Artist Information
Biography
Nonie is a musical and storytelling force to be reckoned with. From heady blues, Irish balladry, to Cajun and French Canadian hues, Nonie seamlessly traverses genre with an execution only matched by her uncanny ability to explore equally diverse lyrical themes. Whether upbeat, sorrowful, poignant or whimsical, Nonie's songs reach into the landscape of the heart - family, community, memory, discovery, love and loss - woven together by her stunningly beautiful voice.
With such an eclectic palette, it is not surprising that Nonie lives many musical lives. As a singer-songwriter, she has released 7 albums to date and has 2 in the works with multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, Eugene Rea. As a blues artist, Nonie is a member of the all-women blues band, Grand Ladies of the Blues, who have been creating a sensation everywhere they perform. As a Celtic performer, Nonie has crossed the pond to tour in Ireland with Clannad and Altan, and has appeared at major festivals throughout Canada. Known as the hardest working musician in her home base of Kitchener-Waterloo, she and Eugene travel extensively from the East to West coasts of Canada and are much sought after television and radio guests. Nonie's talents have also not gone unnoticed by her musical peers. Indeed, she has been invited to share the stage with Heather Bishop and Pamela Morgan, and to open for such talents as Tommy Makem, Blind Boys of Alabama, Tony McManus, Lee Aaron and recently Sylvia Tyson.
REVIEWS
"That she's a newcomer to these ears is an indication only of the wealth of independent talent in this country that rarely gets mainstream exposure, more's the pity... [her] delightful accomplished original pieces, ranging in style from melodic Anglo-American balladry to bluesy rock, gutbucket saloon songs and country folk, reveal Crete as a powerful and engaging storyteller with an extraordinarily sweet voice and
a mean harmonica".
-- Greg Quill, Toronto Star
"A fine album... a full five star rating!"
-- John Gavin, Atlantic Seabreeze, Canada
"Singer-songwriter Nonie Crete has constructed a masterpiece"
-- Tom Knapp, Rambles, USA
"The ethereal side of Joni Mitchell [meets the] deep-rooted integrity of Jean Redpath...a singer with real gravitas".
-- Dai Woosnam, Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews , UK
"Crete's voice and her singing style reminds me of Linda Ronstadt at her best. Somewhere in there can also be heard the influences of Judy Collins and perhaps Sandy Denny. What's important though, is that this is no new singer echoing her influences but an artist who has found her own unique voice."
-- Bob Mackenzie, SoundBytes, Canada
"Nonie Crete is the real deal. A skilled songwriter and performer, Nonie fuses lyric and melody with honesty, insight and passion. She writes about things familiar and then makes each song a personal message from the heart. I know I'll be both pleased and entertained when I'm able to catch a set by Nonie and musical partner Eugene Rea."
-- Steve Clarke, CHES, "Acoustic Planet"
Nonie Crete has played several times at our busy ocean front pub in Victoria. Her music was a hit - great for local patrons to many of our east coast transplants homesick for celtic favourites, solid gold ' blasts from the past " and ready, willing and able to be stirred by her many original songs. People came back every night she played!
-- Valerie Spohn, The Fin and Gill, Victoria BC
"Nonie embodies the true meaning of versatility. One moment she can soothe you with a sublime ballad, then raise the rafters with a rousing blues number - no matter the styling, it's sung with a voice that rings strong and true."
-- Arnie Ivsins, Artistic Director, Barrie Folk Society
"Whether it's full-tilt harmonica blues or quiet guitar ballads, Nonie Crete's songs and performances are always 100% compelling. She can make you shout out or make you cry; her energy is contagious, her voice just right, and on top of that she's one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet."
-- Jack Cole, Kitchener Folk Concert Series, Chequegnat Folk Festival, Old Chestnuts Song
"Nonie crete weaves captivating melodies and songs spun from her past, family roots and places that have touched her. A brilliant songwriter with a voice to match. Nonie is one of my favorite songwriters, capturing such rare honesty in her songs and music, and a voice just as pure."
