August 26, 2010

Shows! The Gertrudes CD Pre-Release Party – Aug 27 @ The Wolfe Island Grill

Posted in mp3, mumbling at 4:57 pm by rgsc

The first full-length record by Kingston’s The Gertrudes is not officially released until October, but they are having an end of summer, pre-release party TOMORROW NIGHT (August 27, 2010) at the Wolfe Island Grill to celebrate its unofficial release.

The album, “Dawn Time Riot”, is a beautiful, joyous affair. Expectations were high after their two EPs and a split 7″ and the LP not only fulfills but expands on the promise of their earlier releases. The already exceptionally large band opened its arms wide and invited more and more friends and neighbours into the studio, including a youth choir and the Queen’s Symphony Orchestra (you can see some videos of the recording sessions here). Despite the wide array of voices and instruments heard hear, everything fits together perfectly. The precise arrangements and crystal-clear recording ensure that all the layers – from the most delicate to the most raucous – can be heard.

For those who know The Gertrudes, the sound on the record (and even a couple of songs, which have been rerecorded) is familiar. For those of you new to the Gertrudes be prepared for some surprises. Their music is built on a firm foundation of roots music but with experimental touches, becoming “folk with a difference”. In 11 tracks they cover a great deal of territory, from country stompers through lush ballads and into joyous, even shredding, rock. The Gertrudes easily move from the epic to the intimate and back. Their songs are extremely complex but always feel completely natural.

Here’s a couple of tracks from the album:

*The Gertrudes – Warm Wind from the South
* The Gertrudes (feat. PS I Love You) – Sailor

Listen to them live from the Vancouver Folk Fest, recorded by CBC in July here at Concerts on Demand

Get yourself on the 7pm ferry over to Wolfe Island tomorrow and celebrate the release of this fantastic record with The Gertrudes and special guests. More info on the show can be found here but it is worth highlighting that proceeds from the night will be going to Doctors Without Borders’ Pakistan Relief Fund, an eminently worthy cause.