Laura Bird & The Fly By Night Orchestra
Dreamwalker
© 2000 Laura Bird
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Known for her warm, powerful and versatile smoky alto voice, she takes her listeners on journeys through folk-roots, bluegrass to sultry jazz standards.
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LAURA BIRD BIOGRAPHY
Singer-songwriter Laura Bird is taking flight. Known for her warm, powerful and versatile smoky alto voice, she takes her listeners on journeys through folk-roots, bluegrass to sultry jazz standards while her strong songwriting, soulful vocals and solid guitar playing create a very charming and intimate stage presence. Vignettes of childhood small town life, stories of struggle, triumph and defeat, dreams and desires and images of the landscapes that continue to inspire her, are all common threads running through Laura's lyrical fabric.
Music has always been Laura's passion and at a very early age, she began performing in her hometown of Gananoque. During her college days in the mid to late '70's, she "cut her teeth" making appearances at the St. Lawrence College pub, Queen's University's Grant Hall in "Queen's Best", the Scarecrow Coffee House and the infamous Prison for Women in Kingston. Moving on to Ottawa and then Toronto, she would perform whenever she had the opportunity, continuing to develop her songwriting style while honing her skills as both a rhythm and finger-style guitar player and versatile vocalist.
Born in Kingston, Ontario and growing up in the 1000 Islands, Laura now resides in the town of Orangeville, Ontario. After 15 years employed full time in the Exhibition and Graphic Design industry, she decided to finally follow her dream of pursuing a fulltime musical career. The result was her debut CD "Dreamwalker", co-produced by engineer-producer Karen Kane and released in August of 2000. The project was recorded using an incredible collection of vintage microphones donated by friend Doug Walker, in the beautiful and rustic surroundings of Escarpment Sound Recording Studio in Acton, Ontario. Utilizing her graphic skills, Laura produced the Dreamwalker CD artwork as well as much of the photography.
"Dreamwalker" is an eclectic offering of musical flavours combining several of Laura's own compositions with a few covers written by some favourite songwriters, a new twist on an old tune and a hidden rendition of a sweet jazz standard, taking "the listener along a lyrical and sometimes whimsical jaunt from the folksy to the torchy plains of Bird's vocal landscape". Joined by long time friends and performing partners Jack Walker on dobro, John Merchant on bass and Robert Reid on lead guitar, the 'Fly By Night Orchestra' extends to include Geoff Somers on violin and mandolin, Marion Linton on violin, David Abramsky on cello, Kate Murphy on banjo, Mike Stevens on harmonica, Matthew Shawn Fleming percussion, with background harmony provided by Sharon and Ambre McLean, Garret Doyle and JUNO award winner David Francey.
Since producing Dreamwalker, Laura has made appearances at the Mariposa Folk Festival; several appearances at Blue Skies Festival including the development and hosting of two workshops; Quinte Spirit Festival; Owen Sound Summerfolk Festival; The Black Sheep Inn-Wakefield Que.; Rasputin's Café-Ottawa; Hugh's Room-Toronto; Café In The Woods-Manitoulin Island to name just a few. Her music has been picked up by numerous campus radio stations throughout Canada, the U.S.A. and British Virgin Islands as well as aired on various CBC regional stations across Canada.
When not pursuing her own music career you'll find Laura busy presenting and promoting others within the music community. As a founding member of the Headwaters Acoustic Music Society in Orangeville, she continues to provide publicity and promotional support for the 'Live! At the Opera House' Canadian Concert series now in it's sixth season She is an active board member with the ArtsCan Circle group; an organization formed to continue the work of musician Mike Stevens linking creative artists with native youth in isolated communities of Northern Canada. Providing her graphic expertise and communication skills as festival outreach coordinator, Laura also manages the Instrument Donation Program ensuring music lending libraries are set up in the communities in need. Laura also recently spearheaded the creation of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award now held in trust with the Ontario Arts Council by raising well over $20,000 through various fundraising efforts including organizing a tribute concert. Established as a legacy in recognition of Colleen Peterson's contribution to Canadian folk and country music, this non-taxable $1000 cash award will be given to help support and promote the work of fellow emerging Ontario songwriters.
PLEASE CONTACT:
wigboroughmusic@sympatico.ca www.laurabird.com
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Truley a wonderful Canadian songwriter
author: Garry JacksonLaura Bird is a truley wonderful Canadian singer songwriter. If you close your eyes she will take you places with her heartfelt ballads of life itself,in such songs as OKAnada and Man Of Destiny. Her voice is simply,supurb.
Truley a wonderful Canadian songwriter
author: Garry JacksonLaura Bird is a truley wonderful Canadian singer songwriter. If you close your eyes she will take you places with her heartfelt ballads of life itself,in such songs as OKAnada and Man Of Destiny. Her voice is simply,supurb.