One Degree Artists

Great Lake Swimmers

2008-06-23T15:27:00Z

Biography

Tony Dekker, the singer/songwriter behind the musical project Great Lake Swimmers, released his third full-length album Ongiara in Canada in March 2007. Like the first two critically acclaimed albums (Great Lake Swimmers in 2003, and Bodies and Minds in 2005), Ongiara continues to explore the worlds of indie folk, roots music and alt-country pop, with a focus on lyrics and the craft of songwriting. The new record is permeated with a rich natural reverb, courtesy of London, Ontario's Aeolian Hall, which creates the magical background on which the songs are painted.

In addition to the core band of Tony Dekker (voice, guitar), Erik Arnesen (banjo, electric guitar) and Colin Huebert (drums, percussion, glockenspiel, timpani), the new album features special guest appearances by singer-songwriter Serena Ryder (backing vocals, autoharp), Bob Egan (pedal steel and dobro), Sarah Harmer (backing vocals) and Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy and Arcade Fire (string arrangements). Mike Overton (upright bass), Darcy Yates (electric bass), Mike Olsen (cello), and Mike Bonnell (organ) also contributed their talents to this recording.

The title of the album was taken from the Toronto Harbour boat that carried the band to their initial recording sessions on Toronto Island with Dale Morningstar. However, Ongiara was mainly recorded in the Aeolian Hall, the centuries-old acoustic jewel in the heart of London, ON. It was engineered by Andy Magoffin, and mixed at the renowned House of Miracles. Renowned artist and Juno nominee James Mejia (HolyFuck, Wintersleep) created the artwork for both releases.

Great Lake Swimmers have toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia since 2004, and have shared the stage with musical acts as diverse as Feist, Andrew Bird, Vashti Bunyan, Final Fantasy, Akron/Family, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Album Leaf, Crooked Fingers, Jason Collett, Amy Millan, and Joel Plaskett Emergency. The songs of Great Lake Swimmers have appeared on numerous compilations alongside such artists as Sufjan Stevens, Hot Chip, Broken Social Scene, Junior Boys, Mark Kozelek, Hayden, Beulah, Joss Stone, Hawksley Workman, Montag, Rheostatics, Tobin Sprout, Richard Buckner, and The Shins.

Great Lake Swimmers have been compared to Nick Drake, Iron and Wine, Red House Painters, and After the Gold Rush-era Neil Young. They were awarded the CBC's Galaxie Rising Star Award in March 2005 and were voted Favourite Folk/Roots Artist at the 2004 Canadian Independent Music Awards.

Get Great Lake Swimmers’ Music

Ongiara

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Bob Egan plays pedal steel and dobro on Ongiara.

Related Web Links

The Official Great Lake Swimmers Website

Last Updated

June 2008

Cuff The Duke

2008-06-23T15:17:00Z

Biography

Cuff the Duke's debut Life Stories for Minimum Wage was released on Toronto-indie Three Gut Records in October 2002 to rave reviews. Critics heralded their efforts as "intense" and "timeless." Emphasis was placed on the mature aspect of the album...a surprise considering the members (all originally from Oshawa) were only 21.

July 2005 saw the sophomore release of the self-titled Cuff the Duke on Hayden's Hardwood imprint (a first besides Hayden himself), distributed by Universal Music Canada. A favourite of the fans, college radio and critics alike, they wowed audiences with their live show wherever they played.

Early in 2006, Halifax's Dale Murray joined Cuff the Duke to play electric and steel guitar, followed shortly thereafter by then Montreal-based drummer Corey Wood. With founding members Wayne Petti and Paul Lowman, the band embarked on additional extensive North American touring. Somewhere amidst all of that and several van breakdowns, Cuff the Duke managed to be part of an exciting, primarily instrumental band called The Hylozoists, led by producer/musician Paul Aucoin, who's La Fin Du Monde came out spring 2006 on Boompa/EMI.

2007 saw the re-release of Cuff the Duke's 2002 debut Life Stories for Minimum Wage, Wayne Petti's solo debut City Lights Align, and the band entered the studio to begin recording their new album for Hardwood at the end of February. Full of gritty alt-country, Sidelines of the City is their finest, most confident effort to date.

In April 2008, Cuff the Duke appeared alongside Greg Keelor on the CBC Radio show Fuse. In the fall of 2008, Cuff the Duke will be on tour with Hayden performing as his backing band.

Quotes

"Saturday - and all of the Hillside Festival, for my money, was stolen by Cuff the Duke" - Ben Rayner, Toronto Star

Relationship to Blue Rodeo:

Opened for Blue Rodeo on their 2008 Small Miracles tour.
Cuff the Duke and Greg Keelor performed together on an episode of CBC’s "Fuse".

Related Web Links

The Official Cuff The Duke Website

Last Updated

June 2008

Melissa McClelland

2008-06-23T15:08:00Z

Biography

Melissa McClelland is a Canadian singer-songwriter who lived in Burlington, ON, in her youth and now bases her career from Toronto.

McClelland engaged the talents of a young upstart named Ryan Corrigan (now Hawksley Workman), to produce her demo. But it would be prolific singer-songwriter and talented producer Rob Lamothe who recorded McClelland’s sparse, yet beautiful debut full-length album (2001). This self-titled release coincided with Melissa’s first major North American tour, which took her to California and throughout western Canada.

She unwittingly found herself with a seemingly endless list of topics for her second album, Stranded in Suburbia (2004). Not cognizant of the album’s theme during the creative process, it would reveal itself to her upon reflection.

"When I'm writing, it's not a conscious process. I didn't write this album with a suburban theme in mind; it just came out that way. It wasn't until I had the whole album together that I thought, 'Wow, it is a story.' And it's the story of my life, really.”

Her song "Rooftop" was featured on the 2005 soundtrack CD of the television series “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and she also sang the theme song for popular children reality TV show “This Is Daniel Cook”. She has performed as the opening act for Matthew Good's solo acoustic tour and has also gone on tour with guitarist Jesse Cook. She has worked previously with Sarah McLachlan, and was asked to provide backing vocals on McLachlan’s Afterglow tour.

On her newest album, McClelland weaves together stories that have shaped and influenced her life to create her very own fairy tale, but not the kind you tell your children before they go to sleep. Thumbelina's One Night Stand leads you on a dark journey through obsession, desperation, deception and love. McLachlan makes a guest appearance on the song "Go Down Matthew" and "Skyway Bridge" features Greg Keelor. Other guests on the album include producer, guitar extraordinaire and her husband Luke Doucet, Rick May (Ricki Lee Jones, Michael Jackson), Paul Brennan (Elton John, Sarah McLachlan, Veda Hille), and Justin Rutledge.

Quotes

"Opening for Blue Rodeo across Canada has been a dream. The first night, they invited us up on stage for “Lost Together” and Greg threw the third verse my way on a whim. Luckily Luke had the lyrics scrawled across his arm. He held them up in front of me as I sang my grateful heart out." – from Melissa’s MySpace blog

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Has appeared and toured with Blue Rodeo.
Greg Keelor sings backup vocals on “Skyway Bridge”.

Related Web Links

The Official Melissa McClelland Website

Last Updated

June 2008

Justin Rutledge

2008-06-23T14:50:00Z

Biography

Justin Rutledge's debut album, No Never Alone (2005), was released to critical acclaim in the UK and Canada. Tastemakers like the UK's NME called the album "an incredible breakthrough," while on this side of the pond it was garnished with 4-star ratings. Rutledge's sophomore release,The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (2006), was released to equal acclaim, including a Juno nomination, the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Edmonton Folk Festival, and a tip of the hat from Toronto's NOW Magazine, who hailed Rutledge as the best Toronto songwriter of 2006. His critically acclaimed lyrics are sometimes linked by music writers to his time as a university English major; he was editor-in-chief of a University of Toronto literary journal.

The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park was recorded almost entirely "off the floor" in ten snowy days at the Woodshed studios in Toronto. Mixed by Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, New Pornographers), and mastered by Peter Moore (Cowboy Junkies, Lucinda Williams), Rutledge’s second studio effort sees him alongside some of the finest musicians in Toronto, including Bazil Donovan, David Baxter, and Burke Carroll. It also features guest appearances from Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor, Tim Vesely (Rheostatics), Oh Susanna, and Melissa McClelland.

Continuing on his quest to infuse country music with his love for the literary world, Justin Rutledge released his third album, Man Descending in April 2008. It is a collection of songs that focus on the quieter, darker spaces in between our everyday lives.

Inspired by the 1982 book by Guy Vanderhaeghe, Man Descending follows ten characters down certain half-deserted avenues of their lives where they encounter alternate sides of themselves of which they are relatively unfamiliar. As each character re-evaluates their lot in life, the songs tend to function as questions rather than answers. Guest musicians on Man Descending include Jenn Grant, Hawksley Workman, Ron Sexsmith, Catherine McLellan and Jim Bryson.

Rutledge has shared the stage with such acts as Dolly Parton, Martha Wainwright, Patty Griffin, and Blue Rodeo, among others.

Quotes

“We basically wanted to make a standard country record. As a template we had a lot of old traditional arrangements — anything you’d hear on a George Jones record or a Gram Parsons record. That’s the charm with country music — it doesn’t rely upon any gimmick — it’s all about heart. It’s all there in the old arrangements.” – Justin Rutledge on the making of No Never Alone

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Has toured and shared many stages with Blue Rodeo.
Opened for the Jim Cuddy Band on their 2006 tour for the The Light That Guides You Home.
Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor, and Bazil Donovan have appeared on his albums.
Bazil Donovan plays bass and Bob Packwood piano/organ in Justin’s band.

Related Web Links

The Official Justin Rutledge website

Last Updated

June 2008

Cleave Anderson

2008-04-11T16:09:00Z

Biography

As Blue Rodeo's original drummer, Cleave Anderson set the standard early for catchy, hook-laden drum backings etched with the jangle beat that was emerging from Queen St. W. in mid-eighties Toronto. While he stayed only for the first two albums before leaving Blue Rodeo in 1988 to concentrate on raising a family, Cleave's mark will forever shine on the issues Outskirts and Diamond Mine. Cleave honed his chops through the seventies and eighties playing drums in Toronto bands as diverse as The Battered Wives, Gamma Gamma, The Sharks (with Bazil Donovan and David Baxter), David Wilcox and Handsome Ned before meeting up with Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor to become the third founding member of Blue Rodeo in 1984.

Since 1988, Cleave has continued to be involved with a variety of bands and projects including recording Lori Yates album Breaking Point with Bazil Donovan and David Baxter, Dust with Sam Ferrera of Screamin' Sam and has collaborated as the drummer for the alt/twang John Borra Band since its inception in 1997. The John Borra Band has released two albums, Band and One Night at Seven in the Morning to critical acclaim for their whiskey-infused, seventies, Gram Parsons/Bob Dylan stylings that are occasionally reminiscent of early Neil Young releases. Their sound is also referenced by the roots/alt/twang influences that were re-fueled and spark-plugged by Handsome Ned in the 1980's.

In 2004, Cleave and Bob Wiseman re-joined Jim, Greg and Bazil for what was then intended to be the filming of one video to mark Blue Rodeo's upcoming twentieth anniversary in 2005. The initially modest plans for a one song video of these original five members quickly expanded into a full-length DVD called Blue Rodeo In Stereovison which won a Juno for Best Canadian Music DVD at the 2005 Juno Awards and went triple platinum for sales in Canada. A small number of gigs featuring the original five were also held to commemorate the group's twentieth anniversary at Lee's Palace and The Rivoli. Both of these venues were places where Blue Rodeo frequently played in the eighties.

Most recently, Cleave has been active in a punk band side-project of the John Borra Band called The Screwed wherein members of the JBB draw on their credentials as former members of some of Toronto's foremost punk bands (i.e. The Demics, The Viletones, The Battered Wives, Neon Rome) to reprise punk's greatest hits. The Screwed has just released its first CD 1977 to mark 1977, a year of exceptional releases in the punk genre. Cleave has also been active in the effort to archive punk history in Toronto and The Screwed have participated in several commemorative concerts to mark The Last Pogo and its eponymously named documentary video marking the beginning of the end for live punk music in Toronto in the seventies.

This left-handed drummer keeps his finger on the pulse of the Queen St. W. music scene, supporting newer great talents such as Justin Rutledge and he continues to maintain his relationship with his old friends and bandmates in Blue Rodeo. In fact, Greg Keelor has been heard to say with a smile that "Cleave never really left the band". Maybe there's a grain of truth in that... with Cleave - whatever the genre - the beat goes on.

Both the John Borra Band and The Screwed continue to play regular monthly gigs in Toronto currently at Grafitti's in Kensington and The Dakota Tavern.

Sources: the John Borra Band's website and MySpace page, the Screwed's website and MySpace page

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Cleave was Blue Rodeo's first drummer. He rejoined the band for the making of the In Stereovision DVD.
Prior to Blue Rodeo, Cleave played in a band called The Sharks with Bazil.
Cleave has played with a number of other One Degree artists include Lori Yates and Handsome Ned.

Quotes

"Cleave's drumming moves everything forward at all times. Two-and-a-half minutes, and it's clear just how great this band can be." Howard Druckman on the John Borra Band, Umbrella Music, April 3, 2002

"( on The Screwed at the Dakota Tavern)... the playground of Toronto scene veterans who don't want to grow up" Eye Weekly Magazine's Year End Review, December 20, 2007

Related Web Links

The Official The Screwed Website
The Screwed's MySpace Page
The Official John Borra Band Website
The John Borra Band's MySpace Page

Last Updated

March 2008

Special Thanks To

Ann

Lori Yates

2008-04-10T16:00:00Z

Biography

In the early 1980s, Toronto's thriving roots-rock scene included the likes of Blue Rodeo, the Cowboy Junkies, Handsome Ned and local cult heroes Rang Tango, fronted by Lori Yates.

Signed to Sony Nashville as a solo artist, Lori released the country-styled Can’t Stop the Girl in 1989. She toured with the likes of Dwight Yoakum, Steve Earle, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Big Sugar. Her first introduction to Nashville was a 2:00am demo session at legendary Cowboy Jack Clements’ studios. Marty Stuart played mandolin, and Roy Husky Jr. played stand up bass. In 1990 she was nominated for a JUNO award as Best Female Country Vocalist.

Her second album Breaking Point in 1994 (Virgin Music Canada) was a collection of roots, rock and soul. Guest vocalists included Rick Danko (The Band) and Jim Cuddy. She later toured with Blue Rodeo, Jann Arden, Colin James and Faith Hill and in 1996 released her second album for Virgin Music Canada, Untogether. This album was a complete departure from her previous material, and found her collaborating with a trip-hop outfit called the Opium Concepts to produce ethereal soundscapes.

Returning to her roots, Lori formed Hey Stella in 1998 with David Baxter, Michelle Josef and Bazil Donovan. They became Thursday-night regulars at the now defunct Bar Code in Toronto. Although Yates did not start Hey Stella with the intention of getting a record deal, their first eponymously titled CD (Hey Stella) was released in late 2001. "The biggest trip for me is that I've never done the indie thing. I've always been with majors, except for the first record I made, and that never got released."

Yates has a pragmatic vision of independent record sales. "I do glass painting and sell it at craft shows. I realized that I really like the idea of having something to sell, and the person who buys it gives you the money directly. We can put the money back into recording as opposed to have somebody do a job that I can never quite figure out. At least this way if it doesn't happen, we'll know why. It's a matter of being able to control your own destiny."

In September 2007 Lori released her sixth CD, The Book of Minerva. The album is an acoustic collection of her hardcore, old-school country originals. The album features guest appearances by Tom Wilson (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings), Justin Rutledge, Dottie Cormier, and Bazil Donovan. In November of 2007 she won two Hamilton Music Awards, one for Songwriter of the Year and the other for Alternative Country Recording of the Year.

