Nashville-based Torontonian Lindi Ortega – along with the Halifax All Stars – plays a very special Halifax Urban Folk Festival show at The Carleton on Tuesday, September 1st. Nova Scotian country traditionalist Ryan Cook and now-back-in-Halifax-from-the-UK Gabriel Minnikin will open the night. Show time is 8 PM and tickets are $20 + booking fee.
Lindi has one of those stop-you-in-your-tracks voices that would be great singing the phone book but it’s perfectly suited for the songwriting territory she occupies on the cool fringe of rebel country and indie rock. Think of Dolly Parton fronting The Sadies and you’ll be heading in the right direction. Add to the voice exceptionally talented songwriting and you’ve got an artist that ought to be on the radar of anyone who calls themselves a fan of music.
We’re super-stoked to finally get her to Halifax and even more excited that she’s agreed to play with a Halifax All Star band we’ll put together for her. This show, ladies and gentlemen, will be a treat!
Over the course of her career she’s been nominated for three Juno Awards as well as long-listed for the Polaris Prize twice and is the current holder of the Canadian Country Music Association‘s award for Roots Artist of the Year. Her new album – Faded Gloryville – is released in August and will knock you out.
Ryan Cook is an award-winning East Coast singer and songwriter who’s performed with Country purists like Dwight Yoakam, Roseanne Cash, & Travis Tritt. His latest project The Valley Singers combines thumb-picking guitar styles with a rotating cast of harmony singers inspired by American Jazz/Country music from the 1940s and ’50s
“If you’re a fan of Hank, Glen and Merle then this is perfect for you” Americana UK
Born and raised in Nova Scotia (Canada), Gabriel Minnikin is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer. His voice is unbelievable, ranging from the gravely depths of a bass to the richer timbre of a baritone. He has toured extensively as a soloist, been a side musician for many great artists, produced records and has even had a hand in recording a film soundtrack.
Gabriel was a member of the Canadian alt-country rock band The Guthries (signed to Hay Sale Records) in the late 1990s and early 2000s who toured extensively throughout Canada and the UK. The band released their first album ‘Off Windmill’ in 2000, followed by the self-titled ‘The Guthries’ in 2002. Following that album the band members decided to pursue solo projects.
In 2004 Gabriel made Manchester his home. That year he released his critically acclaimed debut record ‘Hard Feelings’ establishing him as a recognised singer/songwriter in his own right. In 2006 he found himself back in Canada, recording what would be his sophomore release ‘Wandering Midnight’. Despite being a relatively unheard record, it did produce some interest from fans, labels, and press. He has gained radio support from John Peel and Bob Harris, and is a regular on BBC Radio Manchester.
As a soloist he has been fortunate enough to tour and share stages with great artists including Calexico, The Handsome Family, First-Aid Kit, Justin Townes Earle, & Caitlin Rose to name but a few.