August Newsletter 2011

Well, August is upon us, and all I can say is…wow. The fact is, I’ve written a very difficult story this month. It was difficult to write and has been even more difficult to send, but I hope you’ll take a minute (…OK, more like 15 minutes, who am I kidding?) and read it, and, maybe, if you’d like, share it, pass it along...I don’t know. You’ll see what I’m talking about. So anyway, that’s out of the way…let’s talk news….

Tonight (if you’re getting this on Tuesday August 2nd) is a Jerry Garcia Birthday Tribute at the branch…Jerry was the center of the musical phenomenon, The Grateful Dead, that sprang out of the idealistic and slightly drugged up culture that was San Francisco in the 60s—I’ve lived in SF (not in the 60s, duh.), I’ve enjoyed their music for years, and I even got to see a show, in 1989, just a few short years before Jerry died and music lost his unique voice forever…His songs, ones he co-wrote or even just performed, however, live on…tonight, with the help of host, Dave Scully, we will celebrate his life and legacy with an intimate show and some jams at the branch, come on out if you are interested in good music or even, really, just good times.

August Art and August Charity Event and August Movie Night:

I’ll cover a couple more points of interest before I get to the rest of the music. August, at the branch, has become the month we set aside to support one of our finest local charities: Ryan’s Well. The following Press Release gives a pretty good run-down of the month’s clean water initiative related events: please feel free to cut and paste it in part or in total and send it around to anyone and/or everyone that you think may be interested:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thirsty? Glass of water only 25¢ during August.
Ryan’s Well won’t run dry this summer with the help of the branch restaurant and its generous customers.
For every glass of water served this month, guests are encouraged to donate 25¢ towards Ryan’s Well Foundation programs; the branch restaurant will match the donations collected and present them to the internationally recognized Kemptville-based charity.
In 1998, when local boy Ryan Hreljac was in Grade 1, he learned from his teacher that people were dying because they didn't have clean water to drink. He decided that raising money for those without access to this basic need was the right thing to do. He worked for four months doing extra chores around his house to earn his first $70. Ryan was just seven years old when his first well was built in 1999 at a school in a Ugandan village. The well continues to serve thousands of people. Ryan's vision, as a young boy in 1998 and to this day as a young man, is for every person in the world to have a simple necessity – access to safe water. Ryan and his Foundation continue to pursue this goal of clean water and sanitation for all. The Foundation has helped build 682 water projects and 821 latrines, bringing safe water and improved sanitation to 723,375 people.
Ryan’s story has made people realize that anyone, even kids in Grade 1, can make a difference.
In late February 2010, Ryan's Well representatives travelled to Uganda and were joined by professional photographer, Lesley Marino. Ms. Marino’s photos capture the incredible people, communities, struggles, impacts, and un-told stories the water and sanitation projects - her incredible photography really does prove that a picture is worth 1,000 words.
The branch restaurant is honoured to have Ms. Marino’s photos documenting the work of Ryan’s Well on display during the month of August. Don’t miss the opportunity to view them anytime this month. Come to the vernissage and meet the artist on Tuesday, August 23rdfrom 5 to 8pm.
Thirsty for more about water? Sustainable North Grenville is pleased to screen the movie 'Blue Gold’: World Water Wars' at The Branch Restaurant on Monday, August 8th, which also features Kemptville’s Ryan Hreljac.
Doors open at 6:45 with refreshments, a light buffet, coffee and sweets by donation, as well as a cash bar. The film starts at 7:00pm. $5.00 admission at the door.' For more info contact the branch restaurant , 15 Clothier Street East, Old Town Kemptville, 613-258-3737.

August Music:

As mentioned, tonight we will feature host Dave Scully leading us in a Jerry Garcia Birthday Tribute and jam…bring a guitar or something, it’s gonna be fun…(Tuesday, August 2; 7pm, no cover) This Friday and for three other Fridays this month, Frank and Birdie will be back singing songs of love, redemption and hope. And meatballs (Fridays 5, 19 &26; 7pm, no cover). This Saturday, Trevor Alguire is bringing his original country rock and rootsy stylings back to the branch… not only is he the master of the soulful country rock ballad, I've also been informed that he is also the master of a triple olly on a half-pipe (...a poor attempt by this clumsy fella at a skateboard in-joke, in case you were wondering...) but Saturday, he is back for another night of magic in his 'favourite place to play',(...but I'm sure he says that to all the venues...blushes...) (Saturday, August 6; 9pm, $10)

