The North

B & The North describe themselves as country-stained rock 'n' roll, which I think is fair enough. I saw them earlier in the year after they returned from a tour playing in support of the legendary rock band Status Quo, and they have just recently returned again from Europe after some more solo touring. My connection to this band is through Neal Lyons (guitar) who is friends with the guys from illScarlett and has been immortalized in the song One-A. However, it is Bernadette Gernon (vocals, guitar) that is the centre of the show, decked out this time in a small white dress that she said made her feel like a Greek Goddess. Whether you're male or female, Bernadette will draw your eye... I swear there were a couple of times during the show where she was glowing in gold.

For me, the most noticeable change between last time and this performance was the music, which contained more instrumentation, and featured the rest of the band members more often. I mentioned this to Neal after the show, and he told me that this time around they were playing new songs that were written by the band, whereas before they were playing Bernadette's solo work. Plus Bernadette just seemed more "on" this time around. Not that she wasn't last time, but there just seemed to be a little more going on in her area of the stage. Either way, it sounds like they've been working hard, and it's paying off. Hopefully they'll get booked for some more gigs around Toronto this fall.

Link: http://www.petenema.com/article.php?story=b_and_the_north-0807 - www.petenema.com

http://mississauga.com/article/26982

http://mississauga.com/article/26763

http://mississauga.com/article/25952

http://mississauga.com/article/25408

http://www.mississauga.com/article/27713

http://mississauga.com/article/23207

http://mississauga.com/article/22989 - Mississauga News

Most of B & The North's press is in J-peg format thus we've placed them in our photo gallery... - Various

Canada's Bernadette.
And the North Goes East


by KARLA COURTNEY


Good genes, a great voice and a gritty rock band: Bernadette Gernon talks about her life, music and exciting future with band The North

As the daughter of Status Quo front man Francis Rossi (aka the Grand Old Man of Rock and Roll) it would seem that Bernadette hasAs the daughter of Status Quo front man Francis Rossi (aka the Grand Old Man of Rock and Roll) it would seem that Bernadette has some big shoes to fill.
I am happy to report that even at just 157 cm she is doing a damn good job of it. When I first saw Bernadette and The North play at a little deli on the outskirts of Toronto, I really didnt know what to expect. Her small stature, innocent big blue eyes and flowing blond hair screamed tinkerbell.


I questioned whether or not her sound would even reach the end of the stage. But like her ecentric father, Bernadette is full of surprises.
Citing big names such as Dylan and the Beatles as her influences, Bernadette' music exudes the raw spirit of these classics but is layered with a characterful and pristine voice " think Cheryl Crow meets Christina Aguilera.


Of course, no woman is an island, and her soulful and equally talented band (Neal Lyons, guitar/vocals; the Hodge, bass; Tommy K, guitar/keys; and Greg Lyons, drums) give the show a rich, rock and roll sound that invites comparison to Canadian rock legends such as Neil Young, The Band or Blue Rodeo.


Though her crisp voice and strong stage presence seem to be inherited from her father, she spent very little time with him growing up. Born in Ireland, Bernadette moved to Canada at a very young age, only reconnecting with him a few years ago.


Her musical passion, however, started much earlier, learning to play guitar at 10 and singing at every opportunity she could. Bernadette and Francis relationship has certainly helped her be more focused on her career, with her dad' experiences in the business providing her with both inspiration and guidance.


Francis also helped out by showcasing his stellar guitar skills on her debut, self-titled album, Bernadette. The story behind the formation of the North is equally as whimsical.


Bernadette caught Neal Lyons eye at a local pub outside of Toronto, and despite their very different musical styles they began to talk business. Neal, with a background in extreme sports and hard rock (he was an ex-games gold medalist and guitartist/vocalist in Canada' Kover), began working with Bernadette occasionally until he and his brother Greg (also from Kover) joined on full-time to form <>.
With the Hodge and Tommy K to follow, the band adopted a fuller, rock sound and began some serious gigging.


Now poised to open for Status Quo on their 32-show UK tour beginning November 8, little Bernadette has big plans: <
I know Status Quo fans are really loyal and passionate, so I hope to blow them away. (But) I know that it wont be an easy task...>>.


B - with your stunning stage presence, stellar band, solid soloalbum and healthy Canadian touring career, I am sure it will be easier than you think. For more information, including tour dates and how to get her album, check out www.myspace.com/bernadettegernon.


