Details
2013
The Deep Dark Woods
Brief Biography
Saskatchewan - Folk Rock, Country, Rock
With a Western Canada Music Award for Roots Duo/Group Recording under their belts, The Deep Dark Woods turned around and won Ensemble of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards last November. With this kind of momentum, they're sure to make a big impression at Mariposa this year. The timeless sound of this aptly named group pulses with human warmth. With original songs and gentle, plainspoken lyrics, their music is poetic but sometimes startling. The Deep Dark Woods have shared the stage with The Sadies, Magnolia Electric Co., Utah Phillips and The Stills, and have toured extensively from Canada's west coast to New York City.
ARTIST WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/deepdarkwoods
The timeless sound of the aptly named The Deep Dark Woods belongs to the depressing winters of the north. Pulsing with human warmth, these original songs echo through the lonesome night. Ryan Boldt's plainspoken lyrics offer a strong but gentle tone which understates poetry, oftentimes as startling as hot blood in fresh snow.
Despite the dark themes, the heaviness never overwhelms the music's playfulness. An utterly fun rhythm section, brilliant guitar work, and eerily rich harmonies drive the songs. One could easily be forgiven for mistaking their songs as treasures of decades past, as The Deep Dark Woods approach their instruments with studied respect for the honoured traditions of the shadowy side of roots music.
They have shared the stage with The Sadies, Magnolia Electric Co., Utah Phillips and The Stills, toured extensively from Canada's west coast to New York City, and have had the good fortune to have collaborated with Shuyler Jansen, and Ruth Minnikin.
The DDW's first studio effort, a self-titled 10 song release was recorded live-off-the-floor entirely on analog to capture the band's earlier live sound. Their second full-length release Hang Me, Oh Hang Me, takes a different approach, with intricate arrangements,
more substantial production and diverse instrumentation.
The Deep Dark Woods' newest release, Winter Hours, is a collection of their best recordings yet. Working with Juno award winning producer/musician Steve Dawson at Vancouver's famed recording studio The Factory, they managed to truly bring out an
energy that the new songs deserved, recording the album live off the floor. What was created was an album full of raw emotion, sadness, beautiful vocals and harmonies, new sounds, and well thought out arrangements. Winter Hours represents the ever changing
sound of the band, and a step forward from their latest Black Hen release Hang Me, oh Hang Me.
The DDW are fronted mainly by Ryan T. Boldt, who splits lead/rhythm guitar duties with Burke Barlow. The rhythm section is rounded out by C. S. Mason (bass) and Lucas Goetz (drums), who also provide the gorgeous 3-part harmonies which have become one of the
band's defining characteristics. Geoff Hillhorst is on piano and organ. The constantly growing sets of original material are always evolving, and together with just enough improvisation ensures the songs are always fresh for the band and crowd.
