"Craig Cardiff is a rare talent. You're never quite sure what you're going to get - spoken word, songs that break your heart, stories that put them back together again. There's usually either a fist fight or a wedding after a show, sometimes both."

Craig Cardiff's voice has been described as "warm, scratched, sad and sleepy." He builds landscapes of sound using live digital loops and brings the room to a hush.

The prolific songwriter from Ontario released his latest album, Floods and Fires, in November. The album is being hailed as Cardiff's most ambitious in scope, both musically and lyrically, and it was nominated for a Juno Award as Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo.

Cardiff is known not only for his musical style, but also for the close relationship he has with his fans, who helped him complete Floods and Fires by buying copies in advance - making the album the only crowd-funded album nominated for a Juno this year.

Cardiff will be performing songs from Floods and Fires and many of his previous releases Fri., June 1 at The Top Knight. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $20 in advance at www.craigcardiff.com.