He害羞草研究所檚 just a fantastic all around musician.

害羞草研究所淣didi Onukwulu is a wonderful singer and is someone I害羞草研究所檝e worked with a lot over the years,害羞草研究所� Dawson comments. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 also originally from British Columbia but now lives in Los Angeles. She has one of the most distinctive voices around害羞草研究所攎ostly soul, jazz and blues but she very much does her own thing, incorporating a lot of different styles. It害羞草研究所檒l be great to have her on the show.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淪o what happens is that I害羞草研究所檒l come out and do some of my own stuff,害羞草研究所� Dawson explains. 害羞草研究所淭hen I害羞草研究所檒l bring on the band害羞草研究所攃onsisting of a bass player and drummer害羞草研究所攁nd they害羞草研究所檒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.

害羞草研究所淪o in the first set, you get a real good taste of everybody害羞草研究所檚 music. For the second set, we bring everybody in for the whole set. Everybody jumps in and that害羞草研究所檚 really where the magic happens害羞草研究所攎usic which might never happen again on stage害羞草研究所攁nd that害羞草研究所檚 what makes the tour so unique.害羞草研究所�

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 Cherry害羞草研究所檚 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.