Paul Cresey

Artist Information

Biography

Paul Cresey has evolved into one of Western Canada's best emerging songwriters. He defines his music as Folk-Alternative, clearly laid out by several of the songs in his latest self-titled album. " Emotional songs are to be felt not heard"; that is why Paul places strong feelings in each song, spread out for everyone to experience, hence the title of his first album "Piece the Picture". His music runs the spectrum from blues, Celtic, folk rock and everything in between. Independent reviewer Peter McGee for Bluesbunny has said of one of Paul's songs, "Sinners and Saints": "It is here that the album seeps a modicum of Cresey's true talent. While attending university (education) in Edmonton Canada his concerts have been concentrated in the area and some have been notable: Concert for peace, U-22 Revue at the Royal Alberta Museum, the prestigious "Night of Artists", CITY TV live interview and performance, CFRN (CTV) performance and interview, CBC television, three interviews on CKUA radio (one live with a performance), interviews on CBC Edmonton and CBC St. John's Newfoundland (radio), a concert alongside folk legend Bill Bourne (to which he received a standing ovation), Capital City Exhibition , Homefest 2008 (a benefit concert to raise funds and awareness for the homeless), Vic Juba Theater in Lloydminster Sask., Edmonton's largest folk music club the "Northern Lights", Big Valley Jamboree, two performances at one of North Americas largest folk music festivals, the Edmonton Folkfest in 2009 and the Canmore Folk Music Festival (2010) to name a few. One performance at the Edmonton Folk Fest was on the mainstage between two major acts performing three of his songs before a crowd of 20,000 people while Steve Earle set up. He received a standing ovation for the performance on the smaller stage (before an estimated crowd of three thousand) and an invitation to play at a concert that was videotaped by CBC television for a later broadcast (Sept. 2010)! He has opened for the PolyJesters and performed alongside Canadian folk legend Bill Bourne. The largest accolade came in the fall of 2008 when Paul was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Canadian Young Performer of the Year! He has also been a leader in a songwriting workshop sponsored by the Alberta Music Industry Association for other musicians in the U22 (under 22) organization (www.U22.ca). He recently opened to a sold out crowd for a popular local rock band. He was apprehensive because as a solo folk singer Paul didn't know how the audience would react. After playing three encores the appreciative audience still didn't want him to leave.
Paul has no specific target audience. To date he has had teenagers to retired people in the audience enjoying his melodies, and that is what they are, melodic, as Paul builds his songs from tune to lyrics.
Paul also likes to speak to students on the benefits of songwriting as a choice in the fine arts field. He has performed and addressed the Suzuki School of Music as well as participated in songwriting workshops at high schools while completing his degree. His songs have been included in publishing libraries in Boston and Ann Arbor for distribution to major film and television studios. The disc "When Beauty Has Passed" received top marks in all categories from industry professionals in New York during an evaluation. His music is heard on radio stations around the world with people from as far away as Australia asking for his discs. With over 100 songs written before the age of twenty, and with growing exposure, the likelihood of his getting discovered grows with each passing day.
Other accomplishments include: a song included in the Australian independent movie "Dealing With Destiny" (released across Australia in summer of 2011), a finalist in Calgary Folkfest songwriting competition twice (judges prize), a finalist in Gigatone Entertainment (Hollywood) songwriting competition, and a third prize winner for the acoustic category (The Story) in the international competition "100% Music Songwriting Contest" (France).

Instrumentation

Paul Cresey is a solo artist that plays guitars (six, and twelve, acoustic and electric) and mandolin.

Discography

Paul has three albums to date, "Piece the Picture" released in 2007 and "When Beauty Has Passed" with a 2009 release and a self-titled release "Paul Cresey" 2011.

