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!

But, still

“But, still”. Allison Crowe with Link – a work in progress. 

"Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," says Allison. That is all. 

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/

Celebrating avec "Montreal"

Long story short - this is a beautiful cover of my song ‘Montreal’ by a wonderful student and singer in Dorval (musicians of L'école Dorval-Jean XXIII).

Short story long (and rambling): So writing songs (for me, anyways) can be a weird thing - and can feel like no one will ever hear you, or care, or connect with how deeply you feel what you're saying - but then you kind of have to accept that maybe that doesn't matter, and it is in that instant only about what the creation for you means right then - and maybe that's all it'll ever be, it's absolutely possible no one will care, and so you just do it anyway, because it's what you do.

Maybe after you write it, it doesn't matter what it means to you, it isn't about yourself at all, it's about what someone else can take away from it, heal, commiserate, rage, sing or laugh along - and you put every emotion you have in to whatever you're saying in one moment - but then that time passes, A LOT OF TIME PASSES VERY QUICKLY, and everything takes on different meanings. Sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's funny, sometimes it makes you cry.

Students in Dorval are celebrating 375 years of Montreal, and this is a young woman singing a verse and chorus of my song ‘Montreal’, and I can honestly say that a) i never saw that coming b) i don't actually know what to say so i am saying too much and c) I'm crying.

Year of the Fire Rooster

Celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year with Allison Crowe on a musical and cinematic voyage that’s of, and out of, this world:

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

Clodagh Mara O'Connell Joins Allison Crowe & Co. for New Adventures

The music of Allison Crowe has travelled greatly this century. Now, with bandmates, LIN, Sarah White & Dave Baird, there’s more adventure ahead.

And, it’s with immense delight and gratitude we welcome aboard Clodagh Mara O’Connell – newly appointed Road & Merch Manager for the group.

Clodagh is a lawyer and former music journalist and screenwriter. Her deep love of music and the arts has been the constant in her life and work. Clodagh’s passions and talents flow together with Allison + band in, both, admin and hands-on areas.

Art and all at Rubenesque Records Ltd. has never shone brighter as we enter this New Year. A new web home is being built @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/wordpress - and the ol’ faithful site remains @ http://allisoncrowe.com – enjoy all the music @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Day 21 on Musical Advent Calendar

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” opens Day 21 on the Musical Advent Calendar. This traditional Christmas carol dates originally to 18th century England - and makes an appearance in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" almost 100 years later. In this new millenium, Allison Crowe delivers the song a cappella - on her album "Souling”.

Each day through Christmas celebrate with a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

The Wexford Carol - Day 19 on Musical Advent Calendar

From 12th century Ireland to here and now, Day 19 on Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar, “The Wexford Carol” brings tidings of comfort and joy - "Good people all, this Christmastime...":

Each day through Christmas enjoy a new song opening on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

It Came Upon a Midnight Calendar - Day 11 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Allison Crowe’s Musical Advent Calendar radiates glorious songs. Here, on Day 11, is one that began life as a poem and has been ringing out for o’er 200 years: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”:

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Allison Crowe a cappella from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Each day through Christmas celebrate a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @

http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html 

Allison Crowe and special guests bring "Tidings" to the ACC Corner Brook in Concert - Saturday, December 10 at 8pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/578139959061288

Foggy Shores of Home - Day 10 on the Musical Advent Calendar

Day 10 on the Musical Advent Calendar opens a portal to one of the finest songwriters across the land and seas, Canada’s Gary O’Driscoll. Born in Bay Bulls on Newfoundland’s southern shore, O’Driscoll’s great compositions include “Men Who Die for a Living”, “Cliffs of La Scie”, “Out from St. Leonard’s” and “Christmas in the Harbour”.

Allison Crowe loves to perform and share the O’Driscoll canon – in her own concerts and recordings and through curating “Newfoundland Vinyl”, a perennial favourite show at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

We’re all invited aboard Gary O’Driscoll’s tunes – hear Allison and band welcome us to those “Foggy Shores of Home”: 

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

Each day through Christmas a new song to celebrate this season will open on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html 

Happy Birthday, Allison :)

Celebrating - November 16!!

