Rae Spoon

We say...
rae He takes his musical heritage and dishes up delicious contemporary songs. He has the spirit of the prairie without the tired country and western imagery that can hamper this genre.

He is unique, incredibly talented and as polished a performer you are likely to hear.

And I think he does have a white hearse.

His web site says...
'Rae Spoon is a young artist who proudly follows in the time-honored tradition of the singers he respects. Armed with influences such as Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams, he continues to mine the territory that lays between reverence for the greats and his own original perspective and voice. Rae’s cowboy-folk twang and prairie imagery is borne out of his history as an Albertan and his lyrics stem from his own unique life experience as a person who is transgendered (born female now identifies as male). Constant touring (mostly on the greyhound) with just a banjo and a guitar has also added to the depth of his storytelling.

Since emerging onto the Canadian roots scene in 2001, Rae has steadily built a following through grassroots methods and strong word of mouth buzz. He's performed at many high-profile Canadian festivals, including Dawson City, Vancouver, Regina, Ottawa, Calgary, Winnipeg & Edmonton Folk Festivals. At the latter (in 2004), Rae played a Mainstage set sandwiched between Natalie Merchant and Earl Scruggs, in front of 10,000 people. Rae was also presented with 2 awards at this festival: the Galaxie Rising Star Award for Best New Artist and Penguin Eggs Magazine's Critics "Favorite New Discovery" of 2003. Rae has shared the stage with artists such as Kinnie Starr, Po' Girl, Sarah Harmer, Carolyn Mark, the Be Good Tanyas, Emmylou Harris and Ani Difranco, and has received high praise and accolades from many of them. The consistent feedback is that Rae is an incredible talent with the voice and lyrical imagery of an old soul.

Rae released his debut album, "Throw Some Dirt On Me" in 2003, and followed it up with the '05 sophomore release “Your Trailer Door”. Since '03, Rae has traversed Canada eight times, has played East Coast U.S. dates, enjoyed a successful 5 week UK tour and recently returned from a month in Australia, where he played three major folk festivals.

Now comes the release of his third full length, "White Hearse Comes Rolling". And bearing all the hallmarks of road troubadours, Rae once again will embark on endless touring, including domestic and international dates.

Rae Spoon has firmly planted himself amongst the new wave of Canadian roots artists that are flourishing, and has carved himself a role that is impossible to ignore: the latest emerging artist who is catching the ears and hearts of many. To quote Dugg Simpson (artistic director of Vancouver Folk festival), "all hail the next generation".'