Gros Morne Theatre Festival lights up the calendar

Gros Morne National Park, one of the world’s magnificent natural treasures, grows ever-more magical each Summer with the Gros Morne Theatre Festival (GMTF). The 2019 season opens tonight! “17 Men”, a fun, joyful, docu-drama written and directed by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher, launches a Summer of bountiful wonder – indoors and outdoors – where Vikings once encamped, music and theatre adventurers now trek.

Allison Crowe, made of the same billion year-old carbon as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and a galaxy of bards along with us all, delights in the GMTF celebration – behind-and-on-stage this year with three shows in the line-up:

Newfoundland Vinyl – runs June 7 – August 30: A marvellous cast of musicians and actors renew NL's popular songs of the 'vinyl' era. Allison Crowe returns as Musical Director and Director - w. co-Director Adam Brake - of this rollicking hit. (http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-2019/)

SS Ethie Dinner Theatre – runs June 22 – August 31: Allison Crowe joins the ensemble in two roles: Cassie Brown and Tom. Based on the true story of a steam ship that ran aground just south of Cow Head in 1919. By Shane Ellis Coates. Directed by Jeff Pitcher. (http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/s-s-ethie-dinner-theatre-2019/)

Neddy Norris Night – runs July 18 – August 29: Allison Crowe's part of the stellar cast to deliver traditional music and stories of Newfoundland in this perennial GMTF favourite. Directed by Stephanie Payne. (http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/neddy-norris-night-2019/)

Gros Morne Theatre Festival full calendar and show info @ http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/  Ticket Box Office: (709) 639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899 Performances are presented in The Warehouse Theatre, next-door-to, and The Ethie Room in, Shallow Bay Motel & Cabins Conference Centre, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, NL A0K 2A0. For info on getting to Gros Morne National Park visit http://www.visitgrosmorne.com/getting-to-the-park/  “Come see our stories and hear our songs” – GMTF, 24 years in beautiful Cow Head, Gros Morne, NL, Canada, Earth.

Introducing: Allison Crowe and Band

Serving up timeless music and alliterative predictability, “The Friday Morning Markout” on Radio CHMR celebrates “Allison Crowe August” – and, come Spring, “Allison Crowe April” @ https://www.facebook.com/events/1137581292972720  Program Host DJ FanBoy Mark Jabroni’s joined in-studio this week by: Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran) and bandmates Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals) and Dave Baird (bass, vocals).

"No matter where Allison Crowe is in this world, that voice, that conviction, it crosses all borders. She’s one of those rare artists that fits into any culture, any community because she is who she is – an incredible talent," observes Jeff Pitcher, Artistic Director, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

Home in Corner Brook, NL Allison’s writing a book of prose poetry, “Fluttering”, and composing songs for a new album, “Rare Birds” (her 22nd release on Rubenesque Records). In 2017 she’s returned to Cow Head for a sixth year as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl”, a rollicking hit at TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

On the road, concerts blending rock, folk, Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, and roots, across Europe and North America commingle with other adventures – including Allison’s cameo in the Hollywood Superman blockbuster “Man of Steel” and touring as featured singer/pianist with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

In league now, Allison, Céline and Dave unite soon with Sarah White (mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica). "Soulful. Alive. Joyous. Grievous. Real, true, music is what I want to make," says bandleader Allison. And that’s just what happens.

In concert:

Saturday, September 23 - Rotary Arts Centre, 5 Park Street, Corner Brook, NL - RAC Box Office  630-0012  + more info @ https://rotaryartscentre.yapsody.com/event/index/136636/allison-crowe-and-band  +  http://rotaryartscentre.ca/event/allison-crowe-and-band  &  https://www.facebook.com/events/162676974292965

Tuesday, September 26 - LSPU Hall, 3 Victoria Street, St. John's, NL - LSPU Box Office 709-753-4531 + more @ http://rca.nf.ca/event/introducing-allison-crowe-and-band  +   https://www.facebook.com/events/1949579325330110

Showtimes: 8:00pm  A musical wonderment!

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

"Newfoundland Vinyl" - 2017 edition opens

I am so SO proud of everyone involved with Newfoundland Vinyl for all the hard work they've done in this past few weeks - I can not thank you enough for your hearts and souls - and here we are at opening night! Break legs and have a blast! #newfoundland #music

Opening tonight - "Newfoundland Vinyl" runs through September 1, 2017 at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. For show info and tickets visit Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador @ http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-2017 

Lift-off @ Gros Morne Theatre Fest

Musician Allison Crowe’s now settled into Gros Morne, one of the world’s most naturally beautiful locations, readying with cast and crew for the sixth annual production of “Newfoundland Vinyl” – a rollicking part of the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Conceived by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher, the show’s directed by Crowe and this year opens on June 23. 

