On Stage 11/2 – Linda McRae

Linda McRae first gained notoriety during her stint as bassist, accordionist and vocalist with platinum recording artists, roots rockers Spirit of the West, with whom she spent eight years touring, recording and performing internationally.

Since leaving SOTW to resume her solo career, Linda has released three recordings. “FlyingJenny” (Stony Plain 1997) was produced by Colin Linden, and featured a high powered roster of Canadian talent, including members of The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Willie P. Bennett, as well as Richard Bell of The Band, Gurf Morlix and Syd Straw. “Cryin’ Out Loud” (Black Hen 2002) was produced by Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mary Gauthier) and featured her veteran Vancouver band Cheerful Lonesome.

These two widely acclaimed recordings featured Linda’s tuneful Country-Folk. She is now working with Manager James Whitmire of Nashville’s 42 Artist Management and her third recording, “Carve It To The Heart” was released in 2007. This is Linda’s sophomore Black Hen release co-produced by Linda and Marc L’Esperance (Po’ Girl, Ray Condo) and showcases the new sound she continues to develop through her love of clawhammer banjo and her associations and collaborations with fellow songwriters.

“Carve It To The Heart” features 9 new songs steeped in the dust bowl traditions as far-reaching as the Canadian Prairie to the heartland of the Appalachian Mountains. Collaborations with fellow band mates Nova Devonie (Ranch Romance, Jo Miller & the Burly Roughnecks) and Stephen Nikleva (Ray Condo, Sarah McLachlan, Sandy Scofield) have yielded a collection of rich, heart rendering songs ranging in subject matter (as one fan coined) “From Dear John to John Deere.” The tenth track on the album is a moving version of Jean Ritchie’s classic “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore.” “Carve It To The Heart” also features Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Gary Fjellgaard on background vocals.

Linda was awarded a Canada Council grant in 2007 and is currently studying songwriting with Grammy winner Jon Vezner in Nashville, TN and round peak clawhammer banjo with renowned aficionado Brad Leftwich in Bloomington, IN. She was also just awarded an International Touring Grant through the Canada Council and will be touring Europe this fall.