Album Notes

“You’d think I would have heard of somebody as good as Cousin Harley before this but this is my first encounter with his music and it couldn’t be more of a pleasure! …Top notch…a straight 10 out of 10.”
Gaby Maag-Bristol
“Blue Suede News” magazine, USA

Cousin Harley is the rocking hillbilly persona of Paul Pigat, an extraordinary guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. Hailing from Vancouver, Canada, Cousin Harley has a hard-earned reputation for delivering everything from hot rod rockabilly to foot stomping vintage country and western swing.

Pigat’s Cousin Harley style is deeply rooted in the playing of Les Paul, Charlie Christian and Link Wray with a modern twist to create a style that is exhilarating in its intensity, yet at the same time fluid and precise. Paul’s creative use of tone and dynamics is a hallmark of everything he plays, and his sense of rhythm is both sophisticated and dead on.

An extremely versatile artist, with projects ranging from delta blues to classical music, Hillbilly Madness is Pigat’s fifth Cousin Harley recording. He has recorded and toured with the likes of Neko Case, Michael Kaeshammer, and Carolyn Mark and has shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Mae Moore, Lee Aaron, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Joshua Redman, Big Sandy and His Flyrite Boys, Aaron Neville, Jim Byrnes, Ndidi Onukwulu, Zubot & Dawson, and more.

The backing band is one of the hottest rhythm sections around—Mudge Island bassist Keith Picot (The Twisters) and Victoria drummer Jesse Cahill (Fathead Newman).
Pigat’s superb talent as a guitarist is matched by his vocal abilities; a warm baritone equally at home singing flat-out rockers and relaxed country swing.

Hillbilly Madness features 15 stellar tracks, comprising 11 original tunes which run seamlessly with 4 well chosen covers. The album showcases the swing, rockabilly, blues and jazz elements that make Cousin Harley truly unique in the roots music world.

From classic honky tonk and cow punk tinged rippers, to a helping of western swing and classic jump blues, Cousin Harley plays in the old tradition—slugging it out hot and heavy in the trenches of the live music scene.

Festival favourites, all three members of Cousin Harley, together and individually, bring extensive collaborative and improvisational experience to any workshop stage. From traditional to experimental, across multiple genres, these three talented musicians make it work.