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Toddcast Podcast Presents: Joan Bessie & Jennifer Hershman

April 28, 2023 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Toddcast Podcast presents: Joan Bessie & Jennifer Hershman!

LIVE at Blue Light Sessions – 1839 Franklin Ave.

Friday, April 28, 2023

Doors at 7PM, Music at 8PM

 

Joan Bessie

Born Jessica Beach, she grew up in The Annex district of Toronto gaining exposure to everything from skate punk to club dub. As a child she could be found lying under the stereo, belting out to Sam Cooke and Linda Ronstadt records. When she was 5 years old, a rescued piano made it into their family garage and she was never seen again. Until about age 17, when she moved out on her own to be a fitness instructor by day and an underage gig crasher by night.

After living in Victoria and Toronto, Jessica landed in the middle, making a home in Calgary. There, she began recording demos with a local producer, Carl Cress at Organic Sounds Studio, releasing her first demo in 2003.

Her demos gained attention of local radio station Vibe 98.5. In 2004, she won Calgary’s ‘Unsigned Vibe’ contest, sponsoring her first full length album, Sticky Hands. The lead single, Endless (unbound) got heavy airplay in Calgary and the spins kept coming when the video for her follow up single, “Change” achieved national airplay on Much Music and MuchMore Music TV.

During the production of the Sticky Hands video in Vancouver, Beach was introduced to dancer/choreographer, Leigh Torlage and a long-term relationship was born. Torlage began featuring Jessica’s original music in her Broadway Burlesque shows, and Jessica began performing weekly sets with the “Candy Girl Cabaret”. “Some of the best years of my life, working with beautiful, talented women all day.”

The success of Sticky Hands prompted national and international touring, including performances at The Reeperbahn festival, Canada Music Week, The Western Canadian Music Awards and JunoFest, sharing the stage with artists including Simple Plan, Hedley, Wanting Qu, Mobile, Lily Frost and SilverSun Pickups.

In 2009 the release of her second studio album, “For Your Protection”, demonstrated the consistent strength of her songwriting. She continued receiving accolades with her co-writing efforts, landing a placement with international pop stars S.H.E. on their album “Shero” which was the third best selling album in Taiwan in 2010, and her single “Warning Signs”, was a finalist in the 2011 International Songwriting Competition for the Adult Contemporary category.

Jessica’s 2013 EP, “Songs For Sadie” began tracking in Aachen, Germany at NomadStudios, where she worked with her longtime drummer and friend, BJ Genton. The album continued to take shape in Vancouver and was mixed in Seattle by Jack Endino (Modhoney, Soundgarden, Nirvana). The Video for the lead single “Cheap Junkies” was independently produced in Vancouver and hit over 100, 000 views in the first week of its release.

In 2017, with two young children and another one on the way, Jessica relocated to Victoria, BC. After her youngest was born, she received a generous grant from Creative BC to produce a new project. Having been through many life changes including the loss her grandmother since the release of the last album, Jessica felt moved to pay tribute to her. “When my grandmother was in palliative care, she told me she was going to take my voice with her, as if it could transcend with her once her body retired…. and Joan Bessie was born again.”

Joan Bessie is named in honour of her resting grandmother who’s nickname was also behind the lead single, “G.G.”.

 

Jennifer Hershman

Jennifer is a folk-rock singer/songwriter from Vancouver, Canada. She’s been known to have an unmistakable voice, one that pierces the air with a sonic difference. Over the past few years,Vancouver-based Jennifer has thrust herself head first into the industry on a number of levels. Her initial foray into the record music business, after a life of dreams and teenage rock bands was to concentrate not only on performing, but tp position herself as a up and coming songwriting talent. Almost immediately, Jennifer’s knack for moody flavoured pop driven songs landed two of her selections in the Chis Isaak show, broadcast in the US,Canada and several international markets.”Full of emotion” written with Mark Ellis, was the first of numerous tracks to be scouted for use on television. “Simple Pleasures” was used thereafter, in the Showtime series “Higher Ground”. Stepping back onto the stage, Jennifer was invited to be part of a worldbeat fusion act called Balligomingo. Pheonix born Garret Schwartz and Burnaby based Vic levak collaborated on the writing and production of “Sweet Allure” which was not only a club hit in Australia, but also, ascended to the top 5 Billboard Dance Chart in November of 2002. While further developing her own material on guitar and with assorted diverse collaborators, a novelty pop song penned by Jennifer with Davor Vulama (Blackie and The rodeo Kings,Coco Lee) was recorded in Taiwan by Asian pop duo Michelle and Vickie. “Kissy Kissy”, an uptempo song brought out every pop confection in Jennifer’s arsenal, and sold in excess of 25,000 units in Taiwan and became the title track of the Sony BMG release throughout the Chinese speaking markets. It was also used as a jingle in a major television campaign for a jeans company. Reuniting with Levak, she returns home to work with a collaborator who knows her voice. Jennifer continues to do various gigs throughout B.C and the lower mainland. She continues to contribute songs to other projects such as Lian Cole’s forthcoming debut with songs like “Before i Walk Away”. She sees herself as an artist on a mission, an observer of great music and a songwriter on the rise.

 

The Toddcast Podcast

Hosted by Todd Hancock, Canadian radio personality and podcaster. Best known as a longtime CFOX (99.3 The Fox) Afternoon host (2002 – 2014) in Vancouver, B.C., Todd started his radio career in 1996 and is a multiple award winner with The Georgia Strait, The Westender & Vancouver Province readers. The Toddcast Podcast launched in January 2015 and continues to build online momentum! toddhancock.ca for more!

 

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Date:

April 28, 2023

Time:

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Event Category:

Venue