Edmonton, Alberta alt-folk duo also adds more summer tour dates in support of debut album Awake!
After releasing their debut album Awake! on April 11, Edmonton, Alberta alt-folk project Jed and the Valentine have released a new video for the first single “Mineral.” The duo has also updated its summer tour schedule, with dates listed below.
Jed and the Valentine is the musical collaboration between Jonah Morris and Maria Khaner, whose sound is rooted in soulful harmonies and lyrics inspired by the majestic landscapes of western Canada.
It’s all there on Awake!, nine songs that mark their first two years of working together, and the creative energy they continue to feed off of. It is available independently on all digital platforms, and from Bandcamp.
As Maria says,
“We chose the songs for this record with the intention of highlighting the idea of feeling present in one’s body and really experiencing the world instead of just letting it happen to you. Once we settled on that theme, the songs seemed to fall into place exactly how they needed to.”
That process began on a cold night in January 2023 when they wrote Awake!’s title track after a mundane moment brought a spark of inspiration.
“I felt a sudden jolt of life,” Jonah says. “It’s moments like these—and moments when I’m on stage making music—that I truly feel connected to myself and everything around me. ‘Awake’ really touches on those feelings.”
When it came time to record Awake!, they kept things close to home as well, relying on Jonah’s education in music production to set up a recording space in their bedroom. They put down all the main tracks there, with shimmering acoustic guitars and banjo accentuating a heart-swelling rhythm section, with the only overdubs coming from fiddler Brianna Lizotte, and trumpeter Liam Shearer who appears on “Mineral” and “Luckier.”
Both Jonah and Maria agree that Awake! marks the start of a new chapter for Jed and the Valentine, one that builds on the duo’s 2023 performances at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, and the Canmore Folk Music Festival that have helped boost their TikTok following to nearly a quarter million. As Kate Stevens of Alberta’s provincial independent radio station CKUA said, “Imagine a duo—not just on stage, but in love—creating melodies that resonate with the pure essence of romance. I’m talking about Jed and the Valentine, the folk duo that is as sweet as their name suggests. Their songs feel like the warmth of a cup of coffee or the joy of a simple walk in the rain. Jed and the Valentine’s songs capture the essence of love that’s both timeless and contemporary.”
Upcoming Shows:
June 13 (Thurs) :: Creston BC :: The Yellow Door
June 14-16 :: Ymir BC :: Tiny Lights Festival
June 21 (Fri) :: Kelowna BC :: Lantern Folk Music Society
June 29 (Sat) :: Edmonton AB :: The Works
June 30 (Sun) :: Edmonton AB :: The Hive
July 1 (Mon) :: Edmonton AB :: Canada Day Celebration
July 2 (Tues) :: Bragg Creek AB :: House Concert
July 5-7 :: Hudson’s Hope BC :: Peace Valley Folk Fest
July 12 (Fri) :: Rimbey AB :: Rimbey Library
July 14 (Sun) :: Vagreville AB :: Ukrainian Village Music Fest
July 20 (Sat) :: New Norway AB :: Willows Music Festival
July 21 (Sun) :: Edmonton AB :: Taste Of Edmonton
July 25 (Thurs) :: Edmonton AB :: The Aviary
July 27 (Sat) :: Drumheller AB :: Drumheller Plaza Concert Series
July 28 (Sun) :: Wayne AB :: Last Chance Saloon
Aug 16-18 :: Grande Prairie AB :: Bear Creek Folk Festival
Ticket info and updates at jedandthevalentine.com/shows
Connect with Jed and The Valentine:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok