DELTA

Artist Information

Biography

Her voice has that timeless, high lonesome character that's drawn listeners to giants like Dolly Parton, Neko Case, and Emmy-lou Harris. The band is a cheerful, chatty, informal bunch who happen to like making new-grass and roots influenced pop that dives right into the gore of everyday heartbreak. Audiences are disarmed by the banter and the instrument trading, only to be won over by precise and powerful lead vocals, intricate harmonies and intelligent lyrics.

Delta just finished up The Pocket Studios with stellar producer, Stuart Cameron (Crash Test Dummies, Shaye) making a 5 song Demo EP.

Frontwoman, and main writer Emily Weedon claims the same template as country giants Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn: the diminutive singer with a powerful voice also grew up in small-town abject poverty, rich with musical tradition. She grew up in an Ontario hamlet populated by draft-dodging hippies. She spent many days listening to country Gospel and groups like the Band around the cookstove while everyone around could play guitar, sing, or at least hit spoons. Her bright, clear voice has been widely compared to Dolly Parton, Neko Case, Emmy Lou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Northstar, and the Sneaker Pimps not only in terms of her vocals, but her arresting stage presence.

Since forming to explore a cross over of alt country and pop, Delta has evolved into a rootsy, homespun, "gothic" country pop that serves up one great song after another. Gord Light (known for his membership in Canadian supergroup White Cowbell Oklahoma) brings his uncanny writing, singing and multi-instrumental abilities, and not least of all his handle-bar 'stash to the Delta table. Jesse Capon, (Crash Continental) harmonizes from behind the kit, and sometimes emerges to play a little guitar.

Look for Delta's 3 part harmonies, instrument trading, tear-jerking and wise-cracking asides at a venue near you...

Instrumentation

Emily Weedon vox, keys, guitar,
Jesse Kapon drums, vox, guitar, bass
Martin Crawford, lap, electric guitar
Stephen Barber, bass



Friends include Bob Egan, pedal steel, Stuart Cameron, lap steel, Martin Crawford, lap and guitar, Scott Peterson, upright bass, Dylan Goodhue, guitar, Rob Fenton, Dobro...

Discography

3 new demo songs recorded with Moe Berg, Nov 2007 - available soon.

"All Out in the Open" 5 song EP recorded 2006 with Stuart Cameron. Available on iTunes.
www.myspace.com/deltatheband
www.newmusiccanada.com
www.zed.cbc.ca search: emilyweedon

Official Website

http://www.zed.cbc.ca

Audio

• Black Crowe
  Listen  
• Same Old Place
  Listen  
• On His Sleeve
  Listen  
• C'mon Up
  Listen  
• Stainless Steel
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• NEW WAVE NEDS- NOW Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  Emily Weedon Among the bigger surprises at last year’s Night Of The Living Ned 2 tribute concert ...Emily Weedon
  
  Among the bigger surprises at last year’s Night Of The Living Ned 2 tribute concert was the bittersweet rendition of the Handsome one’s Steel Rail Blue, delivered by Emily Weedon with the perfect balance of hope and heartbreak. Watch out for this gal.

• Delta/Bachmann/Buckner Review [+ Show ]
  

  I don't know what the rider was for Saturday night's Eric Bachmann/Richard Buckner show at the Horse...I don't know what the rider was for Saturday night's Eric Bachmann/Richard Buckner show at the Horseshoe, but I suspect it read something like, "50 cartons cigarettes, 12 gallons bourbon, 10 lbs gravel - finely ground". The co-headlining tour featured two of the roughest voices in music - both of whom have just released brilliant new records - and despite the rough week behind and ahead of me, I was raring to go for this one. The eleven hours of sleep accrued over the past day helped, too.
  
