Dolly Parton credits singer-songwriter Claire Lynch as having “one of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices in the music business today.”
Friday, Sept. 28, the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts welcomes back Nashville-based (soon to be Toronto-based) Bluegrass Grammy nominee Claire Lynch. She kicks off her Western Canada tour in Saskatoon with her North band, comprised of three of Canada’s finest bluegrass musicians. The band members are Joe Phillips (upright bass, backing vocals), Shane Cook (fiddle) and Darrin Schott (mandolin, acoustic guitars and backup vocals).
Long recognized and praised as a creative force in acoustic music, Claire Lynch is a pioneer who continually pushes the boundaries of the bluegrass genre. Her career has been decorated with many accolades including three Grammy nominations, six International Bluegrass Music Association awards and the prestigious United States Artists Walker Fellowship.
Her harmonies have graced the recordings of many stellar musicians. Equally gifted as a writer, her songs have been recorded by The Seldom Scene, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea, Cherryholmes, The Whites and many more.
On her latest CD, North by South (2016), Lynch has paid homage to her favourite Canadian songwriters on a set of bluegrass and new acoustic tracks. After her recent marriage to a Canadian (she becomes a permanent resident here this November), she began to dig into the vast catalogue of songs written by Canadian songwriters and found the inspiration for this project.
Working with Alison Brown in the producer’s chair, she delivers standout versions of Ron Sexsmith’s Cold Hearted Wind with Jerry Douglas on Dobro, the catchy Kingdom Come written by Old Man Luedecke featuring Béla Fleck (banjo) and Stuart Duncan (fiddle) and the gorgeous maritime ballad Molly May written by Cape Breton’s JP Cormier.
Lynch also offers thoughtful reinterpretations of songs by Lynn Miles (Black Flowers), David Francey (Empty Train) and Gordon Lightfoot (Worth Believing) and contributes the lighthearted, self-penned Milo to the project.
For tickets to the Sept. 28 show at 8 p.m. contact the Dekker Centre.
To learn more about Lynch and her band visit: http://www.clairelynch.com/
