NEWS
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SONGWRITING WITH MICHAEL SCHATTE
Guitarist asked to teach 4-part songwriting workshop
Michael Schatte is delighted to be instructing a 4-part, 10-hour songwriting workshop presented by the Thames Institute of the Arts in Chatham-Kent early in 2012. The workshop, to be held in late February and early March, is part of the Literary Arts Festival hosted by St. Clair College in Chatham-Kent. Here's the official workshop description:
"Songwriting with Michael Schatte explores the age-old art of song craft with relevance to today’s songwriter. Taught by well-known guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Michael Schatte, this class examines why we write songs, how to approach song composition, techniques that enhance writing, and useful tips for evaluating both our own and other writers’ songs. Exciting live performance demos by Schatte with analysis of his songs and those of world-renowned songwriters greatly enhance the participant’s experience."
Participants of all ages and backgrounds - both musical and non-musical - are welcome to take advantage of this fantastic musical workshop experience. Registration costs a mere $75 (plus HST) for sessions taking place February 27th and 28th, and March 5th and 6th, 2012. Classes each evening go from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. Sign up today at www.stclaircollege.ca/TIA (click on the Literary Arts Festival tab).
ORANGE BLOSSOM SCHATTE - New Live Video!
CALLING ALL GUITAR FANS - Check out the nine-minute version of 'Orange Blossom Special' now featured on the VIDEOS page. Captured live on August 27th, 2011 at The Mary Webb Centre, this rollicking tour de force by Michael Schatte and His Band pays tribute to the Hellecasters' blazing electric version of a bluegrass classic. Featuring Riley O'Connor on drums and Randy Cassidy on bass, this footage packs the eclectic punch Schatte and His Band are known for.
NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN THE WORKS
Michael Schatte and His Band are heading into the recording studio shortly to begin work on a new album of original music. Tentatively scheduled for release in mid-2012, the new record will be sure to please old and new fans alike. Stay tuned to www.michaelschatte.com for updates, song samples, and news of live gigs as they are confirmed.
SCHATTE AND BAND at The Dominion in Toronto
Michael Schatte and His Band will return to The Dominion on Queen (500 Queen St. East, Toronto) on Saturday September 10th, 2011. See the SHOWS page for details.
SCHATTE AND BAND - Live in Chatham-Kent!
Michael Schatte and His Band will appear at The Mary Webb Centre, a lovely and historic venue in Highgate, Ontario, on Saturday August 27th, 2011. See the SHOWS page for details and ticket information. An excellent newspaper article about the show can be seen here.
NEW CONCERT PHOTOS!
Pictures have been posted from recent shows in Waterloo and Highgate, Ontario, respectively. See them on the PHOTOS page.
SCHATTE AT BEACHES INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Michael Schatte and His Band will appear at the Beaches International Jazz Festival on Saturday July 16th, 2011. See the SHOWS page for details.
MORE LIVE DATES!
Two more new live dates added, including Michael Schatte and His Band shows in Waterloo and Toronto. See the SHOWS page for details.
SCHATTE LIVE IN 2011
Two new live dates added, please see the SHOWS page. Further dates including concerts featuring Michael's new band lineup will be posted as they are confirmed.
Tough Times - Schatte now a published author!
The lyrics to Michael's song Crow Filled Sky have been featured in a newly published collection of poems, essays, photos, and stories from Black Moss Press, entitled Tough Times: When the Money Doesn't Love Us. Michael is delighted to have his work featured alongside that of John B. Lee, Margaret Atwood, and other Canadian writers. From Black Moss Press:
"What sort of country do we want to live in? What sort of country do we already live in? What do we like? Who are we?
With these words, Margaret Atwood frames for us the tough questions that must be asked if we are going to grapple with the harsh reality of these economic “tough times.” In this essay, included in this ground breaking Black Moss Press collection that has been edited by the award-winning poet John B. Lee, she joins with 23 other writers and photographers to challenge our values and shed light on how we ought to articulate our future. "
Michael Schatte and His Band - Live at The Aeolian Hall
On June 5th, 2010, Michael Schatte and His Band put on a rousing concert for a highly enthusiastic audience at The Aeolian Hall in London, Ontario. We are pleased to announce that footage from the show is now available right here at www.michaelschatte.com. Watch seven selections in their entirety on the VIDEO page.
Note: the show was filmed in high definition by Saby Siren Productions, and the audio was captured by Chris Babin with the assistance of a team from The Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology.
Schatte Covers Danny Gatton!
Check out a recent (May 29th, 2010) performance of Danny Gatton's wonderful Elmira St. Boogie (what Michael refers to as a "mini-lexicon of rockabilly"). The video footage was captured at the 2010 CK Guitar Summit and was broadcast shortly thereafter. Available on the VIDEO page.
Crow Filled Sky Reviewed in Winnipeg
A favourable review of Michael's new album has been published in Winnipeg's Uptown Magazine, the online version of which can be seen here. From the review:
"...Michael Schatte’s sound falls superbly somewhere between the folk rock musings of Richard Thompson and the Canuck blues edge of Colin James... As a bonus, the artist also displays something of a literate edge to his lyrics that definitely sets him more than a few rungs above the moon/June competition. His playing throughout is at times awe-inspiring..." - Jeff Monk, Uptown Magazine
Aeolian Hall Footage Soon to Be Released!
Filmed in high def with three cameras and the audio recorded by a team from the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology, Michael Schatte's recent band concert at Aeolian Hall has yielded some fantastic footage. We expect to have selections from the show available here at michaelschatte.com in the very near future. Stay tuned!
Schatte in the Media
On Wednesday, June 2nd, Michael Schatte was the topic of a feature article in The London Free Press, available online here. That article, along with a television appearance on Janice Zolf's A-Channel News arts segment the night before focused on the upcoming June 5th concert at the Aeolian Hall. Also, Michael's closing set at the 4th Annual CK Guitar Summit can be seen on Cogeco cable this weekend and beyond as they broadcast the May 29th concert in its entirety.
June 5th Concert to be Filmed and Recorded!
The upcoming Aeolian Hall show will be filmed with two cameras and the audio recorded for possible future release. This will add a further element of excitement to what promises to be a great evening! Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased online here. See the SHOWS page for further details including other ticket outlets in London.
Crow Filled Sky Reviewed
If you find yourself in London, Ontario before June 3rd, pick up a copy of the latest Scene Magazine (London's premier free music and arts publication). In it you will find an excellent review of Michael's new album, selections from which can be found on the BIO page.
