For the love of music

For the love of music, starting today all hearts open here at the new web-home of Allison Crowe and bandmates Sarah White, Keelan Purchase & Dave Baird: https://allisoncroweband.com

For 20 amazing years Allison’s original site, designed by Alix (Whitmire) May @ http://allisoncrowe.com, serves as entry point for a community, millions of people all over the globe, to enjoy the music and history of one of our world’s great artists and bands. Thank you for your kind support & loyalty throughout the years!

With a growing family of musicians, and plenty more recordings and fun ahead, it’s come time for a new chapter online. Céline Sawchuk, (graphic artist + the combo’s former cellist), composes a new portal – for all to share and enjoy the sounds and happenings of Allison, Sarah, Keelan & Dave.

On this road less-traveled, we’ve the pleasure to meet fab photographers, from west to east. The characterful images of Billie Woods and Alick Tsui are prominent among those enlivening the new site.

Welcome! Explore! Enjoy!

Happy Canada Day!

“A Case of You”, composed by Joni Mitchell about her times with Leonard Cohen, as first performed by Allison Crowe on CBC Radio’s “Sounds Like Canada” with host Shelagh Rogers – cover photo by Billie Woods captured on Pender Island. A combo Canadian as a plate of poutine in the snow.

Happy, peaceful, July 1^st!

"Heirs+Grievances" Full Riches

“Heirs+Grievances”, already a glorious album of music from Allison Crowe and Band, is now an even fuller experience. Two song tracks are restored to the original release: a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No.2” and a live-in-the-studio take of “Secrets (That Aren’t My Own)” – a signature of Crowe’s repertoire.

As concert versions of both songs are heard on “Introducing”, the live-CD element of the double-album, these tracks were dropped from last year’s physical pressing. Now, they’re reunited with the other tracks captured at Turtle Recording. A work of “artistic genius”, as “The Celtic Music Fan” describes the album, is now ever-more brilliant.

Wedding Song - Cohencentric's Marvellous Take

Allan Showalter, always illuminating and entertaining concierge and much more at the Chelsea Hotel of culture blogs, “Cohencentric: Leonard Cohen Considered”, shares the keys to Allison Crowe’s “Wedding Song” video – its musical gallery hung with fotos by Billie Woods: http://cohencentric.com/2016/07/08/wedding-song-allison-crowes-small-masterwork

Checking in with nods to Andrew Marvell, Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Lucinda Williams and Alicia Keys – our guide observes: “Turns out all the hype about about Allison’s vast tonal, thematic, and emotional range is true.” And, with another turn of phrase, unlocks this realization: “Once you’ve heard one Allison Crowe song, You’ve heard one Allison Crowe song.”

Silence - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

“Silence”

Silence - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Amazing Allison Crowe and Band – debut album “Heirs + Grievances”:

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances 

Lisa’s Song - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Hope. Faith. What we need to carry on.

"Lisa's Song" - Allison Crowe and Band from the group's debut album "Heirs + Grievances".

Lisa’s Song - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances  

Words - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

In 2013, Murúch, the pioneering blog that's been sharing music and culture notes online since 1999, premiered a solo version of Allison Crowe’s “Words”, saying: “What a lush piece of work that song is! There’s a touch of Celtic folk in the instrumentation, haunting backing vocals and a slow building, seething tension until Allison unleashes her wail toward the end of the song.”

“Words” was named #1 of the year’s top songs by Murúch (2013’s other top ten picks came from artists: Alice Boman; Trent Dabbs; Lorde; Vienna Teng; Foxygen; Imagine Dragons; MS MR; & Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu): http://www.muruch.com/2013/12/muruch-2013-top-songs.html

Now, Allison Crowe and Band unleash a group performance of “Words” with visual accompaniment from another pioneer - Winsor McCay, who revolutionized comics and animation a century ago, through such creations as 1921’s “Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend: The Pet”:

Words - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Waking here from the surrealistic pillow of “Heirs + Grievances” lyricism.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

Simply Amazing

Amazing Radio, London, England-based international and independent radio, featured "You All Haunt Me" this weekend on the station's Amazing Rock Show. Thanks to show host/DJ Aaron Phillips and Producer Neil Reynolds for picking up on the debut from Allison Crowe and Band. Now on Amazing @ http://amazingtunes.com/allisoncrowe enjoy a playlist of 29 songs – the entire new studio album, “Heirs + Grievances”, plus a song from each of 16 earlier EP/album releases from Allison.

