Shred Kelly

The name Shred Kelly screams out boisterous in-your-face hair-metal but instead gives you boisterous, in-your-face folk music. Their latest, Sing to the Night, is gushing with the same youthful energy and bravado associated with "harder" music and is filled with no less shredding than suggested by the band's moniker — they just do their shredding on banjos and mandolins, as well as guitars.

Piano-driven lead single "Family Oh Family" is a power pop gem that bounces like some kind of folk disco, proof that they can write as catchy a hook as you're likely to hear in folk music. The band from forested Fernie, BC do an incredible job of recreating the feeling of long, late-night drives through the prairies on the slinking and beautiful "Start Again." There's a wall-of-sound tactic that gets employed a time or two too many, but the highs the band reach with it are well worth it. "Stuck Between" is a flat-out burner, bordering on magnificence, that builds on a skeletal banjo riff to a crushing wall of electric guitars, crashing drums and piercing strings. Sing to the Night is a huge step forward for this young group. (Independent) - Exclaim.ca

Shred Kelly performs My Vessel, My Grave and Going Sideways from their 2015 album 'Sing to the Night.' - CTV Morning Live

By Alex Hudson
British Columbian folkies Shred Kelly had a busy summer touring in support of last year's In the Hills, and they're keeping the campaign going with a new video for the album cut "New Black."

The clip for this brightly upbeat folk ditty shows the band members comically training for a multi-event sports day against a gang of baddies called the Cheetahs. The opposing groups compete in an egg-and-spoon race, a sack race, a tug-of-war, and various obstacle courses, and the whole thing naturally culminates in a band performance.

The clip was directed by Chrisina Ienna. The group explained in a statement, "We made this video during the Alberta floods, and our band had been separated in various parts of BC and Alberta. The five of us couldn't connect because of road closures, a car crash (with Jordan and Steve) and no one picking up our hitch-hiking drummer for four days and we had to cancel three performances. We met up on day five and put this video together, so it was not only super fun to make, but it was also the silver lining after four really hectic days prior."

Scroll past the band's upcoming tour schedule to watch.

Tour dates:

09/13 Calgary, AB - The Gateway *
09/21 Vernon, BC - Roots and Brews
09/27 Winnipeg, MB - The Cavern ^
09/28 Kenora, ON - Sasquatch Bush Crawl ~
10/5 Calgary, AB - Belgo
10/31 Lethbridge, AB - Inferno #

* with Stoning Mary
^ with Mobina Galore
~ with Big Bugaloo
# with Delhi 2 Dublin - Exclaim.ca

They're from all over Canada, in the midst of a Crazy Cross Canada Tour, sharing the Ottawa Folk Fest bill with Neil Young and they're coming to Olds! ... Here's my chat with Sage McBride of Shred Kelly.
- Rock 104.5FM Olds, AB

Fernie's Shred Kelly came home with the award for Song of the Year and Best Live Act at the Kootenay Music Awards, held in Nelson Friday night.

Kootenay Music Award nominees were shortlisted by a panel of five music industry pros, then the public had a chance to vote daily online for their favourites. The awards went to the artists who collected the most votes.

Cranbrook youth band The Good Ol' Goats were the biggest winners.

The six-piece bluegrass band, whose members range in age from 16- to 17-years old, was named Artist of The Year, as well as Best Roots and Blues artist. Too young to legally enter Spiritbar in Nelson, where the awards were handed out Friday night, one of the band members' dad accepted the trophies on their behalf.

More young talent was highlighted in the Best New Artist category, with 18-year-old Selkirk College music student Dylann Heidi taking the title.

The Kootenay Music Awards is an annual event, now in its second year. Proceeds from the event support a foundation that gives scholarships to musicians.

The Kootenay Music Awards are presented by Nelson Brewing Company and Black Press.

Platinum sponsors include Kootenay Co-op Radio, Vantage Point, Nelson and District Credit Union, AM Ford, Selkirk College.

Other sponsors are Wapiti Music Festival, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Bee Kissed Body Piercing, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, Chatterson Drive, Our Glass, Ric’s Lounge and Grill, Tribute Boardshop and Whitewater Ski Resort.

See the full list of winners and photo gallery from the event here. - Free Press

Shred Kelly is a BC Band that I have always heard about but never had the chance to catch live. We finally had the chance to see them this past week at the Biltmore Cabaret with Loon Choir, who they have been on tour with across Canada. We were pretty excited to see them live, especially after Jess got to chat with Jordan earlier in the week. Unfortunately we missed both Jer Breaks (one half of Redgy Blackout) and Ottawa’s Loon Choir, but our friend over at 3am Revelations had some good words to say about them.

We did manage to catch Shred Kelly’s energetic set of what they self-describe as stoke-folk. It is probably one of the most accurate made up genres I have heard before. All five members of Shred Kelly were giving us their all for the entirety of their set. This is something that I really admire, especially on the last date of a cross Canada tour.

They started off with their first song off their latest release In The Hills “New Black” which had an explosive energy that got the dancing started right away. Before long, the crowd was eating up Tim Newton’s wicked fast banjo playing and dancing up a storm. My highlights of their set were the catchy “Ghost Inside My Head” and the beautiful “Rowed Away” which started out with the gentle vocals of keyboardist Sage McBride and built until Newton’s banjo brought the song to it’s peak.

After Shred Kelly finished off their set, the crowd genuinely wanted more. A passionate demand for an encore finally brought the band back on stage to play “I Hate Work” which quickly got everyone else riled up and not wanting to head in to work the following morning. Overall it was a phenomenal set and I cannot wait until I get to see these guys again! - Vancouver Music Review

It’s been two years since Fernie, B.C.-based band Shred Kelly has been to St. John’s, and in a recent phone interview, drummer Ian Page Shiner could hardly hide his excitement to return home.

“We’ve been touring hard for two years trying to get a bit of an audience. We have a pretty good following out west, and we’re looking forward to visiting St. John’s. [It] has a different vibe than the rest of Canada,” he said. “You can tell that the audience enjoys the music and they really get into it.”

With a plethora of sounds and their own personal genre, Shred Kelly is shredding up stages and capturing the attention of music lovers as the band tours across the country.

“People love to dance at our shows; they get very stoked and excited about the upbeat music,” Shiner explained. He continued to define the band’s genre, which has been tossed around a lot in recent years. The band has labelled their music as “Stoke Folk”, a combination of rock, pop, and folk.

As Shiner keeps rhythm, bassist Jordan Vlasschaert and guitarist Steve Polit generate an energy on par with most rock bands. Meanwhile, Sage McBride’s vocals and harmonic synth echo from beneath Tim Newton’s fierce voice and rapid banjo, creating a healthy pop-folk atmosphere.
After being awarded 2012 ‘Artist of the Year’ at the Kooteney Music Awards, releasing a video for their song The Bear, and currently on tour in support of their newest album, In the Hills, Shred Kelly has been generating a lot of attention.

The band is also working toward expanding its fan base by performing at well known festivals. In early June they played Toronto’s renowned North by Northeast, and will soon play the 2013 Ottawa Folk Festival, sharing the bill with artists like Neil Young, The Avett Brothers, and The Sheepdogs.

“We are jumping all over the place,” Shiner said. “We are back out west for a hand full of shows, then we fly back to Toronto for a show, then we’re driving straight east. The band has been non-stop, and the St. John’s portion of their tour is bound to be a busy one.

