Days Gone By - 2015 MoM Line-up, in no particular order . . .
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Megan Lane
Megan Lane is a rock musician from Saskatoon, SK who earned her status as a prodigious guitarist with a commanding voice from her pre-teen years on. From her early days cutting her teeth at all-ages blues jams to a decade working as a full-time musician touring the country and honing her writing and performance skills, Lane emerges as one of Canada’s most surprising guitarists with her fourth release Sounding the Animal (late 2014). Steered by the deft hand of in-demand producer Hawksley Workman, Lane’s cut-to-the-bone guitar solos and unbridled voice are set loose amidst the analog tones of classic rock and the punchy synthetic textures of today. The dynamic range of the album moves from up-beat danceable tracks like the lead single “Someday We Will Leave this Town” to a few stripped down acoustic tracks, such as the haunting story-song “Coyote/Wolf” that first won Workman’s attention. The album was launched in August 2014 with a well-publicized two-month cross-Canada tour. |
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Folky Strum Strum
folkystrumstrum.com The People that make up Folky Strum Strum play their version of Banjo Rockin’ folk music. They hail from the Peace Region in BC, met and came together for the simple passion of playing music. “The group has been described by fans as having a unique and soulful sound, that is backed by exceptional songwriting.” In 2004, Folky Strum Strum released their first album the 'Iyan Bruvold Songbook Vol. #1'. October 2013 marks when the second album 'Son Stand Still' hit shelves! 'You could say we started in this project in the kitchen and ended up dancing in the livingroom. And, yes, what a great dance it's been...' - Bert Goulet, Producer Iyan Bruvold, singer/songwriter, banjo & guitar player, started strumming the guitar at an early age almost instantly began song writing, which has recently won him the honourable mention award in the Song Writing Competition at ArtsWells 2010. Recently Folky Strum Strum consists of Brianne Hudson Fiddle/Sax, Amy Gothard on Stand Up Bass, Jason Pratt on Drums and Iyan Bruvold, singer/songwriter, banjo & guitar player. |
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Power Duo
powerduo.bandcamp.com/releases Corbin and Naomi both write songs. They decided they'd play them together and be less alone. When I met Corbin Spensley, I invited him on an interstellar journey to the kitchen table. I knew, in a sick kind of way that he was a person of the most excellent sort. He sang a song by Blaze Foley for about 5 hours while people drank Sangria in the sunshine. I met Naomi on a sweaty afternoon in Fort Fraser. She was playing a great, slightly out of tune Telecaster, and singing songs about throwing beer bottles at cops, or something to that effect. Neither she nor I remember the song. Hers are Intelligent, tough songs without pretence. She is honest enough not to validate my poor-quality puns, and you could trust she wouldn’t do it for you either. In the morning, while she drinks decaf coffee and brandy, she’ll remember you to everything you said at the end of last night Between the two of them, they’ll tolerate your backseat driving, within the boundaries of reason. Their music is excellent. |
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Wax Mannequin
www.waxmannequin.com Returning to MoM after two years away, Strange-folk phenomenon Wax Mannequin is well-traveled. He has crossed a wide range of terrain — both sonic and physical — this decade past. Through his catalogue of secretly renowned recordings and his riotous live performances at countless venues and festivals, Wax continues to bring his essential voice and vision to both sides of the Atlantic. His legend grows through word-of-mouth as his music is passed from hand-to-hand — his influence trickles down from the minds of wayward kindred souls, insidiously seeping into the poetic heart of this country. Wax Mannequin has recently released his sixth record ‘No Safe Home’, and has once again abandoned the trappings of his newly domesticated life in favour of wayward travel. In this hauntingly spacious, sparsely produced acoustic record, Wax uses his raspy and road-broken guitar to provide a thoughtful glimpse into the psyche of our age, or at least into his own paranoid yet endearingly self-aware interpretation of our place and time. |
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Drum and Bell Tower
With the volume up and a fist pumped, Drum & Bell Tower (brent morton) makes politicized harmonic introspection just a little bit slower than you walk. An extensive recording catalogue includes the electro-fusion The Black Need (2008), followed by two folk-stomp efforts, Scratch Out Your Name (2009) and Burn Beneath the Water (2011), the dusk-rock to black moon (2013), and the most ambitious release to date, Out of the Time (2015), incorporating the full D&BT sonic complement into a sweeping psy-folk-rock. Built on a Floyd/Zeppelin foundation, with framing by Neil Young, layout by Radiohead, finishing carpentry by Sigur Ros, and interior design by Beck, live shows for 2015’s Out of the Time release tour will be a fully powered trio featuring Brandon Hoffman (Blocktreat) and Travis Chalford (The Rebel Spell). |
