Jen Schaffer
singer, songwriter, musician and purveyor of soulful country roots
Montreal-born and raised, former Athens, Ohio interloper and now living in Toronto! I’ve busked on the streets of Montreal, dabbled in bluegrass while living in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, and currently am gigging in and around Toronto solo and with my band, The Shiners.
My latest musical incarnation as a singer-songwriter came on suddenly and with great passion - in the last year or so i’ve been writing and recording some original roots music. My own musical style evolved out of a childhood steeped in The Band and Jimmy Cliff, to name a couple of influences, and a later immersion into the world of Appalachian music and alternative country. The end result is soulful acoustic country roots with harmonies, syncopated beats and, at times, heavy on the bass. Musical collaborators like Simon Law (a.k.a. The Funky Ginger and member of Soul II Soul) have added a soulful vibe and groove to the original works - just listen to the Hammond organ on “Succumb.”
Out of a musical flurry of gigging and writing came my EP, “Angel Ridge,” released in early 2009. Amongst other things, it afforded me the opportunity to perform “Succumb” live in studio on CFRB’s Rock Talk.
And the music and songs keep flowing - I am developing more material for a full-length recording, honing my own brand of mature and empathic songs that bring to life various personal yet universal stories and voices. Check out my works in progress!
The Shiners consists of Simon Law on drums and keyboards, Astrid Foster on bass, John Teshima on bass, keyboard and guitar, Jonathan Marks on violin and mandolin - occasional Shiners include Steven Foster on drums and Blair Packham, on guitar, piano and even drums.
Up and coming:
Justice for Children and Youth Benefit
Hosted by Arlene Bishop
Jen Schaffer and the Shiners, Steven Foster, The Sneaky Castros and other special musical guests
Friday, November 25th, 2011
1214 Queen Street West
Doors at 7pm, Music at 8pm
$40 - $15 for students
The band has been working on lots of new materials for the album. If you want to be a patron, please check out my Kapipal page to donate. Many thanks for any and all interest and support!
Some News:
I just got a video of our gig in Kitchener last Fall at The Registry Theatre - beautifully edited footage from our performance that night at Rose Morris’ “Windswept” evening of song and spoken word. I’ll get it up soon on our Youtube channel for all to enjoy!
My old buddy Evan Trestan at Lifestyle Media filmed some great videos from our C’est What gig on October 28, 2010. Check some of them out.
Abigail Slater posted a link to the Piper Hill Music Festival with pics from the October 2nd gig I just did in Guelph - a lovely afternoon at the Slater Farm with John Teshinma, Blair Packham and Emm Gryner. Check it out - and the Piper Hill pics on this website that were taken by John that day.
Here is a recording of the interview I did with Anne Legace Dowson on CJAD in Montreal on August 28th - it includes a live performance of “Fate Line” with Simon Law on bongos and a song from Arlene Bishop. It was a blast!
You can also listen to my interview on CFMB in Montreal from August 22nd - about the Casa gig and my music.
Recent Gigs:
My Music:
To learn more about, listen to and buy “Angel Ridge,”
click on through!
Works in Progress:
To listen to my cicada song, “Seventeen Years,”
and other new demos, click on the bug!
Musical Influences and Favourite Songs:
Just about anything by The Gourds and The Band!
Lucinda Williams (“tryin’ hard to be a happy woman but sometimes life just overcomes me...”)
Richard and Linda Thompson
Townes Van Zandt
Steve Earle
“Belle” Al Green
“Tattler” or anything else on Ry Cooder’s Paradise and Lunch
Michael Hurley & the Unholy Modal Rounders, Have Moicy!
Skip, Hop and Wobble.
Wilco Yankee Foxtrot Hotel.
Jimmy Cliff Harder They Come
Random Recommended Links:
Justice for Children and Youth
Find Me:
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