The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A chance to hear Canadian folk music

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 04, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A chance to hear Canadian folk music

Rasheed Kappan

Singer Edward Vandendool, daughter Janis and son Jo to perform today Singer Edward Vandendool, daughter Janis and son Jo to perform today

FAMILY TROUPE: Jo Vandendool, Janis Vadendool and Edward Vandendool in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: "Counting Waves" is Canadian singer Edward Vandendool's latest album. To know his kind of contemporary folk music, try catching him live at the city's Guru Nanak Bhavan on Wednesday at 7 p.m. His daughter Janis will sing with him and his son Jo will be on bass.

A singer-cum-songwriter from Western Ontario, Canada, Ed has performed extensively throughout Eastern Canada and abroad.

But this is his first venture in India.

Behind him is a fan following established after his first CD "Singing the Spirit Home".

Spiritual tinge

The album, recorded with Bill Crawford had been featured on CBC Radio, and is now a popular part of Canadian folk music. Released on February 24, 2005, his latest CD features 10 songs. "There is a small spiritual component in my music. I tend to write from a spiritual perspective. But my songs are about life, what it is to be human," he explains.

His first trip to India was a learning experience. "India is such a different society. It is culturally different, the food and dressing of the people are different. The people, I found them very open and receptive to my kind of music," says the artiste. Ed's songs are always enriched by his experiences gained from visits abroad.

On Indian experience

He has even scripted a song on his short Indian experience. But that will be a surprise reserved for Wednesday's performance. In Canada, Ed works as a sound technician.

He has accompanied many of Canada's finest performers through his association with Northshore Concerts and the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover. He is now working as Artistic Director for Theatre Brantford.

Ed's daughter Janis teaches music, theatre and art at the Canadian International School in Bangalore.

While her rich multi-cultural experience adds value to Ed's family troupe, his son Jo, a computer science student, provides the techno edge.

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