TANGLEFOOT is a band whose members proudly wear their Canadian hearts on their sleeves. Al Parrish, Sandra Swannell, Terry Young, Steve Ritchie and Rob Ritchie demonstrate exquisite vocal polish and relentless energy, and cap that off with substantial instrumental agility and impressive song writing chops. Their monumental a capella song “Vimy” (The Music in the Wood, 1996) led to their taking part in the dedication of the restored memorial at Vimy, France on April 9, 2007. Today, their label-defying sound and vigorous approach are the result of five distinctly talented individuals working as a true collective, and both the sound and the vision have endured several changes in personnel since the first collaboration in 1988. Tanglefoot enjoys the unusual claim-to-fame of having had one of their eight CDs fly aboard the space shuttle. The Music In The Wood accompanied Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor in April of 2001. www.tanglefootmusic.com
Lineup
Tanglefoot
Gordie Tentrees
GORDIE TENTREES is definitely a hot talent from a cold climate. Hailing from the Yukon, he and bandmates Ken Hermanson and Matt King, recently released their third album, Mercy or Sin. This album captures the band’s dynamic live show and growth of songwriter Gordie Tentrees. He has toured relentlessly in North America, Europe and the UK building an international buzz in the roots music scene. He has opened for Fred Eaglesmith, Kelly Joe Phelps, shared the stage with the D-Rangers, Rick Fines, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, performed live on CBC Saturday Night Blues, and showcased at North American Folk Alliance, WCMA’s, and SXSW. As Bill Hurley from American Media Guide wrote, “If there is justice in this business, years from now we may be looking back and talking about the recording that brought this Canadian singer songwriter to the forefront of his genre. The songs are dark, the melodies haunting,the voice brooding all meshed together with sophisticated instrumentation that marries acoustic guitar,harmonica, cello, steel guitar and an angelic, harmonic chorus.” www.tentrees.ca
Jill Jambor
Newcomer singer/songwriter Jill Jambor is just launching her career—she recently completed her debut album, “to give you an idea”, and is quickly gaining a following in the musical communities of Southern Ontario. With her characteristic voice and inquisitive song writing, she both touches and intrigues audiences. An English major at York University, Jill embraces and exercises word craft. Avoiding conventional platitudes, she provokes sensibility through words in a sophisticated and innovative way. Jill’s 2009 album, to give you an idea, reflects some elements of traditional folk music, but it also draws upon the discoveries of contemporary artists. The track, “Mood for Love,” is a painful testimony to refusing love, the anti love song. Others, like “Getting in My Head,” are also beautifully dramatic (accompanied by the entrancing sounds of James McKie on fiddle), but still catchy enough to get in your head and stay there. www.jilljambor.com
Dave Winfield
David Winfield is finishing grade twelve at Barrie North Collegiate. He began songwriting in grade eight. David studies guitar from Joe Huron and has taken piano lessons in the past. Last year David placed second in the Barrie Folk Society’s Youth Songwriting Competition. David has recorded one of his songs at Sunflower Studios in Brentwood and works at his songwriting and recording with a home digital recorder. Artists that continue to influence David include: Iron and Wine, Dallas Green, Mike Kinsella, Ben Gibbard, and Shad. David would like to pursue a career in music after high school. www.myspace.com/davewinfieldmusic
tethera
Shepherds in Lincolnshire, England, until very recent times, used ancient Celtic numerals for counting their sheep. Yan is one, tan is two and tethera is three. Tethera is also the collective name for three Cambridge, Ontario musicians: Paul Morris (mandolin, vocals, concertina and melodeon), Brad McEwen (citterns and vocals) and Brian Sinclair (mandocello and various other unique stringed instruments). They have released one album as a group, called Tethera UnTethered. Paul is one half of the English music hall duo County Vaudeville, and Brad and Brian have been in Nonesuch for years. Brad is also the founder and artistic director of the Mill Race Folk Society. They have been playing together in pub sessions for many years and bring the relaxed style of the informal session to the festival stage. Just close your eyes and imagine the ancient timbers of an old pub and a pint of English ale in front of you! www.tethera.three@yahoo.ca
The Brights
THE BRIGHTS is an exciting new duo formed by two established singer-songwriters and well-respected instrumentalists, Don Bray and Alyssa Wright. Roots music, tinged with gospel, country and blues is accompanied by guitar, cello, Hawaiian king, accordion, mandolin, cajon, and whatever new sounds have recently tickled their fancy. With soulful harmonies and sensitive arrangements, The Brights present original songs and old classics in an easy-going, timeless style, equally at home in kitchen party or concert hall. Don Bray has impressed audiences from Toronto’s Hugh’s Room to the Tuscon Folk Festival with his finely-crafted songs and high-spirited performances. Alyssa Wright’s vast musical knowledge and experience, trademark tone and innate musicality have made her one of Ontario’s most popular session and studio cellists, performing at such venues as Massey Hall, the Banff Centre for the Arts, and Harbourfront Centre. In 2007, after several years of performing and recording on each other’s solo endeavours, their peers and audiences convinced them to make theirs a more lasting collaboration. The Brights have recently finished their debut CD, Live Love Dream, released on May 3 at Hugh’s Room in Toronto.