- Music In (Italy)

Live Wire: Mike Beggs


“It’s the biggest opportunity
any band could hope for,” says
Bernadette Gernon-Rossi, picking
through a salad at a local pub.
Tomorrow the Mississaugaraised
singer and her band, The
North, embark on a 31-date tour
of England, Scotland and Wales
in support of the seminal Brit
band, Status Quo, playing 2,000
to 10,000-seaters.
As luck would have it, her
father is Status Quo singer/guitarist
Francis Rossi. And buoyed
by his star status over there, she’s
already the subject of U.K. media
and label interest. This help from
dad doesn’t hurt. However, until
a reunion four years back,
Bernadette had rarely seen him
and, “never wanted to have any
association with his music.”
And with her plaintive lilt,
this 23-year-old is definitely a
promising talent. The varied
songs from last year’s self-titled
debut would not be out of place
on pop, country or contemporary
hits radio playlists.
“Aside from being a good
technical singer, I just think her
voice is phenomenal,” says her
bassist, Tom Hodgins. “There’s a
natural tone that has always
blown me away.”
Bernadette & The North also
includes Tom Kiskunas on lead
guitar and piano, Neal Lyons on
acoustic guitar and vocals, and
his brother, Greg, on drums.
While they’ve dubbed their style
“acoustic folk/soul," over the
past seven months together,
Kiskunas says their sound has
become, “a lot more rock, a lot
thicker and fuller.”
While Bernadette shows
shades of Sheryl Crow one
minute, and Tori Amos the next,
her band’s name reflects a bit of
a country background. And she
isn’t about to turn her back on
influences such as Blue Rodeo
and the Dixie Chicks.
“They’re great musicians,” she
comments. “That’s why I do like
that scene, although some country
has gone to hell, like (the
current hit), Is My Tractor Sexy?”
By day, this John Fraser
Secondary School product runs a
King City horse farm for her
mother (Liz Gernon, a former
road manager for stars such as
Bob Marley and Van Morrison).
She has a hard time with rock’s
“double standard," and looks up
to “real women” like Janis Joplin.
Following the tour, Bernadette
is anxious to return to her father’s
studio in Surrey, to cut her second
CD. While a worthy start, she
feels her debut lacked cohesion,
due to the use of studio musicians.
“This time, we will have a full
band, so everyone’s parts will all
be worked out (beforehand),”
she says.
To check them out online,
visit bernadettemusic.com. - Mississauga News

Bernadette Gernon-Rossi

Born - Dublin, Ireland, 1984

Height: 5�3�
Eyes: green
Hair: Brunette

Emigrated to Canada 1987

Started singing at age 9 in school plays and talent contests

Daughter of Status Quo�s front man, Francis Rossi.

Professional horse back rider and trainer

Musical Influences: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dixie Chicks, Fiona Apple, The Band, Ryan Adams, Coldplay.


From a young age, Bernadette Rossi was raised in a musical environment. Despite an extensive career in riding, Bernadette�s main passion has always been her singing and songwriting. While music is in her blood by virtue of her father�s successful career in Status Quo, until the last five years Bernadette�s relationship with her father has been erratic.
Moving to Canada at the early age of three, she had little to no communication with her musical beginnings. However, she nurtured her inner passion on her own, and never lost touch with her musical aspirations. Over the years, Bernadette developed her own style, combining her natural talent with a musical education. Any free time was spent working her voice and writing songs with her friends. Between her own riding career and her formal education, Bernadette always found time to work on her true calling. Singing at local bars and collaborating with friends� bands, she has honed her own voice. Now confident in her abilities, Bernadette is eager to pursue what she sees as her ultimate goal: a recording career. Recently reunited with her father, Bernadette recorded her first album with his help and now tours with her band, The North.
- Unpublished

January 2010 - Kirt Godwin (guitar) & Kevin White (drums) join The North's line-up, following the December departure of, original member, Tom Kiskunas, and drummer, Da-Rell Clifton.

January 2010 - Francis Rossi of Status Quo, officially announces his UK solo tour and that he will be supported by The North. The tour begins in Edinburgh, in May 2010. The North will follow this tour, joining Status Quo for their 3 Irish dates in early June.

December 2009 - Teaming up, once again, with Moe Berg & Laurence Currie, The North record, "Take You Home". The track will be the B-Side to "All That I Am", to be released, in Germany, in 2010.

