Musician Bios - Comments about us

History

Nineteen James is Graham Ketcheson, Jeff Tough, Dave Bartlett, Katrine Voegel Martin.. Our line-up is basically drums, bass and banjo and accordion but we do use a guitar at times and have included keyboard. We could probably be best described as Alt. Folk because of our love of the full drum kit and the edge that lends to the music, but we have tunes heavily influenced by country, reggae, jazz, pop, and even the Oktoberfest sound.

We started in 1998. We have always played original material. Dave Bartlett, Jeff Tough write all the tunes the band plays. (Actually, we cover a tune by Leonard Cohen, one by Fred Eaglesmith, and one by Si Kahn. We have also on occasion covered a Lou Reed tune.)

We have produced three CDs so far. In 1999, we won recording time at an audition for Northern Lights Festival Boreal and we recorded a CD of five demo tunes. In 2002, we released our first full length CD, Hope You're Not Lonely.

We got radio play for it on Derek Armstrong's Northern Lights radio program, from Laurie-Ann Copple, Joel Wortzman, Steve Fruitman and others. We were played on Rock 95 in Barrie and thanks to Nick Davis, Avril Benoit and Andy Barry played cuts of our music on their respective CBC programs. Rez 91.3 from Wasauksing/Parry Island has had our song "Moose" in regular rotation for over two years. Radio response has been positive, if not generally sustained.

Our new CD is called "A Bottle of Wine on Tuesday Nights..." co-produced with Craig Harley.

We have opened shows for an incredible roster of performers including Fred Eaglesmith (three times), Cedric Smith, James Keelaghan, Katherine Wheatley, Erin Benjamin, Aengus Finnan. We have performed on John Island in the North Channel; at Science North in Sudbury as well as Northern Lights Festival Boreal; at Café Chicago and the Whitewater Gallery in North Bay; at Renee's in South River; at the Heritage River Festival (three times) at the Village Pub in Burk's Falls, at the Corner Café in Newmarket, at the amphitheatre in Killbear Provincial Park and at a variety of venues in Parry Sound including Wellington's Pub and Grill, the Station Gallery, the Jolly Roger, on the waterfront stage, and at the new concert hall, the Charles W. Stockey Centre.

Dave Bartlett, banjo and vocals
"I started playing banjo because my high school musical friend was already playing guitar. And of course everybody was playing the bands of the day rather than folk music so I learned how to play Beatles, Bee Gees, Rolling Stones, electric Dylan and Byrds tunes before I learned any old timey tunes. Then I went to the first seven Winnipeg Folk Festivals and came away with something new from every one.

"I always had the luck to play with musicians better than I was, and it's no different in Parry Sound. I play with a great drummer and a very versatile bass player, Graham Ketcheson and Jeff Tough. My role is like that of a rhythm guitar player in a rock band except that I play rhythm clawhammer banjo. And I write the bulk of our tunes. We play about 90% original material and have right from the start. Jeff writes too, but more selectively. I'll try to write anything, which puts me in the position of always trying to catch up musically to my over-ambitious song writing. And I'm more suited to spoken word than singing, so it's a challenge and good fun."

Jeff Tough, bass, vocals
"A remarkable man by the name of Mac Drummond gave me an old banjo when I was about 10. He showed me a few simple chords and I tried to play and sing like him. I also pounded out some chords on an old player piano in my parents' basement. I used to put tacks on the felts to make it sound more 'honky-tonk." These experiences along with a singing family created my love for making music. "I am attracted to performers who play and sing their own stuff out of the passion inside them for the words and the music. Basic folk music, not so much the performance but the intimacy, gifts from the writer/performer.

"I have always loved jamming. Just being part of making music with others; it is creative and communal. Being a bass player with Dave and Graham lets me be creative with words and bass grooves; to do some jamming within the music. These guys stretch my abilities, which is of great value. The combined rock and folk roots of Nineteen James mean we can always take our stuff into either realm. And we do!"

Graham Ketcheson, drums and percussion
"I've always been interested in rhythm – since before I can remember actually – my parents were at the Santa Claus parade. I was still in my mother's womb and tapping feet and hands as each marching band with drummers passed. I started playing the drum kit at eight. I didn't play with anybody till high school, then with several bands who were tired of drummers with lousy timing. I've always been conscientious of keeping the time, rather than playing flashy licks and muddying the mix. I've played with a few cover bands but mostly it's been original projects – I love recording projects and have mostly worked in home project studios but am equally at ease in a bigger studio space. That's where I love to really groove – nothing better than capturing good solid, full body drum sounds to tape (or HD these days I guess).

"I too went to several Winnipeg Folk Festivals, a decade later – saw the new upcoming big acts like the Barenaked Ladies, Loreena McKennitt – there are always incredible players and a wide variety of music at the folk festivals I've attended. That's what makes them so great.

This last winter (2008)I recorded a second CD with local group Kindred (Terry Christenson, Chris Hess, Steve Ruppert, Steve McDowall, G, Ketcheson) - to be released in Aug. 08.

Katrine Floegel Martin, accordion and vocals
"According to my parents, I started showing an interest in playing the keyboard at age two. So when a guy selling accordions came by our door when I was five, my parents let me play and the rest is history. I took lessons for 11 years and played in many Royal Conservatory competitions. At 11, I learned how to play the guitar and at 13, I started on the trumpet but the music teacher told me I should play the tuba since they needed tuba players in the band. So I played tuba for four years in both stage and concert bands and joined a local band called Music Kids. I also played saxophone for a year. I also wrote quite a bit of melancholic poetry during my high school years, something I want to pick up again and maybe put music to. During my university years, I took one year of piano and sang in a community choir and in church bands.

"Generally I have been attracted to folk, rock, blues and jazz which is what Nineteen James also seems to gravitate to. Being able to pick up my accordion again in a totally unexpected place and time has been quite a blast and I look forward to jamming with a great group of talent."

Comments About Us

I hail from Parry Sound, the same town as Nineteen James, and have watched them perform and grow over the years. Their songs and the stories they tell on stage are full of details and characters that reflect the place they come from. Their lyrics are witty and poignant and their arrangements are always original and entertaining. – Katherine Wheatley

I am very excited about the Parry Sound band, Nineteen James. Their cd "Hope You're Not Lonely" contains some of the best new original material I have heard. the songs address a number of areas never really touched by any artists that I know of, yet these works come off completely uncontrived, pure and beautiful. The unique, striking abilities of songwriters in this group put them into a very rarified league. – Sam Larkin

I expected great lyrics – and I wasn't disappointed – but I wanted to compliment the group on its musicality – very fresh and fun and listenable. – Daniel Koulack

Drummer and musical heartbeat of the group, Graham Ketcheson solidly anchors the sometimes spacey and oddly kiltered lyrics and instrumentation of Tough and Bartlett, keeping the group's groove on track and pungent. – Craig Harley

Bartlett and Tough's fresh approach, intelligently expressed ideas, and diverse styling captivates audiences. And what variety in their zany humour, incisive commentary, poignant honesty, and poetic imagery. – Katerina Fretwell, poet

As a fellow musician I have found their music very original and unique. Their style of using spoken word over music has inspired some of my own work. The music of Nineteen James has a special "hometown" feel and I would encourage anyone to support any of their projects. – Jonny O (Junkyard Symphony)