Lori has also contributed to a number of soundtracks including the movie Hanging Garden, and the cult TV series Forever Knight.

Sources: Official Lori Yates website, Wikipedia and MySpace

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Lori Yates is listed in the album credits on several of Blue Rodeo's CDs, including The Days In Between, Lost Together and Casino.
Whenever possible, Bazil joins Lori Yates/Hey Stella on stage.
On Lori Yates' 1997 album Untogether, Bazil plays bass on the song "Free Me".
Bazil, Lori Yates and Michelle Josef are featured on Penny Lang's Somebody Else CD.
Both Lori and Bazil were among several Toronto area musicians who lent a hand to The Leslie Spit Treeo on their 1994/95 CD Hells Kitchen. Joel Anderson (of The Skydiggers and Jim Cuddy Band) was a member of The Leslie Spit Treeo.
On Lori Yates' 1994 release, Breaking Point, Bazil, James Gray and Cleave Anderson (formerly of Blue Rodeo) play on a number of tracks, and Jim Cuddy sings background vocals on "Make A Liar Out Of Me" and "Blue Confession". Other friends of Blue Rodeo on this album include Colin Linden, John Whynot and Anne Bourne.
Both Blue Rodeo and Lori Yates contributed songs to the 1994 Neil Young tribute CD, Borrowed Tunes.
In 1991 and 1994, Colin Linden (who is part of Blue Rodeo's circle of musical friends) produced some tracks for Lori Yates.

Quotes

On Blue Rodeo: "I've known them for years... I've played with Bazil Donovan for about eight years." - Lori Yates

On her band members (including Bazil): "They're great musicians, and it's so comfortable. We don't rehearse! Those years of musical experience are coming in handy." - Lori Yates

Related Web Links

The Official Lori Yates Website

Last Updated

June 2008

Wilco

2008-04-10T15:59:00Z

Biography

Wilco was formed in 1994 by Jeff Tweedy and members of the band Uncle Tupelo. In 1995, Wilco issued their debut album, A.M., a collection of spry country-rock tunes. Wilco's sophomore effort, 1996's two-disc set Being There, marked a radical transformation in the group's sound, venturing into psychedelia, power-pop and soul, complete with orchestral touches and R&B horn flourishes.

Shortly after the release of Being There, Bob Egan joined Wilco. In 1998, Wilco backed singer-songwriter Billy Bragg on Mermaid Avenue, a collection of performances based on unreleased material originally written by Woody Guthrie. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Later that year Bob Egan left the band to be replaced by multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach.

Their stunningly lush third album, Summer Teeth, followed in 1999. In Mermaid Avenue, Volume 2, Wilco built on their work with Billy Bragg. Following this release, long time drummer Ken Coomer decided to amicably leave the band and was replaced by the Chicago-based Glenn Kotche.

The band then focused on recording their fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which ultimately led to the departure of guitarist Jay Bennett, and further tensions with their label. Unwilling to change the album to make it more "commercially viable," Wilco bought the finished studio tapes from Warner/Reprise for a reported $50,000 and left the label altogether.

Leaked tracks from the album surfaced on the internet in late 2001, and the stripped-down line-up of Tweedy, Kotche, Stirratt and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Bach embarked on a small tour to support (or drum up support for) their unreleased album. Nonesuch Records picked up the album and the official release came out in early 2002 to widespread critical acclaim.

Meanwhile, an independent film documenting the drama surrounding the album entitled I Am Trying to Break Your Heart was released in 2002. During some down time after Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was recorded, Tweedy composed and recorded the film score to the Ethan Hawke film Chelsea Walls.

In 2004, Wilco released A Ghost Is Born which was hailed as a "Great American Album." If it can be said to have any unifying theme, it would be the casual descent of beauty into chaos. A number of songs start quietly and end in complete disorder - a form of musical entropy. Such tracks include "Hell Is Chrome", "Handshake Drugs" and "Wishful Thinking"

Kicking Television, a live album recorded at a string of shows in their hometown of Chicago, was released in 2005. According to Metacritic, it was one of the top 25 albums reviewed for 2005.

Wilco’s sixth studio album, Sky Blue Sky was released in May 2007 by Nonesuch Records. The bands’ roster at this point includes Nels Cline on guitar, keyboardist Mike Jorgensen and multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone. Sky Blue Sky was Wilco’s highest ranking debut release on the Billboard 200 at number four. While the album received mostly favourable reviews (although some criticized the “dad-rock” sound) it was their decision to license six songs for commercial use to Volkswagen that created the most criticism from fan and media.

The band has been dubbed “America’s Radiohead” due to their diverse catalogue, and described as “one of America’s most consistently interesting bands” and “America’s foremost rock impressionists”. They have been nominated for four Grammy awards over their career, winning two in 2005 (for A Ghost is Born).

Source: Official Wilco website, Wikipedia, and All Music Guide

Get Wilco's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Bob Egan (lap pedal and steel guitarist for Blue Rodeo) played with Wilco. He can be heard on various tracks, such as "Dreamer in my Dreams", "Far, Far Away", "The Unwelcome Guest", "She Came Along to Me", "One by One" and many others.
Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett of Wilco can be heard on Jim Cuddy's solo effort All in Time on "I'll Make Believe It's You".

Quotes

"Being There was definitely one of the inspirations for this album and Jeff and Jay ending up on the album was just one of those perfect coincidences. Who would have thought that these two guys, tired from a full day of promoting their own album, would allow themselves to get dragged out to a studio to record with a stranger?" - Jim Cuddy

Related Web Links

The Official Wilco Website

Last Updated:

June 2008

Bob Wiseman

2008-04-10T15:59:00Z

Biography

Most Blue Rodeo fans know Bob best as the original keyboard wizard for the band. Bob played on their first four albums, deciding to go solo just before Lost Together was released in 1992.

While Bob had released a few solo CDs while he was with Blue Rodeo, he has become even more prolific since leaving the band. His music is hard to pigeonhole since he has recorded music varying from folk-jazz to avant-garde rock and on to political pop. Bob's talents and range of styles is well appreciated by fans of Blue Rodeo's first four albums. His solos on songs such as "Diamond Mine" have indelibly stamped a benchmark for talents in psychedelia.

This multi-talented singer-songwriter plays numerous instruments including guitar and harmonica although he is principally a piano and accordion player. He has been known to experiment with his keyboards using coins between piano strings, for example, to produce different sounds and expand the minds of his listeners. Also, he has been seen using elbows, beer bottles, teeth and the off-and-on switches to further his cause in that department to great and wildly popular success!

He has co-written, produced and played on records for a wide variety of artists ranging from the Barenaked Ladies to Mendelson Joe, as well as scoring music for many television and film projects. Bob also produced Ron Sexsmith's album Grand Opera Lane. Since 2000, Bob has recorded a number of movies on Super 8 and video and they form the backdrop for his solo shows.

Always up for a challenge, Bob's latest CD, Themes and Variations (2006), is the next chapter in the interesting career of this talented and artistic free-spirit. Although he doesn't care to admit it, Bob has a great recipe for miso soup which can be found on his website.

Source: Bob Wiseman's official website

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Bob was an original member of Blue Rodeo.
Bob met Greg and Jim through his brother, Howard, who was their roommate when they lived in New York.
One of Bob's bands, Binder Specialists, featured Randy Curnew, who now plays drums with the Swallows (Glenn Milchem's band).
He contributed to Pine Ridge: An Open Letter to Allan Rock. On this CD, Greg contributed the song "Pine Ridge" and Jim did the song "Smoking Gun", both performed by Blue Rodeo. This CD was offered as a collective prayer, a message to their Minister of Justice, whom they believed could play an important role in liberating Leonard Peltier, who was unjustly imprisoned for two consecutive life sentences.
He has been a guest performer with Wilco (Bob Egan's former band), and Ron Sexsmith (another One Degree artist).
Both Greg and Bob performed at Boys Do Girls at Hugh's Room in Toronto in January 2002.
He reunited with the original five members of Blue Rodeo for their first DVD, and performed with them at the DVD release party on November 17, 2004 held at Lee's Palace.

Quotes

"That's a Bob Wiseman show. Pure, unadulterated bliss." - Terminal City Magazine, Vancouver

"... a legendary 'difficult artist,' an instinctive genius so broadly talented he could apparently only be acknowledged in alleyway whispers." - Puncture Magazine #32, Portland

"Bobby was the younger brother of a friend of ours and we just ended up jamming with him a few times. His influences were quite different, as he was more into the improve school of music and jazz, and he brought a whole new musical avenue to what we were doing." - Greg Keelor, Blue Rodeo

Related Web Links

The Official Bob Wiseman Website

Last Updated

February 2007

Special Thanks To

Ann

Richard Underhill

2008-04-10T15:58:00Z

Biography

Richard Underhill is a founding member and leader of Toronto's legendary Shuffle Demons – a group most well-known for their independent version of the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. Their version of the song was first used at Maple Leaf Gardens during a Leafs games, and was eventually embraced by the NHL for play on Canadian television.

The Shuffle Demons began their career busking on Toronto street corners, gathering large crowds at various Toronto intersections. After paying their dues on the streets and in small clubs, the Shuffle Demons began to gain more success and were nominated for a JUNO in 1987. From 1986-97, the band performed at jazz and rock festivals from Halifax to Vancouver and from Italy to Estonia. In 2006, the band reformed for their 20th anniversary reunion tour. They have since then continued to tour and have performed in the UK, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Belgium, India and China. The documentary film, Shuffle Demons Maple Rhythm captures their six cities, three week tour throughout China.

In 2002, Richard released his debut instrumental jazz album, Tales from the Blue Lounge, which won the Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year at the 2003 JUNO Awards.

2005 Richard released Moment in Time and picked up a JUNO nomination for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year. It is a complete album, exhibiting all of the intensity, passion and grace of this rich history in the traditions of the true masters. This album is a must have for any serious collector.

Kensington Suite was released in 2007, and once again Richard garnered a JUNO nomination, this time for Instrumental Album of the Year.

Since 1997, Richard has been an in-demand session player and sideman, and has written horn and string arrangements for and performed with Taj Mahal, Hawksley Workman, Wide Mouth Mason, Neil Sedaka, Dr. John, Maria Muldar, Molly Johnson, Amos Garrett, Bob Wiseman, Lorraine Segato, Julius Hemphil, Mike Murley and George Koller to name a few. Richard is also the leader and arranger for Blue Rodeo's Bushwhack Horns.

Source: Richard Underhill website, Shuffle Demons (SD) website, SD Wikipedia, Richard Underhill Wikipedia

Get Richard's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Richard wrote the horn arrangements for Blue Rodeo's Palace of Gold record, and also played the alto and baritone sax.
Richard led the Bushwhack Horns for Blue Rodeo's Greatest Hits and Palace of Gold tour.
Both Richard Underhill and Blue Rodeo were nominated for Juno Awards in 2003; Richard for Contemporary Jazz Album and Blue Rodeo for Single of the Year and Group of the Year.
Richard plays the saxophone on "To Love Somebody" and the reworked version of "After the Rain" on Blue Rodeo's Greatest Hits CD.
Both Colin Cripps (of the Jim Cuddy Band) and Richard Underhill played on Stephen Fearing's That's How I Walk CD.
Richard Underhill, Colin Cripps, Richard Bell (who played on Bob Egan's The Promise), and Sarah Harmer all appear on Colin Linden's Rhythm of Love CD.
Richard wrote the horn arrangements for Blue Rodeo's Palace of Gold record, and also played the alto and baritone sax.

Quotes

"The horns have taken over ... I play half as much. I can just move into my Elvis mode, sit and sing and not worry about playing much guitar - I listen to the band and just float away. I love it." - Greg Keelor in the Daily Press on the Bushwack Horns' contribution to the Palace of Gold tour

Related Links

The Official Richard Underhill Website

Last Updated:

June 2008

The Whitlams

2008-04-10T15:58:00Z

Biography

With poignant melodies and lyrics described as "charming cynicisms", the Whitlams are one of Australia's favourite bands. Over their decade long career, the band has released seven studio albums, toured the globe, won numerous awards, and suffered the loss of two original members.
The 1996 suicide of founding member Stevie Plunder almost spelt the end of a band whose career had barely begun. Tragically, Andy Lewis, another original member, also committed suicide in 1999. Tim Freedman, who spent four years with Stevie and Andy, contemplated continuing with a new name, but decided against it.

For the last six years the line up has gone through only minor changes and currently consists of Tim Freedman (vocals, piano), Jak Housden (guitar), Warwick Hornby (bass, backing vocals), Terepai Richmond (drums), and Mike "Gubby" Gubb (keyboards).

The Whitlams won Group of the Year at the 1998 Australian Record Industry Awards, as well as Best Song and Best Independent Release for their album, Eternal Nightcap (1997). In 2006, they released Little Cloud and launched an Australia-wide tour to promote this new album.

Source: the Whitlams' official website

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

The Whitlams came to Canada and opened for a number of shows in Blue Rodeo's The Days In Between tour in January and February 2000.
Blue Rodeo opened for a number of The Whitlams gigs on their Australian tour in May of 2000.
Blue Rodeo flew back to Australia for the Olympics in September 2000 as part of the Canadian contingent and played a number of shows with The Whitlams again.

Quotes

"We get to the theatre while Blue Rodeo are sound checking. 'They're a country band,' whispers Gubby incredulously. I reassure him: 'They've got country bits Gubby, don't panic.' I've heard a few of the albums and they're more a rock band in the tradition of The Band and The Byrds - with some country bits." - Tim Freedman (the Whitlams tour diary)

"They did real well opening for us, people quite liked them. As a group of musicians they're a pretty tight act, and Tim's a good singer, very catchy tunes and so our audiences were very receptive. He's got a sort of a smart-ass sense of humour and he'd introduce the songs and get a chuckle and gave a context to the song and I think the people appreciated the lyrics." - Greg Keelor, May 16, 2000 - The Drum Media

"The two singers, Jim and Greg, play tag-team like the Whitlams did with Stevie and I the first four years." - Tim Freedman (the Whitlams' tour diary)

"Loved a ripper song of Greg's in the first encore - 'Lost Together' - which kept building longer than I thought it could." - Tim Freedman (the Whitlams' tour diary)

Related Links

The Official Whitlams Website

Last Updated

April 2007

The Tragically Hip

2008-04-10T15:57:00Z

Biography

Whether it's the opening riff of the classic "Blow at High Dough", or Gordon Downie's trademark lyrics and voice, there is no mistaking a Tragically Hip song. From their early beginnings in the 1980s to the present date, the Tragically Hip have gained an allegiance of fans, sold over 10 million records worldwide and have become known for their high energy live shows.

In 1983, this legendary band formed and took its name from a skit by Michael Nesmith of the Monkees. In 1987, they released a self-titled EP and in 1989 came their first full-length release Up To Here. That album contains the now unmistakable classics "Blow at High Dough" and "New Orleans is Sinking". Since then the band have released a total of twelve albums and many other noted classic songs signifying their signature sound such as "Little Bones," "50 Mission Cap", "Wheat Kings", and "Grace, Too" naming just a few.

The band, consisting of Gordon Downie (vocals), Paul Langlios (guitar), Rob Baker (guitar), Gord Sinclair (bass), and Johnny Fay (drums), have received numerous honours over their twenty-plus years in the business. In 1990, they received their first of many Juno awards for most promising group. In 2002, they were inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and in 2005 they became members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Apart from their many musical accomplishments, The Tragically Hip are known for their assistance to many charitable organizations such as The Waterkeeper Alliance, Almost Home, Make Poverty History, The Canadian Red Cross and the David Suzuki Foundation. Gordon has also released two solo albums, Coke Machine Glow and Battle of the Nudes, as well as a book of poetry also called Coke Machine Glow.

