Make no mistake: Fiftymen play straight up hardcore country through and through - a world of killing tunes and whiskey blues, trampled hearts and unsettled scores after darkfall. But, of course, it’s not quite as simple as that. Formed from the ashes of Crash 13 in the latter stages of 1999, Fiftymen - J.J. Hardill (vocals), Mark Michaud (guitar) Todd Gibbon (guitar) Jake Bryce (drums) and Michael Houston Hanlan (bass) [edit: ***Keith Snider (banjo and fiddle) played on the first album, made himself indispensible in very short order, and joined officially in 2004] - is clearly a band with dusty twang surging through its veins, but whose soul is consumed with the evil power of reckless rock and roll. Breakneck and brokenhearted, the sturdy five-piece churns out a hard luck parade of full blooded hurtin’ tunes that walk the line between jealousy, revenge, faith, guilt and redemption - Merle Haggard’s working man sweat rolling down Joe Strummers back. It’s a scorching sound that’s five feet high and rising-wiry and hungry, but plenty full and ready to fight. It’s two guitars, bass, drums, a voice and menacing Marshalls: pure, honest roots music steeped in traditional country and gut level punk. Scars, graveyards, sin, skeletons, vagabonds, women, wine and song: living large and marking time "on the shady side". Don’t turn your back on Fiftymen - not even for a second. - Steve Baylin

FIFTYMEN have appeared with the Sadies, the Cowslingers, the Buttless Chaps, Carolyn Mark, Jim Bryson, Greenfield Main, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns, the Silverhearts, Chino, Luther Wright and the Wrongs, Andre Williams, Kathleen Edwards, Washboard Hank, the Brothers Cosmoline, Fred Eaglesmith, Cuff the Duke, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, the Skydiggers, the John Borra Band, the D Rangers, the Swiftys, and Atomic 7, among many others.

PAST SHOWS

2006 |2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999

2008

The Black Sheep Inn
Feb 9 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC

2007

May 21 - The Elmdale Tavern, Ottawa, ON
May 26 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, ON w/ Catfish Blues
June 10 - Westfest, Ottawa, ON
July 1 - The Black Sheep Inn, 5th annual FiftyDay
July 20 - Stewart Park Festival, Perth, ON w/ Jim Bryson, Lynn Miles
Aug 18 - Dancing in the Streets, Ottawa, ON w/ Sadies, etc.
Sept 14 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ Rodney Decroo, Rae Spoon
Dec 1 - Kaffe 1870 Grand Opening Party, Wakefield, QC
Dec 31 - Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON w/Gunsmoke

2006

January 28 - Dragonfest at The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ The Jan Purcell Band
February 11 - The Merchant MacLiam, Kingston, ON w/The Grim Wits
February 28 - Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON - CBC Radio 3 Tour
w/ Rhume, Konflit Dramatik
March 24 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, ON w/The John Borra Band
May 5 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/Lucky Ron
May 6 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/Lonesome Paul
May 7 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC
June 8 - The New Capital Music Hall, Ottawa, ON. CHUO 15th anniversary ON w/Ukrania, J'Envoie
June 9 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, ON. NXNE
July 1 - 4th Annual FIFTYDAY at The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC
July 13 - Ottawa Blues Festival w/ Elliot Brood, The Road Hammers
November 11 - The Silver Dollar, Toronto, ON
December 16 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ Brock Zemen
December 31 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ Ukrainia and HILOTRONS

2005

February 26 - Rock 'n Roll Rodeo at Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON. Hosted by Tom Stuart with special guests
April 2 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC, solo show
July 1 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC
May 17 - The Canadian Tulip Festival, Major's Hill Park, Ottawa, ON w/ The Sadies, The Good Brothers, and Greenfield Main
July 10 - Bankfest, Ottawa, ON w/ Golden Dogs, The John Henry's, and more
August 13 - Private party in McDonald's Corners
October 14 - CD Release at Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON w/ Camp Radio
October 20 - The Townehouse, Sudbury, ON
October 21 - Downbeat Lounge, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
October 26 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB
October 28 - Sidetrack Café, Edmonton, AB w/ Red Shag Carpet
October 31 - The Ship & Anchor, Calgary, AB w/ w/ Blood Dungeon and Falling Pianos
November 2 - Black Dog Freehouse, Edmonton, AB
November 3 - Lydia's Pub, Saskatoon, SK w/ Shuyler Jansen
November 5 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB w/ The Sadies and Heavy Trash
November 11 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ Dirt Miners (NY)
December 31 - Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON w/ John Borra Band

