Tue, 10/18/2016 - 7:10 am

When Eliza Doyle’s car broke down in Nashville in 2015, she found herself happily stuck in Music City.  The venerable banjo player and singer/songwriter from Saskatchewan had stopped in to see a festival and ended up enjoying an extended stay, playing in bars and meeting all manner of talented musicians.  Having been on sabbatical to follow her muse anyway, it seemed like fate urging her to keep on the well-worn path to musical fulfillment.

Doyle has had a fifteen-year career in groups, as a solo artist, and as a professional session musician, playing banjo, singing, with not only the banjo, but with guitar, dobro and mandolin. She has released nine full-length albums, won numerous awards, and toured North America and Europe.  Doyle has been a regional finalist in CBC’s Searchlight Canada competition and past winner of Bell Media’s contest, The Next Big Thing.

On her new album It Ain’t What It Seems Doyle’s strong, but wonderfully frayed voice belts out captivating tunes and harmonies. She has the versatility to go from beautiful and melodious songs, to a full on boot stompin’ party scene. With her charismatic high energy performance, combined with outstanding claw hammer banjo, everything about Eliza Doyle’s music rings of an authenticity that takes you straight to the beating heart of folk and bluegrass music.

October

18th- Lloydminister. AB. The Root Emporium, (host Open Stage) 

8 PM, Donation http://www.therootce.ca

20th- Edmonton, AB. Sewing Machine Factory

7 PM $10 https://www.facebook.com/The-Sewing-Machine-Factory-516859311855442/

21st- Williams Lake, BC. Arts Centre, Arts on The Fly with C.R Avery

9 PM $10  http://www.artsonthefly.com

22nd- Prince George, BC The Legion, with C.R Avery

http://www.eventsincanada.net/event-c-r-avery-cd-release-with-eliza-mary-doyle-prince-george-903060

8 PM $10

23rd- Vancouver, BC. Cafe Deux Soleil with guests Jayne Trimble

8 PM $5 http://www.cafedeuxsoleils.com

25th- Vancouver, BC. The Heatley with guests Jayne Trimble and Bob Sumner

8:30 PM no cover

26th- Duncan, BC. Duncan Showroom

8 PM $12 @ advance $15 @ the door http://showroomproductions.ca

27th- Victoria, BC. Wheelies

8 PM Donations

28th- Victoria, BC, Private House Concert

30th- Parksville, BC, The Realm

6 PM $20 http://realmfoodco.com

November

2nd- Nelson, BC, Bigby Place

1:30 PM Donation 509 Front Street

3rd- Kaslo, BC, The Bluebelle Bistro

7 PM Donation http://www.bluebellebistro.com

4th- Nelson, BC, The Royal

9 PM $10 http://www.royalgrillnelson.com

5th- Calgary, AB, The Speak Easy Garage (Private Event)

18th- Winnipeg, MB, The Times Change(d) with The Osmond-Davis Band

10 PM $10 http://www.highandlonesomeclub.ca

Thu, 08/17/2017 - 9:28 am

On his new album, Dirt Road Confessional, Jeffery Straker continues push the boundaries of what it means to be a piano balladeer. With themes both contemplative and joyous, the 12- song collection encapsulates the seasoned Saskatchewan singer/songwriter’s experiences of playing over 200 shows around the world since the release of his previous album, 2015’s North Star Falling.

Straker regularly draws comparisons to a young Billy Joel or Elton John, with touches of Rufus Wainwright and Harry Nilsson thrown in.   With Dirt Road Confessional Jeffrey was determined to explore different approaches in the studio, which led the album to be constructed out of five separate sessions. Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant) produced three songs in Nova Scotia, Royal Wood co-wrote two songs and co-produced them with Lawrence Katz in L.A., Dean Drouillard (Justin Rutledge, Amelia Curran) produced two songs in Toronto—where additional tracks were also laid down with Robyn Dell’Unto—and Murray Pulver (The Bros. Landreth) co-produced the balance with Brad Prosko during sessions in Regina.