The Tragically Hip's most recent release, Hipeponymous, is a box set containing two CDs and two DVDs. The band describes it as a gift to their many fans. It contains 35 Tragically Hip favourites actually chosen by their fans via an online poll.

The band's legacy as one of Canada's premiere rock bands will likely continue to grow with the release of their newest CD, World Container, due out in 2006.

Sources: The Tragically Hip's official website, Wikipedia

Get The Tragically Hip's Music

More albums by The Tragically Hip are available over in the BlueRodeo.com Store.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Gordon and Jim Cuddy both performed on "The Streets Where You Live" (2002), a song in support of the Buried Heart Society.
Jim and Gordon often play hockey together in a league full of notable Canadian musicians including Mike Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies and Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics.
Part of Blue Rodeo's The Days In Between (2000) was recorded at the Tragically Hip's recording studio, The Bathhouse, in Bath, ON.
Bob Egan of Blue Rodeo performed on The Tragically Hip's CD, Phantom Power (1998). He can be heard playing the mandolin, and steel guitar.
Both Bands are on the World Vision 30 Hour Famine CD (1998). The songs include Jim's "Everybody Cries" from his solo CD All In Time and The Tragically Hip's "Emergency", from Day For Night.
Tragically Hip's third album, Roadside Attraction (1997) had ex-Blue Rodeo keyboardist Bob Wiseman joining Wilco for their song "Outtasite (Outta Mind)".
The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo were two of the 17 Canadian artists who contributed to the CD Pine Ridge: An Open Letter To Allan Rock (1996). On this CD, The Tragically Hip contributed their song "Flamenco" from Trouble At The Henhouse. Greg Keelor contributed the song "Pine Ridge" and Jim Cuddy did the song "Smoking Gun", both performed by Blue Rodeo. This CD was offered as a collective prayer, and as a message to the Minister of Justice, whom they believed could play an important role in liberating Leonard Peltier, who was unjustly imprisoned for two consecutive life sentences.
Both Blue Rodeo and The Tragically Hip performed at the Kumbaya Festival at Toronto's Ontario Place (1993). Blue Rodeo played "Hasn't Hit Me Yet," and "Bad Timing." The Hip performed "Hey Maria," "Fully Completely," "Thugs," "100th Meridian," "New Orleans," and "50 Mission Cap."
The Hip had Blue Rodeo as special guests at Old Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, in 1991. The occasion was an open-air benefit concert for Almost Home, a residence for families with sick children in Kingston.
The Tragically Hip and Blue Rodeo were both acts to play at the Canadian Live 8 concert in 2005.

Related Links

The Official Tragically Hip Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Rodney

The Skydiggers

2008-04-09T21:02:00Z

Biography

Beginning as the acoustic duo of Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson in 1988, Skydiggers quickly expanded to include songwriter Peter Cash and drummer Wayne Stokes. Bassist Ron Macey was recruited when responded to an ad that read, "Wanted: lonely guy to meet other lonely guys to share musical experiences." Less than a year after coming together, the band signed a deal with Enigma Records, which released their self-titled debut in 1990.

The follow-up, Restless (1992), earned the boys the 1993 Juno Award for Most Promising Group of the Year. Although the band has released seven albums since, most notably 1997's experimental Desmond's Hip City, Restless is still considered to be Skydiggers' crowning achievement.

Skydiggers' line-up has seen some changes over the years. Peter Cash left the group in the mid-90s to form the Cash Brothers and was replaced by Paul McLeod. The drum stool has been a hard spot for the band to keep filled, with drummers Joel Anderson, Peter von Althen and Gavin Brown all putting in time on the kit since Stokes' departure in 1992.

In 1999 the band released Still Restless - The Lost Tapes, an expanded reissue of their classic Restless. They followed that with There and Back (2000), a live album recorded at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. Six years after their last collection of new material, the band issued Bittersweet Harmony, released in March 2003.

In between records, the members of Skydiggers keep themselves busy with other projects. Andy Maize is a founding member of MapleMusic.com, and an executive at sister-label MapleMusic Recordings. Josh Finlayson co-produced both of Gordon Downie's solo records Coke Machine Glow and Battle of the Nudes. He also plays in Downie's touring band. Ron Macey helped has produced the Celtic rockers The Mahones and also manages the band Sweener. Finally, Paul MacLeod is an acclaimed solo artist in his own right with a pair of albums to his credit that have earned him a following of his own.

In 2006, the band returned with the album Skydiggers/Cash Brothers. An acoustic collection that evolved from a series of collaborative shows put on by the two bands and former band mates. In a nod to their beginnings, Josh and Andy have recently begun an unplugged tour of North America. The band is also planning to begin recording a new album, tentatively titled City of Sirens, sometime in the spring of 2007.

Sources: The Skydiggers' Official Website, the Cash Brothers' official website, Wikipedia, the All Music Guide

Get The Skydigger's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

On March 22, 2007, the Skydiggers performed with Cash Brothers and original Blue Rodeo keyboardist Bob Wiseman, at an NDP charity fundraiser in Toronto.
Josh and Andy shared the stage with Jim and Greg at a Radio Monday showcase on May 14th, 2001. This was the first time that Jim Cuddy played "Bulletproof" to an audience.
Jim and members of the Skydiggers have been known to show up at each other's gigs and share the mic for a couple of songs.
Andy Maize appears on Jim's solo CD All In Time, while Joel Anderson is the drummer in the Jim Cuddy band.
Jim adds piano tracks to Skydiggers' Desmond's Hip City.
At the Skydiggers' Christmas party in December 1999, Jim joined them on stage to sing "Oliver's Army" and "Blew It Again".
Both bands appear on 1994's Borrowed Tunes (a Tribute To Neil Young) and the 1996 release Pine Ridge (songs for Leonard Peltier).
In 1995, Blue Rodeo and Skydiggers sang the Diggers song, "You've Got a Lot of Nerve" at the Kumbaya Festival in Toronto.
In 1993, Andy and Josh were at Greg's farm for the making of the "On The Farm" special.
At the 1992 Juno Awards, Andy Maize, Molly Johnson and Neil Osborne joined Blue Rodeo for a tribute to Ian and Sylvia.

Quotes

"I first saw Jim and Greg play in a band called the Hi-Fi's in 1978 and they used to play at the Cabana Room. That was the first time I was at the Cabana room, was going to see them play. I thought, boy, that's great, I should try this too. It looked like a lot of fun." - Andy Maize, during the taping of On The Farm

"I remember touring with Blue Rodeo in BC in the winter of 1991. One stop, the most memorable for me was Trail BC. The gig that we did with them was in the Kominko gymnasium that held about 1,000 people and it seemed to me that the entire community of Trail was there from five years old to folks of 80 or more. It was a really great experience to be a part of and I always thought it was a great thing that Blue Rodeo always seems to get to these places." - Josh Finlayson

Related Links

The Skydigger's Official Website

Last Updated

April 2007

Sarah Slean

2008-04-09T20:43:00Z

Biography

Sarah Slean was born and raised in Pickering, ON, the youngest of three siblings. Sarah claims her interest in music began even before she was born, as while pregnant with Sarah her mother would often play piano. Apparently this is an effective training technique. Sarah's sound is distinctly original and heartfelt, not to mention completely self-arranged.

A master with the ivories, Sarah started plinking away at the piano at age three and writing her own songs at nine. In 1998, Sarah's debut EP Universe was released on an independent label. On some tracks she starts off with a murmur on the piano only to end up filling the room with a thunderous treasure. Afterwards, you wonder how she concealed the transition.

1999 saw Sarah release a second independent album, Blue Parade. She followed this with Night Bugs in 2002. It won critics' appraisal immediately, and firmly established her as one of Canada's most promising young songstresses. Sarah partnered with another Canadian musician on Night Bugs; it was produced by Hawkesly Workman. Night Bugs earned Sarah a 2005 Juno award nomination for "Best New Artist".

After the success of Night Bugs, Sarah moved herself into a cabin deep in the woods of Ontario where she painted, read, and wrote more music. It is this time alone she credits with her latest album Day One, which was released in September 2004. Day One is a different sound than the previous three albums, more upbeat in tempo and percussion heavy - more of a rock album than the others. The multi-talented Sarah also created the mixed media art which accompanies the album.

Sarah's songs have also appeared on the shows "Party of Five," "Felicity," "Dawson's Creek" & "Murder in Small Town X" (where she actually played a piano-bar performer). She has also seen her music appear on five Women & Songs compilations, on and had a song appear recently in the feature film Joy Ride.

In 2005, Sarah starred in CBC Television's "Black Widow," described as "a playfully macabre homage to film noir cinema of the 1940's." Sarah's performance earned her another honour, Gemini nomination for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program.

At the end of 2005, Sarah performed shows in Toronto and Vancouver that were recorded and in 2006, some of the tracks from those shows ended up on her first live album, Orphan Songs.

Sarah's latest release, 2008's The Baroness, has been released to both commercial and critical success and is being followed up with a cross-Canada tour.

Sources: Sarah's Official website, MapleMusic, BlackWidowFilm.com, littleslean.com

Get Sarah's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Sarah toured extensively with Blue Rodeo on their Palace of Gold tour.
Glenn Milchem has been doing double duty as Sarah's drummer during her sets on the POG tour.
Sarah shared the stage with Blue Rodeo for the 2003 TSO's Sonic Bloom concert. The concert was to help raise money for Toronto's Symphony Orchestra.
Sarah contributed vocals to the charity song "The Streets Where You Live," which features Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy, and numerous other Canadian artists including Gord Downie, Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Harmer and Colin James.
Sarah and the Jim Cuddy Band both performed at the 2002 Family Farm Benefit.
Sarah was among the "friends" to be invited to perform with Blue Rodeo during their 2000 Blue Rodeo and Friends concert.
Sarah played opening sets at Blue Rodeo's Stardust Picnics.

Quotes

"I don't quite know how that happened. I've always liked Blue Rodeo and they've been really supportive of me. They've always given me gigs like the Stardust Picnic Festival so they're good guys and they want to help out other local people." - Sarah on how she started opening for Blue Rodeo

Related Links

The Official Sarah Slean Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Josephine

Ron Sexsmith

2008-04-09T20:22:00Z

Biography

Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith has earned worldwide acclaim, not only from critics and fans, but also from some of music's biggest names. Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and John Hiatt - some of the same artists who initially inspired Ron to become a musician - are just a few of his famous supporters.

Born in 1964 and raised near Niagara Falls, ON, Ron started his first band at the age of 14. Influenced by folk musician Pete Seeger, Ron began making the rounds on the folk music circuit, earning a regular gig at a local club within a few years, and eventually deciding to focus his attention on becoming a songwriter. After moving to the Toronto area, Ron formed the Uncool and began issuing his own material in 1985 with the cassette Out of the Duff, followed a year later by There's a Way.

With the help of former Blue Rodeo member Bob Wiseman, Ron released Grand Opera Lane in 1991. This collection of songs earned Ron a publishing deal, and eventually a record contract, with Interscope Records.

Ron released his self-titled debut in 1995, and followed it with Other Songs (1997), which was awarded the Juno for Best Roots & Traditional Album - Solo the following year. Continuing his rapid pace, 1999 saw Ron release Whereabouts followed by 2001's highly-praised Blue Boy, which featured production work from the Twangtrust (aka Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy).

Ron returned with his sixth full-length release, Cobblestone Runway (2002), a collection bolstered by a duet with Chris Martin of Coldplay. Early editions of the album came packaged with a reissue of the hard-to-find Grand Opera Lane. The following year Ron released Rarities, a compilation of what Ron describes as his "orphaned songs."

In 2004 Ron released Retriever, yet another well-received disc which earned Ron the Songwriter of the Year award at the 2005 Junos. He followed that with a collaboration with Don Kerr, the 2005 release Destination Unknown. 2006's Time Being, reunited Ron with producer Mitchell Froom, who helmed most of Ron's nineties output.

Ron's newest album, Exit Strategy of the Soul, is set for release in July of 2008.

Ron's songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists, from Rod Stewart to Curtis Stigers, from Anne Sophie Van Otter to kd lang. He has also saw collaborated with Glenn Tilbrook and appeared on the Squeeze star's solo outing, The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook.

Over the course of his career, Ron has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the likes of Elvis Costello, The Chieftains, Sarah McLachlan, The Cardigans and Radiohead, to name but a few.

Sources: Ron's official website, All Music Guide, the Juno's official site

Get Ron's Music

Find more of Ron's albums over in the BlueRodeo.com Store.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Ron sang "Bad Timing" with Blue Rodeo on their CMT special, "Blue Rodeo and Friends" in 2002.
Jim Cuddy cites Ron Sexsmith as one of his influences.
Ron opened for Blue Rodeo at several shows on The Days In Between tour in 2000.
Both Jim and Ron performed at the Taste of the Danforth festival in 1999.
NOW Magazine's Best Artists of 1999 list included Blue Rodeo (Best Band), James Gray and Bob Wiseman (Best Keyboard Player), Ron Sexsmith (Best Songwriter) and Jim Cuddy (Best Songwriter, Best Vocalist).
Ron and Jim both appear on 1998's 30 Hour Famine, a benefit compilation CD.
Ron played at the 1998 Stardust Picnic, Blue Rodeo's gift to summer music festivals.
Bob Egan is reported to have 'sat in' with Ron Sexsmith prior to joining Blue Rodeo.
Bob Wiseman produced Ron's 1991 Grand Opera Lane.
Ron appeared on Bob Wiseman's CD Accidentally Acquired Beliefs. Ron sings background vocals on "Love is a Rose".
Both Ron and Blue Rodeo provided "dark, bracing backing" on Neko Case's Furnace Room Lullaby. In fact, the YAHOO! music site describes this CD as including "Neko Case & Her Boyfriends ... Bob Egan and Ron Sexsmith."
Ron is also connected to Blue Rodeo through John Borra. Borra has played and recorded with Ron, and has toured across Canada with Greg Keelor as both the opening act and bass player for Greg's solo band. James Gray has a cameo appearance on John Borra's 1999 CD Band. John Borra currently plays bass with Glenn Milchem's band The Swallows.

Quotes

"Ron is brilliant songwriter. He also gives great advice." - Greg Keelor

"I've known Ron for a very long time. He's fantastic ... so musical, and a talented songwriter." - Jim Cuddy

Related Links

The Official Ron Sexsmith Website

Last Updated

May 2008

The Sadies

2008-04-09T20:07:00Z

Biography

The Toronto-based outfit the Sadies have been heralded one of the most unique groups in Canadian music. Although most commonly defined as "country rockers" the Sadies blur the boundaries between rock, country, surf, alternative, blue grass and psychedelia.

The Sadies have earned a reputation for their captivating live shows and being a hard working band that loves to play anywhere with anyone. They have recorded albums with Neko Case, Andre Williams and Jon Langford. The Sadies have also collaborated with Blue Rodeo, Garth Hudson of The Band, The Good Brothers (Dallas & Travis' father and uncles), Heavy Trash and many more.

Their first album, Precious Moments, was released in 1998. In 2002, The Sadies released the album Stories Often Told that was recorded at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio, and produced by Greg Keelor.

August of 2006 saw the release of the Sadies much heralded In Concert Volume 1. The double disc captures the essence of the Sadies doing what they do best, playing before an audience. It also showcases their collaborative efforts with their friends and notable peers. It has been described as a "star-studded extravaganza" akin to the Band's legendary Last Waltz.

The Sadies are the brothers Good, Dallas and Travis playing guitar, drummer Mike Belitsky and bassist Sean Dean.

