Closing out the season for the Cochrane Valley Folk Club (CVFC) is the four-piece Toronto collective, New Country Rehab.
The roots-rockers will be taking the stage March 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Dubbed as the ‘Canadian answer to Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers’, frontman, singer/songwriter and fiddler John Showman said he feels it’s their approach that sets them apart from the plethora of ‘roots’ bands on the market.
“I feel as though the path I set us out on (in 2008) is to take on those essential lyrical and thematic elements…stuff that maybe isn’t as true today as it was 100 years ago,” explained Showman.
“If Hank Williams was alive today, what kind of music would he write to tell his stories from back then?”
Showman said prior to their self-titled debut release in 2011, New Country Rehab was focused on “Hank Williams’ cannon of music”.
Their own sound began to develop, stemmed from that exploration of various Smithsonian Folkways musicians, clawhammer banjo players like Clarence Ashley and bluegrass staples such as Doc Watson.
The key ingredient is integrity for this collective, matched by blended harmonies for a “rich and haunting sound” and rhythmic, driving instrumentation; the tales are gritty, the vocal harmonies and fiddle a homage to outlaw country and bluegrass and the guitar playing boasts a modern appeal.
While their music has been referred to as ‘alt-country’ Showman finds more depth in ‘roots-rock mixed with bluegrass’, which speaks to the influences each musician brings to the table — a bassist rooted in folk, a guitarist in rock, a drummer in Latin and reggae and Showman in bluegrass and country fiddle.
The current lineup features Michael Tuyp on guitar, Alastair Whitehead on bass and Roman Tomé on drums; each member works on their contribution to the songwriting effort, with Showman taking the lead as lyricist.
Following their 2013 sophomore release, Ghost of Your Charms, Showman said he anticipates a third release within the next year, something that will be “a little more back to the traditional sounds — guitar and fiddle stuff…I love the approach we have as a band.”
Having spent some time playing in the U.S. and developing a penchant for gigs in towns along the Appalachian region (from Pennsylvania to Tennessee), Showman said the band is right where they need to be — building new fan bases, crafting good music and living the life of music.
“I like the process of playing and touring and writing music…that is the goal. The goal is to make music, to keep building, to evolve as a player and as a musician.”
Tickets to the show are available at cochranefolkclub.com, at Phantoms Music and Cochrane Coffee Traders.
Learn more about New Country Rehab at newcountryrehab.com.
