Call it "CeltiFolkountry" - Folk with a Celtic and country flavour, a little humour and some good pickin'!
Marty and Lil are Alberta-based singer/songwriters with a sound somewhere between
the north-wind in the trees and the prairie heat on the shortgrass!

Marty Siltanen "It's a long way to roam..."
1. It's a Long Way to Roam -about getting lost on the road of life.
2. Off to the Northern Coast -draft dodgers head up the BC coast.
3. Sagebrush and Pine -a cowboy song about the range and how things change.
4. The Old Songs -singing along with the oldies station.
5. Road Kill -truck vs. porcupine. Should I go left or go right?
6. Your Eyes -a love song for my sweetie.
7. The Isle of Lewis -about a place far away in my dreams..
8. Rowand's Rum -the story of John Rowand's remains and a barrel of rum.
9. Heaven Knows -about the passing of generations.
10. Fork of the Road -fun times in my younger days hanging out at camp.

April 23 -We've got a plan! Thursday, May 24 at the Blue Chair Cafe.... a CD Party! Come and hear our little combo play the CD songs and then some... guests will participate, fun and mayhem will ensue! No cover - CD's will be for sale!

We have digital distribution! You can now find the CD and individual songs at iTunes . Other sites are in the works.

Lots of Second Cup gigs coming up. Hope to see you there, somewhere, anywhere!

Mar. 13 -Whew! Lil and I have gone March-Crazy! The Folk Club gig was a success... Fresh Start was fun and busy... Meadowlark 2nd Cup - we both had a cold (same one probably, sharing ;-)... the ATAA OnStage performance received good reviews... it's all building up to something... but what? A ton-o-fun for sure. Feeling the urge to write coming on... must listen to the inner voices.

I've sent several CD's to Ontario and Quebec, and to Belgium for the WEBRADIO GOLDEN FLASH internet radio show "Somewhere Between" hosted by Ray Dj. He plays some cool roots music.

CKUA's Tom Coxworth, Luka Symons, and David Ward have each played different songs on the air, bless their hearts. I think I've got a Calgary connection goin' on!

Feb. 17 -Full Moon Folk Club here we come! Rhonda, Terry, Paul and I had a little jam today so's we'd recognize each other on stage at the Club. Good pickin' and singin' will definitley be happenin'. Come see us all Feb. 23. at St. Basil's. More for your money!

Feb. 15, 2007 -what a busy month March is shaping up to be. Lil and I have a few gigs, Bill W. and I are doing a double-singer/songwriter show, and The Resonators are in action as well. Life is good!
CD release party? I'm thinking I'll wait until it's warmer and the folk club season winds down. There are so many things going on these days it's hard to decide where to spend my extra entertainment $$.

NOTE: CD "It's a long way to roam" is now in stock at Southside Sound on Whyte Ave. for your purchasing convenience!

Feb. 8, 2007 -It's alive! I picked up the boxes (literally) of CD's on Wednesday. Will have them for sale at the shows.

Feb. 4, 2007 -News is the CD was shipped last Thursday and so it should be nearing Alberta today! I guess I'll have to get thinking about a "CD release party". Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Jan.21, 2007 - The CD is almost out there. All the pieces are finalized and off to be replicated, printed and packaged! It exciting and a relief at the same time... too many decisions! However, I'm very pleased with the whole CD and can't wait to get it in my hands. I'll have it in time for the Full Moon Folk Club "Songs in the Round" show on Feb. 23 (knock on wood).

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Check out The Resontaors at www.sonicbids.com/theresonators . There are some new recordings on the site, including my new boogie-gospel-eco-rant, "Where?"

Ron, Bill, & Marty with their resonators!
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Jul.30 The Resonators survived the heat wave at South Country Fair! We had a blast at what is really a very hip festival. Kudos to Maureen Chambers and John Wort Hannam for a great musical lineup (gotta like that T.O.F.U.!), and thanks to Morris and Wayne for their work on the East Stage.

Jun.19 - Whew! What a month. The Blue Chair gig in May was a real treat for The Resonators. Not much on the near horizon but the South Country Fair is in July and shoud be a blast.

And Then... Ron, Sandy, Lil and I took the 1st Canadian Acoustic Guitar Cruise from Vancouver to Alaska with Harry Manx. It was the first cruise for all of us, including Harry. There were over 20 folks as part of our group but only 4 guitar players. Harry lead us in several guitar workshops, taught us some ragas, and listened to our songs. He also performed a concert on the last night of the cruise. What a treat! The cruise was organized by Vicki LePage and hopefully there will be future versions of the event. We had tremendous weather the whole week and the Alaska panhandle and Inside Passage are wonderful for cruising. Below is the group shot.

The HOMEFEST 2005 CD compilation is out on the streets (so to speak ;) I'm honoured to have my song "It's A Long Way To Roam" included on the CD. This is a great collection of songs from some of the performers involved in the event... John Wort Hannam, Chris Wynters, The Fates, to name a few. Find it... buy it... help fight the housing crisis in Edmonton. www homefest.ca

Playing my Gibson G3 at Expressionz Café, 2001

Ron & Marty at Full Moon Folk Club, 2005

UPCOMING:

Sat May 19 -Marty & Lil at the Fresh Start Bakery, Riverbend Square, 6-9:30pm.

Thu May 24 -CD RELEASE PARTY!! Marty & Lil (& friends) will celebrate at the Blue Chair Cafe, 7-9:30pm. There will be fun and frolic, music and mayhem.... er somethin' like that. Details to follow.

