After a successful fall tour through the Maritimes, Toronto native Jessica Stuart adds a few more miles to her Canadian concert tour by announcing performances in B.C.

Stuart was recently awarded a Composition Grant by the Toronto Arts Council, and as a result, her much-anticipated B.C. tour will include new, never-before-performed material, set for release in 2011.

Fresh off performances across the East Coast featuring their debut CD Kid Dream, the Jessica Stuart Few will be taking off on Feb. 16 from Toronto to B.C. She performs Feb. 23 in Courtenay.

The group is also currently recording their second full-length album, Two Sides to Every Story, set for release in early 2012.

Additionally, industry critics are taking note of the band鈥檚 newly released 2011 title-track music video for Kid Dream, a culmination of the band鈥檚 creative spirit, carefree expressive appeal and dedication to their craft.

This whimsical and engaging video is based on a highly collaborative technique called Lunamation, which is a form of 鈥渞otoscope animation鈥� using individual carbon tracings of video stills.

Under the guidance of Stuart and accomplished animator/director Evan deRushie, more than 100 animators participated in a number of 鈥渁nimation parties鈥� at which most of the more than 2,700 individual drawings used in the video were created.

Stuart is 鈥渁 brand new voice on the (Toronto) music scene鈥� (Garvia Bailey, CBC Radio 1).

While the surging rhythms are clearly rooted in the improvisational give-and-take of modern jazz and progressive folk, Stuart seamlessly 鈥渕elds the best of both., packing the songs full of musical ideas that veer in unexpected directions鈥� (Tabassum Siddiqui, Spinner Canada).

A uniquely gifted singer, songwriter and guitarist, Stuart cites as influences Stereolab, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, and Joni Mitchell.

That pretty much covers the entire spectrum of music genres.

The inspiration for the acclaimed album Kid Dream is in part a result of the cultural influences from Stuart鈥檚 international travel time spent in Japan, Israel and Australia.

For more information on the Jessica Stuart Few, go to www.jessicastuartmusic.com.

She performs Feb. 23 at Joe鈥檚 Garage.

鈥� The Mint Agency