Despite the many hands being involved in the end result, the foundation of Dirt Road Confessional is Straker’s unwavering sonic vision for the record, and its story about finding love while at the same time finding courage to pursue one’s art. Straker says, “When I was writing these songs I didn’t realize how cohesive the theme and inspiration was. A strange result of being away so much is that you gain a perspective of what’s most important to you. That led me to call the album Dirt Road Confessional. It consists of songs that came to me while I was touring, and more specifically, from all the time you have to think while driving from show to show.”

Album opener “Beauty in the Grey” serves as the story’s prologue with its opening line, “Another view of the country, from here behind the wheel.” It speaks to the musician’s reality of meeting so many people but never really getting to know them, and how sharing music ultimately creates the bond. Another key track is “1000 Miles Away,” on which Straker goes deeper into the self-discovery that occurs on the road. While there’s a tinge of regret in the opening line, “There’s a part of me that’s never ever left the farm,” the reward is clear by the end when he sings, “I’m grateful for the distance that I traveled, ‘cause I finally saw you from a thousand miles away.” That sentiment could be directed at many people but on “Walking Shoes,” Straker writes specifically about his father. Although the family business was farming, both of Straker’s parents play instruments and they always encouraged him to pursue his dream to be a professional musician. What it comes down to, as the song illustrates, is that you should strive to do what you love. The story comes full circle with closing track “Fades to Grey,” which, by contrast, heartbreakingly illustrates the dichotomy between an artist’s life on and off stage.

“From the release of my first album to now, I’ve tried to balance my inner feelings with chronicling the stories of people around me,” Straker says. “Characters have popped up on all of my albums and a few do on this one too. But this album feels more personal. Lyrically I share more about myself than I have before, and musically I’ve moved in a more rootsy direction, in some ways because that’s the sound I grew up with. It seems like a really natural progression—dobro, banjo and acoustic guitar are featured, but piano is, of course, still at the core of most of the songs.”

Jeffery Straker is giving all he has to his music, and the evidence is clear from the creative strides he’s made on Dirt Road Confessional, an album that confirms his status as one of Canada’s most gifted singer/songwriters.

Jeffrey Straker – Dirt Road Confessional (Acronym/ Universal Canada - Released May 2017 )

Track Listing:

1.Beauty in the Grey 4:05 (roots/folk)

2.Bravery 3:07 * (roots/folk)

3.Thousand Miles Away 4:26

4.Boom Boom 3:06 * (roots/folk)

5.Deliver Me 3:55 (roots/folk)

6.Sweet Sweet Nothings 3:12 (folk/pop)

7.Something’s Gotta Give 4:14

8.Queen of Broken Souls 5:17

9.Fool for You 3:22 * (alt-pop)

10.Get What You Give 4:47

11.Walking Shoes 4:12 (roots/folk)

12.Fades to Grey 4:21

Thu, 09/14/2017 - 6:35 pm

On his new album, Dirt Road Confessional, Jeffery Straker continues push the boundaries of what it means to be a piano balladeer. With themes both contemplative and joyous, the 12- song collection encapsulates the seasoned Saskatchewan singer/songwriter's experiences of playing over 200 shows around the world since the release of his previous album, 2015’s North Star Falling.

Straker regularly draws comparisons to a young Billy Joel or Elton John, with touches of Rufus Wainwright and Harry Nilsson thrown in. With Dirt Road Confessional Jeffrey was determined to explore different approaches in the studio, which led the album to be constructed out of five separate sessions. Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant) produced three songs in Nova Scotia, Royal Wood co-wrote two songs and co-produced them with Lawrence Katz in L.A., Dean Drouillard (Justin Rutledge, Amelia Curran) produced two songs in Toronto—where additional tracks were also laid down with Robyn Dell’Unto—and Murray Pulver (The Bros. Landreth) co-produced the balance with Brad Prosko during sessions in Regina.

Despite the many hands being involved in the end result, the foundation of Dirt Road Confessional is Straker’s unwavering sonic vision for the record, and its story about finding love while at the same time finding courage to pursue one’s art. Straker says, “When I was writing these songs I didn’t realize how cohesive the theme and inspiration was. A strange result of being away so much is that you gain a perspective of what’s most important to you. That led me to call the album Dirt Road Confessional. It consists of songs that came to me while I was touring, and more specifically, from all the time you have to think while driving from show to show.”