In anticipation of this Summer’s selection of songs+, here’s the sounds of music from the early years of “Vinyl”: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl

GMTF’s season launches tonight with a presentation of Marie Jones' “Fly Me to the Moon”. Lift-off is 8:30 pm in The Warehouse Theatre, Cow Head. For TNL’s full calendar of theatre and concerts to come - orbit http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com 

Allison Crowe's Busy Year Features in Sister Papers

“Between the recording and playing of music and her work in theatre, Allison Crowe's life as a Corner Brook-based artist sees little rest. This summer has been no exception,” says Western Star writer Danette Dooley.

Dooley catches up with Crowe between performances of “Neddy Norris Night” and “Newfoundland Vinyl: The Greatest Hits” at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival – and days before the musician's own concert, with very special guests, this coming Friday night (August 5), at GMTF.

All the news from stage and studio – with Allison Crowe and Band’s debut album – live today in The Western Star @ http://www.thewesternstar.com/Living/2016-08-01/article-4603029/Allison-Crowe-taking-on-new-challenges-in-busy-artistic-year/1

The Telegram, singing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, keeps up the chorus of Danette Dooley's feature in the sister to "The People's Paper": “Allison Crowe taking on new challenges in busy artistic year”: http://www.thetelegram.com/Living/2016-08-01/article-4603029/Allison-Crowe-taking-on-new-challenges-in-busy-artistic-year/1

Neddy Norris Night

This is it, the night of nights. No more rehearsing and nursing a part…

This is the opening of “Neddy Norris Night” at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. The show, directed by Stephanie Payne, takes to the stage in wide-open heart of an UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site – Gros Morne National Park, in Newfoundland, Canada.

This production of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador (TNL) is the second musical stage-show of the Summer to include Allison Crowe in its cast/band – fiddle and all. “Newfoundland Vinyl: The Greatest Hits” opened last month – and runs until September 2, 2016.

In “Neddy”, Allison joins director Stephanie Payne, and fellow musicians Dave Baird, Colin Furlong, and Matthew Wheadon.

TNL explains:

“You don’t have to travel far in Newfoundland and Labrador to hear our traditional music – it’s a cultural touchstone, both a shared experience and a national badge of honour. With its narrative power, distinctive sound and strong links to Western Europe, traditional music represents the province’s history and culture, and forms a vital link between the past and present. For many it’s also a proud and powerful manifestation of the ‘unique Newfoundland and Labrador character’.”

The show’s mounted by a production team of Stephanie Payne, Stefanie Power, Lindsay Code, Jeff Pybus and Dan Fletcher – and runs through to September 1, 2016.

More info on showdates, times, and tickets @ http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/neddy-norris-night-2016

Newfoundland Vinyl: The Greatest Hits

In Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park, one of the most naturally beautiful places on Earth, this Summer there’s near 33 1/3 revolutions of “Newfoundland Vinyl’ – the stage hit that keeps spinning joyfully.

Canadian playwright+ Jeff Pitcher, Artistic Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador since 2000, previews things in this clip from film-maker Peter Buckle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS-dxh1Pd00

After catching Vinyl’s “The Greatest Hits” edition live, he says “what an amazing cast. So much truth, honesty and affiliation with the artists that wrote our famous songs. Moments like this I'm so proud to be the AD of this company.”

Since 2012, when ‘Vinyl’ was conceived by Pitcher, Allison Crowe has served as Musical Director for the production at TNL’s annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. In the GMTF 2016 program, Crowe notes: “Going over ideas for this year's ‘Vinyl’, I couldn't help but be a little jealous of the song selection that makes up the 'best of...' theme. So much so, in fact, that I wanted to be in the show! As MD, I’ve had a lot of fun choosing songs and hearing them performed night after night – and, over the years, I was always in the audience singing along. Now, I join the cast with a mix of great music from years previous and a bunch of songs we've never done before - so excited to share it all with you!”

Renewing popular and traditional NL songs of the vinyl (record) era, sounding brilliant and looking sharp in period dress, the show’s cast/band features: Dave Baird; Adam Christopher Brake (as Ed); Allison Crowe; Craig Patrick Haley; Robyn Huxter; Marquita Walsh; and Colin Furlong in a guest appearance singing Ron Hynes.

On board Vinyl’s production team: Director & Musical Director – Allison Crowe; Stage Manager – Stefanie Power; Set Design – Derek Butt; Set Coordination – Howard Beye; Costume Coordination – Lindsay Code; Sound Design –Max Simms; and Lighting Coordination – Jeff Pybus.

