Montreal Progressive Folk Act Little Misty Cover Gillian Welch’s “Scarlet Town”
Little Misty is a progressive folk band founded in Montreal, Quebec, and led by Kathryn Samman (vocals) and François Jalbert (guitar). Although firmly grounded in folk music, their repertoire mixes indie and progressive rock with broader compositions. From cinematic landscapes to wailing guitar solos, the group explores a full range of musical possibilities, always searching for innovative ways to serve their storytelling.
Little Misty are releasing a few songs that they recorded and filmed at their favourite studio in Montreal, Studio Mixart, including their new single, a cover of “Scarlet Town” originally performed by Gillian Welch and produced by David Rawlings.
“This is a completely live performance by Little Misty,” states Jalbert. “We basically took a picture of what the band could deliver, without any post production. No edits, no tuning, no overdubs. What you hear was all played together as if it were a show.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, we’re Little Misty, we’re from Montreal. Our music is a mix of folk, old time, progressive rock, and a bit of jazz. And we just released a cover!
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
This is a cover of a song written by the great Gillian Welch. This is a song that we started playing in our set a few years ago, without really rehearsing it before shows. It just kinda got to where it is now by messing with it in soundchecks and playing it in shows.  It gives the listener a really good idea of what a Little Misty show might be like! In the past, we released a lot of well-produced tracks. We had a lot of fun making those, but this time we wanted to showcase a more stripped-down version of the project.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
The key is to cultivate the habit.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?Â
Yes. Here’s our calendar:
April 18th: Quai 5160, Montreal, Quebec
May 28th: Festival des Guitares du Monde, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
June 15th: Festival sur le Canal, Montreal, Quebec
June 26th: Rochester International Jazz Festival, Rochester, New York
June 27th: Drumroll Stage, Geneseo, New York
June 28th: Riverdog, Wakeman, Ohio
June 29th: Nathalie’s Grandview, Columbus, Ohio
June 30th: Possum Hollow Log Cabin Concerts, Saint-Paris, Ohio
July 4th: Sherblues, Sherbrooke, Quebec
July 20th: Festival Guitares en fêtes, L’Islet, Québec
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?Â
Hard to say! It’s a constant grind! We’ll be touring in the US this summer, that’s pretty exciting.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Go listen to our friend Marcus Lowry’s record. It’s gorgeous.