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

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

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

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

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

Super, soft, stylish band t-shirts

The loveliest t-shirts imaginable are now hung by the chimney with care - online. Allison Crowe and Band + Rubenesque Records logo fashion tees are available in Allison’s Bandcamp shop (https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/merch/allison-crowe-and-band-rubenesque-records-logo-t-shirts) and on Allison’s homesite @ http://allisoncrowe.com/shoppaypal.html

Comfortable, soft, heather grey, unisex tees in two beautiful designs – in S, M, L, XL, and 2XL sizes. Fuller info on each site (NB Bandcamp shopping is US currency, Allison’s homesite is CDN currency.)

Allison Crowe t-shirts are now available - in beautiful designs created by Allison and cellist LIN

15 Years of Rubenesque Records

My record company turned 15 today - besides feeling 100 years old, I feel other things. I feel lucky to get to do what I do, even though I absolutely want to throw up my hands and quit sometimes. I feel hopeful that there is art in this world and that there is expression - I wouldn't be here without it. I feel grateful to somehow always be surrounded by giant hearts with bodies who inspire me when I stop believing inspiration is even a thing. I feel like if you don't like what you're listening to, or writing, or anything - and you think those days are gone and that those things are dead - write what you believe. Create the art your soul is missing. Share it and listen in return to your kindred spirits. They're waiting just like you are. Actively search. Communicate what you can and listen until you can't anymore. Find the medium that works for you. Just love. Just do. ~ Allison

Allison Crowe's Rubenesque Records Celebrates 15 Years

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rubenesque Records Ltd. - logo to celebrate

It’s nearing 15 years now that Rubenesque Records, Allison Crowe’s label, has been taking the road less-traveled to the creation and dissemination of music. Over twenty ‘official’ – studio and live - releases, 150+ song recordings – singular originals and timeless interpretations, hundreds of videos, many, many millions of plays, views and more by people sharing the feelings – all adding up to an wholly unique body of work from one of the all-time great voices in popular music.


There’s much to celebrate in this anniversary year for Rubenesque. The banner is raised with this new logo designed for the label by cellist and graphic artist Céline Greb aka Lin Lin – a member Allison’s band that carries forward bringing joy, fun, and meaning to the music.

Allison Crowe Band: Triumphant in Europe, Unique in Canada

Allison Crowe and her traveling band – Billie Woods (guitar), Dave Baird (bass) and Laurent Boucher (percussion) – are back in Canada following a triumphant tour of continental Europe.

Playing to full-houses and multiple encores in Aachen, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Prague and Vienna was especially gratifying for the troupe – after a start in the UK that could have derailed less able and determined musicians.

Instead, an encounter with new anti-terrorist/illegal immigration rules has helped fuel the vibrant reform movement in the UK. With public and media support from stern to bow on the island of Great Britain, the news was featured by BBC Radio, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian/Observer, The Scotsman, The Northern Times, The Press & Journal, and many more outlets. The Times of London warned: “Immigration rules threaten to destroy Britain's arts reputation”.

Cultural events described as canceled or in jeopardy as a result of the new laws include: concerts by supreme Russian pianist Grigory Sokolov; African jazz band Les Amazones de Guinée; the English National Opera's production of Così Fan Tutte to be directed by Abbas Kiarostami, the great Iranian film-maker; and events involving a range of participants from Argentinian tango-dancers, to neuroscientists, university lecturers, Chinese artists and touring church choirs.

On June 3, the UK civil liberties group, Manifesto Club, hosted the first “Cabaret Without Borders” in London, England. Allison Crowe spoke to attendees of this packed event via telephone hook-up, minutes before her band's performance in Frankfurt. The Visiting Artists and Academics Petition was launched earlier this year by the Manifesto Club with the endorsement of dozens of the UK's most prominent artists and educators, including: sculptor Antony Gormley; director of the National Portrait Gallery, Sandy Nairne; and the artistic director of the Royal National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner.

Home in Canada, the bicoastal musician and her transnational band, next devote the Summer to writing, playing and recording before Fall '09 Canadian tour dates, Winter 2009 “Tidings” concerts, and, a return to Europe in Spring 2010.

Crowe's success has been built quite differently to a pattern followed for decades by Canadian rock musicians. Rather than rely on grants or corporate support, (or multinational record labels that may themselves receive grants/subsidies), the exciting singer-songwriter who lives on, both, the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, has connected directly with her audience, building a passionate international fan base for her music via internet videos and songs and peerless live performances.

Allison's Crowe's next CD/album will be her seventh release since the 2003 launch of her label, Rubenesque Records Ltd. It will be the first to showcase her quartet.


l - r: Billie Woods (guitar, bgs); Axel Dollheiser (road manager/driver); Allison Crowe (voice, piano, guitar); Dave Baird (bass, bgs); Laurent Boucher (percussion) - the Allison Crowe Band