Crowe celebrates big anniversary - Nanaimo Daily News

Crowe celebrates big anniversary

Surprise for couple goes public with concert

Daily News September 15, 2011

Internationally-acclaimed recording artist Allison Crowe comes to Ladysmith for a night of music billed as "an Anniversary celebration and more."

She joins Vancouver Island singer-songwriter and radio host Lena Birtwistle in concert at Ladysmith First United Church Sept. 23 at 8 p.m.

Since 2006, the east-coast home for the Nanaimo-born Crowe has been Corner Brook, Newfoundland. It's another, friendly, island community and a comfortable hopping-off point for Europe where the musician regularly tours.

Each Christmas-season, on Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Crowe presents her popular Tidings concert series. This year serendipity brings Crowe west well before any snow falls.

This summer, Crowe received a message from Ladysmith's Jayse Van Rooyen who wrote eloquently about her Mom, Sue Bonde, and step-dad, Guy Wolfe, and of their loving bond through life's ups and downs. Van Rooyen wrote: "I want to do something special for them and show them that after all of these years of being the most incredible parents my sister, Bryn, and I could ever ask for they are still immensely appreciated."

Crowe is one of the couple's favourite singers when a recording project enabling Croweto fly to this coast, an anniversary concert was arranged.

Crowe's set mixes voice, piano, and guitar - and genres from rock to folk, jazz, pop and soul. Her music videos have an audience of over 11 million viewers on YouTube. Tickets for the show at Ladysmith First United Church are available at In the Beantime Café and Salamander Books in Ladysmith online @ allisoncrowe.com.