The October installment of Roncesvalles’ own literary cabaret FREE SPEECH features a highly talented and diverse line-up. This month we hear from journalist/novelist Russell Smith, activist/writer James Loney, actor/comedian Kathleen Phillips and soulful singer/songwriter Coco Love Alcorn. As usual, FREE SPEECH is hosted by Johan Hultqvist.
Tuesday, October 21
7pm. Show at 7:30pm sharp. PWYC.
Tinto (89 Roncesvalles)
About the artists:
Russell Smith is the author of six works of fiction. A well-known journalist and cultural commentator, he writes the weekly “Virtual Culture” column, on issues of representation, in The Globe and Mail. His first non-fiction book, Men’s Style: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Dress, was published in Canada in 2005 and in the U.S. in 2007. In 2003 he published a book of pornographic fiction under the pseudonym “Diane Savage”. That novella, Diana: A Diary In The Second Person has just been reprinted, with a new introduction by the author, under Russell Smith’s name. In 2006-2007 he was the host of the popular CBC Radio One weekly program on language, And Sometimes Y. He is currently the editor of the online men’s magazine XYYZ.ca.
James Loney is a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams and has served on violence-reduction projects in Iraq, the West Bank, the First Nations communities of Esgenoopetij (Burnt Church, NB), Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows, ON), Kenora and Ardoch, ON, and as CPT’s Canada program coordinator. In November of 2005 he was kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents and held for 118 days before being rescued by British and American forces. He was a founding member of a Toronto Catholic Worker house of hospitality and lived in community with formerly homeless people for 10 years. He has also been a cook, sawyer, baker, maintenance worker and volunteer community mediator. He is currently working on a book about his experiences in Iraq.
Kathleen Phillips originally trained as a stage actor before making the switch to comedy in 2003. Her popular character monologues and videos were rewarded with a 2005 nomination for Canada’s prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award for emerging comedians. Outside of Canada, Kathleen has made triumphant appearances at top comedy venues in New York, Los Angeles and, most recently, London, England. Her writing has appeared on Canadian television, radio and in the theatre. Kathleen is a founding member of Toronto’s Laugh Sabbath comedy series.
Coco Love Alcorn: As a songwriter and vocalist, Coco effortlessly embraces her diverse musical influences—jazz, pop, r&b and folk—melding them seamlessly into her own distinctive and compelling sound. She has crisscrossed Canada numerous times, played many music festivals (including Lilith Fair), made countless tv and radio appearances, enjoyed much success in the realm of licensing songs to TV and film and has appeared on close to 50 albums. The long list of artists she’s toured or recorded with include 54 40, Ani DiFranco, Burton Cummings, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jesse Cooke & Loudon Wainwright III. Coco’s new album will be released in the winter of 2009.
FREE SPEECH is produced with generous support from Mill Street Brewery, New Moon Kitchen and Envoy Business Services on Roncesvalles.
