The new Cleveland Avenue eatery Grilled Fromage continues to solidify its hip status by booking a decidedly un-cheesy, up-and-coming singer songwriter for a Saturday evening show (March 27).
Sly Violet breaks traditional song structure at every chance, telling her tales in a less predictable manner yet still embodying the Canadian indie folk spirit.
She brings her acoustic act to the caf茅's stage with some originals and a few old favourites.
"I often perform songs by other artists mixed in between playing my original folk rock tunes because it's nice when the audience can sing along to songs that they're familiar with by artists such as Neil Young and Bob Dylan," said Violet.
"I also like to perform songs by less well known artists like Hayden, Damien Rice and Bright Eyes whom I very much enjoy their music, so in a way I'm helping to promote artists that I respect, plus I enjoy singing their songs."
Born in Halifax, Aileen Violet Clarke has been nomadic much of her life moving throughout Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
Stemming from a musical family, she began studying classical piano at the age of three, which continued into her mid-teen years. At age 18 she began sneaking into bars underage just to play at open mic nights and eight years later has 150 gigs under her belt, even breaking the top 100 of a Canadian Idol competition.
In 2004 Violet recorded and release of her self-titled debut of eight songs and made a few hundred CDs to sell at live shows, which have since sold out.
Her free-spirited performances have earned her critical accolades.
"Violet enchanted the audience with her sincere and passionate delivery as she skillfully coaxed her acoustic guitar to sing along with her," said Heather Farmer of Indie Buzz Werks following a show at the Indie Attic in Ottawa.
Violet takes the Grilled Fromage stage at 8:30 p.m. Saturday (March 27). Cover charge is $5 at the door.
