Ish / Ishdafish
Lake Cowichan, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
As both the Festival Director and an experienced children’s entertainer myself, I have been consistently impressed with Ish’s energy and talent as a performer, as well as his great rapport with everyone and I am happy to recommend his services. - Christopher Menu, Director, Duncan Cowichan Festival Society.
Ish’s warmth and sincerity is evident the minute he walks on the stage. Audiences are not only entertained, they come away with a feeling that they’ve just made a friend. - Jane Querin, Department of Tourism, Brantford, Ontario.
“The children of Northern British Columbia were starving for top quality theater and you gave them what they were asking for.” - Sue Carlyle, Artistic Director - Canadian Northern Children’s Festival
“Ish has performed for our school on more than one occasion and each time parents, students and teachers alike had a great time. The children enjoyed singing Ish’s songs and at the same time learn about healthy habits and safety awareness.” - D. Brughiau, Vice Principal - Glen Park Public School, Toronto, Ontario
“Ish’s Performance was warm and sensitive, comical and lyrical. He had an excellent rapport with the children, relating to them with respect and genuine concern. In this way I felt Ish was similar to Robert Munsch. I felt both adult and child audience came away with more than just an hour of entertainment. You came away feeling good about yourself and the world!”
Elizabeth Cooper - Children’s Services The Library Gallery - Public Library, Cambridge, Ontario - Elizabeth Cooper - Children’s Services The Library Gallery - Public Library, Cambridge, Ontario
"In 1990, I decided these events needed more family entertainment, so – on the basis of his expressive face I contracted Ish for both Worldfest and the Fair. It was the best intuitive entertainment decision I have ever made in my dozen years in the business. A talent like this deserves to be shared – I wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend Ish.” - Terry McRae – Executive Director -WorldFest Festimonde, Cornwall Ontario
“Having a poets way with words this singer, songwriter has succeeded in animating with enthusiasm and fantasy, the magic of his music.Ish’s performance was one of the highlights of the daylong celebration.”
- C.D. Weldon - Canada Day Committee, Richmond Hill, Ontario
Your performance delighted everyone. The themes of your songs truly reflect the importance of love of oneself, family, friends and strangers. Indeed, they embraced all things beautiful on our planet. The message that we all received was truly uplifting. As an educator I appreciated the precepts of healthy living you so subtly broached. You have a wonderful gift of relating to children. I have only occasionally seen such healthy rapport between a performer and the audience. I also appreciated the time you spent on writing personal messages for every child in school. The children and teachers loved the show and your balloon sculptures too. - Hillary da Silva, Principle, Nanook School, Apex, Iqaluit, Nunavut
“Ish had a great program and proved to be an excellent all around performer. Everyone truly enjoyed participating in his fulfilled show. ” - Dianne Moore - Children’s librarian - Public Library, Tillsonburg, Ontario
“I was impressed with the quality and educational impact the performance had on both the student and adult teacher participants. Ish was able to clearly integrate the areas of children’s and societal values and education in an entertaining and amusing context. Ish created an environment that provided an area for personal reflection on the importance of music in children’s lives. Thank you, Ish for an enjoyable and educational Workshop. ” - Judy Curniski - Family Studies, R.H. King Academy, Toronto Ontario
“Ish, your talent, energy and co-operative nature was truly a welcome addition to our festival. Your impromptu ways made for special surprises. Both personally and on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Festival by the Sea and the many staff and volunteers associated with our National Performing Arts Festival, please accept our heartfelt thanks and best wishes in the future. ” - John McMaughey – General Manger - Festival by the Sea – St John’s N.B.
“On behalf of the staff and kids at John G. Althouse, I wanted to thank you for a wonderful performance. You were just what our kids and leaders needed to spark their enthusiasm. For everyone enjoyed your comedy and songs. Best of all, they loved being a part of your show as your willing and able assistants. ” - Judy Cieslik – Supervisor John G. Althouse - Community School, Toronto, Ontario
Discography
45 RPM "I've Got A Hole in my Umbrella" (1986)
Cassette "Cardboard Wings" (1994 )
CD "Cardboard Wings" (re-released 2003 )
CD "Go West on 17" (2009)
CD "Never Say Never" (2011)
CD "Up Fish Creek" (2015)
Ish's Recordings are available through CDBaby and Bandcamp.
To Listen to Ish's family friendly recordings in their entirety, please check out his Online Store, IshdafishMusic Canada at Bandcamp.
Ish's music under the Label IshdafishMusic is Registered with SOCAN / BMI and his Licensing Representative is SODRAC.
Ish has appeared numerous times on the Syndicated Radio Show, Melodies in Mind - CJSF 90.1 FM
Ish's Music is also played on Stingray Music on their TV Radio Program and appears on their regular playlist - Kids' Stuff.
Photos
Bio
Ish has a genuine way of connecting with his audience young and old alike, while bringing to focus his delightful sense of humor, warmth and common sense values.
Ish's Concerts are positive, upbeat, interactive, age appropriate and feature songs from his four CDs as well as draw on his extensive repertoire of self-penned songs, off the wall stories, poems and amusing observations of everyday life we all can relate to.
Composing on guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and melodica Ish’s style is best described as an eclectic mix of upbeat folk, bluez-grass, soft rock and country.
His themes for Children and their Families celebrate the joys of childhood, friendship, family unity and share a natural desire for good will and the joyful discovery of the world just outside our doors.
While his more mature themes for Grown-ups thoughtfully bounce around from love won and lost, to parenthood, contemporary issues, life challenges, the values of open-mindedness, to messages of hope and joy.
Ish performs as a Solo Artist, in a Duo with Marion Lightly, in a Trio or in a Quartet appearing as Ish & Friends. Together, they contribute their own signature sound, feel, and vibe, and bring to life Ish`s engaging songs, stories and instrumentals everyone will enjoy discovering.
May it be a Concert for Kids, Families or for Grown-ups or a delightful mix for All Ages, often Fairs, Festivals and Special Events will ask Ish to provide different Concert sets.
Ish
has released one 45 rpm entitled, I’ve Got A Hole In My
Umbrella and Clean Bedroom Parade on the B side and four CD Recordings, two for Children and their families entitled, Cardboard Wings & Never Say Never as well as a Roots & Blues CD for Grown-ups entitled, Go West on 17.
His latest CD that he has just released, is an eclectic gathering of songs & instrumentals for All Ages entitled, Up Fish Creek.
Ish’s CD for Children and their Families, Never Say Never was Nominated by the Western Canadian Music Awards for Children’s Recording of the Year, 2012.
Throughout the years Ish has toured across Canada from the Arctic to the east and west coast and everywhere in between and has performed at 1000’s of family friendly events that range from:
Children’s, Folk & Community Festivals, Country Fairs, Schools, Libraries, Day-cares, Community Theaters, Special Events, Variety Shows and House Concerts.
Ish also enjoys visiting Seniors Centers, Hospitals and donating his time, talent and his recordings for important issues and organizations that make a positive difference in this world we share.
Band Members
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