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Bio &
Publicity Photos courtesy of Banshee's Website |
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These five lively musicians combine Irish, Scottish and Maritime lore, with humour, music and even step dancing, for an always eventful kitchen party. Their songs range from traditional to contemporary Maritime. Brother and sister, Bryon and Shelley have been performing together for many years and in February of 2000 became "Banshee". Since then the siblings have enjoyed playing with a range of fantastic east coast musicians and are extremely pleased to have the current talents of Stacey Read, Glen Deveau and Robin Anne Ettles on stage with them. The focus of the band has always been to carry on the traditions found in Atlantic Canadian homes and to explore the voyages of those who originally settled this region. Their energy is contagious, their music is moving and guaranteed to get ‘ya on your feet! The result is a musical journey, not soon to be forgotten... Bryon started performing at the age of 13. His passion was always guitar, but this would inevitably lead to many instruments. From those first few chords, countless hours practicing, and lessons, his love of music grew. Bryon played with a variety of rock bands in the late eighties and into the nineties. He taught guitar privately and through various recreation organizations to children younger than himself. It was then he decided to continue his own professional music education.
In college he began performing with a Celtic group called Full Kilt. This was his first real introduction to the genre even though it was in his blood. With Irish, Scottish and plenty of Maritime Heritage, he took to the music instantly. Soon after, Bryon and his sister Shelley would join forces to perform Maritime music throughout Vancouver Island, always with the thought of returning to their childhood home in Moncton, New Brunswick. The time arrived in 1999, and with a spontaneous move to Moncton, Banshee was formed by the sibling in 2000. Bryon composes most of the group’s material and plays piano, mandolin, bodhran, bass, fiddle... basically anything he can get his hands on. He is also a lead vocalist, with a rich voice. Shelley Chase began her singing career at
the age 12. Coming from a musical family, performing was a way of
life. In her quest to entertain, Shelley began entering talent
competitions at a young age. At 15 she became Miss Teen Nanaimo
1988, which led her to Toronto to compete in the Miss Teen Canada Pageant.
Still seeking the stage After this series of pageant titles, Shelley was still anxious to sing. She became the British Columbia Regional Finalist at the 1992 Bud Light Talent Search and released a Country & Western song on the compilation CD resulting from the contest. It was during this period, she began playing guitar and composing. In 1998 she was approached by The Celebrity Lights Foundation, a breast cancer research charity, to write a song. Her composition, entitled 'One Candle', was recorded and promoted nationally through Bay stores and WTN (Women’s Television Network). The song was used to promote the foundation’s two best selling books, featuring famous women’s recipes and stories. All proceeds from the CD were (and still are) donated to breast cancer research. Later in 1998 Shelley joined forces with her brother Bryon to learn more about Celtic Maritime music. As their father was from Moncton, both siblings spent a great deal of their childhood in New Brunswick. In 1999, they decided to return home and follow their dream. Banshee was formed as a duo in February 2000. Other members joined later.
Percussionist Glen Deveau has performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, as well as in Belgium. Glen has played with such artists/bands as Hot Toddy, Debbie Adshade, Amerythme, Les Paiens, Dopopo, Theater New-Brunswick, Silt Water, and So What. He is in constant demand and has been teaching privately since 1993. |
Hi Banshee, Thanks for allowing us to do an interview with you for The Canadian Celtic Music Website Spotlight. Thanks for having us! What is the "Banshee" history? How did the group form? Where are all the members from? How long have the members been performing?
The group formed with myself (Shelley) and
Bryon (my brother) about 6 years ago under the name "Coal
Branch" (a small village in NB where our family is from)....then
about 3 years ago we changed the name to Banshee to reflect the Irish
influence in our music. Stacey Read and JP Savoie joined about a year
later and we became a full band...now we have Stace, Bryon, me, Glen
Deveau and Remi Jean LeBlanc... as the face of Banshee. We're all from
NB but Bryon and I were born in BC and spent 1/2 of our lives
there...our parents are gypsies...so that is home too! (Hi Gram!)
For someone who is new to your music, how would you describe it? Hmmm....that is such a hard one....it's Celtic, it's east coast, rowdy yet poignant (did I spell that right?),...it is the most meaningful music to me personally,....the music that belongs to the working class and the best kind of tunes to spill a pint to whilst dancing with chums! Do you have any other musicians in your family? Are your parents musical? Siblings? Bryon and I come from a very musical background...Dad plays guitar and sings (as do all 6 of his brothers, sisters, great-uncles, etc...) and currently performs with a 50's Rock and Roll group called Graffitti 4,...Mom plays piano as does her Mom and sister...so it was always there...for the rest of the gang...I know Stacey's Dad plays guitar and sings, Glen is from Cape Breton originally so I'm sure someone does and I would guess Remi Jean too with the strong Acadian heritage... What instruments are featured in the group? Vocals, fiddle, guitar, drums, djembe, bass, step-dancing, bodrhan, ....and whatever the crowd brings with them! (spoons, pots, pans, rubber boots). You have just released a new CD. What style of music is on the CD? Is it similar/different to "Secret Manuscripts" your first CD? The new CD is quite a bit different than the last CD, which was very traditional based. The biggest change is the addition of drums and percussion. Four of the songs are original and have a bit more of a Celtic Rock or Country feel to them...a little more condusive to mainstream radio. The rest of the songs are traditional favourites in the Maritime/folk genre,...some great ballads and many foot-stompers. We also had a producer (Brian Talbot) this time which changed everything. The songs had proper attention and we are a little more experienced this time round...we're really happy with the product. Have you written any tunes of your own that are on your CD's? Yup..."Great Expectations" is a ballad written by myself, Bryon and I penned "Over My Head" and Bryon wrote "Long Awaited Day" and "Roamer's Rave" as well. They are all very personal accounts and true stories to our lives at this time. What's on the agenda for the coming months for you? Will you be doing any touring this summer? We just came back from Stampede which was a hoot! We opened for Adam Gregory (in the rain) in Calgary for about 10,000 folks...then we're all over Atlantic Canada for the rest of the summer with a variety of Festivals...after a jaunt to George Street Festival in NFLD in August we wrap up the summer in Moncton with The Seafood Festival at the end of August. Who are some of your musical influences?
