Steel Rail

Music in the park in Pointe-Claire

Thanks to everyone who joined us under threatening skies at Parc Valois in Pointe-Claire last night for an evening of music, laughter and great vibes.

In spite of the dodgy weather forecast, Tod, Ellen and Dave got through their 80-minute set without incident – quite an accomplishment considering that the wind blew over Tod's iron music stand four times during the sound check (it was held down by weights during the show) and there were anti-rain devices (a.k.a. plastic bags) over the speakers until shortly before the concert.

Many of you asked us about the set list, which included a number of new songs, so it appears at the end of this post. In the meantime, thank you to Christine Dufresne and her team at the Ville de Pointe-Claire, who present an amazing array of music and other cultural events in the city. Particular thanks to the on-site team last night, led by Sabrina, and to sound experts Duke and Steve, who made everything sound great. 

Thanks too to all of you who brought your chairs and blankets (brrrrrr!) and came to the park yesterday evening. What fun! Here is what you heard. All the songs are original unless otherwise indicated; those with asterisks are original songs that have not yet been recorded.

Set list

1. Waiting for a Train
2. The Comet*
3. Rain
4. Annabelle (composer: Gillian Welch)
5. Bells of Buckingham*
6. Winter Wren
7. Simple Prayer*
8. Argyle Street
9. When Are You Coming Home
10.  The Legion on Saturday Night*
11. Nebraska in My Dreams*
12. Midnight Road
13. Once in a While
14. My Bucket's Got a Hole in It (composer: Clarence Williams)
15. The Last Thing I Forget*
16. Home*
17. Kate's Song
18. Flower in the Wildwood (traditional)
19. Big Sky Blues

Free concert in Pointe-Claire park July 25 

We'll be playing Parc Valois in Pointe-Claire July 25 as part of that city's summer music series.

Join us if you can for an evening of new tunes and old favourites in the park at 40 ave de la Baie Valois in Pointe- Claire. Best of all: the surroundings are beautiful, and the concert is free, thanks to the Ville de Pointe-Claire.

The show starts at 7:30; keep your fingers crossed for good weather!  
 

A great summer night at the Wheel Club

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Montreal concert at the Wheel Club on June 15. We had a great time seeing some dear familiar faces and some new friends in our first full-length show in some time in our home city.

The show, part of the Matt Large Presents series, featured some old favourites along with a passel of new material – almost a third of the songs in the show have not yet been recorded. For those of you who asked, a set list appears below. The songs that are not yet recorded appear with an asterisk. N.N

Thank you to soundman Steve, Henry and Lily at the door and the owners of the Wheel Club, who have made this venerable N.D.G. institution into a new centre for roots and acoustic music in Montreal. A very special thanks to Matt Large, who has done so much to foster the roots/Americana scene in the city. His next show promises to be a smoker: brilliant mandolinist and fiddler Ray Legere plays the Wheel Club with guitarist Alan Jeffries. The show is at the club, 3373 Cavendish Blvd. just south of Sherbrooke, on Thursday, June 20. You can get tickets here. 

See you soon! 

June 15 concert at the Wheel Club. All songs original unless otherwise indicated. 

Set 1
1. Waiting for a Train 
2. When Are You Coming Home 
3. *The Comet
4. Rain 
5. Cool, Cool Walls 
6. Old Forgotten Road    
7. *The Bells of Buckingham 
8. Winter Wren      
9. *Simple Prayer 
10. Argyle Street          
11. Late Autumn Days 
12. Kate's Song    

Set 2
1. *The Legion on Saturday Night   
2. *On this Train               
3. Midnight Road                
4. Willow Creek 
5. *The Last Thing I Forget   
6. Big Sky Blues 
7. *Nebraska in My Dreams
8. My Bucket's Got a Hole in It (Clarence Williams) 
9. Once in a While 
10. *Home 
11. Like a Ship  
12. I'll Fly Away  
 

Encore

Sorrowful Angels (Tommy Conners / Leslie Winn Satcher)
Annabelle  (Gillian Welch)

CJAD interview about June 15 concert

Mike Cohen of the Suburban interviewed guitarist Dave Clarke about Steel Rail's upcoming Montreal concert at the Wheel Club in N.D.G. You can hear what Dave had to say about the long connection he has with his bandmates and what it's like to write songs with your wife here. 

The Steel Rail concert takes place on Saturday, June 15, at the Wheel Club, 3373 Cavendish Blvd, just south of Sherbrooke St. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door, available here. 

Hope to see you at the show!

Montreal show on June 15

We're so pleased to announce our upcoming concert at the Wheel Club in N.D.G. on June 15. 

The show, part of the Matt Large Presents series, will feature Tod, Ellen and Dave with some brand-new songs, along with some old favourites. 

The Wheel Club is at 3373 Cavendish Blvd, just south of Sherbrooke; tickets cost $30, available here.

Stay tuned for more details!  
 

Les belles voix

Thanks to everyone who came out to our show at the Festival de la voix in Dorval this afternoon. It was great to see everyone and share the bill with the amazing Karen Young and her band.

Particular thanks to festival artistic director Kerry-Anne Kutz, Duke at the soundboard, who made everyone sound great, and all the volunteers who make the festival happen every year. 

There's still great music to come at the festival this month. You can find the details here; don't miss the chance to hear the eclectic and brilliant artists at this remarkable festival.

In the meantime, thanks again to those who joined us this afternoon. It was particularly sweet to see our friend Richard, to whom we dedicated the new song Bells of Buckingham. The song, written by Dave Clarke and Lucinda Chodan, is inspired by Richard's own life story growing up in the Outaouais region. It was the first chance we had to play it for him live – a special moment for us.

For those of you who asked, here are the songs we played this afternoon. Thanks again for coming out. Please stay tuned for upcoming concert news.

Waiting for a Train (Clarke)
Rain (Chodan/Shizgal)
The Comet (Chodan/Gorr)
When Are You Coming Home (Clarke/Shizgal) 
Winter Wren (Shizgal)
Bells of Buckingham (Chodan/Clarke)
My Bucket (Got a Hole in It) (Clarence Williams)
Simple Prayer (Shizgal)
Home (Chodan/Shizgal)
Kate’s Song (Shizgal)
Big Sky Blues (Chodan/Clarke)

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. 

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…. 

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.