Steel Rail

We were thrilled to find out that the influential music site Roots Music Canada included A Thousand Miles of Snow from our first album in their snow-themed playlist last week. Among the other tunes on the list were Jesse Winchester's Snow, Song for a Winter's Night by Gordon Lightfoot, Nearly Midnight by David Francey and High Heels in the Snow by Lynn Miles -- heady company indeed.

Here's what writer Heather Kitching said about A Thousand Miles of Snow:

I’ve always felt that Montreal’s Steel Rail was a terribly under-rated act on the Canadian folk scene, so I welcome the opportunity to feature them on this list.  The trio writes some beautiful stuff – check out Penny Lang’s cover of Ellen Shizgal’s “Prairie Sky” – and their harmonies are lovely.  Also, the trio includes exceptional guitar instrumentalist Dave Clarke, who was David Francey’s sideman during his rise to the top of the folk A-list. “1,000 Miles of Snow” is a charming little song featuring Tod Gorr on lead vocals without the band’s signature harmonies in this case.  It’s a great showcase for that pure-as-a-winter-breeze voice of his.

Thanks, Heather! 

Here's a flashback photo from back when we were recording that album, taken by the fine Nova Scotia based photographer Nance Ackerman. The shoot was in March, but it was every bit as cold as a January day with a bitter wind, as you can tell from the distinctly frozen-looking expressions on everyone's face.

We're happy to unveil our new band portrait, courtesy of talented Montreal photogapher John Mahoney. He shot Dave, Ellen and Tod on Thanksgiving weekend in the Laurentians near Prévost, Quebec. Mission: to come up with a cover photograph for Steel Rail's upcoming album Coming Home.

In the process, he also did some new portraits for posters, presenters and the press. Here's the one that resulted from a vote by band members and Tod's family. Stay tuned for more album news in the run-up to the album launch as part of the Wintergreen Concert Series at Le Petit Campus on April 25, 2020.

(And yes, that is a new banner at the top of our home page, part of that same Oct. 12, 2019, photo shoot. Thanks, John.)

The photo at the top left is Steel Rail team getting mentally prepared for the next set of recording sessions for the upcoming Steel Rail album.

Actually Dave, Ellen and Tod were scouting locations for the album cover, which is being shot next weekend. Inspiration took them to the top floor of SR headquarters in Prévost, where renovations are in full swing. While they were up there, they recreated one of their favourite unofficial band portraits, right, taken outside the venerable Ottawa venue Irene's a couple of decades ago . (Twenty-plus years, for those keeping track.)

Recording sessions for the album, Coming Home, continue at Fast Forward studios in Notre Dame de Grâce under the watchful eyes of producers Bill Garrett and Dave Clarke and engineer Rob Heaney. We're gearing up for the band's official album launch at Matt Large's Wintergreen Series on April 25, 2020. Stay tuned!

The hot weather hasn't kept Tod, Ellen and Dave from regular practices as they gear up for the next round of recording sessions for the upcoming Steel Rail album. The album, tentatively titled Coming Home, is taking shape in N.D.G.'s Fast Forward studio under the watchful eye of producer Bill Garrett and engineer Rob Heaney. Stay tuned for more news.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the bandshell at the Fritz Community Centre for last night's free show along the lakeshore. The weather was great, the setting was splendid -- one of the most beautiful places the band has ever played -- and there was something sublime about listening to acoustic music and three-part harmonies while watching the sailboats out on the St. Lawrence.

As Keith Fyckes, one of the organizers, promised, the temperature was perfect and the mosquitos didn't really come out until after the last note was played. Thanks to Keith and Louise Otmar for booking us in the Baie-d'Urfé summer concert series.

Steel Rail now hunkers down for pre-production on the long-threatened new album. Look for more updates as the process gears up. Till then, happy summer, everyone.

P.S. For those who came expecting The Last Thing on My Mind, apologies. The song was punted at the last minute for Flower in the Wildwood, another old favourite, and a cover version of one of our favourite waltzes, Evangeline, written by Robbie Robertson. 

We're hoping Montrealers, especially those of you on the West Island and Off Island, will be able to join us for a free outdoor concert Thursday night, July 12, at 7:30 p.m. in beautiful Baie-D'Urfé. The show will go on, rain or shine, either at the bandshell at the Fritz Community Centre, 20 477 Chemin Lakeshore (that's the shine location) or at the Red Barn, 20 609 Lakeshore if it rains.

You'll hear some Steel Rail originals along with some of the band's own bluegrass and folk favourites, including Tom Paxton's The Last Thing on My Mind, a mainstay of the SR repertoire at the beginning, and specially resurrected for this concert. 

It's supposed to be a balmy but not broiling summer night, you'll be near the river, and of course if you are coming from central Montreal, you will have the satisfaction of having survived the Turcot in your commute!

You can see how to find us here.. Bring the family and your summer cool!

It was great to see old friends and new at our concert in Toronto last night. It was a treat to be able to try out some of the new material for our upcoming album on such receptive ears, and to hear so many people singing along with old favourites like That's How the Summer Slips Away, Prairie Sky, and I'll Fly Away. (Not to mention getting into the fun of some surprise key changes and a persnickety amp.)

Special thanks to Lillian Wauthier and the terrific group of volunteers at Acoustic Harvest who made our time in the Bluffs so pleasant.  And a big shout-out to engineer/sound man/musician/mensch Jason LaPrade, who made everything sound so good. As always.

It was also a pleasure to hear a too-short opening set from the terrific Longview, Alta.,-based duo Over the Moon,  who play tight cowboy-, bluegrass- and Western swing-inflected originals and covers. Do yourself a favour and check them out if they are playing in your neighbourhood.

Thanks again to everyone who joined us Saturday night.

We dug this photo out of the Steel Rail vaults from around the time of our first gig in Toronto about 20 years ago. That was on the heels of our first album release. Two decades later, we're looking forward to making more music and more memories with our Toronto-area friends. Hope to see you all at the Acoustic Harvest concert on June 2 at St. Nicholas Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston Rd., just east of Warden. Doors at 7:30, concert at 8. Details here.

We'll be celebrating the start of summer with a concert in the Acoustic Harvest series in Toronto June 2. (I know it looks like we are celebrating Dave's birthday in this photograph, but we wanted to get into the spirit of things!) (Or spirits, as you can see.)

We'll be previewing new material for our long-rumoured new album, along with some new covers, including one of our favourite Gillian Welch songs, Annabelle.

I hope you can join us. The concert is at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at St. Nicholas Anglican Church, 1512 Kingston Rd., Toronto (one block east of Warden Ave.) Tickets cost $22 in advance, $25 at the door. For more information, call 416-729-7564 or click here.