Graven + Stephen Stanley

September 26 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Singer-songwriter Stephen Stanley may most immediately be known as a founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist with Toronto’s Lowest of the Low. The groups “genuinely timeless album” (Exclaim!), Shakespeare My Butt…, earned gold record status and saw the band share stages with the likes of Billy Bragg, The Violent Femmes, amongst many others. Stephen ultimately, had his own mark and music to make and The Stephen Stanley Band became his focus. He’s logged monumental shows with the likes of, 54•40, Bob Mould, Cracker, Lee Ann Womak, Jake Clemons, Willie Nile, The Jayhawks, and Lloyd Cole. He’s played festival stages in Germany, and toured across the UK and Ireland. The band’s latest album, Before The Collapse Of The Hive (Wolfe Island Records) is an album brimming with raw, unflinching urgency, steadfast observation and soul-searching storytelling that highlights Stephen’s immediate world: those he loves, and those he’s lost.

GRAVEN: Nepean Ontario born songcrafter and melody magician Graven (Matty McKechnie) is an award winning passionate and powerful wordsmith of song who wears his heart on the sleeve of his melodies – and whose songs can make the most stoic listener emote. Having recorded albums with iconic Canadian songwriters and producers Joel Plaskett (Simple Complex) and Jim Bryson (Years), the prolific and anthemic Graven has released 25 albums, eps and singles. His latest self-produced album “Always Everything” is his most downloaded and streamed to date – and it soars softly and loudly simultaneously, while touching on pastoral themes alongside of the societal pressures of romantic relationships and finding “the one”. Having shared stages with such talent as Sarah Harmer, Kevin Drew, Danny Michel, Kathryn Calder (New Pornographers), Elliott Brood, Melissa Payne, Wintersleep, Sloan, July Talk, Ron Hawkins, Stephen Stanley, Steve Poltz and so many more, Graven is a rising sonic gem has an uplifting and heartwarming stage presence – whether he is with his full 5 piece band, or intimately explosive in a solo space. Matty also hosts and produces his own music/mental health focused podcast called Graventown and has interviewed folks like Jenn Grant, Matt Mays, author Waubgeshig Rice, Seth Morris (Curb your Enthusiasm), Keith Coogan (Adventures In Babysitting), and many more.