Bill & Joel Plaskett

'Solidarity' (album stream)

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Feb 10, 2017

Maritime mainstay Joel Plaskett has enlisted some familial help for his latest record, collaborating with his father Bill on a new LP called Solidarity. Before it arrives next week, Exclaim! is giving you a proper introduction to the Plaskett clan with an advanced stream of the upcoming record in its entirety.
 
The album hears the pair exchanging their musical influences and ideas, experimenting with a mix of both traditional and unexpected sounds. "Dragonfly" opens the set of songs on a minimalist note, but eventually reaches a lush, bluesy climax that sets the tone for the previously shared folk-rock ode to the East Coast (and leaving it to chase westward dreams), "The Next Blue Sky."
 
After the gritty, stomp-along bluegrass of "Blank Cheque" and the Celtic twang of "Up in the Air," things head all the way to the West Coast of "The New California" — a destination soundtracked by soft acoustic guitar and the younger Plaskett's road-weary croon.
 
The album comes to a close with a one-two finale of the traditional-leaning title track and endearingly simple folk ballad "On Down the River," ultimately leaving listeners feeling warm and welcomed into the family.
 
The father and son duo's upcoming Canadian shows are listed below, and you can hit play beyond those to give Solidarity an early spin right now.

Solidarity is officially out on February 17 through Pheromone Recordings.
 
Tour dates:
 
03/15 Truro, NS - Marigold Cultural Centre
03/17 Montreal, QC - L'Astral
03/18 Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre
03/22 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
03/23 Regina, SK - WA WA Shire Centre
03/24 Saskatoon, SK - Broadway Theatre
03/29 Kelowna, BC - Mary Irwin Theatre
03/30 Nanaimo, BC - The Queens
03/31 Victoria, BC - Alix Goolden Performance Hall
04/01 Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
04/05 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
04/06 Waterloo, ON - Starlight
04/07 Hamilton, ON - The Studio at Hamilton Place
04/08 Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
04/12 London, ON - Aeolian Hall
04/13 London, ON - Aeolian Hall
04/14 Stratford, ON - Avondale United Church
04/20 Halifax, NS - Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
04/22 Port Hawkesbury, NS - Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
05/04 Paris, ON - Dominion Telegraph
05/05 Bayfield, ON - Old Town Hall
 

Latest Coverage