Cape Breton singer-songwriter Carleton Stone starts Maritimes tour at Flavor 19 – May 5

Cape Breton singer-songwriter Carleton Stone is touring the Maritimes, May 5-13, in support of his self-titled album produced by Juno Award-winner Hawksley Workman. First stop is Saturday night at Flavor 19 with songwriter and collaborator Emma-Lee.

“I’m excited about this particular tour because I’m taking my good friend from Toronto, Emma-Lee, to the east coast for the first time,” says Stone. “I can’t wait to show her around and have her meet all the wonderful east coasters. And what better place to kick off the tour than in Sydney at Flavor 19? Since my album release in September, I’ve been on the road across the country and into the US, but coming home for a string of Maritime dates is a dream.”

After the Sydney show, the tour will take the pair to Rockdale, Nova Scotia; Halifax; Fredericton; Hampton, New Brunswick; and Hunter River, Prince Edward Island before returning to Moncton for a show at Plan B.

Stone has been busy since GroundSwell Music released his album in September 2011. He toured western Canada with Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) and eastern Canada with The Heartbroken, showcased at Canadian Music Week in Toronto and East Coast Music Week in Moncton, and spent some time songwriting in Los Angeles and Nashville with Gordie Sampson.

The album, which was nominated for 2012 ECMA Pop Recording of the Year, features a co-write with Emma-Lee and sparkles with smart, pop-country energy, clever hooks and an infectious exuberance.

“He’s really got something,” says Workman. “He’s a real performer, he’s a real songwriter, he’s one of those real humans… If there’s any justice in the world, it should just work for him.”

And there just may be some justice, judging by the reviews.

“This record is brimming over with finely crafted songs from an artist who continues to grow and evolve as both a songwriter and a performer,” raves The Guardian. CBC’s Bob Mersereau is even more to the point, saying, “The new star on the horizon belongs to Carleton Stone, who is quickly developing into a major national talent.”

Comparing him to Workman, Plaid Magazine praises Stone’s “…charisma…positive vibe, likeable voice, and ability to capture the audience.” Workman himself sums it up with, “Carleton: precocious, humble, dimples…”.

Don’t miss Carleton Stone and Emma-Lee, Saturday May 5, 8-11pm at Flavor 19. Admission is $10 at the door.