FEATURED PERFORMER
Wild Honey
From the scuffed knees of childhood to the sweet sounds of the stage , the bandmembers of Wild Honey have been together for just about as long as anyone can remember . When they became mothers , the need to stay connected led to plans for regular band practice , which eventually led to the sleek , smooth sound that is gaining fans wherever it is heard .
With eight daughters between them , it ’ s no surprise that their music often features themes of family , connections , and the simple life . The Kootenays have remained home for all three , with Shelby Knudsen ( guitar , vocals , song writing ) heading for the mountains to set up home in Fernie . Laura ( violin , vocals ) married Shelby ’ s brother and stuck to the city life in Cranbrook , while Jess ( guitar , percussion , vocals ) married a neighbour of Shelby ’ s and moved to the prairie-like grasslands near the Bull River .
The band ’ s first album – Distant Skies – launched in 2019 and the artists looked forward to honing their sound and performing together with new confidence . The global pandemic quickly cancelled those plans and they found
online practices were a disaster – zoom is no good for harmonising ! When restrictions relaxed and they were able to get back to live performances , they loved seeing the smiles and feeling the warmth of the audience . They headed to the studio in the fall of 2021 to record a new album with Barney Bentall , laying down tracks inspired by fireside storytelling . Their music evokes the angst of Counting Crows , the passion of The Chicks and Suzanne Vega , and the energy and rhythm of the Philosopher Kings . They count Leeroy Stagger , Caamp , Sarah McLachlin , Dustin Bentall and Joni Mitchell among their influences .
Catch Wild Honey at the Heidout in Cranbrook on June 9th , Bowen Island on June 23rd for Cover Your Trail , or on June 24th at the Barn Burner 2022 in Vancouver , alongside Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies fame . They will also be around the Kootenays this summer . ‘ Ghosts ’ is due out fall 2022 .
Wildhoneyband3 . com
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