Mary Lou Minor & Travellers Fare
Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada | SELF
Music
Press
Nominations for Country Group of the Year, include Mary Lou Minor & Travellers Fare - Niagara This Week, The Leader, Vol.20 Issue 9
First season out and the band picked up two nominations: Country Group of the Year and Folk Group of the Year! Learned about the Folk Group nomination at the awards ceremony since our name was confused with another nominee in the press. Nice surprise for us. - niagarafallsreview.ca
First season out and the band picked up two nominations: Country Group of the Year and Folk Group of the Year! Learned about the Folk Group nomination at the awards ceremony since our name was confused with another nominee in the press. Nice surprise for us. - niagarafallsreview.ca
August 2011 -- Two songs -- Beautiful Lies and Help Me Find My Way have been selected for a three-month feature on Women of Substance Radio, Live 365.com, commencing early October 2011, and regular rotation immediately. - Women of Substance Ration, Live 365
Posted By Mark Hoult
<<Three Penny Opus band members said they were surprised by their win, given what singer and songwriter Mary Lou Minor called “the phenomenal talent” at the country showdown. “But we were hoping that we had a bit of a unique sound that was wanted,” added Therrien, who finds his inspiration in the old roots country of Hank Williams and Willie Nelson. “I think playing all original music had something to do with it,” he said. “We’re pretty proud of our compositions, and confident we can play them anywhere.”>>
<<Ireland Brothers Band member Daniel Ireland, one of four people from the music industry to judge the Aug. 8 event, said Three Penny Opus earned first place because of their professional stage presence and songwriting skills. “They really had their act together. They were very tight, they were calm on stage and each one knew how to talk to the audience.” >>
<<But judges were most impressed by the well-written, original songs, said Ireland, whose band won the country showdown in 2003. “I was just amazed with their songwriting craft and what they did with it.” >>
- For entire article, follow the link:
<<Havelock - The “old school” sound of Three Penny Opus took
the coveted grand prize at the seventh annual Ontario Country Music Showdown and will appear on stage Sunday at the Havelock Country
Jamboree.>>
<<The three-year-old Cookstown quartet soared to the top of the 22-entry field in what organizers and judges are calling the best show ever and
band members Mary Lou Minor, Vince Therrien, Andre Paraskevas and
Pam Steingard were nothing short of surprised by their triumph.
“We packed up after the first set,” joked violinist Steingard.
“We had a bit of a unique sound,” guitarist, singer and songwriter Minor
agreed. “But this was a very open audience.”
“We’re really surprised because we’re old school and thought if this is new country this might be a very tough audience,” said Therrien, a guitarist
and singer-songwriter. “We play all originals and are pretty proud of our compositions and feel happy and confident with them that we can play
them anywhere.”
The Havelock gig was only the band’s fourth live show with much of their time given over to writing, arranging and learning songs.
“We spend a lot of time and care arranging them. Just letting them ferment and stew like a good wine,” says bassist Paraskevas.
The band brings together a diverse stream of musical influences,everything from traditional country and classical violin to roots and
Paraskevas’s “all over the map” exploration of reggae, funk and blues.
“It’s safe to say we’re all very roots oriented,” Paraskevas added. “As an
artist you’re looking for something unique. You’re trying to reinvent something but at the same time you can’t deny what people have done before you. It’s an homage to something that was established and firm.”
Therrien says they can add their victory and appearance at the Jamboree to their promo kit and web site.
“It’s a little golden stamp on the resume.”
“It’s an affirmation for sure,” says Paraskevas. “It’s tough to be objective and know what other people think. It’s nice to hear it from someone else.”
“It’s been a great day and so well-organized. This is the classiest event
we’ve ever attended,” Minor said.
The songwriting
was “magnificent,” said judge Dan Ireland a former
champion whose popular band is appearing Saturday at the Jamboree.
“Their grasp was just awesome. I wish they could write songs for me. Their harmonies and deliverance were tight and clean.
“The whole day was very good. The contest keeps improving. I know what it feels like for these guys. It’s a good feeling. It pushes you in the right direction to achieve more goals in music.”
