JUNOfest

Ethereal folk. Space Cowboy twang. Psychedelic spaghetti western. Intergalactic blues grooves. Pop noir. Since their debut in 2011, Whitehorse has evolved from magnetic folk duo to full-blown rock band. In truth, Whitehorse is never fully either one or the other, but an ever-evolving creative partnership that challenges both artists to explore new instrumental and lyrical terrain with each project. Together, Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland’s searing Americana noir sensibility is distinguished by guitar wizardry (and instantly recognizable tone) and magnetic harmonies.

Now, the JUNO Award winning duo Whitehorse return to the early days of electric blues with The Northern South Vol. 2, the second instalment of a project that melds the grooves and melodies of the original selections with the band’s steamy, swampy, squalling approach. The Northern South Vol. 2, coming January 2019 on Six Shooter Records, deals 1950s blues bops, hellfire gospels and sexed-up cuts from Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed and more. The first single, “Who’s Been Talkin’” channels the cross-continent blues super sessions with spiny Wurlitzer, serpentine White Falcon, and, above all, a deep reverence for Howlin’ Wolf and his longtime guitar player Hubert Sumlin.

Singing in both English and French, music being a universal language, Shonk aims from the heart straight to the heart. She insists that music informs all aspects of her life and she is, above all, a music fan. Asked to name some of her current musical preoccupations, she cites Kurt Vile, Mac DeMarco, Amy Winehouse, Adele and Feist. “Feist has provided the soundtrack of my adult life. I’ve seen her four or five times live and to see how free she is on stage…how she invites the audience to be free themselves…so beautiful, authentic, contagious.”

It is evident that Gabrielle Shonk is embracing the opportunities before her and is only sometimes thinking about “not messing it up.” She is committed to following her instincts instead of obsessing over where she arrives. As she reasons it, “One can’t control what will happen, but you can make the journey fun and meaningful.”

Singer-songwriter Marty Kolls brings the energy of her east coast upbringing, classical music training, and life-long experience on the stage to every one of her performances. She mesmerizes her audience with her voice, melody and presence, with songs that speak of living life from the heart. “Marty Kolls is a revelation,” says the London Free Press’ Arts Editor, James Reaney.

Marty released her first full length album entitled ‘This Life’ in 2014 to a standing room only audience at one of Canada’s top rated and intimate music venues, Aeolian Hall. This performance was an experience for all who attended and awaited for the arrival of this much anticipated album including her friend and producer Simon Larochette of Sugar Shack Studios. The album sums up much of Marty‘s experience as an artist and lover of life, not without it’s disappointments and battles. The title track ‘This Life’, inspired by a Richard Linklater film ‘Waking Life’ urges us to live in the present before there is ‘nothing left to give’.  Like warning bells going off in your head, the bombast of the horns and punch of the drums reiterate the same message. An artist who writes from experience Marty takes her audience to the many places she’s lived such as her beloved New Brunswick with it’s winding roads and formative memories.  She also speaks of her times living and working for years in Asia as a musician and teacher where her appreciation for privileged life was awakened. Upon her return to Canada in 2006 Marty was thrown into the mix of musical talent in Toronto Ontario. Finding her way through the modern era of online overnight sensations, she nestled into the musical venues of the west end like the Cameron House and the Dakota Tavern carrying on the traditions of her live music upbringing. There she stumbled upon producer Jesse Capon and together they produced a two song CD through the FACTOR Music Demo Grant, now offering Marty something to share with the industry. It wasn’t long before her stories would take a new turn upon discovering she was pregnant with her daughter, and shortly after made the move with her husband to his home town of London Ontario where they now live. Continuing to make music in a number of bands, including well known cover-grass band Kevin’s Bacon Train, Marty has found a home and community of strong musicians and friends. Now sharing the stage with acts like Sarah Harmer, Dan Mangan and Whitehorse, she continues to love and take pleasure in the good fortune that is ‘This Life’.