Easy Straight

Featuring Anna Atkinson (violin, accordion) Eric St-Laurent (guitar) Michael McClennan (bass) Ian Harper (reeds) Graham Hargrove (percussion) 'Solid musical skills, poetic craft, economy of words, style, cleverness, quirky and insightful lyrics and a sense of Polish that makes the recipient of the singing and writing feel they have just witnessed something special being created. Hey - I've just described what George Meanwell does, perfectly. ' - Jurgen Gothe, CBC Radio George Meanwell and a small group of friends met for two evenings in late October 2012 with a view to making single take direct recordings of live performance in a resonant space. The resulting simultaneous audio and video CD/DVD recorded at Factory 163 in Stratford is a rare chance to hear and see some great musicians in moments of spontaneous and sustained inspiration. In the late 1970's, George was guitarist and vocalist with the Toronto acoustic folk trio Short Turn which appeared on national radio and TV, including Morningside, 90 Minutes Live, and George Hamilton IV. He was Quartetto Gelato's cellist, guitarist, and mandolinist for ten years in concerts throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Since then George has returned to song writing, releasing the CDs Another Street (2003), Late (2008), and now The Easy Straight (2013). George's cello and mandolin is heard on Sylvia Tyson's 2011 release Joyner's Dream. He appeared on stage at the Stratford Festival for the past three seasons playing cello, guitar, banjo, harmonica, and concertina, and he performed six solo programs of his own music, Songs of Travel, over the course of the 2012 Stratford Summer Music. He returns to the Festival this season playing cello and guitars for Cynthia Dale's concerts at the Studio Theatre in May and June.