2004

January 16 - Irene's Pub, Ottawa, ON w/ South of 78
February 27 - Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON w/ The Sadies
March 11 - The Montreal House, Peterborough, ON
March 12 - The Underground, Hamilton, ON w/ Luther Wright & The Wrongs
March 13 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, ON w/John Borra Band
April 2 & April 3 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ John Borra Band
April 23 - Babylon Nightclub, Ottawa, ON - Allan Wigney's mixed bachelor party
May 18 - The Canadian Tulip Festival, Major's Hill Park, Ottawa, ON w/ The Waking Eyes (6pm), By Divine Right (8pm), and the Reverend Horton Heat (9:30pm). Get further info on tickets, etc. at http://www.tulipfestival.ca.
July 1 - The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ Atomic 7!
July 18 - The Ottawa Blues Festival, Ottawa, ON on the Birdman Stage and on the Roots stage as participants in the Gram Parsons Tribute.
July 23 - The Cadillac Lounge, Toronto, ON w/ The Black Boot Trio
July 30 - El Mocambo, Toronto, ON opening for Atomic7!'s CD release
August 20 - 22 - The Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic, Springwater Conservation Area, ON.
September 5 - The Maberly Meltdown
October 22 - Corktown Tavern, Hamilton, ON w/ Greenfield Main.
October 23 - 360 Club, Toronto, ON w/ Greenfield Main and Two Minute Miracles.
November 10 - Fredericton, NB at McPhail's Tap Room w/ Greenfield Main
November 11 - Charlottetown, PEI at Baba's Lounge w/ Greenfield Main and Petunia
November 12 - Halifax, NS at Stage Nine w/ Jim Bryson and Greenfield Main
November 13 - Moncton, NB at The Player's Lounge w/ Greenfield Main and Petunia
November 19 - The Black Sheep Inn w/ The Swiftys
Dec 16 - The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto. with The John Borra Band, Chris Hart & The Shovels
December 31 - New Year's Eve at The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/ UKRANIA and the Hi Lo Trons

2003

Jan 18/03 Jupiter Room, Mtl. w/Katy Moore & Country Gentlemen
Jan 25/03 Dominion Tavern w/Black Boot Trio
Jan 31/03 Babylon
Feb 22/03 Irene’s Pub w/the Double Pumpers
Apr 03/03 Cabaret, Mtl. w/Kathleen Edwards
Apr 04/03 Barrymores w/Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mayes and El Torpedo, Cuff the Duke
Apr 14/03 Ottawa Tulipfest w/Kathleen Edwards, Skydiggers
June 14/03 Dominion Tavern w/the Double Pumpers
July 1/03 Black Sheep Inn - FiftyDay!
July 6/03 Ottawa Bluesfest w/Slim Cessna, Cowslingers
July 13/03 Ottawa Bluesfest w/Jimmie Dale Gilmore
July 26/03 Toronto Bluesfest w/Howe Gelb, Royal City
Aug 30/03 Maberly Meltdown w/John Borra, Sadies, Silverhearts
Sept 05/03 Museum of Civilization, Ottawa w/Gord Downie and The Country of Miracles, Sarah Harmer, Marc Dery
Sept 05/03 Irene’s Pub
October 8/03 The Montreal House, Peterborough ON
Oct 17&18/03 The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC (4th birthday party bash)
October 25/03 The Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield, QC w/Bowser & Blue
November 7/03 - The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON w/ Cuff the Duke
December 12, 2003 - Barrymore's Music Hall, Ottawa, ON w/ Fred Eaglesmith

2002

Feb 16/02 Luna Bar & Kitchen
Feb 27/02 Bumpers w/Andrew Vincent & the Pirates
April 17/02 Babylon w/The Sadies
April 20/02 Barrymores w/The Hammerheads
June 22/02 Black Sheep Inn w/Disgraceland
July 11/02 the Dominion Tavern w/Andre Williams
July 12/02 Jupiter Room, Mtl. w/Li’l Andy & Karaoke Cowboy
Aug 16/02 FRED EAGLESMITH PICNIC
Sept 1/02 MABERLY MELTDOWN w/John Borra, Werbo, Jim Bryson
Sept 20/02 Trasheteria, Peterborough w/Tijuana Bibles
Sept 21/02 the Horseshoe Tavern w/Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson
Oct 5/02 Barrymores ROCK 'N ROLL RODEO w/Slo’ Tom, Jim Bryson
Oct 19/02 Black Sheep Inn w/Werbo
Nov 08/02 Trasheteria, Peterborough w/Washboard Hank, Malcontents
Nov 09/02 Scherzo’s Pub
Nov 16/02 Dominion Tavern w/Big Jeezus Truck
Dec 13/02 Black Sheep Inn w/Brothers Cosmoline, Nathan
Dec 15/02 Trasheteria, Peterborough w/Fred Eaglesmith, Serena Ryder

