Joel Plaskett + Alexander Gallant at Brideworks
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Guitar Strings & Kidney Things Benefit:
JOEL PLASKETT WITH GUEST ALEXANDER GALLANT — LIVE AT BRIDGEWORKS FOR GSKT 2026!
For over three decades, Joel Plaskett has proven himself a spinning wheel of reinvention. The Nova Scotia songwriter's eclectic body of work reveals a restless and playful spirit, always transforming and expanding. While continuing to celebrate—and be celebrated for—his regional ties and embrace of East Coast musical traditions, Joel’s omnivorous appetite for new sonic horizons is an integral part of his work. His discography includes heavy riff epics, like Thrush Hermit's now-classic swansong Clayton Park (1999); low-fi and wide eyed solo records like In Need of Medical Attention (1999) and La De Da (2005); lean, loose and lyrical rock and roll with the Emergency on Down at the Khyber (2001) and Truthfully, Truthfully (2003); and a father-and-son nod to English folk traditions with Solidarity (2017). Then there are the endeavours that push the envelope further: the Emergency’s romantic epic concept album Ashtray Rock (2007); the months-long songwriting challenge Scrappy Happiness (2012); and Three (2009) and 44 (2020), Joel’s sprawling, multi-record ventures exploring love, loss, and existential investigation. For his latest release, the 4-track project One Real Reveal (2024), Plaskett strips his songwriting down to its raw materials, allowing everything in—all the human touches the tape could pick up—and letting (almost) everything out. Coast-to-coast and the world 'round, Joel has rocked crowds at clubs, festivals and grand old theatres with longtime Emergency bandmates Dave Marsh and Chris Pennell as well as drawn audiences close with intimate acoustic shows, both solo and with his father, Bill. Then there are the special events that have really allowed Joel to reach the rafters, like headlining Toronto’s Massey Hall with everyone in tow, playing the NAC in Ottawa backed by the national orchestra, and warming up huge stages for artists like The Tragically Hip and Paul McCartney. Joel and the Emergency have also been roundly celebrated within the music industry for their work, racking up awards and nominations from the JUNOs, the Polaris Music Prize, the East Coast Music Awards, Music Nova Scotia, and numerous others. 2025 saw the release of Songs From The Gang – A Celebration of Joel Plaskett – a deluxe covers album featuring the music of Joel Plaskett performed by Arkells, Sloan, Jill Barber, The Sheepdogs, Julian Taylor, Jenn Grant, Bahamas, City and Colour, Rose Cousins, Frank Turner, and many more.
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Alexander Gallant is a folk singer-songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a one-of-a-kind performer, his lush finger-picking, refreshingly original poetry and unpredictable yet delightfully sardonic stage banter has earned him a reputation as one of the best storytellers from the Atlantic provinces. “Your favourite songwriter’s favourite songwriter,” Gallant is adept at that old show business trick: make them laugh and make them cry. His unique perspective has cemented him as one of the most original voices in folk singer-songwriting in decades. Always a gleeful discovery to the uninitiated, Alexander wins over audiences from front parlours to folk clubs to theatres — he has delighted audiences all around eastern and central Canada.
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ABOUT GSKT
On October 31, 1997, at the age of 19, David Angus received a kidney transplant from his father, Ken. This marked a new start in David’s life after living with kidney disease since he was six months old. In April 2016, David was aware that the 20th anniversary of this remarkable event was fast approaching, and he saw an opportunity to use this milestone to give back to others. His idea was to host a charity concert to support Hamiltonians living with kidney disease to raise awareness for the adversity that influenced most of his life. Within a few minutes of running the idea by his father, Ken was on board. By the end of June of that year, David had connected with the Kidney Foundation of Canada to host a concert to support Hamiltonians with kidney disease to vacation at Lions Camp Dorset. This amazing facility was developed for individuals on dialysis to have a family getaway without missing their life saving treatment. With a few ideas thrown around, David’s close friend, Taryn Bastead, adorned this concert’s name as Guitar Strings and Kidney Things. On October 28, 2017, Guitar Strings and Kidney Things was held at Collective Arts Brewery in Hamilton. Headlined by Canadian legends, The Lowest of the Low, and supported by Gauer (formerly as The InBetwe3n) and comedian Adrian Cronk, the sell out crowd on hand raised over $13,000 for the cause. On May 4, 2019, David and Ken returned to Hamilton as Guitar Strings and Kidney Things raised over $27,000 to support St. Joseph’s Hospital’s redevelopment of their Charlton Campus dialysis unit. Their efforts helped to make the unit more patient centered for the over 600 people who receive treatments each week. For David and Ken, there is always more work to be done.
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$30 + FEES in ADVANCE
ALL AGES | LICENSED | DOORS at 7PM
TICKETS: https://www.tixr.com/e/192275
JOEL PLASKETT WITH GUEST ALEXANDER GALLANT — LIVE AT BRIDGEWORKS FOR GSKT 2026!
