Shawn Lidster

Shawn Lidster is singer/songwriter from Newfoundland Canada who has been writing and performing a wide range of original material for more than 20 years.

In 1990 Shawn decided to try his luck in Toronto. Shawn took evening classes at the Treabas Institute and the Harris Institute for The Arts, namely, Music Industry Overview, Sound Producing/Engineering and Music Marketing while doing this Shawn also played part time in a blues band called Blues Stew and continued to develop as a songwriter.

In 1992 Shawn moved back home to Newfoundland and it was not long before he was playing in a wide range of bands.

In July 1994 he formed Lidster’s Hill with his sister Juanita, cousin Audrey and friend Jim Wheeler. Lidster’s Hill entered the Big Break Blast-Off competition that was held in St. John’s and stole the show. They took top spot from more than 20 acts by performing six original songs written by Shawn. The prize was 100 hours of studio time that led to the release of “Swally Dis” a cassette containing an eclectic mix of all original songs. Although the band did not stay together long, they did get to open for Canadian Country Music Artist Charlie Major when he was in St. John’s and had two traditional songs off Swally Dis, The Sealers Song and Newfoundland Summers Day receive extensive air play in Newfoundland and Toronto.

Shawn shopped the tape around to various music industry people at the 1995 Canadian Music Week Conference held in Toronto and then he went to Music West in Vancouver. He checked out a showcase that had the Australian band the Pale Riders on the bill, they quickly became friends exchanged CDs and tapes and vowed to keep in touch. Then in 1997 the Pale Riders invited Shawn to be their opening act for the launch of their new CD and tour of Eastern Australia and Tasmania. Shawn jumped at the opportunity, sold just about everything he owned packed up his guitar and made the move to the land down under.

While in Australia Shawn, crafted his song writing skills. He entered a theme song competition for Sydney’s rock station Triple M and won $15,000 worth of Sammy Hagar’s (Van Halen) gear when his song the Ratso Man was chosen as the winner. Shawn also had the opportunity to play along with Randall Waller who is now Shania Twain’s guitar player. Randall liked the Sealers Song so much he used to get up on stage and jam along with Shawn.

Shawn also went on a tour with the Pale Riders when they got the opening act for Midnight Oil’s 1998 Redneck Wonderland Tour. As Shawn says “What a year!”

Shawn also matured as a performer his songs about Newfoundland went over really well in Australia and till this day continues to write songs about home. He calls it Newfoundland Roots Music.

“I try to capture a balance between all of the Celtic influences that they have passed down to me from both sides of my family roots, then mixed it with my own interpretations and come up with something that is old but with a new edge.”

In 1999 while still in Australia, Shawn formed an acoustic duo with Scott Mainwaring (ex Pale Riders) called Silver Dollar, Silver Dollar played a wide mixture of songs for all ages and was a huge success in Sydney and on the Central Coast. Silver Dollar’s first gig was opening act for Mark Evans (original bass player for AC/DC). In 2002 Silver Dollar ended and Shawn packed up and took his family back to Newfoundland.

For the past 3 summers Shawn has been writing music for Rebel Island Theatre in Carbonear Nfld and recently did a remix of Sealer Song and Newfoundland Summer’s Day (recorded in Great Big Sea’s studio) which was released on Homebrew 4 and Homebrew 5 CD’s, both songs get extensive play on traditional radio station’s here in Newfoundland.

Shawn is currently working on new songs that he hopes to have out soon on his up and coming solo CD.