They will be starting off with Folk Night at The Ship on Wednesday (July 3), followed with two sets at The Levee on Thursday (July 4), with local acts The Josh Bourden trio, The Rogues, and Texas Chainsaw. On Friday (July 5) the band will play The Rock House with The Idlers, before clueing up its visit on Saturday (July 6) back at The Ship.

Keep your ears open for Shred Kelly’s return to the island. If their live stage presence is anything like to the music on their latest album, their visit will be one you’ll want to take advantage of.
- The Independent

What a bloody mess Sage McBride faced preparing for her band's new video.

Weather turned mild a week before Shred Kelly was going to put The Bear on film in early February.

The British Columbia-based band needed a freezer pronto to house instruments crafted from ice by singer Tim Newton for the day-long video shoot.

“A very massive” model was found online, but the owner wasn't as rushed to sell it as McBride and her bandmates were to purchase the appliance.

He relented, with a condition.

The freezer housed a dead cow. He wasn't going to clean up the mess.

Shred Kelly took delivery of “this bloody, disgusting freezer,” said McBride during a recent telephone interview from Charlottetown, PEI.

Trial and error followed to find the right temperature to house the music equipment Newton dedicated two weeks to crafting. McBride backed the deep freeze approach, opting to make the freezer as cold as possible.

That approach was nixed after ice cymbals broke in McBride's hands. Newton wasn't happy.

The Bear, winner of song of the year at the Kootenay Music Awards, was filmed in Fernie where the band is based. Filming began at 5 a.m. and wrapped 22 hours later.

The video, viewed more than 9,400 times on YouTube, follows the release of In the Hills, the album featuring The Bear, by eight months.

Both projects were self-financed, says McBride. Hence the wait.

“We need more online presentation,” said the Kenora native.

“It's a good investment for the long-term, just to have something that we can continue to use to promote ourselves.”

Shred Kelly also won a Kootenay Music Award for live act of the year. That's a total of four KMAs for the band since their debut album, Goodbye July, was released in 2010.

“We definitely have a lot of love in the Kootenays. We play a lot there and our music is really well received in that area,” said McBride.

“It's a really supportive environment to create and be in.”

Shred Kelly is one of five BC bands participating in the K96 Emerging Artists Program. Each act was given cash to record two new songs.

Newton and McBride conjured up Paperweights and My Vessel My Grave. Those tracks will be judged along with a live show and a self-critique of how the band can improve. The winner, to be announced Aug. 21, receives $4,000.

“It's always nice to work with other bands,” said McBride.

“It's not a very clear path for musicians. We've been getting more networking opportunities which is really great for us.”

Industry professionals offered “all-around good advice” at a seminar for participating bands.

Shred Kelly's five members want to build their online presence. They launched their Twitter account on June, 16, 2010 with the debut message, “What the f--- is a Twitter?”

McBride is trying to post more pictures with online photo-sharing service Instagram.

Tapping social media to promote the band has taken a different mindset. With Fernie's small population of about 4,000, McBride is more familiar with actually seeing somebody and sharing band news.

“In the city there's much more of a need for all the social media and the social communication,” said McBride.

“But in a small town you usually bump into people all the time. (Cellphones) exist, but they're still not as prevalent as we notice in the cities.”

Shred Kelly, joined by Loon Choir, plays Loplops on Thursday.

On the web: www.shredkelly.com - Sault Star

The departure date for Tracks on Tracks is tomorrow! While the bands are getting ready for this amazing trip, we want to introduce the third winning act you voted to be onboard. Sage McBride, the keyboardist of Shred Kelly, shared with us more details about the band and their travelling experiences.

Audio Interview - CBC Music

At last, Shred Kelly's lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Tim Newton struck up the first few notes of his clawhammer banjo, and it didn't take long for the hoedowners to start pounding their boots on the dance floor.

Adding to the mix were the sweet tones of co-singer/keyboardist Sage McBride, expert stick handling of drummer Ian Page Shiner, Jordan Vlasschaert holding down the rhythm on bass, with guest Ty West, of Nelson, B.C., filling in on guitar.

Fresh off a busy summer festival circuit that took them all the way to St. John's, Nfld., the band proved why they were named the best live act at the 2013 Kootenay Music Awards. They had the folk stoked to Ghost Inside My Head and I Hate Work off their debut album, Goodbye July, as well as newer material (The Bear, Cabin Fever, New Black) off their 2012 sophomore release, In the Hills.

It served as the perfect apéritif to a night all about food and community. More, please. - Vernon Morning Star

Tim Newton, Shred Kelly

“My mom has always encouraged me to be musical. When I was five, she put me in a xylophone class and at age 10 I was taking piano lessons. When I bought a used drum set from my neighbour in Grade 9, my mom put up with endless hours of after school practice, and when I started playing the banjo and touring in a band, she has been only supportive. My mom was born in Regina and in our song ‘White River,’ which is about the family I come from, the lines ‘I am made of Prairie’ and ‘I am nurse and I am wartime pilot’ is an ode to my mom." - CBC Music

Tim Newton, Shred Kelly

“My mom has always encouraged me to be musical. When I was five, she put me in a xylophone class and at age 10 I was taking piano lessons. When I bought a used drum set from my neighbour in Grade 9, my mom put up with endless hours of after school practice, and when I started playing the banjo and touring in a band, she has been only supportive. My mom was born in Regina and in our song ‘White River,’ which is about the family I come from, the lines ‘I am made of Prairie’ and ‘I am nurse and I am wartime pilot’ is an ode to my mom." - CBC Music

3. Shred Kelly. We missed these guys when they played in the middle of summer in Ottawa and all the instagram photos and vines rubbed it in. Plus, it’s almost impossible to not want to check out a group that calls themselves stoke-folk. Stoke the fire, baby! - Ottawa Rock Lottery

Meanwhile over on the Hill Stage where access is free, Fernie, BC’s Shred Kelly was tearing the roof off and having a grand old time with everyone present. The alternative folk rock six-piece band, who describes their style as footstomping stoke folk, attracted an intimate but receptive crowd of festival-goers who clearly loved the performance and who happily participated when it was time to sing-along. The setlist included the waltz-inspired song Fossils and Tin and The Bear from their latest album In the Hills released in August 2012. They might be a lesser-known band, but they have great might, solid stage presence and there’s obviously good synergy amongst the group members. Each musician projected lots of energy and the band was having so much fun on stage that it was impossible to stand still. They concluded their 75-minute set with Tornado Alley, which features some serious banjo-playing. Shred Kelly was a great musical discovery! - Eventful Capital

Shred Kelly is a five-piece "stoke-folk," banjo-driven band from the ski-bum town of Fernie, B.C. Thanks to relentlessly touring and some great albums, they are quickly becoming known across Canada as a must-see live party band.

When we plotted out the tour schedule for the CBC Beetle, we just knew we had to visit Shred Kelly on their Rocky Mountain home turf. Little did we know that May in Fernie still means winter, but that didn't stop Shred Kelly from taking us on an icy river rafting trip.

And I found out first-hand just how cold that water was. Hover over the main photo to see the entire photo gallery of the adventure, and watch the video below! - CBC Music

Fernie, BC folk-pop fiends Shred Kelly stirred up a lot of interest over their 2012 sophomore LP In the Hills, and now the outfit are capitalizing on the attention by taking the songs out for on a cross-Canada tour.