Sources: MuchMusic.com, Blood Shot Records, Stylus Magazine, Popmatters.com, Suite 101

Get The Sadies' Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

The Sadies opened up for Blue Rodeo in the Maritimes during their 2000 tour.
The Sadies recorded their 2001 album Tremendous Efforts at Greg's farm in March of 2000. Greg, along with Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan, Bob Egan, James Grey and Glen Milchem all play on the album.
Travis Good plays guitar on "Cinema Song" from Blue Rodeo's The Days in Between.
Greg often performs with the Sadies. He typically sings Elvis' classic, "Wearing that Loved-On Look" which appears on the Tremendous Efforts album or the Bee Gees tune "To Love Somebody" which Blue Rodeo later recorded for their Greatest Hits Volume 1 CD.
The Sadies collaborated with Blue Rodeo's Bob Egan (and many other musicians) on Neko Case's album Furnace Room Lullaby.
The album Stories Often Told was recorded at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio, and was produced by Greg.
Jim and Greg wrote the song "Stories Often Told" on the Sadies 2002 release of the same name. Blue Rodeo fans will be familiar with this song by its original title "Palace of Gold".
During Blue Rodeo's tour in support of the album Are You Ready, the band began performing the Sadies' version of "Palace of Gold" ("Stories Often Told") which can be found on the Live At Stratford 2006 CDs.
At Blue Rodeo's annual summer gig at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre in 2004, Dallas Good joined Blue Rodeo on stage to perform along with Chris Christopherson.
Dallas and Travis appear with Blue Rodeo, singing around the campfire on the Juno winning DVD, Blue Rodeo: In Stereovision.
Dallas and Travis Good formed a group with Greg and Rick White called the Unintended and released a self-titled album in 2004.
The Sadies' double live album In Concert Volume 1 (2006) features performances by Greg and Jim.
Greg has said numerous times in interviews that the Sadies are "the best band in Canada".
The Sadies are co-headlining and backing Greg on this tour in support of his solo album Aphrodite Rose (2006).

Related Links

The Official Sadies Website

Last Updated

November 2006

Special Thanks To

Stratomaster

Jimmy Rankin

2008-04-09T19:22:00Z

Biography

Hailing from Cape Breton, NS, Jimmy Rankin is one of Canada's many talented singer-songwriters. He first became well known as part of the successful recording group, The Rankin Family, in which he was the principle songwriter. Jimmy, with his brother John and three sisters, Cookie, Raylene and Heather recorded a brand of Celtic music that struck a chord with many as they released seven albums, including two greatest hits packages, exceeded sales of two million and embarked on many successful international tours. The band also received many awards recognizing their work including multiple East Coast Music Awards, Junos, SOCAN Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards. In 1999, the band announced that they would cease to record as a group and focus on solo projects. In 2000, a car accident tragically took the life of Jimmy's brother and former band mate, John Rankin.

After this dark time, in 2001, Jimmy returned to the music scene with his first solo release entitled Song Dog. This critically acclaimed album again saw Jimmy collecting numerous awards and nominations including East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), Junos and Canadian Country Music Awards. The album's sound can be described as an upbeat blend of folk-rock and pop similar to the sounds of other Canadian artists such as Blue Rodeo.

Jimmy has gone on to release a follow up solo album titled Handmade in 2003. On this album Jimmy recorded with mostly acoustic instruments resulting in a live feel. Since the release of this album Jimmy has won the ECMA for male artist of the year and roots traditional solo recording artist of the year.

Jimmy continues to perform live and is currently completing a new album, which he describes as a good blend of ballads and upbeat material. Jimmy's new single and video will be available in the fall of 2006 with the full CD to be released in early 2007.

Sources: JimmyRankin.com, Wikipedia, IslandViewCreations.com

Get Jimmy's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Jimmy's sound and song writing skills have been compared to that of Blue Rodeo's.
Greg Keelor provided backup vocals for the single "Follows Her Around" on Jimmy Rankin's Song Dog CD.
Jimmy Rankin and Blue Rodeo have shared the stage in the past including an annual outdoor-concert held in Jimmy Rankin's native Cape Breton in 2004.

Quotes

"A natural reaction listening to Song Dog is waiting for the voices of Heather, Cookie and Raylene to come in. Interestingly that baggage disappears as Jimmy's voice carries his songs, with a feel all his own. The only comparisons that are obvious are with other singer/songwriters, such as perhaps Murray McLauchlan, Chris deBurgh, or Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo." - Warren Footz of SEE Magazine, in his preview of Song Dog

Related Links

The Official Jimmy Rankin Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Rodney

The Pollyannas

2008-04-08T19:46:00Z

Biography

They were known as one of Toronto's best kept secrets. Another secret: one of its members was former Blue Rodeo member James Gray! Martin Menard, Al Beardsell & Julian Brown rounded out the line-up.

The Pollyannas' local success led them to tour Holland, Belgium, and Germany. They also peferformed on the side stage at Blue Rodeo's Stardust picnic and the main stage of Toronto's Taste of Danforth. Following these performances, The Pollyannas contributed to DROG Records' Food Songs compilation CD, and released their own album, Hope To Burn in 1999.

While plans for a second CD were in place, The Pollyannas broke up in 2001.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Former Blue Rodeo member James Gray was a member of The Pollyannas.
James contributed to The Pollyannas first DROG compilation CD on a song called "Burgandy Popsicle".
The Pollyannas participated in Blue Rodeo's Stardust Picnic festival.

Quotes

James saw the Pollyannas play at the Rivoli in 1999 when Mary Harmer was on keyboard. James was impressed with the band's performance that night. "He loved us." - Martin Menard

"Slap Pollyannas' Hope To Burn on between Blue Rodeo's Diamond Mine and The Hip's Up to Here and you've got yourself a super set afternoon." - Howard Druckman, Chart Magazine

Oh Susanna

2008-04-08T19:30:00Z

Biography

Suzie Ungerleider, born in the USA but raised in Vancouver since a young child, has been performing under the name Oh Susanna since 1995. Suzie's style is eclectic and diverse, to say the least. According to her website, her music "evokes stories older than this century, a ghostly remembrance of Civil War days filtered through Hank Williams' screwed up soul and Mick and Keith's electrified junk-induced blues with a hint of Leonard Cohen's fatalism."

The website WesternWheel.com says, "Her songs are inspired by historic events, love won and lost, and her own yearnings and wonderings about life. She sings hard-hitting blues, then switches to gentle, intimate melodies."

Suzie released her debut CD, a seven-song EP titled Oh Susanna in 1997 and that she followed in 1999 with her first full-length album, the critically-acclaimed, Johnstown. Her third release, Sleepy Little Sailor came out in 2001.

Suzie appeared on two CMT TV specials in 2001, including an hour-long concert shot in Calgary. She also appeared on a Christmas apecial where she sang "Once Upon a Midnight Clear" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." In 2002, two of Suzie's songs, "Alabaster" and "Tangled and Wild" were featured in Tully, an award-winning independent film.

In 2003, Suzie released her third full-length album, also titled Oh Susanna. Blue Rodeo's Bazil Donovan played on the record and co-wrote a number of song's including the album's first single "Right By Your Side," which received extensive airplay on CMT.

"Some people like the really dark and moody, heavily blues-influenced wailing on the Johnstown record," says Suzie, "and other people really like the lighter, 'in the sky,' dreamy feeling of Sleepy Little Sailor. This one, I wanted it to be more like a band record. I was tired of being solitary."
Suzie is currently working on her fourth full length album, tentatively titled Looking Glass, which will be released in early 2007.

Sources: Oh Susuanna's official website, MapleMusic.com, WesternWheel.com

Buy Oh Susanna's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Suzie is often accompanied by Bazil Donovan (of Blue Rodeo) and Joel Anderson (of the Jim Cuddy Band) while performing.
Suzie introduced Bob Egan to Blue Rodeo.
Bob Egan played on Johnstown.
Bazil has also collaborated quite extensively with Suzie and has even written a few songs with her.
Colin Cripps (of the Jim Cuddy Band) produced Sleepy Little Sailor.
Suzie has opened up for both Blue Rodeo and the Jim Cuddy Band numerous times.
Suzie contributes guest vocals on The Light that Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy's second solo album.
Both Oh Susanna and Blue Rodeo were featured in BBC Radio 2's "The Maple Music Revolution."
The Jim Cuddy Band and Oh Susuanna were the featured guests on the season premiere of CBC Radio One's "Fuse."

Quotes

"I met Bazil four years ago at the Horseshoe Tavern when I was playing in Toronto for the first time. A friend of mine dragged Bazil out to see me and had probably been talking me up quite a bit because when I met Bazil he looked quite skeptical and sullen - but knowing Bazil maybe he was just being his shy self. But I remember thinking to myself, 'These guys are weird (there were a group of them) and I can never see myself being friends with them.' Anyway I guess Bazil was impressed because he told Jim and Greg about me and suggested that I play at their Stardust Ball in Toronto that summer.

"Meanwhile I had returned to Vancouver to put together my life again because I had taken off three months earlier to see America through the windshield of a '71 Cutlass Supreme with a boy who eventually would drop me off at a bus station in Bristol, Tennessee because of our irreconcilable differences. I have not seen the boy since but I hear he is happily married to a Mormon girl in Utah.

"Anyway, I had heard from my friend who had introduced me to Bazil that Blue Rodeo was considering me for this summer gig. I told my agent Frank about it and one day while he was making a highly unusual trip out of the office in which he literally lived he bumped into Jim at the Granville Island Market. It turns out that the band was mixing their record at Mushroom Studios. 'I hear you want Oh Susanna,' Frank said. 'I'll get her press package to you at the studio tomorrow.'
"So Frank called me up and said, 'Go ride your bike down to the Studio and take these guys your CD and press kit.' So I did. I walked shyly into this small room full of six or sevem men all sitting squished together on some couches eating Indian food - but Bazil, the only one somewhat familiar to me was not there. 'Um, I am Suzie - Oh Susanna - and I am here to drop off this package.'

"'Oh yes,' Jim said graciously, 'come in.' There were so many of them it was hard for me to tell who was in the band and who wasn't but this furry gray-haired mischievous guy said, 'Come here and sit down. Here, you want some Indian food?' And so I squished in beside him and he took my package and started reading it right in front of me and turning to me and just staring impishly into my eyes with our noses practically touching. I blushed and blushed but I just returned his stare with I am sure a very silly smile on my face. And that was my first introduction to Greg.

"And so that summer I came to Toronto to play what was probably my 15 gig in my life on a huge stage at Fort York opening for one of the biggest bands in Canada. I was completely aware at how lucky I was and how surreal the experience was. I kept saying out loud, 'I can't believe I am here.' I was nervous but I had a strange courage that inexperience gives you. And I realized how generous the band was to take this risk in asking a novice to share the stage with them. In fact it was that magical weekend at the Stardust Ball that made me take the plunge and move to Toronto.

"Since then there are more stories of how my life has been intertwined with and influenced by Blue Rodeo - playing and writing songs with Bazil who has been a dear friend and supporter of my music from the first day he heard it, playing some wacky gigs with Greg who decided it would be better if we played as a combo rather than as two separate acts, opening for Jim Cuddy and introducing him to Bob Egan who has now become Blue Rodeo's steel man, meeting Colin Cripps who has just produced my newest recording, meeting Alex de Cartier (at that Stardust Ball) who now works tirelessly with me.

"Blue Rodeo believes in helping people. Meeting them has been instrumental in steering the course of my life in the past four years and I am very grateful for that." - Suzie

Related Web Links

The Official Oh Susanna Website

Last Updated

October 2006

Special Thanks To

Natalie

Matt Mays

2008-04-08T19:16:00Z

Biography

In just a few short years Matt Mays has emerged as one of Canada's most exciting new artists. After a brief stint in the Canadian country-rock band The Guthries, Matt released his first solo album, Matt Mays, in 2002. In 2005, his sophomore release, Matt Mays & El Torpedo, dropped and immediately started receiving stellar reviews from both new and old fans. The single "Cocaine Cowgirl" was Matt's biggest hit to date, ranking as the third most played Canadian song on rock radio, and holding the #10 spot on the BDS year-end rock chart in 2005. The album went on to win 4 ECMA awards in 2006 (Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Rock Recording of the Year and Single of the Year).

In late 2006, Matt and El Torpedo drummer Tim Baker released When the Angels Make Contact, a soundtrack for a film he had written with the same name. The movie stars Sam Roberts and Buck 65, but unfortunately has been shelved indefinitely due to lack of funding. The album did however garner many rave reviews and two JUNO nominations.

In 2007 Matt assembled his band in the south of England to begin recording a new album with producer Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy). Terminal Romance will be released in July 2008.

Sources: Matt's official website, When The Angels Make Contact website, MySpace

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Matt Mays toured with Blue Rodeo when with The Guthries.
Matt and Jim Cuddy have played hockey together.
Matt supported Jim Cuddy Band in summer 2004.
Matt played in a benefit concert for United Way with Jim Cuddy at The Phoenix in December of 2004.
Matt Mays & El Torpedo toured with Blue Rodeo on their 2005 Are You Ready Tour.
Bob Egan plays on several tracks on Matt Mays' first album.

Quotes

"Blue Rodeo, those guys have written classics. They've written so many great hits it's insane when you think about it." - Matt on his musical influences, from Umbrella Music interview

"We arrived in Brantford on Tuesday very excited to be doing dates with Blue Rodeo....what a classy bunch of guys...the crowds have been great and the ‘5 Days in May' we are playing with these guys are turning into great experiences...." - Matt, taken from his tour diary

Last Updated

June 2008

Sarah McLachlan

2008-04-08T16:26:00Z

Biography

If Canada is looking for an artist to be proud of it need not look further than Sarah McLachlan. Since 1988, the internationally successful songbird has released a series of remarkably successful albums, launched the world renowned Lilith Fair tours, and received numerous awards. Sarah is also the founder of the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Program, which provides free music education classes to inner city youths whose own school music programs have been hit by budget cuts.

In 1988, Sarah entered the national spotlight with the release of her debut album, Touch. Solace, her 1991 sophomore release, brought even more fame to the young artist, which she supported with her first headlining tour.Two years later, Sarah returned with Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. It was 1997's Surfacing that finally skyrocketed Sarah to international fame with the hit singles such as "Adia", "Sweet Surrender" and "Building A Mystery"

1997 was also the year that Sarah organized and launched the first Lilith Fair tour. The festival, which journeyed across North America from 1997-1999, showcased female singer/songwriters including Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, and the Indigo Girls. It was one of the top grossing concert draws of 1997 and, over its three year run, raised more than $7 million dollars for deserving charities. All three tours were captured on film and are available to the public, including a behind the scenes documentary of Lilith's final run, Lilith on Top.

In 1999, after the completion of the final Lilith Fair tour and the release of a live album Mirrorball, Sarah announced a hiatus from the spotlight. In 2002, Sarah and her husband welcomed their first child, India. In October of that year Sarah returned to the stage to participate in a benefit concert in Vancouver to raise money for cancer research. She was joined by fellow Canadian music darlings Bryan Adams, Barenaked Ladies, Chantal Kreviazuk and Jann Arden. The concert raised more than $1.5 million, shattering the record for funds raised during any previous single Canadian benefit concert.

Her first album in six years, 2003's Afterglow was greeted warmly by critics and fans. Sarah's latest release, Wintersong (2006) is a collection of classic and modern Chirstmas songs.

Sarah has won many awards during her career, including eight Juno Awards and three Grammys. In 1998, she was awarded the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Visionary Award for advancing the careers of women in music, and in 1999 she was appointed to the Order of Canada. In 2001, she also won the Industry Builder Award at the West Coast Music Awards.

