Ron Hawkins is, for my money, the best songwriter in the country. There, I said it. His body of work – from The Lowest of the Low, through The Rusty Nails, his solo work and what he’s now producing – stacks up against anything I’ve heard over the past two plus decades.

His brand-spanking-new album (released on February 3rd) , Garden Songs, with his latest band The Do Good Assassins, is nothing short of a masterpiece and I don’t throw words like that around lightly. The album is released on Pheromone Recordings, the label home of Joel Plaskett, Mo Kenney and  The Wilderness Of Manitoba (among other Carleton faves) so obviously Ron’s in good company…

With all that in mind, I am thrilled to announce that Ron will return to The Carleton for a special early show on Friday, March 27th at 7 PM. Make no mistake, this show will be worth any amount of money but we’re keeping ticket prices affordable (so you can buy Garden Songs after the show) at $12.50 advanced or $15 at the door.

We’ve also just learned that Do Good Assassins bandmate, Steve Singh, will be joining Ron for this Halifax show and we’re also working on our later Friday night band – Scrapes – to learn a few tunes so you’ll get the full electric treatment on at least a few tunes during Ron’s set.

Here’s an excerpt from an early review of the new record from Daryl Sterdan which appeared in The Sun newspapers nationally:  “…criminally under-appreciated singer-songwriter Ron Hawkins…cut this disc live off the studio floor and mixed it all within a week. And why not? With songs and performances this magnificently magnetic, anything more would have been a waste of time.”

You would have to be absolutely daft to miss this show.