Julie Doiron

Her renaissance, so to speak, is evident in a few ways. Perhaps it is most obvious in the resurrection of her company, Sappy Records, which took a break after Doiron won a Juno in 2000 for her work with The Wooden Stars. She says the decision to start it up again only made sense: She had a new business partner and a handful of projects she wanted to try out. Plus she was feeling a little nostalgic.

"When you stop something for a few years, you miss it a bit," she says, "and then you realize it would be fun to start it up again."

Such was the case with Sappy, and Doiron has already started lining up projects that would make any Canadian music fan swoon. A Snailhouse tribute album is in the works, and this summer saw the first annual Sappy Records Music Festival in Sackville, New Brunswick featuring her old band Eric's Trip, among many others.

But Doiron's adventures continue beyond Sappy Records. She has started playing in the band Shotgun And Jaybird, who double as her backup band when she plays her own shows. Her new solo album, due for release this winter, is one of the most anticipated Canadian albums of the year. Although the recording itself was finished a year ago, a series of glitches pushed its release further and further back. Even with these setbacks, the disc has a buzz about it that makes the wait painful. Doiron released one of the new tracks, Me and My Friend, on her MySpace page, and the tune has been making the rounds on websites and MP3 players everywhere.

"Lately [I'm] just feeling really good about playing music and writing new songs," she says. "I was in a bit of a dry spell for a while. I was starting to feel like I didn't want to keep saying those old things again."

All these changes have Doiron noticeably excited. She mentions that, for a while in the late '90s, she felt the music scene slow down. Many clubs were closing, and fans weren't showing up. She says she can feel the momentum finally gearing up again.

"It seems like Canadians are really starting to love music again," she says. "I have a feeling that things happen in waves, and right now is a strong point in terms of being in a band and going on tour."

She hints that the new album, as well as her live shows, will be a bit of a departure for her. She laughs when she explains that she's developed a fondness for noisy guitar solos.

"I'm in my musical exploration stage now," she says. "I feel great. I guess I'm finally ready."

Julie Doiron
W/ TunaHelpers, Kelsey McNulty
Tuesday, October 3 at 9 p.m., 19+
Mavericks

DEEP LOVE FOR HARMONICAS AND CAT SKIN

Catriona Sturton

When I first ask Catriona Sturton if she has always gravitated towards unusual instruments, she pauses. I had to ask - not only because she seems to play everything, but also because she had recently confessed to the XPress her deep love for the harmonica as well as for a strange Japanese instrument made of cat skin.

"They've always seemed pretty normal to me," she laughs.

She compares the Japanese instrument, a shamisen, to a cross between the banjo and the sitar, mentioning that she was lucky enough to study the shamisen with a master teacher in Japan, where she played in a punk band. Again, she says, perfectly normal.

But for such an eclectic musician this kind of response is par for the course. Sturton has lived and performed all over the world, and has picked up new instruments and influences along the way. She played with Halifax indie outfit Plumtree and Japanese punk band The Secret, and is now a solo act backed up by her band, The Screaming Elks. Sometimes she teaches harmonica workshops to seniors. This, she would say, is also completely normal.

Her love for the harmonica started at Lisgar Collegiate when her affinity for blues music prompted her to learn the instrument. When I point out that not all high school kids love the blues, she points out that they really should, since most high school kids have the blues. Suddenly her desire to learn harmonica makes a whole lot more sense. She has since studied with world-famous teachers, and has backed up an impressive list of musicians with her talents, including Neko Case, Matt Murphy and Al Tuck.

Ladyfest Ottawa was wise enough to nab her for their musical lineup, but also for their impressive roster of workshops. She will be teaching the Howdy Harmonica workshop on Sunday at University of Ottawa (For room information visit the LFO information table at Bar 1848 in the Unicentre Building of the University of Ottawa (room 205) and playing the festival Friday night at Club SAW (8:30 p.m.). Since her regular band won't be able to join her, she'll be accompanied by her gold sparkly accordion and local songwriter John Carroll.

Sturton happily admits that her path as a musician has been unique, pointing to her time living in Japan as a fine example of musical exploration. She says that before she moved there she was too shy to sing. After a certain amount of karaoke, though, nothing seems out of reach.

"My musical career has been pretty Gemini," she says. "I've just been about the luckiest person I can think of."

Catch Sturton's workshop and show, and don't stop there. This year, Ladyfest is offering some of the most interesting workshops yet, including tips on growing veggies in small places, knitting for boys, bike safety, body modification and fat politics. And don't forget the famous Ladyfest craft sale that takes place on Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.ladyfestottawa.com for a full schedule, and get your fest on.

Andrea Simms-Karp

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Thank's again     I'd still like to hear the long version of the break-up story, complete with hand motions. Thank's for being a huge part of my party,I think it flew. Love Peter (Doc)
peter(doc) conway		August 23rd, 2009

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