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Dead Body Juice
On Facebook Dead Body Juice is an irreverent collage of Vaudeville, Punky Folk, and Sassy Social commentary delivered through song. Who is Dead Body Juice ? Dead Body Juice ( there's a funny story behind the name ) is an irreverent collage of Vaudeville, Punky Folk, and Sassy Social commentary delivered through song. Dead Body Juice will keep your feet tapping, your mind thinking and your face smiling all night long. Astrid and Steve are Dead Body Juice. |
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Devon Coyote
devoncoyote.com The name ‘Devon Coyote’ encompasses a vast musical project that has grown to be a snarling, pure and powerful sound. With the sincere songwriting and melodic guitars of Devon Bjarnason, the smooth and sultry bass lines of D’Arcy Booth, and the raw, animalistic drumming of Rod Anderson, this group has crossed musical boundaries to create an original and genuine, high-energy experience. Coming off two years of hard touring - playing close to 400 live shows, the boys have forced their albums into repeat on car stereos all across the country. Having sold over 4000 copies of their debut full-length album “Blue, Black and Grey” and moving close to 2000 copies of 2013’s EP “Broken Down”, their fans are eagerly awaiting the release of their new album due out spring of 2015. With the tenacity of a rabid coyote, the band has proven themselves as top shelf performers directly supporting George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Blue Rodeo, 54-40 and Wil on multiple dates in Western Canada in 2014. They have also provided direct support for The Wild, Current Swell, The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer, July Talk, Shred Kelly, Yukon Blonde, Alex Cuba, Emerson Drive and many more prominent artists. Notable festival appearances include: Salmon Arm Roots & Blues, Centre of Gravity, Rifflandia, Keloha Music & Arts, Wapiti, Sunstroke, Harvest Fest, Golden Sound and Desert Live. In their travels they have also been fortunate to share the stage and jam with the likes of Harry Manx, members of Canned Heat, Matt Mays, Adam Baldwin and more. |
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Red Haven
redhavenmusic.com With a new record, a catalogue of over 40 original songs from 3 songwriters, a cross-Canada tour and participation in events such as the Folk Music Ontario Conference, Arts Wells Festival Jasper Folk Festival and the Island Mountain Arts artist-in-residency program, 2015 has been an exciting year of growth for Vancouver’s newest contemporary folk band. Their newest recording, “Vilified” delivers a more sophisticated sound for the group. “We’re stepping outside of our comfort zone for this album,” says Turner, “we have a little of what you would expect from us, the swing, the whisky-folk, but we’re pushing our songwriting way beyond that. We’ve all started to sound more cohesive as a group, and have learned to work with each other in a more mature way, I think it’s really going to make a difference for this record.” |
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Doug Koyama
Doug Koyama makes songs about love. Each impromptu composition is the expression of the moment in which it exists. “Improvised A Capella is the art of getting out of the way of the music that naturally wants to come from you. All you need to remember is take a breath, make a sound, keep going.” Improvised A Capella with a loop pedal is the most compelling thing you’ve never heard before. Rich vocals are looped in limitless layers of interlocking patterns where poly-rhythm and discordance dance on impossible aural landscapes. Invented language introduces the idea of storytelling without the encumbrance of words, the whole thing melts into an experience that will leave you breathless. MoM has giant love for Doug Koyama. Through his performances, his ecmee work, his help in the development of this festival, and of course his HUGS, Doug continues to be part of the Heart of MoM. |
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Sober Becky
soberbecky.bandcamp.com "sober becky" is a musical group comprised of guitar player and singer Becky Russell and historically sometimes drummer Megan Kienas (also known as Cymbal Head). Becky writes fairly alright songs about stuff, including infectious airborne diseases, walmart, fearmongering, nuclear apocalypse, Prince george BC, shitting, eating, sleeping, cats, wine, dumb things that becky has done, dumb things that other people do, some guy named walter, bullies, trees, and much more. |
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Liz Stringer
