Album Notes

Dick Cerri of the World Folk Music Association says of Big Shoes: "Very impressive. If I were still on the air this would go into 'heavy' rotation....this one is special and presents one of folk music's 'ready to break through' artists, ready for heavy national exposure."

Lucky Clark of the Kennebec Journal in Maine says: "This one's a keeper!"

Maine singer-songwriter Dave Rowe's got a new band! The Dave Rowe Trio, the next logical step in Dave's illustrious progression through Maine's music scene, is a high-energy, Neo-Celtic, Newgrass, doozey of a group.

In a time when rural music is being urbanized and urban music is being ruralized, it is refreshing to hear the simple beauty and foot-stomping joy of traditional Celtic and Canadian Maritime favorites played with such enthusiastic, twang-twisted mastery. Often it is not what you put into the music that defines it, but what you choose to leave out. With three men, three voices, and three instruments, the Dave Rowe Trio is making some tasty choices, serving up their own unique blend of original and traditional music.

The Trio was created during the production of Dave's second CD Big Shoes-the long-awaited release of traditional Celtic favorites-following the loss of Dave's father, mentor, and fellow Turkey Hollow bandmate Tom Rowe of Schooner Fare fame. Alongside Dave on his familiar lead vocals, guitar, piano, and tin whistle, bassist extraordinaire Kevin O'Reilly and fiddle/mandolin wünderkind Edward Howe strut their stuff, jamming up a real nor'easter with every performance. Solid, soaring harmonies and burning instrumentals make the Dave Rowe Trio a musical force to be reckoned with.