Soul Surfers
Douglas John Cameron, Adam Crossley and Daniel Roth are the triple threat talents behind SOUL SURFERS. Midland native, Toronto-based Douglas Cameron began writing songs at nine years of age. In 1985, he garnered a Juno nomination for “Mona With the Children” and, during the 90s, recorded three albums for children and over 30 songs for “Ants In Your Pants” (Treehouse TV). The album featuring songs from the TV show was nominated for a Juno in 2000. Adam Crossley is an acclaimed singer, songwriter and producer, and inspires comparisons to Coldplay, Sting and Ryan Adams with his melodic voice and thoughtful lyrics. Another prodigy, Adam began playing piano and writing songs when he was seven. Daniel Roth, also an accomplished musician from a young age is known for the lush tones and driving melodies which were at the heart of his first band – Harpoon Dodger’s – first release in 2005. Dan wrote and recorded with Dala on “Who Do You Thing You Are.” He released his first independent record as a singer/songwriter in the winter of 2008, and his second album earlier this year. Dan Roth has energy to burn and music has become his fire.
Dave Thomson
Dave Thomson will captivate you and make you realize how powerful a man and his guitar can be. Dave has always been influenced and inspired by the creative thought process, and finds himself drawn towards singer/songwriters like Neil Young, John Lennon, Thom Yorke, and Frank Black. Through his first three bands, ‘Worm,’ ‘Mute,’ and ‘Sarcoma,’ he became more and more proficient at creating his own unique style of song. While attending the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College in London, Dave met Eric Vani (aka Rise Ashen) who took Thomson under his wing and helped him to create his first solo project ‘Moths’ in 1999. In 2004, ‘Veins,’ a 17-track collage of five years, was released to rave reviews. Currently performing throughout Ontario, Quebec, and the US, Dave Thomson is someone you should see live as soon as you can. There are few artists that can honestly outperform their recorded work; Thomson is one of them.
Tina Wallace
Tina Wallace… It all started with a bored 13-year-old who picked up a guitar instead of a remote. Tina Wallace has been playing the guitar for over four years and singing since before she can remember. She currently is attending Twin Lakes Secondary in Orillia and performs at any venue she can get her hands on. She loves to sing, write, draw, and attempts anything that is classified under the ‘artsy fartsy’ category. She also enjoys eating cheese. Tina was the winner of the second annual Barrie Folk Society Youth Song Competition and played the BarrieFolk main stage last year. She also had the opportunity to open for Valdy this past April.
The Good Lovelies
THE GOOD LOVELIES are not your run-of-the-mill “all girl” band. Armed with a pile of instruments, a repertoire of sassy and sophisticated songs and an effervescent sense of humour they never fail to charm even the toughest audiences. Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Sue Passmore, are best friends and refugees from solo careers. Their style has been described as “flirty-bluegrass,” relying on unerring three-part vocal harmonies. The trio started as a group only three years ago. Since then, they have played countless clubs and coffee houses and half a dozen folk festivals, completed a 40-date tour from Montreal to Vancouver Island and released a five-track EP with the playful single, and CBC Radio favourite Taboo. The Good Lovelies’ first full-length self-titled CD was released in January.
