Truro, Nova Scotia native Garrett Mason is a musician’s musician. Son of “The Prime Minister of the Blues”, Dutch Mason, Garrett’s quest to become a blues musician started at a very early age. His favorite tapes at age 3 were Canned Heat and Buddy Rich. He has indeed since proven his own abilities and his talent for strong original songs and his extraordinary aptitude for playing electric guitar was recognized nationally in 2005 when he received a Juno for Best Blues Album.
Garrett and his band mates, Mike Farrington Jr. and Damien Moynihan, released their sophomore album Love and Sound in July 2008 which was nominated for a Juno Award and won Blues Artist/Group Recording of the Year at the 2009 Nova Scotia Music Week Awards. Love and Sound steps way outside the blues into the land of funk and roots music while retaining the gritty sound and exemplary musicianship the trio has become known for.
After fifteen years earning her keep in rock bands across Canada, Carmen Townsend came back to Cape Breton and hooked up with the long time (thirteen tight, sweaty years) bass and drum combo of Thomas Allen and Shane O’Handley. In their downtime, the trio backs up Sydney’s Tom Fun Orchestra as an aggressive rhythm section.
Carmen has been touring Canada relentlessly for the last three years sharing stages with acts like Matt Mays, The Trews, The Rheostatics, Blue Rodeo, Hey Rosetta!, Joel Plaskett, Wintersleep, Sloan and Slowcoaster, tightening up licks in preparation for the release of her long anticipated debut record.
