The Citizen, 2011-10-27, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011.
Brussels native releases second solo album
Brussels native Joshua Gropp was
in the middle of touring to promote
his debut album, Sunsets from
Swingsets when he started working
on his recent release Guitar
Memoirs.
“There was a lot of sitting in hotel
rooms during the tour,” he said. “I
started writing it then.”
The 12 song sophomore solo
album was released on June 19, 2011
and represents some growth in
Gropp’s composing, but will bring
fans a familiar experience.
“The album is similar to the first in
that it’s recorded by me and me
alone,” he said. “But it’s different in
that I’ve added some more
instruments.”
Gropp said that he has added some
electric guitar backups, but he still
plays them all himself.
“The whole idea is to produce
an album I can play live,” he
said. “I could do thirty instruments
if I wanted, but that’s not the
idea.”
As to how he can play an electric
guitar backup to his own acoustic, he
says that technology helps him there.
“I can do all the background
instruments with a foot pedal called
a loop station,” he said.
The album didn’t come out as
quickly as it would have, however,
according to Gropp as he ran into
some issues with the release.
While he started recording in a
studio, he ended up redoing a lot of
the early work on the album in his
own attic in Stratford, which he
converted into his own workspace,
but that was after some other
setbacks.
“Once it really started to come
together, I got in an accident,” he
said. “I had to forget about the
project for a time and then had to re-
record everything myself.
“It was pretty much smooth sailing
from there, however,” he said.
The album has been very well
received, according to Gropp, and he
found a real niche audience in
Europe.
“I toured to promote the album
across Canada and Europe,” he said.
“I did 45 shows in Europe and about
20 in Canada accompanying Steve
Rawls from Calgary.”
Gropp said that while he
accompanied Rawls, who formerly
played for Belvedere and This is a
Standoff, he was allowed to sell his
album at the show.
“The album was received better in
Europe,” he said. “The style is
somewhat rare there, but the big
draw is having a Canadian artist
touring, it doesn’t happen there
often.”
Gropp learned to play music from
the age of 11 and at 13 began to
study guitar, an instrument he had a
natural knack for.
His passion for music translated
into an education at the Humber
Institute of Technology and
Advanced Learning where he
studied jazz guitar.
It was a long path, however, from
those studies to finding his own
music as he tested the waters with
several different styles before
finding his sound with an acoustic
guitar.
Being from Brussels played
heavily into Gropp becoming a
musician due to it being one of the
only outlets.
“There’s not a lot of entertainment
for kids, aside from sports, which I
played,” he said. “At 13 I picked up a
guitar and haven’t put it down
since.”
Gropp, the son of Bonnie and
Mark of Brussels, is currently
married and living in Stratford.
The Auxiliary to the Clinton
Public Hospital met on Oct. 3 with
32 members present. Guest speaker,
Cheryl Hunt, the new HPHA
volunteer co-ordinator, introduced
herself and offered her help in this
role.
The winning tickets were drawn.
The original water colour painted
and donated by Dr. J.M. Watts was
won by Alex Townsend. The quilt
handcrafted and donated by Linda
Dunford was won by Lois Wise.
Congratulations.
The gift shop will offer selected
items for sale from Oct. 17 until
Nov. 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come and get a
great deal.
The penny sale was very
successful again this year. Thanks to
all.
Gift of Light tickets are for sale.
Support your hospital and add a light
to make the tree glow brightly
during the holiday season. Receipts
are available for $10 or more.
Lighting ceremony will be held on
Friday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m.
A coffee break also raised money
for the Alzheimer’s Society.
The next meeting will be held at
Huronview on Monday, Nov. 14 at
9:30 a.m. Carpool at Clinton Public
Hospital at 9 a.m. New members
welcome.
For tickets call: Walton: Gloria 519-887-6482,
Seaforth: Marion 519-527-1877, Brussels: Phyllis 519-887-6697
or any member of Walton United Church.
Duff’s Church 100 Years of Recipes Cookbooks are also available at $15.00 each.
Wednesday, November 2
at the BMG Arena, Brussels
from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Adults: $15.00; Children 6-11: $6.00; 5 & under: free
Takeouts Available
Walton United Church
Annual Turkey Supper
HALLOWEEN
COSTUME RENTALS
for Adults
Contact Carol McLachlan
519-522-0703
after 5pm.
22 Nicholson Dr. Egmondville
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John Brown
is turning 80
Please come and help
celebrate
Saturday,
November 5
2-4 pm
Blyth United Church
Entertainment Leisure&
Acoustic Ace
Joshua Gropp, a Brussels native now living in Stratford, recently released his second solo
album Guitar Memoirs.Gropp began writing his sophomore album while touring for his debut
solo album, Sunsets from Swingsets.(Photo submitted)
Guitar Memoirs
Brussels native Joshua Gropp’s second album, Guitar
Memoirs is now available on his website
http://joshuagropp.bandcamp.com (Photo submitted)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Hospital Auxiliary
holds Oct. meeting