Celebrating Taylor's Music

We would like to invite you to "The Prayers We Light": A celebration of Taylor Mitchell's life and her music.

Musicians, students, friends and family close to Taylor Mitchell will come together for one evening to honour Taylor's life through words and music.

The celebration will be on Monday, November 30, at Hugh's Room (2261 Dundas St. W) in Toronto, and will start at 8:30. To reserve a seat, please call Hugh's Room at 416.531.6604. We expect this show to sell-out, so, if you'd like to attend, please call the club as soon as you can.

Organized and hosted by Taylor's producer, mentor and friend Michael Johnston - the celebration will include performances of Taylor's music, both from her recording, "For Your Consideration", as well as unreleased, seldom-heard songs she wrote.

All of the proceeds from the evening will go towards paying off the debt still owed to cover her recording costs from last year. The goal is to raise at least $5,000.

While plans are still coming together, several of Taylor's young guitar and vocal students - many of whom aren't yet teenagers - are also expected to play.

"It's an opportunity for the community to remember Taylor in the way she would've wanted - with singing, laughter and a few drinks" says Johnston. "There'll be lots of music, but also opportunities for people to speak and share memories about her".

"The Prayers We Light", a song Taylor finished a few weeks before heading out on tour, was performed at a house concert in Lucasville, Nova Scotia on October 25, 2009, the night before she was tragically killed. Originally a song about a friend returning from Afghanistan, it, like many of her songs, has taken on new resonances since her passing.

A who's-who of the Canadian roots community will form the house band for the evening, all of whom have strong, direct ties to Taylor:

Lynn Miles mentored Taylor at the OCFF in 2007 and co-wrote several songs on "For Your Consideration"

Suzie Vinnick was Taylor's guitar teacher and co-wrote a few songs on "For Your Consideration"

Chris Stringer engineered and mixed "For Your Consideration", and accompanied Taylor on guitar for several gigs.

John Dinsmore supplied the studio and played guitars, mandolin and bass on "For Your Consideration"

Anne Lindsay played fiddle on "For Your Consideration"

Jason Mercer played upright bass and banjo on "For Your Consideration"

Noel Webb played drums on "For Your Consideration"

Gord Tough played guitar with Taylor for her CD release show

Guest vocalists include Andrew Cash, Justin Rutledge, Kate Rogers, Josh Finlayson, Ania Ziemirska and several others TBA

See Also

Celebrating Taylor's Music