The band's upcoming trip kicks off May 30 in Waterton, AB, and the act have a number of club and festival dates booked up to August that will have them heading out east towards the Maritimes and then back out to BC. Along the way, they'll team up for a string of dates with Ottawa's Loon Choir, among others. You can see all the details down below.

Shred Kelly were recently nominated for a number of prizes at the Kootenay Music Awards, including Artists of the Year, Best Folk/Country Act, Best Live Act, and Song of the Year for In the Hills' "The Bear." To further promote the latest LP, the quintet have dropped a video for that same track, and you can see the clip down below.

Tour dates:

5/30 Waterton, AB - The Opera House
6/1 Calgary, AB - The Gateway
6/6 Sudbury, ON - The Speakeasy
6/7 Norwood, ON - The Legion #
6/8 Wakefield, QC - The Blacksheep Inn @
6/11 Hamilton, ON - The Casbah %
6/12 Toronto, ON - NXNE
6/13 Toronto, ON - Supermarket (The Agency Group Showcase)
6/21 Revelstoke, BC - TBA^
6/22 Olds, AB - Summer Oldstice
6/22 Calgary, AB - Double Zero Pizza(Friends For Life West Gala)
6/23 Beaumont AB - Beaumont Blues Festival
6/29-30 Gagetown, NB - Folly Fest
7/3 St. Johns, NL - The Ship Pub Folk Night
7/4 St. Johns, NL - The Levee $
7/5 St. Johns, NL - The Rock House &
7/6 St. Johns, NL - The Ship Pub
7/11 Charlottetown, PEI - Baba's !
7/18 Halifax, NS - The Seahorse Tavern
7/19-21 Antigonish, NS - Evolve Festival
7/23 Montreal, QC - CFC *
7/24 Ottawa, ON - Maverick's *
7/26 Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub *
7/29 Winnipeg MB - The Windsor *
8/1 Lethbridge, AB - The Slice *
8/2 Malawaka, BC - Routes and Blues Outreach Show
8/3-4 Wells, BC - Arts Wells Festival
8/5 Victoria, BC - BC Day
8/6 Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore *
8/7 Kelowna, BC - TBA
8/8 Salmo, BC - Shambhala Music Festival
8/9 Fernie, BC - Wapiti Music Festival
8/10-11 Haida Gwaii, BC - Edge of the World Festival
8/16 Dunster, BC - Robson Valley Music Festival

* with Loon Choir
& with The Idlers
^ with Jackie Treehorn
# with Willhorse
% with The Archers
@ with Laurent Bourque
$ with Mercy The Sexton
! with Chris Dalziel Band - Exclaim.ca

Shred Kelly’s sonic brew of punkrock & bluegrass (laced with ambient synth and ukelele) makes for a stompin good surreal experience dubbed “stoke folk”. Since 2010 British Columbia’s East Kootenays have echoed with the fierce but lighthearted roots n’ roll of the group’s debut album “Goodbye July” and last year’s sophomore release “In The Hills”, the latter gaining much fanfare and accolades across the country, including KOOTENAY MUSIC AWARDS 2012 Artist Of The Year, inclusion in Green Couch Productions’ cross-canada Tracks On Tracks Tour hosted by CBCRadio3, and our own selection as one of ROKLINE’s 13 favorite songs of 2012 for their breakthrough single “The Bear”.

The band is currently stoked to be unveiling the new and official music video for that prized song, and in conjunction with Vancouver-based Green Couch Productions have come up with something uniquely creative as the band describes here: “For this music video we toiled in our backyards in frigid January temperatures building a full roster of ice instruments and over 55 snowmen/woman spectators of all shapes and sizes to create a night time moon lit winter concert. The ice instruments were made by making instrument shaped molds in snowbanks, hardening the molds into ice, and then lining them with plastic and filling them with water to freeze. All together we made ice microphones, ice bass guitar, ice electric guitar, ice keyboard, ice banjo, and the most challenging instrument of all, an ice drum set complete with ice cymbals – all in the backdrop of a stage built of packed snow.”

Not unlike fellow countrymen ELLIOTT BROOD, the Shred have a penchant for Pogues-like manic blasts of Folk Rock Fury that can transport you to a virtual music festival dreamscape, taking you precariously close to the edge without pushing you all the way off. We first became keenly aware of the band when they were chosen to take part in last year’s tracks on tracks journey from Vancouver to Toronto, riding the rails on a VIA passenger train alongside CBCRadio3's Grant Lawrence and chosen artists Sidney York, Chris Ho, Adaline, the Belle Game, Portage and Main, The Matinee, Maurice, and Top Less Gay Tekno Party. The scene strongly resembled the legendary ‘Festival Express‘ tour of 1970 (Janis Joplin, The Band, Grateful Dead) and was similarly chronicled in a Feature Documentary.

SHRED KELLY is about to embark on a spring/summer cross-Canada Tour which will include selected shows w/ breakout Ottawa synth-folk-rock ensemble Loon Choir and Music Festivals such as Evolve (Antigonish, NS, 7/19-21), Shambhala (Salmo, BC, 8/8), and Edge Of The World (Haida Gwaii, BC, 8/10-11), so check the schedule and get on board with one of the most exciting, pulse-pounding, uniquely rewarding indie-roots-rock bands performing anywhere. As stated perfectly in their website Bio, “Shred Kelly is turning banjo doubters into sweaty indie folk rock believers on the dance floor, one town at a time.”
- Rokline

If you want to be on the forefront of cool and escape the endless parade of cookie-cutter bands this summer, do your ears a favor and tune into the Shred Kelly Green Couch Session.

The five-piece band have developed an original form of music they’ve catchingly coined 'Stoke Folk.' In Shred Kelly’s own words, Stoke Folk is "modern fast-driven folk music that makes you stoked!" By mixing clawhammer banjo riffs, high voltage guitars, fierce drums and hauntingly sweet harmonies, they have produced an evocatively unique sound that has captured the attention of Green Door Studios and producer John Critchley.

Critchley has worked with Elliot Brood and Dan Mangan among other Canadian artists. While in the studio, the band found out that they had been selected to take part in Green Couch Productions, 'Tracks on Tracks' in association with CBC Radio 3 and Via Rail. This was an epic train adventure where 10 Western Canadian bands boarded a train in Vancouver and traveled to Toronto for NXNE music festival, playing shows on and off the train along the way. The trip was documented by Green Couch Productions out of Vancouver, and will be made into a documentary set to be released in 2013.

Shred Kelly is currently bringing its Stoke Folk on tour for the summer, making it to as many festivals as possible, including Ottawa Blues Fest, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

The Shred Kelly Green Couch Session demonstrates the catchy tunes this band is capable of. - Trend Hunter - Kyla Gutsche

Shred Kelly, a Canadian rock group dedicated to delivering novel musical experiences, brings their signature brand of “Stoke Folk” to their sophomore album, “In the Hills.” The band blends acoustic guitar and banjo solos with electric guitar and bass riffs to form a strong backbone for their tracks, and the lead vocals of both Tim Newton and Sage McBride are universally powerful and fun to listen to.

Throughout the album, you could make comparisons to such groups as Florence and the Machine or Mumford & Sons, but even those comparisons don’t do the music justice. There is a distinct American folk aspect that is extremely apparent in the vocals and banjo riffs, one that begs to be played as loud as possible on a road trip through the mountains.

