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.

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 

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

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Indoors, music-makers and music-lovers are radiating joy and excitement – but, “Baby It’s Cold Outside”:


Baby, It's Cold Outside from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Here’s Allison Crowe with her a cappella icing of the Frank Loesser Wintertime classic. The musical stocking warms with glowing tunes from the popular songbook on Crowe’s just-released album - “Souling (Bonus Tracks Edition)”.

The genesis of “Souling” is found within the creative family of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, an Atlantic Canadian professional theatre company founded in 1979. Each Summer from 2012 through 2015 Allison Crowe's served as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" – an hit stage show produced by TNL for the Gros Morne Theatre Festival. Alongside this ongoing success, in 2014, TNL Artistic Associate SaraH McDonald invited the Corner Brook, NL-based musician to also be MD for 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 carolers.

So inspired, Allison Crowe immersed herself in curating and arranging music for choral presentation – a process which gave an unique breath of life to these solo performance recordings. “Her arrangements are undeniably exquisite,” notes Celtic Music Fan.

In 2015, Crowe musically directs a new TNL show for the holiday season – “The Gift of the Magi”. O. Henry’s short-story is adapted for the stage by Jon Jory and directed by TNL’s AD Jeff Pitcher. Carollers in this show will perform favourite Christmas carols, and also modern, secular, tunes. And from these latter songs, popularized by Elvis, Eartha Kitt, Louis & Ella, Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder among others, Allison Crowe’s selected the newest tracks for “Souling”.

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/souling-bonus-tracks-edition 

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

"Newfoundland Vinyl" Opens!

The curtain rises tonight for the opening of “Newfoundland Vinyl”. The show’s sold-out and there’s a waiting list for folks to enjoy this pressing of a perennial favourite at Newfoundland’s fabulous Gros Morne Theatre Festival!

The GMTF’s 20^th anniversary season is underway – and it’s real celebration of the creative family that is Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador (the Atlantic Canadian professional theatre company founded in 1979).

Conceived by TNL’s Artistic Director, Jeff Pitcher, the hit-stage show “Newfoundland Vinyl” is under the Musical Direction of Allison Crowe who’s been with the production from its launch in 2012.

TNL describes the show opening tonight: “Hits of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s by Newfoundland’s biggest recording stars come to life! For your toe-tapping, tear-jerking enjoyment the music and songs of Ryan’s Fancy, Harry Hibbs, Gary O’Driscoll, Dick Nolan, Joan Morrissey, Bob Porter and more! A magical evening of music and madness with the hilarious Ed and Edna (Ed’s long-lost 3rd cousin twice removed) as show hosts!”

The wonderfully-talented cast bringing music and vitality to stage for Summer 2015 are:

Adam Brake, Craig Haley, Claire Hewlett, Stephanie Payne, Keelan Purchase, and Marquita Walsh. The production team is: Musical Director, Allison Crowe; Stage Manager, Stefanie Power; Sound Design, Max Simms; Set Design, Derek Butt; Set Coordination, Lisa Lahue; Costume Coordination, Lindsay Code; Original Lighting Design, Johnny Cann; and Lighting Coordination, Andrew Scriver.

“I have had such a wonderful time learning this year's crop of songs for Newfoundland Vinyl - from waltzes and parlour songs, to torch songs, to songs with the same spirit as 1960s protest anthems and beyond - simply great music from throughout the decades,” notes Allison. “The silly, the sentimental, the sad, and serene all converge in this GMTF show. I'm so happy that you're here to experience our talented cast performing for you with their hearts and souls. And what a gorgeous location for it! So, please, enjoy and do sing along!”

“Newfoundland Vinyl” runs June 13 - August 28, 2015 – with performances each Tuesday and Friday in the Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins. For complete schedule and show-times visit http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-2015 and take in the full program of shows GMTF presents in Cow Head, NL – set in gorgeous Gros Morne National Park. Ticket details are @ http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/tickets/?p=newfoundland-vinyl-2015 and by phone (709) 639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899

 

“Newfoundland Vinyl” logo design by Ed Hollet.

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

          

NewFound Friends @ GMTF

Viceroy of vinyl, Wayne Tucker, Host of NewFound Records Radio Hour, ventures out to beautiful Cow Head, NL this past week and enjoys “Newfoundland Vinyl: The ‘C’Side”.

