Flames Across The Border: The 1812 Music Project

The 1812-1814 conflict comes alive in music and words with Mike Ford's original songs about epic events (the invasion of Little York, Great Lake ship battles) famous characters (Tecumseh, Fitzgibbon) and unsung participants (farm-trampled settlers, deep woods couriers). Provoking boisterous audience interaction, sampling period marches and ballads, challenging myths and assumptions, Flames Across the Border is a song-cycle show specially created for the War of 1812 Bicentennial.

Mike Ford captivates audiences with his sheer enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of Canada’s history. Mike’s lively and interactive manner engages his audience to reflect upon Canada’s historical landscape while he performs his own original tunes as well as period shanties, marches, satirical verse and protest songs. Mike uses these musical conventions and styles to illustrate the dynamic events, political climate and personalities of the time.

Suitable for families and children, eight and up.

Mike Ford: vocals, guitars, keyboards, button accordion
Mark Mariash: drums
Murray Foster: bass
David Matheson: banjo, vocals, bodran, electric guitar (on Soon)
The Rochon-Ford Smile-Time-Variety-Hour Singers: vocals (Chesapeake & Shannon, This Town is Beat )

All Songs © Mike Ford 2012
(Except The Chesapeake & The Shannon, Public Domain, adaptation Mike Ford)

Produced by Mike Ford & David Matheson
Recorded Summer of 2012 at Ivy Sound Studios, Toronto
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by David Matheson
Web Design: Glen Newbury / Islandside Studio, Toronto

Mike Ford acknowledges the both the Government of Canada (through the Department of Canadian Heritage) and The Toronto Arts Council for their financial support of Flames Across The Border / The 1812 Song Project.