The pace of “In the Hills” is distinctly different than the band’s premier album, “Goodbye July,” which was praised for its country slacker stylings and jaunty beat in 2010. The first album covered a wide emotional spectrum, which conjured images of high school conflicts and problems. Their second offering, however, feels like a maturation of the style that drew acclaim previously. The group has grown into their signature sound, and as a result, “In the Hills” is far more coherent as a whole than its predecessor.

Following the album’s critical success, the group is now on tour in Canada, and is expected to be back in the studio full-time come March. Sadly, no stops are planned for the U.S. this time. We’ll have to wait a while before they take their show across country lines.

I personally recommend track three, “The Bear,” as a jumping-off point, as it encompasses
both the core style of the group and a fair degree of variation within a single song. Another song to try is track eight, “Fossils and Tin,” which sports one of the strongest vocal performances of the album, backed by a fantastic instrumental.

Overall, “In the Hills” is a fun time from the moment the first note is played, with a fully realized and mature sense of style coming through in every song. Fans of folk music will find a lot to love here, and if you’re looking for something a bit out of the norm, this album will provide a fresh perspective and a welcome change of pace.
I give “In the Hills” by Shred Kelly an eight out of 10.
- The Spectrum

Mumford and Sons may have brought the banjo to the mainstream, but from the opening chords of “New Black,” it’s clear that Shred Kelly haven’t hopped on the bandwagon — this is just what they do. In The Hills, the Fernie-based band’s second album, is a whirlwind of folk-punk fury from start to finish. These tunes aren’t toe-tappers. They are boot-stompers.
The band’s two singers compliment each other wonderfully. Sage McBride’s airy harmonies are the perfect counterpoint to Tim Newton’s impassioned, gravelly tenor. And McBride is no slouch herself on the songs on which she sings lead — the two are able to trade off in a way that feels effortless and natural, and it keeps the album from staying in any one place for too long.

Indeed, the whole album has a real sense of movement to it. The aforementioned “New Black” kicks the album off with a barn-burner, but slower jams like “Jewel of the North” never feel out of place — they’re just stops along the way.
Don’t let the folk-punk descriptor turn you off if the idea of a bunch of guys with their dads’ old acoustic guitars doesn’t excite you. The instrumentation on In The Hills is rich and varied, and avoids the lo-fi conceits that can make some folk-punk records tiring to listen to.
“Rowed Away” is a particular standout in this regard, a heartfelt ballad with a lush string arrangement that builds to a climactic full-band crescendo, and a horn section accents the chorus of “Leaving Town” beautifully. The bluesy “Cabin Fever” adds an organ part toward the end that nicely fleshes out the song without feeling forced.
All of this energy and variety means that just about anyone should be able to find something to like on In The Hills. Give the ol’ banjo one more try. You’ll be glad you did. - Discorder Magazine - Matt Meuse

Right as the first track “New Black” kicks off, the album pushes through at a frenetic pace with only brief reprieves to allow you to catch your breath. With a sound that harkens Elliott Brood and with driving tempos and intricate melodies that rivals Mumford and Sons, the album pounds along until it closes with the sweetly melodic "Jewel of the North." The heavy doses of amphetamine-fueled banjo coupled with the punchiness of a solid punk rock record makes this an album that grabs your attention and holds it for the full 40 minute run time.

Lead singer Tim Newton’s voice is solid and raw enough to carry the record on its own. When coupled with the silky smoothness of Sage McBride's vocals as well as the harmonies offered by the rest of the band members, the sound takes on a much more rounded quality. While not necessarily a classic roots sound, there is enough of the genre’s influence to appeal to staunch fans of old-time folk as well as followers of the more modern incarnations of the style.

If there is a weakness, it might be in the lyrics; however, that is personal preference. Lyrics in "Rowed Away" and "The Cold" are very literal and the rhymes seem simplistic. There is definitely enough talent in this band that their strengths easily compensate for minor weaknesses. Despite any perceived shortcomings, Shred Kelly has made an exciting album In the Hills, a work that gives the band a solid push in the direction of making their mark. - !earshot - Greg Mahood

Right as the first track “New Black” kicks off, the album pushes through at a frenetic pace with only brief reprieves to allow you to catch your breath. With a sound that harkens Elliott Brood and with driving tempos and intricate melodies that rivals Mumford and Sons, the album pounds along until it closes with the sweetly melodic "Jewel of the North." The heavy doses of amphetamine-fueled banjo coupled with the punchiness of a solid punk rock record makes this an album that grabs your attention and holds it for the full 40 minute run time.

Lead singer Tim Newton’s voice is solid and raw enough to carry the record on its own. When coupled with the silky smoothness of Sage McBride's vocals as well as the harmonies offered by the rest of the band members, the sound takes on a much more rounded quality. While not necessarily a classic roots sound, there is enough of the genre’s influence to appeal to staunch fans of old-time folk as well as followers of the more modern incarnations of the style.

If there is a weakness, it might be in the lyrics; however, that is personal preference. Lyrics in "Rowed Away" and "The Cold" are very literal and the rhymes seem simplistic. There is definitely enough talent in this band that their strengths easily compensate for minor weaknesses. Despite any perceived shortcomings, Shred Kelly has made an exciting album In the Hills, a work that gives the band a solid push in the direction of making their mark. - !earshot - Greg Mahood

Shred Kelly – In The Hills (Independent)
Shred Kelly is a five-piece progressive mountain string band. As you can imagine, I don’t get to type that too often. Most young string bands fall into two camps; they’re either desperately trying to sound authentic and ancient, like they recorded their album in 1959, or they’re ex-punkers trying to re-invent the wheel with extra electrics and double the attitude. Shred Kelly appears to be neither. They’ve been listening to Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and maybe a little Radiohead, and the craggy road they’re moving down is one decidedly less travelled.

he call the East Kootenays of British Columbia home, a region in southwest Canada with more than its fair share of mountains and wilderness. The terrain is reflected in their music and words, but equally, they weren’t raised in a vacuum, and outside influences litter their approach. For example, opening track “New Black” sounds perfectly contemporary. Strip away the banjo and what’s left is just a great indie rock song. “Cabin Fever”, is infinitely rootsier, but still straddles genres, and its upbeat rhythm and enthusiastic air deserves a sizeable audience. Both singers, Tim Newton and Sage McBride, possess big expressive voices that add considerably to the group’s sound, and the latter’s keyboards add another subtle dimension.
www.shredkelly.com
www.facebook.com/shred.kelly
Simon M. - Leicester Bangs

Everyone was at the Slice for another outstanding, relentlessly upbeat sold out show from Fernie based stoke folk band Shred Kelly, Oct. 5.


As expected they had the dance floor packed and jumping around with all kinds of frenetic banjo, guitar and keyboards. Their music is just so happy sounding, you can't not have a good time listening to it.

They have boundless energy and some pretty intense musicianship. If you don’t at least tap your toes to their music, you’re probably dead.

Keyboardist Sage McBridge sang lead on a couple tracks. Their most popular song “I Hate Work” was a highlight midway through their set.

And as always they brought the party, so it got pretty drunk out for quite a few people revelling in the good vibes emitting from the stage.

They also played a lot of new songs from their brand new CD “ In The Hills.” From that, “Cabin Fever was definitely a highlight.


“Ghost Inside My Head ” was another highlight of the set.

