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December 6, 2011 The recent concerts at the Astor and deCoste Theatres were really well attended, and it gave Hal and his troop of Amy Soloway and David O'Grady a great chance to show the audiences what they will be doing for the winter months in Oregon's Seven Feathers Casino Resort. There, they will perform a total of 111 concerts before they embark on a three week stint in Cuba at The Sandals Resort in Varadero (last week of March and first two weeks of April 2012). So, if some of you folks would like to join them in Cuba for any combination of those weeks, contact Hal directly at halbruce@halbruce.com for info. Last week's Concert at The Music Room Theatre in Halifax was a sold out show, and everyone really got caught up in the classics of the last 50 years. They are going to do a few concerts in the Maritimes when they return from Cuba before Hal embarks on his Solo tour of places like Ottawa, Canada...Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland...Louisville, Kentucky...Washington, DC...Liverpool, England...Mons, Belgium...Salon de Provence, France, (and possibly Buenos Aires, Argentina). Although Hal really likes to tour the world, he really loves coming back home and playing the Maritimes for Family and Friends. You can catch him at The Perfect Pour (formerly Our Friends, Dartmouth, NS) this Friday, December 16th at 8:00PM and also on Saturday, December 17th in Coldbrook, NS at Lew Murphy's at 8:00PM. Both show are really well attended, so early seating is advised! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
May 6, 2011 Hal Bruce and his Decade Band, Scott Ferguson, Amy Soloway, and Erin Martell played for a completely packed house on the 21st at Our Friends Pub...all in honour of his sister, Anita who passed away on her 37th birthday, of Leukemia. The Decade Band kicked into high gear at 6PM and after two full sets of classic 1960s gems, then Ticket 2 Ride, featuring Hal Bruce, Scott Ferguson and Floyd King took to the stage for the last set of the night, finishing off around 11:45PM...What a great night it was! People from as far away as PEI and Ontario and BC were in for the packed Concert! Besides the silent and Live Auction there was non-stop music from the best decade in pop music, the 1960s. Silent and live auction items and cash donations amounted to a few thousand dollars in just that one night. Actually, there was such a great turnout that night, and other people want to donate items for the auction, that there will be another Fundraiser at the same place on Saturday, May 28th beginning at 8PM...Lots of great items to be bid on...some of the items are valued at 0ver $500 each...some lucky folks will be walking away with great items and also will have the reward of knowing that they have helped Malik (Anita's 14 year old son) get a better start on getting things he needs for his life's journey ahead of him. If anyone would like to to donate money or auction items, please let Hal know at halbruce@halbruce.com or phone him at 902-435-7410...We welcome your support and kindness, all proceeds will go towards Malik's future. Cheques can be made payable to Hal Bruce, 18 Bellefontaine Court, Lawrencetown, NS B2Z 1L3, Canada. We'll do it all over again to accommodate the influx of Auction Items. Thanks everyone so much for your support, help, and love.
Cavern Music Productions ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Saturday, September 10th On September 10th at high noon the 6th Annual Maritime Beatle Event will kick off its Festival in Fab Beatle Style. This festival has been growing since its birth in 2006 when Julia Baird (John Lennon's sister) was the special guest speaker for the occasion, and the festival has not looked back. There will be Beatle Merchandisers selling their wares from as far away as USA, Ontario and Halifax...there will be Beatle food, Beatle ticket draws for Fab prizes, Live Beatle Bands from Europe, USA and Canada to keep you entertained all day and evening right up until midnight (and maybe after).
The bands who will be
performing are... Grand prize draw will be a night for two at the gorgeous Prince George Hotel in beautiful Downtown Halifax, NS Also, some lucky volunteer will win (by draw) the Nancy Giles Volunteer Award of a night for two at The Prince George Hotel...thank you Prince George! Early Bird tickets are officially on sale now, and the 150 will receive invitations to attend the Pre-Beatle Event Party at Our Friends Pub on Thursday, September 8th at 6PM...Must have ticket for entry...closed party. There will be live band(s) playing Beatle music throughout the evening and prizes to be won...so get your tickets while they last.
For Early Bird tickets... ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Monday, April 25th Hal Bruce and Decade (with Scott Ferguson, Amy Soloway and Erin Martell) Looking forward to this venue, it is the first time they will have performed here as a unit. Here they'll show the Halifax crowd what they've been up to for the previous 3 1/2 months in Oregon and Cuba. They will do the Very Best of The 1960s and Beyond...You definitely will not want to miss this show, it's one of the best you'll ever see, guaranteed...not to be missed! Phone or e-mail Casino Nova Scotia for reserved tickets! Seatling is limited for this Event. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
January 5th - March 13th Hal Bruce and his Decade band, comprised of drummer Scott Ferguson and lead vocalists Amy Soloway and Erin Martell are having a great run at Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort in Canyonville, Oregon. Most of the Cabaret shows are completely sold-out with mainly standing room only outside the glass walls of the concert venue. They have had an extended invitation to encore their 1960s show at the Casino for a 2 1/2 month stint, and have made quite an impression on their U.S. audiences who is many cases have traveled for quite some distance to see the act again and again. This is quickly becoming a second home for the quartet, where they feel like they have been treated just like family. Hoping to go back to Oregon for a fourth straight year next time, they would really like to add another dimension to the show....The best of the 1960s and 1970s...that would be right up their alley, and have already given the audience a taste of that decade as well...songs by artists like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Steve Miller, Linda Ronstadt, and lots more! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The Decade of Love
Monday, December 13th Revisit a time where things were braided, beaded, far out, far in, groovy, bell bottomed, peace inspired, and full of the best music that ever was...The 1960s!
Bella Rose Arts Centre Show time 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:15PM) Veteran musicians and singers Hal Bruce, Scott Ferguson, Amy Soloway and Erin Martell take to the stage at 7:00 PM, for a night of the best musical classics from the Decade of Love. They have recently completed a series of concerts in the USA where they sold-out 86 concerts, with standing room only, and have performed in England, the Caribbean, and now, here, back on their home soil of Nova Scotia. Hal Bruce is a veteran of the music from that decade and more particularly is noted for his mark he has made in the Beatle circuit the world over, where he has been inducted to The Beatles Festival "Hall Of Fame" twice (making him the only person in the world to receive this recognition!) Also, Scott, Amy and Erin will more than do their fair share of bedazzling you all at this highly energized show. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
They will interweave
songs by artists like...
Tickets for all ages $22.00
available at... (Assigned seating, so please get your tickets early) ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... November 2010 Hal has just completed his first ever DVD of his concert series in Oregon's Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort. He along with Scott Ferguson (drums, harmony vocal), Amy Soloway and Margot Sampson (lead and harmony vocal, and percussion) performed 86 sold-out out of 100 shows there at the Casino. This DVD includes some of the greatest pop classics of the Decade Of Love - The Very Best Of The 1960s! Hal says that his cast of musician/singers are the very best in the business, and is very lucky to have had them working with him in such a great location for 2 1/2 months (great way to escape the Canadian winters!)
Artists they covered on
the DVD are... Come out and relive a time when things were braided, beaded, far out, far in, groovy, dropped in, dropped out, bell bottomed...well, you get the picture. The music of this era was instantly immortalized and is now classic. Hal Bruce and Decade will take you on that journey on the 13th of December to a time when music was real music! Hal's new DVD has been just released and is doing extremely well at the group's events and concerts wherever they perform. Hal says that Amy, Margot and Scott have always strived to put on the very best for the audiences, every night, 100% of the time...sure makes going to work all the more enjoyable! Margot has been offered another job for the winter months, so she will not be joining the troop as they make their way back to Oregon for a 2nd season in January. She will be replaced by another extremely talented singer by the name of Erin Martell, hailing from the Isle of Cape Breton. Erin was chosen for her enthusiasm, talent (both for singing and instrumentation) and incredibly good ear for harmony...she blends so well with Amy's voice that they sound like they could be sisters!
The DVD launch has really
kicked things into high gear for Hal Bruce and Decade...so much so, that
Hal decided to promote a one night concert at...
Tickets are $22 each (all
ages) at...