Now playing three to four nights a week through to September 2, 2016 in The Ethie Room of the Shallow Bay Motel Cabins & Conference Centre, Cow Head, NL. More info on tickets+ for this rollicking musical experience @ http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-greatest-hits-2016

Newfoundland Vinyl 3

Raising a 'netful of music from Allison Crowe, here's "The Irish Rover", a traditional song popularized by Ryan's Fancy and others much-loved in Newfoundland and Labrador and well beyond.

This week brings the release of “Newfoundland Vinyl 3” - newest in the acclaimed series of albums refreshing folk, traditional, and popular music of Canada’s Atlantic coast. Waltzes, parlour songs, rousing tunes of land and sea emerge from Allison Crowe’s role as Musical Director with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s hit show, “Newfoundland Vinyl”, at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

Newfoundland Vinyl 3 - album front and back covers

Allison Crowe's Diamond Jubilation at GMTF

Her eyes they shine like a diamond and her voice, piano and guitar-playing be just as crystalline pure in beauty. Musician Allison Crowe is a colleen welcoming all to delight, (not to beware), when she takes the stage this Monday, July 13 as part of this Summer’s “Who’s Darkening Our Door” concert series at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

 

Allison’s back home in Newfoundland following a triumphal concert series on Canada’s Pacific coast. Her performances – online and onstage - bring joy to millions of people. From her Corner Brook nest on this lovely isle she’s toured with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, appears in the newest Hollywood Superman movie blockbuster, and, each Summer, she returns to GMTF as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - the hit show conceived by Jeff Pitcher, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Artistic Director.

 

Join Allison for a rousing concert of favourites from Joan Morrissey, Ryan’s Fancy, Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers, alongside modern classics by troubadours Gary O’Driscoll and Ron Hynes, her own internationally-acclaimed original songs and covers of the Beatles, Leonard Cohen and more.

 

Allison Crowe taps a vein of song that’s deep and wide as it is rich. Here’s one of the near 200 recordings she’s made – her take on the traditional “Black Velvet Band”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2C9qFAEHWI It’s a lively song popularly recorded on both sides of the Atlantic, including a version by the legendary 'His Nibs' Harry Hibbs - born on Bell Island.

This recording is from Allison's "Newfoundland Vinyl" LP, the 11th release (of 17 albums now) on Rubenesque Records Ltd. - http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/black-velvet-band

West Virginia-based folk+ music afficionado, Muruch, comments on an ever-present facet - whether it's rock, jazz, classical, Celtic, blues, folk or other genres Allison’s soul-mining: "What a voice, what a voice, what a voice!"

Hear Allison Crowe in full glory – 8:30 pm, Monday, July 13 - The Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, NL. For concert tickets please visit http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/whos-darkening-our-door-tonight-2015 or phone GMTF/TNL toll-free 1-877-243-2899.

Now

"Now"

Allison Crowe from "Sylvan Hour" + the closing scene from "A Farewell to Arms" (1932).


Now from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Dedicated to the brave, amazing, inspiring Sara...h McDonald – with love, in peace.


Dedicated to the brave, amazing, inspiring Sara...h McDonald – with love, in peace.

Saltwater Joys

Putting a bow on things, here’s Allison Crowe’s version of “Saltwater Joys” – as culture blog Muruch tags it, the “beautiful finale” to “Newfoundland Vinyl II”.

This essential song’s penned by Wayne Chaulk, who plays bass and guitar in Newfoundland and Labrador’s flat out popular, prolific, music and comedy trio, “Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers” – alongside Kevin “Buddy” Blackmore, on mandolin, fiddle and guitar, & Ray Johnson, accordion and fiddle.

Allison Crowe’s a born islander – and, with heart and talent as great as Canada itself, she’s truly one with those saltwater joys from her birthplace of Nanaimo, BC to her adopted hometown of Corner Brook, NL.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by TNL.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual GMTF.

TNL AD Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)

"That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)" is the third song track on "Souling":

Silhouette.animation by the amazing Lotte Reiniger, (whose 1926 creation of "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" is the first animated feature film), is seen here in an excerpt from "The Star of Bethlehem" (1956).

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music.

With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who’ll perform in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in  Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Joy for the child in us all – “Ding Dong Merrily on High”. Originally a French dance tune, "Branle de l'Official", by Jehan Tabourot (1519 – 1593), it’s published as a carol in the early 1900s with English lyrics by composer George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848 – 1934). In our time, it’s been recorded by a range of folks including The Chieftains and The Muppets… and, now, Allison Crowe on “Souling”.