I missed the opening set from Eric Laroque, but caught the end of Redrum Triumph]s set who added Evan Eushenko for the show to addextra guitar and baritone which give thema more ominous feel.
— By Richard Amery, L.A Beat Editor
- L.A. Beat

I may not spend my Mondays at CJLO anymore, but that doesn’t mean this music column can’t keep going! This week, I’d like to share Shred Kelly with all of you.

Hailing from Western Canada and making no efforts to hide it, Shred Kelly just recently released their second offering, “In The Hills”, and it’s a beauty. Sounding like a combination of Audio/Rocketry, Mumford and Sons and early Against Me!, this 5-piece from BC knows how to combine folk and energy to make some great music. Though not every song on this record is a hit, the ratio’s good enough for me to recommend it to all of you. Have a listen!

Cheers,

-Al - Bloody Underrated

Coming from the East Kootenays of British Columbia, Fernie’s Shred Kelly visited Kamloops on Wednesday, Oct. 24 as part of their Fall Album Release Tour to perform songs from their second album, In The Hills, recorded in May and released in September.

Heroes Pub was more full than what could be expected on a cold Wednesday night. Supporting local band Van Damsel warmed up the stage offering a 40-minute set of their energetic indie-rock songs.

Shred Kelly started with the title track from its latest album, following that up with “Goodbye July.” The audience fervently joined, clapping and tapping to the mixture of folk, rock and country.

The audience was divided between people that already knew the band and new listeners, but all of them were easily conquered by Tim Newton’s brisk banjo.

The party went on among the crowd at Heroes, with two more songs from the new album, “Cabin Fever” and “New Black.” Female vocalist and keyboardist, Sage McBride, took the lead role on “Leaving Town,” followed by “Ghost Inside My Head.” By the time audience joined the chorus of “I Hate Work,” a great night of live music was guaranteed, both for the listeners and for the band, who was surprised by the reception of their live show in Kamloops.

The band maintained high spirits with a pack of new songs — the powerful start of the banjo in “Time is Passing,” the quiet and tender start turning into a crescendo in “Rowed Away,” a vigorous boy-girl chorus in “White River,” the piano background of “The Bear” and the powerful drumming in “The Cold.”

The great finale for the show had been awarded to the mighty “Tornado Alley.” After this more than six-minute-masterpiece, the audience still wanted more and Shred Kelly ended up playing two more new songs, finishing with a sing-a-long chorus, one that the audience was still humming on the way back home. - The Omega - Oriol Salvador

Coming from the East Kootenays of British Columbia, Fernie’s Shred Kelly visited Kamloops on Wednesday, Oct. 24 as part of their Fall Album Release Tour to perform songs from their second album, In The Hills, recorded in May and released in September.

Heroes Pub was more full than what could be expected on a cold Wednesday night. Supporting local band Van Damsel warmed up the stage offering a 40-minute set of their energetic indie-rock songs.

Shred Kelly started with the title track from its latest album, following that up with “Goodbye July.” The audience fervently joined, clapping and tapping to the mixture of folk, rock and country.

The audience was divided between people that already knew the band and new listeners, but all of them were easily conquered by Tim Newton’s brisk banjo.

The party went on among the crowd at Heroes, with two more songs from the new album, “Cabin Fever” and “New Black.” Female vocalist and keyboardist, Sage McBride, took the lead role on “Leaving Town,” followed by “Ghost Inside My Head.” By the time audience joined the chorus of “I Hate Work,” a great night of live music was guaranteed, both for the listeners and for the band, who was surprised by the reception of their live show in Kamloops.

The band maintained high spirits with a pack of new songs — the powerful start of the banjo in “Time is Passing,” the quiet and tender start turning into a crescendo in “Rowed Away,” a vigorous boy-girl chorus in “White River,” the piano background of “The Bear” and the powerful drumming in “The Cold.”

The great finale for the show had been awarded to the mighty “Tornado Alley.” After this more than six-minute-masterpiece, the audience still wanted more and Shred Kelly ended up playing two more new songs, finishing with a sing-a-long chorus, one that the audience was still humming on the way back home. - The Omega - Oriol Salvador

Coming from the East Kootenays of British Columbia, Fernie’s Shred Kelly visited Kamloops on Wednesday, Oct. 24 as part of their Fall Album Release Tour to perform songs from their second album, In The Hills, recorded in May and released in September.

Heroes Pub was more full than what could be expected on a cold Wednesday night. Supporting local band Van Damsel warmed up the stage offering a 40-minute set of their energetic indie-rock songs.

Shred Kelly started with the title track from its latest album, following that up with “Goodbye July.” The audience fervently joined, clapping and tapping to the mixture of folk, rock and country.

The audience was divided between people that already knew the band and new listeners, but all of them were easily conquered by Tim Newton’s brisk banjo.

The party went on among the crowd at Heroes, with two more songs from the new album, “Cabin Fever” and “New Black.” Female vocalist and keyboardist, Sage McBride, took the lead role on “Leaving Town,” followed by “Ghost Inside My Head.” By the time audience joined the chorus of “I Hate Work,” a great night of live music was guaranteed, both for the listeners and for the band, who was surprised by the reception of their live show in Kamloops.

The band maintained high spirits with a pack of new songs — the powerful start of the banjo in “Time is Passing,” the quiet and tender start turning into a crescendo in “Rowed Away,” a vigorous boy-girl chorus in “White River,” the piano background of “The Bear” and the powerful drumming in “The Cold.”

The great finale for the show had been awarded to the mighty “Tornado Alley.” After this more than six-minute-masterpiece, the audience still wanted more and Shred Kelly ended up playing two more new songs, finishing with a sing-a-long chorus, one that the audience was still humming on the way back home. - The Omega - Oriol Salvador

Shred Kelly are a banjo-rock band out of Fernie, B.C. who have already done quite well for themselves with their 2010 debut album, Goodbye July. They were recently named Artist of the Year at the 2012 Kooteney Music Awards and were one of the bands to win a spot on CBC Radio 3’s Green Couch Sessions/“Tracks on Tracks”. On September 1st, the band released their second full-length album, recorded in Toronto’s Green Door Studios with the help of John Critchley (Elliot Brood, Dan Mangan).

The trip to Toronto for some intense recording sessions—the band reports 14-hour days—had a significant impact on Shred Kelly’s sound for their second LP. Crediting Critchley with pushing them even further, the band moved away from their well-known acoustic sound and delved deep into some rock music. The progenitors of “Stoke Folk” music added some synths, some intense drumming, and really let their electric guitars run wild.

The result is an energetic mix of rock-dance and hauntingly ambient songs that go from sounding like The Rural Alberta Advantage to Flogging Molly. Opener “New Black” sounds like it could be off of RAA’s Hometowns, while the vocals on “The Cold” are much grittier and punk driven.

Added into this mix is the vocal work of Sage McBride, whose powerful voice and work on the keyboard add a melodic, soulful extra layer to this otherwise rock driven album. The keyboard intro on “The Bear” feels like it’s pulling you west towards the Rockies, and as soon as she begins singing there’s something else entirely going on with the album that’s completely unexpected and totally welcome. As the song picks up and the rest of the band appear, it’s obvious why the two elements work together so well on this album despite their differences.

