Emm Gryner performing where ‘her relatives are buried’

The Mary Webb Centre at 87 Main Street West in Highgate continues to wow audiences with musical performers few would expect to see in a quiet country hamlet. With evening light filtering through arched stained glass windows, the acoustics would be envied by world-renowned concert halls.

On Friday May 11th at 8.00pm international success Emm Gryner appears on The Mary Webb Centre stage, not far where she has family roots. “… May 11th, the Mary Webb Centre, Highgate near Ridgetown where my relatives are buried!” Gryner tweeted.

In a career spanning over a decade and a half, Emm Gryner has amazed fans and critics with her daring forays into various genres and collaborations. The myriad of milestones achieved during the eight years since she was unceremoniously dumped by a major label mere months after releasing her sophomore album, Public, are proof that she excels in her chosen musical journey.

Gryner can name-drop a diverse roster of collaborators and admirers from Nelly Furtado, David Bowie, U2’s Bono and Def Leppard. Emm spent a year and a half as one of David Bowie’s backup singers and U2 front man Bono named Gryner’s power-pop ballad “Almighty Love” as one of five songs he wishes he had written.

In the past few years, Gryner has released her CD Gem and I, an album of duets (Joel Plaskett, Sara Quin, Royal Wood – MWC performer 2010), an EP Stray Bullets, another CD, Goddess, and last month an on-line release of Hall & Oates covers. She also finds time to manage Dead Daisy Records, her own record label.

With a career highlighted by three Juno Award nominations (two for Best Pop Album), Gryner remains a businesswoman of high calibre, fiercely devoted to her fans. House concerts in fans’ homes, revealing journal entries (emmgryner.com) and handwritten personal notes that go out with albums all help Gryner stay close to her fans.

For her latest disc, Gryner reunited with Juno-nominated producer Stuart Brawley for her 10th studio album, entitled “Northern Gospel”. A mix of Gryner’s trademark melodic pop and some epic balladry feature on the release which includes music by Michael Jackson and Don Henley.

The songs “Ciao Monday”, “North” and “Ageless” have featured prominently on CBC Radio 2 and on CKXS 99.1FM in Wallaceburg.

Tickets at $25.00 or $10.00 for student (age 19 and under) are available on-line at www.cktickets.com or in person at the Cultural Centre Box Office in Chatham, at Mitton’s Jewellers in Ridgetown, Downie Photo in Blenheim, B’s Hive in Thamesville, 99.1 CKXS in Wallaceburg, Grave Diggerz Variety in Highgate and Marg’s Variety in Rodney. For more information please visit www.marywebbcentre.ca or
www.facebook.com/themarywebbcentre