Cd Isle...CDs by BC island recording artists

24-HOUR Church of Beer is currently a power trio, consisting of Rev. Tim (bass, lead vocals, most words), Mutha Superior G (guitar, vocals), and Brother Lazarus (drums, vocals). While the power trio format has intrisic geometrical strength, the Church digs divine collaborative shows and sessions. DJ PJ, DJ Hash, Lari, The Reverend Forrest Jackson, keyboard genius Sean Lehay, Hurricane Betty, and The White Trash Gospel Choir have all helped with the Church's good works in recent times.

More about 24-HOUR Church of Beer....


Growing from the dark woods of a secluded island in Canada's stunning Georgia Strait, 24-HOUR Church of Beer evolved slowly, somewhat like mushrooms, or a lager yeast. In the 90's the band had two full drum kit players, including the current Brother Lazarus, and the long lost MC Jamie E (who knows if he's still alive?), former GOB bassist Jamie Fawkes, and trumpeteer Caleb Johnson. When Fawkes left to join GOB, Rev Tim put down the electric bouzouki in favor of the bass. Former guitarists included Colin (Captain Q) Kent, Paddy O'Rourke (father of DJ Cedar), and Guillaume Bickford. In 1996 the band recorded its first basment effort, the garage effort "...mmMediciney", which included such favorites as "Prozac", "Bastard", "Sefistikaded Inof" and "Schools' Out". Working with Lex Milton, (formerly of Nanaimo's Amoral Minority), the Church went on to recorded its next uberindie project "Bottle Drive" in 1998. Working in a huge condemned building with no heat in December, in a constant mushroom-and-beer haze, the project wasn't completed untill late in the following year. In 2001, a third session with Milton at his newer What If? Studios basement digs was fraught with technical difficulties, disputes and outright shouting matches, and spelt the beginning of the end of the lineup. Bickford dissapeared deep into the techno DJ woods. The tensions were far from over. When Mutha Superior G jioned up in 2003, things were looking up. Gigs were happing, but a series of knee injuries sustained by the Reverend began to frustrate Captain Q. At a show in Seattle (the CD release party for WAD's Clean Livin'), the two nearly came to blows, surprising the locals who had heard all about the bands laid-back pot smokin' ways. Q's priorities bagan to shift, and after some time had passed, the rest of the Church began to settle into a productive period of gigging, writing, and rehearsing. Now a power trio, the COB got a great opportunity to record at Studio V in Seattle, with the Rev's brother Lari at the board. The resulting CD was "The Incredible Impoliteness of Being...", and resulted in the Church signing with Vagrant Records in October 2006.

Alicken hue" is a Vancouver Island acoustic, multi-instrumental duo writing and performing their original music with a Celtic / Contemporary Roots Fusion interpretation. Drawing inspiration from life on the island and west coast, their songs reflect their lives and their passion to play music. The name Alicken Hue is derived from their names ... Alice Cebuliak (born on the west coast of Vancouver Island) & Kenny Brault (an Albertan). Both  reside in Nanaimo.  Playing and writing together for 17 years, they continue to pursue their musical journey on the Island. Alice (born on the westcoast side of the island)has a strong passionate voice and plays a 6 string, 12 string, and open-tuned guitars, pennywhistle & an Irish/Native Drum.  Kenny's on mandolin and bass. (They pack alot of hardware)

 "Celtic doesn't begin to describe the sweetness of Ali's voice nor the originality of her lyrics"  the Harbour City Star

Jazz and Blues influenced original Guitar Rock, including three Blues, two of which are covers - "Broke Down Engine" by Blind Willie McTell and "Trouble in Mind" by R.M. Jones. 53 minutes of music, 14 tracks, 12 with vocals, 2 instrumentals.

The band is called AXIOLOGY, same as the CD title. We perform music from the CD as well as covers of Blues, Jazz-Rock and some non-commercial classic rock. Improvisation is an important element of the bands performing style. Current band members are Danny Suen - Drums, Don Connolly - Bass, Albert Stasiulis - Keyboards, Andrew Riggs - Vocals and Lead/Rhythm guitars.

My guitar playing has been influenced by many of the rock guitarists from the 1960's and 70's - Santana, Clapton, Steve Howe(Yes), Hendrix, Allman Bros., Andy Powell(Wishbone Ash), Jeff Beck and numerous others, as well as players from the jazz and blues genres. However, I don't attempt to imitate anybody. I consider myself to be a musician first and songwriter second, the songs I write partly to challenge myself as a musician. The Jazz-Rock song "Opportunity" is the one on the CD that I consider the most challenging because of its multiple key changes. I try to find musical ideas that have not, (or at least have not often) been explored, within the rock genre. ...Andrew Riggs

I'm English born, my parents moved to Montreal when I was about 2 years old, then we moved to Powell River B.C. when I was ten. I started playing guitar when I was 14, bought my first electric guitar(the telecaster) when I was in grade twelve with money earned from working weekends in the local paper mill. I start jamming with other musicians when I was about 18 or 19, but I didn't have a steady band.

I moved to Calgary myself when I was 20, where I've lived ever since.