From the rapid-fire strumming on “Time is Passing” to the more acoustic “Fossils and Tin”, Shred Kelly are still using the banjo as their leading instrument—staying true to the sound that brought them together in the first place. As they hop from folk rock, to punk, to keyboard-filled indie, the ever-present banjo ties the band and the album together. As a second, more polished full-length release, Shred Kelly has branched out but stayed true with In the Hills.

The album is available via Bandcamp. - Grayowl Point - Eleni Armenekis

After another day of rest, I was back at Bluesfest last night. This plan of taking it easy at the beginning of the festival was working well but I’m still not sure how part B of the plan, attending the last five days straight, is going to work out. If nothing else, it’ll be good practice for the three full days of Osheaga I plan to attend in a few weeks time.

I took a bus down to the festival just after 1pm to catch some afternoon bands and my wife was to drive down later to meet me in time for The Wooden Sky at 6pm. I was originally just going to walk around and kill some time before The PepTides set but while I was walking past the Claridge Homes stage, Shred Kelly caught my attention and drew me in.

They are a five piece folk-rock band from the little ski town of Fernie, B.C. They tore through a set of energetic, hop-around, drinking songs, my favourites being “Goodbye July”, new song “The new black”, and their final song, the banjo shredding “Tornado alley”. Not only does lead singer Tim Newton switch back and forth between banjo and guitar but also throws a little rocking ukelele in for good measure. For me, they were the hidden gem of the day. - Music Insanity

Notice something conspicuously absent in that title? The number 10.

Out of the 108 bands/performers we saw in 2011, we couldn't choose just 10. Because it's our blog and we'll do what we want to, here is our list, in chronological order, of our top shows from last year. Our criteria: it just had to be an experience that for whatever reason-- musically, emotionally, artistically-- was particularly memorable out of all the great shows we saw. Truly, we are continually amazed by the talent that's out there in Canadian indie. Note: since we did a Top Ten list for NXNE, we did not include any of those shows here.

Jenny Omnichord, Wax Mannequin

Les Jupes/Wheat Pool

The Rural Alberta Advantage

(wh)y.m.e.(??), Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, Rich Aucoin, Gobble Gobble (now Born Gold)

My Son the Hurricane, D-Sisive (with Muneshine

Hey Rosetta!

Fucked Up

Parlovr, Handsome Furs

Great Lake Swimmers

The Besnard Lakes/Malajube

We Are The City, Said The Whale

Will Currie & the Country French, Library Voices

Shred Kelly

Field Assembly, The Locusts Have No King, Sunparlour Players, The Sadies

Danny Michel - Go North to Detroit South to Windsor

I did a show review a few months back for these guys, and nothing has changed. From Fernie, BC, Shred Kelly’s live performances have become something of legend. I can honestly say that mosh pitting at a folk show is quite uncommon, so I was stunned as I charged head first like an asshole into the ring :D. All kidding aside, it is impossible for anyone to walk into a venue and not instantly become taken away with the atmosphere the band has created. Combining the heartfelt sincerity of Mumford & Sons, and the rambunktiousness of Flogging Molly, Shred Kelly’s brand of self-appointed ’Stoke Folk’ is definitely not something to miss. And like any good band, you can sample them for FREE, HERE! Added bonus video from Green Couch Session’s below! - On our Sleeves

Fernie based roots / bluegrass group Shred Kelly will take your breath away.
I haven’t been this impressed with a roots group since I first heard the Duhks (formerly Scrüj MacDuhk.)


Their infectious, toe-tapping live energy is captured perfectly on their new CD ‘Goodbye July,’ within the first few bars of the title track which features frenetic claw-hammer banjo from lead vocalist Tim Newton (who also plays ukulele, guitar and lap steel) that immediately hypnotizes the listener and yet makes them want to move.
The band sets down an intense and addictive groove throughout, which would make them right at home playing around a campfire or a folk festival drum circle.


The CD sounds like a group of friends gathering around a ski lodge after a long day on the slopes, hoisting a few pints and maybe smoking a little something, whipping out their guitars, mandolins, harmonicas, anything handy, and just jamming the night away. Between them, the five band members play an impressive array of instruments from accordion and xylophone, keyboards to ukulele.


There are a lot of highlights on the CD from the slacker anthem ‘I Hate Work,’ to the eerie ‘Ghost Inside My Head.’ which features haunting vocal harmonies from Sage McBride who also sings almost jazzy lead vocals on ‘Disillusioned,’ which also features a psychedelic guitar solo and that unstoppable banjo.


The banjo also makes the epic ‘Tornado Alley,’ which has another unstoppable beat. While the recording quality isn’t the best as the vocals are relegated to the background, the CD definitely captures their talent. So Shred Kelly’s CD is an endlessly fun listen for ski bums and folk music lovers alike.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor - L.A. Beat

Wednesday December 8th 2010
Richard Amery

I stopped by the Owl first to see the Magnificent 7s, Dec. 3 but ended up being really impressed with the opening act Shred Kelly.
The Fernie based bluegrass/ roots sextet tore the roof off the place with some lightning, fast fleet fingered banjo picking reminiscent of the Dühks, some marvelous mandolin, a little bit of ukulele, upbeat bass grooves and unstoppable, hypnotic drums which when combined, would feel at home around a drum circle at a summer folk festival. Sage McBride added some excellent harmony and lead vocals and keyboards.

They had pretty much the whole room singing along with crowd favouite “I Hate Work” and lot of dancers in front of the stage before they ended their set with “Tornado Alley.” Which made them a tough act to follow. - LA. Beat

Shred Kelly: Fernie's Foot-stompers
July 21, 2010
Author: Luke Godin

Fernie B.C is known for its “legendary powder”, relaxed vibe and a busy bar scene. It’s an easy place to go for a season of pow and stay for many more, which is the genesis behind its most popular foot-stompin’ banjo rock band, Shred Kelly. Named after the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, this band is comprised of five pow shredders who long ago traded in conventionality for shred sticks, menial jobs and music. Now, with the snow gone, this band is taking their act across Canada for the months of summer, bringing their foot-stomping, shred-inspired good times to a small town and big city near you.

Describe your music. What are your influences?

Our music has been described here in the East Kootenays as footstompin’ folk rock. Our band would be nothing without Tim's rippin banjo licks that are the heart of most of our songs. We are influenced by all sorts of bands and genres, from folk, rock, punk, blues, indie, other local bands that we've had the pleasure of performing with to more well known Canadian artists like Elliott Brood and Joel Plaskett.

You guys have had some recent ups and downs recording, but I hear you’re working with a new studio now, how’s that going?

The recording is done! We just finished last week and are working on getting our graphics ready for our CD. The recording experience itself couldn't have gone better. Tim found a place in Montana that he had recorded at with another local band; the place is called Altered State Records. The owners are amazing, the studio is all run on solar power and the dwelling itself is made from straw bale. Greg, the owner, being a musician himself records bands live for a rawer, natural feel. Being our first time recording it was so amazing to be able to feed off of each other's energy and do live takes until the piece was mastered as a band. And recording in such a beautiful place, walking outside to their two dogs running around in the forest was just such a remarkable experience. A shout out to the adventures dogs of Altered State Records whose paw prints are still on the roof of our vans.

You guys got to play a set during the Olympics this year, how was that?

Vancouver was spectacular. The show itself was incredible. The weather was good, which at an outdoor event in Vancouver in February is great news, and we got ourselves a footstompin' crowd. We celebrated our show by singing karaoke in east Hastings before receiving a few death threats. Other then that it was night of our lives, the whole city was buzzing, and we feel so fortunate that we got to be a part of the buzz.

