Revelstoke country roots band teams up with David Essig to record and produce new album Amazing Things Happen
Revelstoke music fans have an opportunity to support local folk roots band Sister Girl at the release party for their new CD Amazing Things Happen at the Big Eddy Pub this Thursday, Feb. 9.
“We’re really proud of the album,” said Sister Girl’s Stephanie Ballendine, who plays vocals, keyboard, harmonica, banjo and guitar.
The title track for the album has been in the band’s set list for some time, but they’d never recorded it, feeling it needed development before it was ready.
Co-written by Stacey and Janine Carey Bourke (vocals, bass guitar, piano), the song Amazing Things Happen features the band’s signature harmonies and melodic piano.
Amazing Things Happen was recorded at Amble Inn Bed & Breakfast in Revelstoke and mixed by Salmon Arm producer Jesse Clarke of Earthtone Studios.
“I was very grateful,” said Janine of the chance to play the white-coloured Canadian custom built baby grand housed at the Amble Inn. “It was a fun afternoon and it’s a beautiful piano.”
Stacey brought the lyrics, music and melody for the track and Janine put it together. “That’s my forte, I’m always coming up with musical licks or riffs,” said Janine. “By the time we sat down together it only took about 10 minutes for the song to come together.”
The majority of the album was recorded in a week-long session in October at Watershed Studio on Protection Island near Nanaimo.
Vocalist Joanne Stacey says their recording session with producer and folk artist David Essig brought the album a polished sound with a more objective direction than their self-titled debut CD. Their first album was recorded and self-produced by the band in a short session that lasted only a few days. Combined with their live performances, it helped earn the band notable successes. They were a Top 10 Canadian finalist in the 2009 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest for the song Lonesome Rambler. They’ve also had radio airplay worldwide, including a top-10 spot on Austrian country charts. (European country music fans have a preference for more traditional country sounds of bands like Sister Girl.)
Each of the five musicians has expanded their musical repertoire since their first album, adding new instruments including banjo and mandolin to their quiver.
Joanne Stacey brings a lifetime of experience in the music business to the table, including a solo career. She’s behind much of the band’s marketing. She has a keen understanding of how things like radio play work.
The show at the Big Eddy Pub starts their efforts to tour the album; they hope to perform at a few festivals this summer and also plan to record their first ever video. For now, they’re all committed to full-time jobs in Revelstoke, and will continue to fit their music career in between day jobs. The album Amazing Things Happen and tickets for the Thursday show are available at Sangha Bean and Amble Inn in Revelstoke.
The show at the Big Eddy Pub is on Thursday, Feb. 9 starting at 8 p.m. There’ll be door prizes and Sister Girl trivia at the Revelstoke Spirit Fest event.
For more, see sistergirlmusic.com.