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Rhapsody
Tours is excited to announce a tour has been planned for all
Mary Jane Lamond enthusiasts for the fall of 2008. This is
your opportunity to visit Mary Jane's corner of the world,
see the splendor that is Nova Scotia and spend time with
Mary Jane as she shares some of her favorite places in Cape
Breton, the home of her inspirations. You will also enjoy an
intimate performance with Mary Jane, a sharer of songs,
stories and spirit and the very talented
Wendy
MacIsaac.
November 30, 2006
Photos from the Music Nova
Scotia Award Show
June
2, 2006 NASHVILLE, Tenn - Intersound Records, in conjunction with Crazy Baby Records, has announced the August 22, 2006 release of the world music album "VOYCES UNITED FOR UNHCR," a compilation which will provide funds and additional public support for The United States Association for UNHCR (USA FOR UNHCR). The album,
four years in planning and development, was compiled by
Participating Artists include Universal Music Poland's
Alicia Janosz, USA FOR
UNHCR raises awareness and support for the UN Refugee
Agency's
March
1, 2006
Storas is described as a beautiful interpretation of some of the Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova Scotia’s Gaelic tradition. Winning the Female Artist of the Year was a broad recognition from across the industry of the Gaelic vocalist’s talent and presence. It was an award that made her "feel great," going on to explain that nominations themselves have their own value. "In some ways it’s as good as winning the award because it comes through the respect of your peers. Winning the award itself is extra special." Of the award for solo album, Lamond told reporters, "It was very meaningful for me," elaborating that Gaelic is one of the languages under threat in the world today and winning awards like Solo Recording gives a measure of exposure to the language and the concerns some people have for it. Describing hers as a "niche market," she is frequently nominated against singers who have an international audience. Lamond, whose career has been dedicated to the singing of Gaelic songs, has always attracted considerable attention to her work, despite the limited Gaelic audience that currently exists in Atlantic Canada. Over the past decade she has won another ECMA for Roots/Traditional Solo Artist Of The Year Award (2002), has been nominated for eight other East Coast Music Awards, two Junos as well as other music association awards. During the nationally telecast East Coast Music Awards Gala Lamond performed An Gaidheal from her award-winning recording, Storas. J.P. Cormier won one of the four categories in which he was nominated, his celebrated album, The Long River: A Personal Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot receiving the East Coast Music Awards’ song note for Folk Recording of the Year. Although he has never seen Lightfoot in concert, he described the revered songwriter as "The bard by whom I measure my own writing."
February
1, 2006 THE 2006 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS GALA, HOSTED BY THE TRAILER PARK BOYS, SHOWCASE THE HOTTEST TALENTS IN CANADA ON CBC TELEVISION, FEB. 27 It'll be standing room only at the Charlottetown Civic Centre for the 2006 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS GALA as CBC Television and the East Coast Music Association bring the best in east coast music to the stage. The awards celebrate the diversity and richness of musical talent from Atlantic Canada. It telecasts on Monday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m. (live in Atlantic Canada, 8:30 NT, 8 p.m. across the country.) The Trailer Park Boys' Bubbles, Julian and Ricky host an evening of great entertainment starring George Canyon, Matt Mays & El Torpedo, Lennie Gallant, Mary Jane Lamond, The Novaks, Wintersleep, The Chucky Danger Band, Christian "Kit" Goguen, J.P. Cormier, Matt Andersen and Sko-Shun Tiez. Fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster pays tribute to her beloved uncle, legendary Cape Breton fiddler Buddy MacMaster, who is the recipient of the East Coast Music Award (ECMA) 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Gala also features highlights of a presentation to Sarah McLachlan who receives a special achievement award. The all-star line-up includes George Canyon, who has won a JUNO and four Canadian Country Music Awards. With three ECMA's also to his credit, he is nominated this year for two more. Nova Scotia natives Matt Mays & El Torpedo have quickly become one of Canada's premiere live acts. Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Lennie Gallant, a native of Prince Edward Island, has numerous awards and six albums to his credit. With 13 East Coast Music Awards, he is second only to Great Big Sea (18) in the list of all-time ECMA multiple winners. Mary Jane Lamond's latest recording Storas is a beautiful interpretation of some of the Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova Scotia's Gaelic tradition. Cape Breton guitar wizard and four-time ECMA nominee J.P. Cormier is joined on stage by New Brunswick blues sensation Matt Andersen, who is a two-time ECMA nominee this year. Hailing
from Newfoundland, The Novaks, who have two 2006 ECMA
nominations, have a devoted following that has grown to
include the avid support of international music insiders
such as Stevie Van Zandt and Andrew Loog Oldham. Other
performers include Halifax indie quartet Wintersleep, The
Chucky Danger Band, bass player and actor Christian "Kit"
Goguen, and Sko-Shun Tiez is the newest trendsetter in
Atlantic hip-hop. The 2006 EAST COAST MUSIC AWARDS GALA is directed by Shelagh O'Brien and produced by Geoff D'Eon and Michael Lewis for CBC Television, and Jac Gautreau produces for East Coast Music Association. -30- Supporting photography available at www.cbc.ca/imagegallery For further information, contact: Wendy
Phillips, ECMA 2006
January 25, 2006 Mary Jane Lamond, widely regarded and respected as the guardian of traditional Gaelic music in Canada will bring her wonderful music to the Capitol Theatre on Wednesday, February 22nd (8:00 PM). This concert is a part of the World Trad Festival. Tickets are available for $22.50 (or package for all Festival tickets is $100) at The Capitol Theatre Box Office, 811 Main Street Moncton, NB Tel: (506) 856-4379 Toll Free 1-800-567-1922, email: capitol@capitol.nb.ca Mary Jane is nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Roots / Traditional Artist of the Year at this year's ECMAs for her latest recording, Storas. The awards will be handed out at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards on Monday, February 27th at 8:00PM (8:30PM NT). She is also nominated for an Indie Award in Favourite World Artist/Group category taking place on March 1st, during Canadian Music Week. Mary Jane has miles to go until she returns to her part of the world though since before the concert she will travel to Glasgow to give a concert and workshops for the Scottish Arts Council. Then she is off to Austin, Texas to participate in a series of showcases during the prestigious North American Folk Alliance. In December
Mary Jane gave an extraordinarily emotional concert at the
Glenn Gould Studio, with Kiran Ahluwalia (East Meets East),
that united two very distinct Eastern cultures. These two
new musical friends then delighted a full house with a
spirited performance during the first annual Canadian Folk
Music Awards at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. "Singer
Mary Jane Lamond arranges the traditional Gaelic songs of
Cape Breton with flair and reverence. .it's the most
eclectically arranged album Lamond has made to date and
every bit as appealing as her glorious, groundbreaking Làn
Dùil." "Lamond
continues to impress. .remains the most innovative and
exciting Celtic artist." "Mary Jane
Lamond offers a new musical treasure. The Gaelic word for
"treasure", Storas features hypnotic vocals, heartfelt
delivery.as Lamond breathes new life into the Scottish
Gaelic songs." "Lamond's
voice is pure and clear, infused with a stream of life
experience that gives character to every song. .one of the
best known Gaelic singers in the world, putting beautiful
contemporary arrangements to the ancient traditional songs
of Cape Breton." For more information, visit www.maryjanelamond.com Tickets are
available at: Moncton
Coliseum Frank's
Music (formerly Sam the Record Man) Université
de Moncton
January 13, 2006 Mary Jane Lamond has just found out she is up for an Indie award too! Of course, since we only found out after sending out yesterday’s announcement regarding Mary Jane Lamond’s two ECMA 2006 nominations for Storas, that she is also nominated for an Indie Award in the favourite World Artist/Group category, you are the lucky recipient of yet another email from me!! Sorry. The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards take place on March 1 at The Docks in Toronto during Canadian Music Week.
