Festival Place Announces CAFE SERIES Featuring David Jay, Kitehouse and More

Following on the heels of the successful sold-out October run, Festival Place, Sherwood Park's place for music has announced limited, COVID-19 capacity seating for the instrumental November Café Series by Qualico Communities.

Tickets are now on sale for the first two shows and will be on sale for the remainder in November on Wednesday November 4. Café Series by Qualico Communities is selling tables of two or four. Single tickets are not available for purchase. Tickets are $25 before fees and taxes, or $50 or $100 for tables. Please contact Ticketmaster for tickets.

"Café Series by Qualico Communities is an opportunity for local musicians and music lovers in the County and beyond to come together in a safe, friendly space to enjoy great instrumental music," says Festival Place Artistic Director Steve Derpack. "We thank our many loyal patrons, our sponsor Qualico Communities, and the County of Strathcona and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday nights."

NOVEMBER

David Jay

Saturday November 7
Instrumental World

Born in Mexico City, David Jay became obsessed with the guitar at an early age after watching his junior high school's classical guitar teacher practice Spanish guitar music. Now as a young man, Jay has combined his love for metal, classical, flamenco, and avant-garde folk to create beautiful hybrid pieces for fans to adore. Being dubbed "The Fastest Guitar Player in Alberta," David Jay's live performance will both shock and amaze. Perfecting his use of a live looping pedal, Jay recreates tense and beautiful soundscapes as a one-man self described "guitar orchestra."

"To me, listening to instrumental music is very much like reading a book in comparison to watching a movie," Jay says. "For example, songs with lyrics are more like movies, in which you are left with little room for your imagination to fill in the gaps. On the other hand, instrumental compositions provide the opportunity for the listener to unravel a wide array of interpretations."

KITEHOUSE

Saturday November 14
Instrumental Jazz

Kitehouse is an Edmonton based piano trio that aims to create, perform, and explore the evocative music of bandleader Stefan Kijek. The music is heavily visual, with storytelling elements reminiscent of classical and folk music but remains virtuosically and improvisationally jazz. Drummer Jamie Cooper and bassist Josh McHan join Stefan to fill out the stage in what is one of Edmonton's most unique acts.

MIKE CHENOWETH

Saturday November 21
Instrumental Blues

Since first seeing Taj Mahal performing with only a thumb piano on late-night television when I was about six years of age, I've always had a strong fascination with performing acoustically and unplugged. I still remember that occasion like it was only yesterday. After performing my first paid show on drums at the age of fourteen, I performed on bass and drums until the age of twenty when I chose guitar as my main instrument.

Since then, I've performed countless shows with Blues-Rock and R&B acts like The Shufflehounds, The Acousticats, Mister Lucky, and Sugarfoot. In recent years, I've been putting my full weight behind performing acoustic shows as a singer-songwriter. Last year, along with performing various other shows, I enjoyed hosting a weekly acoustic open stage at The Blues on Whyte, Edmonton's highly acclaimed premier live Blues destination. In 2020 I'm looking forward to releasing newly written material as I continue to present my acoustic show to the masses.

RYAN DAVIDSON TRIO

Saturday November 28
Instrumental Jazz

Ryan Davidson is a Canadian freelance guitarist who has performed and recorded professionally for 25 years. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies Performance from the University of North. In 2010, Ryan recorded "LAB 09" with the One O'clock Lab Band for which the group received 2 Grammy Nominations. With the One O'clock, he shared the stage with jazz legends Dave Brubeck, James Carter, Eddie Gomez and George Garzone.

In the country/rock music world, he has performed and/or recorded Gord Bamford, Dallas Smith, Brett Kissel, Dean Brody, Chad Brownlee, Jojo Mason, Meghan Patrick, and many more. He has been nominated 8 times for CCMA "Guitarist of the Year" and has took home the award twice in 2012 and 2015

In November of 2016, Ryan was a featured guitarist on the epic pop recording, Vinyl Hampdin "Red". The music was composed by 3-time Grammy nominee Steve Wiest and featured band members from the band Chicago, The David Letterman Band and Maynard Ferguson.