For over three decades, Joel Plaskett has proven himself a spinning wheel of reinvention. The Nova Scotia songwriter's eclectic body of work reveals a restless and playful spirit, always transforming and expanding. While continuing to celebrate—and be celebrated for—his regional ties and embrace of East Coast musical traditions, Joel’s omnivorous appetite for new sonic horizons is an integral part of his work. His discography includes heavy riff epics, like Thrush Hermit's now-classic swansong Clayton Park (1999); low-fi and wide eyed solo records like In Need of Medical Attention (1999) and La De Da (2005); lean, loose and lyrical rock and roll with the Emergency on Down at the Khyber (2001) and Truthfully, Truthfully (2003); and a father-and-son nod to English folk traditions with Solidarity (2017). Then there are the endeavours that push the envelope further: the Emergency’s romantic epic concept album Ashtray Rock (2007); the months-long songwriting challenge Scrappy Happiness (2012); and Three (2009) and 44 (2020), Joel’s sprawling, multi-record ventures exploring love, loss, and existential investigation. For his latest release, the 4-track project One Real Reveal (2024), Plaskett strips his songwriting down to its raw materials, allowing everything in—all the human touches the tape could pick up—and letting (almost) everything out. Coast-to-coast and the world 'round, Joel has rocked crowds at clubs, festivals and grand old theatres with longtime Emergency bandmates Dave Marsh and Chris Pennell as well as drawn audiences close with intimate acoustic shows, both solo and with his father, Bill. Then there are the special events that have really allowed Joel to reach the rafters, like headlining Toronto’s Massey Hall with everyone in tow, playing the NAC in Ottawa backed by the national orchestra, and warming up huge stages for artists like The Tragically Hip and Paul McCartney. Joel and the Emergency have also been roundly celebrated within the music industry for their work, racking up awards and nominations from the JUNOs, the Polaris Music Prize, the East Coast Music Awards, Music Nova Scotia, and numerous others. 2025 saw the release of Songs From The Gang – A Celebration of Joel Plaskett – a deluxe covers album featuring the music of Joel Plaskett performed by Arkells, Sloan, Jill Barber, The Sheepdogs, Julian Taylor, Jenn Grant, Bahamas, City and Colour, Rose Cousins, Frank Turner, and many more.
•
Alexander Gallant is a folk singer-songwriter based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As a one-of-a-kind performer, his lush finger-picking, refreshingly original poetry and unpredictable yet delightfully sardonic stage banter has earned him a reputation as one of the best storytellers from the Atlantic provinces. “Your favourite songwriter’s favourite songwriter,” Gallant is adept at that old show business trick: make them laugh and make them cry. His unique perspective has cemented him as one of the most original voices in folk singer-songwriting in decades. Always a gleeful discovery to the uninitiated, Alexander wins over audiences from front parlours to folk clubs to theatres — he has delighted audiences all around eastern and central Canada.
••
ABOUT GSKT
On October 31, 1997, at the age of 19, David Angus received a kidney transplant from his father, Ken. This marked a new start in David’s life after living with kidney disease since he was six months old. In April 2016, David was aware that the 20th anniversary of this remarkable event was fast approaching, and he saw an opportunity to use this milestone to give back to others. His idea was to host a charity concert to support Hamiltonians living with kidney disease to raise awareness for the adversity that influenced most of his life. Within a few minutes of running the idea by his father, Ken was on board. By the end of June of that year, David had connected with the Kidney Foundation of Canada to host a concert to support Hamiltonians with kidney disease to vacation at Lions Camp Dorset. This amazing facility was developed for individuals on dialysis to have a family getaway without missing their life saving treatment. With a few ideas thrown around, David’s close friend, Taryn Bastead, adorned this concert’s name as Guitar Strings and Kidney Things. On October 28, 2017, Guitar Strings and Kidney Things was held at Collective Arts Brewery in Hamilton. Headlined by Canadian legends, The Lowest of the Low, and supported by Gauer (formerly as The InBetwe3n) and comedian Adrian Cronk, the sell out crowd on hand raised over $13,000 for the cause. On May 4, 2019, David and Ken returned to Hamilton as Guitar Strings and Kidney Things raised over $27,000 to support St. Joseph’s Hospital’s redevelopment of their Charlton Campus dialysis unit. Their efforts helped to make the unit more patient centered for the over 600 people who receive treatments each week. For David and Ken, there is always more work to be done.
---
$30 + FEES in ADVANCE
ALL AGES | LICENSED | DOORS at 7PM
TICKETS: https://www.tixr.com/e/192275
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Where is it happening?
200 Caroline Street North, Hamilton, ON, Canada, Ontario L8R 0A6
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherBridgeworks
