We're coming up the big announcement of the winner of CBC Radio's CANADA READS contest, in which five selected books each have an on-air advocate. Paul's King Leary is one of the finalists (and we believe certain to win). The merits of this 1987 novel are expounded on air by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics (and a fine author also). Learn more here:
http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/books-kingleary.html

One of our Ontario appearances last fall resulted in this: "BEST FOLK/ROOTS CONCERT OF THE YEAR. “Porkbelly Futures played The London Music Club to an appreciative audience and were as bloody great as you’d expect from a band good enough to have somebody from the Canadian Brass playing guitars and harmonica, the double bassist from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra bowing away and a Governor General’s Award-winning novelist supplying most of the lyrics. And they had London’s Teddy Leonard guesting on guitar. When Porkbelly Futures come back, don’t you dare miss them.” James Reaney, London Free Press, Dec. 29/07
Thank you Mr. Reaney! We were also pleased to see Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (featuring Porkbelly contributor Colin Linden) in runner-up spot. We'll be back at the London Musical Club on Saturday, March 22. The estimable Mr. Leonard will be with us.