 

Here’s a pic of Wayne with the hit show’s Musical Director, Allison Crowe (tweeted @ https://twitter.com/NewFoundRecords )

 

 

Conceived by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s Artistic Director, Jeff Pitcher, “Newfoundland Vinyl” is a perennial favourite at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival – drawing from the deep well of classic, vinyl-era, recording artists’ repertoire, the joys, sorrows and rich character of the region are brought to musical life by a super-talented cast of actors and musicians and a top-notch production crew.

 

As part of this year’s GMTF, there’s a pair of performances still on the calendar – 9:00pm August 26 and 29: http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-c-side-2014

 

Wayne Tucker gives airtime to the pioneer recording artists of Newfoundland and Labrador via his radio show each Saturday noon on CHMR 93.5FM, MUN. NewFound Records Radio Hour is also heard on Radio Bell Island, The Voice of Bonne Bay, East Coast Kitchen Party, iTunes Radio and TuneIn Radio (and spinning more widely each time you listen!) http://www.newfoundrecords.ca/

"Newfoundland VinyI: The 'C' Side" Opens

Allison Crowe (@Allison_Crowe), tweets: “Tech week for NL Vinyl this week – we open on Friday – and we are already SOLD OUT for opening night!”

Now it's opening night! The Western Star reports:

Crowe home again for ‘Newfoundland Vinyl’

Allison Crowe is back home again from international concert touring to serve as musical director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s hit show “Newfoundland Vinyl” at this year’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

“Newfoundland Vinyl’ is back!”  the theatre company says in a prepared release. “Allison Crowe has made this show into a perennial festival favourite. The vinyl Newfoundland hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s by Newfoundland's biggest recording stars are never-ending.”

This year’s production promises hits from Harry Hibbs’ “The Wild Rover” and Eddy Coffey’s “Area Code 709” to Corey & Trina’s “Northern Lights of Labrador”

The show spins each Tuesday and Friday from Friday until Aug. 29. The cast features musicians/actors Colin Furlong, Craig Haley, Claire Hewlett, Amelia Manuel, Stephanie Payne, Keelan Purchase and Marquita Walsh, with Adam Christopher Brake as Ed.

The show is directed by Crowe and Jeff Pitcher.

Then on July 28, in a special solo performance, Crowe Sings "Newfoundland Vinyl" and more in the "Who's Darkening Our Door" Concert Series at the Warehouse Theatre in Cow Head.

For info on all Gros Morne Theatre Festival happenings between May 31-Sept. 13, call 639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899, or visit www.theatrenewfoundland.com

"Backstage artists making theatre magic for Nfld Vinyl and Beauty Queen of Leenane sets..." tweets Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador 

Between Two Trees

In 1976, Harry Hibbs, one of Newfoundland's favourite music-makers, most famously released "Between Two Trees" -- this song of love penned by Charlie McKinnon of New Brunswick, Canada.

It's revived in 2013 for the premiere run of "Newfoundland Vinyl". Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's hit show enjoys its third revolution this Summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival as "Newfoundland Vinyl: The 'C' Side". NV's conceived by TNL's Artistic Director, Jeff Pitcher, and its Musical Director is Allison Crowe -- who curates and arranges the songs for TNL's wonderfully talented and spirited cast and crew.

On her latest sensational European concert tour, Crowe carried with her music from home -- and in this bootleg video, she duets on "Between Two Trees", with Canadian musician and photographer Billie Woods.

Their performance delighted audiences, including here at Germany's Jazzhaus Freiburg, a storied venue that's soaked in the notes of such artists as Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Art Blakey, Bill Evans, Archie Shepp, and Betty Carter -- and, for the first time, is serenaded with this sweet music from Atlantic Canada.

