It is nearly 12 months since the last SFG concert at Britannia Shipyard. Like most of us, we thought the situation would be somewhat normal by last Fall. Sadly that has not happened, and Britannia reports that no news regarding our resuming of the monthly concerts is on the horizon for at least Spring/Summer. Hopefully we can resume concerts over the summer months if the Covid-19 situation allows.

In the meantime I will try to keep things alive by showcasing some of our regular performers from over the years which hopefully will keep our music community in the loop.

On another note, I am sorry to report that my buddy and long time supporter Uncle Bob Stradling passed away January 31st after a long illness. People will remember Bob from years of selling door tickets and sometimes filling in as MC. He will be sorely missed for his great smile and sense of humor. Goodbye Bob from SFG.

Chinese Bunkhouse at Britannia Shipyard

"Ranj Singh"

Over one year ago, Ranj lost his older brother and wanted to write a song that would capture his grief. I am sharing Restless Nights in the hope that it may bring comfort and closure for those of us who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one, without getting to say goodbye. I want to reach out, especially during these COVID-19 days, and let you know that you are not alone.

Ranj makes music with a distinct Indian-Western flair that draws on the singer-songwriter and self-taught guitarist’s love for rock music and heartfelt lyrics. He refers to his unique blend of music as “Indo-Canadian Folk”.

In 2008 Ranj recorded a solo album titled Simple Man. He later brought together a group of talented musicians to form his next band, The Discriminators, with whom he recorded and released 2011’s Found a Way Home. The album delivered thoughtful lyrics and music that were inspired by Ranj's life and his legendary mentors, Neil Young and the late Indian ghazal singer Jagjit Singh.

In recent years, Ranj has returned to music as a solo artist. He’s stronger than ever and happy to be pursuing his passion for music again, often collaborating with former band members and other talented musicians to meet the needs of a given venue, event, or project. In 2015 Ranj released his third album, the acoustic The Man Cold featuring his signature melodies and distinctive up-stroke riffs from his 12-string guitar.