Leahy Live from Gatineau, Quebec
CD & DVD
Released November 2006
CD ID = 8199
DVD ID = 8198

Biography courtesy of Leahy's Website

Taped in April 2006 in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, the CD captures all the excitement of a Leahy show. The CD has 14 of Leahy’s best known and most loved pieces, such as “B Minor,” “A Call to Dance”, and “Borrowed Time.” New pieces include “For the Love of Tara” and the “Ragtime Medley.”

Special guests: Chanda Gibson-Leahy; Frank Leahy, Sr; Julie Leahy; Natalie MacMaster

Taped in April 2006 in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, the DVD captures all the excitement of a Leahy show. The DVD includes many of of Leahy’s best known and most loved pieces, such as “B Minor,” “A Call to Dance”, and “Borrowed Time.” New pieces include “For the Love of Tara” and the “Ragtime Medley.” The DVD is packed with not only the concert footage from Quebec, but all of Leahy’s music videos, special interview footage among other special features.

Special guests: Chanda Gibson-Leahy; Frank Leahy, Sr; Julie Leahy; Natalie MacMaster

In All Things they do, Leahy excel. The pride of Lakefield, Ontario, the multi-talented musical collective have taken another major leap forward on this, their third Virgin/EMI Records release. So many artists narrow their focus once they become popular. Leahy continue to expand theirs, while never losing the essence of their unique and irresistible style. If variety is the spice of life, then Leahy fill an entire rack with diverse musical aromas and flavours.

In All Things takes the listener on another fascinating journey across different genres and musical cultures. There are the trademark instrumental pieces like "Pointe Au Pic Medley" (an homage to their Quebecois influences), "Gzowski Medley" (inspired by their respect for the Canadian cultural icon), "Wedding Day Jig," and "Chasing Rain," a tune capturing the step dancing element that's always a key part of the legendary Leahy live experience." Donnell Leahy is internationally recognised as a true master of his instrument, and these tunes confirm the ever-growing technical prowess of all eight group members.

They have taken similarly impressive strides forward with the vocal tracks on In All Things. The dramatic "High Places" showcases their sonic adventurousness, "Coyote" and "Runaway" are bright melodic pop songs, and "I Want You To Know" is a haunting ballad, featuring pure vocals and eloquent fiddle playing.

The eclectic nature of In All Things came completely naturally, as Erin explains. "With each project we look at the material we have all been writing. We don't really have a particular direction in mind in terms of how we want something to sound until we collect all the material that everyone has been working on, and see what moves us enough to develop further." "We all write individually," adds Donnell. "Sometimes something that is half-written becomes a collaboration, other times someone writes a whole piece. There is a sort of general vibe that we possess, where we all recognise whether we like a piece or not. Then there will be a collaborative effort in tweaking or finishing it off."

The album was primarily recorded at The Farm, their home studio in Lakefield. Donnell explains that "we produced it ourselves because we want to sound natural and honest. We want to sound like Leahy."

It's no accident that a healthy communal vibe exists within Leahy. Growing up together on the farm, they'd work outside by day, play, dance and sing by night. Erin recalls that their fiddle-playing father and champion step dancing mother "encouraged us to listen to and play a wide variety of styles. I see that coming across in our writing today."

As teens, the siblings performed across Canada with their parents, and quickly became favourites on the festival and fair circuit. A documentary profile, Leahy: Music Most Of All, won a 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Student Film. Following an extended break from performing, the members of Leahy reunited, and a deal with Virgin Records saw their career soar in dramatic fashion.

1997's self-titled debut seized the public's attention, and extensive touring (much of it as opening act for Shania Twain) boosted Leahy to phenomenal sales of double platinum (over 200,000) in Canada. It also sold impressively in the U.S. (where it reached No. 4 on the Billboard world music chart), Great Britain and Europe, proving that the Leahy sound travels well. The group snared Juno Awards for Best Instrumental Group and Best New Group in 1997, and took home the Best Country Group or Duo trophy the following year. 2001's gold-selling Lakefield saw Leahy integrating vocal-driven material into their expanding repertoire to fine effect, and In All Things now emerges as their strongest recording to date.