The accompanying visual is an excerpt from “Christmas Comes But Once a Year”, a Fleischer Studios Color Classics animated short released in December, 1936.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music. With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

Out From St. Leonard's

Gary O’Driscoll, in both of his songs which Allison Crowe’s recorded, exemplifies how, in the best way possible, our artists, in this case, musicians, can be our true historians – telling the reality of flesh and blood. Far away from the bureaucratese of politicians and government appointees, and the sometimes less-than-pointed renderings of journalists, the songwriter seeks to express from an individual heart the community experience.

With “Out from St. Leonard’s” – on Allison’s “Newfoundland Vinyl II”, (following her recording of O’Driscoll’s “Men Who Die for a Living” on NV I), the award-winning songwriter and music producer, born in Bay Bulls on Newfoundland's southern shore and raised in his Mom's hometown of St Lawrence, NL, delivers another topical song that, in a Canadian context, is counterpart to the 1960s work of such American songsmiths as Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan.

From the mid-1950s through the early 1970s, provincial and federal governments in this country engaged in a social engineering experiment impacting generations of Newfoundlanders. Lyrically, “Out from St. Leonard’s” tells of this campaign of “resettlement” or “centralization”, (ramped up with "The Resettlement Act, 1965"), that propelled people to abandon their homes outside urban “growth poles”.

The musical recording is set to visual excerpts of historical records and references a document central to this program, the 157-page “Report on Resettlement in Newfoundland” dutifully submitted in 1960 by Robert Wells, Provincial Economist (1958 – 1960), now stored in the archives of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), St. John’s, NL and cited to this day.

“Out from St. Leonard’s” is on the just-released album “Newfoundland Vinyl II”: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii Lead vocals, all instruments, engineering and production by Allison Crowe. Backing vocals by Adam Brake.

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by TNL.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual GMTF.

TNL AD Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Once in Royal David's City

The words to "Once in Royal David's City" are written by Dublin, Ireland-born Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander (1818-1895) and first published in her 1848 collection, "Hymns for Little Children". This text by C.F. Alexander, wife of the Bishop of Derry, was later set to music by English composer Henry John Gauntlett (1805-1876).

Allison Crowe now tells the song's story:

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music. With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake
I Saw Three Ships
That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Wexford Carol
The Holly and the Ivy
In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Once in Royal David’s City
Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

Woman of Labrador

Canadian poet, singer-songwriter, sailor and islander Andy Vine (http://www.andyvine.com) composed this song in the late 1970s. While music-making in St. John’s, Newfoundland he discovered “Woman of Labrador”, the remarkable autobiography of Elizabeth Goudie. Of Inuit, Indian, French and English roots, Goudie (née Blake) was born in 1902 in Mud Lake, Labrador. At 18 she’d wed a trapper, raising their eight+ children in the brush – her memoirs recounting life and travails and dwellings from a trapper’s “tilt”, and log cabins to a Summer lake-shore fishing house and beyond – all that comes with and from such a pioneering existence in territory that encompassed family homes in Mud Lake, North West River and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Inspired by Goudie’s story, Vine distilled things into music – and a song popularized by legendary NL folk-rock group Figgy Duff (Pamela Morgan singing this tune with that band of pioneers in their own field).

The image accompanying the music in this video, of “The Labrador ‘liveyere’ ”, is found in “The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador”, a biography of medical missionary Wilfred T. Grenfell (1865 – 1940) – first published in 1922, and, then, digitally, in 2005 as an ebook by Project Gutenberg’s Jeannie Howse and team.

Sir Grenfell’s biographer explains that liveyeres are those hardy souls who permanently reside in the region (as distinct from folks who come for Summer-fishing or other activities, and don’t stay in Wintertime). As well, for his international audience, the author Dillon Wallace notes: “It will be interesting to turn to a map and see for ourselves the country to which Doctor Grenfell was going. We will find Labrador in the northeastern corner of the North American continent, just as Alaska is in the northwestern corner.”

And so lives and events mingle and tales are passed on – through oral and written histories. Through song.

Of musician Allison Crowe, veteran Canadian playwright, and Artistic Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, Jeff Pitcher (http://www.jeffpitcher.ca), says: "No matter where she is in this world, that voice, that conviction, it crosses all borders. She's one of those rare artists that fits into any culture, any community because she is who she is - an incredible talent."

“Woman of Labrador” finds home again on “Newfoundland Vinyl II”, Crowe’s just-released album: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by TNL.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual GMTF.

TNL AD Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Northern Lights of Labrador

NL’s Don Fulford wrote “Northern Lights of Labrador” for his sister, Trina – of the renowned duo Corey & Trina (Crewe) and they had a tremendous hit with this song - naturally popular across Newfoundland and Labrador on Canada's Atlantic coast.