Arthur - Allison Crowe and Band Euro Live Bootleg Sparkles in Cohencentric Setting

Gem of a music-lover’s blog, “Cohencentric: Leonard Cohen Considered”, reveals facets of artistry on display in a rare bootleg of Allison Crowe and Band. The recording, just unearthed from an European audio-trove, features the quartet performing a song sparkling in the diamantine prose of Allan Showalter, Cohencentric’s master wordsmith:

“ ‘Arthur’ is elegantly, efficiently lapidarian, interweaving deeply personal questions of devotion and loyalty, Arthurian legend, intense romantic longing, and, of course, sex. It is, in a word (albeit a conveniently coined term) – Cohenesque. The video for ‘Arthur’ is also a visual treat, featuring sweet, awkward, altogether fetching clips from home movies, shot in Johannesburg and the Natal Coast of South Africa, of the honeymoon of two young people of my own parents’ generation.”

http://cohencentric.com/2016/10/03/allison-crowe-band-arthur-euro-live-bootleg

Allison, LIN, Sarah & Dave Thrilling Live

Prepare for joy and fun, gravitas and levity in harmony, across Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast as a great artistic, journey courses on-stage again soon – when Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle & bodhran) and bandmates LIN (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitarist, vocals) & Dave Baird (bass) bring their “Introducing / Heirs+Grievances” tour to North America.

Experience the excitement of the group and its evolving sound live:

Sat., October 22 @ 7:30pm – Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre, Tofino

Thur., October 27 @ 7:30pm – Ladysmith First United Church, Ladysmith

Sat., October 29 @ 7:30pm – Charlie White Theatre, Sidney/Victoria

Thur., November 3 @ 7:30pm – Port Theatre, Nanaimo

Sat., November 5 @ 7:30pm – Tidemark Theatre, Campbell River

Thur., November 10 @ 7:30pm – Patricia Theatre, Powell River

Sat., November 12 @ 7:30pm – Heritage Playhouse Theatre, Gibsons (Sunshine Coast)

The quartet’s thrilling hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and rock flowed across Europe this Spring. It’s now somewhere else – be part of it all in-person and online:

https://www.facebook.com/AllisonCroweMusic/events + http://allisoncrowe.com/tour.html + http://music.allisoncrowe.com

"First Listen" on CBC Radio - Host Heather Barrett Chats with Allison Crowe

Allison Crowe and Band brought their new music live to audiences in Europe this Spring – performing sensational concerts in Germany, Slovenia, Italy, England and Belgium. Since then, Allison’s been go-go again - musically directing as well as singing and playing on-stage with TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

Now, as the Corner Brook artist readies with bandmates to tour the new double-album in Canada for the first time – Allison Crowe catches breath long enough for an engaging chat with Heather Barrett, Host/Producer of Weekend AM, CBC Radio One’s weekend morning show across Newfoundland and Labrador. Catch the conversation via our national public broadcaster’s super-handy web feature player:

Click here for First Listen - http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2694743850

It’s a special segment of WAM, called “First Listen”, which brings the islanders together to talk about, and share a couple of songs from, Allison and Band’s double-disc debut, “Introducing / Heirs+Grievances”.

Update: "First Listen" on CBC Radio with Host/Producer Heather Barrett now has up this delightful web-feature - with text as well as audio-play of the show's chat with Allison Crowe about her band's debut release. Tune in for a tracks from the live "Introducing" and studio set "Heirs+Grievances" as the amazing Allison and Band prepare to bring their music and joy to the world.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/first-listen-introducing-heirs-and-grievances-by-allison-crowe-1.3757267

Allison Crowe's Rubenesque Records Celebrates 15 Years

Rubenesque Records, the music label of Allison Crowe, is 15.

Rubenesque logo - conceived by Allison Crowe & designed by Lin Lin

An artist, a person with the integrity of this Canadian islander was always going to find her own way and on August 23, 2001, Allison incorporated Rubenesque Records Ltd. and carried on the road less-traveled – stating: "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make."

