DON'T PANIC (42)

DON'T PANIC! is Jennifer Ives (Jives) and Bob Ardern (Homeless Bob). Bob and Jennifer met at the centre of the Simcoe County musical universe - Don's Coffeehouse - in April 2001. From the start, Jives and Bob realized they were musically attuned (so to speak). They share a love and respect for all things folkie. They knew they were going to be good friends when Jennifer quoted a line from a Cheryl Wheeler song and Bob sang the next line without missing a beat. They are both incorrigible grammar fanatics and neither of them would dangle a participle on a bet! Add to that a love for Douglas Adams's "The Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy" and the collaboration was inevitable.

The first time Don't (Bob) and Panic (Jennifer) played together was on the Open Stage at Don's Coffee House and from that beginning, they have honed their craft for a couple of years. They have played opening sets for Juno Award Winners David Francey and Lynn Miles and for popular Canadian performer James Keelaghan. As well, they have played numerous sets around Central Ontario, including Newmarket's Corner Coffee House, Uxbridge's Beanz Coffee House, Gabriel's Oasis in Toronto, Sentimental Journey in Baldwin and the ubiquitous MANY MORE. In 2003, DON'T PANIC! ventured out into the Folk Festival circuit. Their first festival date for this year was the Newmarket Main Street Folk and Blues Festival in early March. They followed up with a set at the Brampton Folk Festival on June 14, 2003 and helped launch the inaugural Live From The Rock in Red Rock Ontario in August.

Yes! Anywhere! Definitely! Every one!

Bob Ardern's first guitar was a Christmas gift in 1969. Inspired by sounds of the English folk scene of that era, he learned to play fingerstyle - first on a 6-string then on a 12-string. Jives loved everything from the Vienna Boys' Choir to the Who with special emphasis on the great roots/folk/blues women of the last four decades.