2004 News Archive
New Sirens Demos
November 28, 2004
No, that isn’t the Sirens’ tour van. This fall, Craig Cole’s Sirens car won two trophies in Figure 8 demolition derbies. More pictures are available in the Sirens Scrapbook.
But that’s not all: there are new Sirens music demos to be heard too. These are preview tracks from the duo’s long-awaited third studio album, Two Step, currently scheduled to be released in early 2005.
Look
November 10, 2004
A special new Sirens song, Look, was premiered to over 49 million Ukrainians (and worldwide on the web) on Remembrance Day, November 11, at 11:30 a.m. on the Ukrainian service of CBC International. The song leads off Act 2 of the play Home and Native Land by Dan Ebbs. Look (subtitled Eighty Thousand Voices) is written from the perspective of Castle Mountain, looking down upon what has been done to the people barely surviving at its feet. The song is currently recorded in English with piano, and will be translated and sung in Ukrainian without accompaniment.
Donna would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk for his unyielding support for this project. More information about Canada’s first national internment operations can be found on the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association website.
Lyrics: Donna Creighton/Jo-Ann Lawton
Original Music: Donna Creighton
Piano & Vocals: Donna Creighton
Producer: Louise Fagan
Audio Engineer: Jason Chapman
Recorded at: Boreal Forest Music Productions
Goodbye from Amber
May 26, 2004
I must confess that I was delighted when, a few months later, no one else had worked out and I was given the opportunity to change my mind and asked if I could stay.
It’s been 2½ years since that first rehearsal and now I feel it’s time for me to move on to other things. I have a vocal studio to run, an education to finish and my own music to continue to discover.
To Donna and Jo-Ann, you have become close companions to me in so many ways. Thank you for letting me into your creative world. It has been a privilege to perform, create, learn and grow with two of the finest artists in Canada, and life changing to have spent this time with two stellar individuals. I have felt like a member of a family and I will miss so many things: the writing weekends, the stories in the tour van, the coffee-coke.
I wish you the best in all of your future successes, of which I’m sure there will be many.
I love you forever!
Amber
Jo-Ann at the Mug
May 19, 2004
Jo-Ann will be performing a solo gig at the Ugly Mug Café on Friday, May 28. Admission is free, with pass-the-hat donations going to the Home County Folk Festival.
Help Is Close To Home
April 11, 2004
Sirens are taking part in a benefit concert for the Home County Folk Festival on May 14. Also on the bill are terrific local entertainers John P. Allen (of Prairie Oyster), the Dixie Flyers, Nora Galloway (of Foxtail, and a former Siren), and The Jitterbugs.
The concert will be at the London Central Library’s Wolf Performance Hall; doors open at 7:30 for the 8:00pm show. Tickets are available in advance for $20 at The Village Idiot (135 Wortley Road, 519-434-9594), Chapters North (86 Fanshawe Park Road East, 519-672-6781), and the London Guitar Shoppe (364 Richmond Street, 519-439-2000). They may also be purchased at the door for $25.
Winners!
March 28, 2004
The second annual London Music Awards were presented on March 28, and for the second year in a row Sirens were named Favourite Folk/World/Celtic Act. Thanks to everyone who voted for Sirens this year!
Want to share your thoughts on the awards? Come on over and say hi!
WoodSongs
February 20, 2004
You can now see and hear the Sirens from the comfort of your own home (without hiring them for a house concert, that is). Their 2003 WoodSongs performance is online in both video and audio-only formats! Visit the WoodSongs show archive and look for show number 247.
Jo-Ann at the Ugly Mug
Added January 31, 2004
Jo-Ann will be performing solo at the Ugly Mug Café this Friday, February 6 at 8:00pm. There is no cover charge for the evening.
An Evening of Singer-Songwriters
Added January 24, 2004
The Fred Landon Library is hosting an evening with London’s best singer-songwriters on Friday, February 20 at 7:30pm. Not coincidentally, all of the featured performers—Sirens’ own Jo-Ann Lawton and Donna Creighton, Mosaic’s Catherine McInnes and The Cartwheels’ Brenda McMorrow—are nominated for the 2003 London Music Awards. Tickets are available for purchase at the Village Idiot (135 Wortley Road) or by phone at 519-434-9594.
A View of the Pond
Added January 14, 2004
Sirens will be performing a house concert at Pond View Pines (about 15 minutes west of London) on January 24 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door; contact Joanne and David via e-mail or by phone at 519-764-9505. If weather permits there will be skating on the pond before and after the performance!
One for the Angels
Added January 14, 2004
St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church will be hosting Sirens this Friday, January 16. For more information, call 519-471-7780.
Freewheeling Folk
Added January 6, 2004
Jim Marino’s Freewheeling Folk Show holds an annual folk benefit concert to keep non-profit radio station CFMU on the air. This year Sirens are among the invited guests; also performing are Martha’s Trouble, Foxtail, and David Leask. The gig is on February 21st at 7:00pm, and tickets are $15. Further details may be found in CFMU’s announcement, or you can get in touch with the band.