James’ songwriting has often been cited for its keen sense of history. Songs like “Hillcrest Mine” and “Cold Missouri Waters” instantly come to mind. On SECOND-HAND James also takes on a number of topical issues of concern to us all “Walk On” about overcoming depression and “The Benefits of Surrender”– allowing oneself to be more open to life’s possibilities. These, coupled with a command of the language and delivered with an unmistakably rich baritone, and it’s not surprising that James has come to be considered one of Canada’s great singer songwriters.

SECOND-HAND finds James at the top of his game with ten new songs including co-writes with Catherine MacLellan, Lynn Miles, J.D. Edwards, Cara Luft and Dave Gunning. “I love co-writing,” he says, “it’s the spark that gets me motivated – the fresh approach to a lyric or a different way of forming a melody for a song is so stimulating. Besides, it’s also a great impetus to finish the damn song.”

Joining James in studio was long time musical pal David Woodhead-Bass, Bob Stagg-Keyboards, and guitarists Bob Cohen, Dave Clarke and Joe Grass. Harmony vocals were provided by Pharis & Jason Romero and Kelly Prescott. The album was produced in Montréal by Bill Garrett.

“

Energetic, talented and steeped in tradition, Heron Valley never fails to satisfy.

ABIGAIL PRYDE – FIDDLE/VOCALS

Abigail Pryde grew up in rural Argyll with music at the heart of her family and

local traditions. Fiddle was her first instrument, however, alongside this, she

learned guitar and vocal stylings at home with her father, Alan. Having played

with many local groups, she eventually joined Heron Valley in its infancy in

2014, playing local village hall dances and gatherings on guitar and vocals.

During this time she studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior

School and dedicated much of her time to classical violin. However, traditional

Scottish music was always at her heart, and when moving on to University at

RCS she pursued Scots Song under Fiona Hunter and Scots fiddle under

Alistair Mcculloch, alongside her Classical studies in Glasgow. Now touring

regularly with Heron Valley and having graduated from the Royal

Conservatoire of Scotland, she has begun work on her own record with Wee

Studio Records.

KEITH MORRISON – KEYBOARDS

Keith Morrison is a proud islander from the most North Westerly point of

Scotland, the Outer Hebrides. Having come from a long line of traditional

musicians, Keith was brought up in a musical home on a quiet croft. Learning a

variety of instruments from Piano to Guitar to Double Bass, Keith could be

found playing at every ceilidh and in nearly every group (Face the West, The

Tumbling Souls, Ho-Ro and Heron Valley to name a few). After a short spell

working near London after studying in University, Keith decided to return

home and create a life being a full time Creative Musician. Keith started a

media business/recording studio called Wee Studio in 2008, working in the

studio between tours and weekend performances.

CALLUM CRONIN- DOUBLE BASS/BASS GUITAR/GUITAR

Having picked up the double bass whilst at high school in the Stirlingshire area

of Scotland, Callum was quick to explore a wide range of styles of music. In

2019, he graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before furthering

his studies on the Master of Music programme at the Royal Northern College

of Music in Manchester, England. Callum enjoys a varied career as a freelance

double bassist, bass guitarist and tutor, performing as part orchestras,

contemporary music ensembles, experimental groups, musical theatre bands,

jazz bands and traditional music groups. Aside from his passion for teaching

and performing live, Callum runs Slàinte Sounds, a music agency providing

services to musicians and events.

ALASTAIR-BAGPIPES/FLUTES/WHISTLES

Alastair hails from the beautiful gateway to the islands, Oban. As a youngster

he was tutored by the Scottish piping legend, Angus MacColl, and has played

with pipe bands across the globe, including the New York Tartan Day. Having

also joined the successful Scottish ceilidh band Ceol an Aire, Alastair has a

unique and vast knowledge of piping repertoire. Moving to Glasgow, he joined

the Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band and began his studies at the Royal

Conservatoire of Scotland and National Piping Centre, learning from piping

greats, Willie MacCallum, Ross Ainslie and Finlay McDonald. Alongside his

studies in piping, he has began his studies under flute player Anna Friel.

Tuesday Oct 18 8:00 (doors 7:00) Fernando Pinto Presents East Rock Concert Series
at Cafe Nine Tommy Sands/Liz McNicholl 250 State St. New Haven, CT

Thursday Oct 20 7:00 Folklife Concert at the Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street
Glens Falls, NY

Friday Oct 21 7:30 Folklife Concert On The Road at The Depot at Argyle Brewery, 6
Broad Street, Cambridge, NY

Saturday Oct 22 6:00 The annual fundraiser benefiting the venerable Mercy Center in
Bangkok, Thailand, with Donie Carroll and friends. at the New York Irish Center in
Queens.

Sunday Oct. 23 3:00 Irish American Cultural Institute: A Sunday Afternoon with Tommy
Sands, at St. Catharine School, 301 2nd Avenue, Spring Lake, NJ
Wednesday Oct. 26 7:30 Frostburg State University’s Mountain City Traditional Arts 25
E. Main St. Frostburg, MD.

Thursday Oct 27 7:30 Green Willow at Blue Ball Barn 1914 West Park Drive, Alapocas
Run State Park, Wilmington, DE. w/special guest Lisa Gutkin

Friday Oct 28 6:30 Gaelic Roots concert at Connolly House, Andover Room, Boston
College, 300 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA w/special guest Lisa Gutkin

Saturday Oct 29 3:00 Music of Peace and Healing: A free concert at First Church,
1 Meetinghouse Green, Ipswich, MA w/special guest Lisa Gutkin

Sunday, Oct 30 3:30 (doors and food orders from 2:30) Brian O’Donovan Presents:
Tommy Sands at the Burren, 247 Elm St. Davis Sq. Somerville, MA. w/special guest
Lisa Gutkin

http://www.woodenshipproductions.com

Can’t wait to sit in those rooms again. For now, grab a kleenex and watch this.

The Bloc discusses music, the shutdown and share some new material in a great podcast.

Check it out here:

https://www.yourclassical.org/episode/2021/06/09/new-classical-tracks-nordic-fiddlers-bloc

And you can view a new video below.

Stay safe!

If you miss it, you can still watch all the performances until the end of January on the APAP website.

Another beautiful release by Matthew. Recorded a few years ago, the current downtime allowed him to mix and master this latest entry to a stellar catalogue.

Purchase directly from Matthew here.

https://www.matthewbyrne.net/store/livecd

As usual Tommy has wisdom to share. His subtle way of challenging us to be better has made him a one-man-peace-force with a message that would benefit us all.