Canadian Music Nights #1

Canadian Music Nights #1, is the first in a series of concerts where American artists will be celebrating their love of Canadian music and the culture that created it. We will be singing the timeless songs that our neighbors up north penned or simply made famous.
This truly underground location is the perfect location to launch a movement to send a positive message to the people of Canada that Seattle, its artists, and the craftspeople and buskers of Pike Place Market have a deep and profound respect for our northern neighbors. We understand why many are not making the trip and we are going to stream this event so anyone and everyone in Canada and the free world can share our message of love.
Our mission is simple: “to celebrate Canadian music and people we love.”
THE ARTISTS
More of a musical bridge than simply a headliner, our own Pike Place Gospel music legend, James Young will be at the top of the bill, as we present his unique collection of multi talented music friends that will perform Canadian music they connect with deeply.
We will also be showcasing some music from a forthcoming solo album by Mr. Young that has been made possible by Friends of The Market, a group of citizens of Seattle that have themselves had a unique role in preserving and protecting Pike Place.
Erin McNamee, Johnathan Evergreen, Ian Jones, and Gina Karaba will be accompanying James Young, and performing as soloists. All of the performers are license buskers at The Market.
We will also have some Canadian musicians involved that will be announced soon!
OUR CANADIAN JOURNALIST
We will be working with Canadian music journalist Phil Saunders on considering songs we have yet to discover, as well as highlighting music that should be better known on both sides of the border.
Phil Saunders is a former CBC journalist and author of the book No Flash Please: Underground Music in Toronto 1987-1992. His deep knowledge and scholarship has already made this music series a more authentic study of Canadian song. His research and first hand experience exploring the relationships between Canadian and American musicians, is one of the major touchstones of the night.
THE MAGICIAN
We are proud to include Mr Unity, an 86 year old naturalized citizen from Vietnam. He was once a barber in his homeland that retrained himself as a magician. Since the early 2010s he has entertained millions at The Pike Place Market with his magic. However he is prohibited by the Market from performing his greatest trick of all, in which he swallows old fashioned razor blades to the surprise of all. He will perform this trick at Canadian Music Nights #1 — and he shall represent the spirit of unity and the wonderful gifts the world brings us when a culture has the wisdom to accept it.
OUR HOSTS
The evening will be presented by the radio show 100 Miles of Music and emceed by program's hosts, Davin Stedman and Stevor Compton. Not coincidentally, Phil Saunders was the co-owner of the short lived Canadian American magazine that's mission of connecting our two nations inspired Davin to create 100 Miles of Music, as a clever way to describe the fact that nearly the entire population of Canada lives within 100 miles of the United States.