www.maryjanelamond.com Further
information and interviews, contact:
January 12, 2006 Announced yesterday, Mary Jane Lamond has received two ECMA 2006 nominations for her latest recording, Storas. Mary Jane has been nominated for Female Artist of the Year and Roots/ Traditional Artist of the Year, which will be awarded at the 2006 East Coast Music Awards on CBC Television Monday, February 27 at 8:00 pm (8:30NT). Mary Jane's latest recording " Storas” (Gaelic meaning "a treasure") is a beautiful interpretation of some of the Scottish Gaelic songs that have become part of Nova Scotia’s Gaelic tradition. Her use of modern instrumentation and arrangements provides a respectful and beautiful framework for these Gaelic treasures but it is Mary Jane's spell binding vocal performance and heartfelt delivery that makes these selections truly come alive for the listener. "This CD is a true collaboration”, says Mary Jane of her fifth recording. “The arrangements sprang from the creativity of the magnificent musicians who tour with me and were skillfully captured by my long-time producer Phil Strong. The arrangements were driven by our desire to let these beautiful songs breathe. We used primarily acoustic guitar and hand percussion along with the fiddle and bass to capture them is their purest form. I love to sing these songs and I hope that people enjoy listening to them.” Storas is available at all fine retailers or on-line at www.fusion3.com. Contact
Information:
November 30, 2005 Metro: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it that you are still using today? Mary Jane Lamond: When I lived in Ontario, I applied at one of the student Manpower centres for a temporary job working at a glove factory. My job was to sort gloves before they were to be stapled. I think I ended up dumping more gloves to be stapled than I was supposed to. Which was why I only lasted three to four days there. I can't really say what I learned from that — I was only a teenager at the time. Singer Mary Jane Lamond, now Cape Breton's modern sharer of ancient Gaelic songs, performs at CBC's Glenn Gould Studios on Dec. 6 in support of her latest CD, Storas, and is a best world artist solo nominee at this year's inaugural Canadian Folk Music Awards, to be held in Ottawa Dec. 10.
November 8, 2005 Nominations for the first Canadian Folk Music Awards,
announced at the end of last week, include two for Mary Jane
Lamond and her marvelous new recording, Storas (Fusion111). Lamond, nominated in the Best World Artist – Solo, and Best Singer – Traditional categories, has some worthy opponents including Alpha Yaya Diallo, Soraya Benitez, Enoch Kent, Michael Jerome Browne and Jean Hewson. The awards will be handed out at a Gala dinner on
December 10, 2005 at Ottawa’s Canadian Museum of
Civilization, the country’s repository of all things folk.
The event, hosted by Connie Kaldor and Gilles Garand, will
feature performances from, among others, Mary Jane Lamond,
Le Vent du Nord, Ember Swift and David Francey. Mary Jane Lamond’s Storas, her first collection of new
studio material since 1999, is receiving tremendous response
for it’s uncompromising integrity toward the Gaelic
tradition: "Lamond continues to impress… …remains the most innovative and exciting Celtic artist…" -- New Brunswick Reader "Mary Jane Lamond offers a new musical treasure. The Gaelic word for 'treasure', Storas features hypnotic vocals, heartfelt delivery…as Lamond breathes new life into the Scottish Gaelic songs…" -- Cape Breton Post "Lamond’s voice is pure and clear, infused with a stream
of life experience that gives character to every song. …one
of the best known Gaelic singers in the world, putting
beautiful contemporary arrangements to the ancient
traditional songs of Cape Breton.” "Singer Mary Jane Lamond arranges the traditional Gaelic songs of Cape Breton with flair and reverence. …it’s the most eclectically arranged album Lamond has made to date and every bit as appealing as her glorious, groundbreaking Làn Dùil…" -- Penguin Eggs www.canadianfolkmusicawards.ca Further information and interviews, contact: Jane Harbury August 2005 Three solid solo albums and scores of live concerts later, Lamond is one of the best known Gaelic singers in the world, putting beautiful contemporary arrangements to the ancient traditional songs of Cape Breton. Lamond has just released Storas, her first collection of new studio material since 1999's Làn Dùil. "I was kind of stalled, wondering what else to do," confesses the singer, over lunch at the Shoeshop. "But I love sharing the songs and working with these musicians." The Ontario-raised Cape Breton resident generally worked
with studio musicians on her previous recordings. But this
time she wanted her touring band front and centre, and she
wanted arrangements that could be played live "I always have to have a little philosophy before I start recording," says Lamond. "Otherwise, it's all too wide open. Where do you go (with the music), especially where I'm not writing the songs? There are thousands of songs to choose from, so you must have a path." Lamond says she chose to support her vocals mainly with acoustic guitars and simple percussion. The result is an intimate, pared-back CD that nicely frames the ancient Gaelic tunes - no electronic dance tracks or pushy electric guitars here. "To compete in the Celtic world, you sometimes feel your music has to be foot- tomping," she says. She resisted that pressure this time around, letting the
songs find their natural rhythms. "Maybe if I wrote songs, I'd be tempted. But I'm too
lazy. I prefer to go visit people to get the songs. That's
better than struggling to write a song."
