TransCanadaRadio.com

With so much hype surrounding the acoustic guitar/sunny beach vibe emanating from south of the border, it would be easy at first glance to overlook western Canada’s Jon and Roy, if not for the sheer strength of their music and growing legion of fans. Leading the charge like a modern day Bobby D is Jon Middleton and his prolific songwriting coupled with the rhythmic flare of Roy Vizer.
The Jon & Roy collaboration began in 2004 amidst the buzz of a cluster-house centurion. Upon repeated requests from those who had seen Jon Middleton perform around Victoria before, Jon picked up his vintage L’arrivé, closed his eyes and let loose. Having crossed the Georgia Straight earlier that day to visit the island, Roy tuned up his bongos and added some rhythm. Warming up to the sound of one and one, the room quieted and found a lull. People listened. People laughed. People smiled.

The music? A blend of folk, hip-hop and reggae with an island tinge.

Four years and two albums later Jon and Roy are essentially doing the same thing: combining melodies, beats and vocals in a way that speaks to audiences in an intimate and captivating way. Granted, Jon Middleton has grown from a young, talented songwriter into a prolific lyricist/singer and a fluid guitarist, bassist and ukelele player and Roy Vizer has taken his beginnings as a hand percussionist and moved onto the throne of a full traps kit.
The combined success of their first collaboration Sittin’ Back and Jon’s solo album After a Trip
opened doors for them at venues all over Western Canada and attracted attention from radio stations
across the country. Yet despite the duo’s local success, the same charm that led people from far down the beach to their friendly fireside, still leads fans to the bars, clubs and halls across Western Canada to see Jon and Roy perform.
The music of Jon and Roy has reached all four corners of the globe. From the flea markets of
Brazil to the rural parts of Tasmania, Jon & Roy’s album Sittin’ Back and Jon Middleton’s After a Trip
have taken on lives of their own with fans wanting to spread the music to their friends and family.
Over the years, Jon and Roy have shared stages with Canadian artists Buck 65, Current Swell,
Hey Ocean!, Mother Mother and international bands, the Beautiful Girls and State Radio. Songs from
their albums have been used in surf videos by the Californian production company Deep Water Films,
included on a soundtrack for the popular PBS TV program Road Trip Nation, on National Geographic
programming and on a compilation album for the Salmon Nation Project based out of Portland, Oregon.
As a nod to their continuing popularity, the title track from their upcoming release Another Noon
has been licensed by Volkswagen USA for a nine month long TV ad campaign, replacing Wilco as the
musical background for the ads.
On May 20th Jon and Roy have released the long-awaited, second collaboration, titled Another
Noon, distributed in Canada by Pacific Music/Warner. The duo, with band in tow, looks forward to
spreading their music from Coast to Coast. The summer and fall of 2008 will see the duo taking their liveshow across the country stoking old acquaintances, friends and fans and seeking out new smiling faces and open ears at festivals, club gigs and wherever the music might lead.

August 23rd 3.30 - 6.30pm Boat Cruise Vancouver BC (All Ages) Katie Rox $35
August 30th 5.30 - 8pm Element / Rifflandia festival Victoria BC (No Minors) $58.50 for whole festival
October 25th OCFF (music conference) Ottawa Ontario (All Ages)

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