Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

www.fishandbird.ca
myspace.com/fishandbirdmusic

Just what have Victoria's Adam Iredale-Gray and Ashton Taylor of Fish and Bird been up to since the release of their oh-so-cool hand-stamped 7-song self-titled ep released in 2007. At the moment, they are focused on recording a new album. Their thought is to travel to an unnamed island in the Pacific, stay in a small log cabin and spend their time playing music for the wildlife, trees and a handful of microphones (surrounded by rain, snow, green, and creativity.) While fans eagerly await these new tracks, the duo will sate their appetites with a special show on Feb 28th when they will take the stage as a 5-piece band! The talented additions to their folk elixir (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, and guitar) are Ryan Boeur (electric guitar), Ben (drums) and Baxter (bass). The result is a bigger, more electrified version of their eclectic, old-time, alternative, folk set.

The duo is also gearing up for an Island Tour in April, then a Western Canadian Tour in May made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of British Columbia through a MusicBC Touring Grant. The tour begins in in Vancouver in May, stops in Nelson, Grand Forks and takes them through to Winnipeg and back performing their engaging, intimate live show.

Since 2004, Fish and Bird have been honing their melodious concoctions steeped in folk, brewed in the dense coniferous backwoods of their strange minds. Their favoured instrumental pairing of fiddle and banjo has its roots deep in the American South, and many of their melodies harken back to the old-time tradition. Yet Fish & Bird are like time-traveling magicians moreso than folkies. While spelunking in the darkest caves of various folk traditions and the caverns of human experience for inspiration, these two produce a sound that is both recklessly eclectic and sublimely cohesive. This is a folk elixir seasoned with sprinklings of eastern spices, a pinch of pop, and a dash of other ingredients laying around the sinister Fish & Bird lair.

The seven tracks on their self-titled ep represent a musical journey that leads you from dreamy introspection to rollicking country with scorching old-time fiddling; from hard-thumping rock n' roll to brief encounters with a danceable west-meets-east fusion. The CD finds Adam and Taylor each filling multiple instrumental duties, playing banjo, fiddle, guitar, accordion, mandolin, upright bass, dulcimer, drum kit, and hand drums. Adam recorded and produced the album, featuring guest vocals by Jenny Ritter of Canadian country darlings, The Gruff, and singer/songwriter, O'Mally. Each copy of the CD is individually hand-printed from rubber stamps carved by Taylor. In addition to being an accomplished visual artist, Taylor is the poetical mastermind and lyricist of this outfit. Adam is renowned for his scorching hot fiddle playing and his endless touring with such musical acts as The Gruff, Roof Rabbit, and The Backyard String Band. Yet, he still finds the time to produce and play on scores of other CDs. He is also a member of two other local Victoria groups, Banquo and Belljar.

Fresh! Wild! Wow!
"The musicianship hooks you in but the melodies and the words keep you there. A country gospel about Buddha? A vegetarian lament for beef? But these aren't "funny," they have insight sharp as a knife, and sheer poetry to boot."
- excerpt from CD Baby review