Spring music

Ron Sexsmith headlines the County Pop event, scheduled for April 30 at the Crystal Palace. PHOTO: MARGARET MALANDRUCCOLO

Ron Sexsmith headlining County Pop

Snow has mostly retreated. The sap is running and rains are swelling County waterways. Winter has loosened its grip. It’s time to think about the seasons ahead.

Kicking off the music season in the County is a brand new event called County Pop. Headlined by Ron Sexsmith and featuring a mix of acts from here and away, County Pop promises a day of great music, food and art.

Dave Ullrich created the spring event after the success of Sandbanks New Waves, a music festival he produced in collaboration with Ryan Noth.

“The event at Sandbanks demonstrated to me that there is an appetite for live music in the County,” said Ullrich. “Something centred on the music but also layered with local art and food.”

He is keen to mix the up-and-coming with more established musicians—to produce an event that is fluid and organic.

“As we developed the bill, I wanted to bring in local musicians to cross-pollinate—interact with with the out-of-town folks,” said Ullrich. “We’ve got a great headliner in Ron Sexsmith and we have great local musicians like Instant Rivalry.”

Also in the lineup are Justin Rutledge, Banjo Mechanics and Communism.

Communism is essentially Ron Sexsmith’s band led by long-time collaborator Don Kerr, who has variously performed with the Rheostatics, The Hidden Cameras and Dave Bidini. As Communism, Kerr’s band also records and performs independently.

“Communism is something brand, brand new,” said Ullrich. “They are now doing their own thing, in addition to working with Ron [Sexsmith]. They are a good straight-ahead rock band. They’ve been playing some smaller venues in Toronto— this is one of their first shows.”

The Banjo Mechanics are Lewis Melville and Ian Pattison. Pattison is a master banjo maker and also formerly with the Rheostatics. Melville has performed with Skydiggers, Cowboy Junkies and Barenaked Ladies.

Together, they have recorded an album on Ullrich’s label, Zunior.com of songs featuring rich, intricate and folk-inspired banjo music. Pattison will also host a display booth where he will talk about the craft making a fine banjo.

The County’s own Megan and Caleb Hutton of Instant Rivalry will also be featured during County Pop. Caleb and Ullrich worked closely in producing Zunior’s Christmas in the County 2015 album.

“The positive reaction to that album caught me by surprise,” said Ullrich. “A lot of the credit belongs to Caleb.

“I knew when I began pulling this together I couldn’t do it without him.”

Singer-songwriter and musician Justin Rutledge is also on County Pop’s lineup. The County resident has a shelf full of Juno awards and a growing following around the world.

“He is an amazing all-round musician,” said Ullrich, “with a caramel-sweet voice. He is one of these guys who’s following has been building over the years.”

Headlining County Pop is songwriting icon and performer Ron Sexsmith. It is hard to believe that Sexsmith has been toiling in the music business for 30 years.

“He was a Toronto icon. Then he became Canadian icon and eventually, an international icon,” said Ullrich. “He literally tours around the world. Even if you don’t know him, you might recognize his music.”

Sexsmith’s songs have been covered by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Rod Stewart and Nick Lowe.

His career has largely skirted the edge of stardom— earning legions of loyal fans—but he has never had the mass market breakthrough many predicted for him.

“He is a funny guy,” says Ullrich, who has known Sexsmith since the early days. “He knows he’s hasn’t connected with a massive audience the way many believed he would one day. It has, however, made for a comfortable career for him. He does what he wants, when he wants. That’s pretty good.”

Ullrich says County Pop tickets are selling well.

“The idea is to set up a great summer of music in the County.

Tickets are available online at Zunior.com or at Books & Company in Picton.

Also you can win passes to County Pop by entering The Times’ ticket giveway contest. Stay tuned for your chance to win.