Hungry Hill
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada | INDIE | AFM
Music
Press
The soul of Bluegrass music was born in the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States. Most of the truly hot pickers and singers originate from there having been brought up in the shadow of tall pines and rolling hills, so when someone with that same feeling and soul appears from our own back yard, we have to say that we have been given a rare and precious gift. That gift comes to us in the form of a talented and beautiful songstress, Jenny Lester.
- Bluegrass Canada
Hungry Hill were enjoyed by all...the crowd was with them from the first song, and responded enthusiastically to the entire performance...they were a pleasure to work with, from my point of view, and we will look to bring them back.. - Marilyn Jackson, Newell Concert Association
After hearing their sophomore disc, Ride, this critic has no problem declaring Hungry Hill the best bluegrass band in Canada.
Their self-titled first disc was terrific but their singing, playing and song writing chops on this second disc surpass even that much-played little treasure.
Anchored by the fiddle playing and warm singing voice of Jenny Lester and mandolin, guitar and production of Bob Hamilton, formerly of The Undertakin' Daddies, with Mark Thibeault on resophonic guitar, the group has made some changes since the first disc. Ross Nickerson has replaced Gary Markley on banjo and adds another song writing talent to the band. Nadine Landry takes over for Matt King on bass.
The strength of the band is not just great playing, singing and harmonies but the ability to write songs that stand up to classic bluegrass standards, and which I am sure will enter the canon once people hear them. Ride, Ain't Got No Sugar Dad Now, When My Time Has Come, Crooked Log Cabin, Gopherville and several others are superb. Great band. Great disc.
-By Barry Hammond
Penguin Eggs: Winter 2007 pg. 53
- Penguin Eggs
Discography
Ride - 2007
Hungry Hill - 2005 Caribou Records
Photos
Bio
The sound and show ...
Order Ride, the new Hungry Hill cd!Juno award winning producer, Bob Hamilton guides the knitting of mandolin, fiddle, dobro, banjo, guitar and doghouse bass to create a believable and honest sound of both recorded and live performance. During a live presentation, the synergy of these artists attracts listeners to be in the moment with laughter and emotion from stories and stage antics. Hungry Hill invites their audience into an intimate evening of original and traditional musical offerings.
Jenny Lester
Jenny Lester is a dynamic Bluegrass performer and recording artist who has established herself as an important singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Jenny's talent is superbly displayed on her debut CD, Friends Like You, of critical and popular acclaim. Her original songs are carefully crafted in the bluegrass convention while at the same time displaying a contemporary freshness and vitality that breathes new life into the fabled "high lonesome" sound.
Jenny is a veteran stage performer, beginning on the fiddle at age eight with her family's Driftwood Canyon Family Band out of Smithers, B.C. After nearly a decade of touring West Coast festivals, Jenny won a musical scholarship to South Plains College in Texas, graduating with honors and three Golden Reel awards. The music journey moved forward through Dark Horse out of Colorado, the Australian trio performing at Leo Foo Village in Taiwan, John Reischman and Bluegrass Signal in Vancouver, BC, and the Jenny Lester Show.
Currently Jenny is a full time private music teacher / horse trainer back in the community where it all began, Smithers, BC.
Bob Hamilton
Producer/Musician Bob Hamilton is based in Whitehorse, Yukon. Bob has been honored with four Juno nomnations, and one Juno award for albums he has produced. One of the nominations was for the the last band he formed, the Undertakin' Daddies. His love for Traditional Bluegrass has brought him together with Mark, Jenny, and Gary to form another group.
Bob Is a multi instumentalist as well as a songwriter, and he brings a need for originality, and a respect for the past to this combination. He is also co-owner of Caribou Records, and owns Old Crow Recording, the Yukon's premier recording studio.
Bob has toured extensively throughout Canada, the USA, and Europe playing music, from atmospheric guitar with Jerry Alfred and the Medicine Beat, to mandolin and upright bass in the Undertakin Daddies.
Ross Nickerson
Ross Nickerson is a full time musician and on the road ten to fifteen days a month performing concerts, teaching banjo workshops and reaching new audiences. Ross has most recently toured England, Ireland, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, United States and Canada. He has up coming bookings in the United States, Canada, Wales, Ireland, Germany and Australia. Ross Nickerson is also a well-known teacher of the banjo. He is the author of The Banjo Encyclopedia, "Bluegrass Banjo from A to Z" from by Mel Bay Publications and has many instructional Books, CDs, DVDs and services for banjo students at his website Banjoteacher.com.
Mark Thibeault
Mark Thibeault has recorded with the Grapes of Wrath, performed with Kevin Kane, Kim Beggs, Anne Louise Genest and The Undertakin’ Daddies. He brings life, texture and emotional intensity to songs whether bluegrass, folk or western swing. Mark is also a talented luthier and co-owner of Rayco Resophonics.
Mark mainly performs with the resophonic guitar, pedal steel and lap steel however, his music journey began at age 12 in Ontario with a Gibson SG. Early influences were as diverse as Dickey Betts, Albert Lee and Jeff beck to Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin. While studying visual arts at the University of Windsor, Mark purchased a pedal steel guitar to play and compose with a multi-media performance group. He used the instrument to create sonic textures behind spoken poetry and video projections, realizing the incredible versatility of expression of the steel guitar.
In his late-twenties Mark moved to Vancouver where his employment in a prominent guitar factory and preceding degree in Visual Arts inspired the new career of building a line of resophonic guitars with fellow luthier Jason Friesen - Rayco Resophonics. Rayco Resophonics and Mark are now established members of the Bulkley Valley community and are coordinated with Jason’s partnership in Burnaby, BC. www.rayco.ca
Nadine Landry
Nadine calls the west coast her home since January 2000 when she first set foot in the Yukon. Born and raised in a musical family in the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec she has been singing as long as she can remember. Described as uniquely passionate and powerful, her voice has been capturing the hearts of audiences across Canada and the United States. Her bass playing brings solid and groovy rhythm to the ensemble. Nadine now spends her time playing and singing in various bands from old tyme to
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