Righteous Babe Record’s founders, musician Ani DiFranco and manager Scot Fisher, remain a model of truly independent spirit and creativity in today’s record industry – hopeful proof that "If you are disgustingly sincere and terribly diligent, there are ways for any serious artist to operate outside the corporate structure."

Rubenesque Records marks its 15th year with the debut of Allison Crowe and Band – “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances” – the 20th release by the label, and the launch of another, exciting, creative phase.

Virtuoisic, versatile and visceral – Allison Crowe’s amazing body of work is experienced through more than 150 original song recordings, on board with Canadiana, sea chanteys, Celtic aires, hymns, carols, tunes of Newfoundland and Labrador, centuries-old broadside ballads renewed, as well as singular interpretations of Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos, The Beatles, Broadway, jazz, soul and so much else.

Allison’s talents and accomplishments are too vast and varied to be summed up in words. The music says it all @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com

“Allison Crowe August” is what DJ Mark Jabroni of CHMR Radio in St. John’s, NL has proclaimed this month. Rubenesque itself has some special music releases, tours, concerts and more fun in the works to celebrate with gusto this August – and everything after.

Right now, bridging the years, here’s vintage video of Allison performing in Vienna early this century paired with audio from her band’s most recent concert in Vancouver. “Secrets”, Allison Crowe’s piano and vocals with cellist Lin Lin is part of “Introducing”, the live disc half of Rubenesque’s newest (RRL 00020). Sláinte mhaith!!

New Website in Works for Allison Crowe and Band

There’s a bumper crop of things to celebrate at present – so, on we go with the harvest! The new homesite of Allison Crowe and Band is coming together – thanks to the great graphic talents and wonderful design sense of Lin Lin (pictured here), also cellist and vocalist with the group. With concerts upcoming for Canada this Fall and Winter - it'll just require some tweaking of the online ticket/box office, and embedding of Allison's music "ABC List" and a few other features before this will be the place to go to keep up with the thrilling combo of Allison Crowe, Lin Lin, Sarah White and Dave Baird. Right now, here's a preview tour of the new site @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/wordpress

Now - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

Dynamo Allison Crowe appears as a singer in Cassidy’s bar in director Zack Snyder’s epic Superman reboot “Man of Steel” notes Mike Devlin, veteran music scribe for The Times Colonist (The Daily Planet of Victoria, Canada), in the paper’s latest “Scene and Heard” column:
http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/music/hermann-s-hosts-bluegrass-stars-bob-moses-returns-to-canada-1.2260599

Crowe’s cameo in the 2013 Hollywood blockbuster finds her performing in a north woods road-house where Clark Kent toils bussing while Lois Lane tracks the elusive hero. In creating the visual album for this year’s debut release from Allison Crowe and Band, “Heirs + Grievances”, it’s a natural to look to Lois & Clark for footage that fits “Now”:

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

Heirs + Grievances Tournee

These are the concert dates for my 'Heirs and Grievances' tour with the band. Let me know if you can make it to any of these! :) can't wait to see you all!

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

Heirs + Grievances Tour - Europe dates Spring 2016

24 March – concert – Mampf – Frankfurt, Germany

26 March – concert – Palazzo Manzioli – Izola, Slovenia

29 March – concert – Teatro del Sale – Florence, Italy

01 April – concert – Grüner Salon – Berlin, Germany

06 April – concert – Peterskirche – Vaihingen an der Zen, Germany - w. special guests Maskenball

08 April – concert – Stummsche Reithalle – Neunkirchen, Germany

10 April – concert – Alte Turnhalle Grünbach, Engelsbrand, Germany - w. special guests – Mr. Knebel’s musicians – Joint Venture

12 April – concert – Birdland – Hamburg, Germany

16 April – concert – St. Mary in the Castle – Hastings, England

19 April – concert – Racines – Brussels, Belgium

          #music #newalbum #tour #ontheroad #band #europeantour

Blue Christmas

Composed by Jay W. Johnson & Billy Hayes, “Blue Christmas” was first recorded in 1948 by Texan Doye O’Dell - “All America’s Cowboy”. Several popular renditions followed – and, in 1957, another singer/actor, this time from Tupelo, Mississippi, stamped the song indelibly as an holiday classic.