Album opener “Beauty in the Grey” serves as the story’s prologue with its opening line, “Another view of the country, from here behind the wheel.” It speaks to the musician’s reality of meeting so many people but never really getting to know them, and how sharing music ultimately creates the bond. Another key track is “1000 Miles Away,” on which Straker goes deeper into the self-discovery that occurs on the road. While there’s a tinge of regret in the opening line, “There’s a part of me that’s never ever left the farm,” the reward is clear by the end when he sings, “I’m grateful for the distance that I traveled, ‘cause I finally saw you from a thousand miles away.” That sentiment could be directed at many people but on “Walking Shoes,” Straker writes specifically about his father. Although the family business was farming, both of Straker’s parents play instruments and they always encouraged him to pursue his dream to be a professional musician. What it comes down to, as the song illustrates, is that you should strive to do what you love. The story comes full circle with closing track “Fades to Grey,” which, by contrast, heartbreakingly illustrates the dichotomy between an artist’s life on and off stage.

“From the release of my first album to now, I’ve tried to balance my inner feelings with chronicling the stories of people around me,” Straker says. “Characters have popped up on all of my albums and a few do on this one too. But this album feels more personal. Lyrically I share more about myself than I have before, and musically I’ve moved in a more rootsy direction, in some ways because that’s the sound I grew up with. It seems like a really natural progression—dobro, banjo and acoustic guitar are featured, but piano is, of course, still at the core of most of the songs.”

Jeffery Straker is giving all he has to his music, and the evidence is clear from the creative strides he’s made on Dirt Road Confessional, an album that confirms his status as one of Canada’s most gifted singer/songwriters.

Jeffrey Straker – Dirt Road Confessional (Acronym/ Universal Canada - Released May 2017)

Track Listing:

1.Beauty in the Grey 4:05 (roots/folk)

2.Bravery 3:07 * (roots/folk)

3.Thousand Miles Away 4:26

4.Boom Boom 3:06 * (roots/folk)

5.Deliver Me 3:55 (roots/folk)

6.Sweet Sweet Nothings 3:12 (folk/pop)

7.Something’s Gotta Give 4:14

8.Queen of Broken Souls 5:17

9.Fool for You 3:22 * (alt-pop)

10.Get What You Give 4:47

11.Walking Shoes 4:12 (roots/folk)

12.Fades to Grey 4:21

Tour Dates:

Sept 14 – Wolfville, NS - Edible Eats

Sept 16 – Bedford, Halifax - Patchwork Concerts

ON/QC:

Sept 22 – Durham, ON - Garafraxa Theatre

Sept 23 – Manitoulin, ON - Cafe in the Woods

Sept 29 – Wakefield, QC - Black Sheep Inn

Sept 30 – Kemptville, ON - The Branch

Oct 4 – Montreal, QC - Le Cagibi

Oct 7 – Dunham, QC - Brasserie Dunham

Oct 14 – Knowlton, QC - Star Cafe - Acoustic Village

Oct 21 – Toronto, ON - Penthouse 8

WEST

Oct 25 – Fernie, BC - Arts Station

Oct 26 – Kimberley, BC - Green Door

Oct 27 – Calgary, AB - Festival Hall - presented by the Calgary Folk Fest

Oct 28 – Windthorst, SK - Graceland Live

Nov 3 – Georgetown, ON - Uncorked

Nov 17 – Regina, SK - Riddell Theatre, University of Regina

Nov 18 – Regina, SK - Riddell Theatre, University of Regina

Nov 23 – Edmonton, AB - Rossdale Theatre

Nov 24 – Taber, AB - Taber Equality Alliance benefit

Nov 26 – Shaunavon, SK - United Church

Dec 3 – Watrous, SK - Civic Centre

Dec 14 – Richmond Hill, ON - Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre

Dec 16 – Regina, SK - Casino Regina