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Date Event
Jan30, 2010
Type:
Show/Concert
Location:
London
Description:
Jo-Ann has recently added the Ukulele to the list of instruments that she play's and is performing with the SOUP {Southern Ontario Ukulele Players} Forest City Ukettes at the upcoming Diversities Show:- June Cole presents DIVERSITIES on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 8:00 pm at Old East Studios, 755 Dundas Street , London. Admission $10.00 Seating is limited... 519-472-0002 for reservations. The old fashioned variety show that "Celebrates the Creative Spirit" is back. Come and experience the magic with live performances by June Cole, Harry Booker, The Forest City Ukettes, Kenichi Ueda, Bob Burchill, Heather Brandt, Julia Webb and Jake Levesque, Amanda Rowe, Julie Darychuk, and Karen Foster. There's music, dance, theatre, poetry and more! If you liked the old Carol Burnett show or the Vinyl Cafe, you'll love DIVERSITIES. Seating is limited so call, June at 519-472-0002 for reservations.
Mar14, 2010
Type:
Show/Concert
Location:
the Ilderton Legion
Ilderton
Description:
The pre Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Ilderton Legion Sunday 14th March Ilderton Legion Doors open 3pm Music starts at 4pm There will be Chili Con Carne, Shepherds Pie & Sandwiches served at supper time. Donation for food, or cover for entrance may be requested Bring snack food to share communally. Coffee will be available, but any other beverage you need to bring yourself. Among others, the performers may include: Bob Burchill Clare Crandell (the yodeler) Dr. Delaware & Malpractice John Gelencher Les Holmes (Old Country Duo) Karen McLaughlin Aaron Redsky Tom Sullivan (on the accordion) The Ukellettes (with June Cole et al) & Jo-Ann Lawton
Mar20, 2010
Type:
Show/Concert
Location:
Old East Studio
London
Description:
Jo-Ann has recently added the Ukulele to the list of instruments that she play's and is performing with the SOUP {Southern Ontario Ukulele Players} Ukellettes at the upcoming Diversities Show:- June Cole presents DIVERSITIES at Old East Studios, 755 Dundas Street , London. Admission $10.00 Diversities will feature June Cole, Harry Booker, Jake Levesque, Julia Webb, MizA and Mike Wittic, Carole Allison, the Ukellettes, Karen McLaughlin, Nancy Jane Small, Saville Row, and Karen Foster. There will be music, monologue, theatre, poetry, guitar, piano, banjo and ukulelles and another Duck Variation. Seating is limited... 519-472-0002 for reservations
Sep04, 2010
Type:
Show/Concert
Location:
London ON
Description:
Kendra's Wedding
Jo-Ann Lawton [Folk, Rockabilly, Celtic]
London (CA)
Media
Photos
Jo-Ann Lawton: beg to be different
Jo-Ann Lawton Songwriter/Singer                        {Photographer :Bert Denda}
  • Marg and Benny (Jo-Ann Lawton)
  • Clickety Clack(composer Jo-Ann Lawton)
  • Darker Side of Love
  • Sailor's Wife (composer: Jo-Ann Lawton)
Jo-Ann Lawton: beg to be different
Biography
Ottawa born, Burlington raised & London aged, this south western Ontario songwriter and singer, performs mostly original material.
As a member of the folk duo Sirens, Jo-Ann Lawton earned a C.F.M.A. {Canadian Folk Music Award} nomination (for Best Vocal Group) in 2007. Sirens disbanded in September of 2009.
Jo-Ann Lawton is now performing solo gigs at coffee shops, concerts, house concerts, folk clubs, fairs , festivals and the like.

How it happened:
Jo-Ann Lawton came “late” to the folk music scene, acquiring her first guitar in the early 80's, whilst in her 3rd decade (20 something).
Jo-Ann is self taught, and has no formal musical training. Her diploma in Fine Art from Fanshawe College hardily prepared her for the direction her adventure in music was to take her.
By the late 80's and early 90's much of her musical efforts were put into working with others in trios (No-In-Betweens [1988-1993] and Sirens [1995-2002-2009].

Sirens was originally a trio, featuring Jo-Ann Lawton, Donna Creighton and Nora Galloway. Jo-Ann was singing and performing her music as a solo performer, and Nora had joined her to sing backup harmonies for several concerts. Donna joined them later to create the trio, Sirens. Originally Sirens performed only Jo-Ann's music, but with Jo-Ann's encouragement Nora and Donna also started to write songs. They recorded 2 CD's together. The 2nd of those CD's with the all-Canadian folk label Borealis www.borealisrecords.com/
After Nora left the trio in 2002, (she followed a bluegrass dream with Foxtail (www.foxtail.ca) / several other performers {including Jennifer Thorpe and Amber Cunningham} stepped into the breach. But none of them stood the test of time. After some soul searching, Donna & Jo-Ann decided to carry on together “alone”. They performed across North America & recorded 2 more CD's, one of which earned them a nomination for a Canadian Folk Music Award. Sirens were four-time winners of the London Music Awards, Best Folk/World/Celtic group and two-time recipients of the Jack Richardson Folk/Roots award.

