Slowcoaster
| Slowcoaster | |
|---|---|
 Steven MacDougall performing at the Shoreline Festival in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Company House |
| Associated acts | The Squatters |
| Website | www.slowcoaster.ca |
| Members |
Steven MacDougall Mike LeLievre Brian Talbot |
| Past members | Devon Strang |
Slowcoaster is a Canadian indie rock band from Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The band's sound is essentially rock-based, with strong influences of reggae, ska, folk and jazz, combined with pop hooks and improvisation.[1]
History
Slowcoaster was formed in November 1999 by guitarist Steven MacDougall, drummer Devon Strang, and bassist Mike LeLievre. To promote themselves, they founded their own management company, House of Rock, which has since become influential in promoting a number of acts from Cape Breton Island. The band performed locally and toured the Maritimes, releasing two EPs, Jody's Garden and Volume II. Slowcoaster added percussionist Darren Gallop to the lineup in 2002 and released Leaves, with Accidents & Excuses following in 2003.[2]
The band began touring nationally and their debut album, Where Are They Going? was released in 2004.[3] Steven MacDougall's song "Spanish Bay" placed second in the 16th Annual National Songwriting Competition the same year.[4] A video for the single "Patio" was released and saw national play on MuchMusic.
Slowcoaster came to the forefront of the Maritime live music scene in 2005 and 2006, touring relentlessly and headlining at Nova Scotia's Evolve Festival and Stan Rogers Folk Festival, New Brunswick's Sunseekers ball music festival, the Canada Day Countdown and Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, and Prince Edward Island's Shoreline Festival. Slowcoaster won Music Nova Scotia's Alternative Group of the Year award in 2005, and an ECMA award for Alternative Recording of the Year in 2006.[5] Drummer Devon Strang left the band at this time, with longtime collaborator Brian Talbot replacing him.
In 2007 the band released Future Radio.[6] A video for the single "Leave" was released in early 2008.
The Darkest of Discos marks Slowcoaster’s fifth studio album, to be released in September 2010.
In August 2010, the band released a new single "War on War."
Discography
Albums
- Where Are They Going? – 2004
- Future Radio – 2007
- The Darkest of Discos – 2010
- The Girls Downtown – 2013
EPs
- Jody's Garden – 2000
- Volume II – 2001
- Leaves – 2002
- Accidents & Excuses – 2003
References
- ↑ Echo Weekly online edition, Slowcoaster article
- ↑ House of Rock bio for Slowcoaster
- ↑ The Coast Magazine, November 18, 2004, online edition, article about Slowcoaster CD release
- ↑ Slowcoaster bio on MapleMusic's website
- ↑ Slowcoaster's bio on the official website
- ↑ Grant, Laura Jean. "Future Bright for Slowcoaster", The Cape Breton Post, September 13, 2007.
External links
- Slowcoaster official website
- Slowcoaster at Company House Records
- Slowcoaster on MapleMusic Recordings
- Live recordings by Slowcoaster at the Internet Archive