With one foot in old school tradition, nearly two decades into their life as one of Canada’s finest folk-roots ensembles, that tradition is now one they’ve invented. A master of subtlety, founding member Ryan Boldt’s highly emotive, nuanced singing has an elegant, relaxed precision that seems effortless, a perfect vehicle for the band’s particular brand of updated folk music Fellow travellers keyboard whiz Geoff Hilhorst, veteran drummer Mike Silverman, and Evan Cheadle round out the Deep Dark Woods unit, often assisted by like-minded roots singer/songwriters.

Theirs is a deep tradition of forlorn storytelling, drawing lines from Celtic folksongs to country blues. Lush and devastating, Boldt’s gothic surrealism is stark and emotive.

Clinton St. John

Solo, or with one of his many former (The Cape May, Pale Air Singers) or current (Florida BC, Jolie Laide, CG Tears) projects, Clinton is a vividly imaginative storyteller who builds dreamy, anthemic narrative landscapes around surreal psych-folk gritty blues and gospel-influenced songs.