Cd Isle...CDs by BC island recording artists

Music and rhythm, slyly evocative lyrics and sweet vocals are what
drives the seven members of bigredtruck. Their sound is clean and
punchy, the rhythms are infectious and the stage show is filled
with energy and antics. In their secret laboratory in the Comox
Valley, b.r.t is busy infusing gypsy music with funk, reggae with
jazz and celtic with latin grooves. Musical innovation and the energy
of live performance is what keeps this band inspired.
Since bigredtruck's first show at the ValleyEdge Festival in the
late summer of 2001, fans of real live music have been treated to
some of the freshest, most energetic dance music the west coast
has to offer. From festivals to small town pubs, this band possesses
the musical skill and chemistry to drive any crowd to get out
of their seats and move to the rhythm.
Most of bigredtruck's material is hand crafted in the Comox Valley
while their cover songs range from Bob Marley to The Beatles to
Beethoven. Singer/songwriter Bobby Herron has been writing
and performing with bands like The B-Sides, Bob's Yer Uncle,
The Wingnuts and Millions of Brazilians in North America and
Europe for over a decade. bigredtruck's current songs are the result
of a long dedication to the art of writing and the craft of making
music.

The Players

Bobby Herron - vocals, guitar
Meaghan Cursons - vocals, harmonica
Alan Jossul - guitars
Rachel Mooney - violin
Kevin McCann - bass
David Safford - drums
Brett Hearn - percussion

Digitally remastered reissue of the Guess Who vocalist's 1980 & fourth solo album with two bonus tracks added, 'Daddy's On The Road' & 'Vocals On The Boat'. 12 tracks total, also featuring the huge Canadian hit single 'Fine State Of Affairs'. The album was never released in the U.S. 1999 release.

Artist Information

Instrumentation
Carmen Hillary - Vocals/Piano
Tim O'Brien - BG Vocals/Guitar/Piano
Eric Tonning - Bass
Rob Gretsinger - Drums

Biography
Carmen Hillary's EP "CHAMELEON" (6songs) has definitely wetted the appetite of both industry professionals as well as the eagerly awaiting public. "Everyone's a Critic” just screams radio hit! I just don't understand why the heck she isn't already a nationally recognized singing phenomenon!" (Linton Valdock, Kenora Daily News).

Clearly in a base of solid Pop/Rock, her ethereal melodies and addictive musical hooks are peppered with electronic, symphonic and worldbeat undertones. "This talented up and coming singer/songwriter has a unique musical style that I would describe as a blend of Sarah McLachlan, Delerium and Enya - a Noir Magical genre" (Craig "Killer" Kincaid, The Wave 102.3).

"I was really impressed with Everyone's A Critic. Her voice sounds great and it has an excellent melody! A track like that should get a lot of commercial airplay." (Chris Logan, Owner - Logan's Bar).

Pleased to be generating her own audience independently thus far, it has been a busy summer. Carmen recently received a grant from FACTOR and has been touring all summer to promote Chameleon -also making television appearances on The New VI (CHUM), The Daily (Nanaimo), CH Channel 6, The Daily (Victoria). The next stop is The Western Canadian Music Festival, where she has been chosen to perform among other artists such as Kim Barlow, Jessie Farrell and Brundlefly. In past shows, Carmen has performed with ANET Ducharme, Trish Klein (of The Be Good Tanyas) and Vancouver based Hip Hop siren Kia Kadiri and in line-ups including Sarah Slean and Holly McNarland. Her song, "Memorial" is on the compilation album Secrets of the Universe that includes other top artists Morry Stearns and David Foster.

Victoria based with a four piece band, Carmen's inspiring songwriting is self-explorative and introspective. "Everyone is free to interpret my music however they want. My underlying motivation is to engage the listener is such a way that it awakens passion within them. We live in a world of over stimulation. We are for the most part told how to live and what to feel. If I can inspire someone through my music to live their life the way that they want to I've done my job."

Carmen Hillary was brought into the world by two very musical parents. Her Mother has stated that Carmen could sing before she could talk. How fitting that her name actually means “song”. Speaking of song, she wrote her first at age 7 and she has continued to write ever since. In High School, she was given the Department Award for Music and has already received accolades and label interest from Nettwerk, Virgin and The Music Publisher. Her Great Grandfather was Gitz Rice (famed Broadway composer) known for his performance during wartime. It was Christmas and as he and his fellow men started to sing Silent Night from inside the trenches, German soldiers from across the way joined in singing in their own language. Carmen feels that music is not just in her blood, but that is IS her blood. Her life dream.

Christine Evans is the latest young singer/songwriter to emerge from a Vancouver Island music scene that has given the world Nelly Furtado and Diana Krall. After winning the Island Music Award song of the year Christine is ready to release her first full Length Album. The album features 10 new tracks and new versions of "Take Me Home" and "Time Fore Me". The album was produced, engineered and mixed by Tom Hall at Seattle's Earworks Audio. The album also features 4 tracks arranged and conducted by Paul Buckmaster. Christine is an Artist Ambassador to Kids

Dan Politano's debut CD, Back Where I Started introduces a young rocker with a knack for writing Beatlesque pop hooks. Another of Politano's influences is Bryan Adams, and you can hear it in the 24 year old, self-taught musician's raspy, evocative vocals. Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind and early Elvis Costello are influential echoes in the young, Victoria musician's stripped-down, trio sound on Back Where I Started.


Recorded at Scott Henderson's fabled, Collwood basement studio, the self-produced, ten song collection of originals features Dan's twin brother Mike on Drums. It's an eclectic series of autobiographical pop narratives about love, lost and longing. New Zealand is a hook-laden, achingly beautiful song for a girlfriend down-under. Givin' It all offers a glimpse into the life of an HIV-infected street girl. It's powered by another of Politano's anthemic pop/rock melodies.