Next Friday, come see the Heroic Mad Peasants, aka; Shawn, Katie and Doug, as they bring their strings and sings from folk to roots to harmony and back again for all ages, from all ages and, despite the name, with hardly ever a single torch and pitchfork laden march on the town square to date. You wouldn’t want to miss the first one though, would you? Just sayin…(Friday, August 12; 7pm, no cover.) And next Saturday, speaking of heroic mad people, Brandon Agnew, branch favourite and one of Ottawa’s most exciting hidden treasures is back—Brandon brings a bit of New Orleans grit to a unique, honest lyric driven style that ranges from folk to indie to a kind of outsider jazz—He is a character, a storyteller, and an excellent way to spend a Saturday night! (Saturday, August 13; 9pm, $5)

The following Thursday is the return of Christo—The young talented Mr. Graham is well known locally for his precocious talent, at the tender age of just like 17 or 18 or something, he is at the branch to release his third(!) cd…He is joined on the record by Amanda Giles and for the show will feature a band going under the moniker ‘The Men of Science’. This, my friends, is a must-see. (Thursday, August 18; 9pm, $5) But just in case you can’t make it…he’s back with his pal Alex Leggett on that Saturday…Alex is another young, vibrant spirit—a Ganonoque kid whose music has taken from our nearest shore to a number of other venues abroad, including Wakefield’s famous stage at the Black Sheep Inn. He will be joined by Christo Graham as an opener, followed by a headline set of his own original pop and indie tunes. It’s a smiley show, folks, highly recommended! (Saturday, August 20; 9pm, $5)

Come back the next Thursday for another cd release show, this time with touring songstress Sarah MacDougall, her bio says it all: “Sarah MacDougall is a rising star on the Canadian Folk Music scene with her dynamite songs, blistering guitar chops and astounding voice. She has been earning rave reviews and topping major music writers top ten album of the year lists as a songwriter with her offi­cial debut album Across the Atlantic (2009), all the while producing and engineering her own music. Born in Sweden, 24 hrs Vancouver called her ‘one of the most promising exports out of Sweden since Abba’ and Across the Atlantic got four-star reviews in such notable publications as Q magazine, the Irish Times, No Depression, and many more.” So yeah, that’s Kemptville on Thursday night, where are you gonna be? Patrick Brealey, another touring singer songwriter will be opening… (Thursday August 25; 9pm--$10 advance or $12 at the door). Then come on back that Saturday for…well…me! That’s right, I, Chef Bruce, will be taking on a Saturday night on August 27thfor a rare appearance with the latest incarnation of a bit of a band thing we’ve got happening these days…aka ‘The Burning Sensations,’ featuring Jay Williams on bass and Ben Mullin on guitar, as well as some other folks, if they’re willin’! (Saturday, August 27; 9pm, no cover!)

OK, so I came to Canada for the first time in 2003 and settled here officially in 2005…So let’s just say I missed out on the whole ‘Spirit of the West’ thing…Trust me, I am making up for lost time. The branch is honoured this month to be a host to an actual Canadian legend, John Mann, lead singer and songwriter for the popular and talented band in question: here’s and excerpt from his website: ‘Mann pens beautiful melodies with emotionally honest lyrics that capture the intimate moments of his hometown of Vancouver, its occupants, the fragile details of their dysfunctional love and the loss of a city’s innocence. If Damien Rice was Jeff Tweedy and Jeff Tweedy was Josh Ritter, you’d come away with something kindred to December Looms.’ That, my friends is the making of an exciting evening at the branch—one to tell the kids about…(Tuesday, August 30; 8pm $22) Best to reserve ahead for this one, it is already filling up!

August Calendar:

Tuesday 2 ~ Jerry Garcia Birthday Tribute ...Deadheads Unite! ...7pm, free!
Friday 5 ~ Frank Westernand Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 6 ~ Trevor Alguire, he's back! ...9pm, $10
Friday 12 ~ Heroic Mad Peasants …7pm, free!
Saturday 13 ~ Brandon Agnew...9pm, $5
Thursday 18 ~ Christo Graham, CD Release Party! ...9pm, $5
Friday 19 ~ Frank Western and Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 20 ~ Alex Leggett...9pm, $5
Thursday 25 ~ Sarah Macdougall, 9pm, $12 ($10 advance) with Patrick Brealeyopening
Friday 26 ~ Frank Westernand Birdie Whyte...7pm, free!
Saturday 27 ~ Chef Bruce and the Burning Sensations …9pm, free!
Tuesday 30 ~ John Mann, former ‘Spirit of the West’ …8pm, $22