April 1, 2017 – Buffy Sainte-Marie was presented with the Alan Waters Humanitarian Award at the 2017 JUNO Awards by Bruce Cockburn.
Here is the video – presentation starts at 3:27:28-
Bruce Cockburn Is embarking on a tour of North America.
All of the dates from September 15, 2017 to February 17, 2018 will be “band” shows and all the dates before September will be “solo” shows.
Bruce’s band shows will consist of a quartette with drummer Gary Craig, bassist John Dymond and accordionist John Aaron Cockburn.
All 3 or them are featured on Bruce’s new True North album ‘Bone On Bone” slated for release September 15, 2017.
And for the record, John Aaron is Bruce’s nephew.
There are likely to be other dates added after February 2018.
Access the Tour Dates.
Bruce will be performing in the JUNO Songwriters’ circle on April 2… here is a short interview about songwriting from the Where Ottawa magazine.
Bruce Cockburn’s National Anthems – interview by Chris Lackner, pre-JUNO’s 2017.
As part of the Folk Alliance International Awards, Bruce did a book signing, the day after the awards ceremony.
Here are some photos from that event:
Credit:
Ana Miura
Garrett Wall
Bruce Cockburn received the inaugural Folk Alliance International People’s Voice Award during the opening-night awards ceremony at the organization’s 29th annual conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Here’s the video of Bruce giving his acceptance speech:
[click through for the transcript and more photos]
by David Friend, The Canadian Press
Folk singer Bruce Cockburn is encouraging U.S. musicians to keep pushing for free speech under the Donald Trump administration.
While accepting an honour at the Folk Alliance International awards show in Kansas City, Mo. on Wednesday night he took a moment to address the volatile political climate.
“It seems evident that the current administration is not much interested in democracy,” he said in prepared remarks.
“They are trying to stifle opposition across the board by a range of means. Looks to me like they’re just getting started.”
The Canadian singer, who lives in San Francisco, then urged musicians to be a catalyst for dialogue and debate.
“We may get tired, but we have to keep singing,” he said.
Country singer Kris Kristofferson presented Cockburn with the People’s Voice Award in recognition of his role in social and political commentary. His 1984 track “If I Had a Rocket Launcher” is widely considered a staple of activist music.
Cockburn reflected on his experiences as a young performer during the Vietnam War, and on later years when he found his voice during the U.S. presidency of Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.
He then turned to the current U.S. political climate and told songwriters to consider their music as more than just words, but a “focal point for collective energy” of the community.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t sing love songs,” Cockburn reasoned.
“But if you think you can keep your head down and ignore the political side of things, it’s liable to be waiting for you with a blackjack in the alley when you come out the stage door.
Credit: MontrealGazette.com
Photo: Bruce Cockburn, left, accepts his People’s Voice Award for his role in social and political commentary from country singer Kris Kristofferson at the Folk Alliance International awards show, in Kansas City, Mo., on February 15, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Brian Hetherman, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
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Bruce will start touring in the eastern U.S. in November 2017, in support of his yet to be released new album Bone On Bone. Released date is set for 15 September 2017. He will tour in Canada in September 2017 and in the U.S. and Canada in January/February 2018. This tour will be a band tour and details of that will be coming along shortly.
Bruce Cockburn to receive People’s Voice Award from Folk Alliance International
23 January 2017 – Kensington has produced 3 one-hour documentaries over the years with Bruce
For his hard-work, dedication and creativity over the past 40 years, Bruce will be receiving the People’s Voice award at the February 2017 Folk Alliance International Awards Show. The Folk Alliance organization presents the award to individuals who have unabashedly embraced and committed to social and political commentary in their creative work and folk music career.
To celebrate Bruce’s accomplishments, we’re offering ‘My Beat: The Life and Times of Bruce Cockburn’ for the first time to stream on VIMEO for FREE. You can freely stream the documentary until February 14th, 2017.
Link here:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/mybeat/
Credit: http://kensingtontv.com/blog/2017/01/23/bruce-cockburn-peoples-voice-award/
KensingtonTV Facebook
Originally written and released in 1971 on the Sunwheel Dance album. This version was re-written & re-recorded 2003, for the Peace Songs album compilation put out by warchild.ca.
Lyrics: 2003
Go tell the sergeant-major
To get that thing repaired
The lunatics rule in the asylum
Chaos is in the air
Oh oh oh
It’s going down slow
It’s going down slow
They’re grinding the marrow of history
The ground underneath us quakes
The board of directors is looting
What’s left of the ship of state
Oh oh oh
It’s going down slow
It’s going down slow
Everybody seems to be leaving
Better say your travelling prayers
It don’t matter how you get it
It’s where do you go from there
Oh oh oh
It’s going down slow
It’s going down slow
It’s going down slow
It’s going down slow
God, damn the hands of glory
That hold the bloody firebrand high
Close the book and end the story
Of how so many men have died
Let the world retain in memory
That mighty tongues tell mighty lies
And if mankind must have an enemy
Let it be his warlike pride
Let it be his warlike pride
Recorded at Studio Frisson in Montreal on March 19, 2003.
Thanks to Daniel Keebler.
5 May 2011 – Bruce Cockburn poses with his forthcoming stamp, which will be issued June 30. (Canada Post)
Canadians might find Bruce Cockburn in their mailbox this summer, following Canada Post’s announcement of a new stamp featuring the celebrated singer-songwriter.
Canada Post said Thursday that a stamp honouring Cockburn will be issued on June 30 as part of the third installment of its Canadian Recording Artists series.
His stamp will join the previously announced stamps of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Robbie Robertson and Ginette Reno.
The series will be issued June 30.
“This is very exciting,” the Ottawa-born Cockburn said in a statement.
The stamp’s design — a black and white image of him against a red background featuring titles of his hit songs — is “beautiful,” he added.
Over the years, the folk-rock singer and activist has won multiple awards for his music, which includes hits such as The Coldest Night of the Year and If I Had a Rocket Launcher. His original songs have inspired covers by a wide range of artists — from Jimmy Buffett to the Barenaked Ladies.
He released his 31st album, Small Source of Comfort, in March and is currently touring the U.S. Cockburn, who is also an officer of the Order of Canada and member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, is slated to publish his memoir in April 2012.
Credit: CBC News, via Bernie Finkelstein.
