Dala "Best Day"

What is it in the water and the soil in Canada that is growing such beauties? We have been treated to some incredibly talented folks from north of the border, who ain’t hard to look at either. Dala, the duo of Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine, just released their fifth studio record, Best Day. They have been building their audience the old fashioned way, person by person, winning them over through albums, performances, and opportunities.

Along the way, they have picked up five Canadian Folk Music Awards. The girls have played all over North America, including some mighty fine festivals: the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Denver’s Swallow Hill, the Lowell Summer Concert Series, Strawberry Music Fest, Sisters Folk Festival, and the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival in 2009. Last summer Dala hosted a PBS special primetime concert which you might have seen, titled Girls From The North Country. Then again, they might be totally new to you, but if they come close this summer, you might think about catching them live.

Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther have established themselves an rising stars on the popfolk circuit. The new album Best Day, brings forth their lush intertwining harmonies, with accompaniment from piano, guitar, ukulele and minimal drums. Today’s song, the title track, is wistful, beautiful; the kind of thing you could sing to your child every day. Let the sunshine on your face, make it be a “Best Day.”

-Jessie Scott

Deep Dark Woods "The Banks of the Leopold Canal"

I was first introduced to the Deep Dark Woods while at XM Radio. Their hauntingly beautiful, heartbreakingly lovely album Hang Me Oh Hang Me crossed my desk in 2007 when it first came out, and I was instantly captivated. Here is a bit of trivia for you X Country listeners of old; the very last concert in the Wired In series was The Deep Dark Woods, recorded in the XM Canada studios. There are certain bands I just can’t get enough of, and this is one of them. Music Fog has had the honor of recording them a couple of times. I have seen them perform many more times than that. They create an atmosphere of rarified air, a shimmering and precious moment demanding your attention. Demanding is too strong a word, really, it is more like hypnotizing. It is all very Ingmar Bergman-esque, actually. I so love it when I get to watch careers unfold.

The Deep Dark Words has just come off playing Bonnaroo, are heading to the venerable Newport Folk Festival in July, and will grace the stage of ACL Music Festival in Austin in October. They are up for the "New And Emerging Artist of the Year" at The Americana Honors and Awards in September. We did a session with them two years ago during the 2010 Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s, and we saved one of the songs from their new album The Place I Left Behind for now. Today’s song is “The Banks Of The Leopold Canal.” The Deep Dark Woods are Ryan Boldt, Burke Barlow, Lucas Goetz, Chris Mason, and Geoff Hilhorst, though Geoff didn’t play on this session. But Kendel Carson was there, and joined them on fiddle. Simply beautiful.

- Jessie Scott

Delta Rae "Bottom of the River"

The march of music is heating up with the season. It comes by mail, by download, by Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn and there is no wavering from the incessant drum beat. I am in awe of how many projects are worthy of attention, though it is hard, actually impossible to keep up with it all, even in our little corner of the universe.

Allow me to introduce yet another kick ass project. Delta Rae. There is no one in the band by that name (which one’s Pink?). They number six, including three siblings, Brittany, Ian & Eric Hölljes, and Elizabeth Hopkins, Mike McKee and Grant Emerson.

Coming out of Durham, NC, Delta Rae stirs the ghosts tilled from the Carolina soil with powerful multipart harmony, soul, and strength. The band is becoming known for their live performances. You have lots of chances to see them, as they have been touring a bunch, and are doing some festivals this summer and fall. Oh yeah, they will be playing The Tonight Show with Jay Leno next Monday, June 25.  They were signed by legendary rock n ‘roll A&R man Seymour Stein, his first signing in several years. Of course, among his credit are The Talking Heads, Madonna and The Ramones. Delta Rae’s album Carry The Fire comes out today.

They are offering a free download of the song we bring you today, “Bottom Of The River,” and a live album, if you care to give them your email. 

- Jessie Scott