August 20, 2005 Slowly, but surely, listeners are learning that Cape Breton singer Mary Jane Lamond's latest release Storas has hit store shelves. It was a surprise to some when it surfaced on merchandise tables at the Celtic Feis festival held in Halifax in early June, in advance of its official launch, but now that it's out the elfin Gaelic balladeer is keeping "as busy as I like to be" to get the word out about the haunting recording and its modern paean to ancient traditions. "This isn't pop music, for sure," says Lamond, who has little fear of one of her records becoming dated within months of its release. "The recording was done for a while, it took so long to get the rest of it done, or rather I took so long to get the rest of it done. My brother Bruce was in a record store in Brockville and just saw it there, and thought, 'Hey! A new CD, I didn't know . . .'"
"The security people were wearing these T-shirts - I guess they were prepared for anything that might happen - that said on the back, 'Accordion Revolution Security Enforcement'," laughs Lamond, noting the acronym the name spells out. "I asked one of the guys who you'd have to kill to get one of those shirts, and he said it'd be more likely you'd get killed by one of 989 accordion players all wanting that shirt." There are no accordions on Storas, but there is a wide variety of acoustic textures supporting her clear, supple voice, including her own touring band - fiddler Wendy MacIsaac, guitarist Chris Corrigan, bassist Ed Woodsworth and percussionist Geoff Arsenault - members of the Cape Breton band Be˜lach, Blue Engine String Quartet, cellist Anne Bourne and Slainte Mhath/Barra MacNeils piper Ryan MacNeil. In a way, Storas breaks Lamond's pattern of alternating between straight traditional records like From the Land of the Trees and Gaelic Songs of Cape Breton, and more contemporary productions on Suas e! and Lan Duil. While Storas isn't all tricked out with drum loops and synth pads, Lamond gives her Gaelic ballads a "here and now" feel with progressive arrangements. "Lan Duil was basically a continuation of what I did on Suas e!," she says. "But I didn't want to do another completely traditional record either. A lot of this stems from performance, actually. I was feeling onstage that I didn't want to have electric guitar or a full drumkit anymore, and I'd been feeling that way for a while. I went to sing at the Frog Island Folk Festival, outside of Detroit, and they didn't want full band, so I went with Brian Bourne, and his Chapman Stick, and guitarist Chris Corrigan and Wendy MacIsaac on fiddle, and I thought it was going to be more difficult, but I realized that it wasn't. I found I enjoyed having all that space that you have when it's a little bit quieter. "Staying away from the electric guitar and the traditional drumkit, you get away from falling into that pop sound, which is what I wanted. I still wanted to have arrangements, all that layering and different things, but I wanted it to be less 'poppy' and (on the CD) I wanted to work with the musicians I'd been touring with." Lamond's current stage configuration works extremely well, as evidenced by her appearance at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in July, with Arsenault on a percussion setup that relied more on hand drums than the usual sticks and kick drum for a sound that Lamond feels is "more earthy" and comes across as evocative without being overpowering on the CD. Another strong presence on Storas is Halifax's Blue Engine String Quartet, recorded at The Music Room for three tracks, with Lamond adding her vocals in Toronto with producer Philip Strong. She'd previously worked with Blue Engine on the soundtrack to a Helen Creighton documentary, plus they both appeared on the Quartette Christmas Special, so a collaboration on record seemed almost inevitable. "I was partially inspired by the CD Eddi Reader Sings Robert Burns, which was really beautiful with strings and acoustic guitar, and I just thought it was great," says Lamond. "I think what I did is a little different, but it's the same sort of concept. I thought it was really nice. "And I've always enjoyed singing with the symphony, I've always liked that texture. But I couldn't really have a full symphony on there. I love the Blue Engine String Quartet though, they're very open minded, and if your score isn't exactly perfect, they'll have suggestions on how to improve it. They're not the least bit elitist." The involvement of globe-trotting quintet Beolach also seems like a natural choice, given that fiddler Wendy MacIsaac does double duty with both acts. It was picked to back up Bal na h-Aibhne Deas (Ball at Southwest Margaree), the portrayal of a Saturday night dance, and who better than the band whose Gaelic name translates as "lively youth"? "Usually on every CD I have something like a milling frolic, or something that puts you in the place of Cape Breton," Lamond explains. "I really wanted to work with Beolach, and this seemed like a really good choice of a song because it is about a party. It has that feel about it, and of course Beolach is very lively, so they went very well together. "It's not normally something I would choose to sing, I chose it more because it fit in with what they do because it's about a party, and they always sound like they're having one." Continuing her desire to bring the Gaelic language to a new audience, Lamond's next endeavour is taking part in the Highland Village at Iona's teen program Eilean nan ñg, designed to introduce young people to Cape Breton's traditional culture. Then of course there's the many activities of Celtic Colours, taking place around the Island Oct. 7 to 15. But something she's really looking forward to is a boundary-busting instalment of CBC Radio's OnStage featuring Lamond, Shahib Ali Khan and Kiran Ahluwalia (labour dispute permitting). "We're going to do a concert in December called East Meets East. So it's going to be me with a fiddle player and a piper, plus two harmonium players and a sitar, so it should be really interesting. We actually start rehearsing in October. "I've wanted to do something like this for a while. Kiran and I have talked about collaborating before, so maybe the next CD might be in more of a 'world music' vein. That's my plan, do that or win the lottery and retire. One or the other," she chuckles.
