Andrea Simms-Karp and Brian Simms cover "Climax" by Usher

A camera malfunction left me with no usable images or video from our last show with Andrea Simms-Karp and Brian Simms. But thank heavens for the ubiquity of cameras these days ...



Now don't you wish you'd been here? Don't let that happen again -- Shari Ulrich with Julia Graff and Ted Littlemore play May 12.

PS: Here's the original:

Shari Ulrich comes to BobCat May 12!

Shari Ulrich is someone that we Canadians should feel fortunate to have among us. Originally a California girl, Shari's career has spanned multiple bands whose names you might recognize: Pied Pumkin, The Hometown Band, UHF (Shari, Chilliwack's Bill Henderson, and Roy Forbes), BTU (Barney Bentall, Tom Taylor and Shari) and her own solo career. 

She plays everything from violin, piano, guitar, dulcimer. She's won two Junos. She's in the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame, and she has a discography comprising 19 records. She's taught songwriting to countless young performers. And she's discovered a wonderful new musical relationship with her daughter, Julia Graff.

Here's Shari performing her song "By the Grace of Goodbye" 

And Shari perfroming her song "Why can't we get along" with her daughter Julia on Bowen Island:

And she and Julia will be charming you at BobCat #39 on May 12.

WHO: Shari Ulrich and Julia Graff
WHEN: May 12, 2012
WHERE: 214 Northwestern Avenue
WHAT: Suggested donation $20; bring some snacky food to share and some potent potables, and maybe a non-perishable food good for the Ottawa Food Bank. You can use plain ol' mail, drop off a cheque, or use PayPal or Interac e-transfer to bob.ledrew@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Next BobCat show: Andrea Simms-Karp, March 31

Andrea Simms-Karp is too good to not be famous.


An Ottawa girl, she's been playing in various bands and combos for a long time. But her 2009 release Sleeper signalled something special. The songs were driven by her banjo playing, by chugging rhythms, and her soprano voice that seemed to be at the same time innocent yet knowing, languid yet urgent.

That album took her great places, from successful touring to appearing on CBC Radio's The Vinyl Cafe. And her newest CD Hibernation Nation took on some of the same territory, with a new approach to instrumentation (still keeping her signature strummed banjo sound) and her personal struggle to warm up to winter.


Don't believe me? Check out a sampler of her music on CBC Radio 3, or her video for "One Lane Highway":

One Lane Highway - Andrea Simms Karp from Ryan Hanson on Vimeo.

So if you missed her two sold-out release shows in Ottawa last November, here's your chance for an intimate encounter celebrating the end of winter with one of Ottawa's best singer-songwriters.

WHO: Andrea Simms-Karp and friends
WHEN: March 31, 2012; 7:00 mingling and 8:00 music
WHERE: The BobCat Bear Cave, 214 Northwestern Avenue, Ottawa
WHAT: $20 suggested donation, snacky food to share, BYOB, non-perishable food good for the Ottawa Food Bank

You can use plain ol' mail, drop off a cheque, or use PayPal or Interac e-transfer to bob.ledrew@gmail.com to reserve your space.

Amy Campbell helps us turn five, February 25!

We're celebrating five years! 

In February 2007, Suzie Vinnick and Tony D rocked the house for our first house concert. And now, we're going to have a bit of a party for five years of great music.

Our guest? None other than the performer who helped us celebrate our first birthday and released her last CD with us, the wonderful Amy Campbell. Amy is a true gem among Canada's folk community. Her unique guitar style and her warm, inviting voice are endearing. And her songs of heartbreak and love are leavened with the wry sense of humour she brings to the stage (perhaps a byproduct of her Newfoundland heritage).

Amy is finalizing her followup to the double CD/book project "Oh Heart / Oh Highway", and I have no doubt that "Letters Home" will be as enjoyable as her last project.

If you need any more convincing, why not take a look at this video of a song I hope will be on the new record:



Opening for Amy will be John Bowman. We are proud to say that John rediscovered a love of music at our house that resulted in his releasing "Beach on the Ocean", his first CD, in 2011. John will be playing a Spirit of Rasputin's show later this spring.

Join us, won't you? There will be some cake. There will be much music. There will be laughter, and there will be celebration.

WHAT: BobCat turns FIVE! 
WHERE: BobCat Birthday House, 214 Northwestern Ave 
WHEN: February 25, 2012. Any time after 7; music starts at 8
WHO: Amy Campbell (s/g John Bowman)

Suggested donation is $20. All proceeds to the artist. Please pay in advance using PayPal, Interac e-transfer, by mail, or in person. 

