Grapevine Music Agency - representing some of the finest roots musicians from the UK and North America. Folk, Blues, Country, Americana.
Headwater
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"I can hear music..."
Headwater have invented a whole new genre of music – Canadiana! Led by prodigiously talented soulmates Jonas Shandel and Matt Bryant this crew produce some of the most beautiful roots music you’ll ever hear. One moment they conjure up Calexico, the next, American Beauty period Grateful Dead. Wonderful, soulful good-time music beautifully played and effortlessly sung.
“It is no exaggeration to claim that ‘Lay You Down’ is one of the best albums these ears have heard over the past twelve months, and that any fan of sensitively played, beautifully sung roots music should seek these boys out as a matter of urgency.” - Dan Wilkinson – Americana UK
“Lay You Down is a sophisticated master-class in the art of Americana roots. Take my advice and seek this gorgeous album out at your nearest opportunity” Shelley Marsden, Country & Roots Magazine
“I’m glad to claim that Lay You Down is the best damn record I’ve heard this year.” Lunar Café
“Headwater is a folk act of prodigious talents, sometimes hewing close to old-timey string-band tropes (as on Brown Stone Road), occasionally veering into country (Freight Train), and even wandering into roots-rock territory (the Hammond B3–fortified Death of Me). It's obvious that whatever genre they choose, these guys can play the hell out of it. Catch them now, before the Deadheads find out about them. Georgia Straight
“The sound is timeless. It’s youthful like Blue Rodeo but mature like Neil Young. These guys have a great stage presence, it’s a trance-like groove that you can’t help but move to. When I last saw them they drew a packed room of fellow musicians of all genres and everyone there was in awe. That’s what catchy songwriting and instrumental poise creates.” Left Hip Magazine
Hearing Headwater is like listening to the West Coast of Canada in song. Freewheeling, fierce, sentimental and sexy, the Vancouver, B.C., quartet has earned its reputation as one of the finest acoustic roots groups around the old-fashioned way. They work their asses off.
Since forming in 2001, the group has logged in thousands of kilometers criss-crossing Western Canada and playing to anyone and everyone willing to give it some love. With hooks, driving rhythms, adventurous steel guitar and mandolin solos, and beautiful three-part vocal harmonies all featured in tight, concise under four-minute songs, they found fans fast. Or they roped them in at first, street busking before gigs rather than hanging out waiting for crowds to come to them.
This is a band of musicians who do what they do because nothing else would be right. No rock star wannabees allowed. Jonas Shandel (guitar, banjo, vocals) and Matt Bryant (mandolin, vocals) started writing songs together in grade school in North Vancouver. They had an electric power trio where Shandel drummed and Bryant did six-string duty and all that really came out of that experience was frustration over volume and never finding a vocalist that fit. "We couldn't find a reliable singer, so we said 'screw this,' we'll do it," says Shandel.
Unplugging and getting their strum on proved the best thing the two young musicians ever did. Turns out that both were exceptionally gifted singers whose songwriting really differed yet held true to the pair’s collective love of Peter Gabriel, Neil Young and John Hiatt. When instinct said it was the right time, they conscripted steel guitarist Tim Tweedale and Patrick Metzger on upright bass to record 2006’s My Old Friend. The debut garnered stellar reviews and gave the guys a document to leave for fans hungry for more. Two of these early tunes that still get folks singing along in concert, the loping “Lonely Trail” and the full-on boogie down “Out To The Country.” The hired guns enjoyed gigging so much they never left.
After hundreds of dates road-testing tunes to find only the best, it was time to record album two. Enter producer and frequent guest drummer Marc L'Esperance, (Po'Girl, Ray Condo, Linda McRae) to craft the lush soundscapes of 2008’s Lay You Down.
Tackling themes of death, loss, and of course, love, this CD solidifies Headwater as one of Canada's strongest young folk and country acts.
"We're happy with both CDs, but the new one raises the bar in every way," says Shandel. "Particularly in the vocals, which we're pretty obsessive about. It’s 11 examples of what we can do well, and we hope it's cool for people," says Bryant.
Our View. “Lay You Down” is already our album of the year! It’s just magical and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. If you doubt how good this bunch are just take a couple of minutes out and watch the You Tube video on the link above – you’ll be dancing around the room. There is simply no doubt that Headwater will be one of the success stories of 2009.