Free Whiskey String Band

Artist Information

Biography

The Free Whiskey String Band is a young and spirited folk trio from Toronto. Born as a student band at Queen's university, a late night informal audition scored them a job as a house act at Kingston’s ‘The Mansion,’ where they would get the chance to play alongside Sheesham and Lotus, Luther Wright, and Dan Whiteley. After 4 months of weekly shows, they took their earnings to Escarpment Sound Studio where they would record their self-titled debut live off the floor over the first few days of 2010. Released that February, the album is 12 tracks, 10 of which feature vocals, 2 of which are instrumentals, and all of which are original except for the “Whiskey Before Breakfast” and “Old French” fiddle medley. The album is packed with awesome harmony, fun and endearing songwriting, as well as the band’s great ability to capture a wide range of moods. However, shortly before the release of the first album, the band would part ways with cajon and banjo player Liam Finney, and have since carried on as a trio.

The Free Whiskey String Band features Ben Wright on guitar and vocals, Chance Kellner on fiddle and vocals, and Tim O’Reilly on bass and vocals. Each of them is able to sing either lead vocals or harmony, as well as quite skilled at their instrument, so although the band is small, it is capable of a great many sounds. They refined their new sound over the summer of 2010, which they spent performing across Ontario and into Quebec. Then, at the end of August, Free Whiskey returned to Escarpment Sound Studios where they recorded their new album, ‘Tales From the Jug’. Recorded live off the floor, the album is 18 tracks this time, spanning almost twice the length of their debut, and features stellar guest performances by friends Sheesham and Lotus. The band’s growth is apparent on the album in every way, from the strength of the instrumentals, to their comfort in sharing around lead vocals. Its unique collection of songs will no doubt bring many smiles to many faces, many laughs to many hearts, and perhaps even a few tears in some eyes. The album was very successfully released on the 11th of December at the Tranzac, and is available in store at Soundscapes Music, and soon to be on CDBaby.com. Photos and Videos from the CD Release will be available soon at www.freewhiskeystringband.com.


In Toronto, they’ve been featured at The Drake Hotel, The Silver Dollar, The Rivoli, The El Mocambo, The Tranzac, The Local Pub (Ronc.), The Free Times Café, The Cloak and Dagger, Kelly’s Corner, The Feathers Pub, and The Cornerstone.

At the 2010 Toronto Festival of Beer, they played on the CNE Bandshell stage and shared a bill with Little Feat.

At the 2010 Montreal Festival sur le Canal, they shared bill with stellar folk acts such as Old Man Luedecke, Lake of Stew, Kathleen Edwards, and many more.

They’ve performed all across the province of Ontario, including shows in Kingston, Orangeville, Merrickville, Port Rowan, Southampton, Napanee, Sudbury, and were featured at the 2010 Creemore Copper Kettle festival.

Instrumentation

Ben Wright - Guitar
Tim O'Reilly - Bass
Chance Kellner - Fiddle

Discography

Free Whiskey String Band - recorded live off the floor at Escarpment Sound Studio in Acton, ON.
Free Whiskey String Band - Tales From the Jug - recorded live off the floor at Escarpment Sound Studio in Acton, ON. (to be released in November 2010)

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook

Audio

• Jailhouse
  Listen  
• Monkey in the Middle
  Listen  
• A Robin From Someone
  Listen  
• Carlo
  Listen  
• You Got Away
  Listen  
• Yearn for the Morning
  Listen  
• Maybe in the Winter
  Listen  
• Call My Bluff
  Listen  
• Eugene
  Listen  
• Marie
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Eugene
• Evelyn
• Eliza
• Two Spoons
• I've Been Catching Word
• Three Long Hours
• I Will Let You Down
• About a Truck
• More than I can (Grizzly) Bear
• The Cold Song

Video

DSCF5115

DSCF5116

Photo Gallery

Press

• Free For All: Local act Free Whiskey are bringing something new to Kingston's music scene with their homegrown Bluegrass tunes [+ Show ]
  

  Although indie rockers and solo songsters tend to dominate the Kingston music scene of late, this bl...Although indie rockers and solo songsters tend to dominate the Kingston music scene of late, this bluegrass folk quartet was a refreshing concert attendees. With Ben Wright on vocals and guitar, Chance Kellner on violin, Tim O'Reilly on the bass and Liam Finney on percussion and banjo, Free Whiskey took the stage and immediately transported listeners to a faraway place. They're unlike any band I've seen in my time at Queen's. With their ability to strike a balance between uniquely oldschool country bluegrass croons and excitingly appealing new melodies, they're truly a unique band in the Kingston scene. Throughout the set I couldn't help but imagine a backdrop of a warm spring breeze. The tunes evoke the feeling of calmly lounging in a meadow or meandering through a prairie. What immediately stands out about the group is each individual member's skill and passion for their instrument; the group's harmonic chemistry is undeniable. Their perfectly pitched vocals saturated each song. With all four members singing in harmony in select parts of each song, they enveloped the room with their engaging lyrics and powerful voices. The group's solid tracks suggest a strong musical background. Their balance between past and present subject matter had me forgetting that the talented folk group weren't seasoned old-timers but fellow 20-somethings with old souls harkening back to a better and simpler time. Singing of everything from waking up hung-over, to letting go of love, to grumpy old men, the four-piece clearly garners immense pleasure from playing their tunes-their crowd's smiles were contagious. Free Whiskey's merit isn't only in their sweet and homegrown sound but also their lyrics and ability to connect with the audience. By the end of the show I felt as if they'd let the attendees in on a few personal stories and adventures through their songs. Playing each week at the mansion, their original tunes, enticing narratives and impressive musical skill are sure to provide a hospitable and pleasant soundtrack to your wednesday nights as the winter months approach.

Setlist

Original Numbers
-Call My Bluff
-Carry On
-Carlo
-Cold Song
-Dancing with You
-Eliza
-Eugene
-Headed for the Eye
-Jailhouse
-I've Been Catching Word
-I Wanna Take You Home
-Marie
-Maybe in the Winter
-Michelle
-Monkey in the Middle
-More than I can (Grizzly) Bear
-Quarry
-Robin from Someone
-Roses
-Take Me Back
-The Line
-The Reel O'Reilly
-Three Long Hours
-Two Spoons of Sugar
-Yearn for the Morning
-You Can't Dig Up

Traditional Fiddle/Bluegrass Tunes
-Apples in Winter
-Brenda Stubbards
-Cripple Creek (not by the band)
-Grandfather's Clock
-Hiccup Jig
-Katharsis
-St Anne's Reel
-Tam lin
-Whiskey Before Breakfast

Covers
-Ophelia (The Band)
-The Weight (The Band)
-Are You Going Away (Tom Paxton)
-Old Home Place (JD Crowe)

Basic Requirements

Calendar