[thunderbrick]

Now THIS thread will probably bring dozens of replies!   

I have a huge soft spot for music of Australia, New England, the Great Lakes and Canadian Maritimes, niche areas all, and I am looking for more suggestions.

Some of my favorites are the late Stan Rogers, an incredibly passionate single/songwriter who deals with sailing industry and history of Eastern Canada, the Brandywine Singers, and new to me, Tanglefoot, a fantastic Canadian group that performs a wide range of songs, (sad/funny/irreverent)some heroic songs.  Their CD Agnes on the Cowcatcher is getting a lot of play on my CDP lately.

The Bushwackers out of Australia fit the bill, as I picked up a few of their CDs on a business trip 10 years ago. 

No disrespect to the Ranken Family or Gordon Lightfoot, but my three examples are on a whole 'nother level.

I like Cape Breton music, but have a ton of Celtic music already, which is close in flavor.  Up to my elbows in Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, etc.

Anybody else out there who never outgrew the folk craze of the early 60s?

Thanks!

'brick

[Len_Dreyer]

I recently picked up Eric Bogle's "By Request", an Australian. Also, look into Gordon Bok. I saw him a couple of times at the Philly Folk Festival back in the mid-70's.

[thunderbrick]

Thanks, Len!  I have two Gordon Bok LPs.  Love the music, and the SQ is phenomenal!  On the Maggie 1.6s it is absolutely holographic, perfect for that lonely style of singing.

I'll check into Eric Bogle.

Any other closet folkies out there? 

[Phil A]

Thanks for the info.  Check out fionneregan.com.  I have not yet got his new CD but liked his first.  Slightly different but still folk.

[thunderbrick]

Thanks, Phil!  Fionn Regan is nice stuff.  I did find a treasure trove of Gordon Bok's stuff on ebay (listening right now), and I'll try to pick up more.  Like Stan Rogers, Gordon has those deep, rich vocals that bring a lot of life's experiences to the music.

Any other ideas, guys?

 

[jazzcourier]

Cape Breton fiddler Jospeh Cormier should be remembered for his spirited violin works in a variety of styles.Best,i think,are the works with just the piano.There you can hear the patchwork of styles ranging from Acadian to Irish.If you are up on your Cajun history,they fled Canada and ended up in Louisiana,it was a "faith based" migration and they carried that French music to the Bayous.Rounder Records documented some of the Cape Breton fiddlers and recorded Cormier,who also played the Folk festival circuit.He was greatly influenced by the legendary Irish fiddler Michel Coleman who made the greatest fiddle recordings of the pre-war era.That would be the "big one"-world war two.This amazing collection of 78's was put in a worthwhile collection titled "wheels of the world" on Yazoo records.Coleman is there as are the pipers and the button accordionists who made this great,little heard music from their the edge of the earth and another time.
              If you have not yet traveled to Nova Scotia it is a memorable trip and a ferry ride from northern Maine with breathtaking coastal scenery and when you get there you will know you are somewhere very far away and very special. 

[thunderbrick]

Jazz, I lived in Louisiana for a few years, so I know of what you speak.   

Yeah, that ride from Acadia Nat'l Park to Halifax is gorgeous!  Did it about 35 years ago, and headed up the coast to Peggy's Cove and more.  Wonderful place!  Want to get to PEI someday.

I like Natalie McMasters' work, too!

[Len_Dreyer]

Thunderbrick,

Here's a link to wikipedia that might help in the quest, Music Of The Maritimes.

Len

[jazzcourier]

Brick...Peggy's Cove is amazing! For those planning a trip you travel north to Saint John NB and take the ferry with your auto to Digby NS and drive south along the coast to Peggy's Cove.The ferry takes about three hours.Once  you hit Digby you feel like you are in rural France.We drove to Halifax and then returned to the states overland through farmlands.Once you start hitting some towns stop in for the local delicacy..."Kraft dinner" yes,macaroni and cheese served in a baronial fashion to suit royalty.The food in NS, and particularly Peggy's Cove, was amazing,great fresh sea food and locally grown farm goods.This was the cleanest place i have ever seen.The whole area looks like a miniature golf course,or rather what one of those is trying to look like.If you ever want to disappear from anybody,this is the place.

[Phil A]

Thanks, Phil!  Fionn Regan is nice stuff.  I did find a treasure trove of Gordon Bok's stuff on ebay (listening right now), and I'll try to pick up more.  Like Stan Rogers, Gordon has those deep, rich vocals that bring a lot of life's experiences to the music.

Any other ideas, guys?

 

I also like Vandaveer.  Folk - well sort of.  They are good live.  Here's a couple.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqu9MSfBPN8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzZ-bZ0g-wk