Jory Nash
JORY NASH, a Toronto-based, independent singer-songwriter, plays the acoustic guitar, piano and banjo. His music blends elements of folk, jazz, pop, country, soul and blues. Along the way he picked up a Bachelor of Science in biogeography at the University of Toronto. Overlaid with his deceptively soft yet resonant voice, his melodies hit home with his audience. Jory has traveled extensively throughout much of North America playing house concerts, club gigs, folk festivals and radio shows resulting in the creation of large, fiercely dedicated grassroots following. His five CDs have sold over 10,000 copies, all independently. Jory Nash is a past recipient of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals’ Songs From The Heart songwriting award. Jory produces “The Way We Feel,” an annual tribute concert to Canada’s legendary songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, with co-founder songwriter Aengus Finnan. Jory also helps run an overnight children’s summer camp in the central Ontario woods. Jory’s newest CD is Folk Jazz Blues & Soul. http://www.jorynash.com
Dentdelion
Folk-trad “family band” DENTDELION is solidly rooted in Québec tradition, yet remains open to new ideas that keep this vibrant lineage alive and kicking. Dentdelion borrows its name from the plant – dandelion, or “pissenlit” in Québec French (a reference to its diuretic medicinal qualities). From its beginnings in 1994, Dentdelion has been an amalgam of personal cultures: those of Claude Méthé (Québec) and Dana Whittle (New England). They’ve since been joined by Denise Levac, veteran trad flutist from Québec’s musically rich Lanaudière region. On occasion this trio features a new generation comprised Colin Savoie-Levac (son of Denise) and Béatrix Méthé (daughter of Claude and Dana). Dentdelion’s emphasis is on original music that is heavily inspired by tradition. Picking up the tradition where it left off, Dentdelion heads into what is perhaps best described as “folk-trad” territory yet they never stray far from the essential Québec sound with its omni-present fiddle, tapping feet and unique swing. Guitar accompaniment, flute, vocal harmonies, a capella arrangements, the raw and the refined come together to create a rich sound that is both intimate and energized and definitively, unescapably Québécois!
hawp
HAWP is a group that combines the planning and design of a theatre show with the easy-going and genuine nature of any good Celtic band. Andy Webster and his wife, Niamh, formed the group by combining two strengths – music and dance. Currently, in Scotland the Celtic music scene is amazingly vibrant, producing music that is innovative, daring, energetic and full of soul. The group wants to produce something of that vibe here in Canada. Andy, with newcomer Anne Lederman, provide solid vocals, innovative guitar and bouzouki parts; beautifully played piano and driving bodhrans; while Ciaran Myers and Niamh demonstrate good solid Irish dancing with some swing and ballet thrown in. Guest player at the moment is Jason Pheiffer, a master of flute and whistles and a writer some mighty tunes. All this, plus lots of vocals; good banter; and above all, inspiration, is what makes HAWP what it is. Spectacular.
DALA
DALA is the collaborative duo of Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther. They met and became friends while playing the trumpet (Sheila) and the bass clarinet (Amanda) in grade 11 music class in Toronto. They began writing music together during the summer of 2002, making use of their talents on guitar and piano. Together, they plumb the darkest and lightest ranges of musical creation, both in lyrics and vocal gymnastics. From their high school music class all the way to Massey Hall, Amanda and Sheila have come a long way in a short time. They have toured constantly over the past three years, opening for the likes of Tom Cochrane, Matthew Good, Jann Arden and most recently, Stuart McLean of the CBC’s Vinyl Cafe. Dala’s abums “Angels and Thieves” and “Who Do You Think You Are” earned them four Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. They are currently working on their fourth album, due for release in 2009.
Sheesham and Lotus
Sheesham Crowe and Lotus Wight (in real-life Sam Allison and Teilhard Frost) met in Alabama, settled in Canada as musicians playing for old-time dances and gatherings. They kept running in to each other at almost every concert venue in North America, so they decided to combine forces and spread the joy of old-time rag-time, high steppin’ mountain music. They even give workshops in all instruments they play, plus hand pat percussion and “flat foot clogging”. They play their high energy music on almost anything you can blow, strum or tap. Sheesham let’s ‘er rip with fiddle, bones, harmonica, footstepping, vocals, gourd banjo and jaw-harp hambone. Lotus is brilliant on banjo, bass harmonica, jaw harp, vocals, ukelele, gourd banjo, guitar, hambone. We’ll bet once they start playing – you won’t be able to stay in your seats!