Their compelling career voyage has proven that a musical style defying easy definition can still find a large and wide audience. "It is liberating to see that there are no boundaries," stresses Donnell. "Over the course of a year, we perform at jazz, bluegrass, country and Celtic festivals. We play for classical audiences, we've played with heavy metal bands, and it works every time."

Leahy's genuine love of such a diverse range of music fuels their own uncompromising creativity. By refusing to be bound to the conventions of any one genre, they have forged a sound that can honestly be called unique.

The title of In All Things refers to music, explains Erin Leahy. "It is our spirit, it is how we are connected, it is a reflection of our experiences throughout life."

2007 Tour Dates

FEBRUARY 2007

28 - Chicago, IL - Auditorium Theater

MARCH 2007

01 - Decorah, IA - The Ctr for Faith & Life, Luther College
02 - Crystal Lake, IL - Raue Center for the Arts
03 - St. Louis, MO - Sheldon Concert Hall
04 - Manhattan, KS - McCain Auditorium, Kansas State U.
06 - Rolla, MO - Leach Theater, U. of Missouri
07 - Fort Smith, AR - For Smith Cultural Center, U. of AR
08 - Jonesboro, AR - Riceland Hall, Arkansas State U.
09 - Richardson, TX - Margaret & Al Hill Performance Hall
10 - Spring, TX - The Centrum at Cypress Creek
11 - Texarkana, TX - Perot Theatre
13 - Meridian, MS - MSU Riley Center Grand Opera House
14 - Opelika, AL - Opelika Center for the Performing Arts
15 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Music Festival
16 - Gainesville, FL - Curtis M. Phillips Performing Arts Ctr
17 - Naples, FL - Philharmonic Center for the Arts
18 - Melbourne, FL - Maxwell King Center
20 - Greenville, SC - Peace Center for the Performing Arts
21 - Asheville, NC - Diana Wortham Theater
23 - Cleveland, OH - John Hay High School
24 - Warren, PA - Library Theatre
25 - Philadelphia, PA - Verizon Hall

2008 Tour Dates

JANUARY 2008

27 - Arcata, CA - Van Duzer Theatre 
29 - Chico, CA - Laxson Auditorium 
31 - Modesto, CA - Gallo Center for the Arts

FEBRUARY 2008

01 - San Rafael, CA - Marin Center
02 - Davis, CA - Heritage Theatre
07 - Poway, CA - Poway Center for the Performing Arts
09 - Chandler, AZ - Chandler Center for the Arts 
10 - Wickenburg, AZ - Del E. Webb Ctr for the Perf. Arts 
12-13 - St. George, UT - Dixie Cox Auditorium 
17 - Fort Collins, CO - Fort Collins Performance Hall 

MARCH 2008

02 - Cedarburg, WI - Cedarburg PAC 
06 - Norfolk, VA - The Sandler Center for the Perf Arts 
07 - Brooklyn, NY - Walt Whitman Auditorium 
08 - Bethlehem, PA - Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center 
09 - Charlottesville, VA - The Paramount Theater 
12 - Amherst, MA - Univ. of MA at Amherst Fine Arts Ctr 
15 - Fairfax, VA - Center for the Arts Concert Hall 
16 - Fairfield, CT - Fairfield University, Kelley Theatre 
17 - Burlington, VT - Flynn Theatre 
21 - Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre 
22 - Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Centre 

Leahy Live CD Information

14 tracks:

1. B Minor
2. Seamus
3. Cape Breton Medley
4. Moment
5. Wedding Day Jig
6. Orange Blossom Special
7. For the Love of Tara
8. Mission
9. Borrowed Time
10. Czardas
11. Ragtime Medley
12. The Banks
13. A Love Never Known
14. The Call to Dance

Leahy Live DVD Information