2001

Jan 16/01 Dominion Tavern, Ottawa - BARRYMORE'S XMAS PARTY
Jan 24/01 Bytown Tavern, Ottawa
Mar 23/01 Jailhouse Rocks, Mtl. w/Grand Total/Half Baked/Green Monsters
Mar 25/01 Manx Pub, Ottawa
April 9/01 Dominion Tavern, Ottawa w/Tav Falco
April 20/01 Gordon Best Theatre, Peterborough w/Hot Piss
April 21/01 Mexi's - BOOZE SHOWER w/the Recoilers/Andrew Vincent/ Greenfield Main/Werbo/
Glen Nevous/Jim Bryson
June 6/01 Babylon, Ottawa w/Hot Piss/the Heelwalkers
June 22/01 Dominion Tavern, Ottawa w/Cowslingers/Disgraceland
June 29/01 Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield w/the Silver Hearts
July 6/01 Ted's Wrecking Yard, TO w/Greenfield Main/Chad Ross
July 7/01 The Raven, Hamilton w/Greenfield Main/Fischer Fidelity Standard
July 13/01 Barrymore's, Ottawa w/Tav Falco
July 28/01 SHED SESSIONS, Wakefield w/theRecoilers/ the Glads/ Burning Lodge/ Janice Hall/ Greenfield Main/ Chino/ Wayne Omaha
July 29/01 Domininon - jli&jjh reception with Crash 13/Black Boot Trio/ Werbo
Aug 18/01 FRED EAGLESMITH PICNIC @ the Catfish Creek Conservation Area w/Fred Eaglesmith/ IanTamblyn/Alan Puggins/Willie P. Bennet etc.
Sept 2/01 MABERLY MELTDOWN w/The Sadies/Jim Bryson
Nov 1/01 Aloha Room, Ottawa
Nov 3/01 Rivoli, Toronto w/Jim Bryson
Dec 1/01 Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield w/Black Boot Trio
Dec 16/01 Manx Pub, Ottawa
Dec 31/01 Babylon, Ottawa w/Luther Wright & the Wrongs

2000

Jan 7/00 HiFi, Ottawa w/the Saw Dogs
Mar 22/00 Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa w/the Saw Dogs
Dominion Tavern, Ottawa w/the Cowslingers/the Phantom Shifters
April 8/00 Molly McGuire's, Ottawa w/Slo' Tom/the Saw Dogs
April 9/00 HiFi - CLOSING CEREMONIES (10 other bands)
May 12/00 Gordon Best Theatre, Peterborough w/Hot Piss
May 19/00 Zaphod Beeblebrox 2, Ottawa w/Hot Piss
June 2/00 Barrymore's, Ottawa w/Jimmy George
June 17/00 Manx Pub, Ottawa w/Warren St. Marie
July 12/00 Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa w/Laguna
July 14/00 Bumpers w/the Buttless Chaps/Rhume
July SHED SESSIONS, Wakefield with VEO/Weights&Measures/ Chino/Werbo/Jim Bryson/the Stand GT/the Golden Helmets
Aug 4/00 Rancho Relaxo, TO w/Big Jeezus Truck/the Blue Devils
Sept 3/00 Manx Pub, Ottawa
Sept 14/00 Zaphod Beeblebrox 2, Ottawa w/Carolyn Mark/Janice Hall
Sept 16/00 MABERLY MELTDOWN w/the Sadies/the Saw Dogs
Sept 25/00 Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa w/the Sadies
Oct 6/00 Bumpers, Ottawa - NEVER MIND THE HARVEST BENEFIT
Oct 17/00 CKCU LIVE BROADCAST
Oct 29/00 Black Sheep Inn, Ottawa w/Mumbleweed
Nov 4/00 Bohemian Penguin, Belleville w/the Phantom Shifters
Nov 17/00 Bumpers, Ottawa w/Greenfield Main
Dec 2/00 Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield w/Jim Bryson
Dec 22/00 Jailhouse Rocks, Mtl. - DANS LA RUE BENEFIT

1999

Sept 9/99 HiFi, Ottawa w/Black Boot Trio
Sept 30/99 HiFi, Ottawa w/Glen Nevous
Oct 2/99 HiFi, Ottawa w/the Sadies/the Desecrators/Merle Knurling
Oct 21/99 HiFi - "Emergence" - Private Party
Dec 22/99 Rideau Curling Club, Ottawa w/Polaris/the Phantom Shifters