Get your tickets early...
you won't be sorry you did! This is one show not to be missed! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Abbey Road On The River
Beatle Festival Hal landed in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday, May 23rd after a sleepless night of travelling from Halifax, Nova Scotia. He hit the road right after a gig in Liverpool, NS and got home just in time to pack his bags and hit the airport for one of the first flights out in the morning. When he arrived in Louisville, Hal went straight to the studio to begin some pretty intense rehearsals for the 214 song Beatle Medley which was to be performed on Friday night, May 28th. Throughout the next 5 days, Hal and his trusty band of Hard Dazed Knights ploughed through every Beate songs ever recorded (their official releases). Wednesday evening, Hal and Scott played for the grand opening of the newly renovated Archibald Room at The Galt House for a great crowd of folks. Thursday, he performed (solo) the traditional "Roof Top" concert on Fourth Street at 11am...Vocals are always a concern for that time of day, but things worked out great...super crowd! Friday, the big day. The Hard Dazed Knights Band consisted of Hal Bruce, lead vocals, guitars, harmonicas; Gary Metcalf, electric guitar, lead and harmony vocal; Scott Ferguson, drums, percussion and harmony vocal; Mark Beyer, keyboards and percussion; and Floyd King, bass and harmony vocal. Went onstage in front of about 5 - 7,000 people...a super crowd throughout the whole 2 1/2 hour ordeal...what a mind blow to try and keep all of those great songs in some kind of order, tempo, proper key, the right segues, etc. More than being musical, it was quite physically demanding to say the very least! One of the major highlights of the entire night was when Hal acquired his very own Gretsch Tennessee Rose (George Harrison) electric guitar!...wow...no, super wow!!! Joe Carducci, the man who made ot all happen, was so helpful in introducing the new guitar to Hal. So, when he took his new baby back to his room, he couldn't put it down for more than a few minutes before picking it back up again...just to play some of those great old Beatle riffs, and solos! That guitar actually made his year!!! Another highlight was when Hal did his "Unprepared" show in the Daisy Room with Mario DeSilva on guitar, Scott Ferguson on drums, percussion and harmony vocal, Floyd King on bass and harmony vocal...what a night!!! Anything from instrumental to vocal songs, a lot of great picking, a few stories which the crowd really seemed to get into. Speaking of "crowd", the room was pretty much full to capacity, which made the playing a lot more enjoyable, to say the very least. Although Scott and Hal did a couple of their own successful outdoor sets, he was looking forward to his one hour sets with his Hard Dazed Knights band. So, Saturday, around 5:30PM the skies opened up and it down-poured for about 30 minutes which really shortened up their set considerably. Anyway, everything seemed to go over really well, as they played some tunes that they've always wanted to play together....Paperback Writer, Nowhere Man, She said, She Said, Get Back... Hal, Scott, Floyd and a handful of able-bodied musicians were called up onstage for Hal's midnight Apple Jam to a pretty full Archibald Room! There they did, not only Beatles songs, but lots of non-Beatle songs...pretty much a request night. The festival that weekend seemed to be a great success all the way 'round. All of the bands and artists, vendors, volunteers, organizers, and fans of Beatle music helped make Abbey Road On The River a smash hit for this, Hal's 8th consecutive year! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
5th Annual Maritime Beatle
Event The 5th Annual Beatle Event is quickly approaching...date is set for Saturday, June 5th at St. Antonio's Hall in Halifax. Special guest performers will include...headliners The Replay from Montreal...These guys authentically reproduce the music and the look of The Beatles early look (suits) and also the studio years (Abbey Road period). Check them out on their web site www.replaythebeatles.com. Also, our very own FreeFall, from Amherst will make much requested return visit and will perform two sets for the Event. This band of seasoned pros really went over fantastically for the last two years, and we're really excited to have them return again. They're quickly becoming fan favorites. Beatles Hall Of Fame inductee, Hal Bruce will perform his "off the chain" renditions of Beatles classics. Along with Hal, Scott Ferguson of Dartmouth (drums), Floyd King of Dartmouth (bass), Mark Beyer of Louisville, Kentucky (keyboards) and Gary Metcalf of Louisville, Kentucky (electric guitar) will perform with him. Also, as a great added feature, Hal, Scott, Floyd, Mark and Gary will perform the entire Beatles catalogue of 214 songs in a non-stop medley. This feat has never been performed in Canada...ever!! Hal Bruce has performed the entire medley by himself to set a world-record in Cleveland, Ohio in 2004, in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005, and in Liverpool, England in 2006, but has never performed it with an entire band. Hal says, "It would be so great to perform every song The Beatles ever recorded the way they were meant to be heard....one after another!" Also, there will be Beatles merchandisers, Beatle themed food, great prizes, and a very special presentation to a very lucky Grand Prize winner. Also, one of our volunteers will win, for the first time ever, the "Nancy Giles Volunteer Award". We really would like to honor one of Hal's best friends by naming the award after her.
Solo and duets will
include... So, come out and see for yourself what makes this whole experience, one that will remain in your memory for many years to come. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Music Room Theatre Hal Bruce has just returned from a very successful tour of The US with Scott Ferguson, Amy Soloway and Margot Sampson, and The Caribbean where he performed with his drummer Scott for a series of 1960s styled concerts. Because of the great reception for the "Decade of Love" shows abroad, Hal thought that it might be a great idea to bring it home to Halifax's Music Room Theatre. Almost immediatley, the 4 sets of 1960s classics were sold-out, so another held-out show ahs been arranged for Sunday, April 25th at the same location...a great spot to do a live show!!! The first shows consisted of people sing out as loud as they could to their favorite tunes from that era and the Decade band pumpin' it right back at them. They don't make music like that anymore...shame!!! Hal Bruce and Decade are looking for the same kind of evening that the last shows dished out...it was crazy fun! Tickets are very very limited for this last show on the 25th...you should call now for yours...don't be left out...They are going really fast. Tickets at halbruce@halbruce.com or 902-435-7410 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
January 6th - March 14th
2010 Hal Bruce embarks on another tenure at The Seven Feathers Resort where he will perfrom his "Decade Of Love 1960s Show" to the folks of Oregon. He has been looking forward to his return there after a very triumphant series of concerts last year when he performed his "All You Need Is Love" Beatles show to sold-out crowds for much of his 2 1/2 month stay. This time around, he has invited his drummer, Scott Ferguson and two new highly skilled singers to be part of the presentation, Halifax's Amy Soloway and Margot Sampson. These gals can really wail, and they've got the experience Hal has been looking for to fit the spots. So far most of the shows have been sell-outs, which really has been a great feeling all the way 'round. The bonus is that everyone in the band really gets along so well, and the harmonies are so much fun!
Some of the artists they
cover in their 60s shows are... If you're in the Canyonville area of Oregon during Hals concert schedule, please drop in and catch a show or three, you won't be disappointed! Matter of fact, most of the patrons are repeat customers for the Decade Od Love shows. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
CD Launch and Party at Our
Friends Pub It's here, finally! Hal Bruce's LIVE two party CDs, with tons of classic Rock and Roll and Pop songs from the 1960s and beyond. Hal has completed not one, but two full-length cds with a total of nearly 30 songs (all gold), guaranteed to take you back in time when everything was "far out, groovy, beaded, braided, dropped in, dropped out, popped in, popped out, bell bottomed, paisleyed...well, you get the picture. This set of two albums was recorded in front of a live studio audience. Armed with just one guitar and a set of drums, Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson played through a list of just some of their favorites for the audience who, in return, sang along with just about every song (which by the way was also recorded for the album to give it that party atmosphere). Hal also supplied harp and kazoo, yes I said kazoo, while Scott supplied percussion when he wasn't playing drums. The little surprise on the album is the unique solo they added in Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)...nope, not trumpets, instead they did the face trumpet thingy, so nothing was sampled on the album...nothing at all...just all live from the floor. Also, the show stopper song House Of The Rising Sun was finally completed just in time for the release of the project. The music of that special time may never be repeated again , so drop out to...
Our Friends Pub Show time is at 5 PM sharp...bring your singing voices. you'll be wanting to use them, a lot!!! This new collection of songs is just a sampling of what Hal does in his regular party shows...his list of songs is well into the hundreds, at least. He's picked a wide assortment of styles from the 60s and beyand to include songs by artists like...