-- Deb Dalziel, Fergus Scottish Festival
"The 51st Miramichi Folksong Festival Inc. was delighted to have Nonie Crete & Eugene Rea as part of the roster. Their music was one of the highlights of the week's festivities. Nonie’s powerful voice and
wonderful home grown lyrics were well received by all. Her
voice is one that commands attention along with Eugene who
is a master of many instruments."
-- Susan Butler, Director, Miramichi Folksong Festival (one of North America’s longest Standing Folk Festivals)
"If hard work and dedication were to directly translate into CD sales, Nonie should be a top seller"
-- Don Bird, Artist Director, Owen Sound Celtic Festival
"Nonie Crete writes songs that straddle the worlds of folk, blues and country, plays them with passion and conviction and sings them in a voice alternately raw and tender. She's a true original."
-- Beverly Kreller, Hotcha!, Speak-Music
"As the Host of the Guelph based Celtic radio show "Clan na Gael", I place a premium on a good voice. Nonie Crete not only has a wonderful voice but is also a great songwriter, an amazing harmonica player and a highly competent guitar player. Since she joined forces with Newry's Eugene Rea who is not only one of Canada's best Mandolin players but one of the top players in the world, they have taken their music to a different level. Listening to them play at the Miramichi Folk Song Festival, one of the other acts said to me they play like a larger group. They have to be my favourite duo from this area."
-- John Fahy, CFRU
"Nonie Crete delivered a stand out performance as the opener for Sylvia Tyson at the Aeolian Hall in London last night (May 28/09) with a strong mixture of her original folk and blues. She touched everyone's heart with her song about her recovery from an aneurism, and her dedication to her 90 year old uncle (who was in the audience) who stayed by her bedside while she regained her health. Welcome back Nonie!" - Ian Davies, Acoustic Muse Concerts.
Instrumentation
While a veritable 1-woman music festival, Nonie also lets loose with her band, The Rollin’ Sands Band, featuring Eugene Rea (vocals, guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, bouzouki, whistles-- phew!), Karen Reed (fiddle), Gary Kreller (accordion, piano), Ken Brown (double bass) and Michelle Josef (drums).
Discography
Coming Home (2008), Girl in a Crazy World (2004), Holidays in Harmony (2003), Danny Boy and Ballads (2002), Moonlight Dreams, (2000) and The River Grand (1998)
Youtube for videos and www.myspace.com/noniecrete and www.nonie.ca for music and videos
Official Website
Video
Press
Setlist
Song List
1. Carol King: Too Late Baby, You've Got a Friend
2. Cat Stevens: Moonshadow, Longer Boats, Morning Has Broken, The First Cut is the Deepest, Wild World
3. Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Your Song, Daniel
4. John Denver: Country Roads, Grandma's Feather Bed, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Annie's Song, Back Home Again, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Sunshine on My Shoulders,
5. John Price: Please Don't Bury Me, Angel From Montgomery, Hello In There, Illegal Smile, Sam Stone
6. Mary Black: Song For Ireland, Forget-me-nots, Love is Just Around The Corner, Golden Mile,
7. Bob Dylan: Blowin' in the Wind, Mr. Tamberine Man, Don't Think Twice, Let it Be Me
8. Neil Diamond: Red Red Wine, Solitary Man, Crackin’ Rose,
9. Beatles/John Lennon/Paul McCartney: Let it Be, Yesterday, Can't Buy Me Love, I Will, Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds, Imagine, Hey Jude, Blackbird, Day Tripper, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, All My Lovin’
10. Van Morrison: Brown Eyed Girl, It Stoned Me, Into The Mystic, Moon Dance
11. Steely Dan: Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
12. The Little Willies: This Best of All Possible Worlds
13. Norah Jones: Sunrise
