Blue Flower Coventry
…the beginning… The mist in the forest is knee high. The towering yellow birch tempts the eager ferns to dare stand as tall. You sway your arms and legs to part the dense bush and notice that you are now in time with a distant and curious country rhythm, resonating from deep within. Soon, pure lonesome harmonies reach your ear and bait you with a graceful siren cadence, deeper. The maiden light of dawn bursts through the overhang and presents a small clearing, then continues on to marry with the smouldering remnants of another hallowed all-night ritual. A festivity performed only by those born of melodic spirit. There, mid the weary gypsies, bards and troubadours now bedded ‘round the dying fire, stands five. Jess, Greg, Betsy and Brothers Melchin, still sheathed in their new bond of song trade and storytelling, lift their faces to you to claim witness. You step into the circle… ♫ Welcome to the Blue Flower Coventry ♫ ~ Blue Flower Coventry was born under the full moon in May, 2011. Since then they have written and recorded 6 Country/Rock songs for their full length album (produced by Jason Wright of The Stanfields, at Sonic Temple in Halifax), won the acclaim of East Coast legend, J.P. Cormier, earned their invitation to play The Stan Rogers Folk Festival, had the privilege of song-writing with John Mullane of In-Flight Safety and had a song reviewed by Ralph Murphy (songwriter, producer and VP of ASCAP Nashville)...all in under a year! BE SURE TO JOIN THE MAILING LIST for details about their One Year Birthday Bash and the release of their first single, “I Already Know”. ...before the Coventry... Jess and Greg ~ Jess’s rich vocal eloquence and vivid poetics pull you into her stories as if you were with her when they happened. Greg encloses these stories with his fluid guitar lines, as he effortlessly crosses the musical boundaries of folk, rock and country. This duo’s heart crafted melodies will stain your mind as red wine does to lips. Jess and Greg have earned much success and international attention for their Olympic inspired anthem, “You are the Fire”. They've enjoyed frequent plays of a few of the cuts from their album on 101.5 The Hawk, CJFX, and CBC (Stan Carew). The summer of 2010 brought much fun! Opening for Garnet Rogers in Antigonish and sharing many stages with many fine artists, (Dave Gunning, Ian MacKinnon of Rawlins Cross, The Stanfields, Ryan McGroth, Fleur Mainville, Jim Dorie, The Grass Mountain Hobos). The highlight of the summer was a workshop at The Stan Roger's Folk Festival titled "All in the Family". It featured Bruce Guthro and his son, Dylan Guthro, Steve Wright and his son Jason Wright (The Stanfields) and Jess and Greg (daughter and son-in-law). www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Columns/2010-07-07/article-1517089/Stanfest-became-tanfest-/1 In the past they have shared the stage with members of Jimmy Rankin's band, Allan Doyle of Great Big Sea and Linda McRae of Spirit of the West as part of their songwriters series "Sunday Night Sessions" in Banff, Ab. In July 2008, they opened for Bruce Guthro and Kim Dunn in Antigonish (Music on Main Series). Betsy MacDonald ~ Betsy has been a longtime singersongwriter in the Antigonish area. She has two albums to her credit already and another tucked under her very talented wing to start recording this fall. She plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and has a voice comparable to a young Emmylou Harris. If Allison Krauss is the princess of bluegrass vocals, Betsy is her maiden in waiting. Her compositions follow closely in that vein as well. She has a flare for that silky high lonesome sound that would make you break down and cry...if you weren't grinning from ear to ear. Brothers Melchin ~ If you're watching an up and coming Eastcoast songwriter, chances are you're also watching Greg (bass) and Brendan (drums/percussion) backing them up. This powerful rhythm section has played with Jenny MacDonald, Dakota MacNamarra, and created Antigonish's favorite rockband Roundhouse. Brendan is also a member of the TZE and recieved his degree in Music from St.F.X. Watch out for Greg's upcoming project, Unidentified Funk Object! |
