Wendell Ferguson & Katherine Wheatley

January 8, 2011

at the Carnegie Gallery

"Wendell Ferguson is recognized by his peers as one of the top pickers in the country and known best as having one of the quickest wits in the game. A talented and funny guy to say the least." (Country Music News)

"Katherine Wheatley gave an absolutely transcendent concert. She is able to take minor observations in life and find their soul. On stage...she exudes sheer kindness and love. Blessedly, refreshingly, Katherine Wheatley is a truly Canadian original" (Hubert O'Hearn, Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal)

Wendell Ferguson

What do you give an overweight, asthmatic 7-year-old boy for Christmas? Model airplane? Etch-A-Sketch? Erector set? Well lucky for us Wendell Fergusons' folks gave him a guitar. From the first time he heard Chet Atkins' recording of "Mister Sandman" he was hooked, and only one thing ever held his interest...the guitar. He'd already been taking lessons for 3 years when The Beatles came on the scene and he was soon hard at work lifting their licks, along with Ventures, the Stones, Les Paul and of course the aforementioned Mr. Atkins.

Fast forward to today. Wendell has won the Canadian Country Music Association's "Guitar Player of the Year" so many times (seven), that they retired him-he's no longer eligible. He has backed artists such as; George Fox, Duane Steele, Shania Twain, Lisa Brokop, Michelle Wright, Tommy Hunter, Al Cherney, Deana Carter, Tracy Byrd, Mila Mason, Chely Wright, Matraca Berg, The Dixie Chicks, The Arrogant Worms, Jason McCoy, and countless others. To quote Wendell: "Not bad for a guy who hasn't worked a day in his life".

Katherine Wheatley

With offhand wit, vibrant lyrics and an infectious passion for performing, Katherine has been captivating audiences everywhere she performs. According to the Ottawa Citizen "This is a performer to keep you on the edge of your seat."

Katherine graduated from Queen's University with a geology degree and spent five seasons roughing it in the bush, gathering not only rock samples but material for her songs. It was only a matter of time before she left her tent and recorded her first CD, Straight Line. Produced by John Switzer, it spent 17 weeks on Sam's Top Ten Independent Charts. Katherine's second CD, Habits and Heroes, was produced by David Travers-Smith. It has garnered praise from fans and critics alike and has helped her to launch a strong touring career.

Katherine has been a regular at folk festivals, concert series and clubs across Canada since the release of her first CD. As well as her own career, she is a member of the Toronto band, Betty and the Bobs; is a guitarist in Wendell Ferguson's trio "The Smoking Section"; she presents songwriting, vocal and independent music career workshops at schools, folk clubs and music stores across Canada; and she is the currently the ambassador for the campaign to raise six million dollars for the new hospital in her home town of Parry Sound, Ontario.

According to the Toronto Star, Katherine Wheatley "turns pebbles of every day life into dreamy mountains of song". Warren Footz from SEE Magazine in Edmonton wrote "As a listener, it's hard not to sit back, close your eyes and watch the movie play. And man, can this serene red head ever play guitar".