March 22, 2005 CANSO, NS - In 1990, the Town of Canso made headlines nationwide when the Atlantic groundfishery hit turbulent times. Now, Canso is facing a financial crisis that threatens the forced dissolution of one of Nova Scotia's oldest towns. The Stan Rogers Folk Festival is stepping forward to help the town by working with it to organize a mega-concert, April 24 at the Millennium Centre in Antigonish. The Province of Nova Scotia has given Canso an ultimatum: balance your budget or dissolve. The people of this 400-year-old town are standing firm and striving to find solutions. Mayor Ray White leads a large and unified group of residents, businesses and friends of Canso who are mounting a fight for Canso's survival. In a recent plebiscite on the issue, 82% of residents voted in favour of remaining a town and seeking alternatives. "This is not just about Canso. It's about standing up for rural Nova Scotia. Canso wants to be a town. They want to achieve a turnaround in their economy and being a town is critical to achieving this success. They want government to work with them to find solutions and not pull the plug after 400 years. This is what we elect governments to do. We want this concert to educate people about the real facts of the situation and give people an opportunity to stand behind Canso in demanding a solution," says White. Songs from the Heart: A Concert for Canso, will bring together some of the East Coast's brightest stars for a wonderful evening of music and solidarity. The four-hour concert will feature Newfoundland's 'Man of a Thousand Songs' Ron Hynes, Cape Breton songstress Mary Jane Lamond, multi-award winning Pictou County singer-songwriter Dave Gunning, MacCallum Settlement bluesman Charlie A'Court, Cheticamp multi-instrumentalist and songwriter J.P. Cormier, New Brunswick guitar-slinger Matt Andersen and Guysborough County's own Carl Bond and Steve Wright. A special multimedia aspect of the show will add to the evening, with supporters from all over voicing their support via technology. "It's been incredible how
supportive the artistic community has been. Canso is my home
- and home is worth fighting for. I've chosen to bring up my
three children in the same safe, supportive environment I
enjoyed growing up here. There is no cause that is closer to
my heart. I believe government has the ability and resources
to work with us at the community level to turn around this
situation. So many times we see government rally to support
multi-national companies. This is one of Nova Scotia's
oldest and proudest towns. Canso doesn't want hand-outs,
they want a hand up. We have a strategy, we just need a
focused and efficient response from federal and provincial
partners. The festival is a testament to the integrity and
determination of the people here." says festival Artistic
Director Troy Greencorn, who has volunteered to produce the
concert. St. Francis Xavier University and a whole host of businesses in the region have been incredibly supportive and are on board as sponsors. The concert and other fundraisers are profiled on a special website called www.friendsofcanso.com. Funds raised will be used to create a Turnaround Fund, which will be used to fund the lobby necessary to resolve the current stalemate, and to fund the community's economic development efforts. "I'm hopeful that this project
will make it clear to government that we need them to work
side-by-side with us to craft a turnaround plan.
Amalgamation is not the low-cost alternative, nor is it what
the community decided in the January plebiscite. There are
other solutions, and the people of our region need to know
that. Our community has been extremely important in the
economy of Eastern Nova Scotia for many years. This is a
chance for those communities to show their support for us.
