Pulling Up The Tweeds: Caitlin Canty
I have to admit, I am a bit smitten with this next Tweed River Festival artist. Caitlin Canty has one of those voices that is femine, its beautiful, but it cuts and when it does, it makes you bleed. It cuts deep and leaves its mark for long after it is heard. Her latest record “Reckless Skyline” was widely well received by a broad audience ranging from local Bostonians who have seen her at Passim for years to NPR and beyond. And that fact is well warranted. I caught up with Caitlin to talk Tweed and what’s been going on this year for her. Check it…
1) For the fine folks who may not be as familiar with your work, how would you sum up your sound in a short phrase ?
CC: Americana (folk, blues, country)…
Caitlin Canty delivers her songs with a 1930’s Recording King guitar and a dusky alto, writing songs that veer nimbly between country ballads and straight-up rockers, dark blues and sparsely arranged folk.
2) Reckless Skyline has been extremely well received (not that any past releases have not bee), but with support from folks like Bluegrass Situation and NPR, how do you think things have changed for you and this record? Do you feel as those avenues such as that are exponentially helpful? Any advice for newer artists on how to attain exposure like that?
CC: Well that’s nice to hear. It does feel like this record moved the dial for my music. The process of writing and recording Reckless Skyline felt great. I trusted my bandmates and producer, and we had a blast in the making of the record. I think the energy of the band recording live soaked into the music and the arrangement and recording of these songs. It’s certainly been more well received than my past releases, which were perhaps more gentle. This record is closer to a live show, I’m excited that some new folks have taken notice, and am nothing but thrilled about making music with this band and the fire they brought to my songs and this record.
The advice is the same for old and new artists: work hard, write better songs, play your instrument every day.
3) Festivals are often celebrated for their collaborations, community and bringing folks together for a weekend where they may not see each other otherwise. Is there anyone in particular that you would like to see appear on stage together at Tweed? How about collaborating with you? What are you most excited for about Tweed this year?
CC: I can’t wait for Tweed. Some of the other artists appearing on Sunday will be sitting in with my band (The Wiles, Rusty Belle)
Excited to hear the music! The Suitcase Junket always puts on a jaw dropping show. I’ve been wanting to see The Curtis Mayflower for a while. And I shared a stage with Lydia Loveless a while back and will catch her set for sure. and Jesse Dee, haven’t seen his show yet and hear good things.
4) What is 1 record that shaped you when you first started playing and 1 ‘lesser known’ record or artist that you are now/are listening to now that you think folks really need to hear about?
CC: When I started playing guitar and writing my own songs, I discovered Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. That one must have shaped how I think about songs, how I want a record to hold up over the years.
One lesser known — Horse Latitudes by Jeffrey Foucault. I don’t know why more people haven’t heard this record. It just about knocked me over the first time I heard it. It’s sparse, heavy, deep, vast, the players are righteous and the songs won’t leave you alone. and Foucault’s songwriting and singing is in a class of its own.
5) So, why is creating music important to you? Why do you hit the stage night after night, pull out the old song notebook every day, or whatever else you do to let loose your creativity?
CC: There’s a sweet relief in knowing that I love making music and will do it as long as this life allows. The why doesn’t really matter to me. I’ve tried to hold more responsible careers, ones involving a paycheck and regular hours (I worked for 5 years in offices before touring full time), and there’s just no way I can shake this habit. More like why not do this? I love it.
6) Aside from music, do you have any other pastimes? What would you want people to know about you aside from your musical endeavors?
CC: Yes, I do.
Nothing, really. My life is for me, the music is for anyone who wants to hear it.
7) Anything else you want to plug or we should know?
CC: I’m touring behind the record all summer and will be in the Northeast in July (Iron Horse, Passim, Middlebury on the Green Festival). All tour details are here (and the remaining dates are below) www.caitlincanty.com/tour or follow me on Bands In Town www.bandsintown.com/track/Caitlin%20Canty
June 13 – Fort Plain, NY – Mohawk Valley Presents
June 19 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Bluegrass Festival
June 23 – Chicago, IL – Music Means Family Series
June 24 – Minneapolis, MN – Icehouse*
June 25 – Fort Atkinson, WI – Café Carpe
June 26 – Oconomowoc, WI – Three Brothers Farm
June 27 – Lancaster, WI – Three Springs Barn
July 08 – Middlebury, VT – Middlebury On The Green Festival
July 09 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim
July 10 – Northampton, MA – The Iron Horse
July 30 – Hillsdale, NY – Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Aug 01 – Hillsdale, NY – Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Aug 02 – Waitsfield, VT – Tweed River Music Festival
Aug 05 – New York, NY – Rockwood Music Hall
Aug 06 – Belmar, NJ – 5th Avenue Boardwalk – WBJB Songwriters on the Beach
Aug 09 – Milford, PA – Milford Music in the Park
Aug 27 – Ketchum, ID – Town Square Tunes on East Avenue
Sept 2 – Boise, ID – The Modern
Sept 5 – Kuna, ID – Hermit Music Festival
Sept 6 – Stanley, ID – Redfish Lake Lodge
* – w/ Hayward Williams
(photos courtesy of artist website)
