Some recommended listening fae WeeDan

Grainne - Looking for Sunshine

Grainne (pronounced GRAWN-yuh) has worn out the soles of several pairs of shoes walking the roads of the stories in her songs. She’s leapt headfirst into heartache, heard the sound of the earth weeping, and has still managed to put a positive spin on it all. Grainne's big voice, powerful lyrics and gutsy, earthy sound will have you singing along to her infectious melodies.

Eight of the10 tracks on Grainne's new album, Looking for Sunshine, were produced by Canadian rock veteran Moe Berg (Pursuit of Happiness). The resulting sound applies rootsy pop, solid rock and alternative country to her captivating, melodic songs. As with her 2007 debut release, All the Money, the quality of her music reflects that of her influence, from Neil Young to AC/DC. Still, her music is as unique – and haunting, and strong – as the voice that sings it.

Looking for Sunshine was recorded with a gang of accomplished, highly-regarded musicians: "Texas Stew" Crookes on pedal steel guitar, Ali Stead and Moe Berg on guitars, and power hitter Neil Sanderson on drums. Together, they create a palette of sounds so rich you can almost taste them.

Grainne's lyrics span the breadth of her life for the past 20 years; she’s got something to say, and she wants the world to hear it. Looking for Sunshine collects a handful of those lingering moments of enlightenment that have accumulated over the years.

Since the album release, Grainne has showcased at a number of legendary venues, including Hugh's Room in Toronto and the Distillery in Calgary. Her music is already garnering fans as far away as England, Ireland and other parts of Europe, and plans are now afoot for a Western Canadian tour

 Eclipse - It's Christmas Now !

Eclipse Is Matt Wilkie, and his twin sisters, Nell Malyszka and Trish Keil. They were born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland where the trio performed throughout the country. In 1975 they moved to the United States where they performed acoustic music along the east coast. In 1986 Andy Lafreniere joined the band bringing his experience as an acoustic and electric guitarist as well as his skills as a composer and arranger. The group then evolved into a seven piece band, playing a variety of popular music of the seventies and eighties. With this new Christmas recording, they are now going back to their roots by performing original acoustic and traditional music. All members of Eclipse now make Connecticut their home.

The album has been featured as album of the week on Celtic Music Radio in Scotland and rightly so... for this time of the year why not take a listen to some original music that could easily become classics of the future ... get yourself in the mood with some fine Celtic, Folk and Roots music for Christmas !

Cara Luft - Darlingford

This album was recorded on location in a chapel in the Foothills of Alberta, in several old churches on the Canadian Praires, and in living rooms, hotel rooms and studios across Canada, the United Kingdom and the USA.

Cara is celebrating her long awaited third solo CD, Darlingford
She is a gifted songwriter and plays a mean acoustic guitar to boot. She's spent the last few years touring across Canada and in the U.K., performing, recording tracks for the CD in interesting venues (including a church in Darlingford, Manitoba), and co-writing songs.

The bonus track on Darlingford, "Charged!" is inspired by one heck of a road story she collected along the way. It involves false accusations, sniffer dogs and an unusual deal with a judge.

Darlingford once again captures her prowess as a songwriter, singer and instrumentalist, and introduces her as a gifted producer. Cara will be touring North America and Europe in support of the new album, with a few visits to festivals further afield

Louise Latham - Reclaimed

Gifted singer-songwriter Louise Latham's evocative debut album ' Reclaimed ' was released on the 25th of June 2012 to critical acclaim. For every waking hour while recording the album, Louise was consumed by the project. "I slept next to the Telefunken analogue machine in the studio for the entire two-month period," she recalls. "It was quite a magical time, feeling surrounded day and night by the recording process," exclaims the Cardiff born songstress. Combined with heartfelt production of Arno Guveau, the songs exert an intimate pull on the senses and resonate with an elemental force. Guveau's cinematic arrangements accentuate the dark romantic heart of Latham's writing. Guveau, who has worked with Manfred Mann and former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston, built a studio in his Dutch flat specifically to record Reclaimed creating "an atmosphere with lamps and rugs, an artistic bohemian feel". The exquisite harmonies that form the core of the album are provided by Louise's sister, Suzanne and are steeped in Welsh musical legacy.

Louise's voice - pure, ethereal, intense, and profoundly moving.....The album sets Louise up as a new voice in the British folk tradition, while drawing influence from her heroes. When she talks about touchstones, she mentions the simplicity and economy of Tracy Chapman's compositions, the big quiet of Tori Amos's Boys For Pele album, and the ambitious scope of Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.

R2 - Folk, Roots and Blues magazine
'Reclaimed is an impressive piece of work and makes excellent listening. Louise has all the makings of a star, if you like Adele you will love Louise!'

Natalie McMaster  - Cape Breton Girl

Recorded at Glenn Gould Studios in Toronto, 'Cape Breton Girl' sees Natalie return to her roots with a traditionally based album which embodies the true Cape Breton sound.