Audio

• The Story
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• Ireland
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• Sinners and Saints
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• Vodka Shots
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• Far Away
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• The Girl in the Small Black Dress
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• Cut Me Some Slack
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• Single Kiss
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• Marionette
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• Happier
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• Take My Hand
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• Angel
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• When Beauty Has Passed
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• Roadside
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• Into Your Heart
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• Child
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• A Feeling Worth Finding
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• Into Your Heart (
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• The Hoodoo Are Everywhere
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• Eastern Shores
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• Closer To You
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• Dallas And The Girl
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• Almost There
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Lyrics

• The Story
• Ireland
• Into Your Heart
• Vodka Shots
• Far Away
• The Girl In The Small Black Dress
• News
• Piece The Picture
• When Beauty Has Passed
• Marionette
• Angel
• Sunshine
• Child
• Happier
• With The Wind
• Nobody Knows
• Eastern Shores
• The Hoodoo Are Everywhere
• Dallas and the Girl
• Take My Hand

Video

Nobody Knows

Photo Gallery

Press

• CKUA Radio [+ Show ]
  

  Paul Cresey, is just 18years old. However his music, which is a smattering of genres such as folk, r...Paul Cresey, is just 18years old. However his music, which is a smattering of genres such as folk, rock, and blues is much older and wiser than Paul's 18 years can possibly account for. Paul's lyrics cover such topics as JFK's death, the troubles in Ireland, and love. The wonder of Paul Cresey and what makes his music really stand out is not just that he has a beautiful way with acoustic finger picking on the guitar, or that he is a wonderful lyricist, but that he has so much to say. Whatever Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan (all of whom Paul Cresey cites as influences) have, he has IT too. It is entirely likely that we'll all be hearing more about him in the media in the future.

• Amazing Artist Has To Te Recognized [+ Show ]
  

  An amazing Edmonton local artist now has to be recognized. I had the pleasure of meeting and mixing ...An amazing Edmonton local artist now has to be recognized. I had the pleasure of meeting and mixing Paul Cresey at a show he played at the restaurant I work at for our New Years Eve Party. Paul is a great songwriter, and it showed when he became a finalist at the Calgary Folk Fest songwriting contest just recently. He has been apart of the U-22 program directed by Rhea March from CKUA radio. This program takes young local talent and helps them break out onto the music scene. Before meeting Paul I first saw him perform at the Edmonton Folk Fest and was immediately blown away by his talent.
  have to say Paul is in my opinion one of the most talented young musicians on the Edmonton music scene today. This folk singer/songwriter definitely deserves a close listen.
  Matt Drake

• The Nugget [+ Show ]
  

  "Cresey's voice haunted with the sound of an experienced touring vet. His instrumental talents were ..."Cresey's voice haunted with the sound of an experienced touring vet. His instrumental talents were on par with his vocals. It's hard to believe that with a voice like this Cresey's musical journey is only still in its initial stages." - Ryan Flaherty

• Blues Bunny [+ Show ]
  

  Cresey is no stranger to the fretboard and proves this with some elaborate playing, woven in with so...Cresey is no stranger to the fretboard and proves this with some elaborate playing, woven in with some thoughtful lyrics.
  -- Bluesbunny Independent Music Reviews

• Paul Cresey Edmonton [+ Show ]
  

  Paul Cresey's need to write and sing comes through every time in his voice, energy, material and pas...Paul Cresey's need to write and sing comes through every time in his voice, energy, material and passion.

• Paul Cresey On Last FM [+ Show ]
  

  Tremendous variety to his melodies and his lyrics, often based on interesting, socially relevant, ev...Tremendous variety to his melodies and his lyrics, often based on interesting, socially relevant, events and situations. But … judge with your ears! The acoustic guitar is melodic, uplifting, and clever...

Setlist

His set list varies depending on the length of the performance and the audience demographic. Paul has written close to 130 songs to date so he can do a long original set. The only time he does covers is when performing at coffee shops (close to forty gigs thus far). He doesn't consider himself a juke box by any stretch of the imagination, but he will do Nirvana, Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen etc. when he's wired on all that free coffee he has at these engagements.

Basic Requirements

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