Rocking and rolling into this season of joy and reflection is Canada’s Allison Crowe whose 2015 recording here gifts us one of the freshest takes on the song since Elvis Presley - “The King”.

Blue Christmas from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

This a cappella track is on Crowe’s just-released “Souling (Bonus Tracks Edition)” – an album which expands upon a cherished release of last Christmas. To “Souling” Crowe’s added one more traditional carol plus characteristically distinct colourings of secular songs popularized by Elvis, Eartha Kitt, Louis & Ella, Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder among others:
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling-bonus-tracks-edition

Coming Ashore: Allison Crowe and Band with Recordings and Concert Joy

Bi-coastal musician, who’s cameoed in the latest Superman movie and toured with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, brings her band to Canada's mainland for the first time

Islander Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran) and bandmates Billie Woods (guitar, vox), Lin Lin (cello, vox), and Dave Baird (bass) bring their singular hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock to mainland Canada with a concert at Vancouver’s St. James Hall (3214 West  10th Ave.) on Friday, November 13 at 8pm.

This weekend the group is in recording sessions at White Rock’s storied Turtle studios with Engineer/Producer Larry Anschell (Pearl Jam, Bif Naked, Sarah McLachlan) – capturing what will be, either, Crowe’s fifth album of 2015 (including a 21-song curated collection), or her, first release of 2016.

“Sylvan Hour is truly a masterpiece”, says pioneering culture blog Muruch of Crowe’s Springtime offering. “The music seems to rise from deep with her chest, sometimes ripping out of her throat in full roar, other times being restrained and shaped with the skill of a master sculptor.” 

And, her newest song collection to reach ears carries forward with winning praise:

“Newfoundland Vinyl 3 by Allison Crowe brings the beautiful winter breeze early,” says The CelticMusic Fan. “Allison’s music offers an “unique listening experience as I don’t think I have met a kind of style or recording like hers. The styles vary from traditional to modern… Fiddlers Green, The Irish Rover will appeal to lovers of Irish music. While the rest are infused in folk, pop and blues style… Allison Crowe’s arrangements are simple and they exude an intimate air which is rare these days, in a world where music is overblown or over-produced. You get the sense of organic simplicity in each track. It’s the feeling of coming home after a long hard day from work.”

“Further jaunts and ‘me boys’ abound with Crowe bringing a joyous appreciation to the traditional folk roots of the songwriting and authentic presentations… This is definitely traditional fare delivered with genuine, folk-honest class” notes Some Diurnal Aural Awe. “A fine guitarist and an absolutely stunning pianist, Ms Crowe plays and sings with a genuine passion that is completely void of vacuous histrionics. She skates the edges of soulful folk and folky soul with a commanding ease… With this release she accomplishes what few artists even attempt” is the comment @ “It’s Only Rock’n’Roll”.


Out now is "Souling (Bonus Tracks Edition)” – an album which expands upon Allison Crowe’s popular acapella release of last Christmas season. This year she’s added one traditional carol plus fresh takes on the secular holiday songbook. With characteristic distinction, Crowe's crystalline pure approach brings new emotional colour to “Blue Christmas” and other classics.

Allison Crowe celebrates Halloween ‘fore setting sail anew with band 

"Allison Crowe says so long to solo" + hello to pink hair

“Allison Crowe says so long to solo”: Laura Lavin, Editor of Monday magazine, in Victoria, BC, Canada, puts a fine focus on the musical family formed around Allison Crowe – a group ready for artistic revolution and fun: http://www.mondaymag.com/news/328960261.html

Starting next month – Billie Woods (guitar, vox), Celine Greb (cello, vox), and Dave Baird (bass) join Allison (vocals, piano, guitar, bodhran+) on stage and in the recording studio. Early in the New Year, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sarah White unites with the band.

Long a supreme solo artist, Allison Crowe and bandmates are set to share with the whole world, via concerts, recordings, videos and more, "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music."

"Decided to go back to my natural bubblegum pink hair... ;)" tweets @Allison_Crowe