Music
Press
"The word from Newfoundland was that these guys were rocking St. John's like it had never been rocked before" - Gary Cristall, Artistic Director, Vancouver Folk Festival
- Vancouver Folk Festival
"The guy I most admired when I was younger was Kelly Russell………… really he was the guy, if I could be anyone else. He was amazing" – Bob Hallett (Great Big Sea) – Telegram Interview
- Bob Hallett - Great Big Sea
The Planks teams up Kelly Russell, one of the Newfoundland’s leading traditional musicians, with Chris Batstone, Sean Panting and Adam Staple of the rock trio Drive..... a true fusion of the old & the new..... traditional fiddle tunes being reinvented, combining both a respect for the inherent value of the original tune with the sheer, unbridled adrenaline addicting rock sounds that Drive has mastered..... utterly electrifying..... crank up the volume, blow the wax out of your ears and dance yourself into a frenzy - This album deserves no less.
- Mark Vaughn-Jackson : Entertainment Editor, The Evening Telegram
- The Telegram St. John's
"There are very few people I would book without hearing a least a
demo tape, but when Kelly Russell calls up and says he's got a new band well there's the exception to the rule" - Gary Cristall - Artistic Director of The Vancouver Folk Festival - Vancouver Folk Festival
Discography
Smashed Hits 1998
Photos
Bio
Born of the notion that traditional Newfoundland fiddle tunes should be played as loud, fast, and drunkenly as possible... The Planks is a collaboration between four of Newfoundland's most celebrated musicians.
Fiddle legend Kelly Russell (Wonderful Grand Band, Figgy Duff, The Plankerdown Band), singer / songwriter / guitarist Sean Panting (Drive,
Sean Panting Band), bassist Chris Batstone (Drive, The Punters, Bash Bros) and drummer Adam Staple (Drive, Sean Panting Band, The Punters) are THE PLANKS.
Formed in 1995, The Planks made their debut at Toronto's The Pheonix, and have been making grand noise ever since, playing to audiences at
festivals and clubs across Canada.
2007 saw The Planks performing in Hull, Quebec for Canada Day... appearing as the house band for the
NLAC Arts Council Awards... and playing for St. John's audiences at The Majestic Theatre, Club One, and The Ship Pub.
Over the years, as each band member has developed their own musical identity - both alone and frequently as bandmates in other projects -
The Planks remains a constant... a reference point... a unique collision of personalities with the capability to summon up moments of magic from
a shared history and effortless, instinctual communication.
The Planks have one CD, "Smashed Hits", released in 1998.
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