The Acts
Maneli Jamal - Guitarist
Maneli Jamal is a solo acoustic guitarist, whose unique style of playing and ability to connect with his audience transcends the age, culture and generational boundaries that limit the majority of mainstream music found today.
Having dedicated himself to the exploration of acoustic guitar technique, Maneli has developed his own sound. Folk, Flamenco, and Persian modes combine with his own percussive technique creating a rich and unique voice on the guitar.
Maneli has lived in 4 different countries and moved 20 times by the time he was 18 and has let his experiences around the world influence the way he speaks with the guitar.
Recently, he received 1st place in the online YouTube acoustic guitar competition for Faith Guitars. He has also released his new debut album featuring 14 tracks of all original compositions which is available at shows and online!
For more information and videos visit:
www.myspace.com/manelijamal
www.youtube.com/maneli
Chère Françoise - singer/songwriter
Enter the world of Chère Françoise and be enchanted. Armed only with a few instruments and her alluring voice, this charming Swiss chanteuse knows how to fascinate an audience. The songstress, calling Toronto her home for almost three years now, creates a unique English, French & German cocktail, mixing traditional song writing with a touch of jazz. Educated as a jazz singer, twenty-eight year old Chère Françoise possesses an extraordinary powerful and captivating voice.
In Switzerland, she has released two albums with her former band, whereof their first album has received an award of excellence of the cultural foundation of the province of St. Gallen. In Canada, she has sung background vocals for the song “Graves” on Tokyo Police Club’s album “Elephant Shell” (admittedly you can hardly hear them on the record). Last summer Chère Françoise has returned home to tour Switzerland and Germany to promote her debut solo EP. On her tour she has played gigs in Berlin, Hamburg, Bern and Zurich, sharing the stage with acts such as Portugal.The Man, The Howling Bells, Anne Clark or Sophie Hunger.
Her EP “Departures” tells little stories of exploring unknown worlds. Where irony meets unpredictability and melancholy says hello to happiness, Chère Françoise’s music comes alive.
Duke Buzzy - Rapper
Many years ago, Duke was born into one of the lower choirs of Heaven. He was born screaming, and has barely paused for a breath since.
For the past year or so he has worked at Euphonic Sound Studio in Toronto as a producer, engineer and blogger (studiomanifesto.ca <http://studiomanifesto.ca> ). His credits include production for soul singer/rapper Latte D Kyd, engineering for metal band Volition Aire, production and co-writing for R&B singer da Bute, as well as his own albums and EPs.
David Silverberg - Spoken word poet
David Silverberg has been involved in Canada ’s spoken word community since 2001. He founded Suburban Spoken Word in North York , Ontario , and then he founded Toronto Poetry Slam, where he currently serves as host and artistic director. TPS takes place monthly at the Drake Hotel
David is part of the Toronto poetry troupe Last Call Poets, and his most recent book of poetry is Bags of Wires (LyricalMyrical). He is the editor of Mic Check, an anthology of Canadian spoken word.
He tends to have no mental filter, which explains a lot. He has a fondness for egg nog, well-placed similes and old Kids in the Hall. You can find him at www.torontopoetryslam.com.