Canadian troubadour GORDIETENTREES shares “Telegraph,” latest preview of upcoming country blues-inspired Dandelion Blue LP
After announcing the forthcoming release of his new album Dandelion Blue this October with the single “Back At The Cabin,” Gordie Tentrees is offering another preview with “Telegraph,” to coincide with his latest U.K. tour (see dates below).
As a proud Yukon resident, Gordie was inspired to write “Telegraph” after hearing the story of local hero Father Jean-Marie Mouchet who dedicated more than half a century of his life to helping children in remote northern Indigenous communities. It’s a mission that Gordie has undertaken as well.
He explains, “While I was in Old Crow Yukon, a remote fly-in-only community where I work with kids teaching them to write songs, an elder informed me about another non-indigenous man who had broken the trail for me to be welcomed into the community. I was given a book written by Yukon author John Firth entitled North Star, and after reading it and being amazed by Father Mouchet’s journey, I wrote this song.”
“Telegraph” is another reflection of the overall sound of Dandelion Blue, a record of original, country blues-inspired songs that display Gordie’s talents in their pure, raw glory. Made with two of the Canadian blues scene’s leading figures, Jimmy Bowskill and Steve Marriner at their idyllic Ontario farmhouse studio, Ganaraska Recording, sessions for Dandelion Blue were completed over five days, live-off-the-floor, using vintage gear dating back to the 1930s. The album fulfils one of Gordie’s longstanding goals to not only pay tribute to his country blues influences, but to make a record that invites listeners into an intimate space.
Gordie also recorded “Telegraph” using a guitar once belonging to Gordon Lightfoot (he plays it in the song’s live performance video as well). Custom built for Lightfoot by Ed McGlincy in 1977, it is one of only 12 guitars Ed ever made, with two others commissioned for David Bromberg and Bob Dylan. Lightfoot gifted his guitar to Terry Clements, his lead guitarist for 40 years, and it can be heard on many of his greatest recordings.
Although born and raised in Ontario, Gordie Tentrees has spent most of his adult life with his own family in the Yukon. Still, for most of each year he tours the world, appearing at such prestigious events as Celtic Connections (UK), National Folk Festival (AU), Woody Guthrie Folk Fest (USA) and Auckland Folk Festival (NZ), while sharing stages with friends including Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Danny Michel, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Steve Poltz.
A troubadour in the truest sense, Gordie Tentrees lives to share his music, and Dandelion Blue reveals a new facet of his talent, following in the spirit of Ry Cooder and John Hammond.
| Gordie Tentrees – U.K. tour dates (with Kieran Poile) AUG 25 :: Newport UK :: Phyllis Maud AUG 26 :: Sheffield UK :: Cafe No 9 AUG 27 :: Southport UK :: Mecycle Cafe AUG 28 :: Birkenhead UK :: Indigo AUG 29/30 :: Worth Matravers UK :: Square & Compass SEPT 1 :: Brighton and Hove UK :: The Brunswick SEPT 2 :: Stoke-On-Trent UK :: Artesian Tap SEPT 3 :: Hawick UK :: The Border Club SEPT 4-6 :: Bellingham UK :: BAA Festival SEPT 7 :: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne UK :: The Cluny SEPT 8 :: Aberdeen UK :: Aberdeen Arts Centre SEPT 9 :: Isle of Skye UK :: An Crubh SEPT 10 :: Edinburgh UK :: Traverse Theatre SEPT 11 :: Coldingham UK :: Village Hall SEPT 12 :: Llanidloes UK :: Hanging Gardens SEPT 13 :: Ashmore UK :: Village Hall |