On the airwaves and online, passionate stewards such as DJs Rob Carnell, (of "Salt Water Music" on CFRC 101.9FM), and Wayne Tucker, (of CHMR 93.5 FM's "Newfound Records Radio Hour") share the musical riches of the region -- from the vinyl era to the latest tracks. A mother-lode for music-lovers and players is "GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador" -- a marvellous celebration of musical heritage @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld (at last count home to 3660 songs, 2462 videos, and plenty of midis, song charts and scores and more). GEST’s Owner/Archivist Gery Deugauw, in addition to his own channel, is caretaker of two wonderful YouTube collections built with great love and rare dedication – 'oldirishladdie' @ http://www.youtube.com/user/oldirishladdie and 'NLTreasure' @ http://www.youtube.com/user/NLTreasure (this latter channel created by Jim Yetman, whose video legacy lives on).

TNL's "Newfoundland Vinyl: The 'C' Side" spins each Tuesday and Friday from July 11 - August 29 at the GMTF -- The Ethie Room, Shallow Bay Motel and Cabins, 193 Main Street, Cow Head, Newfoundland A0K 2A0 (

http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-c-side-2014 )

On July 28, 2014 Allison Crowe Sings "Newfoundland Vinyl" and More - in GMTF's "Who's Darkening Our Door" Concert Series at The Warehouse Theatre, Main Street, Cow Head, NL. (For info on this performance and all GMTF shows - call 709-639-7238 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899)

"Newfoundland Vinyl" Revolution at GMTF - July 12 - August 30

The hit stage show that's inspired Allison Crowe's newest album, (and vice-versa), opens tonight at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in lovely Cow Head, NL. Written and Directed by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's Artistic Director Jeffrey Pitcher - with Musical Direction from Allison Crowe - 'Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side" plays from July 12 through August 30, 2013.

For insight into this creative revolution, CBC Radio's Weekend Arts Magazine, with Host and Producer, Angela Antle, announces that Allison Crowe's coming up this weekend on "Liner Notes" - which you can catch on air, and online @ http://www.cbc.ca/wam/liner-notes/2013/07/12/wam-july-13-14-liner-notes---allison-crowe

Here on the west coast of the country, we've barely had opportunity to chat with the amazing artist since she returned to Corner Brook, Canada from New York City and the red carpet premiere of "Man of Steel" - the Zack Snyder-directed Superman epic in which she appears performing "Ring of Fire", a song made famous by another iconoclast, Johnny Cash. In between the intensive rehearsals, she has tweeted a little - so we know for certain: "The NL Vinyl band is awesome" - and Allison is "So proud of everyone involved! :)"

Mussel boil beach fire - Cow Head, NL - Canada's Gros Morne National Park

The theatrical and musical cast that, starting tonight, is bound to delight music-and-fun-loving audiences all Summer comprises: Jennifer Furlong, Elena Claire Hewlett, Brad LeRiche, Amelia Manuel, Marquita Walsh - and, as the two Eds, Adam Brake and Stuart Simpson.

On the production side, making it all happen, are: Stage Manager, Courtney Harris; Set Designer, Derek Butt; Costume Designer, Lindsay Code; Original Sound Designer, Dirk Ave; Sound Coordinator, Ryan Borshuk; Lighting Designer, Johnny Cann; Tech Director/Crew Chief, Lisa Lahue; Head Scenic Painter/Asst. Carpenter; Natalie Tsang; Asst. Stage Manager, Stefanie Power; plus Production Assistants Dustin Payne and Jerry Combdon.

Direct from GMTF's 2013 Program, here's what's in the grooves:

DIRECTOR'S NOTES

How could we resist? While putting together last year's show of hits of the 1960's, 70's and 80's by Newfoundland's biggest recording stars we quickly realized there were enough hits for two shows, or three or four! An added fascination for me is what drove our singer/songwriters from Newfoundland to Toronto in the 60's in the first place? Was it fame and fortune? Was it about finding an audience in Toronto? Or was it something inherent as an artist being born and raised on an island that inspires him/her to test the waters in foreign lands? I believe those questions are answered in the song writing. So sit back, relax and listen to the songs that Allison chose tonight - I believe they reveal a whole lot about who and what were in the 60's. It's also particularly rewarding to have Allison Crowe, one of the most compelling and talented singer/songwriters in Canada working and living here on the west coast of Newfoundland. This is very much her show - her sound! Let's spin a few! ~ Jeff (Pitcher)

