“Women in the Round...on the Road” is comes to Alberta this month! Vancouver folk artists Sarah MacDougall, Joanna Chapman-Smith, and Kate Reid will be performing in both Edmonton and Calgary in a round-robin format. This format promises to be an up close and personal event, as these three artists will be performing on stage at the same time, taking turns playing tunes.
Although these three artists have played together in Vancouver, they have never toured together. Kate Reid came up with the idea and the others happily got on board. Chapman-Smith is optimistic, stating “we suspect it will not be the last - we have already started planning for the fall”.
Each of these women are bringing an extensive musical background and an exciting sound to the tour. Kate Reid is described as “a faux-hawked folkie” and as “a wise wordsmith who cranks out twisted tunes and truthful tales in a style reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Run D.M.C.”. This self-confessed “dyke-folk with a kick” performer, captivates her audience with “candid story-telling and songwriting that is riddled with humour and social commentary” in a combination of folk, roots, country, and spoken word.
Kate is proud to be a part of the Canadian music scene, as she believes there is a greater interest in the art of songwriting and storytelling. There are some challenges however. “There does seems to be a lack of political women’s music out there....mostly in the west. One of my goals with my music, too, is to also bring lesbian content and lyrics into our Canadian music scene. We have lots of lesbian artists but I want to also be direct in my songwriting about my identity as a lesbian - it’s a community that still needs a voice in the Canadian music scene and hopefully one day, in the mainstream”.
As country-noir songstress Sarah MacDougall goes, she is described as the offspring “if June Carter and Johnny Cash were to have a ménage à trois with a Swedish minstrel in some dark alley.” Sarah was born and raised in Sweden and relocated to Vancouver in 2001 because of its vibrant-roots music scene. Influenced by her North American and Swedish heritage, Sarah’s alternative country noir style has captivated her audience and she has quickly gained a reputation as one of the best emerging songwriters and performers in Vancouver. This is fantastic news for MacDougall, as she is so excited about the opportunities her adoptive country has to offer in the music scene.
Originally from Toronto, Joanna Chapman-Smith spent her childhood listening to her New Zealand-born father singing her to sleep with Eastern Canadian folk songs. No doubt this had an influence on her musical style today. Kate Reid states “with Rufus Wainwright and Regina Spektor in her record collection, singer-songwriter Joanna Chapman-Smith croons like she’s working the room at a jazzy nightclub cabaret”. Chapman-Smith is a proud participant in the Canadian music scene, and doesn’t believe it is a hard business to break into. “You just have to make great music!” This is what Women in the Round are doing, and she knows that this hard work and audience exposure will make more fans out of all of them!
There are many advantages to playing in an “in a round” format. Joanna Chapman-Smith looks forward to the camaraderie that comes with playing together where “an atmosphere of fun and mutual inspiration builds between the performers. There is laughter, and a spontaneity that creates a lively and engaging experience for everyone involved...and when the fun really gets going-the audience often gets involved, and even a little rowdy”.
Kate Reid agrees. “It allows for interaction and banter between the performers, and through that, the audience. It provides a more laid-back atmosphere and in some cases, allows the performers to join in on songs with fellow performers. Also, it does put less pressure on the performer (performing one song at a time instead of a full set) and this contributes to the relaxed atmosphere.”
Sarah MacDougall is also excited about the “in a round” performing atmosphere. “There is such a focus on writing and the craft of songwriting seems to really shine through in that format. Also, the performers can really interact and feed off each-other. It never gets boring for the audience, even though there’s only voices and guitars. It’s become one of my favourite ways to perform lately, especially when you have an attentive audience.”
It’s an exciting time in the Canadian music scene. Not only are local talents becoming as popular as mainstream acts, these local artists are identifying and entertaining audiences previously unrecognized. Kate Reid, Joanna Chapman-Smith, and Sarah MacDougall are such a refreshing and vibrant contributor to our nation’s music scene, and Alberta is excited to welcome them. Women in the Round...on the Road is a show not to be missed.
Performance Dates
Thursday, April 17 - Blue Chair Café, Edmonton, 8:00
Friday, April 18 - Prism Bar and Grill, Edmonton, 8:00
Saturday, April 19 - Money Pennies, Calgary, 8:00
Monday, April 21 - Ironwood Stage and Grill, Calgary, 8:00

Sarah MacDougall
http://www.sarahmac.net

Joanna Chapman-Smith
http://www.joannacs.com

Kate Reid
http://www.katereid.net