Roots songstress Allison Brown and brave mandolin accompanist ‘Uncle’ Dan Henshall embark this July on a 29-day ramble that brings them from the Southern Ontario heartland to Canada’s far west, riding the rails as part of VIA Rail’s On Board Entertainment Program for 10 shows on Vancouver Island.
Uncle Dan makes his first cross-country trek this summer, while this adventure marks Brown’s fourth visit to Vancouver Island, where she recorded both her first and second full-length albums at the home studio of master of musical tradition, David Essig. Brown was also a featured artist at the Islands Folk Festival aside Duncan’s beautiful Mount Tzouhalem in 2010.
The duo will be in Campbell River to perform July 6 at Nebitt’s Island Coffee at 7 p.m.
Brown brings along a new collection of recordings on her ‘Secret Identity’ EP featuring four songs to be included on an upcoming full-length release. Produced with Andy Magoffin, ‘Secret Identity’ was recorded this May at Magoffin’s elusive House Of Miracles studio near Cambridge, Ontario. Featured performances include Chris Crossroads on banjo, Scotty Hughes on guitars, J.J. Ibsen on piano and Hammond Organ, Lonesome Lefty Houston on fiddle, and Uncle Dan Henshall on mandolin and upright bass;
Uncle Dan is also bringing along his signature low-fi collection of solo recordings, ‘Field Recordings V. II’.
Dimes are thin for this pair of pennies traversing the continent; fans and friends can support their journey by supporting their “Wreck-less on Vancouver Island” fund towards a 13-day rental of a long-loved ‘rent-a-wreck’ from Nanaimo as they travel across the Island. Visit www.kapipal.com/wrecklessonvancouverisland to make a donation.