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PAST:

Sat Apr 7 -Fresh Start Bakery

Fri & Sat Mar 30-31 -The Resonators Bell & Court Pub.

Mar 16 -The Resonators at the Blue Chair Cafe. It was a blast!

Mar 9 -Bill Werthmann & Marty @ Fresh Start Bakery

Mar 5 -Meadowlark Second Cup.

Mar 3 -Fresh Start Bakery.

Feb. 23 -Marty at the Full Moon Folk Club, "Songs in the Round" with Laura Vinson, Lionel Rault, Marv Machura, Maynard Kolskog, Paul Levens, Rhonda O'Connell, and Terry Nadasdi... It was a blast!

Feb. 13 -Churchill Square Second Cup

Feb. 6 -Churchill Square Second Cup

Feb. 5, 2007-Meadowlark Second Cup

Nov. 17 -The Resonators at the Blue Chair Cafe.

Nov.12 -Homefest 2006, Edmonton Housing Coalition Benefit. Co-hosting the Song Circle with Rhea March.

Nov. 10 -with Ron Taylor at the Fresh Start Bakery

Oct. 28 -The Resonators at the Urban Room in Red Deer.

Oct. 16 -The Resonators at the Meadowlark Second Cup.

Oct. 13 -with Ron Taylor at the Fresh Start Bakery

Oct. 7 -The Resonators at the Edmonton Blues Society

Oct. 6 -Jessica Heine CD Release show with Terry Nadasdi, Marc Ladouceur, and Marty (bass).

Jul.22 -South Country Fair The Resonators rocked the East Stage.

Jul.6 & 8 -Blue Chair Cafe The Resonators

Jun.10 -Canadian Acoustic Guitar Cruise with Ron Taylor and Paul LePage.

May 5 -Blue Chair Cafe The Resonators

Apr.8 -East Coulee Spring Festival: with Bill Werthmann.

Feb.24 -Rendezvous Pub: Ron Taylor's Folk'n'Blues Band

Feb.10 -Rendezvous Pub: with Marv Machura .

Feb.2 -Blue Chair Cafe: with Marv Machura .

Jan.20 -Rendezvous Pub: with Marv Machura .

Jan.17 -hosting Library 2nd Cup Open Stage.

Jan.8/06 -Atlantic Trap & Gill: Diamondback Trio.

Nov.13 -Homefest 2005, Edmonton Housing Coalition Benefit.

Oct.20/05 -Blue Chair Cafe, solo. See Tracy's pictures of the show.

Oct.14 -Full Moon Folk Club: with Ron Taylor, opening for Eric Bogle and John Munro. See Tracy's pictures of the show.

Sept.15 -Blue Chair Cafe, solo.
May.26/05 -Blue Chair Cafe, solo.

That's the _recent_ list. The _old_ list is way too long. Some other notables would be Northern Lights Folk Club (w/ rootsmusicband and Bill Werthmann), Uptown Folk Club (w/ Ron Taylor),

Marty with Ben on mandolin at Japser Ave. 2nd Cup, 2001.

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Bio:
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Marty and Lil are Alberta-based singer/songwriters that have traveled extensively from the Foothills to the Great Lakes. Raised in both the northern Ontario wilderness and the Toronto cityscape, Marty and Lil now live on the Prairies and have combined these views into songs and stories that strike to the heart of living, loving, and laughing as we travel through life.

From campfires and basement jams to bars and folk clubs, Marty's kept his fingers moving and ears vibrating for some 30-odd years with sounds of folk, country, country-rock and bluegrass. Lil adds wonderful lead and harmony vocals and sometimes plays percussion. It all adds up to a rootsy "Canadiana" style.

Together, their shows are a mix of songs and stories that range from familiar sing-a-longs to melodic musings on life, with flat-picking and finger-picking guitar styles, some slow, some fast, suitable for all ages, and never too loud.

Inspired as a young adult by the likes of Neil Young, James Taylor, Poco, The Byrds, John Prine, Bruce Cockburn, and Valdy, Marty spent many hours in the stairwell at University learning to play their songs (great reverb in a stairwell ;-). His first paying gig was for $2 at a friends party, first band gig was in the Purple Lantern hall (one week later Marty and Lil's wedding reception was in the same hall!). Overall, lots of bar mileage in Northern Ontario playing country and country-rock on guitar or bass. And lots of sand on the strings playing guitar or mandolin at 1001 campfires.

An honest turn of phrase and a heart-felt melody... that's what characterizes their singing and songwriting. Stories seen through plaid-coloured glasses. Red plaid... honest stuff!

Over the years, in both Alberta and Ontario, Marty has played solo and with Ron Taylor (duo, rmb, rootsmusicband, The Resonators), Bill Werthmann (The Resonators), Terry Nadasdi, The Vibratechs, Chris Craig (Already Gone), Ben Romanchuk (Windfall, Sagebrush, Jake & the Splakes, Pappy's Brew), Steve Beck (Sagebrush, Jake), Steve Case (Moonshine, Sagebrush), Phil Corboy (Windfall), George Wright (Buckshot), Kevin Lucas (at 1001 campfires), and in the very early days with Best Man, Don McGilvery (Natural Gas).

"Hopefully, there will be many more songs to come. I'm not gettin' older, I'm gettin' better! Cheers!"

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