Featured Songwriters: Kim Stockwood, Kelly Prescott, Troy Kokol, plus impromptu guests Damhnait Doyle and Mallory Johnson who joined Kelly on their cowrite. Surprise Guest Host: Andy Kim (accompanied by Derek Downham). See songwriter bios at the end of this post.
Four Chords and the Truth, the Dakota Confessions are series of songwriter showcases held quarterly in Toronto at the Dakota Tavern, featuring a blend of top notch songwriters and songs in an intimate environment. Each show is hosted by award-winning songwriter Andrea England and will features several nationally and/or internationally acclaimed songwriters (and maybe a surprise guest or two). The songs are performed “in the round,” a style made famous by Nashville’s Bluebird Café, in which all four songwriters share the stage at once, each introducing and performing one song acoustically per round for a series of 3 rounds. The show is presented by Jack Daniel’s and supports the Unison Benevolent Fund.
7th Dakota Confessions RECAP:
Kim Stockwood
Kim Stockwood is a born entertainer, a fine songwriter and a successful recording artist. Her solo success comes from multiple radio hits including “Jerk”, “She’s Not In Love”, and “You Won’t Remember This”. Kim has also hit the top of the charts with trio, Shaye, with “Happy Baby” and “Lake of Fire”. Kim’s most recent album, Back to the Water, is a collection of traditional folk songs, a tribute to her beloved Newfoundland. Winner of the ECMA award for Folk/Traditional Solo Recording of the Year in 2012, the record has been embraced by folk audiences and Stockwood fans across Canada. Whether as a television personality, radio host, or onstage, Kim Stockwood captivates audiences with her talent and charm.
Kelly Prescott
Kelly Prescott is a third generation singer/songwriter, hailing from two musically renowned family lines. She has naturally inherited the foundation to follow her musical heart, drawing inspiration from her great Canadian roots. When her voice is blended with steel guitars and fiddles, country music lovers from way-back-when hear a kindred soul. When she spins the dial forward a few decades, it’s clear she’s part of a new generation that’s making new sounds and big waves. Kelly has released four albums and a new EP ft. Jim Cuddy and Buddy Miller. Her past endeavours with former group, The Claytones, garnered a nomination for Americana Album of the Year at the Independent Music Awards in 2015. They were in the top Folk/Roots albums of 2014 on Stingray Music and won the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the 2013 Ottawa Folk Festival. Kelly and her brother, Kaylen proudly wrote, produced and recorded the official 2015 campaign song for Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada.
Troy Kokol
Troy Kokol is a 2 time CCMA Songwriter of the Year nominee and winner of the SOCAN Award for Country Music. With over 150 cuts to his name, he has produced and written songs in a variety of genres with artists from coast to coast including Brett Kissel, Shane Yellowbird, 2016 Juno nominee Don Amero and host of other amazing talent.
Andrea England
Nova Scotia-born Toronto-based Andrea England has a unique ability to work successfully in two different music worlds, recording and performing as a solo roots/country artist while placing songs with pop stars and emerging country artists. Having been awarded by the John Lennon International, NSAI, USA, and International Songwriting Competitions, England’s songs have appeared on numerous TV series, in feature films, and have been recorded by numerous artists, including former Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger (whose recording of co-write “Casualty” on Killer Love earned Andrea her first UK Gold record), 2015 CCMA nominee Twin Kennedy (cowrites “Get Back Up” and “I Never Will” book-end their new album, It’s A Love Thing) and rising star Meghan Patrick (“Nothing but a Song” on Grace & Grit) among others. Andrea’s own most recent release, Hope & Other Sins – which was produced by Colin Linden and features guest musicians Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Damhnait Doyle, Liz Rodrigues and Gordie Sampson, among others – garnered rave reviews and diverse radio play, reaching #1 on Galaxy’s FolkRoots chart & spending 14 wks on CashBox Magazine’s Top 50 Folk Chart. Of it, David Kidney (Critics at Large) wrote: “The songs are autobiographical, personal, honest and universal. The performances are potent as you might expect; England’s vocals are delicate yet strong…”
Andy Kim (Surprise Guest)
Born in Montreal, rock indie pop singer/songwriter Andy Kim was inspired by the Beatles, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan. He found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How’d We Ever Get This Way?, the first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including #1 songs Rock Me Gently and Sugar, Sugar, one of Billboard’s “Greatest Songs of All Time.” A true Canadian son, Andy has been awarded the country’s top industry honor twice, the JUNO Award for outstanding achievements in the record industry, as well as the “Indie Award” for Favorite Solo Artists in 2005. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records, with songs covered by music history’s greats, including Wilson Pickett, Tom Jones, Ike & Tina Turner, and Bob Marley and has even been said to influence 80s metal band Def Leppard. He has recently performed and co-wrote songs with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies and Ron Sexsmith. In early 2010 and at the supportive urging of friends and fans including American rock and pop legends and today’s hottest indie artists, Andy will release ‘HAPPEN AGAIN’, an album of 10 brand new songs, each true to his passionate belief that “those who chase their dreams succeed only through sheer determination and a steadfast belief in the power of the individual to influence a multitude by speaking from the heart.” Throughout his career, Andy has always maintained an unwavering and unconditional love for his music, believing that “art is more important than the artist.” His new music possesses the timeless, transcendent and transforming qualities of his songs before, while giving us a very personal look into the artist’s take on love and change. Songs such as “3 Days in Heaven,” “Someday”, “Without You,” and “Happen Again” express the faith in love, life and the importance of personal strength to enduring change. In 2010 Andy was inducted into the “Hit Parade Hall of Fame” and is already in the “Songwriters Hall of Fame.” He lives in Los Angeles and produces under his own label, !ceworks, with plans to tour across Canada.”It was such a pleasure to write and produce a song with Andy Kim. He believes in the power of music, he loves songs, and he is SO rock and Roll. Beyond the massive hits, and the multi-decade career, there is a wonderful man who I’m proud to call my friend.”- Ed Robertson, Barenaked Ladies
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