It’s Not Dark Yet, a Paul Quarrington story from Martin Worthy – coming January 21, 2011
Martin Worthy, Dan Hill perform Quarrington`s ARE YOU READY
In this performance, singer-song-writers Dan Hill and Martin Worthy perform the song together for the very first time, in honour of their friend and colleague Paul Quarrington at the tribute to him presented by the Kingston WritersFest.
Here is the backstory … in May 2009, shortly after a diagnosis that would end his life, Paul Quarrington decided he would finish what he started. A book, which inspired a film, which commissioned a song. That song, and the incredible insights that came with the making of it, became the heart of the film Paul Quarrington Life in Music. Are You Ready became the song.
ARE YOU READY was co-written by Paul Quarrington, Martin Worthy and Dan Hill. Commissioned by BookShorts Inc. for the documentary film PAUL QUARRINGTON LIFE IN MUSIC, broadcast by Bravo Canada.
ARE YOU READY performed by Paul Quarrington is also available on iTunes.
For more film and music inspired by the written word, visit MovingStories.TV
James Reaney reviews Porkbelly Futures, London Music Club
Porkbelly Futures’ return to the London Music Club on Saturday night was an event with the emotions & musical excellence admirably captured by good friend to JBNB (James’ Brand New Blog) A Face in The Crowd.
I, too, nearly wept during All The Stars, the song that (for me) came to represent the late Paul Quarrington’s cheerful, courageous passionate & poetic battle with cancer. His last gig with the Futures was on Dec. 5, 2009 at the LMC.
- JAMES REANEY
Yes, it has been almost a year since the late Paul Quarrington played his final show with Porkbelly Futures, and it was at the London Music Club. As he was then the principal writer and vocalist of the group, one wondered how the survivors would carry on without him. Thankfully, there has been no attempt to replace Paul but rather to rely upon their many musical strengths (5 members X 15 changes in instruments last night!).
… The band does sound different, with more flavours, from country, to blues, to reggae and even a little zydeco. There were special, quiet moments too. Paul`s song All the Stars, sung almost acapella had both Rebecca onstage and this writer holding back tears. There are studio versions of this song on both the new Porkbelly album `Crooked Road` and Paul Quarrington`s `The Songs. Seek out and buy both CDs – you`ll thank me. They’re the next thing to being there.
- A FACE IN THE CROWD
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THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE FULL REVIEW – FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE, PLEASE VISIT JAMES’ BRAND NEW BLOG on the London Free Press website.
Music Journalist James Reaney
Nicholas Jennings on Porkbelly Futures
It would be easy to call the Porkbelly Futures a roots-rock band, seeing as how the five-piece band draws from rock’s deep well of folk, blues and country music. But the Porkbellys defy simple categorization. There’s nothing straightforward about a band that sings about subjects as varied as heartbreak, hotels, fishing, trains, wrestling heroes and literary icons, or one whose members come from a variety of diverse backgrounds. This is a group with as much intelligence and wit as soulfulness and fun.
The Porkbellys are an engaging live act, with strong original material, exceptional musicianship (including an award-winning blues guitarist and two highly esteemed classical players) and a natural on-stage chemistry that comes from years of touring across Canada together, playing countless bars and summer festivals. The Porkbellys possess an enviable versatility, with two lead vocalists and several multi-instrumentalists in the group. It’s a powerful package that connects with audiences wherever they play.
Nicholas Jennings
- music critic and author of Before the Gold Rush
Music Critic / Author Nicholas Jennings
The Crooked Road CD/Tour Official Press Release
NEW CD RELEASED ON CORDOVA BAY RECORDS OCTOBER 19th!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkbellyfutures/ (PHOTOS)
September 27, 2010 (Victoria, BC) – Cordova Bay Records is pleased to announce the release of Porkbelly Futures’ 3rd CD – The Crooked Road.
From folk to blues, country to rock, The Crooked Road once again gives listeners the music that is uniquely Porkbelly Futures. With a fall tour (whose routing mirrors the CD’s name) beginning October 12th in Regina, the group begins a new chapter.
Followers of Porkbelly Futures will know that this recording was not destined to fall into place like the two that had come before it. In January of this year the group lost their lead singer and founding member – author, musician, filmmaker and playwright – Paul Quarrington
Paul’s joie de vivre, silenced by lung cancer, can be found in corners and pockets of the recording, but at the core lives the heart and soul of each member. The Crooked Road is a CD that speaks to optimism and resilience and an acknowledgement that nothing was meant to stay the same.
With the vocal roles now taken on by Martin Worthy and Rebecca Campbell, many of the tracks were co-written by Paul, alongside his longtime friend Martin.
“I Ain’t Leavin (‘Til The Wine is Gone)” was Paul’s answer to his diagnosis, as he returned to the house on that fateful day with several bottles of fine wine – there would be, he said, “no more cheap wine”!
