Christie Simmons

Christie Simmons is a Calgary-based singer/songwriter whose work speaks to a life that’s been formed by the Alberta landscape and dressed in years of motherhood, marriage and years working as a freelance writer. She comes to the craft of songwriting having dabbled heartily in a variety of musical genres and instruments: classical training in flute and a brief but intense love-affair with recorder (including sac buts, crumhorns and other bizarre renaissance instruments); years on the highland games circuit competing with pipe bands and as a solo piper; choral, roots and bluegrass music; guitar, banjo… and always the voice. As a songwriter and musician she draws on influences as varied as Gillian Welch, Blue Rodeo and Danu. Her resulting original music is authentic, elegant acoustic folk – prairie Canadiana that’s woven with strains of Celtic, brushes of bluegrass and old-time Western sensibility.

Winnie’s Song – Christie’s debut CD – reflects both her interest in literary arts and her deep respect for the power and colour of language. The title track captures a pivotal and visually evocative scene in her sister Catherine Simmons Niven’s award-winning novel A Fine Daughter. It and others on the album were written specifically to perform with Catherine at readings. A number of other tracks, including “Let’s Pour a Drink Vera”, “The Underpainter” and “It’s Not a Secret” were written either for or about works by notable Canadian authors. Christie’s lyrics are intelligent, reflective and vivid and she sings them with a hauntingly fine voice – one many consider to be her greatest gift.

For the past five years Christie has played whistles and sung lead and harmony vocals with the high-energy folk/roots/Celtic band Tir Na N’og. With the other members of the band she’s frequently seen about Alberta’s pub and folk-club scene filling the airwaves with upbeat east coast, traditional Irish and original music. Christie also works as a freelance writer, an occasional voiceover talent and is lovingly raising three kids with her husband who currently spends half of his time in Albania!