Madison Violet to play Bronte Music Club

Both hailing from Scottish small towns in Canada, Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac have chosen a musical path that channels their parents’ vintage record collection that encompassed the likes of Neil Young and Dolly Parton. Madison Violet came into being nearly nine years ago after a chance meeting at an appropriately titled restaurant ‘The Green Room’. Since that fateful meeting, Brenley and Lisa have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.

With two recordings under their belt, both which were recorded in London with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O’Connor, U2, Damien Dempsey) the pair have found themselves more and more in demand. Guest appearances on their albums by Clare Kenny (Indigo Girls, Shakespeare’s Sister), Fiachna O’Braonain (Hothouse Flowers, Michelle Shocked) and Julian Wilson (Grand Drive) were a welcome addition to the mix. Their first release, “Worry the Jury” garnered a handful of award nominations (‘Best New Group’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’) and had the industry opening their eyes wide at the emerging career that was destined to blossom. “Caravan”, their second album, went towards a more alternative country direction, which garnered them two awards nominations in the ‘Folk album of the Year’ and ‘Best Group Recording’ categories as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as ‘Vocal Group of the Year’.

Their songs are infused with heartache and loss but the listener will always find an uplifting twang in their sound, one that may invoke the essence of Lucinda Williams or Steve Earle. The touring duo have been dubbed road dogs, as they spend nine months a year on the road, supporting artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Chantal Kreviazuk, Indigo Girls and The Temptations in Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Italy and of course, Canada. From the Montreux Jazz Festival to Massey Hall, audiences have swooned over their storytelling and songs.

Madison Violet will be playing at the Brontë Music Club, Drumballyroney, Rathfriland on Friday May 9. Doors open 8.30pm and the show starts at 9.00pm. Tickets are priced £18.00 and are available from Banbridge Tourist Information Office at the McWilliam Gallery. To book tickets please phone 028 4062 3322 or email [email protected]