Love for beauty and home shines through Allison Crowe and her newest album of music, "Newfoundland Vinyl II": http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

TNL Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Northern Lights photo - by Allison Crowe + thanks to Johnny Cann

The Holly and the Ivy

“The Holly and the Ivy”, this distinctive, ancient, British carol is heard on Allison Crowe’s new Christmas collection, “Souling”.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling

Allison Crowe’s gorgeous voice brings tidings of comfort and joy with “Souling” – her 11th full album release.

The artist, one of our greatest living musicians, singer-songwriters and performers, has always created authentic music.

With this newest song set her voice is heard wholly a cappella.

The songs themselves have a purity of expression – a 21st century take on music of faith and spirit – sounds and themes aired by carollers and soulers of old.

The genesis of “Souling” is found in the bond Allison Crowe’s formed with the creative family at Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded in 1979, this professional theatre company presents a dynamic and diverse repertoire of plays and maintains, as well, a strong commitment to youth theatre in the Atlantic Canada community.

For these past three Summers TNL’s engaged Crowe as Musical Director of “Newfoundland Vinyl” - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Following another hit season at GMTF, in late August of this year TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to serve the same role with a vibrant production of “A Christmas Carol”.

The Adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens story by playwright Jeff Pitcher, TNL’s Artistic Director, excited Crowe’s musical imagination – as did the desire of McDonald, the play’s Director, to incorporate songs in the style of Victorian Era carollers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating the music for the abundantly-talented, multi-aged, choir of singers who performed in “A Christmas Carol” at the Corner Brook Arts and Culture Centre from November 27th – 30th, 2014.

This artistic process of selection and arrangement led to her recording solo versions of those songs that will receive another distinct breath of life from the TNL vocal ensemble.

(In parallel fashion, the first season’s run of “Newfoundland Vinyl” brought forth Allison Crowe’s album of the same name – one of 2013’s top recordings. Culture blog Muruch praised it as a “lovely, vintage collection of traditional Irish and Canadian folk ballads, lively sea chanteys and drinking songs, parlour songs and country tunes” possessing “unique charm” and “the timeless beauty of a classic folk album”.)

In 2003, (and expanded in 2004), Allison Crowe released Tidings – an album of singular interpretations - “River” (Joni Mitchell), “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen), “In My Life” (The Beatles) and more from the secular canon – alongside such favourite traditional carols as “Silent Night”, “The First Noel”, and “O Holy Night”. Tidings has proven to be a modern classic – “music for the season and all time”.

This time out, as befits TNL’s telling of “A Christmas Carol”, Allison Crowe gives pure voice to the sacred songbook. “Souling” is:

Soul Cake

I Saw Three Ships

That Night in Bethlehem (Don Oíche úd i mBeithil)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The Wexford Carol

The Holly and the Ivy

In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Once in Royal David’s City

Wassail Song

“Souling” is available now via Allison Crowe’s own website @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/souling as well as on iTunes @ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/souling/id933188580 plus CD Baby @ http://cdbaby.com/cd/allisoncrowe10 and all major digital music outlets worldwide.

(Area Code) 709

The directory of phone songs lists some great tunes - among them: Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee" and Shel Silverstein's "Sylvia's Mother" (a memorable hit for Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show).

In Canada, Eddie Coffey and Dennis Adamson dialed up the fun with their ode to "709" - the area code assigned to Newfoundland and Labrador since 1962.

Ringing in a new version is Allison Crowe on her latest album, "Newfoundland Vinyl II": 
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

TNL's Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher conceived the musical production and Allison Crowe has served as the show's Musical Director for three Summers now at GMTF.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

TNL Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Photograph by Billie Woods

Newfoundland Vinyl II

"Newfoundland Vinyl II", Allison Crowe's newest album, (and her third album globally released in 2014), comes out this week.

Right now, here's the front cover art of this album - which, as the title suggests, is another song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

TNL's Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher conceived the musical production and Allison Crowe has served as the show's Musical Director for three Summers now at GMTF.

 

Album cover photo by Allison Crowe

Here’s the flip-side of the album art for “Newfoundland Vinyl II” – Allison Crowe’s next album. The music and more will be released tomorrow – via Allison’s own music pages @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com plus iTunes and all online outlets.

 

John Lennon envisioned making records as immediate as newspapers. In these times, Allison is doing  that – figuratively and literally.

NV II track-list and more song tracks and videos to come… to join "The Water Witch" vid posted @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEM9DIRAGyk

Album photo/art by Allison Crowe