14. Neil Young: After The Gold Rush, Heart of Gold, Helpless, Harvest Moon, The Needle and the Damage Done
15. Don McClean: American Pie, Vincent
16. Janis Ian: At Seventeen
17. Gerry Rafferty: Baker Street
18. Eagles: Best of My Love, Peaceful Easy Feeling
19. Gilbert O’Sullivan: Clair
20. Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac: Dreams, Landslide, Rhiannon
21. The Dixie Chicks: Landslide, Traveling Soldier
22. Rick Nelson: Garden Party
23. Billy Joel: Just The Way You Are, Piano Man
24. Seals and Crofts: Summer Breeze
25. Jazz Standards: Misty, All The Things You Are, My Favorite Things, Star Dust, Stormy Weather, When I Fall in Love, Georgia On My Mind, The Girl From Ipanema, When I Fall in Love, Witchcraft, Moon River, My Funny Valentine, Summertime
26. Sting: Every Breath You Take, Field of Gold
27. Nancy Griffith: Once in a Very Blue Moon, From a Distance, Spin on a Red Brick Floor, Wish it Would Rain, Dance a Little Closer To Me
28. Bob Marley: I Shot The Sheriff
29. Hank Williams Sr: Jambolia, Move it on Over, Your Cheatin’ Heart, I Can’t Help it if I’m Still in Love With You
30. Willie Nelson: Crazy, The Nightlife
31. Great Big Sea: I Love Black and White, Goin’ Up Tonight, Lukey’s Boat
32. East Coast Songs: Farewell To Nova Scotia, Out on The Mira, Sonny’s Dream, Come By The Hills, Fare Thee Well Love, Drunkin’ Sailor,
33. Irish and Scottish Songs: Dirty Old Town, Fields of Athenry, Scottish Soldier, Loc Lomond, Danny Boy, Scotland The Brave, Carrick Fergus, Annie Laurie, Tell Me Ma, Caledonia, Donald Where’s Yer Troosers, The Foggy Dew,
6 Drunkin’ Nights, The Hills Of Connemara, Whiskey in The Jar, Black Velvet Band, Star of the County Down,
34. Joni Mitchell: The Circle Game, Big Yellow Taxi
35. The Band: Take a Load off Fanny, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
36. Arlo Guthrie: City of New Orleans
37. Simon and Garfield: The Boxer, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Feelin’ Groovy
38. Bruce Cockburn: Goin’ To The Country, Wonderin’ Where The Lions Are
39. Gordon Lightfoot: Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald, Early Morning Rain, Sundown
40. Ian Tyson: Someday Soon, Four Strong Winds
41. Anne Murray: Snowbird, Danny’s Song
42. Donovan: Catch The Wind, Mellow Yellow
43. CCR: House of The Rising Sun, Bad Moon Arising, Rolling on The River
44. Ralph McTell: The Streets of London
45. James Taylor: Sweet Baby James, You’ve Got A Friend, Fire and Rain
46. Jackson Brown: Take it Easy
47. Traditional Folk: Sloop John B, Jamaican Farewell, Mr. Bojangles, Tennessee Waltz, Stand By Me, All I Have to Do is Dream
48. Jim Croce: I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song, Time in A Bottle
49. Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly
50. Blues: Kansas City, Jailhouse Rock, Everything I need, Flip Flop and Fly, Goin’ Down, 15 Years, The Hardest Time, No Business, Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man Of Mine,
51. Old Time Favorites: Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Daisy, Long Way To Tipperary, Ida, Bye Bye Blackbird, My Blue Heaven, Pennies From Heaven, I’ll Be Seeing You, Sentimental Journey
52. Mamas and Papas: California Dreamin’
53. The Carpenters: Close To You
54. Sarah McLauclan: Angel
55. Harry Chapin: The Cat’s in The Cradle, Taxi
56. Kenny Loggins: House at Pooh Corner
57. Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville
58. Otis Redding: Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay
59. Del Shannon: Runaway
60. Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender
61. Johnny Cash: Walk The Line, At My Door, Folson Prison Blues
62. Rod Stewart: Maggie May, Country Comforts,
63. The Pogues: Fairytale of New York, Dirty Old Town
64. Steve Earle: Copperhead Road, My Old Friend The Blues, Nothin’ But A Child, Guitar Town,
65. Heart: Dreamboat Annie
66. Blue Rodeo: 5 Days in May
mixed in with a lot of originals. My sets are 45mins to and hour.