“Crazy Rain”, penned by Worthy is about a year of firsts – specifically the first time he imagined going fishing without Paul – a pastime they loved. Quarrington called fishing ‘an act of faith’ – you could not be a pessimist and be a fisherman – very much a metaphor for how Paul lived his life.
The title track, was the last song Worthy and Quarrington would work on together, but not in the usual way. As Paul was getting near the end, he and Martin talked about “The Crooked Road”. Martin felt he had the body of the song completed, but it needed Paul to come in with a fourth verse and tie it together, which had always been his special talent. When Paul heard the song however, he talked it through with Martin – he didn’t actually write the fourth verse but rather told him how to close it out. It was classic Quarrington – to stand back – take it in – and offer up an observation that once stated was seemingly so obvious you would wonder how you missed it.
And so “The Crooked Road” leads Porkbelly Futures into the next decade with their trademark sound, their love for playing live and their ever present muse quietly guiding the way.
TOUR DATES:
October 12 - Regina, SK - The Cultural Exchange www.culturalexchange.ca
October 13 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice www.theslice.ca
October 14 – Twin Butte, AB – Twin Butte General Store and Mexican Restaurant www.twinbuttestore.ca
October 15 - Bragg Creek, AB - The PowderHorn Saloon www.powderhornsaloon.ca
October 16 - Banff, AB - Margaret Greenham Theatre – Celebrate Paul Quarrington (Banff Centre) www.wordfest.com
October 18 - Kelowna, BC - Minstrel Cafe and Bar www.minstrelcafe.com
October 20 - Denman Village, BC - The Back Hall www.artsdenman.com/venues/community-hall
October 21 - Duncan, BC - Duncan Garage Showroom www.duncangarageshowroom.ca
October 22 - Vancouver, BC - Granville Island/Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/porkbelly
October 23 - Victoria, BC - Hermann’s Jazz Club www.hermannsjazz.com
October 26 - Calgary, AB - The Ironwood Stage and Grill www.ironwoodstage.ca
October 27 - Edmonton, AB - The Blue Chair www.bluechair.ca
October 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre & Movie Cafe www.parktheatervideo.com/cafe
October 30 - Brandon, MB - The Music Studio (204-728-7993)
November 16 - Toronto, ON - Hugh’s Room www.hughsroom.com
November 27 - London, ON - The London Music Club www.londonmusicclub.150com.com
FOR INTERVIEWS PLEASE CONTACT: Marlene Palmer/Palmer Publicity Ink, Ltd – 250-590-6261 marlenepalmer@shaw.ca
CORDOVA BAY ENTERTAINMENT CONTACT: Jocelyn Greenwood – 250-361-1444 jocelyn@cordovabay.com
Related show
Porkbelly Futures talk about The Crooked Road
In anticipation of the new CD release from Cordova bay Records, Porkbelly Futures band member Martin Worthy provides fans with a few “behind the songs” anecdotes about some of the tracks. Watch the website here for music excerpts!
Porkbelly Futures The Crooked Road CD cover art
Coppertown
In my early years, I had occasion to live in a few small towns. Before the internet connected everyone everywhere, it was possible to live in a place where the world seemed to whizz past and around you. A place where there were no pressing problems and the tribulations of the inhabitants might seem so trivial that even God would give them a miss. Folks seemed to want to live there in order to “give their dreams a rest…” and get out of the fray.
BooCatDo
I had the music idea for this song for quite a while. However, given the weight of the past year’s events, I couldn’t seem to find a lyric idea that was upbeat and fun. I looked out the window and saw my neighbour’s cat “Boo” lolling, carefree in the sun on the grass. I thought “I wish I could be just like him…”
Judgement Day
When Paul and I first got together to write songs in 1972, we wanted to be one of the few local singer songwriter teams to play entirely our own repertoire. He would come to my place, late in the morning and each day we’d write a song. We did that for around 2 years. The good songs would stick, the others would fade. I found this lyric but neither Paul or myself could remember the music, so I wrote new music and added a few more lyrics. Again Rebecca sings the hell out of this one. The song’s about consequences. Somehow it seemed apt.
The Crooked Road
This is last song Paul and I collaborated on. We talked, late at night about a song like this. A song that seems like it has always been there. Something that’s at once new, yet familiar. I said I had an idea for a song called “The Crooked Road”. Time was running short for Paul, so the thinking was that I would begin the song, get it close and he’d wade in to finish it. When I played it for him, he wondered what I thought he should add. I said I thought it needed a fourth verse to tie it together and close it out. ( his specialty) His feeling was that, at this point, the song had a “nice open ended sense of closure. If that’s at all possible.” He could write a fourth verse but it would take the song to a place where one would have to write a lot more to get it back to where it is now. “Why don’t you just take the first line and sing it again at the end? You’re done.” Despite the fact he didn’t actually write any of the content in this song, I share the credit with him because he helped shape the notion and spirit of it. And if he hadn’t pointed the way, I might still be writing it.
