Steel Rail rides again; Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop

Steel Rail concerts have been too few and too far between in the years since guitarist and songwriter Dave Clarke left Montreal for the milder climes of Victoria, BC. Soon, though, Dave will be back in Steel Rail action with bass player and singer Ellen Shizgal and singer-guitarist Todd Gorr for concerts in Lennoxville and Montreal. They’re promising some new songs and lots of the old favourites in their patented folk-meets-bluegrass style.

The concerts are both double bills with the most excellent duo of Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop.

The Lennoxville concert is Friday November  26, 8:00 pm, at the Church Street Cafe, 6 Church Street in Lennoxville. Call 819-875-5696.

The Montreal concert, part of the Wintergreen Concert Series, is Saturday November 27, 8:00 pm, at Club Lambi, 4465 St. Laurent in Montreal. Call 514-524-9225.

Here are my Montreal Gazette reviews of the most recent CDs by Steel Rail and Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop.

STEEL RAIL
River Song
Crossties

This third album by Steel Rail, rooted almost equally in country, bluegrass and folk music, is their best effort yet. The trio’s ensemble sound features vocalist and rhythm guitarist Tod Gorr, who has one of the most naturally country voices this side of George Jones, lead guitarist Dave Clarke, one of the most fluid acoustic pickers in the country, and bassist Ellen Shizgal, who provides the band’s heartbeat, some gorgeous harmonies and two lead vocals. Steel Rail’s secret weapon, though, is the fine craftsmanship of their songwriting. Songs of love and loss mix with pieces that nostalgically recall Belmont Park or that conjure images of the sailor’s church in Old Montreal, the Quebec countryside, beautiful prairie skies and the tough streets of downtown Winnipeg. ****

BILL GARRETT & SUE LOTHROP
Red Shoes
Borealis

On their duo debut, veteran Montreal singer-guitarists Bill Garrett and Sue Lothrop have crafted a fine blend of country, Cajun and folk-rooted material. One of the most affecting songs is the beautiful title track written about Lothrop’s mother at the end of her life. Another is "That’s How the Summer Slips Away," a poetic and wistful piece written by Lucinda Chodan and Dave Clarke. Two topical songs, Shelley Posen’s "No More Fish," and Terry Tufts’s "Never No More," provide moving commentary on contemporary issues, while "Leaving Louisiana," Rodney Crowell’s Cajun stomper, is the album’s most exciting tune. Garrett and Lothrop share the lead and harmony vocals and are well served by a supporting cast that includes Clarke and Tufts, fiddler Don Reed and clarinetist Vern Dorge. ****

--Mike Regenstreif

This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history (June 15-June 21)

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif was a Thursday tradition on CKUT in Montreal for nearly 14 years from February 3, 1994 until August 30, 2007 (and around the world via the web for most of those years). Folk Roots/Folk Branches continued for some time as occasional features on CKUT, and is now a blog. Here’s the 42nd instalment of “This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches,” a weekly look back continuing through next August at some of the most notable guests, features and moments in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history.

June 16, 1994: Extended feature- Rosalie Sorrels.
June 15, 1995: Guests- Dave Clarke & Ellen Shizgal of Steel Rail.
June 20, 1996: Extended feature- Tamarack.
June 19, 1997: Guest- Laura Smith.
June 17, 1999: Guest- Jesse Winchester.
June 21, 2001: Guests- Alan Bern of Brave Old World; Judy Frankel.
June 19, 2003: Guests- Solon & Jeremiah McDade of the McDades.
June 17, 2004: Extended feature- Tribute to the late Ray Charles.
June 15, 2006: Guests- Les Tireux d’Roches.
June 21, 2007: Guest- Clay Eals.

Pictured: Jesse Winchester and Mike Regenstreif at the 2000 Champlain Valley Folk Festival.

--Mike Regenstreif

This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history (February 23-March 1)

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif was a Thursday tradition on CKUT in Montreal for nearly 14 years from February 3, 1994 until August 30, 2007. Folk Roots/Folk Branches continued as occasional features on CKUT and is now a blog. Here’s the 26th instalment of “This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches,” a weekly look back continuing through next August at some of the most notable guests, features and moments in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history.

February 27, 1997: Guests- Sam Gesser; Steve Fruitman.
February 25, 1999: Guest- Corky Siegel.
March 1, 2001: Extended feature- Seal Maiden: A Celtic Musical by Karan Casey.
February 26, 2004: Black History Month feature- Blues in the Mississippi Night, recorded by Alan Lomax on March 2, 1947, with Memphis Slim, Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Boy Williamson.
February 24, 2005: All live music show with guests- Full Frontal Folk; Andy Cohen & Ragtime Jack Radcliffe; Natalia Zukerman; Sid Selvidge; The Kennedys; Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer; Tracy Grammer with Jim Henry; Anne Hills & Michael Smith.
February 23, 2006: Show theme- A pre-Mardi Gras Celebration of New Orleans.
March 1, 2007: Guests- Dave Clarke & Ellen Shizgal of Steel Rail.

--Mike Regenstreif

This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history (November 24-30)

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif was a Thursday tradition on CKUT in Montreal for nearly 14 years from February 3, 1994 until August 30, 2007. Folk Roots/Folk Branches continued as occasional features on CKUT and is now also a blog. Here’s the 13th instalment of “This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches,” a weekly look back continuing through next August at some of the most notable guests, features and moments in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history.

November 24, 1994: Show theme- 20 Years of Flying Fish Recordings.
November 27, 1997: Extended feature- The Songs of Sylvia Tyson.
November 26, 1998: Guest- Richie Havens.
November 25, 1999: Guests- Dave Clarke & Ellen Shizgal of Steel Rail.
November 29, 2001: Guest- Stephen Barry.
November 28, 2002: Guests- Michael Jerome Browne & Stephen Barry.
November 25, 2004: Show Theme- Artists mentioned in Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, Volume One.
November 29, 2007 (Folk Roots/Folk Branches feature): Songs of the Carter Family.
November 20, 2008 (Folk Roots/Folk Branches feature): The Tom Russell Anthology: Veteran’s Day, Part 2.

--Mike Regenstreif

This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history (October 6-12)

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif was a Thursday tradition on CKUT in Montreal for nearly 14 years from February 3, 1994 until August 30, 2007. Folk Roots/Folk Branches continued as occasional features on CKUT and is now also a blog. Here’s the sixth instalment of “This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches,” a weekly look back continuing through next August at some of the most notable guests, features and moments in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history.

October 6, 1994: Show theme- A retrospective of 21 years of recordings on the Philo label.
October 12, 1995: Show theme- The Greatest Folk Concert Ever – All Live Recordings.
October 8, 1998: Guests- Oscar Lopez; David Essig.
October 7, 1999: Guest- Lucy Kaplansky.
October11, 2001: Guest- Mark Viator of Rue La-La.
October 7, 2004: Guests- Mose Scarlett; Dave Clarke & Ellen Shizgal of Steel Rail.
October 6, 2005: Guests- Susie Arioli & Jordan Officer.
October 12, 2006: Guest- Artie Traum.
October 11, 2007 (Folk Roots/Folk Branches feature): Songs of Paul Siebel.

Pictured: The late Artie Traum and me after his Folk Roots/Folk Branches visit on October 12, 2006.

--Mike Regenstreif