LAURA
BIRD & THE FLY BY NIGHT ORCHESTRA
Introducing THE
WATER IN BETWEEN
"Laura
Bird's sophomore release The Water in Between is a delight in every
way." Robert
Reid Guelph Mercury November 2008
"A
warm, rich, fresh voice, …great songwriting, …fabulous musicianship
- these are all perfect reasons to get your hands, and ears, on Laura
Bird's new CD, The Water In Between ... it all comes together so beautifully;
the CD is great! .. a wonderful blend of gentle and upbeat songs,
all written, sung, and produced brilliantly. I love this album."
Pat
Moore Host: Weekend Warm-Up CKCU FM 93.1
"A
fine, folky, warm-sounding effort with Bird's engaging voice taking
centre stage, surrounded with some fine bluegrass-influenced picking
by herself, Dave Clarke, and especially, Emory Lester. She has a bit
of that classic sound made popular by someone like Susan Crowe, but
manages to forge her own personality through a strong songwriting
ability. A solid release that certainly sounded good on my stereo.
Heavy Load, When It Comes My Time and Miracle were standout tracks.
Barry Hammond
Penguin Eggs Magazine Spring 2009
I'm
sitting here listening to your new CD. What a delight it is! I love
your voice and the songs and here's the bonus: it's one of the most
gorgeously produced albums I've heard in quite a while! Just my cup
of tea: clean, musical, lush and real.
Paul Mills - Musician/Producer The Mill Stream, Toronto, ON
"Laura
Bird's songs speak to the strength, grace and truth she finds in the
extraordinary and the everyday."
Jan Vanderhorst CKPC Just Us Folk, Brantford, ON
CD
Available in Orangeville at Broadway Music, Harmony Whole Foods Market
& Watermaker
ABOUT LAURA BIRD
Welcome
back songbird. Since the release of her debut CD Dreamwalker, Laura
has continued to write, perform and record her music while being an
active contributor to her larger musical community. Following the release
of her debut recording she's shared her songs with audiences across
southern Ontario making appearances at Summerfolk, Mariposa, Quinte,
Headwaters Arts and Blue Skies Festivals. A generous performer and favourite
at songwriter-in-the-round concert presentations, the stories behind
the songs are just one aspect that audience patrons adore about this
songstress. With her finely honed guitar work, a painters' eye for lush
images and her sultry, smokey voice 'often compared to warm honey or
dark chocolate', you'll want to close your eyes and watch the mind movies
inspired by Laura's soundtrack.
In
addition to concentrating on her own musical endeavours, Laura has been
extremely busy serving on both the OCFF and ArtsCan Circle Board of
Directors; she co-founded the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award; co-founded
the Headwaters Acoustic Music Society and recently retired as Artistic
Director of the Live! At the Opera House concert series in Orangeville.
During
the eight years she devoted to the work of ArtsCan Circle, Laura shared
her music with kids at risk, traveling to remote Aboriginal communities
of Northern Ontario and Labrador. Laura began working with bluegrass/jazz
multi-instrumentalist and award-winner Emory Lester in 2005 producing
an EP Demo of some new tunes. In 2006, her song 'Heavy Load' accompanied
by Lester was included on the bluegrass compilation project North To
Ontario that subsequently went on to win Recording of The Year at the
Central Bluegrass Awards.
For
the past five years Laura has toured southern Ontario during a Spring
celebration of International Women's Day with a 'Quintana' of songstresses
called the Pomelos. (Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, Marianne Girard,
Heather Katz, Chris MacLean, Eve Goldberg) What originally began as
a 'one-off' concert, quickly morphed into an annual event where a fluid
collective of solo female artists present their music in "Lilith Fair"
- workshop style format, supporting one another with instrumentation
and vocal harmony.
The
fall of 2007 brought closure and completion to 'most' of Laura's extra
curricular commitments allowing her to focus a renewed energy on her
own music. Late October '07 she began recording a new full-length project
at Athlone Studios in Everett Ontario with co-producer Gene Gouthro.
