Category: Uncategorized

Golfers – plan to participate

2011 Inaugural Charity Golf Event in Support of The Ippolito Foundation, Copetown Ontario Proceeds raised will benefit local charities and community groups including McDermott House Canada. Saturday, June 25, 2011. Visit their website for more information or download entry form here.

Well Spring is here and the Summer is just around the corner, it has been one of those winters that won’t go away. The ice is still thick on the bay but I can hear the cracks and the moaning of the ice as it gives way to the waters of summer.

We are very excited about the coming year and for the first time in my career I will be performing at a FOLK FESTIVAL. Yes, a folk festival, and at the best one you can think of – the Mariposa Folk Festival, July 8th and 9th. Our spot is on the 9th, late evening, main stage and my musical director Jason Fowler, along with Brian MacMillan and Ray Legere, will be doing workshops on July 9th and 10th. I will also be doing workshops with my players on the 9th during the day and will post details on the site as they become available.

The Fall tour is just about confirmed with a few open dates yet to be confirmed and it is as always a very busy schedule. We will once again have some special guests and I think this is the best year yet for guests. I will post the names as we confirm dates and I know you will all be thrilled with the line up.

We are working a couple of new CDs – one is a Christmas CD and the other a tribute to the great Irish poet Thomas Moore. Both discs will be released in time for the Fall tour.

So as we head into Summer we will keep you apprised of the Fall tour and events relating to McDermott House Canada.

Enjoy the Spring, Happy Easter, and may you have a safe and sun-filled Summer.

John, Jason, Brian, George, Gary, Ray and Mick.

Feb 5, 2011 update: Zoomer Radio interviewed John about McDermott House Canada.

January 19, 2011 update: CBC video coverage of the funeral of Sgt. Ryan Russell, for which we were honoured to perform.

As we come to end of another year, a wonderful year, we look back at the fond memories of the Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall. Of the sheer joy we had on tour and now the reality of McDermott House Canada Foundation.

I am so proud of the wonderful board of directors for MHC, my partner Trudy Eagan, and the incredible team at Sunnybrook working together to allow McDermott House Canada to accomplish the amazing transformation of the palliative care unit in K1E Veterans wing at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Over the next 3 years we will endeavour to raise the funds required to complete our mission and with your help and support it will become a reality. I am asking that you share our dream with your family, friends and colleagues – every little bit helps and every donation will be acknowledged and appreciated.

The CD Journeys will continue to be available in stores with the proceeds going to MHC.

Our touring schedule for 2011 is well underway and many of the dates are now posted on the website with many more to come. Thank you for your support throughout 2010 and we look forward to sharing our music with you in 2011.

Best wishes to all of you for a very happy, safe and joyful holiday Season and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

John, Jason, Brian, George, Ray, Gary…and of course, Rosie

Well that was the best Summer we have had in a good number of years. Lots of easy, quiet time at home with family and friends, so we’re well rested and raring to go. The Fall tour is upon us and we have some very exciting news to share with you – McDERMOTT HOUSE CANADA is now a reality.

The Fall 2010 tour is a coast-to-coast affair, beginning on Vancouver Island and then heading off to Atlantic Canada. My guests this year are Cape Breton Fiddling sensation Rosie Mackenzie who will be joining up with us when we begin our east Coast tour in Moncton on November 18th and she’ll be with us for the remainder of the tour.

Also joining us will be legendary Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Hill, December 3rd through 5th and 15th to 22nd. After almost a decade away from the stage Dan is back on the road with the release of his newest most personal recording to date “Intimate” and his bestselling memoir I am My Father’s Son. We are really looking forward to performing with Dan and having him share his songs and stories with all of us.

I have always been truly fortunate to be supported by some of Canada’s finest musicians and this tour is no exception. My musical director is superb guitarist and vocalist Mr. Jason Fowler, guitarist and vocalist Brian “Hutch” MacMillan, Bluegrass fiddle and mandolin virtuoso Ray Legere, bass player George Koller (Holly Cole & Loreena McKennitt) and drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Gary Craig (Anne Murray).

As always we will be adding a few surprise guests and letting you know along the way.

JOURNEYS TO RETAIL

I am happy to announce that Universal Music Canada will be releasing the CD Journeys across Canada on November 9th of this year at the retail level for the first time. Journeys will continue to be available in our online store. They are also re-releasing the original version of Danny Boy, the CD that launched my career for the first time! A portion of the sales from Journeys will be donated to McDermott House Canada.