Sources: Sarah's official website, the All Music Guide, the official website of the Juno Awards

Get Sarah's Music

More of Sarah's CDs are on sale over in the BlueRodeo.com Store.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Played the piano and added in vocals on Five Days in July's "Dark Angel" and "Tell Me Your Dream" and provided vocals on "What Is This Love" and "Know Where You Go".
On Nowhere To Here, Sarah provided the vocals on "Girl In Green", "Save Myself" and "Brown-Eyed Dog".
On Greg's Keelor's solo record Gone, Sarah contributed piano, vocals and lead guitar on "When I See You"; piano on "Redemption", "All Our Heroes", and "Star of the Show"; vocals on "White Marble Ganesh" and piano and vocals on "Heaven".
Sarah also appears on World Vision's 30 Hour Famine CD along with Jim Cuddy. Partial proceeds from this benefit compilation help the charity in its effort to end world hunger. Sarah Mclachlan's "Ice Cream" is on the album, as well as Jim Cuddy's "Everybody Cries".
On February 12, 1997, Sarah appeared at the Leonard Peltier Defense Fund Benefit concert. Blue Rodeo was the headliner for that show. The concert followed the release of Pine Ridge - An Open Letter To Allan Rock. Both were organized by Greg Keelor in the hopes of raising awareness and money to help free Leonard Peltier from jail. On the CD, Sarah sings the first track, her version of "Unchained Melody".
Along with these album collaborations, Sarah has been known to show up with the band onstage. On the Nowhere To Here tour she joined the band at GM Place and lent her voice to "Sky" as well as singing her own track, "Ice Cream." Sarah joined the band in Vancouver on their The Days In Between tour. This time she stayed out a little while longer. The band played backup to her "Building A Mystery". She paid them back by singing along to "Bad Timing", "Cynthia", "Know Where You Go/Tell Me Your Dream".

Quotes

"She's so gracious with her talent. I don't think there's anything artificial about Sarah's success. She's a really talented person and her success will blossom in many different ways." - Jim Cuddy

Last Updated

April 2007

Related Web Links

The Official Sarah McLachlan Website

Shannon Lyon

2008-04-02T20:44:00Z

Biography

Shannon Lyon gained notoriety in his hometown of Kitchener, ON almost immediately after forming his first band, Strange Days, in 1989. After two releases – Buffalo White (1995) and Mods Rule in 1996 (as The Shannon Lyon Pop Explosion), Shannon opted for a solo career.

In 1999, he signed with Toronto's Square Dog Records for Summer Blonde, the first album to fully display his newly realized introspective song writing style. The album went on to become a favourite among roots rock aficionados in Canada, and Lyon (accompanied by the World Record Players) spent the next year sharing stages with everyone from Blue Rodeo to Richard Buckner to Oh Susanna.

In early 2001, Lyon made his first trip to Holland on the advice of fellow singer/songwriter Rob Lamothe. Acceptance was even more instantaneous than it had been in Canada, and by the end of the year, Lyon had signed to Dutch label Inbetweens Records, which released Dharma in Europe in March, 2002.The following year, he recorded Wandered in Holland, which attracted the attention of V2 Records back in Toronto. Lyon became the first Canadian artist to sign to V2 Records, joining the likes of The White Stripes, Paul Weller and Moby on V2's roster. More touring ensued, including Lyon's first trip to Australia, where his honest, straightforward approach instantly connected with audiences, leading to several thousand sales during his brief stay.

In 2004, Lyon helped start Canadian roots label, Busted Flat Records, and its first releases were live albums from his various worldwide tours. The first, Bound, was recorded in Holland; the second, Someday Mourning, in Germany.

2006’s release Safe Inside attracted wide acclaim, and was called “another triumph in the career of one of Canada’s most underrated songwriters” by Exclaim! Magazine.

Shannon has now relocated to Berlin (ironically, Kitchener’s original name) and has found a deal with Continental Records (Rounder Records European division). A new album, El Sol, released in May 2008 in Europe has also been released in North America through his Busted Flat Records label. He continues to tour extensively in Holland, Belgium and Germany.

During Lyon's performing career he has shared the live stage with artists such as Blue Rodeo, Bruce Cockburn, The Troggs, Eric Taylor, Oh Susanna, Bob Egan, The Sadies, Richard Buckner, Lucinda Williams, Son Volt’s Jay Farrar and Fred J. Eaglesmith.

Source: Official Shannon Lyon website, and MySpace.

Get Shannon's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Bob Egan, playing his pedal steel, accompanied Shannon at his Wandered CD release party at the Rivoli in Toronto on January 2, 2003.
Shannon opened a number of shows on both Blue Rodeo's The Days In Between tour and Jim Cuddy's solo tour.
Shannon has had the support of Bob Egan and Bazil Donovan playing with him, including a gig in Kitchener in April 2000.
Former Blue Rodeo member, Kim Deschamps, has performed with Shannon and played on Summer Blonde.

Quotes

"I first started touring with Blue Rodeo just after Mark French left the band [in 1992] ... and I remember being out on the road with them ... and during their soundchecks before every gig ... we would be waiting and watching and taking notes of course... and they would be hashing out this ballad ... it was 'Lost Together' it was a new one and we heard it come together that tour in the soundchecks ... it was pretty cool ... I remember thinking that it was a great song ... turned out to be a pretty big one for them. We did a few small tours with them back then ... it was very cool ... very exciting ... I think we were 22 or 23 years old." - Shannon Lyon

"I think the only choice I clearly made in this life was that I was that I was going to sing for my supper, and when I'm not singing, I'm not eating, it's pretty simple. The rest I really don't have to think about." - Shannon Lyon

"When I listen to Summer Blonde I hear the rhythms of the Midnight Cowboy, the harmonies of an earth-bound angel, the acoustic guitar that knows the pain of a heart, the steel guitar that stirs the lonely and restless lovers. But most of all I hear that voice that echoes Earle, Faraar and Buckner, a voice that haunts you like a heavy fog over a barren field on a cool October morning." - Bob Egan

Related Links

The Official Shannon Lyon Website

Last Updated:

June 2008

Anne Lindsay

2008-04-02T20:35:00Z

Biography

For most of her life, the Toronto violinist - or is she a fiddler? -- has been listening in on other people's musical conversations, absorbing an enormous variety of ideas, idioms, dialects, patterns, rhythms and melodies. Always a captivating performer, Anne Lindsay found her own voice with her first independent release Eavesdropping and continued to impress her fan base with her second release News From Up the Street in 2006. Her voice is one you'll recognize... and one you'll never forget.

Her new album continues to showcase Anne's hybrid style -- neither violin nor fiddle, but a confident blend of both disciplines. The funky, fiddle-driven tracks combine strong melodies and complex rhythms with a rootsy approach to stretching musical boundaries. There are hints of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, retro and folk jazz and even an incursion into Finlandia on this fourteen-track CD but it is the addition of Anne's beautiful vocals which markedly sets this album apart from her first.

Beginning her musical studies at the age of five, Anne specialized in violin, voice and piano. A graduate of York University and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto she has received many scholarships and awards over the course of her training. "Music really began to take over my life early on. With days split between high school, the Conservatory, church choir and my first folk/rock experiments. I listened to as many violinists and bands as I could: Zappa, Menuhin, Vassar Clements, Jean Luc Ponty, Stephane Grappelli, Joe Venuti, The Grateful Dead, even Jimi Hendrix. I threw off my middle-class mores and ran away with a rock band."

Anne has performed on concert, club and festival stages and in countless studio sessions with artists including Blue Rodeo, the Jim Cuddy Band, Led Zeppelin, Natalie McMaster, Oh Susanna, John McDermott, The Chieftains, David Woodhead, and in the hit stage musical, Stan Rogers: A Matter Of Heart. Anne also regularly plays (fiddle!) for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The year 2006 was quite a busy year for Anne Lindsay since she began a stint with the musical Lord of the Rings in Toronto, released her new album in October and still toured Canada with her regular gig as the fiddler in the Jim Cuddy Band. Reviews for the Jim Cuddy Band tour consistently mentioned Anne's prowess on the fiddle and audiences were wowed with her improvisational skills and dynamic solos.
2006 was also a year of awards for Anne, starting with the OCFF Songs From The Heart Instrumental Award, runner-up in the Colleen Peterson Songwriting competition and the 2006 KM Hunter Music Award from the Ontario Arts Council. She will be touring to support the new CD throughout 2007 as well as joining John McDermott on his tour of British Columbia this spring.
Raising a family never stopped Anne from performing, but for about eight years, when her children were very young there just wasn't time to compose. Now, she and her violin tell stories of love and parenting, sorrow, loss and the joys of city-living and pastoral life.

Source: Anne's official website

Get Anne's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Anne and Jim both attended the same junior high school in Toronto where they played together in the school orchestra. She was the concert mistress and he played the bass drum in the percussion section!
They had a musical reunion in 1993 when the Zodiac Strings joined Blue Rodeo for a killer version of "Lost Together" on CBC TV's "Benmurgui Live."
A few years later their kids started playing in the same hockey house league and Anne kept reminding Jim at the rink that she wasn't just a classical player, she played fiddle and loved to jam. When Jim was preparing to release his solo CD All In Time he gave her a call and they've been collaborating ever since.
Anne has written, recorded and performed string arrangements on Blue Rodeo's Just Like a Vacation and Greatest Hits. Her solo on "5 Days In May" has become a show stopping trademark when she's on stage with Blue Rodeo or the Jim Cuddy Band.
Anne joined Jim on a cross-country tour with his band through the fall of 2006 after recording all the fiddle on his September 2006 release The Light That Guides You Home.

Quotes

"When I got the call to play with Jim I was pretty excited. I've always loved his songwriting and thought that fiddle (especially mine! ) would be a great addition to the tunes." - Anne Lindsay

"...a powerful jolt of energy from frenetic violinist Anne Lindsay on the beautiful ballad, '5 Days In May' ... the crowd roared appreciatively and the boys rode the momentum the rest of the night." - Derek Tse, Toronto Sun

"Anne Lindsay ... cut the night air with a brilliant fiddle solo that proved to be one-third Ashley MacIsaac and two-thirds Jimi Hendrix." - Jeff Macklin, Peterborough Examiner

" Anne continues to raise the bar every time she raises her bow. " - Steve Lambert, CHCH TV

" Lindsay ... cut the night air with a brilliant fiddle solo that proved to be one-third Ashley MacIsaac and two-thirds Jimi-Hendrix. " - Peterborough Examiner

Related Links

The Official Anne Lindsay Website

Last Updated

February 2007

Special Thanks To

Ann

Chris LeDrew

2008-04-02T20:09:00Z

Biography

Chris LeDrew is a dynamic singer/songwriter from St. John's, NF, who plays more than seven instruments. He names Bob Dylan is his idol, and has drawn inspiration from other such classic influences as Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons, The Byrds and the Beatles. If he could go back in time to meet someone, it would be the revered songwriter Townes Van Zant, Chris says "I stood next to him once in an art gallery in Ottawa, but never had the courage to say hi."

Chris released Too Commercial, his independent debut, to critical acclaim in 1997. The recording included collaborations with Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor. Chris has also worked with noted Canadian artists Lennie Gallant, Celtic/Rock group the Punters and Ron Hynes.

In the years that followed his solo album, Chris LeDrew teamed up with his brother Andrew to form a pop/rock/roots duo called Brothers In Stereo (B.I.S.). A self-titled full-length CD was released in June 2003 and a video for the single "The Worst Crowd" followed. Brothers In Stereo feature the songwriting talents of both Chris and Andrew. The band toured extensively, the influence of which can be heard in their lyrics. B.I.S. were nominated for two awards at the ECMAs and took the Rising Star award at Newfoundland's Music Industry Association award gala in 2003, and were nominated for an EMCA again in 2004 and 2005.

In September 2005, B.I.S. got a surprise call one afternoon to open for Our Lady Peace that night in Mount Pearl (after k-os were a no-show). This concert turned out to be the biggest and best yet for B.I.S, with over 10,000 people in attendance. Lighters were burning for "Your Voice," and the crowd was singing along with the band on familiar radio songs. Chris said, "We had no time to worry about the size of the show, so we were really laid-back and able to enjoy it completely."

Brothers in Stereo's debut CD is available at www.notlame.com, a great site featuring many power pop bands from all over the world, and through which B.I.S. are enjoying a raft of attention from new fans south of the border who describe the music as reminiscent of the Odds, classic Squeeze or Tom Petty. Brothers In Stereo make power pop that is rich and textured with jangly layers of ringing guitar, and warm vocals with wistful harmonies, and Chris continues to thrive on writing/performing his own distinctive and magical brand of rock and roll, and triumphant, driven songs.

Sources: Chris' official website, Garageband.com

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

In March 1989, Newfoundland rock group The Brats opened for Blue Rodeo in St. John's. Chris happened to be lead guitarist with that band. Years passed and the friendship remained, with Chris usually meeting up with Blue Rodeo whenever they played St. John's.
In 1997, Chris was recording his debut independent CD, when he ran into Greg Keelor at a bar in Halifax. Greg was on his "birth journey" at the time. The two struck up a conversation, which eventually led to Greg agreeing to come to the studio and lend his voice to Chris' recordings. Greg showed up during a raging snowstorm to do just that, with the result being the critically acclaimed Pop/Rock album Too Commercial.
The kinship between the musicians remained and in March 2000, Chris warmed up the sold-out Blue Rodeo audience for two shows at the Delta Hotel in St. John's as an opening act.

Quotes

"Whenever Blue Rodeo were in town, I would go see them. Since they knew me from a previous opening gig and knew I was a songwriter, they'd let me hang out backstage. I'd always pester Greg to let me play his vintage guitars. They were really supportive!" - Chris LeDrew

Related Links

Chris LeDrew's MySpace Page

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

leftbrain

Reid Jamieson

2008-04-02T20:01:00Z

Biography

Reid Jamieson's voice and engaging performances have been turning heads for several years. His former pop-rock band Alvy played around the Toronto music scene gathering a devoted audience and respect from peers. Their first release No Assembly Required (1994) was produced by Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics. Alvy went on to release four EPs and one full-length album, Pop Shop (2000).

Since going solo, Reid has shared the stage with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Hayden, Molly Johnson and Skydiggers, as well as putting his musical abilities to use backing up Canadian talents like Bob Egan, The Swallows (Glenn Milchem's side project) and Bodega. Much like his inspirations (Neil Finn, The Beatles, Nick Lowe), his appeal spans generations and genres, allowing him to work with a variety of different artists.

Reid's first solo album, Cowlick Bravado, independently released in November of 2001, was produced, performed and written entirely by Reid. This charming nine-song CD showcases a mixture of pop, folk, old country and rock and was most certainly a labour of love.

Reid’s second release The Noise in My Chest (2003) is an eight song collection of dreamy acoustic serenades featuring guitar, a little harmonica, piano and a whole lot of heart and soul. Tender and intimate, this EP shows Reid's voice and guitar picking under natural light.

Released in 2004, The Unavoidable Truth, Reid’s second full solo album, was recorded in Guelph, ON by Lewis Melville, and produced by Josh Finlayson (Gord Downie, The Skydiggers). The album brought together some of Canada’s finest songwriters and musicians such as Sarah Harmer, Dave Clark (Woodchoppers, The Rheostatics), Peter Elkas, Mia Sheard, and Bob Egan.

For the occasion of his sweetheart / manager’s birthday in 2007, Reid recorded an Elvis Presley tribute album. The Presley Sessions features some of Elvis’ earlier and lesser known songs such as "Is It So Strange" and "I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine" with Reid playing all instruments himself.

Reid recently moved to Vancouver from his home in Toronto where he is producing a jazzy album for his 75 year old uncle Howie James. He also appears quite regularly on CBC’s The Vinyl Cafe and was a part of the Vinyl Cafe Orchestra (with John Sheard and Dennis Pendrith) during the spring 2008 cross-Canada train tour.