It would seem the mother of four is still amazed she let half a decade slip by between record releases.

But she makes up for lost time by getting back to basics with some of her favourite musicians on her latest CD, Cape Breton Girl, a tribute to her Ceilidh Trail roots that’s dedicated to her uncle, Judique fiddler Buddy MacMaster.

An invigorating collection of toe-tapping jigs, reels and strathspeys is not only a joy to behold, but with titles like “Alex MacMaster’s Jig,” “My Brother Kevin” and “Stoney Lake Reels” embraces all the values that Natalie holds dear: family, tradition, home and faith.

Kyle Carey  - Monongah

The Isle of Skye in Scotland, the west coast of Ireland, the Appalachian mountains, New Hampshire, New York Sate, Cape Breton: Kyle Carey has spent time in all of these places, and one way or another, they all find ways into her music.

 It’s superior American folk with a Celtic twist and is Kyle’s debut album, it was recorded in Ireland and produced by Donogh Hennessy (  Lùnasa, Lumiere, Sharon Shannon Band),with a supporting cast of players including Neil Fitzgibbon, Pauline Scanlon (Lumiere) and Aoife Clancy (Cherish the Ladies) on harmony vocals, Cape Breton fiddler Rosie MacKenzie (The Cottars), Brendan O’ Sullivan (Gràda), fiddler Cleek Schrey, John Kirk (Quickstep) on mandolin and banjo, and Trevor Hutchinson (The Waterboys, Lùnasa) on double bass.

 ‘ Monongah’ takes us on a journey through Appalachia, Cape Breton, and Scotland, and includes an award winning title track. Kyle has a sweet voice and finds fresh perspectives within the context of tradition.

The Dirty Beggars - Bite The Bullet

 Bluegrass music from Scotland….surprised…you will be when you hear the brilliance of this young band from Peebles, Scotland ….their harmonies are exquisite and they show maturity beyond their years. Recorded at the famous Sound Café Studio somewhere in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh and engineered and mixed / produced and mastered by the master himself Dave Gray this album will have your toes tapping from start to finish.

The musicianship is outstanding indeed, the band have already travelled to Nashville and appeared at Celtic Connections and are mentored by Thick Skinned Productions in Scotland and on DimeRock Records

You heard of them first from WeeDan..look out for them in Canada soon !

The Paul McKenna Band - Stem The Tide

Traditional music as well as original songs and tunes from this dynamic young 5-piece led by singer Paul McKenna.

 The Paul McKenna Band have been playing to audiences throughout the UK and beyond since 2006. With a contemporary approach to songs, although not straying too far from their roots, their arrangements are both fresh and innovative.

Their exciting sound is created through outstanding vocals, driving guitar and bouzouki, intense fiddle playing, a warm pairing of flute and whistles, and dynamic bodhrán and percussion. Their first album (self-titled) won them Best Up And Coming Artist Of The Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2009, and received critical acclaim.

Paul McKenna with David McNee, Ruaridh MacMillan, Sean Gray and Ewan Baird.

"The best band of their generation..." (The Living Tradition)

"A band with the potential to dominate the Scottish/Irish traditional scene for the next twenty years and be spoken about in the same breath as Boys Of The Lough..." (Fatea Magazine)

Appearing in Port Credit at The Riverview Room for WeeDan Music August 25th see our upcoming events tab on our shows page

Ariana Gillis - Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not, like her first CD, To Make It Make Sense, is a collection of Ariana’s original songs. “Original” not only indicates that she wrote or co-wrote all the songs, but that the subjects are unusual. Not many artists (regardless of their age) write songs about creatures in a lake with healing powers, people in adjacent graves chatting with each other, the annual slaughter of dolphins in a cove in Japan, or young sailors forced to walk the plank.

 Chosen as Young Performer of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards, she is fulfilling the promise many people have seen since she put out her first EP when she was 17.

Blazin' Fiddles - Thursday Night in the Caley

 Who are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They formed in 1998 to showcase their distinct regional fiddle styles. This latest release contains 11 tracks ranging fro Marches Strathspeys and Jigs to "Strolkas"...three traditional strathspeys tweaked into Polkas by the group themselves.Their records are released on their own Blazin' Records label.    

Astrid Williamson - Pulse

Shetland born singer / songwriter Astrid has made the best album of her life, her time has truly come, a little like Dido minus the annoying bland tones. This CD is warmly recommended. 

Fiona Cuthill and Stevie Lawrence – A Cruel Kindness

Fiona and Stevie have been musical partners for a long time, working together in such bands as Whirligig, Canterach, and Rallion, among others.  A Cruel Kindness is their first album as a duo and is a mixture of old friends and new acquaintances. A Cruel Kindness is an outstanding debut that shines the spotlight on Cuthill and Lawrence’s abounding musical talent .

Stevie picked up Producer of the year at the Scottish New Music Awards in September .. well done Stevie !!

