Fortress Of Freedom Board

[Live At The Mersey]

"Live At The Mersey"



November 11th - Dave Dobson and Dave Gallant| November 12th - Darren Arsenault
November 13th - A Mersey Special Event - The Strawbs with special guest Andrew White

Show will begin at 8:00 pm and then a second show at 9: 00pm. The Mersey is located at 149 Main Street, Liverpool. NS. For more information | 902.354.4000 | If you would like advance notice and information on upcoming shows, please forward your email address to merseyhouse@hotmail.com and we will send you details.

"Live at the Mersey" would not be possible with out the support of our partners, our appreciation to Molson , CKBW Radio and Sure Shot Promotion

November 11th - Dave Dobson and Dave Gallant
Dave Dobson - ( vocals, guitar, percussion ) - Dave’s thirty-plus years performing as a songsmith has given him an uncountable repertoire of material which he performs with a confident, crystal clear voice and a driving rhythm guitar. Dave’s early years were spent in various 70’s rock/pop bands touring the country but he eventually turned to the emerging solo, duo and trio markets to craft his living. He currently plays several clubs as a solo performer and backing other artists such as Roger Stone and Louisa Manuel.



Dave Gallant - ( vocals, lead-rhythm-bass guitar, flute, percussion ) - Dave G. also has over three decades of musical performances under his belt. Honing his chops in various rock bands in the 70‘s, he later played and toured with well known Maritime acts such as Oakley, Frank Mackay, Sam Moon and Wayne Nicholson. For the past five years Dave has focused with Dobson on smaller combos without bass and drums, perfecting his unique technique of playing lead, rhythm and bass on the same guitar, at the same time. This,combined with Dobson’s consistent driving rhythm work, creates a very full sound that has packed many a dance floor.



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November 12th - Darren Arsenault
Darren lives deep in the woods in a place called Farmington, not far from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He celebrates black flies, stays up all night, writes and sings great songs, and never answers the telephone before 11am! Known for his strong banjo and guitar ability. His rhythmic and percussive style comes from his formative years as a drummer. His Resonant voice and emotionally charged lyrics ice the multi-layered cake that is his repertoire. He plays lead and rhythm guitar (acoustic and electric), banjo, dobra, mandolin, harmonica, drums, percussion and a little fiddle and piano. He loves different styles of music and never plays too much of any .Swing, country, folk, acoustic blues, jazz, bluegrass, r&b - He loves it all. He doesn't stick to one style of music so his performances are very eclectic and he always has a score of talented people to play with. Darren's style comes from the influences of Ry Cooder, John Hartford, Leo Kotke, Steve Earl, Guy Clark, Taj Mahal, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Robert Johnson, Tom Waits, and playing over traffic in the years he spent busking.. His jaunty guitar solos have percussive licks that ring clear and bright from the finger picks he wears. His love of bass and bottom end gives him a solid sound, pounding and pulsating with rhythm. These days Darren has been working with a trio consisting of George Barkhouse on the upright bass and Paul Buchanan on piano. These guys have been making a lot of feet tap every where they play. www.darrenarsenault.com


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A Mersey Special Event

The Strawbs

Sunday, November 13th
Showtime 8:00 pm and at 9:00pm.
The Mersey is located at 149 Main Street, Liverpool
"Hearing the brilliant Strawbs was like a tutorial in UK folk music from the past 40 years.
(Edmonton Sun - August 2004)

Limited seating available | Reservations Recommended 902.354.4000

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE POPE DIED? Most people remember where they were when President Kennedy was shot or when the dreadful events of 9/11 took place. Strawbs will never forget where they were when the Pope died.

Strawbs in their acoustic line-up were onstage in a mediaeval library in Olgiate Comasco, near Lake Como in Italy. They were just finishing 'The Antique Suite', written by Dave Cousins about the death of an old doctor friend, when the lights dimmed. The chair of the library came onstage to announce the death of His Holiness and asked Strawbs to take a five-minute break. In difficult and moving circumstances they returned to sing 'A glimpse of heaven' and 'Lay down'.

Strawbs are well known for the depth of emotion and spirituality in their songs. The latest album 'DEJA FOU' was released last summer and re-unites David Cousins, Dave Lambert, and Chas Cronk, the front line of the classic 1970s line-up of Britain's most successful international folk-rock band.

Strawbs first hit the charts in the UK and Europe in the early 1970s with 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting at the Seams', each selling 100,000 copies in the UK alone. From the mid-1970s Strawbs concentrated their attention on the United States and Canada where their albums, including the classics 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts', spent over fifty-two weeks on the Billboard charts. Strawbs toured with the likes of Santana, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, REO Speedwagon, Joe Walsh, Blue Oyster Cult, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa.

Rick Wakeman played with the Strawbs for two years before moving on to achieve world-wide success with Yes, and as a solo artist. The much-loved Sandy Denny made an album with the Strawbs before she joined Fairport Convention. www.thestrawbs.com


Andrew White

"White is one of those few blessed individuals who combine international-class finger style guitar playing with great vocals and superb song writing. His raw, expressive, high-tenor voice combines wonderfully with his gutsy, snappy and yet sophisticated guitar work."
Ian Melrose (guitarist, Clannad, Norland Wind)

Andrew White originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, moved to New Zealand when he was 16 and quickly established himself as one of NZ's top guitarists and singer-songwriters. He released his first album, Conversations, in 1984 and was immediately signed by the US label Narada Records. So far, he has recorded nine CD’s, including Islands, a collaboration with 1995 Grammy-nominated artist David Arkenstone.

Following a live broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland, he was snapped up by Linn Records and recorded Guitarra Celtica, a stunning instrumental album featuring 16 hauntingly beautiful original tracks. His latest recording and Andrew's first vocal album, Pray For Rain, features such artists as Karen Matheson (Cappercaille), Michael McGoldrick (Afro Celt Sound System), and Brendan Power (Sting, Ray Charles). Released on the independent Scottish label Vertical Records and produced by Capercaillie founder Donald Shaw, it is a skilful recording with a unique mix of styles, strengthened by Andrew's brilliant guitar playing and soulful vocals. Worldwide, 800,000 copies have been sold of albums including Andrew's own compositions.

Andrew White has toured internationally as a soloist and supporting superstars such as Irish folk rock group Clannad, The Coors, Michelle Shocked, The Indigo Girls, Taj Mahal and many more. He also toured with Scots folk/MOR outfit Capercaillie and took a 50,000-strong German festival audience by storm in a pairing with Brendan Power, the harmonica sensation from the Riverdance Orchestra.

Andrew's unique sound was inspired in his youth by folk guitar greats Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn but is of a generation even more mind-blowing in its dexterity and inventiveness on the fretboard. While technically brilliant, his guitar work is not just out to impress - it has a pleasing, highly melodic structure. In acoustic circles in Scotland, where he lived until recently, those who have been lucky enough to see him rate him on a par with Tony McManus, but in a different genre.

After sold-out tours with Australia's guitar-magician Tommy Emanuel in Ireland and New Zealand and successful solo tour of NZ with Cape Breton Fiddle virtuoso Gillian Boucher, Andrew is currently touring Canada. www.andrewwhite.com