We hope people get angry and voice this anger to their
elected officials. Let's demand better for rural Nova
Scotia." states Concert Chairperson Buzz Lumsden, Deputy
Mayor of Canso.
March 21, 2004 HALIFAX – Nova Scotia has a launched a $7.7-million tourism campaign with a song about its "miserable" shores. Tourism officials chose an old Gaelic tune sung by Cape Breton performer Mary Jane Lamond for television ads to air in Ontario and New England. Written by an unknown songwriter in the 1830s, the tune is about Scottish immigrants coming to Nova Scotia. In the last line, the singer says that if she had a boat, she "wouldn't be oppressed by this miserable land." "It's kind of a desperate song, in some ways it's a lament. It talks about the pain they felt leaving Scotland and coming to start in a new place," said Lamond, at Monday's official campaign launch. E Horo (What's on my Mind) When I stand in the doorway É ho rò, the subject of my
thoughts I had three brothers When we arrived at the Table A scraped cow's hide If I had a creel and a sickle "It does seem ironic, but it is appropriate because it is a song composed in Nova Scotia." Tourism Minister Rodney MacDonald defends the use of the song in the tourism campaign, saying it went through extensive focus-group testing. "We do extensive research to ensure that the people we are attempting to reach to come here to Nova Scotia we are reaching. And this song is doing so," he said. The Gaelic tune will not be heard in Nova Scotia. A song by local performer Matt Mays is part of the tourism campaign in the Maritimes. Mays' song, in English, describes the province as a good place. Both songs are used as background music in the television ads. Actor John Dunsworth, who plays Mr. Leahy on the show Trailer Park Boys, does the voiceovers. This year's tourism marketing campaign is the most extensive one yet, including tv, magazine and online elements. It's also the first time the province has planned major TV campaigns in Ontario, Quebec and New England. The province recently announced a $1.4-million campaign to rebrand Nova Scotia as a place to "come to life." However, that tag line isn't included in this tourism campaign.
January 17, 2005 Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage Rodney MacDonald will announce the first projects to be funded under the new Gaelic Activities Program on Monday. The announcement will be made at 11 a.m. at the Christmas Island Firehall. MacDonald will be joined by representatives of several of the communities and organizations that will receive funding. Traditional Gaelic entertainment will be provided by Mary Jane Lamond and others.
May 31, 2004 IONA, N.S. More Nova
Scotians may learn to speak Gaelic under a new There are an estimated 500
native Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia, down from "I think we have to make the
opportunities for people and make it a little Lamond's group polled people
around the province and found many want to "Certainly this can be done,"
she says, citing examples in Scotland and A challenge ahead Gaelic teacher Geoff MacDonald
agrees, pointing to the influence of English "One day I got him singing it
and he leaned backwards and hit the Barney Rodney MacDonald, minister of
tourism, culture and history, sees parallels "The fiddlers put their minds
to it 30 years ago and rose to the challenge Mary Jane Lamond speaks with
Maritime Noon's Costas Halavrezos
December 5, 2003 In this day and age of highly portable telecommunication, you never know where someone will be when they choose to call. They could be stuck in traffic or at the gym. You could even hear the tell-tale porcelain echo of someone who's talking while tinkling. Or, there's East Coast artist Mary Jane Lamond, who chooses to dial while sitting with a shopping cart full of possible purchases at a Halifax Winners. "I can either stand around and wait to try on my clothes," Lamond says laughing, "or I could call while I was trying on my clothes, and I didn't feel comfortable doing that." No, certainly not -- we're not yet ready to take that step. Maybe after a few initial interviews from a coffee shop, or while she's at the movies. And until we get to that point, there's a lot to talk about, a great deal to catch up on. The vocalist has been out of the national spotlight for much of the past two years, after the release of her fourth recording of traditional Gaelic music, Orain Ghaidhlig (Gaelic Songs of Cape Breton). Some of that time has been spent touring the U.S. And the past year and a half, she says, has been spent working on "Drum, a multi-cultural musical variety show that's going to be on CBC in the New Year. "I was co-arranging the music which combines Acadian ... Gaelic and African-Nova Scotian music together -- that's been kind of keeping me busy." There will also be a disc of the project released in 2004, which she co-produced. As for her own music, Lamond, who performs tonight at Brew Brothers, is just getting to work on another album. "It's just in the baby stages," she says. "I'm very slow to get started on these things. I have to ruminate on it a lot before I make any moves. I think and think." That doesn't mean those attending her show tonight won't hear anything fresh from the artist. Her and her band have been working on some seasonal material to mix in with the rest of her songs. "It's not going to be familiar because it's Gaelic songs," she says before laughing. "I'm actually just going to do a bunch of songs and tell people they're Christmas songs." February 2002 Congratulations to Mary Jane
