Craig Cardiff: Harnessing the Power of Music

For Craig Cardiff, playing live music is all about the connection.

Creating that electric moment when the audience connects with him, each other and the tune is worth the ups-and-downs of the musician lifestyle.

Cardiff, the Arnprior based, Juno-nominated, Canadian folk musician, is stopping by the Black Sheep Inn on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7, to share a taste of his 2013 double album Love Is Louder (Than All This Noise).

Working with the creative powerhouse producing team of Ben Leggett and Andre Wahl, who also produced his previous hit album Floods and Fires, Cardiff poignantly explores the human condition in 21 tracks that are particularly special to his devoted fan base.

For the past few years, Cardiff has been passing around a Book of Truths during his shows and asking fans to share something truthful in it, whether it is a story, a confession or a secret. The book gives fans a chance to write down something they might be too afraid to say otherwise, and it gives Cardiff an opportunity to connect with his audience.

“The idea started as an accident. A couple in Peterborough told me a really sweet story and I didn’t want to forget it, so I wrote it down in a notebook I happened to have on me. That notebook ended up getting passed around during a show…and it evolved into its own thing from there,” Cardiff explains.

Love Is Louder (Than All This Noise) stems as a response to those stories. The album is rooted in a notion of hope. Its optimistic tone speaks to the idea that there are better days to come. The lyrics are inherently relatable in their understanding of discouragement and desperation. The album comes to life as one-part boisterous group sing-along and one-part gentle lullaby, with Cardiff’s soft and scratchy voice cohesively uniting the two.

The Book of Truths turned out to be much more than musical inspiration for Cardiff. It made an impact on his approach to life in general, and he hopes it encourages others to look inwards.

“We have ideas about the people in the room; who they are, where they’re coming from, what they’ve experienced…but it taught me that we shouldn’t make these presumptions about people,” says Cardiff.

An element setting Cardiff apart in the Canadian folk music scene is his willingness to perform wherever, whenever. He is considered a pioneer in alternative venue touring, often appearing in churches, camps, prisons, basements, festivals, kitchens and even taking music to the streets. Cardiff, a truly authentic musician, believes that performing is about the people, not about the money or acclaim associated with particular venues.

“The people are what is important. Not the room. It doesn’t matter where the people are, it’s about creating the opportunity to go connect with them through live music,” he explains.

Don’t miss the chance to experience Cardiff live at the Black Sheep Inn this weekend, because that is exactly what he’ll provide: an unforgettable experience.

As Cardiff says himself, “Come prepared to sing along, be joyful, be loud and have a great time!”

Purchase tickets here to see Craig Cardiff live at the Black Sheep Inn on Saturday, December 6, or Sunday, December 7.

For more information about Craig Cardiff and future tour dates, visit his website.