Simon and Garfunkel (has there been anything left out?...well The Beatles music has been covered on Hal's 4 previous albums which have been sold around the world, with tremendous reviews) See you all at the party...you won't want to miss this one, if you want to take a stroll down Memory Lane! ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... August 2009: International Beatle Week Festival, Liverpool, England Celebrating 10th consecutive year at this festival, Hal played 12 scheduled concerts with an additional 8 guest appearances with other international groups like The Repeatles from Sweden, Jay Goeppner from Chicago, Bob Bartey from Scotland, and The BlackBirds from Hungary. This trip to Beatleland was one of the best festivals Hal has witnessed in Liverpool (they've all been great ones), "I really had a chance to stretch out and play a bunch of material that I've never tried before or at least haven't tried in a very long time...Calico Skies, Long Long Long, My Love, Mrs. Vandebilt, Let Me Roll It, For You Blue, Don't Bother Me, You Like Me Too Much, Band On The Run, and it goes on". One of the highlights was having a very well known drummer sit in on a set with Jay Goeppner, Phil Angotti and myself at The Cavern Club, one Mr. Alan White (drummer for John Lennon - Imagine, Instant Karma, drummer for George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, and drummer for 35 years with YES. So, yeh, it was a pretty special moment playing "Imagine" with the guy that actually played it on record with John so many years ago! Playing with Hal's friends throughout the week was a complete treat to say the least...a little harmonica here and a little guitar there thrown in with a lot of vocal stretches. Also hanging out with old friends was always a welcome treat for Hal during his very little down time. His hangout for the week seemed to be The Pizza Express Restaurant where he had their lasagna for 5 nights in a row...it was the very best anywhere! And The Living Room Restaurant had the very best sticky toffee pudding in the world! The American Bar has always been a favorite for artists who want that intimate feel to their shows, and Hal's performance there was definitely one of his favorites...the place was packed, shoulder to shoulder...although it is pretty small to begin with. The crowd there was the best anywhere he's ever played for, very appreciative and respectful of the artists who play there. Hal's new album "All You Need Is Love" sold-out quickly to friends and newcomers alike...and received great reviews for his renditions of many of The Beatles biggies (lots of number ones) 20 in total. Although there were familiar bands from years gone by, there were a few new bands who are going to be coming back for a long time to come, you can be sure. The Sutcliffes from Canada (BC) were definitely keepers! Of course The Repeatles, The BlackBirds, Ringer, Overtures, Jay Goeppner, all rocked, as usual! It was also great to see Shannon "The Artist" get inducted to The Cavern City Hall Of Fame this year...she's the very best Beatles artist in the world (and a pretty good guitar picker to boot!) 10 out of 10 score for the Festival. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... June 6th 2009: 4th Annual Maritime Beatle Event, Halifax, Nova Scotia Year No. 4 has come and gone...They said it wouldn't top the previous three Events, but it broke all of the other attendance records...and the acts were spectacular! The Feefall Beatles Tribute Band from Amherst was a complete hit with everyone, performing two full sets of Beatles classics. These seasoned pros seemed to enjoy the applause after every song, and really brought the house down as they bounced from song to song. The Repeatles, from Sweden have been guests of the Event for the first two years of The Event, and were back this year by popular demand...We received many e-mails stating that folks wanted this high powered Band of Swedes to return to Halifax for their third visit. They delivered the goods once they set foot onstage, performing a set of Beatles gems, then for their second set they performed a lot of great music from the 1960's....like The Who, The Kinks, The Turtles, The Stones, The Monkees, and many more. The "Unstoppable" Jay Goeppner (John Lennon Tribute) from Chicago twisted his way through the vast catalogue of John Lennon Beatles years and solo material with 200% energy and some great talent to boot! He msut've lost 10 pounds by the end of the night, because once he was onstage, you couldn't stop him. We were telling him afterwards that we only wanted half of what he was on! John Chiasson's Lonely Hearts Club Jazz Band performed at this, their first Beatle Event, and went over extremely well as they performed their 30 minute set, a great blend of jazz to their take on Beatles classics, which was perfect for that time of day...people were really into listening to this tight unit. From what I heard, they actually sold more cds than anyone there that day...way to go! Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson as Ticket 2 Ride, performed their two set of Beatles classics, going from the Early Years right up through the Solo Years. During their second set they invited Mark Beyer (keys) from Louisville, and Floyd King (bass) from Dartmouth to join them onstage...Wow, what a treat for Hal and Scott...now a full band for 45 minutes!!! Even though Hal and Scott have played all over the world as a duet act, they really relished the idea of having these two aces with them for that set. Donna Scaglione completely nailed her renditions of Oh! Darling, Bobby MacGee (Janis Joplin style) and a raft of other 1960's jewels throughout the mega set. Kim Kinrade and Ian Sherwood along with Donna Scaglione, "Hosts Extraordinaire" kept things flowing along smoothly so there weren't any bumps in the on and offs of bands. Their many years of stage experience really helped with the constant rhythm of change-ups with acts (Plus it didn't hurt at all that they had a big hook for anyone who didn't follow their time cues). Special Guests to join the line-up were Mark Rashotte (guitar) from Belleville, Ontario (completely ruled on While My Guitar Gently Weeps) as well as lots of other Mega Beatles songs, Mark Beyer (keys) from Louisville, Kentucky (the best in the business of Beatles music and 1960's material...no one better on the planet!, Arnie Brox (bass) from Sweden who really held our sound together during the 1960's set and Jay Goeppner's John Lennon set, Floyd King (bass) from Dartmouth who sat in with Hal and Scott and Mark Beyer on the 2nd set of Ticket 2 Ride's classic Beatles songs, Ian Sherwood (guiatr and saxaphone) from Halifax who perfoemd his mini set of Beatles and original songs...brought the house down. Other guests included artists like Terry Creaser "The Singing Carpenter", Brett and Shane Kinrade "The Duelling Piano Kids", Heather Pike, Dennis Brown, Richard Wallace (cameoed on bass for quite a bit of the Big Finale...great job!) A splendid time was guaranteed for all, and from all acounts, it was splandid! Can't wait for The Event next June...The Big 5th Anniversary...and folks, we are going to party! ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... April 2009: Abbey Road Album rehearsals, Athens, Georgia Hal has just finished a rehearsal schedule in Athens, Georgia (not Greece) where he got together with a Beatles tribute band "Abbey Road Live". The rehearsals are for the upcoming concerts in Louisville, Kentucky's Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival in late May www.abbeyroadontheriver.com He was commissioned as Music Director to "Mega-size" the classic Beatles' Abbey Road album for a live mainstage concert. What he's planned to do is take the already classic collection of songs from that album, and add other classic songs form The Beatles catalogue intertwing them with each other, much the same way that the LOVE album was presented a couple of years ago. "It has taken me three months to put this together, and I hope the folks really like this treatment of The Beatles biggest selling album!" Previuosly, Hal was MD for the LOVE album concerts, where he was in charge of the musical arrangements for a group of 30 singers and musicians...He debuted the stage production in front of thousands of people in Louisville, Kentucky and Scranton, Pennsylvania a total of 5 times. "We're really looking forward to presenting this new idea to the fans of the biggest pop group in history, The Beatles". ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... March 2009: Concert in Veradero, Cuba Visiting Cuba for the 3rd consecutive year, Hal and drummer Scott Ferguson combined a vacation week with their families and friends with a number of "Ticket 2 Ride" performances at The Bella Costa Resort and Sandals Resort in Veradero. Crowds were very eager to get some good ole 60's and 70's classic rock 'n' roll and a smattering of country and folk...so the boys were quick to oblige. During their 7 day stay in the "Land of fun in the sun", they performed 5 concerts to hundreds of people each show. So, it seemed to be just what the doctor ordered...for Hal and Scott and for the audiences alike. Next year they will be performing at Sandals Resort in Veradero, Cuba the last two weeks of March, if anyone wants to join them for two weeks of sun and rock 'n' roll (a great combination). Guaranteed a great time for everyone....Don't forget your sunscreen! ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... January 2009: International Musician Magazine Hal was featured in the January edition of International Musician Magazine for his ongoing performances at Beatles Festivals and theatres around the world. He has embarked on a musical journey, which has taken him to many countries where he has played to sold-out venues and has met thousands of Beatles fans, old and young alike. "The music of The Beatles is alive a very well these days, and it doesn't look like that will change at all. It has been etched in our minds and hearts forever I think. Their main message has always been about Love and Peace, with a little dash of Helter Skelter along the way". This is the story printed by IMM... For Hal Bruce of Local 571 (Halifax, NS), it all started with a plastic, four string Mickey Mouse guitar he got for Christmas, shortly before The Beatles made their Ed Sullivan appearance (Feb. '64). After that legendary performance, Bruce was hooked. "That was a real starting point - that's who I wanted to emulate". A self-taught musician, Hal played the guitar and wanted to learn every single song the Fab Four wrote, and he did. Today, Hal travels the world as a Beatles solo artist, playing their songs on his acoustic guitar. Hal is the first and only North American to be inducted into the International Beatle Week Hall Of Fame in Liverpool, England, and holds the world-record for playing all 214 released Beatles songs in a non-stop medley, which he has performed in Cleveland, Ohio (2004), Louisville, Kentucky (2005), and Liverpool, England (2006. A long time before Hal achieved Beatles fame, his first gig was an all-girl sock hop when he was 14 years old. Naturally, ha played some Beatles songs, but also other tunes from the '60s. "We thought is was pretty cool that we were five guys playing for 100 girls and other people who would pais to hear us play" says Hal, "I think we made a total of $9.00, and had to split that 5 ways!" As a teenager, Hal began writing original material and always had The Beatles on the back of his mind. "I wasn't copying them but wanted to give life to my songs the way they did with theirs...That was the idea, I wanted to take my music in that direction". In 1973, Hal landed a paying gig in Halifax, which signaled the start of his career as a musician. Six years later, Hal formed a travelling country band, Hal Bruce and The Hired Hand Band, which toured the country for 18 years and recorded several albums. "We had modest success", says Hal. "We won some regional, national and international awards and had 12 or 13 singles which all received a fair amount of airplay throughout the years." Hal joined the AFM back when he started playing clubs back in the early '70s. Hi debut in Liverpool, England as a Beatles soloist was in 2000 at the International Beatle Week Festival. Hal came to sell some of his artwork he had done and figured he would bring his guitar along, just incase he had the opportunity to play. "I thought I'm not going to be another four-piece group trying to be the Mop Tops...I'm going to try and be a little unique". "I'll play it all acoustically, even the rock and roll stuff, and not with backing tracks. I'll either sink or swim". Since 2000, Hal has returned to play every year, having the opportunity to play The Cavern Club at least a hundred times, which has been called the birthplace of The Beatles. Garnering popularity at his Cavern Club performances, he has been dubbed "The Cavern's Very Best Friends", a distinction that means a lot to him. When Hal plays at the famous venue, 400-500 people pack into the space that comfortably fits around 120. "To me, playing there is almost like a religious experience. I think, man, this is where it all happened: they wrote and played songs here, and their sound is bouncing off the walls to this day!" Although Hal is a solo artist, he emulates the sound of the Beatle very well, tapping the side of his guitar for percussion, and playing the lower notes for the bass as he strums the rhythm patterns...resulting is his own three piece band. When Hal needs "real" percussion, he often plays with drummer Scott Ferguson, former drummer for The Rankin Family. Cramming all 214 Beatles songs into a non-stop medley and holding world records, is a feat Hal had to work up to. Depending on how much time he is given to play, he arranges the 214 songs, writes the transitions, and makes sure that everything works well. It can take a s long as 6 months to prepare an arrangement. "It's pretty draining, performing all these songs in the original keys. The Beatles sang a lot of these songs when they were in their early 20s, so it's harder for an old-timer, but I've conditioned myself along the way". Playing non-stop for several hours is actually something Hal enjoys. In his music career, taking a break from music is not something that Hal plans on doing any time soon either. He just finished recording his fourth Beatles tribute album and will play a 2 1/2 month gig at The Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort in Oregon and a week in Cuba. "I've had so many high moments playing festivals and other venues all over the world", says Hal, who has played in Australia, South America, USA, The Caribbean and many European countries. "People all over the world have treated me so nice - it's been a great ride so far!" ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... December 2008: Music Room Theatre, Halifax, Nova Scotia Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson performed for three sold-out shows at the Music Room on Lady Hammond Road in Halifax. Although it was very close to Christmas, people came out in full force to catch Hal and Scott's renditions of many of The Beatles classics...There wasn't an empty seat in the house, matter of fact, they had to rent extra chairs to accommodate the extra folks who came to see the concerts. Donna Scaglione of Seaside FM was there to MC, and a fine job she did, as always! They had such a great time performing, that Hal and Scott went quite a bit overtime, which didn't seem to bother anyone (although the following days were work days for most folks). The Music Room has been one of their favorite places to play...there's not a bad seat in the house, and the sound in the room is always top form! Hal and Scott can't wait for a return engagement there, hopefully in the late fall of this year. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... December 28th 2008 - March 8th 2009: Canyonville, Oregon, USA Beatles Hall Of Fame Inductee, Hal Bruce has just returned from a highly successful series of concerts at The Seven Feathers Hotel and Resort Casino in Canyonville, Oregon. While there, he performed 118 shows to packed houses...almost every concert was sold-out! The folks of Canyonville and Oregon in general were some of the nicest people Hal has met in his travels around the world...and avid Beatles fans as well, which didn't hurt at all. The Oregon hospitality was something that sure made the stay there for 2 1/2 months very enjoyable...and the food wasn't too shabby either! One of Hal's memories of Oregon is that while there in January and February, he found that the weather was pretty much like our spring weather here in Nova Scotia, so many days he t-shirted his days there while hiking in the mountains and valleys. While there in his off-time (which there wasn't a lot of), He explored many of the trails, waterfalls, mountains, rivers, and just scenery in general...it was pure heaven! Also, while He had some down-time, He got to take on one of his passions, drawing...while there he drew the much-requested "Ringo Starr" picture from the White album (which was his last one to do)...many folks back home in The Maritimes have been patiently waiting for a "very" long time to complete their set of The Fab Four's White album set. The drawing of Ringo took an extimated 35 hours to complete while at his house in Oregon. Also, he had time to draw one of the early portraits of John and one of Paul, each taking around 27 hours. Feeling quite inspired, he actually did more drawing there than he has done in a very long time, and wants to continue and maybe sometime this year he might have an art showing of his works. Although there was much to do while there, travelling, exploring, excercising, eating, performing, etc...he really missed everyone back home and was glad to step off the plane and get back into the Maritime swing of things. He really hopes that he will have a chance to return to Oregon again soon to continue entertaining folks in that region..."They're just so appreciative of the effort that I gave and I was blessed with quite a few standing ovations, and it doesn't get too much better than that!" ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
August 2008 Hal Bruce, full-time musician/singer and world traveler from Nova Scotia has just been inducted to the International Beatle Week Festival "Hall Of Fame" at the Inaugural Ceremony in Liverpool, England. Hal is the only North American performer to ever receive such an award. The festival which has been running for 25 years and has played host to thousands of entertainers, has decided to honor artists who have made a definite impact and substantial contribution to the most famous Beatle festival in the world! Hal has been playing the festival for nine consecutive years and has made a legion of friends along the way. Just recently Hal Bruce was inducted as the first recipient of The Hall Of Fame Award at the Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival in Louisville, Kentucky (www.abbeyroadontheriver.com). While there, he was also awarded a brand new John Lennon Epiphone electric guitar for his continuing contribution to the annual festival. Also, Hal has set a "world-record" by performing all 214 released Beatles songs in a non-stop medley in Cleveland, Ohio 2004, Louisville, Kentucky 2005, and Liverpool, England 2006. He also organized his very own Maritime Beatle Event in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a one-day festival honoring his heroes, The Beatles, where he performs and organizes all of the acts, regional and international. Next May will mark the 4th Annual Event. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... August 2008 Hal Bruce has just come home from a highly successful string of performances in Liverpool, England at The International Beatle Week Festival. The defining high point of his week was being inducted to The Beatle Week Hall Of Fame at the 25th Anniversary Festival. This is the first time anyone has received such an honor. Throughout the last 25 years there have been a quite a few thousand entertainers from all over the world who have played at the world-famous Cavern Club, but this is the first time the organizers got together and planned the inaugural ceremony in front of a packed house at The Adelphi Hotel. (Hal was also the first recipient of The Hall Of Fame Award in Louisville, Kentucky two years ago at The Abbey Road On The River Beatles Festival. Also, Hal got to organize his own Summer Of Love Show and take it to The Mathew Street Festival in front of between 15,000 - 20,000 people. His troop of international artists came from several different countries...Scott Ferguson (drums), Nova Scotia, Canada...Mark Beyer (keyboards), Kentucky, USA...Mark Rashotte (electric guitar), Ontario, Canada...Stan Bullock (percussion), N. Carolina, USA...Alyona Yarushina (vocal), Russia...Tony Skeggs (guitars), N. Wales...Chris Grindrod (bass), England. Together with this fantastic line-up of great musicians/singers, Hal performed songs from the 1967 era...from artists like The Mamas and The Papas, Lovin' Spoonful, The Byrds, Donovan, Monkees, Jefferson Airplane, Aretha Franklin, The Who, Small Faces, Sonny And Cher, Buffalo Springfield, Janis Joplin, and lots more. The whole week was loaded full of Beatle-styled gigs at The Cavern Club (birthplace of The Beatles), the inside of the Club was sweat-laden, hot, over-crowded and loud, but it was like Heaven for Hal and fellow Ticket 2 Ride bandmate Scott Ferguson. They played prbably a total of no less than 16 - 17 shows. Crowds were so supportive that encores at each show bacame the "norm". Meeting up with old friends from 9 consecutive visits to Liverpool has become somewhat of an Old Home Week of sorts. You couldn't go anywhere in town, literally, without bumping into international friends along the way. Hal can't wait to display his Hall Of Fame Award Award in his Beatle Room where he has picked up a few others along the way. Life is very good in Beatle Land, yes indeed!!! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
