Oh Jenn!
December 23, 2008
I’ve known Jenn Grant for close to five years now; from her days in Halifax as a NSCAD student, doing open mic nights, working on overcoming her stage fright and eventually recording an EP entitled “Jenn Grant and Good Bye Twentieth Century’. It always felt like there was something special about her and her music, but has she ever come a long way! Since then, she’s released a proper album entitled ‘Orchestra For The Moon’, opened up for Feist in Halifax, played countless festivals in North America and Europe, has toured with The Weakerthans, has won the CBC Galaxie Rising Star award and her song ‘Dreamer’ has become the theme song to the CBC show ‘Heartland’.
Grant and Danny Michel stopped near Ottawa, at the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield, this Friday (and Saturday). It was my first time ever going to this famed music spot. We carpooled to Wakefield with some friends Friday evening. We left the city early but the room was already close to packed when we arrived. We found spots in the back where we could get a decent view of the action.
After being introduced onstage by CBC Radio 3’s Amanda Putz, Grant stepped in the limelight and began her set with a Christmas song. Just a few seconds in she screws it up but manages to make the whole audience laugh. The crowd is charmed and she’s got us hooked for the rest of the night. Her set is mostly filled with songs from ‘Orchestra for the Moon’ but she does play a few new songs from her forthcoming CD ‘Echoes’. I particularly liked her homage to her dog Stanley. Another funny moment was when Putz came back onstage to help Grant sing a cover of Wham!’s Last Christmas. Hilarious! The Blacksheep’s comfortable stage lends itself very well to a solo show. It let Grant’s voice shine. At one point towards the end of her set, Grant asked the crowd if she was playing too long, worried that her opening slot is taking time away from Michel. If she’d asked me, she could have played all night! This is no insult to Danny Michel who was also great, but a testament to Jenn, her voice and her songs. I hope next time I see her she’ll be the main attraction.
Make sure to catch Jenn Grant next time she’s in the region. Her next stop at the Blacksheep Inn will take place on February 14th for her CD release party.
![[200] Now we know where Waldo lives](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53058606125_3a6429b85f_s.jpg "[200] Now we know where Waldo lives")
Apartment613 
January 10, 2009 at 9:43 pm
[…] Day, Jenn Grant is coming back to the Blacksheep Inn on February 14 to launch her promising new CD. Her last show with Danny Michel was a great time and for this occasion she’s brought along her full band to back her up. At $10 it’s way cheaper […]
January 20, 2009 at 4:52 am
[…] Jenn Grant was at OCFF and played a few new songs. She was amazing and was bummed out she didn’t sing Dreamer. […]
January 26, 2009 at 6:12 am
[…] Day, Jenn Grant is coming back to the Blacksheep Inn on February 14 to launch her promising new CD. Her last show with Danny Michel was a great time and for this occasion she’s brought along her full band to back her up. At $10 it’s way cheaper […]