Justin Rutledge's The Early Widows Nominated For Juno Award 2/8-20

Justin Rutledge's newest album, The Early Widows (from Six Shooter*Warner), has been nominated for a 2011 Juno Award in the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo category.

The Toronto-based singer-songwriter makes his theatrical debut February 8-20 in Necessary Angel's Divisadero: a performance at Theatre Passe Muraille.

The songs that appear on The Early Widows were inspired by Michael Ondaatje's Governor General's Award-winning novel Divisadero and Rutledge performs "Jack of Diamonds" from it in Divisadero: a performance, along with several other of his songs including "I'm Gonna Die (One Sunny Day)" from the album The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park and "Lay Me Down Sweet Jesus" from No Never Alone.

Performing with Rutledge in Divisadero: a performance are Liane Balaban, Maggie Huculak, Tom McCamus, Aviva Philipp-Muller and Amy Rutherford. Necessary Angel Artistic Director Daniel Brooks directs.

This is Justin Rutledge's second nomination. His previous nomination was for the 2006 album The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park. He has also earned a Galaxy Rising Star award, a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, and was named Toronto's Best Local Songwriter by Now Magazine.

The play tells a story of a family that is forever changed by a single, violent event and examines themes of memory, identity, love and the grip of the past on the present. The production combines music, performance and storytelling, exploring the intimacy between the speaker and the listener, and language's ability to weave a magical spell.

Justin Rutledge's following has flourished from the loyal local fans and media he attracted from his year-long residency at Toronto's CameRon House in 2004, to international recognition and respect. Signed to Six Shooter Records, Rutledge's albums garner impressive amounts of critical acclaim. Between his debut No Never Alone (2005), his sophomore release The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (2006), and third album Man Descending (2008), he has earned a Juno nomination, a Galaxy Rising Star award, countless year-end critics' picks, the title of Toronto's Best Local Songwriter (NOW Magazine), a spot on the 2008 Polaris Prize Long List and a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination. Justin has shared the stage with artists such as Blue Rodeo, Dolly Parton, Martha Wainwright and Great Lake Swimmers, among others. The songs composed for Divisadero can be found on Rutledge's acclaimed Juno-nominated album The Early Widows, released May 4, 2010 on Six Shooter Records.

Necessary Angel
in association with The Film Farm
presents
Divisadero: a performance
Adapted by Michael Ondaatje, Daniel Brooks, Liane Balaban, Maggie Huculak, Tom McCamus, Aviva Philipp-Muller, Amy Rutherford, Justin Rutledge and the company.
Writer: Michael Ondaatje. Director: Daniel Brooks. Assistant Director: Stefan Dzeparoski. Cast: Liane Balaban, Maggie Huculak, Tom McCamus, Aviva Philipp-Muller, Amy Rutherford, Justin Rutledge. Designers: Andrea Lundy, Alexander MacSween, John Thompson. Stage Management: Elizabeth McDermott, Crystal Salverda.
Performances February 8-20, 2011 at Theatre Passe Muraille's Mainspace, 16 Ryerson Avenue
Tuesday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm
Tickets: Tuesday - Thursday $25, Friday $30, Saturday $35, Sunday Matinee - PWYC
For tickets and more information, visit www.necessaryangel.com/
or call Theatre Passe Muraille Arts Box Office at 416-504-7529

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.