  

To hear the premiere broadcast of “You All Haunt Me”, it’s @ http://s3.amazonaws.com/first_plays/400101_amazingradio_28-05-2016_19-58.mp3

Now I’m 64 - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Reflecting now with home-movies of Allison Crowe and her delightful rendition of a song that’s one of the treasures of Canadiana renewed by “Newfoundland Vinyl”, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s much-loved hit.

This year’s edition of “Vinyl” has begun rehearsals in prep for a “greatest hits” run this Summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, June 11 – September 2, 2016: http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-greatest-hits-2016

“Now I’m 64” is a traditional Newfoundland parlour song – here delivered by Allison Crowe and Band on their debut release, “Heirs + Grievances”. Earlier variants include recordings by Atlantic Canada musical legends Ryan’s Fancy, Harry Hibbs and more. The invaluable lyrics and video site “GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador” has plenty to help us cherish an history that’s, joyfully, tunefully alive today: http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/sixtyfour.htm

Going Home Tonight - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Home. Whatever it is, wherever it is, it’s usually profoundly meaningful to us.

Ticket for a musical journey on life’s gossamer wings is Allison Crowe and Band – here with song number nine from the group’s debut album, “Heirs + Grievances”.

Well before PanAm Jet Clippers were on the air, the magic of French film-maker Georges Méliès carried people up, up and away to fresh perspectives. Imagination finds home in this travelogue from 1902, “Le Voyage dans la Lune” (A Trip to the Moon).


Going Home Tonight - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

On the Air - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Ani DiFranco, “the little folksinger that could”, an inspiring model for Allison Crowe and her team, says she understands why so few musicians actually follow her DIY route – it’s hard work going against the current!

Still, there can be perks for a traveling troubadour. Behold the PanAm ‘Jet Clipper’, one of such aircraft checking in for decades at Gander International, Newfoundland’s hangars for refuelling on trans-Atlantic flights. It spirits passengers and crew in style.

On the Air - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Allison Crowe and Band’s just-wrapped concert trip to Europe touched souls in Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium and England. “On the Air”, written when Crowe was a teenager, still packs great emotional weight – and soars now without some personal baggage of early flights.

On board for this musical journey, Allison Crowe (vocals, piano), Céline Greb aka Lin Lin (cello, vox), Billie Woods (guitar, vox), Dave Baird (bass) – and, in the wings, Sarah White (mandolin, vox). It’s on the manifest for for the band’s debut release “Heirs + Grievances”.

Why - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

“Do you know how I feel?”

An essential question raised in “Why” – the Annie Lennox song covered here by Allison Crowe and Band – and via the poetry of Jean Vigo’s 1934 film “L’Atalante” (from which the accompanying visuals are drawn).

Why - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

A 13-song video series for Allison and Band's debut album is now unspooling on facebook (as a playlist) and on Vimeo @ https://vimeo.com/album/3932431 as an album (that's complete when the song “Silence” posts online Friday, June 3, 2016).

“Introducing / Heirs + Grievances”

Oceans - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

“A Mari Usque Ad Mare”. Canada’s motto well frames the dominion of Allison Crowe – “from sea to shining sea”. From her birth in the harbour city of Nanaimo, BC on the Pacific coast to her creative years at home in Corner Brook, NL on Atlantic shores there’s a vast expanse of beauty.

Crowe’s approach to music-making, along with bandmates Céline Greb aka Lin Lin, Billie Woods, Sarah White and Dave Baird – on record and on-stage – is so true, as well, that in an industry of processed audio and calculated everything, the sound of Allison Crowe and Band is refreshingly real as that of the natural world.

Diving further into the just-released album, “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances”, take a swim now in “Oceans”:

Oceans - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

Foggy Shores of Home - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

In a recent posting, Devon-based music-and-literary-blogger Mike Ferguson cites the “joy and fun” that comes across in a new live recording from Allison Crowe and Band (https://somediurnalauralawe.blogspot.ca/2016/04/allison-crowe-and-band-heirs-grievances.html). Allison and bandmates Celine Greb aka Lin Lin, Billie Woods, Sarah White and Dave Baird – on record and on-stage – bring that essence of life, and, for a fun-filled Friday, or any day, here be the irresistibly joyous “Foggy Shores of Home”.