lizstringer.com With a reputation for utterly captivating live shows and a string of albums already behind her, Liz Stringer has established herself as one of Melbourne’s most exciting and talented musicians. Described by the Herald Sun as “an old-fashioned, Springsteen-style storyteller with a soulful, mature voice”, Stringer combines intimate, complex narratives with haunting vocals to create unique contemporary roots music. Described by the Music Australia Guide as “a true wordsmith”, Stringer’s indescribable voice and intimate stories capture the full spectrum of human emotions. To see her perform live is to see an audience utterly captivated, hanging on every word and every hook as Stringer guides them through journeys of heartbreak, sorrow, hope and love. “With Colourblind, Stringer commands the oft-violated soul-rock genre with the vocal dexterity and empathy of a southern Baptist preacher leading a Sunday morning congregation down the path of righteousness.” - Patrick Emery, Beat Magazine |
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Samson’s Delilah
Unique, fearless, soul-full rock opera folk music. If you were to make a soup with some flavours of Florence & The Machine, Jeff Beck, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, throw in some System of a Down, Zero 7 and Civil Wars, you may end up with something that tastes like Samson’s Delilah. Seth Macdonald and Shara Gustafson, are well known on the Northern Alberta and B.C. festival scene as the front line of the funk/rock/reggae/world groove high energy dance band “Mamaguroove”, born and raised in Dunster, B.C. As the duo, Samson’s Delilah, Seth & Shara have ventured into new musical territory. With a fierce intensity weaving throughout their soundscapes, utterly captivating, Samson’s Delilah will leave their mark on every listener. Heavily influenced by latin guitar, reggae, and other world music, driven with thought provoking songwriting, the thread of the “guroove” runs deep, and you will not be disappointed by the fusion and spell that they weave…. |
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Tax Free Liquor
On Facebook Tax Free Liquor is an Alternative Dance Band, we play Punky/Ska/Metal/Rock dance fun! The best dance party band in the Cariboo! Tax Free Liquor has been around for almost four years. We have a unique, fun sound, concentrating mostly on originals and giving any cover songs the Tax Free Liquor sound! We consist of lead vocalist, back-up vocals, two guitar players, bassist who also plays synthesizer, and a rockin' drummer and often mix things up with other instruments. |
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The Grid Pickers
www.thegridpickers.com The Grid Pickers are a traditionally untraditional husband and wife folk duo from the deep backwoods of rural Saskatchewan. Formally charged with grand pickery, their songs of long hard travelled roads and living off the land and making a bold entrance into the Canadian folk scene. From hand broadcasted seeds of ragtime and country music grow lush crops of untamed bluegrass, Celtic and old-time. With haunting harmonies and foot-stomping tunes, The Grid Pickers are sure to keep your bread rising and the wood stove crackling. After six long years of preparation, The Grid Pickers released their new album “Shack Wacky” in March of 2014. The recording includes “Old Dirt Road”, a fast flowing instrumental banjo & fiddle song, and “Crop Holler” a high lonesome banjo tune about trusting the earth to provide the things needed for survival. Shack Wacky is not for the faint of heart and is sure to leave a lasting impression. |
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Zonnis
zonnismusic.com "We could make beautiful music together". Those were the first words that came to mind as they stared at each other through the dimly-lit venue. From love-at-first-sight to becoming the incredible power duo that you see today, the music of Zonnis is a story of good ol' fashioned rock & roll sprinkled with a light dusting of comedy and drama. Playing from the heart, these star-stricken balladeers criss-cross the land, spreading their messages of peace, love, utopia and friendship. They fearlessly explore both the light and dark sides of life, forever bound together in an eternal flash of divine inspiration. |
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Joey Only