The Crooked Road will be released in October 2010 – to pre-order online, visit Cordova Bay Records website here.
Porkbelly Futures Crooked Road Tour Fall 2010
Porkbelly Futures
The Crooked Road
… to date!
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The Dora Keogh
Friday September 17 2010
9pm
141 Danforth Ave
Toronto ON
416 778 1804
www.allens.to/dora
Tickets: Free
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Kingston Writers Fest Presents:
PQ’s People ~ A Tribute to Paul Quarrington
Porkbelly Futures with Nino Ricci, Dave Bidini, Kim Moritsugu, Stuart Ross,
Steven Heighton, Dan Hill, Cordelia Strube, Jim Garrard, and Judith Keenan
The Grand Theatre
Wednesday September 22 2010
7:30pm
218 Princess St
Kingston ON
613 530 2050
www.kingstonwritersfest.ca
Tickets $20
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The Cultural Exchange
Tuesday October 12 2010
9pm
2431 8th Ave
Regina SK
306 780 9494
www.culturalexchange.ca
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The Slice
Wednesday October 13 2010 · TBC
9pm
314 8 St South
Lethbridge AB
403 320 0117
www.theslice.ca
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Twin Butte General Store and Mexican Restaurant
Thursday October 14 2010 · TBC
9pm
Highway 6 @ Township Rd 40
Twin Butte AB
403 627 4035
www.twinbuttestore.ca
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The PowderHorn Saloon
Friday October 15 2010
9pm
7 Balsam Ave Rocky View No 44
Bragg Creek AB
403 949 3946
www.powderhornsaloon.ca
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Wordfest and Banff Distinguished Author Series:
Celebrate Paul Quarrington
Porkbelly Futures with Dave Bidini, Katherine Govier,
Drew Hayden Taylor, Judith Keenan, Peter Oliva,
Rob Sanders, June Urquhart, and more.
Staging by David van Belle.
Margaret Greenham Theatre
Banff Centre for the Performing Arts
Saturday October 16 2010
7pm
Banff Centre for the Performing Arts
Banff AB
403 237 9068
www.banffcentre.ca/about/directions-maps
Tickets $20/$10 students/seniors
Wordfest: 403 237 9068 boxoffice@wordfest.com
Banff Centre: 403 762 6301/800 413 8368 boxoffice@banffcentre.ca
www.banffcentre.ca/events/box_office www.wordfest.com
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Minstrel Cafe and Bar
Monday October 18 2010
8pm
4638 Lakeshore Rd
Kelowna BC
250 764 2301
www.minstrelcafe.com
Tickets: $10
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The Back Hall
Denman Island Community Hall
Wednesday October 20 2010
8pm
on Northwest Rd
Denman Village BC
www.artsdenman.com/venues/community-hall
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Duncan Garage Showroom
Thursday October 21 2010
8pm
201 — 330 Duncan Rd
Duncan BC
250 748 7246
www.duncangarageshowroom.ca
Tickets: $30 Advance Ten Old Books
102 Duncan St 250 715 1383
$35 Door
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Vancouver International
Writers and Readers Festival
Performance Works
Friday October 22 2010
10:30pm
1218 Cartwright Street, Granville Island
Vancouver BC
604 681 6330
www.writersfest.bc.ca
Tickets: $12 at the door
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Hermann’s Jazz Club
Saturday October 23 2010 · TBC
9pm
753 View St
Victoria BC
250 388 9166
www.hermannsjazz.com
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The Ironwood
Tuesday October 26 2010
9pm
1229 9 Avenue SE
Calgary AB
403 269 5581
www.ironwoodstage.ca
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The Blue Chair
Wednesday October 27 2010
9pm
9624 76 Ave NW
Edmonton AB
780 989 2861
www.bluechair.ca
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Lydia’s
Thursday October 28 2010 · TBC
9pm
650 Broadway Ave
Saskatoon SK
306 652 8595
www.lydiaspub.com
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The Park Theatre and Movie Cafe
Friday October 29 2010
8pm
698 Osborne St
Winnipeg MB
204 487 7275
www.parktheatervideo.com/cafe
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The Music Studio
Saturday October 30 2010
8pm
940 Rosser Ave
Brandon MB
204 728 7993
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Hugh’s Room
Tuesday November 16 2010
8:30pm
2261 Dundas St W
Toronto ON
416 531 6604
www.hughsroom.com
Tickets: $22.50 Advance $27.50 Door
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The London Music Club
Saturday November 27 2010
8:30pm
470 Colborne St
London ON
www.londonmusicclub.com
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