Rick Bauer has been writing and performing for well over 25 years. He has many recordings to his credit as well as winning numerous awards for his work, including two recognition awards from Much Music in Toronto and the Porcupine award from C.I.U.T. Radio for best blues song of 1992. His topical songs have been a favourite of our National radio station at the CBC... Indeed his songs have been heard on more radios than any other household appliance!!

A perennial favourite at conventions, conferences, political functions, product launchings, music festivals, national exhibitions and world fairs, Rick presents a refreshing, intelligent and unusual combination of humour, musicality and lively commentary. From the Stephen Leacock Humour Festival in Orillia, Ontario, to the Folk on the Rocks Festival in Yellowknife, NWT, and many points in between, Rick has performed throughout Canada and the U.S. and as far away as Korea.

A professional musician for over 25 years, Rick has fronted as well as performed with an eclectic and vast array of musical configurations, reflecting his love for various types of roots and contemporary music. Rick is a multi-instrumentalist who often incorporates humour, stepdancing and audience participation into his stage show. He has been known to pull out folk songs, Bluegrass and Swing classics, Cajun or Celtic tunes as well as a surprising variety of contemporary and progressive music as well.

A well-known and well-travelled sideman, he has performed with such artists as Margaret Christl, Nancy White, Shawn Cullen, Ed McCurdy, John Cunningham, Ryan's Fancy, John Allen Cameron, Dave MacIsaac and Gordon Bok as well as sharing the stage with such notables as Spirit Of The West, Kastin, Lennie Gallant, Blue Rodeo and Rita MacNeil.

He is presently a member of CATFISH WILLIE and BIG WOOD, a retro-cool swing trio based in Tweed, Ontario as well as being the co-creator and writer for one of Eastern Ontario's most popular political/satirical funny men THE FRERE BROTHERS. Rick has recorded three Frere Brothers CD's plus his own comedy CD and his own Christmas CD and Celtic CD. His radio, television and commercial credits are numerous (including guest host for CBC's "Simply Folk") and he has recorded with a variety of other artists. He is also an experienced theatrical actor and "pit" musician.

QUOTES:

"A superb musician" - Community Press, Stirling, Ontario
"Manic and marvelous" - Wire Music Magazine
"A fine artist and a helluva guitar player" - Ed McCurdy, Composer
"A versatile musician who can take his craft seriously" - Kingston Whig Standard
A local legend...razor sharp wit and hilarious depictions of country life" - Picton Gazette
"You must be magic" - Lacey, age 5
"A fiddler extraordinaire" - Stirling Tweed News

ROYAL SONG AND DANCE: From the beautiful Scottish rhythms of Cape Breton Island to the intricate flatfoot patterns of the Appalachians, THE ROYAL SONG AND DANCE perform stepdances that have evolved along with their regional traditional music. Their performing repertoire consists of Canadian stepdances from Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Quebec and the Ottawa Valley, as well as jigs from Ireland and Appalachian clogs from the United States. They use traditional instrumentation which includes fiddle, melodeon, bodran and mouth music to take the audience on a voyage of cultural discovery loaded with wonderful and unique destinations. Workshops consist of basic steps for beginners and/or a short routine in any of the styles they perform. Performance requirements: a secure wooden stage (at least 8 feet by 8 feet).

RICK BAUER and KEN GRANT are BIG WOOD. Rick and Ken have played every kind of music with every kind of band at every kind of place with every kind of people at every time of the day for every kind of pay. They are both well respected and highly favoured as sidemen and "session" players for just about as many bands as they have musical interests. Together they form a dynamic musical mix which is almost as exciting and fun to watch as it is to hear. They play a hip mix of contemporary, pop music, rock and roll, folk and traditional music as well as whatever might be cool with them or their audience on any given night. They do get out a bit.

THE ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN-THE-BASEMENT: The three members of the Academy (Al Fine, Del Segno and Sonny Lematina) demonstrate in no uncertain terms that classical music can actually be fun. With a repertoire that fears no critic, the group plays homage to the great works of classical music both known and unknown. Whether it be Bach, Quantz or Bugs Bunny, the Academy wanders fearlessly where others refuse to go.

See also, Ricco the Balloon Guy