"Music And Story Of The
Beatles" Hal Bruce, along with Scott Ferguson, play hosts to a special Valentine's Week presentation of "The Music And Story Of The Beatles" at The Music Room Theatre where they sold out two shows last year around this time. Doors open at 7 pm and the presentation begins at 8 sharp...You don't have to be someone's Valentine to come out and enjoy the show. Many Beatles classic love songs will be featured, but they will be mixed with a wide selection of Number 1 hits, plus a bucketful of album cuts (which by the way are some of Hal and Scott's favorites!!!) Tickets are only $18.00 (HST included) and they're on the home-stretch of being sold-out again this year...so, for info on ticket sales, please call 902-435-7410 or e-mail halbruce@halbruce.com
A splendid time is
definitely guaranteed for all!!! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Beatles Day Festival Flew from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Brussels, Belgium with a three hour stop-over at Heathrow Airport, London on Tuesday, September 18th. Landed in Brussels where Bernard Maton, one of the festival organizers, picked me up and headed back to Mons to take part in a down home Mons kitchen party, just to get things started off with a bang. Complete with singers and guitars by the plenty. The deal was that any Beatles song that was requested, it had to be played...thank goodness nobody asked for "Revolution No. 9" or "What A Shame Mary Jane Had A Pain At The Party". Dinners in Mons, in general, seem to begin a little later in the evening and last for up to three hours or more, and this night was no exception. Actually, this one along with the sing-song lasted until about 1:30 am. Wednesday was mainly a "kick back and relax" day...with an evening performance at one of the local Mons pubs with many of the Beatles Day organizers in attendance, plus a good supply of pub patrons. Thursday morning, I drove to Brussels to pick up Shelley, Scott and Gail Ferguson. The open highway seemed to have no speed limits...I was traveling an average of 125 kms an hour and all other cars were passing me like I was in "park"! We arrived back in Mons where yet another supper and jam session awaited us. This was Scott and Gail's first trip to continental Europe and what a great way to welcome them to Mons. Friday was the kick-off for the Beatles Day festival...usually this is a one day event but to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the festival was held over two days this year. This year also saw a change in venue...it was held at the historic Royal Theatre of Mons. After a day of preparation by artists and organizers at the venue, everything was ready for the show to begin. Scott and I kicked off our first performance with "Nowhere Man" to a very enthusiastic crowd. Finishing off our set with "House of the Rising Sun", we received a standing ovation, which was a great feeling as Scott and I had never performed together in Mons before. Other acts who appeared the opening night were "Jazz Me Do" from Belgium and "The Beatlemaniacs" from England. Out in the "meet-and-greet" area, we were met by scores of Beatles fans from all over Europe...great to chat with everyone! All in all, a very successful day! Saturday was a day full of activities including many merchandise vendors and displays throughout the Royal Theatre. For our evening show, we were asked to perform a set in honour of John Lennon. We picked some of his classics from the days of The Beatles and mixed them in with a supply of his solo works. Again, we received a standing ovation and encore so we decided that "Imagine" was the perfect song to round off the set. Other acts included "The Prellies" from England, "The Get Back Band" from Scotland and a great group I saw for the first time, "The Afterbeat" from France. We all joined in on the finale of "Hey Jude"...quite a night and a great way to end the festival! On our time off in Belgium, we were taken to the beautiful City of Brugges (Venice of the north) for a great day of sight-seeing, chocolate, Belgian beer and great food...oh, and fantastic Belgian waffles. Bernard Dutrieux, one of the Beatles Day organizers, was so kind to spend the day with us showing us the sights in this beautiful historic city. Back in Mons for our final evening in Belgium before heading back to Canada, we were joined by Alain and Cecile Kicq along with Bernard and Mimi Dutrieux for a wonderful meal at one of the fine restaurants in the city square. All the organizers of this festival are among the nicest people that we have had the pleasure of meeting throughout our travels. A sincere thank you from, Scott, Gail, Shelley and myself. This was my third trip to Mons and we can't wait for a return visit...a bientot! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Abbey Road On The River
Canada This festival, for Hal, got off to a very scary beginning...As he was on his flight from Halifax to Toronto, he became somewhat ill while watching a little onboard television. Quickly, he felt very faint and was assisted to an empty first class seat where he passed out for a short spell. An off-duty doctor tended to him, and concluded that he must've eaten something the night before which didn't agree with him (case of food poisoning was the suspected culprit). As the plane neared Toronto, he started to come around a bit, and was offered a drive to the hospital. Hal assured the doctor that he was feeling much better and would continue his trip to Belleville where he was to perform at The Empire Theatre for his first show, four hours from then. Gary Jacob (organizer of the AROTR Beatle Festival in Louisville, Cleveland and Scranton, USA) met Hal at the exit, and drove him to Belleville where he started to feel much better as time went on, so by the time he took to the stage, he was pretty much his old self again. While performing for the hundreds of Beatle enthusiasts who waited for hours to hear the different performers do their renditions of their favorite Beatle classics, he received his first of three standing ovations for the weekend. Throughout the weekend, Hal did solo shows, then joined up with fellow Hall Of Famers, All You Need Is Love, the host band from Belleville, for their combined delivery of the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Friends from across Canada, The U.S.A., England and Scotland were there to reaquaint themselves with Hal and the different entertainers...It was like an old fashioned Home-Coming of sorts....a great fellowship indeed! Hat's off to Chief organizer and Empire Theatre owner, Mark Rashotte for putting on a great 1st Beatle Festival for the folks of Belleville. Hal has been invited back for their 2nd festival in 2008, in August, and he's really looking forward to his return visit to Belleville. ~ Cavern Music Productions ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
May 27, 2007 and June 2nd
2007 Hal has been named "Music Director" for the 1st North American Stage production of The Beatles new album, "LOVE", set to be staged in Louisville, Kentucky on May 27th and again in Scranton, Pennsylvania on June 2nd. Beatle festival organizer, and president, Gary Jacob www.abbeyroadontheriver.com invited Hal to be, not only one of the key singer/musicians, but also the MD for this huge festival, which boasts to be the largest of its kind in the world. This event has been growing steadily each year since its debut in 2002, to the point where some of the concerts are requiring help from people who have a great knowledege of the Beatles vast repertoire and history...enter Hal Bruce. He began his association with Gary Jacob in 2003, when Hal called him on the phone and told Gary that he would love to come and perform as one of the few Beatles soloists on the market at his festival, which was then, held in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, Hal has performed at every Abbey Road On The River Festival...quickly moving up into the mainstage concert settings and supported by legions of new friends. He even set a "world-record" in 2004 by performing all 214 recorded Beatles' songs in a non-stop medley, armed with only his guitar, harmonica, piano, and vocal. Last year in 2006, Hal was inducted as the very first member of the "Abbey Road On The River Hall Of Fame"...where he also received a John Lennon Epiphone electric guitar for his ongoing contributions to the festival. So, earlier this year, Gary Jacob, approached Hal and asked him if he would consider being Music Director for the World Premier stage performance of the Beatles' LOVE album...plus a number of other concerts being held in Louisville, Kentucky and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Because the album has so many different pieces of Beatles classics, many being played simultaneously, Hal suggested utilizing up to 4-5 groups of musicians, sometimes all at the same time, to make the album concert sound authentic. So, on May 27th, a little bit of Beatle history is set to be made in Louisville, Kentucky, and again the following week on June 2nd in Scranton Pennsylvania. Hal says to Gary Jacob, "With the musicians and singers we've hand-picked, the concert is not only possible to complete, but I guarantee its success!" ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2nd Annual Maritime Beatle
Event
Saturday, June 9th
Early Bird tickets now on
sale! This past June marked the birth of the very 1st Annual Maritime Beatle Event held at the Olympic Gardens in Halifax. We were honoured to have Julia Baird (John Lennon's sister) as our special guest at the inaugural Event along with a host of other international and regional acts.