How to donate to the OCFF Taylor Mitchell Bursary

Here's the donation link for the OCFF Taylor Mitchell Bursary. Any donation is kindly accepted.

Something special for our fifth birthday

In February of 2007, we celebrated music, we celebrated me being cancer free, and we celebrated Cathy's birthday, by inviting Suzie Vinnick and Tony D to come and play at our house.

I couldn't have guessed where all of that would lead us over the ensuing five years. And I couldn't have guessed the joy that BobCat House Concerts would bring to us. 

In February of 2012, we celebrate five years of giving musicians a respectful, comfortable, joyful place to play, and giving friends, colleagues, acquaintances and neighbours the experience of seeing and hearing tremendous talent up close. We -- you, mostly, with us creating the place -- have raised money for Babes For Breasts. We've donated more than 1000 pounds of food to the Food Bank. And we've all had a great time. 

Traditionally, February's the month when Cat gets to pick the artist. And her taste has been impeccable. Suzie and Tony. Penny Lang. Peter Elkas. The Good Lovelies (remember Cat's version of "My Inflatable Guy" with the Lovelies backing her up?). Missy Burgess and Keith Glass.  

And so for five years, she chose someone who we both love dearly, as a human being and as a performer. Amy Campbell is a Newfoundlander by birth (which already is a good sign), who has been performing for more than a decade and recording since 2003. 

In 2008, we were proud to host her at BobCat to release her CD "O Heart, O Highway", which went on to critical acclaim and well-deserved popularity. And she's coming back to BobCat on February 11 to premiere her new CD "Letters Home." 

Opening for Amy will be John Bowman. We are proud to be mentioned on the liner notes for John's first CD. When he moved to Ottawa and was brought to BobCat by his brother Rob, he rediscovered his own passion for making music (and became a big Amy fan too), which has led him to his own first CD, "Beach on the Ocean." John will be performing with Amanda Rheaume at Spirit of Rasputin's later in the spring, and we look forward to a preview here. 

Taylor Mitchell

And one final thing. We're talking about this show so early because we want it to be something special. In 2009, a young singer-songwriter named Taylor Mitchell was killed in an animal attack in Cape Breton. She was on her first tour. Taylor had benefited from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Youth Mentoring Program. And so after her death, her family created the OCFF Taylor Mitchell Bursary, which allows a young performer who might not be able to afford the costs of attending. 

To celebrate the power of music and of community, we're pledging to match your donations to the Taylor Mitchell Bursary up to $500, meaning we could raise $1000 to help young musicians chase their dreams. Use the ChipIn widget at the top of the right-hand column (right above our logo), why don't you? 

So come. There will be wonderful music to be sure. There will be surprises, and laughter, and possibly a tear or two. It will be everything you expect of a BobCat show, and maybe a bit more. 

WHO: Amy Campbell

WHEN: February 11, 2012; 7:00 mingling, 8:00 music 

WHERE: BobCat Birthday Club, 214 Northwestern Avenue

WHAT: $20 suggested donation, all proceeds to artist. A food item to share, and booze if you're partial; a non-perishable food good for the Ottawa Food Bank. 

Here's some memories of BobCats past: 

Final 2011 show: Terry Gillespie, with Lyndell Montgomery November 19

Terry Gillespie is a bluesman respected the world over. From his days with the legendary “Heaven's Radio” to opening and playing with people like Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker, to his solo career, Terry has impressed and influenced generations of musicians and listeners. 


His sound ranges from blues to soul to touches of reggae, but whether it's soul food or jerk spiced, it's all tasty.

If you fondly remember our shows with Suzie Vinnick, Tony D, David Gogo Rick Fines, Andy J. Forest, or Chris Whitely and Diana Braithwaite, DO NOT miss this show.

Terry will be bringing along musician Lyndell Montgomery, who is a veteran of both years of touring with Ember Swift and a memorable outing in the Van Kleek Hill Demolition Derby.
* WHO: Terry Gillespie with Lyndell Montgomery
* WHEN: November 19, 7:00 mingle, 8:00 music
* WHERE: BobCat Blues Barn
* WHAT: Suggested donation of $20; BYOB; bring some food to share if you prefer, and a donation to the Ottawa Food Bank if you can. Please pay in advance so that the musicians are paid fairly for their work.

As always, you can contact us to pay by cheque or cash, or just use PayPal or Interac Money Transfer with the email address bob.ledrew@gmail.com.

Here's what you'll be hearing:

And a teaser: we have a real treat coming in February to celebrate our fifth anniversary of BobCat. You'll hear more soon.