- EMC Community Paper, Belleville
<<Havelock - The “old school” sound of Three Penny Opus took
the coveted grand prize at the seventh annual Ontario Country Music Showdown and will appear on stage Sunday at the Havelock Country
Jamboree.>>
<<The three-year-old Cookstown quartet soared to the top of the 22-entry field in what organizers and judges are calling the best show ever and
band members Mary Lou Minor, Vince Therrien, Andre Paraskevas and
Pam Steingard were nothing short of surprised by their triumph.
“We packed up after the first set,” joked violinist Steingard.
“We had a bit of a unique sound,” guitarist, singer and songwriter Minor
agreed. “But this was a very open audience.”
“We’re really surprised because we’re old school and thought if this is new country this might be a very tough audience,” said Therrien, a guitarist
and singer-songwriter. “We play all originals and are pretty proud of our compositions and feel happy and confident with them that we can play
them anywhere.”
The Havelock gig was only the band’s fourth live show with much of their time given over to writing, arranging and learning songs.
“We spend a lot of time and care arranging them. Just letting them ferment and stew like a good wine,” says bassist Paraskevas.
The band brings together a diverse stream of musical influences,everything from traditional country and classical violin to roots and
Paraskevas’s “all over the map” exploration of reggae, funk and blues.
“It’s safe to say we’re all very roots oriented,” Paraskevas added. “As an
artist you’re looking for something unique. You’re trying to reinvent something but at the same time you can’t deny what people have done before you. It’s an homage to something that was established and firm.”
Therrien says they can add their victory and appearance at the Jamboree to their promo kit and web site.
“It’s a little golden stamp on the resume.”
“It’s an affirmation for sure,” says Paraskevas. “It’s tough to be objective and know what other people think. It’s nice to hear it from someone else.”
“It’s been a great day and so well-organized. This is the classiest event
we’ve ever attended,” Minor said.
The songwriting
was “magnificent,” said judge Dan Ireland a former
champion whose popular band is appearing Saturday at the Jamboree.
“Their grasp was just awesome. I wish they could write songs for me. Their harmonies and deliverance were tight and clean.
“The whole day was very good. The contest keeps improving. I know what it feels like for these guys. It’s a good feeling. It pushes you in the right direction to achieve more goals in music.”
- EMC Community Paper, Belleville
Discography
Her first CD with Three Penny Opus was released in July 2010, a band she co-founded with another singer-songwriter, Vince Therrien. The album was entitled 'Three Penny Opus', and reached #11 on the charts at CIUT fm soon after release. The band released it's second CD, Somethin' Else, in June, 2011 and both are available on CD Baby.
Her debut solo album, I Won't Miss You, will be released on September 8, 2013.
Photos
Bio
Singer-songwriter Mary Lou Minor fuses classical piano training, her older brother’s jazz collection, a love of country music, and folk sensibilities, into an eclectic style: a blend of alt-country, southern rock, folk and blues. Her award-winning songwriting is imbued with roots-inspired purity and lyrical integrity. As a performer, she engages the audience with an unspoken invitation to share her vulnerability and emotional honesty.
She started her musical career in her 20s with a country-rock band, Fargo, and began writing a few years later. She co-founded a country-roots band, Three Penny Opus that won ‘Gold’ in Havelock and ‘Best Country’ at the Barrie New Musicfest in 2009.
Considering herself more a songwriter than singer-songwriter, Mary Lou realized her love of performing when the band started playing Toronto venues and festivals such as Northern Lights, Mariposa Showcase and Havelock. Several of her songs have received air play on Live365.com, CKHA 100.9 FM, MaxInkRadio.com and CIUT 89.5. She has enjoyed on-air interviews with Dave Woods, on In The Country as well as live radio performances with Kris Kadwell on CKHA.
Recently returning to the Niagara Peninsula and to complete the circle, Mary Lou is excited to work again with Tom Bruno, the original and incredibly versatile lead guitarist from her first band, Fargo; Jerry Dalcourt, a long-time Niagara musician and equally long-time friend, who provides vocal harmonies and creative bass arrangements to each song; and, the incomparable John “Miggs” Migliaccio on drums and percussion.
In their first season, the band garnered nominations for Country Group of theYear and Folk Group of the Year from the Niagara Music Awards 2012 and was again nominated for Country Group of the Year at the NMA6 nomination party.
The original roots music of Mary Lou Minor & Travellers Fare is decidedly unique.
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