Allison Crowe's Tidings: Benefit Concert for Canines With a Cause & Vision Theatre November 30, 2008

Expect plenty of holiday cheer, laced with overtones of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, jazz and Broadway, as Canada’s popular bicoastal singer-songwriter Allison Crowe brings “Tidings” to the Library and Archives Canada Auditorium (395 Wellington Street). This matinee concert event in the nation's capital is in aid of two Ottawa non-profit groups: Canines With a Cause and Vision Theatre.

"Music for the season and all time." Tidings stirs together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "The Yuletide find of the year," says The Record. "Be prepared to be amazed," chimes ChristmasReviews.com, "Allison Crowe is a stunningly talented performer." Longtime NPR broadcaster Ross Hocker calls Allison Crowe's show, "The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life."

"Treat yourself to one of the mightiest talents on the singer-songwriter scene today," says Bob Muller, song curator at JoniMitchell.com "Ever wonder what it would have been like to listen to a gifted singer/songwriter from Saskatchewan in a small, intimate hall before she became Joni Mitchell? Don't fret the missed opportunity. There's no need to turn back the clock. Check out Allison Crowe," writes Robert Reid in The Record.

Crowe's rare gift and talent in communicating emotions not only make her a thrilling original act, her role as an interpreter is getting much recognition. "Her version of 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)' would give Aretha Franklin goose-bumps," notes Robert Moyes in Boulevard. This month, two major tributes to Leonard Cohen have featured her song contributions.

BBC Radio 2 interviewed and recorded Allison Crowe in Liverpool performing "Hallelujah" for an hour-long documentary, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall", that explores the many facets of this Leonard Cohen creation. Other participants include musicians Imogen Heap and Kathryn Williams alongside producers John Lissauer (Leonard Cohen) and Andy Wallace (Jeff Buckley).

UK-based MOJO magazine pays tribute to Leonard Cohen with its December '08
issue which celebrates "deep and moving music, the kind of stuff we need in the run up to the holiday period". Of Allison Crowe's contribution of "Joan of Arc" to its 'All Star Tribute", a cover-mount CD titled "Cohen Covered", MOJO says: "Once famously described by the Vancouver Courier as possessing a style akin to 'Elton John meets Edith Piaf', the Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe is renowned for her ability to blend control and melodrama. Certainly she does so on this spirited cover of Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate classic, a track which also powerfully showcases her considerable talent as a fine interpreter of song."

Allison Crowe welcomes this encore opportunity to team up with:

Canines With a Cause - an Ottawa based Canadian charity dedicated to train assistance dogs for people with mobility related disabilities as well as to provide educational and awareness programs around the community. Although it takes approximately two years to train one of these special dogs at an estimated cost to the program of $14,000 per dog that makes it to graduation, CWAC does not charge the qualified applicant for the dog they receive. They very much rely on the support from the community, sponsorships, and fundraising efforts in order to provide these services. Founded in 2001, CWAC continues to be 100 % volunteer-based. Puppy raisers and other volunteer opportunities are always available. For more info, please visit CWAC’s website at canineswithacause.org or phone 613-882-5923 or email canines.cwac@gmail.com

Vision Theatre - a local Ottawa not-for-profit theatre company, has been producing critically acclaimed productions for the past 7 years. Vision Theatre, from its base at Arts Court, is committed to working with established professionals and emerging artists, to produce, create and introduce outstanding contemporary works - those that resonate with audiences. “Over the past several years, Vision Theatre has done an excellent job of finding and presenting contemporary American plays that have been overlooked by Ottawa's larger companies,” notes Catherine Lawson, The Ottawa Citizen. “...both (Artistic Director Greg) Wysynski and (Managing Director Sam) Awwad are becoming some of our best younger directors in the city at the moment. Their work never ceases to amaze me," says Alvina Ruprecht, CBC Radio, Ottawa Morning. To find out more please visit visiontheatre.ca or email info@visiontheatre.ca and/or phone the company at 613-282-1898

Advance tickets are $20 general/$15 students and seniors @: Arts Court Box Office (2 Daly Ave.); CD Warehouse (1383 Clyde Ave., 1717 Saint-Laurent Blvd., and 499 Terry Fox Drive); Compact Music (190 and 785A Bank Street); & Lauzon Music Centre (1345 Wellington Street)

Official Website: http://www.allisoncrowe.com