Time: 8 p.m.
Tickets $20 Folk Club members, $25 non members
http://www.sonicbids.com/drzoo2
http://www.drzoomusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/drzoomusic
World Celtic Pop" - Paul Simon Graceland meets Spirit of the West!
Nominated 2009 ECMA World Recording of the Year and Music NL Entertainer
of the Year.
Dr. Zoo is the vision of singer/songwriter Randal Arsenault from
Newfoundland, Canada. For years Randal has lived and traveled in
Africa, completing a doctorate of zoology on competition between white
rhino, wildebeest, and zebra. After years of singing to zebras, Randal
developed the musical genre "Afro-Celtic Fusion". The 6 piece band
includes Bassirou Syllafrom from Senegal (African drums and vocals),
Celtic fiddler Megan Brown, Sudanese guitarist David Kabbashi, South
African drummer Darryl Swart (fmr Tree 63), and Columbian bassist Felipe
Rodrigez.
Since 2003, Dr. Zoo has toured Canada, Japan, UK, US, and South
Africa, and won nominations for 2009 World Recording of the Year (East
Coast Music Awards), 2006 SOCAN Songwriter of the Year (Music
Newfoundland), 2003 Rock Artist of the Year (Music NL), and a finalist
position in the 2003 Canadian Songwriting Competition (CMW).
Dr. Zoo has opened for Johnny Clegg, and enjoyed thousands of people
singing Sawubona, Unjani to the song Welcome to Africa. "My main
influences are Graceland, Johnny Clegg and Irish drinking songs" laughs
Randal. "I enjoy fusing African with Newfoundland music, and sharing my
love of the continent and the Island."
David Hayman (Music Supervisor, VAPOR MUSIC Toronto) says:
"I saw Dr. Zoo for the first time in Corner Brook Newfoundland (ECMA
2009) at a rock show at midnight in a sea of ready-to-party teens and
young adults. I had heard from Randal, whom I had met earlier in a
pitch session, that the band had been focusing on the youth and adult
audiences but when Dr Zoo performed they had every single young person
in the crowd on their side. The entire crowd, myself included, was
totally sold on the idea of Dr Zoo because from the first note it was
clear that the band was both authentic and extremely talented.....They
had us clapping along, shouting lyrics we had just learned and roaring
with cheers on almost every band member's solo's.
Africa meets Newfoundland.... never thought it could work but now I
can't imagine Dr. Zoo being anything other than what they are, a fusion
of cultures that represent the diversity of Canadian music and once
again proves that art based on personal experience is always shines the
brightest because it is authentic and from the heart. There was a lot
of love for Dr Zoo that night. I hope to hear a lot more from Randal
and the band in the years to come. They are truly something special."