The 2nd Annual Maritime
Beatle Event will be held on Saturday, June 9th, 2007.
Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson
as "Ticket 2 Ride" from Nova Scotia Both Jim "Ringo" Martin and Jay Goeppner are the very best in their respective tributes...Jim Martin performing his Ringo tribute along with his All-Starr Band and Jay Goeppner's tribute to John Lennon. Both artists are highly charged with energy and regarded as two of the best in the world. Also, back by popular demand are The Repeatles and Abbey Road...both acts will have you singing and dancing in the aisles. Guaranteed! As a special feature, the Summer of Love Concert will spotlight the music of The Who, The Kinks, The Stones, The Byrds, The Monkees, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, and many more. This 12 hour Beatle marathon will be one that you will remember for a long time to come, so get your Early Bird tickets soon to ensure that you don't miss out on this Event. These tickets would be a great Christmas stocking stuffer for any Beatle fan! Tickets can be purchased by phone at 902-435-7410 or e-mail halbruce@halbruce.com. Additional information can be found at www.maritimebeatleevent.com. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Australian Beatles Festival,
Adelaide, Australia Though Canada is just getting into the autumn season, Australia is just beginning their late spring/early summer...so the days were beautifully warm and pretty sunny throughout the festival and following week. This is another example of a Beatles Festival, though small in stature, but huge in Beatles spirit!! The three day fest played host to Australian groups such as The Fab Four, Back Beat, The Highlights, Modern Britain, Dallas Atkin, and Imagine John Lennon. Hal was the only International Act to perform throughout the weekend. The festival started off by having Hal open with a one hour concert of Beatles' classics (aren't they all?) His show at The Cavern Club was met with great enthusiasm, so it was really exciting to connect with the Adelaidians once more...having done so two years in a row before. The crowd seemed to know every word to every song, especially the 6 and 7 year old Sgt. Pepperettes. The real treat of the weekend was a four song performance by 1960's sensation, Little Stevie Wright of The Easy Beats. He completely rocked the house, especially when he sang his world-wide hit "Friday On My Mind"...The crowd went wild!! Hal says that Little Stevie has been quite an inspiration for him and for a lot of people who saw him perform. Another highlight for Hal was when he got to perform in the "Solo Years Concert" on the last night of the festival. He has the great fortune to front a 14 piece band, and kicked off the concert with Paul McCartney's "Jet", followed by "Band On The Run" and George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You". "It was quite a rush playing with the horn section, drums and percussion, two sets of keys, three back-up singer, three guitars, bass...and God knows what else!" The following week, Hal got a chance to perform a few concerts on his own at The Cavern, playing songs that he grew up on back in the 1960's (giving away his age...just a little). Played for a college crowd, so Hal pulled out some songs by REM, Proclaimers, John Cougar Mellencamp, Tragically Hip, Bryan Adams, Stones, just a pinch of AC/DC...and a few Beatles songs as well. All in all, it was a great time meeting up with many familiar faces and getting introduced to new ones. Also, a highlight was the imprompt jams in the band room with Danny, Kelly and Andy..."That was so much fun that we found ourselves playing right through the afternoons and evenings without even looking at the clock. The Aussie crowd was so cool to play for!" Hal is hoping for a return visit next year down under. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Toronto Beatles Celebration,
Toronto Organizer, Peter Miniaci (Toronto) approached Hal a year earlier to be a part of the 2006 celebration of The Beatles last concert in Toronto in 1966...40 years ago. Held at The CNE Exhibition Place, it was definitely a large enough venue for the Event. Special guests for this fest were Pete Best (former drummer for The Beatles), May Pang (former girlfriend of John Lennon), Denny Doherty (former singer for The Mamas and The Papas), and other key speakers...as well as acts like The Fab Four and David Wildsmith (Ontario), and The Tribute 1964 (USA). Merchandise and display tables, guest speakers and concerts were the order of the weekend Hal's concerts were followed by a "Meet and Greet" area where he chatted with hundreds of folks who came to hear their favorite Beatles songs. He also, sold copies of his three Beatles tribute CDs, and copies of his limited prints of his Beatles drawings. Although it was one of the shorter festivals he has performed at, Hal made a legion of new friends...from the Toronto area and abroad. Hat's off to Peter Miniaci and company for a job well done!! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
International Beatle Week,
Liverpool, England Although Hal sustained a serious back injury just a few weeks before the annual Beatle Week in Liverpool, England, nothing was going to stop him from performing his 12 scheduled concerts, including his medley of all 214 recorded Beatles songs. He had been shut down on his previous attempts to perform his medley in Liverpool...once because he attracted too big of a crowd in an open-air concert on Church Street. His first day in Liverpool started off with a double length concert at The Cavern. Once again, the crowd sang along with all of his renditions with great enthusiasm and support. It was also really nice to meet up with with fellow performers...The Repeatles, Instant Karma, Frank Agnello, Back From The USSR, and all of the other artists...as well as friends like Julia Baird, Roger Keys, Pete and Roag Best, Andy and Linda Birch, Vicki and Maria, Bill, Neil, Ray, Davey and all the CCT Gang. Concerts at The Cavern Front, Back and Pub were all extremely well attended...but the one that will stand out will always be the "Fire and Smoke at The Adephi Hotel Concert". Fellow musician/singer Frank Agnello and Hal had begun their Midnight Show at The American Bar, when part way through "Hello Good-bye" the fire alarm sounded for everyone to evacuate the hotel immediately! Thick smoke and stench followed as hundreds of people filed out onto the front steps of the historic hotel, where a misty chill awaited everyone. As firemen did their thing in the building, Hal decided to continue the concert on the steps...so it quickly became an audience participation medley of sorts. When clearance was finally given, hundreds of patrons and Beatles fans filed back into the ballroom to continue the imprompt concert, which lasted until the wee hours of the morning. One other highlight, and the most demanding of the weekend, was on Sunday afternoon when Hal performed his 214 song "Deadly Medley". Although his back was giving him some grief throughout the week, Hal completed the feat in 2 1/2 hours. Though he felt somewhat faint at the end of the ordeal, Hal answered the Standing Ovation with a performance of "A Day In The Life". All in all, it was a great week...met some old friends, made many new ones...and got to share some of the greatest music ever written by The Beatles! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
1st Annual Maritime Beatle
Event From the time the doors opened at noon, until the last song finished after midnight, the audience was treated to their favorite Beatles classics by performers and guests from different parts of the world...which included The Repeatles (Stockholm, Sweden), Jay Goeppner (Chicago, USA), Mark Rashotte of All You Need Is Love (Belleville, Ontario), Abbey Road (Halifax, Nova Scotia), and Hal Bruce and Ticket 2 Ride featuring Scott Ferguson. Special guest was Julia Baird, John Lennon's sister (Liverpool, England). In addition, there were a number of solo acts performing as well...Michelle Gill, Donna Scaglione, Allison Crowe, Kim Kinrade, Kristina Trites and Glen Roache. Special thanks to our Mountie, Tim Campbell as well as our bagpipers, Madelyn Evans and Bev Sample...you all definitely added a touch of Canadiana to our Event! From the opening introduction of Hal's rendition of "Here Comes The Sun" to the finale of "Imagine", the capacity crowd was kept busy singing, clapping, dancing, cheering...very reminiscent of the early days of rock and roll, with some Beatlemania wildness thrown into the mix. To say that the Event was a success, would be quite an understatement! It seemed that no one who was there wanted the Event to come to an end. Although the main power breaker had an overload during the last scheduled song of the night, "Hey Jude", the crowd kept on singing, in the dark, without the help from the finale musicians...refusing to "Let It Be". It was quite a magical moment! So, an additional classic Lennon song, "Imagine" capped off the night. Hal said the scene from the stage was very much like the excitement witnessed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England during the annual International Beatles Festival held every August. Hal and his wife, Shelley have just finished their 1st Beatle Event ever held in the Maritimes and already they're planning for next year's Event. They say that the next one will be even bigger and better than this year's inaugural Event...if that is possible! Special thanks go out to all of the talented artists, guests, hosts, volunteers, sponsors and audience...without any of you, it would not have been the success it was!
