The Halifax Urban Folk Festival presents Winnipeg’s The Small Glories (Cara Luft from The Wailin’ Jennys and JD Edwards) and PEI’s Dennis Ellsworth as they team up for a “glorious” night of as-good-as-it-gets songwriting and playing at The Carleton on Wednesday, June 14th. Show time is 8 PM and, thanks to HUFF, it’s FREE!

Folk powerhouse pair The Small Glories are Cara Luft & JD Edwards, a dynamic new duo planted on the Canadian Prairies. They are a study in contrasts; Cara, all earth mother on her 21-speed bike, helmet and backpack, environmentally friendly and wholesome, ebullient and engaging; and burly JD, looking like a cross between a biker and long-haul trucker in scruffy beard, ball cap, t-shirt and jean jacket, slightly intimidating (until you meet him).

At first glance few would peg them for a highly creative musical partnership. Yet these two veteran singer/songwriters have teamed up and are building a buzz around their tight harmonies, authenticity and visceral performances. Luft is a Juno award winner, co-founder of folk trio The Wailin’ Jennys, and a touring road warrior. She has earned a solid reputation as an exciting live performer, accomplished guitarist, clawhammer banjo player and insightfully honest songwriter. Edwards has a voice that defies categorization, one that easily ranges from gentle and melodic to fierce and powerful, leaving listeners begging for more. He is truly one of the finest singers of his time. Together as The Small Glories, Luft and Edwards are a tour de force, a case of 1 + 1 = 3.

I don’t know how many times we have to say it but Dennis Ellsworth is consistently as good as any songwriter in Canada. He lives on PEI and travels the world playing for people because that’s what he was born to do. His latest album, Romantic As It Gets, is as excellent as his previous effort, Hazy Sunshine, and that’s saying a LOT.