Headwater

Hearing Headwater is like listening to the West Coast of Canada in song. Freewheeling, fierce, sentimental and sexy, the Vancouver, B.C., band has earned its reputation as one of the finest acoustic roots groups around the old-fashioned way – they work their asses off. Formed in 2003 by childhood friends Jonas Shandel (vocals/guitar/banjo) and Matt Bryant (guitar/mandolin/vocals), the band’s sound reflects the upbeat chemistry of a songwriting partnership that is 15 years in the making. Growing up on the edges of the forested Lynn Headwaters Regional Park (hence the band name), Shandel and Bryant draw inspiration from the rugged Pacific wilderness. The group released the folk-oriented debut album My Old Friend in 2006, and the follow-up Lay You Down in 2008. Most recently, Headwater hunkered down in local studios Heavyosonic and the Palace to record PUSH, which was released in the spring of 2012. More electrified and pop-inspired than ever before, the EP’s six songs range from organic acoustic numbers to atmospheric rock. Tracks like “Your Love” and “Sky Falling” find rustic bluegrass instrumentation going toe-to-toe with moody synth textures, while the new sing... more...