Album Notes

“To the already long list of Canadians who bleed pure Americana please add The Breakmen. Like their countrymen in The Band before them, they have been known to inspire a bit of the old-time religion with their sublime vocal harmonies.”
-Nathan Baker, San Francisco Bay Gaurdian


Out of Vancouver, BC, The Breakmen are winning over audiences across Canada and the American Northwest with contagious stage energy, original melodies, and innovative vocal harmonies. Featuring the singing and songwriting of multi-instrumentalists Archie Pateman, Lee Watson, and Ben Rogalsky, the driving bass of Matt Lawson, and the internationally acclaimed Dobro work of Ivan Rosenberg, The Breakmen blend elements of bluegrass, old-time, blues, and folk music. By fusing old sounds with new and unique flavour, The Breakmen appeal to all sorts of music lovers, both young and old.

Apart from recieving national attention from CBC radio 1 and campus radio stations, CBC Radio 2 has twice recorded The Breakmen live and Lee Watson’s original song Cool Me Down was recently track of the day on CBC Radio 3. Along with the bands Outlaw Social and The Foggy Hogtown Boys, The Breakmen were filmed for an upcoming television series on Canadian roots music. With their debut recording in its fourth pressing, the band’s follow-up CD is scheduled for release in 2008. The Breakmen also contributed the title song to the acclaimed Vancouver bluegrass and old-time compilation CD, Whiskey Hollow Bound.

In 2007, The Breakmen toured extensively and appeared at a dozen festivals; the band is currently booking concerts, festivals, and workshops for 2008.

2007 Performance Highlights....

San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival (CA)
Pickathon (Portland, OR)
Islands Folk Festival (Duncan, BC)
Chilliwack Bluegrass Festival (Chilliwack, BC)
Harmony Arts Festival, (Vancouver, BC)
Littlefest (Nelson, BC)
Sorrento Bluegrass Festival (Sorrento, BC)
British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop (Sorrento, BC)
Sooke River Bluegrass Festival (Sooke, BC)
Hope Musicfest (Hope, BC)
The Dream Cafe (Penticton, BC)
Brackendale Bluegrass Festival (Squamish, BC)
CBC Radio 2 Live Recordings (Brackendale, Chilliwack)
Travelling Roots television show (Duncan, BC)

**Numerous campus Earshot chart placements.