Hot off his stellar performance on the Main Stage at the Canada Winter games with the Outlaw Band, Joey is returning to MoM with his intense Solo act. He can play you hours of songs about life in the north, including many of the Canadiana Classics. He’s released 5 recordings including the album Transgression Trail which topped the Canadian College and Independent radio charts in 2010, the same album with the song Greyhoundin Guitar Man which CBC Radio 3 voted one of the most Canadian songs of the year. The Joey Only Outlaw Band was his force to be reckoned with, an allstar band that couldn’t last forever as Zinger and Steener joined Fred Eaglesmith, Rowan formed the infamous Creaking Planks, Kenan’s band High Society was a hit and Jeff Andrew a sensational and recognized songwriter of his own calibre. Nonetheless that band played 400 of the craziest country shows western Canada ever saw touring with bands from all over the world here in the Great White North. They were relentless in their touring and playing, rarely taking a set break and rockin hard all night. Today Joey Only lives in Wells British Columbia, 4000ft up where the Quesnel Highlands meet the Cariboo Mountains. There he’s worked in gold mines and the back country of Provincial Parks, renovated the Outlaw Mountain Lodge in time for it’s Artswells Festival bonfires and started a real family. Despite surviving tuberculosis, tornadoes, lightning strikes, imprisonment, bear attacks, accidents, thousands of gigs, working at InSite, punk rock, fights, fatherhood and marriage…and not trying too hard these days to be anything in the publics eye…Joey and Leah will still give you an ass kickin, full throttle, professional outlaw country show any day you wanna pay em! |
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The Mojo Junction Collective
The Mojo Junction Collective showcases Australian and Canadian artists in a powerhouse all-star show. From dirty blues, to soul, pop, rock and disco this collaboration is one of a kind, featuring the songs of Aurora Jane, Miss Quincy, Tim Bennett, Liz Stringer and Cat Leahy. |
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Barefoot Caravan
On Facebook Knowledge of the Arts does not belong to one nation of people from which it came, it belongs to us all. Barefoot Caravan, like many people, believes in the power of music in influencing positive change. It is a gateway to knowing ourselves, a window to the soul. This observation of ourselves is why music is so important in the world today. This collective digs into the past to uncover who we are now. They uncover music's buried roots by finding and singing traditional songs from different languages and cultures of the past and present, combining these old melodies with simple music styles that will effectively get the perceived intended messages of the songs across. They travel BC wide, playing mostly outdoor settings and festivals, and are led by Angela Roy who teaches drumming and singing in public schools in a wide range of communities. The collective is embarking in an artist in residency tour bringing these songs and teachings to school children, working with socio-cultural and the arts within the school setting. Barefoot Caravan began as a group that played songs for Children, and have since moved into new territory playing music that can be appreciated by people of any age range and nationality. They are a band who truly shares the greater goal of re-connecting us all to the world we live in together. |
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Dave Soroka
Dave Soroka is a true Canadian troubadour and and old friend of MoM. After a hiatus last year, Dave is coming back! Soroka has written thousands of songs and has recorded many cds in his unique and entrancing style. "Soroka believes in self-expression and personal connections, and he feeds that belief into every note he plays." -Noel Murray, The Nashville Scene "...rock 'n' roll poet, modern muse, beat poet of the 21st century...Canadian songwriter Dave Soroka has been honing his craft since 1969. "Having someone like Dave do a home concert was a treat, not only for me, a long time admirer, but for those who had only heard me mention how unique his sound and approach is. There were reports of them listening to his music for days afterwards....echoing my practice of doing the same many many times." -Eddie Gream, house concert host, Mayfield Kentucky |
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The Party On High Street
thepartyonhighstreet.fourfour.com The Party on High Street is lively danceable mix of funk, folk and jazz-rock, joyfully delivered by a loveable band of seasoned musicians and entertainers. The Party sings of peculiar youthful experience, odd love and some of the weirder aspects of life. Touring and playing live shows has been and integral part of The Party since the beginning. Every summer they travel further into the British Columbia and Alberta Folk Festival scene. This summer the boys played at over 6 music festivals including sharing a stage with Blue Rodeo at Wild Mountain Music Festival and rocking out ArtsWells with 3 sets as well as backing a number of other artists. 2013 and 2014 proved to be a huge years for the boys of The Party On High Street. 'Organized' was recorded with Ryan Hadlock, Grammy producer of The Lumineers in Bear Creek Studios. The result of this album led to another invitation by Ryan Hadlock to record a single at the Sunset Sound Studios In Los Angeles, yet to be released. During 2014 the boys had also toured Australia, United States and Canada, showcasing during Canadian Music Week. Meeting Russ Pahl, four time Juno winning Director and Music Video Producer lead to the planning of another release for late 2014, alongside Ryan Hadlock as well. |