You guys are heading out on your first cross Canada tour this summer, you exited? Anything you’re looking forward to in particular?

The tour is coming together better than expected and I think we all have portions of the tour that we're individually intrigued by. Everyone is excited to share our music with their hometowns and friends across the nation. We're pumped to go coast to coast in our fantastic new rig and check out all the big city’s and small towns we can.

Any last words,

Yeah, Fernie is full of amazing independent musicians so keep and eye out for these bands folks, cause they will blow you away: The Arcade Files, The Runs, Big Bubba Tres, Ben Hur, Chicken Wire and Winter's Son. And traveling acts, The Stables, Redgy Blackout, Old Man's Beard, The Cash Grabs and The Magnificent 7's among so many others.

Check out Shred Kelly’s Music and all their upcoming tour dates at http://www.myspace.com/shredkellymusic - snowboardcanada.com

Published: June 15, 2010 3:00 PM

Rossland will be getting the first taste of some truly styling Kootenay roots music coming out of Fernie when Shred Kelly comes to town to play the Red Room on June 18.

The five-piece band will be bringing on another recruit as part of their west coast to east coast tour that will take them from Rossland through the interior, across the plains and prairies, through the east coast all the way to St. John’s, NFLD and back.

The group is already making a name for themselves after only being together for just under a year and preparing to have their first official debut album hot of the press for the show at the Red Room.

“We recorded it at a studio called Altered State in Montana. It’s basically a solar powered house made out of straw bale, so the album has a real raw feel to it,” said Sage McBride who takes care of the keyboards and shares the vocals in the group.

“It will be pretty cool to be on tour it’s all our first time so we’re excited. Fernie has been such a great place for us to be it’s a real supportive scene here.”

Taking their name from an Australian bandit named Ned Kelly the Ned was changed to Shred in honour of their shared pastime of ripping the slopes.

The group was born in the ski-town of the “Fern-Dog” but all members are transplants coming from Ontario, Australia, New Zealand and Newfoundland who now call the East Kootenay home.

The band consists of Tim Newton on the banjo, ukulele and vocals, Steve Polit on guitar, ukulele, Ian Page Shiner on percussion, Jordan Gerrous on bass, lap steel, guitar, Mike Robichaud on guitar and McBride capping the line up.

The sound of Shred Kelly is most definitely Kootenay-esque with foot stomping grassroots jams, barn-burning finger pluckin’ and great original songwriting to top it off.

Reminiscent of Rossland’s own Tuques sound, the future looks bright for the band who is clearly breaking into their own and will surely have a few new jams and stories from their inaugural cross country road trip.

These guys are known to rock the dance floors on their home turf and are sure to shred the Red Room during their first appearance in Rossland. - Trail Rossland News

February 15,2010

by Rebecca Edwards

Fernie band Shred Kelly will play a 45 minute set at the Edgewater Village Stage in downtown Vancouver next Wednesday as part of the live music events put on for visitors to the Winter Olympics.

Singer/keyboard player Sage McBride said the band applied after seeing an advertisement for bands to play during the Olympics.

“There will be at least 3,000 people there and 50,000 people pass through that area every day – the most we’ve ever played to up to now is about 100 people.

“We heard there were thousands of applications and we got selected – that was pretty excellent.”

To raise money for their trip, and also for the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation, the band is playing The Brickhouse bar in Fernie on Friday night. Tickets are $10 and they will be supported by Ben Hur.

Shred Kelly describe their sound as banjo rock and the band features Tim Newton, Steve Polit, Ian Page-Shiner, Sage McBride, Jordan Vlasschaert and Mike Robicheau.

Aside of their trip to Vancouver they are recording their first album and are planning a tour of B.C. in March. - Fernie Free Press

February 15,2010

by Rebecca Edwards

Fernie band Shred Kelly will play a 45 minute set at the Edgewater Village Stage in downtown Vancouver next Wednesday as part of the live music events put on for visitors to the Winter Olympics.

Singer/keyboard player Sage McBride said the band applied after seeing an advertisement for bands to play during the Olympics.

“There will be at least 3,000 people there and 50,000 people pass through that area every day – the most we’ve ever played to up to now is about 100 people.

“We heard there were thousands of applications and we got selected – that was pretty excellent.”

To raise money for their trip, and also for the Emily Brydon Youth Foundation, the band is playing The Brickhouse bar in Fernie on Friday night. Tickets are $10 and they will be supported by Ben Hur.

Shred Kelly describe their sound as banjo rock and the band features Tim Newton, Steve Polit, Ian Page-Shiner, Sage McBride, Jordan Vlasschaert and Mike Robicheau.

Aside of their trip to Vancouver they are recording their first album and are planning a tour of B.C. in March. - Fernie Free Press

Kenorite Sage McBride and her six-piece, banjo rock band Shred Kelly are stomping down to the Plaza of Nations on Wednesday to become one of the select bands to awe international crowds at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
"Even some of the bigger Canadian names than us aren't big names for people overseas," McBride said, excited to bring her band's sound to a wildly diverse audience. "There's going to be so much live music around that people are just going to be wandering from stage to stage. That's what we'll be doing when we're not playing, is just checking out other music."
McBride moved to Fernie British Colombia in 2004 and began playing keys and singing with Shred Kelly in June of 2009. She is a largely self taught pianist and credits her vocal training to Beaver Brae Secondary School vocal teacher Sue McIntosh.
Her band applied for a 45 minute set by sending its press kit with its Myspace page (including Lucky Penny sung by McBride) and when Shred Kelly was selected, they realized the modest monetary reward would be nothing in comparison to the value of the exposure.
"We're doing it for publicity and hopefully generating more interest around BC to play more shows and get more recognition," she said adding that the stadium near B.C. Place has a 3,000 person capacity.
She pointed to the Facebook group Free Olympic Shows, which lists all free music events occurring in Vancouver over the course of the Olympic Games including Elliot Brood, Corb Lund, Sam Roberts, Our Lady Peace, Sloan, Blue Rodeo, and Serena Ryder. Nearly 65,000 people were committing to attending over the week.
McBride, daughter of Jordy and Nadene McBride of Minaki, hopes to bring Shred Kelly on tour through Kenora this summer. - Jon Thompson Kenora Miner and News

Kenorite Sage McBride and her six-piece, banjo rock band Shred Kelly are stomping down to the Plaza of Nations on Wednesday to become one of the select bands to awe international crowds at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
"Even some of the bigger Canadian names than us aren't big names for people overseas," McBride said, excited to bring her band's sound to a wildly diverse audience. "There's going to be so much live music around that people are just going to be wandering from stage to stage. That's what we'll be doing when we're not playing, is just checking out other music."
McBride moved to Fernie British Colombia in 2004 and began playing keys and singing with Shred Kelly in June of 2009. She is a largely self taught pianist and credits her vocal training to Beaver Brae Secondary School vocal teacher Sue McIntosh.
Her band applied for a 45 minute set by sending its press kit with its Myspace page (including Lucky Penny sung by McBride) and when Shred Kelly was selected, they realized the modest monetary reward would be nothing in comparison to the value of the exposure.
"We're doing it for publicity and hopefully generating more interest around BC to play more shows and get more recognition," she said adding that the stadium near B.C. Place has a 3,000 person capacity.
She pointed to the Facebook group Free Olympic Shows, which lists all free music events occurring in Vancouver over the course of the Olympic Games including Elliot Brood, Corb Lund, Sam Roberts, Our Lady Peace, Sloan, Blue Rodeo, and Serena Ryder. Nearly 65,000 people were committing to attending over the week.
McBride, daughter of Jordy and Nadene McBride of Minaki, hopes to bring Shred Kelly on tour through Kenora this summer. - Jon Thompson Kenora Miner and News

Rossland Gets Shredded
Andrew Zwicker
June 24th 2010

Ah yes, the good old banjo: that brilliant half guitar-half drum instrument. For generations its god-given talent for getting toes tapping and people dancing has been a staple in country music, hoedowns, and lazy days spent sitting on a back porch picking the world's cares away. You'd think that any instrument with the ability to liven up a dance floor be it in a barn, the backwoods or god forbid a cosmopolitan upscale bar would be revered, loved, and perhaps even considered sexy. It would seem, however, that the banjo is the Rodney Dangerfield of the music scene: it doesn't get no respect.