We're all so varied....tough one. Glen and
Remi Jean are students of jazz so I know that is huge for them. We're
all sharing our music this summer on the road as we travel. It's good to
open up to different influences.
Stacey's would probably be some of the great instrumentalists such as JP Cormier, Nickel Creek, Ivan Hicks, Natalie MacMaster....Dixie Chicks. Bryon loves Metallica and Stan Rogers in the same breath and myself...Dave Gunning, Great Big Sea, The Irish Descendants,...Kate Rusby is my fav right now. What do you enjoy to do when you're off the road? All of us teach music or the arts to children as another full time pursuit,....um right now Harry Potter is a big past-time and A BIG BOOK! We enjoy rum...*wink*....our families...listening to other artists...and we really get quite lost without each other...Stace, Bryon and I spend ridiculous amounts of time talking on the phone...even after being stuck together 24 - 7! Go figure? What have been some of the highlights of your career so far? That is an easy one! (Whew) Two years ago the Scout Jamboree in PEI with 15,000 kids...crazy....Dallas Texas for a conference,...this CD and the last one...every ECMA...and every time we get on stage and look at each other and think "wow...it's possible and look at what a great gang we get to share it with." Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Everyone is at different stages...Stace still has university as does Remi....Bryon, Glen and I are all really family oriented so that will most likely play a normal and focal part of our plans. Music of course is constant and we all have plans to carry on actively in the industry as long as possible,...writing, managing, promoting,...etc... Is there a place that you have yet to tour that you would like to visit? One word....Ireland. Now for some more entertaining questions! What's your favourite movie / tv show?
Remi - Grand Ole Opry
Glen - Caillou Shell - Practical Magic, So I Married and Axe Murderer & The Matchmaker - Three's Company Stacey - Pretty Woman - Canadian/American Idol Bryon - Lord of the Rings - The Tick Who are your favourite fiddlers/singers/musicians?
We're so lucky to have such great friends in
the music business and our proud to say they are our choices for
listening enjoyment as well. Groups like Slainte Mhath, The Navigators,
Crush, from around here...and all the others listed in this
interview...39 Toes and Cynthia MacLeod too...
From outside the east coast and outside the genre...hmmm...My fav is Billy Joel. I know my brother loves Planxty, The Battlefield Band and Paul Brady as do I. If you could perform with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I can't speak for the rest...but for us
(Bryon and moi)...we love performing with our Dad...because for us that
is where it starts and where it always comes back to.
Now for the fantasy side of it....hmmm....for me...Elvis...I've always been fascinated with him as the consummate performer....I bet Bryon would say Stan Rogers. His gifts have been on stage with us many nights as we get lost in his songs. Best of luck with your career in the months and years to come! Thanks Kimberley! Hope to see you soon! Banshee (Shelley Chase)
July
August
For more info on Banshee and/or to purchase their CD's, check out their website at http://www.banshee.ca Fan Mail: band@banshee.ca Booking Information: Banshee Entertainment Group, PO Box 26032, Moncton, NB, E1E 4H9, Canada, (506) 382-2787 If you're interested in more Canadian Celtic Music, visit Kimberley's Canadian Celtic Music Website. |
For your chance to win this prize, email your answer in to the following question: "Name two of the band members in Banshee" The deadline to enter is July 31, 2003. Good luck! |
The
group gets its name from Irish Celtic mythology. Banshee is the Gaelic
word for ghost... and a nasty one at that! Rest assured, however, that
this spit-fire band is everything but ominous.
He
began studying at Malaspina University College (1996), in Nanaimo, BC.
The very same jazz program, now renowned for producing the widely
acclaimed Diana Krall. It was in this program, Bryon began a new
life in music. He studied recording, MIDI, musicianship, jazz
history, jazz piano, classical and jazz theory. He participated in
vocal jazz groups, combos and concert choir.
Shelley
began performing at weddings, with family members and community functions.
In 1990, she became Miss Nanaimo and went on to place in the top 10
finalists at The Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, BC. The
following year, she was crowned Miss Southwestern British Columbia which
prompted her to enter the 1992 Miss Canada pageant in Toronto.
Fiddling
sensation Stacey Read has been a performing musician since age four.
Her musical gifts and spirited dedication have added numerous trophies and
3 solo albums to her credit. She has performed with/for the likes of Ivan
& Vivian Hicks, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Howie MacDonald,
and Brenda Stubbert to name a few.
