Dartmouth, NS-based band, The Public Service came to be after George Woodhouse challenged himself to write “a-song-a-week” for one year. He failed, statistically at least. After posting the 47th song online, he said “good enough” and struck up the band.
The Public Service released its debut album, Songs for the Living in May of 2022, featuring the singles, “Lost Soul Rodeo” and “Home In Me.”
The band is set to play Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, Nova Scotia on Saturday, July 22 on the Main Stage.
Listen to Songs for the Living below and learn more about The Public Service via our StanFest interview.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi there!
My name is George Woodhouse. I am a singer and songwriter with Dartmouth’s 4th most popular dad band, The Public Service. I live with my family about a twelve-minute walk from the Alderney ferry terminal. I’m in my happy place when I’m sharing the stage with my bandmates and channeling some kind of spirit in the company of the open-hearted.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Songs For The Living is our debut record. It is a 10-song journey of love and grief. Each track is one part love letter, one part “dear diary”, and one part “can I get an amen!?”
You’re playing Stan Rogers Folk Festival this year. Is this your first time playing at the festival? If so, have you ever attended?
Well, yes and no. This is our first time performing at Stan Fest as The Public Service, and we could not be more stoked. With a little help from A For Adventure, I weaseled my way onto the main stage in 2018 to perform the theme song for Parks Canada’s mascot, Parka the giant beaver. I still have my day job with Parks Canada working with Sable Island National Park Reserve as the Visitor Experience Coordinator.
With a stellar, hugely-Canadian lineup, who are you excited to check out at the festival?
I’ll be trying to play it cool amongst some of my all-time favourite (and most influential) songwriters, like Alan Doyle and Danny Michel. But we all know that the beauty of folk festivals is discovering new favourites. I’ll be going out of my way to try to catch a glimpse of Deedee Austin and have this sense that I’m meant to meet Dave Gunning and become his friend. He doesn’t know this yet.
For someone who has yet to see you perform live, describe your performance in 3 words.
Music is life.
On Saturday, July 22, there will also be a tribute to Gordon Lightfoot, so I have to ask, what is your favourite Gordon Lightfoot song?
Even at the height of summer, for me, it’s got to be “Song For a Winter’s Night.” It cools me down and warms me up all at once, every time.
Do you have any other upcoming shows or festivals to tell us about?
We’re playing a string of exciting shows across CB and mainland NS in early August, capping it all off at The Shore Club in Hubbards on August 11th with our great friends and spiritual teachers, The Town Heroes and Daniel James McFadyen. For details, you can check out georgewoodhouse.com/shows