HI RES PHOTOS
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BIO ONE SHEET
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CD ONE SHEET
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ALBUM COVERS
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BIO [PLAIN TEXT]
Upon his return from a 1997 trek throughout war ruined Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jon quit writing songs and performing, claiming, "I'm at least a 1000 books and emotions shy of earning the right to stand behind a microphone." 8 years later - Jon dusted off his Taylor 615 Jumbo.
Though Jon's music is filled with grey and morally ambiguous characters living on the outskirts of approval, his mandate is unequivocal: "I'm not interested in writing 'happy songs' - I've chosen to write healing songs and for that reason, I'm obliged to reveal a wound or two now and then. That said, I'm less interested in writing 'unhappy songs': I want to write hopeful songs, inspiring songs and I expect I owe today's listener some compelling argument as to why we should believe our present world can be improved, or healed. A song's highest aim is to invoke empathy - to offer that rare sight of ourselves in others. In this sense, the songwriter is simply trying to 'politicize love', hence my contention: today's songwriter should be a lobbyist for compassion to be our principle representative in government office.'
In 2006 Jon debuted with NO MEAN CITY, a portrait of Toronto homelessness and a weighty exposition of the modern urban soul's condition and moral fatigue. A year later Jon was afforded superlative acclaim with the release of OURS AND THE SHEPHERDS, a cd of Canadian war stories inspired by James Loney, Senator Romeo Dallaire, Sgt. Tommy Prince, and John McRae among others. The collection earned Jon a Songwriter of the Year nomination at the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards. OURS AND THE SHEPHERDS is now among the collections of the Canadian War Museum and the John McRae Society. 2009 brought MOTH NOR RUST, an album of songs looking inward and to what 'neither MOTH NOR RUST can touch'. MOTH NOR RUST earned Jon his second Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Songwriter of the Year. As well, MOTH NOR RUST's music and lyrics were published by Canada's esteemed literary quarterly, Exile Editions.
Jon's new record, DELICATE CAGES (2011) takes its title from the Robert Bly poem, TAKING THE HANDS: Taking the hands of someone you love/You see they are like delicate cages...
Delicate Cages aims to reveal the complicit natures of good and evil, love and fear, and freedom and imprisonment. The DELICATE CAGES we live within are forms of enslavement - and not all 'cages' are necessarily bad. On his latest and most urgent and accessible collection of songs, Jon Brooks promises freedom to all who choose love over fear.
| Date | City | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06/02/12 | Jon Brooks in Toronto, ON | Hugh’s Room | Canada |
| Time: 8:30pm. Box office: 416.531.6604. Address: 2261 Dundas Street West. Saturday June 2, 2012 Tickets: $25 Advance/$27.50 Door (includes HST) Performance: 8:30pm Request a reservation featuring Ken Whiteley, Jason Fowler, Eve Goldberg, Ben Sures, Jon Brooks, Hotcha!, Jory Nash, Corin Raymond, Fraser Anders0n & Mike Ford Buy tickets | |||
| 06/07/12 | Jon Brooks in Windsor, CT | Windsor Art Center | United States |
| Buy tickets | |||
| 06/09/12 | Jon Brooks in Middletown, RI | Co-Op House Concerts Benefit | United States |
| Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $20.00. Address: 272 Mitchell’s Lane. Venue phone: (401) 845-6777. Doors Open at 7 (a showing of some art work with refreshments available). The Healing Co-Operative – Rhode Island’s free nonprofit dedicated to supporting and celebrating the lives of women with cancer & their families. Buy tickets | |||
| 06/10/12 | Jon Brooks in Phoenicia, NY | Empire State RR Museum | United States |
| Time: 7:30pm. For more information, email: flyingcatmusic@gmail.com | |||
| 06/11/12 | Jon Brooks in Oneonta | The Foothills Performing Arts Centre | United States |
| Time: 8:00pm. Box office: Call our box office at (607) 431-2080, ext. 205. Address: 24 Market Street. Venue phone: 607-431-2080. Buy tickets | |||
| 07/20/12 | Jon Brooks in Duncan, BC | Islands Folk Festival | Canada |
| Time: 8:00pm. Buy tickets | |||
| 07/21/12 | Jon Brooks in Duncan, BC | Islands Folk Festival | Canada |
| Time: 8:00pm. Buy tickets | |||
| 07/22/12 | Jon Brooks in Duncan, BC | Islands Folk Festival | Canada |
| Time: 8:00pm. Buy tickets | |||
| 08/09/12 | Jon Brooks in Falcon Lake, MB | Falcon Trails Resort | Canada |
| Time: 8:00pm. Box office: 1-204-349-8935. Buy tickets | |||
| 08/10/12 | Jon Brooks in Ear Falls, ON | Trout Forest Music Festival | Canada |
| Buy tickets | |||