The tune is penned by Gary O’Driscoll, one of Canada’s great songwriters – with such other classics as “Out from St. Leonards” and “The Men Who Die for a Living” to his credit. O’Driscoll, born in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, and now at home in Ontario, Canada, crests high among Allison Crowe’s favourite songwriters to cover – as he brilliantly captures the joys as well as the heartaches of people.

From the studio disc of the just-released double-album, “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances” Allison and the band celebrate and embrace home – where e’er your port'o'call.

Foggy Shores of Home - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

With the band’s bassist Dave now driving to Gros Morne National Park, NL where he’ll be a sea captain for the Summer, we welcome another sailor man in this music video. Ever-green Fleischer Studios characters – Popeye and Olive Oyl – keep things rolling in this newest addition to the “Heirs + Grievances” visual album.

It's refreshing - like lemonade for a nickel a shot.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

Tarry Trousers - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Sailing into this happy Mother’s Day weekend – here’s a traditional tune, “Tarry Trousers”, gorgeously raised aloft by Allison Crowe and Band on the group’s debut album “Heirs + Grievances”.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

Arthur - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Love, family, age – elemental themes bond with Arthurian legend in this song of life's mystery and magic - the second tune, and video, from "Heirs + Grievances", the debut album of Allison Crowe and Band.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

You All Haunt Me - debut video

“You All Haunt Me” opens the debut album from Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances. And the first music video for the double-disc set is this song paired with scenes from Ménilmontant, the silent cinema classic from Dimitri Kirsanoff featuring partner Nadia Sibirskaïa and Yolande Beaulieu.

Introducing / Heirs + Grievances Release!

"Introducing / Heirs + Grievances" is released!: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

When critics liken you to Edith Piaf, Elton John, Aretha Franklin and Modest Mussorgsky, it’s a good sign you’re truly one-of-a-kind. So it is with musical explorer Allison Crowe who, since creating her own record label in 2001, uniquely inhabits the world of song – continually adding breadth and depth to a richly expressive repertoire for piano, vocals, guitar and bodhran.

Crowe’s “supernaturally agile and exquisite voice” is complemented ideally by her international touring band: Céline Greb (cello, vocal harmonies); Sarah White (mandolin, vocal harmonies); and Dave Baird (bass). Longtime friend, musician and photographer Billie Woods contributes guitar and vocal harmonies to the band’s recordings. The combo’s gorgeously thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock bridges vital originals with fresh interpretations of classics by Annie Lennox and Gary O'Driscoll.

Alongside multi-genre concert and recording projects over this past year the Nanaimo-born, Newfoundland-based artist’s active as music curator and arranger for acclaimed stage productions of: Atlantic Canada’s folk and popular song; the collaborative works of Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill; and choral renderings of traditional Christmas carols.

A singular artistry and virtuosity make Allison Crowe performances legendary - and fun. In the Scottish Highlands she brought down the house on a bill with Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Master of the Queen's Music. In Hollywood Superman movie director Zack Snyder is outspoken in his respect and admiration. Touring with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet audiences responded with spontaneous standing ovations.

"The most honest, heartfelt, and directly intimate concert in my entire life,” says longtime American public broadcaster Ross Hocker. “Allison has a special gift that is so very rare in musicians today. She is true to her mind, heart and spirit. She also has a most wonderful humor which envelops her audience."

"Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," sums up Allison Crowe.

"Heirs + Grievances" is the debut studio album of Allison Crowe and Band (and the 20th release on Crowe's label, Rubenesque Records Ltd.) The digital album contains 13 exciting tunes and honestly potent performances. It’s a magnificent set of songs from Allison Crowe and her extraordinary band of musicians. The physical CD comes with a bonus, live, set – “Introducing”. Enjoy!!

You All Haunt Me - Allison Crowe and Band

"You All Haunt Me" opens the debut album from Allison Crowe and Band: "Introducing / Heirs + Grievances".

More on this new double-album of music - and the band's concert tour - coming soon.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com  +  http://allisoncrowe.com

Ready to rock and roll

The albums are all finished and ready to go for the tour starting next week!! woot woot!

Allison Crowe @ https://www.instagram.com/allison_crowe

            #newmusic #tour #europeantour #music