Jo-Ann co-conceived, co-produced and performed in Hearts Made Great / with Orchestra London, which might run again close to Remembrance Day.

But in September of 2009, after 14 years together, but almost 2 years of not doing any collaborative music, Donna Creighton & Jo-Ann Lawton decided to officially disband as a Musical Duo, and they will no longer be working together. Despite the many accolades from fans, and the near National fame achieved in 2007, with a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, Donna and Jo-Ann had gone separate ways, with individual projects and personal and family matters taking precedence over their collective musical endeavours for the previous two years, and the time had come for both of them to move on.

Jo-Ann Lawton was a solo artist long before she conceived playing with trios or duos. She now pursues, once more, a “solo” career.

Whether singing harmonies with others or working alone, Jo-Ann is a consummate performer. She has a voice that will hush a drinking crowd (though she rarely plays in bars){unless they are Folk Clubs}
About 90% of the music Jo-Ann performs is original material. Her song writing, influenced by the musical stylings of the 40s, crosses the boundaries between contemporary folk, rock-a-billy, blues and country. Her songs cross the oceans from poignant heart-wrenching ballads to upbeat sing-a-longs with a dash of humour. You will never be bored listening to Jo-Ann’s music.

She also can be persuaded to run 'song writing workshops'. Jo-Ann has recently instigated “one-on-one” 'song writing workshops', just herself and the prospective song writer. Contact her for information on this at jonige@sympatico.ca
/

Jo-Ann Lawton now has a "... .com" website at www.jo-annlawton.com/ and also on myspace at www.myspace.com/joannlawtonsolo/

The Music on this site
All the songs you can hear on this site are penned by Jo-Ann Lawton. Though several of the songs on the site are recorded with two or three voices, all these songs are also performed by Jo-Ann Lawton as a solo artist. These few songs give you just a flavour of the talent of this Artist.

Sailors Wife : this version is the original Sirens trio with Nora Galloway.
Jo-Ann Lawton proves the power and maturity of her craft with “Sailor’s Wife”, an original which sounds like something the forsaken women of forgotten villages have been singing for generations. Jeff DeLuzio, Scene Magazine

Marg and Benny from Jo-Ann's Solo CD.. In his youth, Paul MacCartney suggested a plateau for getting old as being "64". This song is a delightful little ditty of two folk who fall in love in their twilight years (at 64). It's a true story, in that Marg & Benny are real people.

Clickety Clack from Sirens’ Live at the Ugly Mug CD.. This version of Sirens featuring Amber Cunningham. Watch out for the train!!

Darker Side of Love is another love ditty from Jo-Ann's Solo CD {Beg to be Different}

The Videos on this site
(i)Jo-Ann Lawton sings "Sitting at the Table" at Sirens CD Release Party, Aeolian Hall London Ontario.
Song origin: Jo-Ann used to know and often visited with an older lady {who is now no longer with us}, and one day, "over a cup of tea", she confessed to a lifetime of abuse that she had suffered. This song touches many people, especially those who have suffered through abusive situations.

(ii) Daddy's Farm Song from Jo-Ann's Solo CD.. a tribute to her late Father, and his demise under the onslaught of Alzheimer's Disease.

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Current Rating: 4.86 [14 votes]
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Comments [14] [Show All]
(A) SAM   
(2009-01-28 03:46:09)
Hi Jo-Ann, I am impressded by your lyrics and your singing - worth more than my five. All the best!
(A) Broanna Leigh   
(2009-01-16 02:36:21)
love your sound, good luck in all you do. broanna x big 5 from me x
(A) DSS Music   
(2008-08-20 14:21:26)
Can see you really enjoy yourself and your songs and lyrics are great. Well done and keep doing what you're doing. 5 from us to you.
(A) ASongsmith   
(2008-06-04 12:00:24)
Great songs, and your enthusiasm is infectious (loved the Satan video). Nice dining-room too;-) A high 5 from me.
(P) Les   
(2007-12-01 11:34:59)
WOW Jo! Excellent work! Always been a big fan,as you know, and getting more so with each Jo-Ann Lawton venture you undertake. Beatiful music. I'll see you at one of you concerts soon.
(A) Wendy Risoli   
(2007-10-25 17:14:00)
Jo-Anne. I just love you girl. How you doing? I'm Albertan originally. Come see me ok? I'm giving you a 5. I"m an old artist, who's had challenges to face, you make me want to keep singing. Wendy Risoli
(A) Jason Jaxxson   
(2007-10-25 09:24:26)
gave a five,your something eles.keep on lady,you kick ass
(A) Melissa Greenwood   
(2007-09-04 13:16:35)
WELL I AM NO PRO LIKE THAT BUT YOU DEFINETLY GOT IT LADY I LOVED IT I WRITE MY OWN STUFF COME BY MY SITE SOON AND SEE AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK I GAVE YOU A HIGH 5555
(P) mandoK   
(2007-08-25 20:07:17)
Jo-Ann is wonderful....and her songwriting workshops are so amazing. It's like a dance, she weaves in and out as needed during this emotional path and the end results are ALWAYS profound. Working with her is a JOY!!!!
(P) Phil and Tracey   
(2007-08-14 18:27:52)
Awesome stuff! Love the music.. you have a fantastic voice

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