For the next 6 or 7 years I played and sang with three "power trio" type bands covering material by Cream, Hendrix, Doors, Allman Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd etc. We had occasional community hall gigs and played at parties.

I've never had an interest in playing "Top 40" type music, and my bands have always been weekend, part time groups.

About the same time as moving to Calgary I started to write songs, most of the early songwriting attempts will never, I hope, see the light of day, although I also started doing recordings about this time, and still have all my material on tape. None of the original material was added to my bands repertoire at the time, by my choice.

What I consider to be my current, mature writing style didn't start to gel until I was about 28. About this time I formed an original music band with another songwriter/guitarist. We played occasionally in some local bars that featured original music but these generally featured "alternative" type bands, we didn't really fit in that well.

Keeping drummers was a major problem, we'd rehearse until we were ready to play gigs, do a few, then the drummer would quit. The music wasn't simple so it would take a number of months rehearsing, one or two nights a week to get a drummer up to speed.

The other songwriter was a prolific lyricist, but a marginal musician, I have a surplus of musical ideas but am slow producing lyrics. This might seem an almost ideal situation, but the other songwriter felt that any of my music that didn't have lyrics was free for him to use without my permission and without requiring him to give me credit for it. This issue brought that musical partnership to an end.

It was never my ambition to become a "solo artist" I wanted to be part of a band; sharing songwriting, vocals etc. I'm uncomfortable with the term "artist", it sounds pretentious to me, but I'm getting more used to the idea as time goes on.

The CD "Axiology" was released in the fall of 1998, the recordings on it were done over a period of about 4 years prior to that.

My guitar playing has been influenced by many of the rock guitarists from the 1960's and 70's-Santana, Clapton, Steve Howe(Yes), Hendrix, Allman Bros., Andy Powell(Wishbone Ash), Jeff Beck and numerous others, as well as players from the jazz and blues genres. However, I don't attempt to imitate anybody. I consider myself to be a musician first and songwriter second, the songs I write partly to challenge myself as a musician.

I didn't start writing songs until I'd been playing about 6 or 7 years. The Jazz-Rock song "Opportunity" is the one on the CD that I consider the most challenging because of its multiple key changes. I try to find musical ideas that have not, (or at least have not often) been explored, within the rock genre.

In the harmonizing and gospelizing tradition of the Monroe, Stanley, and Louvin Brothers comes Andrews and Lawrence. They've put together an old time gospel show tailor-made for
your festival stage, theater, church hall or coffeehouse.

You don't have to know a lot about gospel music to get caught
up in the sing-along atmosphere, with enough story-telling to
bring the folk, country, and bluegrass audiences along for the
ride. In addition to the main show, Andrews and Lawrence host a gospel workshop full of opportunities for unison and harmony singing, as well as pointers on musical arranging and historical background to really bring this musical genre to life.

Andy Ruszel sings lead and plays rhythm guitar. His songs have been performed by Juno award winning artists Charlotte Diamond and the Rovers.

Larry Lawrence plays lead guitar and sings tenor. He is also
a well known producer, arranger, and choral singer.

For Andrews and Lawrence, it's about giving each performance their all, and making it a good time had by all. They look forward to seeing you at the show.

"Brothers in song. Andrews and Lawrence transformed the hall into an authentic old time gospel showcase on Friday night.
Andy Ruszel and Larry Lawrence wove their own version of the close-knit vocal harmonies and exacting flat-pick guitar runs that characterize the superlative sound of duos like the Monroe,
Louvin and Stanley Brothers. The audience joined in on renditions of old standards that would have done an Appalachian church
choir proud."

- Gabriola Sounder

Jim's band Soulstice and his 1st recording, a rare treat!!!

Music and rhythm, slyly evocative lyrics and sweet vocals are what
drives the seven members of bigredtruck. Their sound is clean and
punchy, the rhythms are infectious and the stage show is filled
with energy and antics. In their secret laboratory in the Comox
Valley, b.r.t is busy infusing gypsy music with funk, reggae with
jazz and celtic with latin grooves. Musical innovation and the energy
of live performance is what keeps this band inspired.
Since bigredtruck's first show at the ValleyEdge Festival in the
late summer of 2001, fans of real live music have been treated to
some of the freshest, most energetic dance music the west coast
has to offer. From festivals to small town pubs, this band possesses
the musical skill and chemistry to drive any crowd to get out
of their seats and move to the rhythm.
Most of bigredtruck's material is hand crafted in the Comox Valley
while their cover songs range from Bob Marley to The Beatles to
Beethoven. Singer/songwriter Bobby Herron has been writing
and performing with bands like The B-Sides, Bob's Yer Uncle,
The Wingnuts and Millions of Brazilians in North America and
Europe for over a decade. bigredtruck's current songs are the result
of a long dedication to the art of writing and the craft of making
music.

The Players

Bobby Herron - vocals, guitar
Meaghan Cursons - vocals, harmonica
Alan Jossul - guitars
Rachel Mooney - violin
Kevin McCann - bass
David Safford - drums
Brett Hearn - percussion