Preeper Rhaye MacKay is a folk trio comprised of songbird and Canadian Folk Music Nominee Jessica Rhaye, Bill Preeper and Sandy Mackay that has been described as a modern Peter Paul and Mary, creating an intricate vocal blend of lush 3-part harmonies and a unique mix of acoustic and electric instruments, and we’re happy to see them on the stage at The Carleton on Thursday, October 24th. Show time is 7:30 PM and tickets are $25 + HST.
This trio has developed a Maritime Appalachian Folk sound weaving and sharing lead and harmony parts. It’s new folk music at its finest, pulling together inspiration from the likes of Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson, Bob Dylan, with the trio’s version of Blowin’ in the Wind generating, to date, more than 15 million views on YouTube.
“The modern folk trio offered their skills to the famed Dylan track (Blowin’ in the Wind) in a string laden rendition. Rich with golden vocals, acoustics and even a Mandolin, Rhaye, and her group would make Baez and the rest of the ‘60-s decade proud with this heartfelt version.” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE
With their unique blend of acoustic and electric instruments, Preeper Rhaye MacKay, a folk trio comprised of songbird and Canadian Folk Music Nominee Jessica Rhaye, guitarist Bill Preeper, and multi-instrumentalist Sandy MacKay, deliver lush 3-part harmonies, weaving and sharing lead and harmony parts in elegant, simple arrangements.
This trio has developed a Maritime Appalachian Folk sound, with a unique mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation. The singers deliver lush 3-part harmonies, weaving and sharing lead and harmony parts for their own compositions along with simple, yet elegant arrangements. It’s new folk music at its finest, pulling together inspiration from the likes of Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson, Bob Dylan. This group gets compared to a modern Peter Paul & Mary, creating an intricate vocal blend.
WOOD & WIRE, their new album, set for release October 2024, is Preeper Rhaye MacKay’s first album as a trio. It’s a collection of new original works and includes a special cover from the Kate and Anna McGarrigle catalogue that helps defines this trios’ provenance. The album falls on the heals of the members work together with Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade on their critically acclaimed albums Just like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan (2019), and Sunshine Baby (2023). The album was recorded with producer/engineer Dale Murray at the board, who was instrumental in making sure the best performance was captured as the trio performed and sang each song live to record.
“We wanted Wood & Wire to be what we do as a trio. It’s an album of folk songs with three-part harmonies” says Jessica Rhaye. “During the recording process we would just play the songs over and over until we all felt like we got the take we wanted. The most we played one song was seven times. It was a very natural and refreshing process” continues Rhaye “and we achieved our goal of making a record that could have been written and recorded in the height of the Greenich Village folk scene.”
Jessica Rhaye is an independent singer-songwriter and graphic design artist with 7 full length albums to her name, including her recent album Sunshine Baby, which garnered glowing buzz from Americana UK, Americana Highways, BBC Radio, Fatea UK, Great Dark Wonder, Sirius XM “North Americana”. In a career spanning 20 years, Jessica has built an impressive list of accolades including a Canadian Folk Award Nomination and has graced many prestigious stages across Canada including the National Arts Centre, Hugh’s Room, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Shivering Songs, and has co-written with notable artist like Ron Sexsmith, Steve Poltz, Ken Tobias, and Royal Wood.
On Wood & Wire Jessica plays acoustic and Nashville high-strung guitars, sounding like a dulcimer. Her clear sweet voice provides the high harmony in the trio and her solid acoustic guitar playing rhythm forms the backbone of the trio’s sound and is responsible for the album’s artwork and promo material.
Bill Preeper started playing folk music in the ‘80’s while working a day job at CBC and raising a family with his wife Kathy. In 2015, upon retirement and having more time to concentrate on music, he co-founded Bonnett House leading to the release of the album “Songs From Bonnett House” in 2017. The following year Bill became a member of Jessica Rhaye’s band, The Ramshackle Parade.His delicate finger-picking and use of alternate tunings on guitar are inspired by the traditional and contemporary masters of folk and blues. In the vocal department, Bill shares singing with his bandmates and adds low end in the trio’s harmonies.
Over a 40-year musical career, Sandy MacKay has toured widely, performed on stages and streets, theatre and session recordings for numerous artists. Sandy is a multi-instrumentalist and on Wood & Wire plays double bass, and sometimes adds mandolin and banjo. The double bass adds the bedrock to the trio’s sound, and when the bass gets bowed, brings a deep rich texture to the sound. Sandy sings tenor in the trio’s vocal mix, sometimes trading range with Jessica to reach the high harmonies in old bluegrass style.