Reid eats no meat or dairy products and is currently writing a vegetarian cookbook.

Source: Official Reid Jamieson site, Wikipedia and MySpace.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

In 2003, Reid joined Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor, Glenn Milchem and Bob Egan in a Toronto Songwriter's Circle for the Waterfront Montessori Children's Centre Benefit.
Reid has performed as a member of Bob Egan's solo band, supplying harmonies and guitar at performances around Ontario.
Reid provided back-up vocals on "Convince Me" from The Swallows' album, The Beauty of Our Surroundings.
Glenn and Reid have supported each other on stage many times at live shows in Toronto.
Bob Eagan plays pedal steel and slide guitar on Reid's upcoming full length album.

Quotes

"I felt like the fifth Beatle up there, it's enough to make a guy nervous." - Reid Jamieson on sharing the stage with members of Blue Rodeo at the Montessori benefit

Related Links

The Official Reid Jamieson Website

Last Updated:

June 2008

Sarah Harmer

2008-04-02T19:32:00Z

Biography

Growing up as the youngest of six children on a farm near Burlington, ON, Sarah Harmer was exposed to a beauty in the natural landscape of her surrounds. This is surely reflected in her large, frank and serious eyes as well as her relaxed and uncontrived pure vocals and superlative guitar playing. With a voice that can be airy and serene set against lyrics that are often wry and incisive social commentaries, Sarah incorporates a rich texture of roots, pop and folk sensibilities into her music. Numerous awards and accolades both at home and south of the border have proven her to be one of the strongest solo artists Canada has to offer.

The driving force behind numerous musical projects, Sarah was first recognized when she stepped into the Toronto-based Saddletramps as a singer and co-songwriter at the tender age of seventeen. She then moved on to create Weeping Tile whose popularity across Canada and in pockets of the US allowed them to release three very well received CDs: Eepee (1994), Cold Snap (1995) and Valentino (1997).

On sabbatical from her post as front-woman for the band Weeping Tile, Sarah released a collection of old favourites, entitled Songs For Clem. It was meant to be a Christmas gift for her father and was never intended for release, but at the insistence of her friends, she distributed the CD to much praise.

In 2000, she released her second solo CD, You Were Here to rave reviews, including a slot on Time magazine's Ten Best CDs of 2000. Time also named her Best Debut Artist of 2000.

In 2001, The Tragically Hip asked Sarah to contribute the closing song, "Silver Road," to the Men With Brooms soundtrack, and they acted as Sarah's backing band for this number.

In 2004, Sarah released All of Our Names, a freely structured album which rewards an attentive and sensitive ear. The rhythms and texture of the sweetly sung lyrics belie a sharp intelligence that simmers sensitively in between the lines on tracks like "Greeting Card Aisle" and "Almost". This album received a well-deserved 2005 Juno for Adult Alternative Album of the Year.

The year 2006 saw continued success for Sarah with the release of I Am a Mountain, which has been nominated for two 2007 Juno awards: Adult Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, categories which will see her in competition with the likes of Jim Cuddy and Ron Sexsmith no less!

In addition, Sarah released a DVD which features footage from her 2005 tour to support fundraising for legal efforts to protect the Niagara Escarpment from excessive and continued commercial gravel quarrying. The quarrying has threatened to drop the water table which potentially threatens rare plant and animal species such as the Butternut tree and the Jefferson Salamander. The DVD, entitled Escarpment Blues is also nominated for a 2006 Juno.

The issue of environmental disruption to a vital area of Ontario's watershed near the family farm at Mount Nemo, ON, led Sarah to co-found PERL (Protecting Escarpment Rural Lands). This group aims to lobby for legal protection to sensitive escarpment lands which have been designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

These concerns formed the backdrop of her I Love the Escarpment tour that saw concert dates in the small halls of towns along the Bruce Trail which travels the length of the Escarpment. In between shows, Sarah and her band hiked sections of the trail and incorporated footage of these hikes into the Juno nominated DVD as well.

As you will see in any of her pictures, there is a certain amount of determination in Sarah's eyes. With her gaze set firmly on environmental stewardship and the making of good music, her focus can only mean good things for all of us.

Source: Sarah Harmer's official website

Get Sarah's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Sarah contributed vocals to the charity song "The Streets Where You Live," which features Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy, and numerous other Canadian artists including Gord Downie, Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Slean, Steven Page, and Colin James.
Sarah's drummer, John Obercian, was one of two drummers backing Luke Doucet in a March 2003 performance in Toronto - Blue Rodeo's Glenn Milchem was the other drummer!
Sarah sang a beautiful rendition of "5 Days in May" on the "Blue Rodeo & Friends" CMT special, which aired in October 2002.
She also sings backup vocals on "Bitter Fruit," from Blue Rodeo's CD, The Days in Between.
Sarah lends backup vocals to "Making My Way To You" on Jim Cuddy's solo CD, All in Time.
At one time, Sarah's touring band included Gavin Brown on both drums and guitar. Gavin was also the drummer on Jim's solo CD, All in Time.
Sarah, on her own as well as with Weeping Tile, has enjoyed opening slots for Blue Rodeo on the road many times. She has also participated in the Stardust Picnics.

Quotes

"Listening to somebody like that whose voice you count on for a certain amount of emotion, sing your own lyrics, I thought she brought a lot more out of that song than I did. She brought out a lot of the sadness of the song." - Jim Cuddy (on Sarah performing "5 Days in May")

Related Links

The Official Sarah Harmer Website

Last Updated

February 2007

Special Thanks To

Ann

Great Big Sea

2008-03-19T16:12:00Z

Biography

Great Big Sea is a modern traditional band, a Newfoundland folk-rock band that performs original material and is appreciated for their mixture of traditional and popular music. Performing ballads, jigs and reels, they create a spirited sound – whether classical standards or local songs they are transformed, but with the original appeal kept intact. Based in St. John's, NF, this JUNO-nominated band possesses a crowd pleasing formula that is both heartfelt and vital.

Originally, Sean McCann and Bob Hallett played with the successful group, Rankin Street. In 1991, they met Alan Doyle and Darrell Power and formed GBS. The band played its first official gig on March 11, 1993, opening for the Irish Descendants. That year they recorded their first ever album, an independent self-titled release that included classics like "I'se the B'y" and "Drunken Sailor". This record has since been re-released by Warner Music Canada.

In February 2006, the band's tour bus tipped on its side into a ditch on the Trans-Canada Highway about 80 kilometres east of Vancouver near Abbotsford. Their driver suffered minor head injuries, but everyone in the band was unhurt. The band went on to continue their tour including their performance that evening at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts just hours after the accident.

That November, the band released their second concert DVD, Courage & Patience & Grit, recorded in Belleville, ON. It is also the second release by the band to be titled by a line from their 2005 song, "Tickle Cove Pond" (the other being The Hard and the Easy, 2005).

Their ninth studio album will be released in June 2008 titled Fortune’s Favour. They made a surprise choice to work with indie gadfly Hawksley Workman as producer.

“We wanted to push ourselves, to be surprised by our own music,” said Hallett, “and Hawksley was the right pilot for the flight…or the fight, depending on the circumstances.”

Fortune’s Favour sees them boldly embracing new sounds and new ideas, fearlessly pushing the boundaries of their own art and music. In their lifelong quest to marry the traditional music of Newfoundland with their own pop explorations, Fortune’s Favour is a new benchmark. “We embraced the law of the road when we started this, and we apply the same rules to our music,” explains Doyle. “If you are not going forwards, you are going backwards. And we hate retracing our steps.”

A few new songs from the album have been played at recent shows including: "Love Me Tonight", "Walk on the Moon" "The Rocks of Merasheen", "Straight to Hell", and "Oh Yeah". “This album is a stew of all our influences,” adds Hallett. “Bob Marley, the Clash, Fergus O’Byrne, Ron Hynes, Johnny Cash, Donal Lunny, and who knows what else. So who better to sum it all up than C.S. Lewis: ‘Further in and further up.’”

To date, GBS have released 11 albums and two DVDs:
    * 1993: Great Big Sea
    * 1995: Up
    * 1997: Play
    * 1998: Rant and Roar
    * 1999: Turn
    * 2000: Road Rage (live)
    * 2002: Sea of No Cares
    * 2003: Great Big DVD (DVD)
    * 2004: Something Beautiful*
    * 2005: The Hard and the Easy
    * 2006: Courage & Patience & Grit (live)
    * 2006: Courage & Patience & Grit (DVD)
    * 2008: Fortune's Favour

Bob Hallett continues to write his journal, Bob’s Soundtrack, for the website about his personal soundtrack as he loads tunes into his iPod. From Bay City Rollers tunes with "Heys" perfect for audience sing-a-longs to "There She Goes," one of his favourite love songs - "I don't suppose everyone can identify with the narrator, building a fantasy around a girl who he doesn't even have the courage to talk to, but I certainly can."

GBS makes great music with great heart, and in short, has become one of Canada's most popular bands.

Sources: Great Big Sea's official website, Wikipedia

Get Great Big Sea's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Alan Doyle performed "What Am I Doing Here" along with Blue Rodeo on CMT's Blue Rodeo and Friends Special (2002).
In 1998, Jim Cuddy and Alan Doyle were both on hand at JetForm Park in Ottawa to announce the Stardust Picnic and to throw out the first pitch at the Ottawa Lynx game.
Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor sing background vocals on the songs "When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down)", "Jolly Roving Tar" and "Haven't Seen You In A Long Time", on Great Big Sea's 1997 release Play.
GBS performed at Blue Rodeo's first Stardust Ball (now known as the Stardust Picnic) back in 1996 and again in 1999.
Blue Rodeo reciprocated by appearing at the Great Big Sea's festival, The Great Big Picnic.
Great Big Sea and Blue Rodeo both participated in 2005's Live 8 concert in Barrie, ON.

Quotes

" ... That was Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo making fun of me for getting up so early to work when we're at home. He said, ‘Why'd you become musicians if you still have to get up early?' Alan and I joked about the kind of dream of just being able to do whatever you want, living totally consequence free. Of course, Jim gets up every morning to run his marathons, so he's not one to talk." - Sean MacCann in Urban Male magazine on the origins of "Consequence Free"

"We met the guys from Blue Rodeo three years ago and we hit it off smashingly, and try to play together as often as possible. They're just a great bunch of guys and true professionals. They also have that secret that every band craves and that is longevity." - Darrell Powers, from an interview with Rick Overall of the Ottawa Sun

Related Web Links

The Official Great Big Sea Website

Last Updated

June 2008

Special Thanks To

leftbrain

Kathleen Edwards

2008-03-19T16:01:00Z

Biography

Ottawa native Kathleen Edwards was introduced to musical performance as a young child when she began classical training on the violin. As a teenager, she picked up the guitar and started writing songs at the age of 20. She has often been compared to "Lucinda Williams minus the twang," but Kathleen says that Aimee Mann and Ani DiFranco are much bigger influences.

In 1999, Kathleen put out an unknown mini-album, Building 55. By the fall of 2000 she had enough material to go into the studio to record Failer, the album that took the music world by storm and gave Kathleen the fame she never expected.

Failer didn't take off until Kathleen signed with Rounder Records at the end of 2001, at which time she was warmly embraced by the US market. Kathleen describes Failer as including songs that expose parts of her past - some of it is fiction but most of the lyrics come from personal experiences. Rolling Stone magazine described Kathleen as one of the 10 artists to watch in 2003.
In 2003, Kathleen released Live from the Bowery Ballroom a unique album that featured three live tracks that were recorded at New York's Bowery Ballroom in June of 2003 and two videos that were produced for her Failer album.

Kathleen delivered on the promise of Failer, with her follow up album in 2005, Back To Me. The roots rock masterpiece confirms Edwards as one of today's most talented new artists.

Source: Kathleen's official website

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Kathleen toured extensively with Blue Rodeo on their Palace of Gold tour.
Kathleen filled in for Anne Lindsay on fiddle for several Jim Cuddy Band performances in 2002.
Kathleen's band includes Jim Cuddy Band members Colin Cripps and Joel Anderson.
Kathleen joined the Jim Cuddy band as a special guest to sing her song, "Hockey Skates", at the Family Farm Benefit in January 2002.
Kathleen sang "Bad Timing" with Blue Rodeo at the Molson Amphitheatre in 2003.
Kathleen coached Jim Cuddy's Juno hockey team in April 2004.
Kathleen has filled in on multiple Jim Cuddy Band dates in the summer of 2004.
In November 2004, Kathleen joined Jim Cuddy band and other guests to play at the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Kathleen performed at a benefit show at The Phoenix with Jim Cuddy in December 2004.
Jim Cuddy performed "Hockey Skates" with Kathleen and band on Bravo's Live at the Rehearsal Hall aired March 2005.
Kathleen toured with Blue Rodeo in August of 2006 to support her new album.
Kathleen performs a duet with Jim Cuddy on his latest album. The song is titled "Married Again".

Quotes

"No one says 'hockey skates' quite as sexy as Kathleen Edwards!" - Jim Cuddy

"After being hailed as one of the finest and most distinctive singer-songwriters to emerge in 2003, Kathleen Edwards is poised to vault to the front rank of contemporary music with her superlative sophomore album, Back To Me." - Zoe Records

Related Web Links

The Official Kathleen Edwards Website

Kathleen Edward's MySpace page

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Amy

Luke Doucet

2008-03-19T15:33:00Z

Biography

Luke Doucet is best known as the charismatic vocalist of the band Veal, but he is also a gifted songwriter, guitarist, producer and much sought after studio musician. He has played on Chantal Kreviazuk, Danny Michel, Lily Frost, and Oh Susanna records. He also features on Sarah McLachlan's records and has toured as her guitarist for over two years. He left her band when he decided to take his music in a harder direction.

Veal was formed in Vancouver in 1995 by two former Winnipeggers, Luke Doucet and Chang (drummer). They have gone through a steady stream of bass players, the latest, Nik Kozub, being their seventh! Veal's first CD, Hot Loser, was released in 1996, followed by 1999's Tilt o' Whirl, both to much critical acclaim. 2002 saw the release of Lipstick and finally The Embattled Hearts in 2003.

In 2001, Luke released his first solo effort Aloha Manitoba. The album was followed up in 2004, with a collection of live and unreleased tracks, titled Outlaws. He returned the following year with Broken (and other rogue states), which received much critical praise.

In addition to writing and recording his own material, Luke has also been busy helping other artists bring their music to life. He has acted as a producer on a number of projects including albums by NQ Arbuckle, Captain Tractor and his wife Melissa McLelland.

Early 2008 saw the release of Luke's latest project, Bloods Too Rich. Credited for the first time to Luke and his band the White Falcon, the record features a guest appearance from Jim Cuddy on the title track.

Buy Luke's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo bassist Bazil Donovan played acoustic and electric bass on Luke's 2001 solo release Aloha Manitoba and also toured with him in support of the CD.
At 2002's Taste of the Danforth festival, Jim Cuddy Band, The Swallows (BR drummer Glenn Milchem's band), Stratochief (BR keyboardist James Gray's band) and Luke Doucet were all on the bill for the three-day event.
Both Luke and Bazil contributed to Oh Susanna's Sleepy Little Sailor (2001) and her self-titled (2003) record.
Luke has played in Oh Susanna's band along with Bazil.
Glenn and Bazil backed Luke at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern in March 2003.
Luke played guitar with The Swallows on their 2003 appearance on the Mike Bullard show.
Luke opened for most of Blue Rodeo's UK and US tours in 2003. Glenn and Bazil also backed Luke.
Luke also admirably filled in for Greg Keelor when he had to return home due to a family emergency during the 2003 US tour.
Glenn and Bazil backed Luke for the live recording of "Outlaws" at The Rivoli in Toronto.
Bazil and Glenn perform on Broken.
Jim appears on the title track of Blood's Too Rich.