Knock down the preconceptions and cut through the inhibitions, though, and out come the dancing shoes and a guaranteed good time. This past Friday night the banjo came to Rossland in the form of Fernie-based band Shred Kelly. Already familiar with the group's genre-busting party tunes, I called up friends to invite them to what I sold as the best show to come through the Mountain Kingdom this year.


“What kind of music do they play?” was the first question. I described the band, going as long as possible before mentioning the five stringed party machine. When I finally dropped the B-bomb, however, there were questions and 'are you kidding?' looks visible beneath the awkward invitation acceptances.


Several hours later, though, those reluctant toes were tapping, feet were stomping and a full range of listeners ranging from twenty-something bar hopping girls through to fifty-year-old Boomers were trying their best not to jump around the dance floor. Several songs further in, in the alcohol and banjo-driven need to move won over a few brave souls and the party was on.


Shred Kelly (named after infamous Australian outlaw, Ned Kelly) tore up the Red Room stage through three sets of covers, classics and originals on their unofficial CD release party. Their first album, Goodbye July, had been pressed and offered for sale just that morning.



The fearless Fernie five-some, defying conventional pop music wisdom, have put together a sound uniquely their own that should serve them well as a cultural calling card. Tim Newton fronts the quintet with a mean banjo, a ukelele that rocks like ukelele's weren't meant to be rocked, and a rare ability to sing loud and proud without yelling and screaming. Sage McBride tickles the keys, sings backup to Newton as well as taking the reins as she belts out a few of her own songs. Balancing out the testosterone on the too-small-for-five-people Red Room stage, McBride's ski bum/bohemian mash up is the visual definition of the band's sound. Mike Robichaud, the prerequisite ski-town Aussie who patriotically offered up the band's name, was solid on lead guitar, offering wailing acoustic solos and a few hits of harmonica when needed. Steve Polit held steady on bass and Ian Page Shiner, the transplanted Newfie, tore it up with an ability to rock steady while maintaining a light touch that didn’t overpower the small room.


In between displaying their creative songwriting touch with songs about hating work, bosses who live inside their head, and a summertime longing for winter's return, the group broke out some surprisingly “Shred Kellified” covers of unexpected classics. Showing a diverse range of influences the group went from a Joel Plaskett opener, through a double time tongue twisting version of the White Stripes' "Hotel Yorba" and a banjoed'up version of a Dead Milkmen's underground 90's classic, finishing up with a Canadian heritage reach back of a rocked up "Log Drivers Waltz".


It’s not everyday that Rossland can claim to be the kickoff show to a band's nationwide tour and CD release party, so the thirty or so lucky folks who ventured our Friday evening received a real musical treat. Heading home too many drinks into a good evening I was converted from a casual listener to a “Shred head” and went home happy that the promise I'd made my friends of Rossland's best musical performance of the year had been delivered--and then some. - The Rossland Telegraph

Rossland Gets Shredded
Andrew Zwicker
June 24th 2010

Ah yes, the good old banjo: that brilliant half guitar-half drum instrument. For generations its god-given talent for getting toes tapping and people dancing has been a staple in country music, hoedowns, and lazy days spent sitting on a back porch picking the world's cares away. You'd think that any instrument with the ability to liven up a dance floor be it in a barn, the backwoods or god forbid a cosmopolitan upscale bar would be revered, loved, and perhaps even considered sexy. It would seem, however, that the banjo is the Rodney Dangerfield of the music scene: it doesn't get no respect.

Knock down the preconceptions and cut through the inhibitions, though, and out come the dancing shoes and a guaranteed good time. This past Friday night the banjo came to Rossland in the form of Fernie-based band Shred Kelly. Already familiar with the group's genre-busting party tunes, I called up friends to invite them to what I sold as the best show to come through the Mountain Kingdom this year.


“What kind of music do they play?” was the first question. I described the band, going as long as possible before mentioning the five stringed party machine. When I finally dropped the B-bomb, however, there were questions and 'are you kidding?' looks visible beneath the awkward invitation acceptances.


Several hours later, though, those reluctant toes were tapping, feet were stomping and a full range of listeners ranging from twenty-something bar hopping girls through to fifty-year-old Boomers were trying their best not to jump around the dance floor. Several songs further in, in the alcohol and banjo-driven need to move won over a few brave souls and the party was on.


Shred Kelly (named after infamous Australian outlaw, Ned Kelly) tore up the Red Room stage through three sets of covers, classics and originals on their unofficial CD release party. Their first album, Goodbye July, had been pressed and offered for sale just that morning.



The fearless Fernie five-some, defying conventional pop music wisdom, have put together a sound uniquely their own that should serve them well as a cultural calling card. Tim Newton fronts the quintet with a mean banjo, a ukelele that rocks like ukelele's weren't meant to be rocked, and a rare ability to sing loud and proud without yelling and screaming. Sage McBride tickles the keys, sings backup to Newton as well as taking the reins as she belts out a few of her own songs. Balancing out the testosterone on the too-small-for-five-people Red Room stage, McBride's ski bum/bohemian mash up is the visual definition of the band's sound. Mike Robichaud, the prerequisite ski-town Aussie who patriotically offered up the band's name, was solid on lead guitar, offering wailing acoustic solos and a few hits of harmonica when needed. Steve Polit held steady on bass and Ian Page Shiner, the transplanted Newfie, tore it up with an ability to rock steady while maintaining a light touch that didn’t overpower the small room.


In between displaying their creative songwriting touch with songs about hating work, bosses who live inside their head, and a summertime longing for winter's return, the group broke out some surprisingly “Shred Kellified” covers of unexpected classics. Showing a diverse range of influences the group went from a Joel Plaskett opener, through a double time tongue twisting version of the White Stripes' "Hotel Yorba" and a banjoed'up version of a Dead Milkmen's underground 90's classic, finishing up with a Canadian heritage reach back of a rocked up "Log Drivers Waltz".


It’s not everyday that Rossland can claim to be the kickoff show to a band's nationwide tour and CD release party, so the thirty or so lucky folks who ventured our Friday evening received a real musical treat. Heading home too many drinks into a good evening I was converted from a casual listener to a “Shred head” and went home happy that the promise I'd made my friends of Rossland's best musical performance of the year had been delivered--and then some. - The Rossland Telegraph