Welcome

Welcome to the website of the Montreal folkgrass trio Steel Rail. Strong original material, superb three-part harmonies and hot picking have helped Tod Gorr, Ellen Shizgal and Dave Clarke win a loyal fan base in Central Canada. After almost a decade of living on opposite ends of the continent, the threesome are back together in Quebec, making new acoustic music that reflects the best of the folk, bluegrass and country traditions.

Check out our latest album, Coming Home.

Join our mailing list for the latest news

January 18, 2024 

April 7 concert at Festival de la Voix

 

We are delighted to announce that we are playing a double bill with
Karen Young, one of Canada's finest jazz singers, at this year's Festival de la Voix.

The concert is at 2 p.m. at the Serge Nolet Auditorium, 1301 Av. Dawson #2E5 in Dorval and tickets cost $35.

So nice to return to the festival, a vibrant and tasteful celebration of singers and song. For more information about the rest of the festival please click here. 

 

 

January 7, 2024 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy new year!

 

Best wishes from Tod, Ellen, Dave and the rest of the Steel Rail team. And thanks to photographer Judith Cezar for this shot, one of the band's favourites.

Stay tune for concert news coming soon…. 

July 24, 2023 

Haliburton show cancelled 

Due to circumstances beyond our control, our July 27 concert at the Music Room in Haliburton has been cancelled.

Look for a rescheduled date in the future.  In the meantime, if you have tickets, please contact the Music Room for refunds.

July 17 

 

Chatting about our upcoming Haliburton concert

You can join guitarist Dave Clarke and radio host Penny Mowbray-Randall in conversation tonight about our upcoming concert at the Music Room in Haliburton, Ont., on July 27.
They'll discuss some Steel Rail history in the area (thanks to those of you who joined us at the Hair Hut in Carnarvon a decade or so ago) and talk about some of the songs we'll be playing at our Music Room show. Penny is choosing a couple of those songs to play along with the conversation, so we hope you can tune in!
If you are in cottage country north of Toronto, you can listen at 100.9 FM around 7:15 p.m. Eastern today, July 17. You can also listen live online at canoefm.com.
Penny is one of the people fostering community radio in Canada, so vital to our towns and cities, not to mention independent artists and musicians. So thanks to her and to Canoe for the fine work. 
For more information about our show at the Music Room, please click here. Tickets are $32, and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. on July 27. 

July 12, 2023 

Ticket update for July 27 Haliburton ON show

Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite for our July 27 concert at the Music Room in Haliburton, ON.

Here's the link. 

Tickets are $32, and the Music Room is in Castle Antiques and Café, 23 Highland St. in Haliburton. You can also get tickets by emailing themusicroomhaliburton@gmail.com or calling 705-457-1155.

Hope to see you in beautiful Cottage Country Ontario!

July 1, 2023  

 

Haliburton, here we come

We're delighted to announce that we will be playing in Haliburton, Ont., on July 27 as part of the inaugural season of the Music Room, a 150-seat venue in Castle Antiques and Cafe in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario. 

Thanks to Anna Lowes, Mark Christiano and Craig Titus for inviting to help kick off what promises to be a great concert venue in cottage country. (If you're in Toronto, it's about two and a half hours northeast; if you're driving from Ottawa, head west for about three hours!)

Tickets for the concert cost $32, available by emailing themusicroomhaliburton@gmail.com or calling 705-457-1155.

May 15, 2023 

Thanks, SuperFolk (and super folks)

Thanks to everyone who came out to our concerts on Friday and Saturday in Morin Heights. 
We had a great time at what was a kind of pandemic-delayed album launch in the Laurentians, and we were happy to be able to play some of the material on that new album, Coming Home, as well as some golden oldies and some brand new material that has yet to be recorded.  
A couple of people at the shows asked about the songs we played. The set list from Saturday night is at the end of this post; the songs on Coming Home are noted with an asterisk.
Thanks again to SuperFolk, which presented the shows at Mickey's Cafe. SuperFolk organizes a festival in Morin Heights every summer along with a regular concert series. This year's festival is Aug. 18 -- you can learn more about it and SuperFolk here. In the meantime, thanks again to Ian and Penny for a great experience (did we mention that the sound was fantastic?) in a beautiful venue with great company. 

Here is the set list for those who were curious. All songs are originals except Annabelle (Set 2), written by the brilliant Gillian Welch. 

Set 1
1. Waiting for a Train* 
2. When Are You Coming Home* 
3. Rain*
4. The Last Time*
5. Flow River Flow*
6. Winter Wren*
7. The Comet
8. Bells of Buckingham
9. Argyle Street*
10. Like a Ship
11. Kate's Song*

Set 2
1. On This Train I Ride
2. The Legion on Saturday Night
3. The Town That Used to Be 
4. Nebraska in My Dreams
5. Midnight Road 
6. Prairie Sky 
7. Annabelle (Gillian Welch)
8. Simple Prayer 
9. Home 
10. Late Autumn Days 
11. I'll Fly Away 

Encore
Big Sky Blues

April 26, 2023 

Morin Heights concerts sold out

Both May concerts in Morin Heights are now sold out. Tickets are no longer available for our May 12 and 13 shows at Mickey's Cafe, part of the Superfolk concert series.

Please stay tuned for other upcoming concerts!