CAVERN MUSIC ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Abbey Road On The River Once again, Hal made the jouney to Louisville, Kentucky for the "Abbey Road On The River" Festival. Travelling with him from the Maritimes were two of his great friends, Fred Giles and Robert Feener. Along the way, they stopped for two days in Port Perry, Ontario for Hal to perform two shows at Beatties In The Country...then onto Kentucky. Although the festival boasted a roster of over 50 acts, the organizers put Hal right to work so he was on stage performing only an hour after arriving in Louisville. Throughout the hectic weekend, Hal performed in 12 shows as well as acting as Music Director for the three tribute concerts for John, Paul and George. The big surprise and highlight of the festival came on Saturday when Gary Jacob inducted Hal as the first person in the festival's "Hall of Fame". Then on Sunday evening, David Dean presented Hal with an electric Epiphone guitar for his musical contribution to the festival over the last number of years. To say he was honoured would be an understatement! Hal sends out a special thanks to Gary Jacob, David Dean, Eric Weigel and all the AROTR crew, along with all the musicians and Beatle People...Abbey Road On The River ROCKS! CAVERN MUSIC ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The 1st Annual Maritime
BEATLES Event Finally...42 years after The Beatles landed in North America and took the world by storm, Halifax, Nova Scotia is hosting its first BEATLES FESTIVAL. This event will be a Magical Mystery Tour down Memory Lane to a time and place where everyone sang their favourite Beatles songs and worshipped their heroes, John, Paul, George and Ringo. We will take you back to that very special time in history on Saturday, June 3rd as we give you some of the very best Beatles acts from our area and from abroad. Beatles connoisseurs and newcomers alike will all enjoy the excitement this day will have to offer. From 12 noon til 12 midnight we will give you 12 hours of concerts, movies, film clips, guest speakers, memorabilia, and even a Beatles singing contest. It will be a non-stop extravaganza to say the least!! Beatles Event organizer Hal Bruce, who has toured around the world (Australia, England, Belgium, U.S.A., Luxembourg, South America, and Canada), with his Beatles show, will mainstage the day-long festival along with drummer-extraordinaire Scott Ferguson (drummer for The Rankin Sisters). Already scheduled to perform is The Repeatles, a band from Stockholm, Sweden. This dynamic 4 piece rock and roll group has performed onstage with Hal Bruce in England, Kentucky and in Belgium to sold-out shows. Hal says, "These guys have the spunk and energy to get the crowd worked into a frenzy!" There will be three or four other Beatles acts to perform. The names will be added as details are finalized. There will also be a few surprises for you all throughout the event.
Tickets $35.00 (HST
included)...tickets now on sale by contacting
halbruce@halbruce.com or by
phone at 902-435-7410. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
January 19, 2006 This event in Halifax marked the first concert of 2006 for Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson with "The Music And Story Of The Beatles". This concert completely sold out in just a few days, so the energy for this gathered steam pretty early on! Although the show started at 7pm, folks were at the door at 6 just to get good seats (although there are no bad ones in the house). People were buzzing as they talked about what classic favourites they might hear that night. One of the little gems of the evening was when Donna "Marilyn Monroe" Scaglione made her frequent appearances onstage, and she kept the crowd in stitches as she shared the M.C. spot with local radio personalities Paul Kennedy (Seaside FM), and "The Beatle God" himself, Jamie Patterson (96.5 FM Beatle Brunch host). From the opening tune "Two Of Us", folks seemed like they were taken back in time to a pretty happy place as they sang, clapped, smiled, cheered, laughed, and cried. An encore performance of "Hey Jude" netted the duo with another standing ovation. Hal and Scott performed a total of over 3 hours worth of Beatles classics and favourite album gems. After Hal finished his version of the only non-Beatles song of the evening, "House Of The Rising Sun", the crowd gave a thunderous standing ovation...followed by a few more throughout the evening...one in particular was when talent search winner, Michelle Gill joined Hal in a duet for their explosive version of "Oh Darling". Scott's drumming seemed to just lock everything into place, all night long! "he's the best in the business!", Hal says with confidence. It was just one of those nights you don't want to see come to an end. Definitely a night full of Beatles Spirit! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
September 26, 2005 Hal finally gets a chance to see one of his all time heroes perform in Boston…Sir Paul McCartney. Guaranteed to be a magical and electric journey…also an emotional one, no doubt! We’ll report on that journey shortly! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
International Beatle Week This August marked the 6th consecutive year for Hal appearing at the International Beatle Week in Liverpool…he was joined on stage by drummer extrodinaire, Scott Ferguson. Together they call themselves “Hal Bruce and Ticket 2 Ride”. They came…they saw…they cooked up a duetical storm!! The scheduled 14 shows went over very well with the crowds; their schedule was extended by an additional handful of shows. Highlights of the week were The Cavern Club and Pub, The Carling Academy solo performance by Hal, The Adelphi Crosby Room, American Bar and Hal & Monty’s three hour “Apple Jam” session. This jam session saw many of the festival’s excellent artists perform onstage with Monty and Hal. Most requested songs of the week were “A Day In The Life”, “House of the Rising Sun” (a non-Beatles song, by the way) and “Oh Darling”, which happened to be the last official song of the festival. For next years festival, Hal and Scott have a few surprises planned for those who are thinking about a return visit to the Beatle Mecca. A personal surreal moment for Hal was the visit to John and Paul’s childhood homes…an unforgettable experience! Vicki and Maria…thank you for arranging the visit! Special thanks to Bill Heckle, Davey Jones, Ray Johnson, Neil B., Stevie P. and Nina Douglas. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
2nd Annual Beatles Festival Hal’s second trip to Adelaide’s Beatles Festival was highlighted by the overwhelming turnout from the Aussie Beatle-Goers. He met hundreds of newcomers while there, plus scores of old friends from last years event. Some of the festival highlights include the on-the-spot acoustic performance by Hal and three of his trusty friends…Peter (Rubber Soul), Marcus Cahill and Monty (Fab Four)…their spontaneous medley went for a jam-packed hour! Hal’s solo performances were filled with obscure album tracks like Julia, I’m Only Sleeping, I’m So Tired, Another Girl and the list goes on; invitations for requests were quickly sent out by Hal without hesitation…and he loved it! Late night jams with Danny and Andrew from Adelaide’s Fab Four were among Hal’s favorite moments.