Quotes

"Veal leader Luke Doucet is a songwriter's songwriter, the guy other musicians point to when asked who inspires them to work harder at lyrics or melody rather than leaving well enough alone." - Chris Hughes, Now Magazine

"That guy must be the lost love *** of kd lang and Tom Waits." - Canadian Press

Related Web Links

The Official Luke Doucet Website

Luke Doucet's MySpace page

Last Updated

April 2008

Special Thanks To

Amy

Burton Cummings

2008-03-19T15:16:00Z

Biography

Born in Winnipeg in 1947, Burton Cummings started his rock and roll career in Winnipeg as a teenager with The Devrons. In the decades since he has enjoyed enormous success both with The Guess Who and as a solo artist.

Cummings joined the Guess Who in 1966 as a keyboardist and backing vocalist. Frontman Chad Allen soon quit, and the more dynamic Cummings assumed his rightful place as front man and one of two primary songwriters (along with guitarist Randy Bachman). In 1968, the band gained momentum by appearing on the popular CBC after-school music showcase Let's Go and releasing the album Wheatfield Soul, which included the song "These Eyes", their first million-selling single. The following year the band's single "American Woman" became their first number one hit in the United States, while the album of the same name went gold with sales over 500,000.

At the height of the Guess Who's fame, in 1970, Bachman left the band, leaving Cummings to take over the reins himself. Hits like "Share The Land", "Hand Me Down World", "Hang On to Your Life" followed. In 1975, Cummings performed with the band at the Montreal Forum for what many believed would be the last time before officially leaving the group. Cummings embarked on his solo career in 1976 and promptly scored a hit with "Stand Tall".

There have been a number of Guess Who reunions since 1983, when the core line-up of Cummings, Bachman, Kale and drummer Garry Peterson reformed for a reunion tour, but it proved to be short-lived. On August 8, 1999, they got together again to play at the closing ceremonies of the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. Performing in the driving rain they were seen by a crowd of 22,000; another 914,000 watched the performance on TV. A full reunion tour was launched in the spring of 2000. The tour was a huge success and was documented in December 2000 by the double-CD live album Runnin' Back Thru Canada.

Most recently, Cummings and the band joined Blue Rodeo, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Rush and others at the famous "SARSstock" concert in Toronto on July 30 2003, playing in front of nearly 500,000 fans in support of the city's economy in the wake of a SARS outbreak earlier in the year.

The Guess Who's contributions to music have been well-recognized over the years. In 1987, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of fame. Ten years later they were the first band named to the Prairie Music Hall of Fame. In 2001 members of The Guess Who were awarded doctorates from the University of Brandon (Manitoba) and the band was given its star Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. In 2002 the band received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award and were the first artists to be inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, an honour normally reserved for music industry executives.

Burton Cummings' Solo Work

The split between Guess Who front man Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman was legendary, as their "musical differences" became well-aired dirty laundry for all to see. Yet both went on to further success. On his self-titled debut, Cummings even took a shot at his larger than life partner with a cocktail lounge version of "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet", stuttered lyrics and all. The album also featured the anthemic "Stand Tall", which served as the breakout smash that established Cummings as an artist in his own right.

Dream Of A Child, Cummings' third album, went on to win the Juno for the best selling record of the year (1978), and became the first triple platinum release by a Canadian artist. His string of hit singles and albums continued throughout the 70's and 80's. Even after the hits dried up, he continued to prove his worth as a songwriter with one solid release after another.

In 2001, Cummings received an honorary Doctorate of Music from The University of Guelph.
Most recently Cummings reunited with his old partner Randy Bachman to release The Bachman Cummings Songbook and embarked on the sold-out, 17-date First Time Around tour. Bachman and Cummings launched their reunion with a CBC TV special that showcased Randy and Burton in front of a small audience, performing classic hits and sharing the stories behind the songs with the audience.

Sources: Jam Music Canadian Music Encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, the All Music Guide, The Canadian Encyclopaedia, the CARAS official website

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo performed at the Toronto Kumbaya Festival in 1993, 1994 and 1995. The 1995 Festival included a performance of "No Sugar Tonight", among other songs.
Both Blue Rodeo and Burton Cummings appear on 1996's Q107's Concerts in the Sky: The Campfire Versions. Burton Cummings played "Sour Suite" and Blue Rodeo played "Is It You".
The Guess Who and Blue Rodeo played Winnipeg's Pan Am games in 1999 on separate nights.
On September 11, 1999, CTV aired a TV special called Trail of Dreams: A Musical Celebration in support of the new Trans Canada Trail. The show featured numerous special guests including Blue Rodeo and Burton Cummings.
Blue Rodeo and Burton Cummings shared the stage in Windsor in 1999, playing "American Woman" and "Shakin' All Over together".
The Guess Who performed at the "SARSstock" concert in Toronto on July 30, 2003. Blue Rodeo was also on the bill.

Quotes

"When we played with Burton I was shocked that his voice was so strong and still intact. We had to move back on the stage. Burton's voice is gigantic!" - Jim Cuddy

"Oh, he's the greatest! We played with him in Windsor about a year ago. We performed 'American Woman' and 'Shakin All Over' together. He was just incredible. Yeah, he's excellent!" - Greg Keelor

"I've always been a fan of Burton Cummings. I saw The Guess Who live at the CNE when they were still playing cover tunes. I saw them play 'Sunshine of Your Love' by The Cream. I was a fan all through the days as they became stars. Being Canadian, you get to see them a lot." - Bazil Donovan

"I have two older sisters. When I was about 12, one was dating a Vietnam Vet who had come home by then. There was quite a generation gap in our house, and a lot of discussions about war and politics. The main album in the house at the time was 1968's Wheatfield Soul." - Bob Egan

"Burton has one of the strongest voices I've ever heard. He sang into Jim's mike and monitor, and he was the loudest thing on stage. Man, I can see why he's so famous. He has a great presence." - Glenn Milchem

"I was briefly introduced to Burton Cummings when we played in Windsor last year. Playing together was a lot a fun. Burton has a big, powerful voice. His dynamic propelled The Guess Who ... I was heavily influenced by The Guess Who. I love their music. I saw them as a kid in their latter years. I missed out on seeing them with Randy Bachman. I would go see them yearly at the (CNE) Grandstand. Now, Burton is at the stage where he can just go and play all the hits. That's all he needs to do." - James Gray

Related Links

The Official Burton Cummings Website

Last Updated

April 2007

Crash Vegas

2008-03-14T20:38:00Z

Biography

Many Blue Rodeo fans will recognize Michelle McAdory from her appearance in videos like "Try" and "Bad Timing". However, many will also recognize her as the front person of Crash Vegas, a band she formed in late 1980s after some convincing from Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor who wanted to see this long-time member of the Canadian music scene return to playing music.

Keelor was one of McAdory 's original guitar players but his commitments to Blue Rodeo prevented him from continuing on with Crash Vegas (thankfully for most Blue Rodeo fans). Keelor did though find time to help McAdory write some of her songs and he assisted in getting her back on track musically at a time she was actually starting to put her musical career on hold.

Jocelyne Lanois hooked up with Keelor and McAdorey while running a workshop studio called The Lab with Malcolm Burn. Shortly after, drummer Ambrose Pottie completed the core lineup. Guitarist Colin Cripps, now with the Jim Cuddy Band, also joined the band in 1988, roughly six months after Crash Vegas started.

The band began recording what would become their debut album, Red Earth, at The Lab, with Burn producing. Cripps played most of the guitar, with Keelor sitting in on a couple of songs.

Crash Vegas was eventually signed to Blue Rodeo's own label, Risque Disque, for Red Earth. The album went gold and earned them significant media recognition. But when Risque Disque went bankrupt the band was left with no direction both figuratively and literally.

After the Red Earth recording sessions were completed, Crash Vegas returned to the Toronto area and performed for about six months. The band and Lanois parted ways at the end of 1990. She was replaced by bassist Darren Watson, whom Cripps knew from the Hamilton, Ontario music scene.

In 1992 Crash Vegas signed a new US deal that put out their second album, Stone, in 1993. It featured Watson on bass and continued with songs co-written by Keelor and another by David Pirner. By 1995, Crash Vegas had become a duo of McAdorey and Cripps. A new record deal with Sony resulted in the release of Aurora. The recording unit featured emergency fill-ins by Change Of Heart's John Borra and Mike Sloski as the rhythm section. Their touring band saw the addition of Brown (Phleg Camp) and Chenaux (Phleg Camp).

Despite the addition of new blood, Crash Vegas continued to experience more downs that up. The band headed over to Europe where they had a mediocre time and found they could not bounce back.

Crash Vegas officially split up in 1996 with each member moving on to pursue different musical projects.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Crash Vegas' first album Red Earth was released on Blue Rodeo's Risque Disque label.
Greg Keelor co-wrote the songs "Red Earth," "Smoke," "I Gave You My Heart," "Moving too Fast" and "Inside Out."
Greg Keelor played additional guitar on the songs Red Earth and "One That Keeps me Running."
Greg Keelor co-wrote four songs on Stone, Crash Vegas' second album.
Ambrose Pottie designed the cover design of Blue Rodeo's album Diamond Mine.
Colin Cripps plays guitar on two songs on Tremolo.
Colin Cripps and Michelle McAdorey co-wrote "No Miracle, No Dazzle" along with Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor.
Colin Cripps plays guitar and sings back up vocals on Jim Cuddy's solo album All In Time.
Michelle McAdorey sings back up vocals on Blue Rodeo's song "Lost Together" and on Jim Cuddy's solo CD on the songs "Second Son," "Whistler," and "New Year's Eve."
Michelle McAdorey worked with Greg on his solo CD Gone, singing back-up on almost all the songs.
Both Blue Rodeo and Crash Vegas are featured on the Sony Records Canada album Borrowed Tunes (A tribute to Neil Young).

Last Updated

November 2006

Special Thanks To

deboraht

Cowboy Junkies

2008-03-14T20:19:00Z

Biography

The Cowboy Junkies were formed in Toronto in 1985, and are still composed of the original four members: Margo Timmins (vocals), Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and Alan Anton (bass) - all siblings except for life-long-family-friend Alan. Their first album, Whites Off Earth Now, was released the following year on their own indie record label, Latent. The Trinity Session, their next release, was recorded live around one microphone in The Holy Trinity church in Toronto. The first single, "Misguided Angel" was a top 10 hit.

The Trinity Session was followed up in 1989 with The Caution Horses and then 1992's Black Eyed Man. The band continued to receive critical acclaim for their music. 1993 brought Pale Sun, Crescent Moon, an album that played heavily on rock and blues. 200 More Miles, their live album, chronicled the band's first decade of live music. It was also their last album on label BMG, except for Studio, a compilation of greatest hits.

Lay it Down was the band's first album on record label Geffen. This album marked a return of sorts to the quieter, more evocative sound of their earliest releases. Michael Timmins, previously content playing rhythm guitar, was now the lead guitarist. 1998 brought Miles From Our Home, recorded in an old mill that the Junkies rented. In 1998, the band also decided to resurrect their indie label, Latent, and broke new ground online by releasing Rarities, B-Sides and Slow, Sad Waltzes (1999) and Waltz Across America (2000) exclusively over the Internet.

During the Waltz Across America tour, the band began writing and recording Open, released in 2001. 2002 saw the release of The Radio One Sessions, a 12-song compilation recorded live at the BBC. While touring to promote Open, the Cowboy Junkies filmed the DVD Open Road (2003). One Soul Now, released in 2004, was the first record the band made in their own studio. It is an album about relationships, a "blend of intimacy and immediacy" with an underlying theme that we are all connected.

2005 marked the band's 20th anniversary, which they celebrated with the release of a new CD and DVD. Early 21st Century Blues (2005) is a collection of songs written mostly by others along the themes of war, violence, fear, greed, ignorance, and loss. They cover songs by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, U2 and John Lennon. The band wanted to create "a small document of hope," to "reach out and touch a couple of souls."

Sources: CJFan's website; the Cowboy Junkies' official website; the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia

Get the Cowboy Junkie's Music:

Whites Off Earth Now! The Trinity Session Open One Soul Now

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Jim Cuddy and Mike Timmins have played hockey together in a league full of Canadian musicians including Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics, and Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip.
Longtime friends Michael Timmins and Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor go back as far as grade school. The members of each band have jammed together on countless occasions.
In 1999, Cowboy Junkies joined Blue Rodeo at the Stardust Picnic.
Jim Cuddy took the photos for the front cover of the Junkie's Whites Off Earth Now.
Kim Deschamps, a former member of Blue Rodeo, used to play with the Cowboy Junkies. Kim plays pedal steel and lap steel guitar on a number of songs, including "Blue Moon Revisited (A Song For Elvis)", "200 More Miles", "Me and the Devil", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Walking After Midnight."
Both the Cowboy Junkies and Blue Rodeo contributed recordings to Beautiful, the first-ever salute to Gordon Lightfoot, Canada's premier songwriter. The Cowboy Junkies open the album with "The Way I Feel" and Blue Rodeo recorded "Go Go Round."

Related Links

The Official Cowboy Junkies' Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Josephine

Cash Brothers

2008-03-14T20:10:00Z

Biography

Brothers Andrew and Peter Cash were more than a decade into their respective musical careers before they decided it was time to work together. Andrew had established himself as a solo artist, while Peter was a member of Skydiggers when they made the decision to team up in 1996. It was three years before the first product of their collaboration, the album Raceway, was released. In the years since, the Cash Brothers have been quite active, releasing a string of albums (2000's Phonebooth Tornado, 2001's How Was Tomorrow and 2003's A Brand New Night) in close succession.

The duo's latest record, the split acoustic album Skydiggers/Cash Brothers (2006), evolved from a series of collaborative shows put on by the two bands. With no plans to tour in the near future, Andrew Cash is currently working on his first solo album since 1993, tentatively titled Murder =, which he intends to released in late 2007.

Sources: The official website of the Cash Brothers, Andrew Cash's MySpace, Wikipedia, All Music Guide

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

On March 22, 2007 the Cash Brothers played a political fundraiser with Blue Rodeo's original keyboardist Bobby Wiseman and the Skydiggers.
The Cash Brothers toured in the USA with Blue Rodeo in 2002.
Glenn Milchem played drums in Andrew Cash's band and appeared on his 1989 album Boomtown before joining Blue Rodeo.
Andrew Cash has been playing hockey with Jim Cuddy for a number of years.
Both brothers opened for Blue Rodeo in the early 1990s; Peter as a member of the Skydiggers, Andrew as a solo artist.
Blue Rodeo and Andrew Cash performed the song "Hey Maria" together on the Ralph Benmurgui show in 1992.
Peter Cash and Skydiggers joined Blue Rodeo on stage at the 1993 Kumbaya festival.
In 1993, Andy and Josh were at Greg's farm for the making of the On The Farm special.
The Cash Brothers and Skydiggers supported the Jim Cuddy Band at the Hockey Hall of Fame during a performance on induction weekendin 2004.
Both Blue Rodeo and Peter Cash contributed to 1994's Borrowed Tunes (A Tribute To Neil Young) and Pine Ridge (Songs for Leonard Peltier) in 1996.

Quotes

"They stole my drummer" - Andrew Cash, from the TV special "On the Farm".

Related Links

The Official Cash Brothers Website

Last Updated

April 2007

Special Thanks To

Dayna

Neko Case

2008-03-14T18:23:00Z

Biography

Starting out in music as drummer and teaching herself to sing after that, Neko Case is now being recognized as songwriter.

An honourary musical Canadian, she is Chicago-based. Born September 8, 1970 in Alexandria, Virginia, Case is of Ukrainian descent. She grew up around horses, cows, goats, and chickens, staying close to her grandparents that were farmers but she got out into the world early though, leaving home at 15. While attending school she played in several local bands, including the Del Logs, the Propanes, the Weasles, mostly cub -- punk groups, but some with a country bent.