on winning the East Coast
December 8, 2001 Mary Jane has been nominated for an East Coast Music Award for "Roots/Traditional Solo Artist Of The Year" ! As well, Mary Jane's webmaster, Cheryl Smith, of Gigs & Reels Productions Inc, has been nominated for an ECMA Industry Award for 'Graphic Artist of The Year'. As one of the biggest music
industry events in the country, the four-day conference and
awards show will draw delegates from Atlantic Canada and
around the world. ECMA 2002 celebrates Atlantic Canadian
contributions to the music industry. The awards will be handed out Sunday, February 3, 2002 at the Gala Awards Show televised live from Saint John, New Brunswick. The Industry Awards are handed out during the East Coast Music Association Industry Awards Brunch on February 1, 2002 in Saint John, NB. August 22, 2001 Mary Jane has just been contracted to program Galaxie's new Celtic Channel which is due to launch early in 2002! Visit Galaxy's website
July 11, 2001
Roddie MacInnis's Gaelic contribution recognized: Jim Watson, Roddie MacInnis and Mary Jane Lamond sing Gaelic songs at the Glendale Concert on Sunday afternoon. Father Allan MacMillan, pastor at Judique, and Alice Freeman of Inverness also joined in the songs. March 15, 2000 Mary Jane Lamond knows she will never be a pop star. But that doesn't bother the Cape Breton-based Celtic artist, who has found a comfortable niche in the world music market. "For me, it's always been a slower build," says Lamond, 39, whose hypnotic vocal work on Ashley MacIsaac's Sleepy Maggie brought her national attention in 1997. "I never really thought too much about being a pop music star. This kind of music is for music listeners and fans of folk and world music and stuff like that. It's a smaller audience, but they're a music listening audience." As with her previous albums Bho Thir Nan Craobh (From the Land of the Trees) -- which was released while she was still in Celtic studies at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. -- and the acclaimed 1997 major label debut, Suas e!, Lamond's latest release, Lan Duil, features a collection traditional Gaelic songs from the East Coast and the U.K. "I'm always finding songs," says Lamond, who performs tomorrow night at Quincy's. "Just when I think I've heard all the milling songs that have been popular in the last 100 years, I discover another one on tape somewhere. There are thousands and thousands of songs on tape. I'm not going to run out of songs to find, that's for sure." Because of this vast library of material at her disposal, Lamond isn't particularly interested in writing original music for herself. Rather, she has become quite adept at "fiddling around" with music. "I just arrange traditional songs," she says. "I really like working with instrumental music and doing the arrangements for the songs. I wouldn't say I'm a songwriter, really. I've always just loved to sing." Lamond admits she had never considered music as a career option until about four years ago. She had intended, instead, to get a PhD in Celtic studies and become a university professor before she was lured away by her love of singing. "I think nowadays I'm more interested in a grassroots position to promote the Gaelic language," she says. "I'd like to work more in community development and Gaelic cultural programs at home. That interests me. "But I've been so busy in the past year and a half that I haven't been able to do much of that." And it doesn't look like Lamond's work load will lighten any time soon. In addition to touring, Lamond is planning to release a live concert recording of traditional a cappella songs featuring veteran Cape Breton Gaelic singers. She also hopes to start writing and arranging music for films. Lamond doesn't know where this will all lead her musically, but she's pretty sure it won't be to the top of the charts. "I'd like to explore the soundscape idea.... If anything, I'll probably go less popular than more popular." | |
January
2008
Meeting for coffee in a window seat above the Blowers
Street Paper Chase, Lamond is fresh from appearing at the
St. John's Folk Festival, now in its 29th year, where she
was one of a handful of mainland guests. While Lamond spent
much time marveling at the differences as well as
similarities between Newfoundland and Cape Breton Celtic
folk traditions, it was hard to not be drawn in by one of
the festival's main events, where a world record was set
when roughly 1,000 accordions played at once. 