Special thanks to Teresa,
Monty and Family, Danny, Andrew and Peter, Bruce Hamlin, John “Pembo”
Pemberton, and the staff at The Cavern. As soon as the festival came to a close, Hal’s invitation was extended for June 2006. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Abbey Road On The River This year marked Hal’s third consecutive appearance at “Abbey Road On The River” in Louisville, Kentucky. AROTR saw Hal recreate his world record setting “Deadly Medley” of all 214 Beatles songs in front of a huge outdoor Louisville crowd. He wound his way from “I Saw Her Standing There” to “Her Majesty” in a two hour non-stop medley, alternating from mainly acoustic guitar to spotted moments on the piano for songs like “Martha My Dear” and “Lady Madonna”. All songs were sung and played in the original keys. Also, Hal performed a total of eight shows with the finale being one of his finest ever. His tribute to John Lennon was hailed as one of the best in the concert…where he sang “Rain” and “A Day In The Life”. Other highlights for Hal included being part of Jim “Ringo” Martin’s All-Star Band along with his musical friends from all over America; “Hal and Friends” acoustic jams were quite a success; and late night hotel sing-alongs were a blast! Special thanks go out to Hal’s buddies Fred and Robert who joined him on his journey from Nova Scotia to Louisville. Special thanks to Gary, David and Eric; it was an incredible success! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
February
9, 2005 With only four days notice and preparation, Hal (along with drummer Scott Ferguson), staged a highly successful tsunami relief concert on January 8th at The Halifax Olympic Gardens to a full house. Hal and Scott performed as the newly formed, "Ticket 2 Ride", and with the help of a handful of trusty volunteers, they raised over $11,300.00 (second only in the Maritimes to the concert held at The Halifax Metro Center). This concert actually turned instantly into an all-out dance from the very first song, "Here Comes The Sun"...to the finale songs "Hey Jude" and "Twist And Shout". Much thanks for the support from the crowd, sponsors, friends and families for the great success of the night...Everyone should be very proud for supporting such an important cause. 100% of the proceeds were forwarded to The Canadian Red Cross. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... January 6, 2005: Tsunami Disaster Relief Concert/Dance and Silent Auction Saturday,
January 8th, 2005 8:00 pm WITH: Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson "Ticket 2 Ride" Hal Bruce brings his Beatles Tribute Show home to the Maritimes after a successful World Tour of four continents which wrapped up the end of November. Joining him on stage at The Olympic Gardens will be Scott Ferguson, former drummer for The Rankin Family. Their duet, now called "Ticket 2 Ride", has a strong focus on classic Beatles music, as well as many 1960's and 1970's favourites. Because of the enormity of last week's devistation in South East Asia, Hal and Scott felt the strong need to reach out and help in the best way possible...and that is with their music. 100% of the proceeds from this event will be forwarded to the Canadian Red Cross, which in turn will be used in the international aid efforts. Your attendance and support of this event would be greatly appreciated. The ticket price is $15.00 per person, as well as other donations being accepted at the door. Also, a silent auction begins at 8:00 pm. Reserved corporate tables and advance tickets are available by contacting Hal (902-435-7410) or Scott (902-452-1479) directly. Remaining tickets will be available at the door on Saturday evening. Come
One, Come All CAVERN
MUSIC ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Hal Bruce and Scott Ferguson officially kicked off their newly formed "Ticket 2 Ride" group at The Thirsty Duck Pub in Halifax to a packed house. Their musical format includes everything Beatles with a huge supply of classic songs from the 1960's and 1970's. Their full sound (like most four piece groups) was hailed in England at The Annual Beatles Festival held in Liverpool in August. At the end of the performance, the crowd did not leave disappointed. ........................................................................................................................................................... November
2004 Hal performed at the 4th Annual Latin American Beatles Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina with a half dozen packed concerts. The Argentine crowd showed their appreciation by giving standing ovations at every show. Highlights were meeting up with friends David Jones of Liverpool (Beatle Week Festival Organizer), Alfonso Morales Bustamante (Buenos Aires Festival Organizer) and Julia Baird (John Lennon's sister). Hal also had the pleasure of performing with Brazil's musical sensation...Acustika! ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... News Update July 2004: Hal invited to perform at "Beatles Day" in Mons, Belgium in October. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... News Update April 2004: In June, Hal will be travelling to Adelaide, Australia to perform in the first "Australian Beatles Festival"; this festival marks the 40th anniversary of The Beatles tour in Australia. The event also marks the grand opening of Adelaide's very own "Cavern Club". ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... News Update February 2004: In July, Hal will be travelling to New Kent, Virginia to perform in a Beatles Festival called "Abbey Road At The Races". This event is to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Beatles first U.S. Tour. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... News Update January 2004: As a result of the success of "In My Life...", Hal's first tribute CD of Beatles classics, he has embarked on another 20 song tribute CD project. Hal is presently recording at Ferguson Music Productions in Dartmouth, NS; a Spring release is scheduled for his newest project entitled "I Will". In early August, Hal will be travelling back to Cleveland, Ohio for the second consecutive year to perform at the "Abbey Road on the River" Festival. His performances there will be highlighted by playing a non-stop 209 song medley of every Beatles song recorded; all in original keys and in order of release. Hal is definitely up for the challenge! Later in August, Hal will be returning to Liverpool, England for the fifth consecutive year to perform at the "International Beatle Week" Festival. He is presently slated for eleven shows, including the world famous Cavern Club. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Hal
Bruce at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool Try to imagine the scene; It is just after 12 noon in the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool on Sunday August 24th 2003 (Beatle convention day). The fans have rolled in from far and wide with local "scouse" accents mingling with those from every part of Britain, Europe, America (North and South), Japan, Australia … you name a place where Beatle music is played, they were there. Every second person seemed to be wearing a T-shirt bearing some image related to the "fab four" or alternatively be dressed in Beatle or sixties style attire. At mid-day the doors were opened and the fans had streamed into the old city centre hotel. Most of them immediately made for the dealers room where the merchandisers are cashing in on what is probably their best pay-day of the year. Of course some of the fans head straight to the bar but, after all, this is England. A glance at the entertainment itinerary shows that this year the live entertainment commences not in the main hall but in two smaller, more intimate, side rooms. Down in the Crompton bar there is a heavy metal band. Meanwhile in the Crosby suite we have a Canadian singer / guitarist called HAL BRUCE. The Turner family along with a few others have decided to take up a spot on some comfortable furnishings just outside the latter. The dull murmur from the dealer room drifts through the air. The unintelligible sound of a thousand conversations occasionally punctured by a familiar riff or lyric. "You tell lies thinking I can't see…" "Had you come some other day then …". It is a cocktail of all things Beatle, and the fans are drinking it down. Then suddenly through the incoherent din, an acoustic guitar, clear and shrill pierces the air and commands attention. Hal had taken the stage. It was immediately obvious that here was a man who knew his craft both vocally and musically. The playing was distinct and precise. The singing warm and confident. No need to guess how Mr Bruce had spent his teen years. The Beatles catalogue of songs must have been under constant siege until they finally yielded their secrets. The repertoire was delivered with charm, enthusiasm, passion and sympathy in equal measure. The whole 35 minute show was a total delight. It is hard to pick an individual highlight from a hugely consistent performance. However, a glistening version of "Here Comes the Sun" would be hard to beat. All the family agree it was … a splendid time. Michael Turner August 2003 ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... International
Beatle Week - Liverpool, England (August 2003) "Beatle Week 2003" began on Thursday, August 21st with a very pumped up crowd. They had a chance to mentally prepare themselves for a year to hear a barrage of Beatle bands and acts perform their favorite classics and a slew of obscure album tracks. It seems that no matter what Fab Four song was played in the past, the audience seemed to know every word, every punctuation and every breath of every single gem. I was still on a natural high just having returned from my first "Abbey Road on the River Festival" in Cleveland, Ohio just a week before. Gary Jacob, Festival Organizer, hired me as the only solo Beatles performer to come from another country. I got a chance to headline six of my own one-hour shows and was also invited to be a part of the Grand Finale. It was during "Abbey Road on the River" that I met for the first time Beatle performers, British Export, Tim Piper, All You Need Is Love, Lawrence Gilmour, Mark Staycer and others…a great bunch of folks! As a result of the huge success of the series of concerts, Gary Jacob has invited me to perform at two other festivals in 2004, one in Orlando, Florida in February and the second back in Cleveland, Ohio in August at "Abbey Road on the River". Driving home from Cleveland with my buddy Fred Giles was definitely a trip where we had instant flashbacks of the festival's great moments, all the way back to the Maritimes. So, anyway, I'm here in Liverpool, England just about ready to take to the stage…I am so up for the task of keeping The Cavern full of Beatle fanatics happy for my one hour show. Even though it was only mid-afternoon, the Cavern was already a hot and sticky repeat of last year's events…but it was great! It's part of what gives The Cavern it's character and charm. Each year I visit Liverpool and this is my fourth journey, I make new friends and get reacquainted with old ones, so I know quite a few people there from all over the world…Germany, Italy, Russia, Scotland, U.S.A., Mexico, South America, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and of course, England. During my first day at The Cavern, my two one-hour concerts were stretched to three and a half hours. The crowd was definitely in the right frame of mind. On every table, there were at least four to six glasses of Guiness and people lined up right in front of the stage when there wasn't enough room to join the seated. The audience seemed to really like songs such as, Jealous Guy, Grow Old With Me, I Am The Walrus and especially A Day In The Life, which kind of became my little signature song for the week. My wife, Shelley and friend, Heather Larder were busy throughout the week snapping pictures of the crowds, surroundings and goings on. When I took my breaks, the two gals set up shop and sold CD's as fast as they could keep up with the demand. One of the highlights of the week had to be when I performed at The Royal Court Theatre for a full house. My set was a spot just before the U.S. group "The Fab Faux" took to the stage and performed The White Album..all 30 songs! So it was quite an honor for me to play at such a venue…just me and my guitar armed with a few of my Beatles favorites. And another Beatle Week draws to a close…usually the last performance on Tuesday is a wind down of the week, with a smaller, quieter crowd on hand, but this year there was a very responsive crowd getting into every single song…almost like it was their last hurrah! It was great to see people there like friends Andy Birch, Heinz, Beatle Jane, Steve Panter, the folks from Cavern City Tours. Also some of the bands who I got to be good friends with such as Gavin Pring, Jim Martin, Paul Lynch and John Graham of British Export, Lawrence Gilmour, The Repeatles, Ringer and many others. Once again, playing in "Beatle Land" has made my dream come true all over again, for the fourth consecutive year. I can't wait to do it all over again in 2004! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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November
26th 2004