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“I attended Ian’s CD Release here in Thunder Bay and was impressed not only by the imagery in the stories he told through his music but also by the strength of his musicianship and his confident and friendly stage presence.” - Gerlad Graham
"Ian is a wonderful songwriter who captivates with his warm vocal approach and a haunting musical style that is sure to grip your heart strings. His songs tell compelling stories about beautiful voyages on ancient waterways, lost love, coming home, mining disasters, sailors, soldiers and the struggle for independence. It's been a pleasure working with him on his first recording, Ghosts of Us All and he deserves all the accolades I'm sure it will receive.” - Rodney Brown, Producer
New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Ian Gill - Ghosts of Us All (Independent)
Does Canada need another troubadour folk singer? When he's this good, yes.
Hailing from Thunder Bay, Gill has the country down pat, from west to east. Maybe it's his central location or being from a small city so close to the wild that gives him a broad sense of place. We get his take on the Springhill Mining Disaster, a song about his ocean-going admiral grandfather and tunes about slow trains and fast water. Gill has a world-wise voice that makes good folk tracks hit home, and he's aided most ably by clear fiddle, sweet mandolin and deep bodhran.
Gill gives everything you want from a troubadour. Listeners will leave the disc a little warmer, a little wiser and a lot happier.
Bob Mersereau is a music writer and the arts reporter for CBC in New Brunswick.
© 2007 Telegraph-Journal (New Brunswick)
- Bob Mersereau, Back Beat
Discography
Ghosts of Us All
Photos
Bio
Born and raised in Ottawa, ON singer/songwriter Ian Gill grew up exploring the Ottawa Valley and nearby rural Quebec. It was here that a love for the outdoors took root and an interest in pursuing outdoor adventure was instilled. Ian became an avid canoeist, hiker and cross country skier, eventually moving to Thunder Bay to study Outdoor Recreation at Lakehead University.
Another love was also instilled in Ian at an early age music. At fourteen he purchased his first guitar for $100.00 and jumped with both feet into the world of creating music. Songwriters like Neil Young, Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot, who wrote about the beauty of Canada and the Canadian people greatly influenced Gill growing up through the 70s and 80s. He started out playing the songs of these artists but soon found he had melodies, stories and emotions of his own that he wanted to share. Songs inspired by the north and both the proximity to and distance from family and friends began to emerge. Ian began performing his own material at The Study, Lakehead Universitys campus coffeehouse and at Thunder Bays most popular venue Crocks & Rolls.
Upon graduation Ian took a job as a guide with Outward Bound. Here his two worlds were blended in perfect harmony. Working in the outdoors, often with people cast out of traditional institutions of learning and many struggling to find themselves, Ian found ways to teach invaluable life skills and self respect. Music was an integral part of this community life in the remote bush camp and a means of further connecting with the natural world.
After seven years with Outward Bound Ian returned to Thunder Bay for a short while then moved to Nolalu, an eclectic rural community approximately 45 minutes outside Thunder Bay, to build a straw bale house and enjoy country living. This move gave Ian the chance to pursue more performance opportunities, to write steadily and to develop his musical craft even further. In 2002 he received a FACTOR grant to produce a two song demo which gave him some recording experience and a means of promoting his work further abroad.
In the fall of 2006 Ian finally record his first full length CD with the assistance of producer Rodney Brown, sound engineer, Rob Jardine and fellow musicians Duncan Cameron and Joe Phillips of Fig For A Kiss. Heather Dale, Elly Tose and Rodney sang background vocals and Damon Dowbak added some fine mandolin. Ghosts of Us All was officially released Feb. 24, 2007 at the Finlandia Hall in Thunder Bay, ON to a full house.
Ian has been a guest of Silver Mountain Music, The Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society, The Water Walker Film Festival and the Live from the Rock Folk Festival. He continues to perform at benefit concerts, coffeehouses, open stages, house concerts, fundraisers and volunteer events. He is looking forward to expanding his horizons through concert tours and festivals.
"Ian Gill's music reflects the untouched Canadian roots and soul of the country. He writes with passion of the places he travels and the encounters he has had along the way. He's a gifted songwriter, performer and story teller with a unique talent of reaching his audience on a personal level. The Lunenburg Sessions has been fortunate in presenting this rising talent to their stage." Steve DeLong, The Lunenburg Sessions, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
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