Patio Records

At the heart of Patio Records is the sponsorship of concerts and recordings to help create garden patios at hospitals for individuals battling through the afflictions of cancer. Events and contributions to date helped bring to fruition the Mary Eagan Garden at Children's Hospital Boston at Waltham that adjoins the Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Care Center.

In September, 2008, the first Mary Eagan Garden in Canada was opened within the 4.5 acre Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park in Ottawa, Ontario. Click here for a link to a 2+ minute 'A' News segment from the opening ceremonies.

Save the Dates for an October, 2009, series of Healing Garden Music Fests in Ontario (and just north of Ottawa in Wakefield, QC)..

On Sunday, October 4th, will be the 2nd Annual Grand River Healing Garden Music Fest. With last year's event held in Kitchener, ON, we'll be sidling over to Cambridge, ON, for this year's concert. Headliners for the 4:00 PM show at the Galt Little Theatre will be Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop , James Gordon, Katherine Wheatley, The Laws, and The Allison Lupton Band. Among the The Patio All-Star accompanists will be 7-time Canadian Country Music Guitar player of the year Wendell Ferguson, the exquisitely superb fiddler Don Reed, and, well, all of the Allison Lupton Band! Save the date now, and check in later for venue and ticket outlet details.

For Ottawa Valley folks, save one (or both) of Friday and Saturday, October 16th & 17th. We're aiming for Friday in Renfrew and Saturday in Perth. Venue and final lineup to be detemined, but these Country events will be hosted by Charlie Kitts (of Almonte - via Renfrew). A featured act at both concerts will be none other than South Mountain! South Mountain's Don Reed (fiddle) and Steve Piticco (guitars) are Healing Garden Music Fest longtimers, and we can't wait for our parties in the Valley for a good cause.... Stay tuned for performer and ticket news.

On Sunday, October 25th, will be the 5th Annual Ottawa Healing Garden Music Fest. We'll be driving just a bit up Rt. 5 to to The Blacksheep in Wakefield, QC. A favorite venue for both performers and attendees, you'll be able to quaff as you listen to the wonders of Annie Gallup, Finest Kind, Katherine Wheatley, Lynn Miles, and Missy Burgess. Acclaimed accompanists include David Woodhead on bass, James Stephens on fiddle, and Fred Guignion on guitars.

Per all such events, 100% of the ticket proceeds will go towards the creation and caring of garden patios at cancer treatment centers.

Click on the Events page for more info on events past and future.

------------

Many kindred friendships are being made along the way to seeing a bridging of the folk/country/country-folk scenes for performers from the from Waltham/Boston, MA area to the expanses of Canada. It started with a January '97 tour of Eastern Massachusetts with Suzie Vinnick, Rick Fines, and Miche Pouliot, and is gaining verve and momentum one new friendship and musical partnership at a time.

Garden at Waltham Hospital