Hours - Allison Crowe and Band - Welcome to Us

2018 will see the release of Allison Crowe’s “Fluttering”, an illuminating book of poetry/prose, and Allison and band will unite on one continent or another to advance the exciting sounds of “Rare Birds”, their next studio album.

First to hatch, though, is “Welcome to Us” – a sensational and fun album of music captured live at the LSPU (Longshoremen's Protective Union) Hall in St. John's, NL, Canada. Here’s a preview from Act 1 (the guitar-based songs – piano-centric songs comprise the second act). Enjoy!

Verses - Allison Crowe and Band Live!

Celebrating the birthday of Allison Crowe, a great artist of our lifetime, with this newest of recordings –  “Verses”.

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) recently banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock –  that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock to St. John’s and a concert night at LSPU Hall, magic’s afoot once more with Allison Crowe and Band – and, this time, serendipitously, artifacts remain to be shared in addition to golden memories of artists and audience+.

Alick Tsui, the truly remarkable SJ-based photographer, was able to attend Act 1 (the band’s NL concerts formed around one set in which Allison played guitar or fiddle, and, post-intermission, a second set of songs founded on Allison’s piano tunes) – and Alick captured some iconic images of Allison, Céline, Sarah, Dave & Keelan.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined.

First up – this original song tagged with some trad.