hosted by J. Plank, the summer festival edition of Ramble at the Merville Hall features two summer nights of music collaboration and community. Inspired by the late, great Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, NY, each Ramble shines a spotlight on the songs of emerging and established regional talents and guest headliners, all backed by J. Plank and his stellar Vancouver Island house band.

Friday:
Lindi Ortega – guitar, vocals & songs
G. Lee Worden – guitars, keys, vocals & songs
J. Plank – musical director, host, guitars & vocals
Chris Mason – bass, vocals
Dallas Carrie – drums, vocals
Plus guests from the first Ramble songwriting workshop

Saturday:
Brandon Isaak – guitars, vocals & songs
Christy Vanden – guitars, vocals & songs
J. Plank – musical director, host, guitars & vocals
G. Lee Worden – guitars, keys, vocals
Chris Mason – bass, vocals
Dallas Carrie – drums, vocals

Plank (Jeff Plankenhorn) is a highly respected blues and roots musician known for his skill as a slide guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, both as a solo artist and as a sought-after session musician. After years in the Austin music scene, Plank calls Campbell River home while he continues to tour across the continent and beyond. Lee Worden, Chris Mason, and Dallas Carrie round out the house band of Island aces.

Roots-noir artist Lindi Ortega, a two-time Canadian Country Music Award-winning singer-songwriter, has long captivated audiences with her signature vibrato, magnetic stage presence, and hauntingly soulful voice. Renowned for her ability to blend the ethereal with the evocative, Ortega’s artistry transcends genre labels, weaving stories that linger long after the last note fades. Her 2024 album From the Ether marked a poignant return to music following a prolonged hiatus brought on by vocal struggles, the profound loss of her father, and the dissolution of her nearly five-year marriage. These deeply personal challenges became the crucible for her artistic resurgence, reigniting her passion for songwriting and performance. The album pushes the boundaries of traditional roots music, embracing a haunting, atmospheric quality that is distinctly Ortega’s own. Esoteric yet deeply relatable, enigmatic yet undeniably raw, Ortega is a master storyteller who defies convention. Whether gracing the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry or commanding stadiums alongside Chris Stapleton, hers is a voice that you don’t want to miss.

Brandon Isaak takes a dash of Taj Mahal, a sprinkle of B.B. King and a few drops of Lighting Hopkins, stirs it up, and simmers on low. This Yukon-born, Island-based songster performs a mixture of thoughtful, humorous, spiritual and catchy memorable songs; delivered with world class guitar, harmonica and vocals. Isaak has honed his craft over the past 37 years and it shows every night. Formerly guitarist and singer for the much loved Vancouver band the Twisters, and under the name Yukon Slim, Isaak has come into his own as a self-titled solo artist praised for his lo-fi sound and commitment to the blues tradition. He has played in three continents and 8 country and picked up two Juno nominations, a half dozen Western Canadian Music Award and Maple Blues Award nominations nominations each. His latest album Walkin With The Blues was recently won Canadian Blues Music Award for song of the year, electric album of the year, and guitarist of the year.

Christy Vanden is a wickedly talented multi-instrumentalist in the Comox Valley and popular guitar teacher at Long & McQuade Music. Whether playing lead guitar with Brodie Dawson and She Could Be Trouble or Karen Lee Batten, playing drums for Oktiv6 and Funkyard or the Cloud District, as a member of party juggernaut Time Well Wasted, or playing her own solo material at small stages around the region, her understated skill and musicality always shines.

Lee Worden is a multi-instrumentalist and singer with over 4 decades of professional touring and studio experience. He is equally at home on guitar, bass, keyboards or drums. He has performed with Al Harlow, Mike Reno, Corb Lund, Ryan McMahon, Tom Russell, Fernando Verela, Kim Wilson and Bobby Rush, was a member of Sweeney Todd with Nick Gilder and from 2008-2019 served as lead guitarist for the legendary Ian Tyson.

The Ramble is a family friendly, licensed event.

Tickets: $35 general admission Friday or Saturday with a $10 discount when you purchase both, $50 limited premium seating for Friday or Saturday, $5 per night for youth (+applicable taxes & fees)

Ramble songwriting workshop with J. Plank and Lindi Ortega July 9-10 includes festival admission. Info and registration at jplankmusic.com/workshops-lessons