We are looking forward to the tour, see you on the road.

John, Jason, Brian, George and Gary

I hope you are enjoying this glorious summer. We’ve had little or no rain at all in April but it was certainly a very welcome and wet May and June – we really needed it. The bears are plentiful and they keep the dogs busy, the fishing is fantastic with Pike, Pickerel and more Bass than you can shake a stick at.

We are getting ready for the Summer dates and I am pleased to say that Eamonn Dillon, one of the finest Irish pipers in the world will be joining us in Cleveland July 23,24 and 25. We have not seen Eamonn in a couple of years and it will be great to reunite with him for 3 days, He is a talent that should not be missed.

Over the past 12 months we have been working very hard on a project that is near and dear to me. We have received confirmation recently that McDermott House Canada will be a reality in 2011. More information coming soon…

The fall 2010 tour is a coast-to-coast affair, beginning on Vancouver Island and then heading off to Atlantic Canada. My guests this year are Cape Breton Fiddling sensation Rosie Mackenzie who will be joining up with us when we begin our east Coast tour in Moncton on November 18th and she’ll be with us for the remainder of the tour.

Also joining us will be legendary Canadian singer/songwriter Dan Hill, December 3rd through 5th and 15th to 22nd. After almost a decade away from the stage Dan is back on the road with the release of his newest most personal recording to date “Intimate” and his bestselling memoir I am My Father’s Son. We are really looking forward to performing with Dan and having him share his songs and stories with all of us.

I have always been truly fortunate to be supported by some of Canada’s finest musicians and this tour is no exception. My musical director is superb guitarist and vocalist Mr. Jason Fowler, guitarist and vocalist Brian “Hutch” MacMillan, Bluegrass fiddle and mandolin virtuoso Ray Legere, bass player George Koller (Holly Cole & Loreena McKennitt) and drummer/percussionist extraordinaire Gary Craig (Anne Murray).

As always we will be adding a few surprise guests and letting you know along the way.

JOURNEYS TO RETAIL

I am happy to announce that Universal Music Canada will be releasing the CD Journeys across Canada on November 9th of this year at the retail level for the first time. Journeys will continue to be available in our online store. They are also re-releasing the original version of Danny Boy, the CD that launched my career on the same day!

McDERMOTT HOUSE CANADA

Announcement coming very soon.

I wish you all a happy, safe and enjoyable summer with those that you love, and please keep our veterans and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

See you on the road…

John, Jason, Brian, George and Gary

It’s time again for the [6th] annual John Prine Shrine: A Tribute to the music of John Prine.

Onstage this year are Brian MacMillan, John McDermott, Jory Nash, Layah Jane, Russel de Carle, Suzie Vinnick and host Jason Fowler.

Returning for the 2nd year is the stellar backup band of Blake Papsin (mandolin & guitar), Christine Bougie (lap steel, guitar & drums) and George Koller (bass).

It’s Easter Saturday (family dinner’s the next night, right?) so come on out and sing along to your favorite Prine songs.

Saturday, April 3rd
Hugh’s Room
2261 Dundas St. West (just south of Bloor St.)
Tel. 416.531-6604
$22 advance, $25 at the door
Book your tickets now!!!

The end of another great tour! My band mates Gary Craig, Ray Legere, Brian Macmillan, musical director Jason Fowler and George Koller were terrific – what an outstanding job they did. I am very fortunate to have this superb cast of truly talented and innovative musicians as my team and I am excited about the coming year and our next tour. Most of our 2010 concert schedule is now posted with just a few dates open for R & R, and we have a lot planned including a couple of new CD’s, a DVD and a few other surprises coming for the new year. 2009 has seen a lot of changes for me personally and it has been one the best, most enjoyable, and satisfying years of my career.

I want to mention Canada Company – joining forces with this wonderful organization has afforded me the opportunity to help support the families and the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. The sacrifices made by them cannot be measured and for that we are eternally grateful.

Our work with Fisher House Boston is continuing and we will keep you up to date on details of events to support this great organization.

Please join me on March 19th and 20th at Hugh’s Room in Toronto for an evening with Michael Peter Smith and Valdy. These shows will be recorded for a future DVD/CD and it promises to be a night to remember. For more details and to reserve tickets visit www.hughsroom.com or call 416.531.6604

As we head into another year we want to wish all of you and yours a Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Gary, Ray, John, Brian, Jason and George

PS: Received an early Christmas present – we’ve been nominated for an Irish Music Association award for Best Irish Tenor!