  First up were local openers Delta who offered up a set of upbeat, personable and occasionally downright perky country tunes. With songs about trains, drinking and sex powered by frontwoman Emily Weedon's high, lonesome chirp, Delta delivered an energetic opening set that got the crowd up and ready to be taken right back down by the headliners.I don't know what the rider was for Saturday night's Eric Bachmann/Richard Buckner show at the Horseshoe, but I suspect it read something like, "50 cartons cigarettes, 12 gallons bourbon, 10 lbs gravel - finely ground". The co-headlining tour featured two of the roughest voices in music - both of whom have just released brilliant new records - and despite the rough week behind and ahead of me, I was raring to go for this one. The eleven hours of sleep accrued over the past day helped, too.
  
  First up were local openers Delta who offered up a set of upbeat, personable and occasionally downright perky country tunes. With songs about trains, drinking and sex powered by frontwoman Emily Weedon's high, lonesome chirp, Delta delivered an energetic opening set that got the crowd up and ready to be taken right back down by the headliners.
  
  Frank Yang

• Globe and Mail Essential Tracks [+ Show ]
  

  On His Sleeve, Emily Weedon & Delta, from All Out in the Open (independent) A slow waltz about a ...On His Sleeve, Emily Weedon & Delta, from All Out in the Open (independent)
  
  A slow waltz about a hard-drinking, lying, bruising blowhard who, the tune tells us, was also the sweetest love ever. From an indie LP from an arresting Toronto singer whose blend of steel twang and spun silver places her somewhere between Dolly Parton and Blossom Dearie.
  
  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070327.SONGS27/TPStory/?query=Emily+Weedon

• At Root of Success [+ Show ]
  

  AT ROOT OF SUCCESS: Delta is going places. The new chick-pop/alt-country rock band, fronted by local...AT ROOT OF SUCCESS: Delta is going places. The new chick-pop/alt-country rock band, fronted by local singer/songwriter Emily Weedon, has captured the pulse of roots music. In my opinion they should receive a hardy congrats as they celebrate the release of their demo at the Silver Dollar, 486 Spadina Ave. at College. Weedon's evocative lyrics, peppered with her piano and producer Stuart Cameron's rainbow of guitars has created a Canadian country masterpiece. Music publicist Cecil Cramer will be at the Dollar, chuck wagon in tow, with some good eats. Show's at 9 p.m. Call 416-763-9139 for info.

• SceneandHEard.ca Emily Weedon & Delta [+ Show ]
  

  Emily Weedon & Delta All Out In The Open Independent All Out In The Open The debut EP from Tor...Emily Weedon & Delta
  All Out In The Open
  Independent
  All Out In The Open
  
  The debut EP from Toronto country singer Emily Weedon sits comfortably alongside efforts from Amy Millan and Jenny Lewis.
  
  While Millan and Lewis focus on the hurtin' side of country, Weedon sets herself apart with a sense of optimism, particularly on the disc's lead off and title track, a winsome bluegrass number that showcases her gorgeous voice as well as the impeccable harmonies with her bandmates.
  
  There's no shortage of mournful songs, it just wouldn't be a country album without them, and the EP balances equal parts chipper and downbeat. 'Clark St.' and 'Stainless Steel' are two achingly beautiful retro-country numbers reminiscent of the soulful country of Lucinda Williams and Dolly Parton.
  
  Weedon's voice is a definite highlight. While she may draw the inevitable comparisons to the aforementioned artists by virtue of the style of music, it goes without saying that her vocals stand on their own and tug at the listener's heartstrings.
  
  All Out In The Openis far too short a collection of alternately sombre and hopeful country and roots songs. The efforts from her peers may be receiving all the attention, but that doesn't mean this absolute gem of a release deserves to be overlooked.
  
  Emily Weedon & Delta play The Cameron House (408 Queen St. W) every Wednesday night.
  - Andrew Horan

• NOW Magazine Festival Picks
  

  Now Magazine's Festival Pick for Celebrate Toronto Scotiabank Jazz Cafe.

