Fri. Mar. 4 & Sat. Mar. 5: Two of Windsor’s finest songstress’ showcased at Taloola Cafe

If you’ve never been to Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.) in Old Walkerville, you’re really missing out. Music aside, they have a great selection of munchies and light meals and one of the best tea selections in town. It’s a perfect getaway from the downtown norm and a great place to unwind. Over the last few years, they’ve also been having early evening (8-9pm) showcases by local singer/songwriters. There is little (to no) amplification, it’s just the musician and his or her instrument and the bare honesty of their voice.

This weekend is a real treat as each night’s performer is one of Windsor’s most talented up-and-coming songstresses.

Friday features Crissi Cochrane who, despite being relatively new to Windsor’s scene, is far from green. Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Crissi had already carved out a name for herself on Canada’s East Coast before transplanting herself in Windsor’s murky waters. Cochrane’s voice is reminiscent of some other Canadian voices like Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards or a more stripped down Holly McNarland, but it still drips with an innocence as yet untainted by road worries or too many broken hearts.You can download a free mp3 of one of her songs as part of January’s FREE Windsor Zene Music Samplers.

Saturday showcases Deni-gan, who has been taking recent Open Mics at Phog Lounge and Milk Coffee Bar by storm. While the previous night’s songbird still feels like the innocence of a first kiss, Deni-gan is more reminiscent of someone toughened by one good broken heart and a bottle of whisky. There’s still a glimmer of hope that things will be better, but now she won’t be so trusting.

Crissi Cochrane, Friday March 4; Deni-gan, Saturday March 5, Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.), 8pm

Fri. Feb. 11: Tony Coates, Mary Allan and Den-Igan at Milk

Tony Coates has sure come a long way in the past year. I remember seeing him a year or so back playing at Open Mic at Phog, wondering who this new voice was. He had a deft soulful storyteller tone in his performance, like a deeper Bright Eyes, and people in the room were just captivated.  I knew it was only a matter of time before his voice caught on around the scene. He’s now playing regular gigs around town – he opened for Austin, Texas via Winnipeg roots outfit Twilight Hotel last month at Phog – as well as shows at Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West), where Tony will be performing. His latest song posting”So High” shows a far more Jacksoul side of Coates than the usual Ben Harper/Jack Johnson fare he started out as – it will be nice when he finally gets a full band together and some of his songs are finally fully realized.

Also on the bill is newcomer Mary Allan, whose voice and talent have landed her the hosting duties of Milk’s Tuesday night Open Mic. Drawing on inspirations like Bon Iver and Broken Social Scene, she’s only going to get stronger with the right shows and crowds. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that Coates and Allan will be performing together as well.

Opening the show is another face of the future for Windsor’s singer/songwriter circuit (and beyond) Den-Igan Haslip – and I must say, if you haven’t heard her yet, you’re in for a treat. She’s the latest in a line of Windsorite roots troubadours like Ron Leary, Tara Watts and David Dubois. She has an organic feel like Sarah Harmer or Kathleen Edwards, but somehow with a little more edge despite almost sounding more fragile. Check out the song “Pancakes, No Heart Aches” to get a sample of her story.

If you’re looking for a quiet night of stories and laughs and a moments to reflect, this just might be the best place in Windsor to be on Friday night. If nothing else, it’s an intimate showcase featuring three of the brightest young talents in the next generation of local musicians and songwriters.

Tony Coates & Mary Allan, with special guest Den-Igan Haslip, Milk Coffee Bar (68 University Ave. West), 9pm, $3 cover