Featuring Rum Ragged, Jimmy Rankin, The High Kings, and Shanneyganock
All Photo Credit: Tara Thompson
Iceberg Alley Performance Tent night three was one to remember.
Starting off the night was Newfoundland’s own Rum Ragged. Since 2014, Rum Ragged has been gracing the stage playing a variety of folk music, going from a duo consisting of accordionist Aaron Collis and singer/guitarist Mark Manning to the addition of other talented musicians, solidifying their sound. The band became whole when fiddler Colin Grant and multi-instrumentalist Zack Nash joined the line-up as we know it in early 2019.
Rum Ragged found success with their 2020 album, The Thing About Fish, which earned them a Juno nomination in 2021. Their most recent album, Gone Jiggin’, released in the spring of 2024, earned them the title of Ensemble of the Year at the 20th Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Jimmy Rankin was next to take the stage. Jimmy Rankin is a Canadian country and folk artist. Growing up in a musical family, it was inevitable that Rankin would become a musician. As a part of The Rankin Family, he went on to achieve international success in the 90s before embarking on his solo career in the early 2000s.
Rankin released singles such as ‘Followed Her Around’, ‘Midnight Angel’, and ‘Wasted’, which solidified his place in Canadian music as a solo artist. ‘Followed Her Around’ earned the title of Single of the Year at the SOCAN awards in 2002. He also earned Album of the Year for his debut album, Song Dog, at the East Coast Music Awards during the same year. Rankin went on to release tracks such as ‘Morning Bound Train’, ‘Slipping Away’, and ‘Here in My Heart’. Along with some of these tracks, Rankin also performed tracks from The Rankin Family, including ‘Orangedale Whistle’, ‘Movin’ On’, and ‘You Feel The Same Way Too’. The fans were not disappointed.
Next up were The High Kings, an Irish folk group from Dublin, Ireland. The band’s sound varies, including traditional Irish songs and some original tunes. They have toured Ireland, the United States and various places in Europe.
Since 2008, the band has released five studio albums, four live albums, and a greatest hits album. According to their website, “The High Kings play 13 instruments between them, creating the unique sound and atmosphere that they still showcase to this day”. Although the band had released numerous albums in the past, 2023’s release of The Road Not Taken marked their first album consisting of all original music. This album also contained ‘Streets of Kinsale’, a collaboration with Journey’s frontman Steve Perry. The band fit right in with the theme of the night. I am sure this will not be their last show on the Rock!
Shannyganuck finished off the evening in style. Since 1996, Shanneyganuck has been captivating audiences around Newfoundland, Canada, the United States, and Europe, just to name a few. They are known for their folk music, with tracks that aim at keeping traditional music alive for all generations. With an impressive discography of fifteen album releases, their achievements have been recognized with multiple awards, including East Coast Music Awards, Music NL Awards, and the 2021 ECMA Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award.
Iceberg Alley marks one of the first festivals since the passing of one of Shanneyganock’s founding members, Mark Hiscock. According to the band’s bio, Hiscock was “known as one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier button accordion players”. He had also established a respectable solo career with multiple releases, as well as being a part of other recordings during the years. During the beginning of their set, the band played a video tribute, along with having various guest performers help sing the songs which Hiscock played a leading role. Many well-known Newfoundland talents, including The Ennis Sisters, Jim Payne, Fergus O’Byrne, Bob Hallett, Mark Manning, Mike Lynch, and Damhnait Doyle, helped to make the night a memorable one.
Shanneyganuck played some of Newfoundland’s favourite tunes, those that are sure to be heard around a campfire sing-a-long, a good ol’ kitchen party, or at many local establishments. These fan-favourites included: ‘The Islander’, ‘Squid-Jiggin’ Ground’, ‘Grey Foggy Day’, ‘I Had a Hat’, and ‘Heave Away’, just to name a few. The night ended with an emotional performance of a cover of Simani’s ‘Music and Friends’, where the stage was packed with guest performers as the Iceberg Alley choir sang their hearts out.
Nothing beats a good ol’ traditional Newfoundland (and friends) night. Stay tuned to see what night four brings.