In 1994, when she joined the all girl, punk band Maow in Vancouver and taught herself to sing by "paying close attention to what other people do." While there she attended the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, and in 1998, earned a BFA. By the time her student visa ran out, Neko had received six award nominations, two from the British Columbia Country Music Association and four from the Georgia Straight.

In 1997, Case recorded her solo debut, The Virginian, a traditional country album that revealed a rough, vulnerable voice of strength and range that caused critics and her growing legion of loyal fans to swoon. John Doe of X, described her voice as one with a lot of heartache... "like something out of the past." Multifaceted, Neko also taught herself to play guitar and other instruments, and is an accomplished visual artist as well.

Recalling November 1999, Bob Egan reported, "I was in Toronto working on Oh Susanna's record and I heard that Neko was in town recording at the Gas Station. I called Don, co-owner of the studio and offered my services. He invited me by when I got a day off. To Neko I said 'Hey, I'm Bob and I want to play steel on your record.' She was cool with that." He refers to her second album as a classic. Furnace Room Lullaby, released in 2000 garnered countless accolades in publications like The New York Times, GQ, Esquire, Interview, People, and Time.

Neko continued to tour in the United States and Canada, both on her own and with acts including Blue Rodeo and Great Big Sea. In addition, Neko formed The Corn Sisters, a duo with Carolyn Mark, to sing old-time country music. One of their performances, at Seattle's Hattie's Hat restaurant in 1998 was recorded and released as an album, The Other Women in 2000.

Neko's personality is far from predictable. She's outspoken, independent and indifferent to what others may think of her. Her work has earned her a Canadian Juno music award as a member of The New Pornographers, in 2000 for Best Alternative Album.

Case made time to go back into the studio at the end of 2001 and recorded and co-produced Blacklisted (2002). For the first time, Case wrote most of the songs and played a wide variety of the instruments including guitar, piano, saw and drums.. She "twangs like Patsy Cline and croons like Loretta Lynn," says Rolling Stone, "so Neko's just as easy on the ears as she is on the eyes."

In April 2004, Neko played two shows in Toronto with The Sadies, an indie rock/alternative country band she had often collaborated with in the past. The live album of the shows, entitled The Tigers Have Spoken, was released in October of that year. Largely recorded at Lee's Palace in Toronto, it includes a Buffy Ste Marie cover since she's one of the first recording artist Case remembers "I loved her so much that I named my first dog after her."

Next, Neko went back into the studio with The New Pornographers to record their third album, Twin Cinema, which was released in August 2005. In February 2006, Neko was named Female Artist of the Year at the Plug Independent Music Awards, right before the release of her fourth solo album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. Mostly recorded in Tucson Arizona, The Sadies again participated as the backing band, and this time co-writing some tracks. She is secretive about the inspiration behind her material, except to explain that most of her songs are not autobiographical. But open enough to offer that "Music might be the one thing that gets you through the really hard times."

Sources: Mint Records, Neko Case's official website, Bob Egan's official site, SOCAN, NPR.org, Wikipedia

Get Neko's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Bob Egan played on Neko Case's Furnace Room Lullaby. He can be heard playing lap steel and National Resophonic on the song "Porch Light". He also played pedal steel on the song "Thrice All American". (Dallas and Travis Good of the Sadies also contributed to Furnace Room Lullaby.)
Bob Egan (accompanied by Bazil Donovan) opened for Neko Case at the Horseshoe Tavern in May 2000. Greg Keelor also showed up that night to take it all in.
On one big tour, Furnace Room Lullaby was the record Blue Rodeo played between the opening band and when they went on stage.
Just weeks after the release of The Virginian, Neko was invited to perform at the prestigious Havelock Country Jamboree, and shared the same stage with Blue Rodeo to sing to a 10,000 strong audience.
Neko played at the 1998 and 1999 Stardust Picnics.
Bob Egan, Bazil Donovan, Oh Susanna, The Sadies, Ron Sexsmith - all of whom are featured in the One Degree of Blue Rodeo - have collaborated with Neko Case in one form or another. They are all good friends.
In June 2006, Jim Cuddy asked Darryl Neudorf (Neko's co-produces on all her albums) to mix four songs for his second solo album. Darryl also mixed Bob Egan's entire third solo album.

Quotes

"Furnace Room Lullaby is the best country record since 1972." - Bazil Donovan

"Playing on that record [Furnace Room Lullaby] was great. I took a break from recording Oh Susanna's record and went over to the Gas Station studio in Toronto for the day. I didn't even know Neko nor had I heard her music before - I just knew I would like it. I went in and said, 'Hey, I'm Bob and I want to play steel on your record.' She was cool with that." - Bob Egan

"On our big tour this year, Furnace Room Lullaby was the record we played in the time between the opening band and when we went on stage. It was pretty cool cause I would watch the Sadies play their set, then listen to Travis (from the Sadies) and myself playing on Neko's record, and then we would go and play. So now when I hear it, it takes me back to all those shows in the Maritimes." - Bob Egan

Related Links

The Official Neko Case Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

leftbrain

Jim Bryson

2008-03-14T18:00:00Z

Biography

Jim Bryson, formerly of Punchbuggy, hails from Ottawa. Jim played in his first band at age 15 performing synthesizer covers at the Lyon's Club in Stittsville, ON. He's come a long way from those early days!

Though better known as a solo artist, Jim 'sometimes' is also a part of the aptly-named band, The Occasionals. Their self-titled, debut album in 2000 received rave reviews, and earned a spot in the top 10 of almost every year-end music critics' list in Canada. They have even become a rotating band of all-star musicians, including Blue Rodeo's Bazil Donovan, Jim Cuddy Band's drummer Joel Anderson, and Oh Susanna.

In 2003, Jim released his Orange Record Label debut, The North Side Benches. Musically this album is very much about Jim Bryson. In addition to co-producing the album (with LeFeuvre and abetted by Kathleen Edward's producer Dave Droves), Bryson plays guitar and adds a number of restrained keyboard touches to the songs. The album features songs such as "Sleeping In Toronto," "Feel Much Better" and "Broken Fingers."

Jim is also quite an entertainer. The first time you're exposed to his live show, you won't know how to take this man and his self-deprecating humour. How often do you hear an artist asking the crowd to heckle him?

In 2006, Jim started worked on a new, un-named album. A release date for this new project has not yet been set.

Source: Jim Bryson's official website

Get Jim's Music

The North Side Benches

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Jim has supported Blue Rodeo and the Jim Cuddy Band on numerous occasions since 2000, in Canada, the US and the UK.
While touring together in the UK in 2003, Jim Bryson 'borrowed' Blue Rodeo's rhythm section for his opening sets.
Blue Rodeo's Bob Egan and Glenn Milchem have both backed Jim Bryson up at various shows.
Jim has toured extensively as part of Kathleen Edward's band, another One Degree artist of Blue Rodeo.
Jim Bryson and Bazil Donovan have toured together in support of Oh Susanna, yet another One Degree of Blue Rodeo.
Jim Cuddy sings background vocals on the song "Somewhere Else" on Jim Bryson's 2003 release The North Side Benches. In addition he appeared in the video where he sings a solo verse.
Jim was part of a BBC Radio 2 program about Canadian music called "The Maple Music Revolution." This special also featured and interview with Jim Cuddy and highlighted Blue Rodeo as well as several other One Degree artists.
Jim played at the 2006 Ottawa Bluesfest that Blue Rodeo also performed at.

Quotes

"I'll be leaving the stage soon so you can see the Jim you really came to see!" - Jim Bryson bantering with the audience while opening for the Jim Cuddy Band

Related Links

Jim Bryson's Official Website

Last Updated

October 2006

Special Thanks To

Amy

Barney Bentall

2008-03-14T17:53:00Z

Biography

Nearly a decade ago, Barney Bentall was feeling the need for a change and made the switch from rocker to rancher. He bought a ranch in the Cariboo region of BC and set out to learn all he could about raising cattle. While he spent much of his time working the land, Bentall didn't completely give up on his music. He continued to write songs when he felt inspired to and played a handful of shows every year.

Barney has been nominated for and has won countless music awards, has recorded five gold albums with his band The Legendary Hearts and has sold in excess of 10 million records. Now, after almost a decade since his last recording, Barney is back with an amazing release, Gift Horse. Members of Blue Rodeo, including front men Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, collaborated with Bentall on three songs on this new album.

Gift Horse was made over the course of the last two years. Nine of the songs were recorded in Vancouver with his band-mate Johnny Ellis producing. The rest of the CD was recorded in Toronto with Blue Rodeo, at their studio The Woodshed, with Barney's good friend Jim Cuddy producing.

The album hit stores in August of 2006 and was supported by a Canada-wide tour.

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Collaborated with fellow Canadian musicians on the Buried Heart Society project (2002) to record "The Streets Where You Live" which is a tribute to women who suffer daily from the abuses of drug addiction and life on the street. Among the collaborators were Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Slean, Colin James, Ron Sexsmith, Tom Wilson and many others. and many others.
Bentall has performed on stage countless times with Blue Rodeo. Some memorable performance were at Blue Rodeo's April 2005 Are You Ready CD release party in Winnipeg (along with Matt Mays, Ron Sexsmith and Great Big Sea) and more recently, at the Malkin Bowl in Vancouver's Stanley Park.
Barney Bentall and Colin James have been known to join Blue Rodeo on stage to perform a rousing rendition of "The Weight" by The Band.
Barney Bentall was a first round draft pick for the 2006 Juno Cup team. Some of his team-mates included captain Jim Cuddy as well as fellow rockers and one-degree artists Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea) and Jarrett Murphy (Matt Mays & El Torpedo).
Three of the songs from Barney's new album Gift Horse were recorded at Blue Rodeo's The Woodshed recording studio and produced by Jim Cuddy.

Quotes

" It just was a natural place to go. Whenever Blue Rodeo is in town, they're very kind to let me up on stage and sing with them. It always feels so comfortable musically. " - Barney on performing with Blue Rodeo

" I love what that band has done for Canadian music. I've known them for a long time and have played with them often. It felt very comfortable." - Barney on collaborating with Blue Rodeo on his new album

Related Web Links

The Official Barney Bentall Website

Barney Bentall's MySpace Page

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Bluegirl

Jill Barber

2008-03-14T17:25:00Z

Biography

Jill Barber's first-full length album, For All Time, was released through Dependent Music/Baudelaire in October 2006. Dreamy imagery and happy endings are illuminated with appearances by Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy and Bazil Donovan, as well as Luke Doucet, and her brother, Matthew Barber.

Jill's discography includes two previous EPs. A Note to Follow So was released in Kingston, Ontario before she departed for Halifax. In 2004, CBC released the follow up Oh Heart. Jill has kept busy by appearing on recordings by David Myles, Wintersleep, Museum Pieces, Jory Nash, Heavy Blinkers and Matthew Barber. In 2006, she branched out into film by acting in a short film with Brian Borcherdt.

Barber feels that what really makes a good song is its life span, as in 'Will it stand the test of time?' and she pens antique themes like love lost, and found, and other things that endure - family and goodwill. Rich images with emotional power grace original lyrics that she sings as elegant melodies with a dynamic, sweetly assured purr.

Critically acclaimed by The National Post, Eye, Now, and on ChartAttack.com., Jill has also been named Best Local Female Artist for three consecutive years by Halifax's weekly The Coast. In 2005 she was awarded Female Artist-Recording of the Year at the Nova Scotia Music Awards, and was nominated for two East Coast Music Awards, and garnered a nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Jill has been invited to tour with and share stages with Ron Sexsmith Kathleen Edwards, Josh Ritter, Joel Plaskett, and Nellie MacKay. She has performed across Canada and the US (including South By Southwest in Austin, TX, and the NEMO Festival in Boston), and will appear at the Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin, and tour the UK with British band Tunng.

In December, Jill ended an amazing 2006 with four more East Coast Music Awards nominations including FACTOR Album of the Year and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year

Sources: Maple Music, Jill Barber's official website, zunior.com, ChartAttack.com

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

Jim and Bazil helped on For All Time, Jill's first full-length record. Several other One Degree artists, including Luke Doucet, can also be heard on this record.
Jill has appeared on tour and shared the stage with a number of other One Degree artists including Ron Sexsmith and Kathleen Edwards.

Quotes

" When Jim walked into the studio, it was the first time I had ever met him. He's an extremely charming and handsome man. And to have the voice that is so familiar sing my song 'Don't Go Easy' was really cool." - Jill Barber

Related Links

The Official Jill Barber Website

Last Updated

January 2007

Special Thanks To

leftbrain

Jann Arden

2008-03-14T16:57:00Z

Biography

Jann Arden has been a household name in Canadian music for over a decade. Jann has sold over two million albums worldwide, has won several Junos, and was recently induced into the Canada's Walk of Fame.

After struggling for years as a lounge singer, Jann scored big in 1993 with her debut album, Time for Mercy. Her second album, Living Under June (which includes the hit song "Insensitive"), was released in 1994 to rave reviews. Jann's other releases are Happy? (1997), Blood Red Cherry (2000), her live album Jann Arden Live With the Vancouver Symphony (2002) and Love is the Only Soldier (2003). In April 2005, she released her latest album self-titled, Jann Arden.

Jann has also participated in a few projects over the last five years. She co-starred in the successful play, The Vagina Monologues. In October 2002, she released her first book entitled If I Knew, Don't You Think I'd Tell You?, consisting of a collection of journal entries and drawings done by Jane. Jann also performed at the Canada Live 8 concert.

Sources: Jann's official website, CTV.ca, the Juno's official site

Get Jann's Music

Relationship to Blue Rodeo

On Blood Red Cherry, Jim Cuddy sings a duet with Jann on a song entitled "Mend".
Jann and Blue Rodeo have both received numerous Juno awards. They were both nominated in 1998, Jann for female vocalist of the year and Blue Rodeo for group of the year.
In July 1996 (and again in 1998), Jann and Blue Rodeo shared the stage at the Calgary Folk festival. From Tyler McLeod of the Calgary Sun: "Last night at the Calgary Folk Festival, the Canadian Supergroup [Blue Rodeo]...turned in a performance to challenge Jann Arden's fine showing the night before."
In January 1999, it was announced that Jann would host the Canadian Radio Music Awards for the second year in a row. One of the nominees? You guessed it, Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy. The awards are designed to honour first time top charted artists.
Both Jann and Blue Rodeo had a song featured on the same episode (#146) of the Canadian television show Due South: "Unloved" by Jann and "You're Everywhere" by Blue Rodeo.
She performed at Canada's Live 8 concert in Barrie. The concert's line-up included Blue Rodeo.
Jann and Jim Cuddy participated in an auction done at the 2006 Juno Awards to benefit the CARAS program. She autographed a poster with other Canadian artists for the auction.
Jim Cuddy presented Jann her star on the Canada's Walk of Fame.

Quotes

On her duet "Mend" with Jim Cuddy: "I never intended the song as a duet, but we gave Jim a lift once and as we were talking I thought he would be perfect to sing the harmony. You'd never even know it's him. He's singing really low and really high. He just sings beautifully. I sent him a disc of it and he's never said if he liked it or not. I'm hoping he did." - Jann Arden.

"I was fortunate enough to be traveling with Jim in a car in Ontario, we were both going to a charity function. And I just asked him if he was interested in singing on other people's records. He was in New Orleans and I was in L.A. when he sang his part. I sent him the tape there and he ended up singing a verse as well, which made it really special."- Jann Arden (from a Canoe.ca chat, April, 2000).

Related Web Links

The Official Jann Arden Website

Last Updated

September 2006

Special Thanks To

Amy