• Get Lucky at the Horseshoe [+ Show ]
  

  get lucky at the horseshoe For Valentine's Day optimists, sounds like Hate Valentine's Day Less at T...get lucky at the horseshoe For Valentine's Day optimists, sounds like Hate Valentine's Day Less at The Horseshoe, 368 Queen St. W., should be your destination tonight. Local country popsters Delta debut their new disc -- produced by Toronto talent Stuart Cameron. Angelic-voiced frontwoman Emily Weedon is inviting all the lonely hearts out there to wear a heart sticker on their sleeve if they want the attention of the other lonely hearts.
  http://toronto.24hrs.ca/Columnists/After6/2006/02/14/1441132-sun.html

• Versatile Voice [+ Show ]
  

  Emily Weedon Combo May 29 @ Canteen Cabaret Emily Weedon summed up her Distillery Jazz appe...Emily Weedon Combo
  
  
  May 29 @ Canteen Cabaret
  
  Emily Weedon summed up her Distillery Jazz appearance perfectly when she said the Spanish song that concluded the first half of her two-hour set reflected Toronto’s multi-cultural population.
  
  Weedon and her bandmates crafted a rich, multi-textured mélange of sounds that encompassed everything from contemporary sounding roots pop to songs that were straight out of a bygone era, transporting the audience to the cobbled streets of Paris and the canals of Venice.
  
  Her versatile voice matched the music’s stylistic changes beautifully. She could sound like Emmy Lou Harris one minute and an old-time jazz and blues singer the next. She kept up an engaging between-song banter that was just as enjoyable as the music.
  
  It wasn’t particularly surprising the audience seemed to be disappointed when she announced the final song of the set.

• Get your boots moving [+ Show ]
  

  Peppy Toronto songstress Emily Weedon knows how to get your boots moving....elegantly showcases old-...Peppy Toronto songstress Emily Weedon knows how to get your boots moving....elegantly showcases old-fashioned barroom heartache, Weedon's smoky vocals are the real star here - powerful, tender and sly."
  
  MMMM John Orr, Metro Toronto

• CIUT Radio Performance [+ Show ]
  

  From www.myspace.com/frankcasting podcast available at www.frankcasting.com This week, the sw...From
  www.myspace.com/frankcasting
  podcast available at
  www.frankcasting.com
  
  This week, the sweet Emily Weedon and Delta. Here is what I wrote in a Factor letter a while back to support her CD project, the release of which she and Delta are celebrating at the present time.
  
  Delta has the kind of sound that immediately makes an impact on radio listeners, and keeps them tuned in for the whole song. This is mostly due to Emily Weedon's distinctive voice, the band's versatile musicianship, and songs that feel instantly familiar.
  
  Many singers are blessed with a unique voice, but few learn to use it as well as Emily Weedon has done. She is a student (and teacher) of her craft, and uses her voice like a great musician uses any other instrument. She is equally effective whispering a sweet ballad or belting out an up-tempo country song.
  
  What I personally particularly enjoy are Emily's sad songs, like "On His Sleeve", where the combination of her poignant piano playing, innocent-sounding voice and dark lyrics is hauntingly beautiful. She has the rare gift of producing genuine melancholy.

Setlist

A typical 30 minute set list will include:
ALL OUT IN THE OPEN
Acoustic mandolin, and 3 part squeaky-clean country folk harmonies about busting it all out. You'll be sad, but you'll feel happy about it.
CLARK STREET
Hurky jerky country waltz with a ballsy chorus and texas radio style coybow backups.
STAINLESS STEEL
Chilly pop portrait of soul bankruptcy.
SAVIOUR
Evokes verdant prairies full of gun-slinging guitars - a spaghetti western scene painted with Cormack McCarthy's post-modernist brush.
FULL CATASTROPHE
Acoustic guitar lays it out four on the floor.
START
Pop torch: Coldplay and Keane refs
FALL
Loss and regeneration:Keane collides with Alt Country
"TO A BUCKTOOTH BOY"
tear jerker featuring tree-forts and unrequited love
"LULLABYE"
sweet country-esque lullabye with big hooks

Basic Requirements

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