Purple haze

Madison Violet are a couple of lively gals who both grew up in small-town Canada with huge families - Brenley MacEachern in Kincardine, Ont., and Lisa MacIsaac in Cape Breton. The duo sports some pretty sharp harmonies. Unfortunately, there was a lot of noise from off-stage - both from the rockers upstairs at Cafe DeKcuf and a couple of audience chatterboxes, who the ladies wasted no time in upbraiding.

Here's the appropriately lit Brenley and standup bassist Adrian Lawryshyn.



Lisa is the multi-instrumentalist of the band, also throwing down on mandolin and fiddle as required - and yes, she is sister to the famous Ashley.



Singalong action!



Brenley works the harmonica.



It was hard to get a good shot of Lis, she moves around a fair bit.



Adrian at rest.



Lisa fiddles about.



Guitar action!



More Lisa!



And with extra violin.



Final faceoff action!



They're still on the road with the John Henrys (they wrap things up May 15 in Vancouver), but will be back in town for Westfest June 11.

• Show reminder: Lullabye Arkestra, Klovenhoofs and Doll rock Cafe Dekcuf; Standard Issue wants your money ... Steve Adamyk Band, Big Dick and Pregnancy Scares will make you give it to them with the power of rock (at Babylon, that is)! Dead and Divine, The Bled, Blind Witness and LetLive play an early show at Mavericks; Dry River Caravan and These Machines are at Irene's Pub; Mean Dog Howl (the band formerly known as The Coggs, that is) and St. Joe's Mission perform at The Rainbow; The Balconies return to Ottawa, accompanied by Sandman Viper Command and The Belle Game. The Elmdale House Tavern hosts Rudeboy and 40 Watt Monkey. Charlotte Cornfield and Purple perform at Raw Sugar.