September 2009 - The Mississauga Arts Council nominates The North in the category, "Emerging Performing Arts - Group", for a MARTY Award. This is the band's second award nomination, in 2009, having already been nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award, as "Best Live Rock Act".

July 2009 - The North sign on with Scout Promotion, A.S.S. Concert & Promotion and Bob Media, in Germany. They will work to further build The North's name overseas, culminating with an album release and tour in 2010.

July 2009 - The North team up with Sickid Productions to shoot a video for "All That I Am". The video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIXvXYHMzgY

June 2009 - The North play 4 shows during Toronto's, 2009, NXNE Festival.

April 2009 - The North's episode of Aux.tv's, Master Tracks, airs on April 20th. It is now the most viewed video on the website.

March 2009 - Da-Rell Clifton replaces Greg Lyons on drums.

February 2009 - The North embark on an extremely well-recieved tour of Ireland. Six cities, and 7 shows, in 8 days. Venues included sold out shows at The Olympia Theatre, in Dublin, and Waterfront Hall, in Belfast.

In December, The North shot a reality/documentary for TV, entitled "Master Tracks". The show, which aired on Bite TV, in April 2009, followed the band as they recorded a single with Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness) & Laurence Currie (Sloan, Joel Plaskett). The song, "All That I Am", is now available for free download, on Aux.TV - www.aux.tv/audio/

The North's, self-titled, full-length was released, on their official website, January 20, 2009. It is now also available on iTunes

September 2008 - The North independently release The Purley Sessions EP. Six songs appear on the EP.

June/July of 2008 - The North return to London where they cut 13 tracks with Francis Rossi (Status Quo) & engineer Gregg Jackman (Razorlight, Gary Moore). These tracks make up the material on both "The Purley Sessions EP" and, later, their self-titled full-length.

April/May of 2008 - Join forces with Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness) to work on the material that will make up the first "official" release as The North.

November/December of 2007 - Bernadette & The North cross the UK as the support act for Status Quo on their Winter Tour. 32 dates between Nov 8th and Dec 21st, before a total audience nearing 100 000. Venues included the NEC in Birmingham and Wembley Arena.

Since forming The North in February of 2007, the ensemble has been hard at work, playing about 75 shows throughout the Toronto area. Venues they’ve graced include Lee's Palace, The Horseshoe Tavern, Rivoli and Drake Hotel, playing alongside acts like Low Level Flight, Amanda Wilkinson, Lights, The Junction, illScarlett and The Waking Eyes.

Bernadette is the daughter of Status Quo frontman, Francis Rossi. She was born in Dublin, Ireland and emigrated to Canada when she was 3 years old.

Guitarist Neal Lyons is a former world champion skier, winning a gold medal at The X-Games in 2000.

The song "One-A", by close friends illScarlett, was written about Neal's old appartment in Streetsville. - Unpublished

Canadian Music Week 2008: B & The North

The Ampersand wanted to introduce readers to the artists playing this year's Canadian Music Week. Unfortunately, it's not easy to find time to interview 300-plus bands. So, we sent out a short questionnaire to everyone so they can speak for themselves.

Bernadette of Mississauga's B & The North weighs in with her answers.

What was the first album you ever bought and do you still listen to it?

It was probably Wilson Phillips to tell you the truth, but the Solid Gold collection was my s**t as a kid. Those tapes you used to get at Petro-Canada. If I still had a tape deck I would totally jam it out. Dig them out of my closet.

What is your best/worst/wackiest story from your time on tour?

We just got back from the UK and one night we were doin' it up with some fans back at the hotel. After getting cut off at the hotel bar, we hit the city for a few hours. Upon our return, one of the staff says he needs our help with something. We go up to like the top floor and there, passed out in the hall, is one of the fans we were drinking with earlier. The hotel guy was totally mortified. I think he thought he was dead. Good times. Check out YouTube. There's a bunch of other shenanigans on there.

Do you get more groupies than Nickelback? Why or why not?

Well I don't think I get a fair shot. Travelling with 4 dudes who treat you like their sister isn't the best game I've learned.


Who are your musical influences?

Blue Rodeo, Ryan Adams, Bryan Adams, Disney Soundtracks and The California Raisins.

CMW will be successful if we....

Don't get kicked out of our hotel.

B & The North play The Cadillac Lounge on March 7 at 11 p.m.

Web Link to article:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/03/04/canadian-music-week-b-amp-the-north.aspx - The National Post, Toronto