Douglas September

Genre: Alternative
Secondary Genre: Rock Toronto, Ontario Canada Contact

"..outside along the street were 30 bands...all of them loud/fast, here was Douglas...piercing through it all. My hair stood up & I moved closer. People were quiet, you could hear a pin drop. They were listening so intensely. This is what you look for, straight from the heart" - Michael Shrieve

Artist Information

Biography

Douglas September has five full length albums to his credit, all of which have met with strong critical review. His sound is unique and engaging, slightly hard to define with roots in folk but use of looping and sampling. He was once described as a 'post-apocalyptic country/metal balladeer' and it stuck. Originally from Cape Breton, he is known for his innovative musical style that blends folk and blues with a caustic modern commentary. His music has been likened to Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley, and Tom Waits.

While signed with US label Gold Circle, he was fortunate to have collaborated with many talented and inspirational musicians, such as Michael Shrieve (1998 release, Producer-Ten Bulls; Gold Circle/Samson Music), Bill Frisell (1998 release, Lead Guitar-Ten Bulls; Gold Circle/Samson Music), David Torn (2001 release, Producer-Oil Tan Bow; Lupins), Robby Aceto (2001 release, Oil Tan Bow; Lupins and 1999 release, IO; Gold Circle/Samson Music), Rich Depaolo; (1999 release, IO;Gold Circle/Samson Music), Wayne Horvitz (1998 release, Ten Bulls; Gold Circle/Samson Music), David Bearwald and Steve Lindsey (The Runner, 2000). These experiences have culminated into the artist he is today; a diverse singer/songwriter and great entertainer.


Key Achievements:

- Listed #1 on John Sakamoto's Alternative Top-Ten Anti-Hit List, October 2009 - Toronto Star
- In January 2005, UK Uncut (magazine), listed Douglas September's song 'Lady and I' from album 10 Bulls as their #1 Track influenced by Bob Dylan
- Debuted on the Album Network Chart at #35 and rose to #24
- Climbed from #48 on the Gavin Chart to #33 (non-commercial Triple A Grid)
- Designated as grid-bound on Gavin’s commercial Triple A Chart
- Network appearances on CBC Canada (Rita and Friends) and on Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
- Wrote and performed two compositions ('The Light' and 'The Search') for feature film 'The Runner' (directed by Ron Moler), with John Goodman, Courteney Cox and Joe Montegna.
- Has collaborated and/or worked with many talented and inspirational musicians, such as Michael Shrieve, Bill Frisell, David Torn, Rita MacNeil, Robby Aceto, Wayne Horvitz, Rich DePaolo, Steve Lindsey, ..among others.

Notable Performances include:

The Bottom Line - New York City, NY
The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
The Living Room - New York City, NY
Blue Bird Cafe - Nashville, TN
Arlene’s Grocery - New York City, NY
El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
The Borderline - London, UK

Showcasing at Conferences include:

South By SouthWest - Austin, TX
North By NorthWest - Portland, OR
North By NorthEast - Toronto, ON
College Music Journal Music Marathon - New York City, NY
Canadian Music Week - Toronto, ON
Philadelphia Music Conference - Philadelphia, PA
LAUNCH Music Conference - Lancaster, PA
East Coast Music Awards - Moncton, NB

* a list of radio station support as well as chart history is available at d9's website.

What People Are Saying About Douglas September:

- "...Startling stuff..." - John Sacamoto, The Toronto Star

- "...a potent lyricist..." - Guitar Player Magazine

- "...bristling with promise, passion, and nascent brilliance..." - Uncut Magazine, United Kingdom

- "..."some kind of ambient-electronic messiah who hasn't stepped forward yet..." - Beacon Pass, NYC

- "...Tasteful and high-quality..." - Pieter Hofmann Dirty Linen

- "...unbridled soul and passion..." - The Coast

Instrumentation

Douglas September: vocals/voices, various guitars, looping, percussion, sampling and controllers.
Guests/Collaborators: Robby Aceto (guitars/looping), Stephen Keeping (drums/percusiveness), Rich Depaolo (bass)...

Discography

sundaysinradio - (2009; Lupins)
Oil Tan Bow - (2001; Lupins)
Io - (1999; Samson Music/Gold Circle)
Ten Bulls - (1998; Samson Music/Gold Circle)
Crows - (1996; Lupins)

Official Website

http://www.douglasseptember.com

Links

Audio

Lyrics

Video

You Wanna Get High (from sundaysinradio - 2009)

Ol Stray Dog (w. Stephen P. Keeping) - Live, Toronto, 2011

Photo Gallery

  • Performing at Mitzi's Sister - Toronto (Photo: Christian Bobak)

  • Performing at Mitzi's Sister - Toronto (Photo: Christian Bobak)

  • Performing in Toronto (Photo: Christian Bobak)

  • At the Upstairs Club - Sydney, Nova Scotia

  • At NXNW - Portland, Oregon

  • At the Bottomline - New York, NY (Photo: Bob Gruen)

  • Douglas (Photo credit: Bob Gruen)

    Download print quality (high-res) version (Right Click -> Save As)
  • Downtown Toronto, Canada (Credit: Bob Gruen)

    Download print quality (high-res) version (Right Click -> Save As)
  • Douglas looking at you (Credit: Bob Gruen)

    Download print quality (high-res) version (Right Click -> Save As)
  • Downtown TO (Credit: Bob Gruen)

Press

  • US

    “…a potent lyricist…”

  • Canada [+ Show ]

    Among many other things, this Toronto-based singer-songwriter is responsible for one of the most str...

  • UK

    “…bristling with promise, passion, and nascent brilliance.”

  • Canada [+ Show ]

    “…a collection of post-apocalyptic country-metal ballads tailor-fitted for a 21st-century Mad Max… a...

  • US

    ...thought-provoking, powerful, and literate...

  • Canada [+ Show ]

    on Oil Tan Bow... ...a collection of post-apocalyptic country-metal ballads tailor-fitted for a 21s...

  • The Netherlands [+ Show ]

    on Ten Bulls... ...'Douglas September is a Canadian singer-songwriter who, just as his countrymen N...

  • Germany

    on Io... ...Brillant...

  • US [+ Show ]

    on Ten Bulls... ...Blood on the Tracks" for the next millennium. Don't let this one slip by unnotic...

Setlist

Douglas' great sound is very self contained on shows. All he needs is a PA and you can leave the rest to him. He uses some video as a backdrop, to put on a pretty absorbing experience. A set can comprise of any of these Douglas September original works from all five albums:

why don't it move
ol' stray dog
message in the wine
the professor
trouble
rat rage
goin' home
two dollar mudder (on a dry track)
when i die (all my troubles can stay)
awaken
jupiter
the search (from the film 'The Runner')
the light (from the film 'The Runner')
mystic river bridge
vanishing night
romeo's dead
profit avenue
lady and i
that country is so far away
time it don't mean nothin
crows
that country is so far away
tonight
another man
goodbye
karina
in your mind (you ain't coming back)
electrify and marvel
i've got nothing for you
never been to new york
diamond in the rough
you wanna get high
this world is the wrong world
try the devil
whip falls on the plow
like a pop star
cutouts (various)

Douglas has interpreted other artists including:
woody guthrie, nina simone, hank williams, leadbelly, ben harper, dylan, traditionals...and others

...douglas can go all night.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Stage Plot and Technical Requirements

Calendar

There are no upcoming dates at this time.