The Peatbog Faeries – Dust

This album showcases their eclectic choice of music and their International appeal, as they recall rumbustious nights in Canada, near failure to get to the USA, and climbing epic heights in Sutherland…this is an intriguing wander through the Faeries lifestyle and equally International Musical style. www.peatbogfaeries.com/peatbog-news

Bonnie Ste-Criox – Canadian Girl

A voice possessing the anguish of Annie Lennox, the passion of Chrissie Hynde, and the tender innocence of Janis Ian. The Georgia Straight Bonnie Ste-Croix Launches Pan-Canadian Recording Project Canadian Girl The idea is just so Canadian it’s amazing someone didn’t think of it years ago: travel across the country, record a song in each province, invite guest musicians from each region – like, say, Natalie McMaster, Catherine MacLellan and Stephen Fearing – into the studio with you, and get the Six String Nation guitar in there for good measure. Well, Bonnie Ste-Croix has just made that quintessential Canadian album. Recorded in 12 towns with a total of 46 musicians and singers from all corners of the nation. Canadian Girl was conceived when the Gaspe-born singer-songwriter, whose roots-pop songs have several times crossed over to commercial radio, decided last year to move her family from Vancouver to Halifax to be closer to her ailing mother. As she contemplated the impending road trip, she realized just how at home she felt in each city of Canada and how much she looked forward to seeing her old friends and visiting her favourite landmarks. She began to see all of Canada as one big home town and decided to make an album to celebrate that idea. If there’s such a thing as a timeless, classic, Canadian-sounding roots album, Canadian Girl is it. Her mellifluous, honeyed vocals are layered over gorgeous harmony tracks and sweet, homespun acoustic roots instrumentation…

Check out our Book selection below

 Some recommended reads fae WeeDan

Take It To The Bridge, by Lorraine Wilson

 Dundee’s musical story is told in a fascinating glimpse into it’s characters, impresarios and gifted musicians.From the dance halls and Jazz bands, through the swinging sixties,glam, hippy and punk to todays indie-rock stars, the author has captured the heart and soul of the Dundee music scene.From Billy Mackenzie, Michael Marra, The Average White Band to Danny Wilson and Ricky Ross.How Donny Coutts turned down what was to be one of the biggest bands in the world for twenty five pounds, how he and others rubbed shoulders with the good and the great of music, including Benny Goodman, Gene Vincent, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Cher, Top of the Pops appearances and world tours. It’s a warm immensely readable story.

The Scots - A Genetic Journey, by Alistair Moffat and James Wilson

Explore the hidden history of Scotland carried in DNA. And DNA is redrawing the genetic map of the country amd providing surprising answers to " Who do we think we are ?" 

 
 Robert Burns: A life in letters, by George Scott Wilkie

This book has given us the nearest approach to a Burns autobiography that the world could ever have. In his letters Burns becomes alive, a vulnerable and brilliant human being, who reveals himself and his beliefs, friendships and romances through the medium of his correspondence.  Neil Wilson Publishing.

Talking Music, by Holger Peterson

Holger Petersen wears many hats. He’s hosted CBC Radio’s Saturday Night Blues for 25 years. He’s had a weekly show — Natch’l Blues — on Alberta’s CKUA network for more than 40 years. He’s run Canada’s leading roots music record label, Stony Plain, for 35 years. And along the way, he’s forged friendships with some of the best (and best-known) musicians in the world.

And now he’s created Talking Music, a compilation of 19 in-depth interviews with artists ranging from guitarist Ry Cooder, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman, Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood, gospel star Mavis Staples, Sun Records’ founder Sam Phillips and singers Lucinda Williams, Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt. 

There are final interviews with artists who have left us — Ike Turner, Jeff Healey, Long John Baldry, folklorist Alan Lomax, bluesmen Rosco Gordon and David “Honeyboy Edwards” (who died as the book was being printed) and bandleader Jay McShann.

For Petersen, who’s been interviewing musicians since he was a teenager, the book is a milestone. “Hopefully, these interviews illuminate the wonderful music these people have made,” he says. “The only difficulty for me was choosing 19 interviews out of the hundreds that I’ve been lucky enough to have.”

The book is published by Insomniac Press 

Hebridean Memories , by Seton Gordon  

One of Seton Gordon's greatest works concentrates on the Hebrides of Scotland in the post-First World War years as the islands tried to regain their composure and re-establish their social order. Gordon's prose recounts not only the way of life of the people but also the wildlife and wilderness in a classic memoir of a pattern of existence of which only sparse remnants now remain, and which is forever threatened.

Footnote – Seton Gordon began exploring the Highlands of Scotland as a boy, particularly the Cairngorms. He later became a world famous naturalist, photographer and folklorist, describing the wildlife and scenery of Scotland. His books are still widely available, and a recent anthology has been published. Their appeal is based upon the knowledge of natural history displayed, together with his ability as a writer.