Jenny Whiteley

On Hopetown, this Hogtown purveyor of all things country and bluegrass storms down the barn doors with a voice as powerful as a twister. Whiteley’s warm and expressive voice vacillates from a whisper on "Day to Day” to a wail on "Needle In a Haystack,” a great bluegrass romp complete with Chris Coole’s claw-hammer banjo. Hopetown features the Juno winner collaborating with some of the country’s finest roots musicians. "I Know How To Say Goodbye” is a sorrowful song Whiteley co-wrote with Colin Linden and "Hallelujah” is a foot-stomping number that was penned with travelling troubadour Fred Eaglesmith. "Halls of Folsom” is one of the most forceful tracks. It echoes the Man in Black’s famous recording of life in Folsom prison with haunting images painted in the chorus. The ubiquitous guitar slinging of Vancouver’s Steve Dawson is one of the guest musicians that makes the journey with Jenny to Hopetown memorable, and it’s no wonder as he also produces the album.