Heartbreak Hotel: Nashville – Music City USA

The much-anticipated 21st Annual Roots of Rock and Roll Concert by renowned ethnomusicologist and musician Craig Morrison will be presented at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall on Friday and Saturday, February 9 and 10.

Each year, the concert features a different theme, and past concerts have been tributes to Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and the British invasion, soul and Motown, movie soundtracks, and music from California, from Canada, and from New York.

This year’s theme celebrates music from Nashville: pop rock, rockabilly, and country.

Some songs in the show

  • Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison
  • Stand By Your Man by Tammy Wynette
  • Don’t Be Cruel by Elvis Presley
  • I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline
  • All I Have to Do Is Dream by the Everly Brothers
  • Jolene by Dolly Parton
  • Be-Bop-A-Lula by Gene Vincent
  • Your Cheating Heart and Hey Good Looking by Hank Williams
  • Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash

The on-stage ensemble, collectively called Craig Morrison & the Momentz, includes the popular retro party band Vintage Wine (Morrison, Gary Sharkey, Ryan Fleury, Alex Nesrallah), and special guests – pianist John McDiarmid, vocalists Samantha Borgal, Angela Galuppo, Melina Bikhazi, fiddlers Bill Bland and Jeff Deeprose, and multi-instrumentalists/ vocalists Terry Joe “Banjo” Rodrigues and Pat Loiselle – a dozen performers in all.

One popular aspect of these concerts is Morrison’s spoken introductions to the songs, putting them in context.  At Concordia University, Dr. Morrison teaches courses on the Beatles, Soul Music, Rock and Roll and Its Roots, Psychedelic Music, British Popular Music, and regional styles (in a course called Musical History Tour).

Tickets are $18 (students), $25 (seniors), $30 (regular), and can be purchased without service charge at Vintage Wine performances (see craigmorrison.com), or via Michael Cooper at [email protected].

Oscar Peterson Concert Hall at Concordia’s Loyola campus in NDG:  7141 Sherbrooke West. February 9 and 10 (Friday and Saturday), 2018, 8 pm.

Please note that the concert is typically sold out. It is strongly recommended to purchase tickets in advance.