Russ Rosen Band

Artist Information

Biography

Russ Rosen, a veteran singer-songwriter who is no stranger to music venues of literally every sort - from African stadiums, to Canadian eastcoast pubs, to Olympic stages, Parisien cafés, to North American festivals and concerts. Over the last 27 years he has played in nations as far-flung as Greece, France, Rwanda, southeast Asia, Israel, Germany, the US and in every corner of Canada. His is music with mission whether it is to bring hope to the survivors of the Rwandan genocide, or to inspire a crowd of young people, or to sing peace over the warring landscape of the Middle East, or to erupt celebration on the streets of his own city for hundreds of thousands of onlookers. 

Russ’s soulful music is a unique sort - at one moment drawing an audience to a compelling story of history or faith, in the next stirring a crowd into a partying frenzy. His seasoned song-crafting is an eclectic force that seems to rise spontaneously from his native soil extracting flavours like fellow Canadian artists Feist, Arcade Fire, Stan Rogers, Joni Mitchell and Bruce Cockburn and adding a fiery vocal performance akin to Americans Dave Matthews or Bruce Springsteen. His passionate lyrics and driving rhythms make for a fascinating musical odyssey - melodies and narrative journeying through a broad landscape that most audiences are inexplicably drawn to. 

Russ’s newest recording “Waiting for Abraham” a more acoustic take on his music than his previous “Oil” album, still has some of the same folky-celtic-rock energy now spiced with the idiosyncratic keyboard innovations of Brett Ziegler. The collection of ten story driven songs continues the adventure to explore the season between our dreams and their fulfillment.
Russ and Band have dates booked across the country until the end of June when they come back to Vancouver to play at the Canada Day Celebrations.

About The Band: Along with his lead vocals, Russ plays acoustic and electric guitars and a mean harmonica. Brett Ziegler is a musical prodigy (and producer) playing a humble 30+ instruments. Versatile and seasoned Drummer, Chad Bjorgan and veteran bassist Jonathan Perkins complete the soundscape.

Factoid: Russ' first band; "Walrus" with the Back to the Future guitarist, Michael J. Fox. They were 12.

Tidbit: in the 90s Russ was the lead singer/songwriter for "Rise Up", an inspirational youth band.

Snippet: Russ and his family lived in a motorhome for 5 years on a cross-Canada adventure with "Upstream".

Instrumentation

Russ Rosen - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Brett Ziegler - Vocals, keyboards, Percussion, Woodwinds
Chad Bjorgan - Drums, Percussion
Jonathan Perkins - Bass
Kathleen Nisbet - Vocals, Violin

Discography

CBC Radio likes "Lovely", "Red Sky Morning" and "Ploughman"
US Airways picked up the song "Sit Down" for the in flight audio channel.
2012 Waiting For Abraham
2010 Audio Memories - Compilation
2002 Huile de paix - French version of "Oil"
2002 Oil - Produced by Alan Shacklock

Official Website

http://russrosenband.com

Links

• Facebook
• Last.fm
• Twitter

Audio

• RRB Clips
  Listen   Download
• Ploughman
  Listen   Download
• Sit Down
  Listen   Download
• Oil
  Listen   Download
• Red Sky Morning
  Listen   Download
• Hallé Hallé
  Listen   Download
• Watchmen
  Listen   Download
• Warriors
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Ploughman
• Oil
• Red Sky Morning

Video

RRB Canada Day Clips.mp4

Oil - Russ Rosen Band.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• Vancouver Street Parties [+ Show ]
  

  We have had the pleasure to work closely with Russ Rosen to provide the end of parade entertainment ...We have had the pleasure to work closely with Russ Rosen to provide the end of parade entertainment and polished performances that have helped propel these events to premier status attracting over 300 thousand people to the streets of downtown Vancouver.
  

• Big Surprise [+ Show ]
  

  “Whatever the particulars of this sonic combination are, the result is a joyous celebration” The Pha...“Whatever the particulars of this sonic combination are, the result is a joyous celebration” The Phantom Tollbooth By Alex Klages

• Unique and Vital
  

  "This Canadian band condenses many influences into a unique and vital stew!" Shawn McLaughlin

• Intense and Fresh [+ Show ]
  

  This music is decidedly intense.... innovative and vivacious... If you’re seeking more variety... I ...This music is decidedly intense.... innovative and vivacious... If you’re seeking more variety... I can guarantee you’ll find something very fresh here!

• Festive and Combative [+ Show ]
  

  The title track is particularly effective. Opening with a mournful harmonica riff like a distant tra...The title track is particularly effective. Opening with a mournful harmonica riff like a distant train’s whistle, gathering steam with Russ’s percussive guitar, and building into one of Kathleen’s wild dizzying Irish reels breaking free like a runaway caboose, the song is at once both wistful and brimful of promise. By the end, you feel like you’re running headlong to catch that train, the wind with you. The Russ Rosen Band manages to combine sounds at once festive and combative, a dancer’s jig, a warrior’s cry. This is music for a party or a battle. Or both.

• Great Original Entertainer [+ Show ]
  

  Fun, fresh, original, Canadian and danceable! In fact people were so engaged in the unique songs tha...Fun, fresh, original, Canadian and danceable! In fact people were so engaged in the unique songs that many found themselves caught up in a whirling dance. Great show.

Setlist

Down to the River
Bluenose - Stan Rogers
Oil
Red Sky Morning
This Hard Land - Springsteen
Ploughman
Châteauguay
Waiting For Abraham
Georgian Bay
Rise Up
Mercy of God - Tidal Bore
Sit Down
Somethin’s Rattlin’
Lovely
Hallé Hallé
Watchmen
Warriors

Basic Requirements

Calendar