MUSICAL DIRECTOR'S NOTES

I am SO excited to be able to work again in beautiful Cow Head, NL this summer at the GMTF with TNL - I love it here, and I can't wait to get started! (I'm also admittedly pretty pumped for Lobster Festival.) My task this year was to find another great batch of songs, from or made popular in Newfoundland and Labrador, for this, newest incarnation of Newfoundland Vinyl - The Flip Side. And find those songs I did! There is an overwhelming abundance of beautiful music and wildly-talented musicians in Newfoundland and Labrador, and we are lucky to be able to hear them together. Interpreted tonight by some incredible and talented musicians and actors, each song has its own story to tell, heart to break, laugh to incite, thought to spur, and memory to recall - so please, enjoy the music and feel free to sing along! ~ Allison (Crowe)


And, of course, what happens on stage is possible thanks to the efforts of the stellar TNL/GMTF Front of House staff: incl. Kristi Caines, Tiffany Payne; FOH Manager, Ruth Payne; Box Office Manager, Dawn Payne; Head Usher, Deanna Hutchings; Box Office Attendants, Jodi Payne and Savannah Smith; and Ushers, Shellden Biggin and Vanessa Brown - together with volunteers incl.: Claudine Brown; Nancy Brown; Rachel Hutchings; Bill Payne; Freeman Payne; Loretta Payne; Marjorie Payne; Norma Payne; and Peggy Wheeler.

Overseeing the hugely successful annual festival be: TNL's General Manager, Gaylene Buckle; Production/Company Manager, Denise Dolliver; Artistic Associate, Sara...h McDonald; Assistant Administrator, Natasha Butt; and Financial Admin., Cynthia Harris.

For ticket info and other details on "Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side" and all the great shows happening this Summer at Gros Morne Theatre Festival - visit TNL's official website @ theatrenewfoundland.com/gmtf.html  +  telephone (709) 243-2899 or toll-free 1-877-243-2899.

Slainte mhaith!!

Love and Music Always in Season

Tonight the curtain falls on "Newfoundland Vinyl", Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's 21-song salute to the popular music of Canada's Atlantic island province. As the Gros Morne Theatre Festival itself winds down from another great year, cast and crew give it their all, as they have each public performance since mid-July - and during the months of auditions and rehearsals bringing them and the shows together.

Written and directed by TNL's Artistic Director, Jeff Pitcher, Allison Crowe has richly enjoyed serving the production as Music Director. She loves being part of the musical theatre family who've shared this Summer. Allison describes the "super-talented" troupe as her "dream big band".

In this early morning recording four of the GMTF actors/musicians show how, even as all things must pass, love and music endure.

Written by Charlie MacKinnon, singer-songwriter and steel-man, born in Little Bras d'Or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (1919 - 1987), "Between Two Trees" was popularized by "His Nibs" Harry Hibbs, who carried his accordion and songs from Bell Island, Newfoundland (1942 - 1989) to tremendous success across Canada and the British Isles.



Today's generation of islanders now hold the torch, and this song, in an arrangement by Allison, is delivered by the soulful voices and harmonies of, (clockwise from front left): Jessy Rose Matthews, Miranda Power, Leah Pritchard and Stephanie Stella Payne (also on guitar).

Slainte mhaith!!

Newfoundland Vinyl - TNL's 21-song-salute is a hit

Audiences and critics love "Newfoundland Vinyl" - Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador's 21-song-salute to the island's popular music which premiered at this Summer's Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

Calling it a "superb musical tribute", travel/adventure bloggers Keith and Heather Nicol note the "talented Allison Crowe from Corner Brook does a fabulous job as musical director" and there's heapings of praise for the cast which "does an amazing job singing songs while playing a host of instruments", and credit to director Jeff Pitcher for bringing all together!

In this down-home video, enjoy NL Vinyl's talented cast performing "Don't Come Where We're To" (Stay Where You're At - what could be the unofficial, winking, anthem of island states everywhere!)



This rambunctious tune was a hit for Joan Morrissey - Newfoundland's "First Lady of Song" - on her giant 1973 album "Home Brew".

Newfoundland Vinyl runs until September 2, 2012.

NB Should you happen to notice a couple of characters in powder blue jackets that don't quite blend with the band as seamlessly, say, as Elwood and Jake Blues - that's Old Ed and Young Ed. It's ok, they're in the play. They didn't sneak past security onto the stage... or did they?