Once again Laura assembled a stellar core of support musicians and musical
guests representing the innovative Fly By Night Orchestra. The result
is 'The Water In Between', a beautiful collection of fourteen original
compositions, showcasing both maturity in her songwriting as well as
the warm intensity of her rich sultry vocals.
THANK
YOU TO ALL THAT ATTENDED, CONTRIBUTED AND PARTICIPATED IN SATURDAY'S
CD RELEASE.. WHAT AN AMAZING NIGHT!!!
(And many thanks to all the 'storm troopers' that braved
white out conditions to support me during this concert.. I've been telling
folks it's all part of the 'birthing' .. apparently my 'water' broke
and froze all over Orangeville!)
Some
comments from members of the audience:
"We enjoyed the
evening immensely, and we are looking forward to absorbing the new songs
more fully the next few days. The entire event was planned so well.
The collection of talent you had on stage with you was wonderful. Your
performance was very warm, personal, and professional." Mark
& Ann Rosser
"We
thoroughly enjoyed every minute of your very well put together show.
We have always loved hearing you play but the show you put together
on Saturday was exceptional. The work you put into it showed – the music
first and foremost, of course, but the professionalism of the presentation
was just great - variety, impromptu stuff, interesting stories, warmth
between the members of your “cast” – even the bright colours worn by
your two back-up girls all added -- and much more. We listened to our
CD next morning and re-lived the evening – and, yes, we had some favorites
– the Blues and the Walk In the Snow..." Your fans and friends,
Geoff and Jamie
"Very well done. You should be incredibly proud of yourself.
The band was extremely professional and the musicianship was first-class.
Bringing it all together with superb results ~ it must be very gratifying."
Mike McRae
"The concert was fan-friggin'-tastic!!" Jan
"Your
concert was a great celebration of musical community, and a welcome
reminder of how music serves to bring people together in a positive
place. It was a very comfortable and friendly evening. To my ear your
music tugs at the familiar, with a twist of the new - a clear and human
expression of the Laura Birdian reality in contemporary terms set against
the backdrop of a traditional musical panorama. The melodic development
of the songs is solid and infectious, the lyrics always poignant and
intelligent, poetic, earthy, and dramatic. Combine these ingredients
with a voice dark, smooth, and full of richness and you got yourself
some mighty swell musical stories well worth the listening."
Lewis Melville~Songwriter, Musician, Producer
"We had a fantastic
time – Laura , you & the Fly By Night Orchestra & the ladies (including
The Pomelos) were amazing – we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!"
Paul & Suzanne McElcheran
"What a fantastic
show - our toes were tapping all night long!" Donnie &
Marie Hore
"That was one amazing night! you rock, girl! keep the momentum
going ~ you got something very special!" Julie Brown
CD Release Concert
Celebration Held
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 15, 8PM
Orangeville Opera House
87 Broadway
Drawing from across all regions of Folk-Roots, Bluegrass,
Celtic and Rhythm & Blues, the evenings magnificent members of The Fly
By Night Orchestra include:
Emory Lester ~ mandolin
Kene Hyatt ~ bass
Chris Quinn ~ banjo
Geoff Somers ~ violin
Jack Walker ~ resophonic guitar
Robert Reid ~ lead guitar
Larry Kurtz ~ harmonica
Allison Lupton ~ flute
Alyssa Wright ~ cello
Harmony vocals by Tannis Slimmon & Chris MacLean
... with'special surprise guests' ~ Katherine Wheatley, Marianne Girard
& Heather Katz!!
View
THE POMELOS on YOUTUBE - 'SPRING'
Orangeville Opera House March 8th., 2008
Visit me at MYSPACE
Email: Laura
For
Bookings Contact:
Wigborough Music
Orangeville, ON L9W 2K2
Email: wigboroughmusic@sympatico.ca
Visit: www.myspace.com/laurabirdmusic