Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Much-loved for their past performances here on Canada's west coast, Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart return to ArtSpring (on Salt Spring Island) after sharing stages with Joan Baez, Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Ralph Stanley, Richard Thompson, Gregg Brown, Iris Dement and many more musical friends.

Stacey's ‘Simple Gearle’ twang and Mark's sympatico harmonies, paired with their songwriting chops, beget the warm, homespun, music of this real-life married duo. Their songs are the diaries of their life - good times and bad, completing the love they share. They live in Ashland City, Tennessee, west of Nashville, but call the road home.

Whatever the label - country, folk, rock, Americana, roots - it’s simply good music that Stacey and Mark deliver, together with infectiously fun warmth and spirit. “Both talented songwriters and performers... Imagination and emotion, along with humor, are key elements of their songs,“ says music journal Dirty Linen.

No matter the rigors of the road, these troubadors share a special bond. Says Stacey: “I look at my audience and go, ‘Wow’, I mean, they rearranged their night, maybe got a babysitter, put off dinner and ate at another place, went and bought a ticket, got in their car, drove or subwayed or bused or walked all the way here, and there’s 200 people sitting in this room, being perfectly quiet with the door shut. It cost ’em money. And for one reason only. That amazes me. Those are things I hope I never let myself forget. People tend to take those things for granted. I can always tell an artist who’s standing on stage and not happy to be there. Me, I’m always happy to be there.”

Joining singer-guitarist Stacey, happily, is her partner, Mark Stuart, with vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica and more. Formerly a member of Steve Earle’s “Dukes” and Freddy Fender’s band, Mark embraces such influences as his Dad’s fiddling, and guitar greats Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, John Fogerty, and George Harrison. Starting in his teens, playing the honky tonks and beer joints of Nashville, through world tours with Steve Earle, opening for the Rolling Stones and Neil Young, he’s developed his own style that combines virtuosity and plenty of heart.

It’s only natural that since Stacey and Mark met, and played their first music together, they’ve never left each other’s side. And, they’re happy to share a night with us - at ArtSpring on Thursday, November 22 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for Stacey and Mark’s concert are available at ArtSpring Box Office 537-2102. Advance tickets are $20 general/$15 students and seniors. (Door: $22/$17) For more info on their lives and music, please visit: www.staceyearle.com