The Gertrudes – Dawn Time Riot (Apple Crisp Records)

The Gertrudes sound like an ol’ time saloon party in deep space…experimental noise beds with down home folk passengers, frolicking through original material, played by a veritable orchestra of instruments. Nerdgrass? maybe…

Dawn Time Riot is the debut LP release from The Gertrudes, following their acclaimed 2009 EP, Hard Water (Apple Crisp Records). The album was conceived as a loveletter to Kingston, featuring over 100 Kingston guest musicians, including the Queen’s Symphony Orchestra, the Skeleton Park Children’s Choir, and lead singer Annie Clifford’s Grandmother, Joan.

“Sailor,” nestled partway through the track listing, features Kingston friends, P.S. I Love You. The track was recently released as a 7” split with Toronto friends, Bruce Penninsula.

Dawn Time Riot was recorded in the band’s own backyard, the Skeleton Park neighbourhood (host of the Skeleton Park Music Festival) at North Of Princess Studios. The album was shaped with the help of Apple Crisp Arts, a not-for-profit music and arts collective that supports local Kingston artists. Along with its record label, it organizes a regular concert series, all-ages festivals, workshops, an online zine, craft fair and a music video club. Apple Crisp has been supporting and expanding Kingston’s steady-growing DIY music and arts scene.

MP3: “Wind From The South” from Dawn Time Riot:
http://pigeonrow.com/TheGertrudesWindFromTheSouth.mp3

Hi-res photo of The Gertrudes:
http://pigeonrow.com/TheGertrudes.jpg