Though COVID-19 halted the recording of the Colleen Power Band’s new album in its tracks, that didn’t stop the award-winning singer/songwriter from releasing new material on her own — Tales From Downtown West.

The EP (extended play or mini album) contains six new songs that she wrote and recorded in February for the RPM (Record Production Month) challenge. The native of Freshwater, Placentia Bay produced and recorded the project. She also sings all vocals, and plays all instruments — including guitar, bass, dulcimer, ukulele, keyboards and accordion.

Power said she reluctantly signed on to the RPM challenge under her own name for the first time.

“I needed to push myself to create something new,” she says. “I was feeling so down with not performing in public, and not being able to get in the studio with my band. I’m very happy with the EP, and delighted it’s been picked up by Singsong Inc.”

She’s not the only one happy with the end product — which, in usual Colleen Power fashion, reflects her wonderful, eclectic style.

“You get a bit of everything Power is about in these tracks. There’s Newfoundland whimsy, trad, biting wit, social observation, punk attitude, Francophone, grass roots and modern folk,” says Bob Mersereau, who runs the blog, The Top 100 Canadian Singles.

“In the sharpest bit of commentary, she uses the TikTok trend of sea shanties to skewer the socio-political climate of her own province,” Mersereau adds. “The song, NL Sea Shanty, chides the province for being “half an hour later b’ys, and fifty years behind.”

Jim Payne of SingSong Inc. says Power’s new EP demonstrates once again she’s one of the province’s most versatile and entertaining artists.

“Songs are catchy, incisive, hilarious and relevant to our times, all delivered with top-quality musicianship, attitude, and the panache for which she is famous.”

Award-winning author, musician, and actor Joel Thomas Hynes says he simply loves Power’s new work.

“Colleen has a knack for conjuring the reality of downtown life in an oddly folky, raw and funny way,” Hynes says.

Power looks forward to getting back in the studio with the Colleen Power Band — including members Aneirin Thomas, Jason Whelan and Ed Sutherby — to finish their next album, and is currently completing an EP of original French songs based on Newfoundland historical themes.

The new EP is available to download at this link:

https://www.singsonginc.ca/index.php/artists/colleen-power/1361-tales-from-downtown-west

The Colleen Power Band is back with a brand new single and video that’s perfectly fitting for the pandemic times. The Plague is the band’s first release since last October’s Busy Highway, and — despite the timely title and lyrics — was actually written in 2014.

“The band figured we’d put the song out there now — in advance of the entire album being ready for release — because COVID-19 may be over by then, and nobody will want to hear a song called The Plague,” says Colleen Power.

She adds the song’s bed tracks were recorded in October, 2019, and the track was completed last month. The band decided to release the song two weeks before Hallowe’en for obvious reasons.

Says Power, “It seems these days, you can either laugh or cry, and we choose to have fun with it.”

Power, the band’s lead singer, also directed, edited, and shot the video in recent months with help from her two daughters, and features band members Ed Sutherby, Jason Whelan, and Aneirin Thomas, as well as Chuck Herriot of the St. John’s Actor’s Studio.

The Plague premieres at 12 A.M. on October 15, 2020 on the Baygirl Music YouTube Channel. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ZagA27hNY

The single is available for download here:
https://www.singsonginc.ca/index.php/catalog/new-releases/808-singsong-singles

Please support the band by downloading the single. You can now purchase Colleen’s seven solo albums at — https://www.singsonginc.ca — all proceeds from sales over the next few months will go toward finishing the new album.

The Plague

Written by Colleen Power
Arranged with The CP Band
Background Vocals arranged with Liz Solo

Vocals, guitar — Colleen Power
Guitars — Jason Whelan
Bass — Aneirin Thomas
Drums — Ed Sutherby

Recorded at Sound Solution by Jason Whelan, except Colleen’s vocals, background vocals and guitar – recorded by Colleen at Baygirl Music.

Mixed by Spencer Crewe

Mastered by Jason Whelan at Sound Solution

NL artist Colleen Power goes local with music distribution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Aug. 26th, 2020

Award-winning singer/songwriter Colleen Power has made her digital music downloads available exclusively through a local distributer in St. John’s, NL — cancelling distribution through Spotify and iTunes that pay next to nothing in royalties.

“I got a rude awakening recently when I learned that nearly 30,000 music streams and downloads of my music on Spotify and iTunes over a period of five years only paid me just over $100,” said Power, who was also insulted by Spotify CEO Daniel Eck’s recent comments that artists aren’t working hard enough, and should be putting out more music.

“I have written CD Baby — the entity that distributes my music to Spotify — and requested my membership be terminated,” said Power, whose music is now available through local distributer SingSong Inc. (run by well-known local artist Jim Payne).

“I’m very grateful to Jim and SingSong for taking all seven of my solo titles for distribution through downloads and physical copies. I am honoured to be in the company of such legendary NL artists!”

Payne said he’s thrilled to have Power’s music on the label.

“Colleen is one of the province’s most versatile, multi-dimensional and dynamic performers,” he said. “Her catalogue demonstrates her comfort level in a variety of musical styles, but it’s her lyrical turn-of-phrase that cleverly turns universal themes into an expression of the Newfoundland and Labrador experience.”

Physical copies of Power’s music will still be available at live performances, and at Fred’s Records and O’Brien’s Music in downtown St. John’s.

Power will be performing LIVE this Friday night at Erin’s pub on Water Street. She then heads to Placentia to take part in the Three Sisters Sessions music video series, and a live performance at the Three Sisters Pub on Saturday afternoon.

The Colleen Power Band — featuring Jason Whelan on guitar, Aneirin Thomas on bass, and Ed Sutherby on drums — plans to release a new video on Sept. 9th, and the single will be available through singsonginc.ca

https://www.singsonginc.ca/index.php/artists/colleen-power

The first single from Colleen’s upcoming album is here!

You can stream and download Busy Highway on all digital platforms, including iTunes and Spotify.

Written by Colleen Power
Arranged with the Colleen Power band (Jason Whelan, Aneirin Thomas & Ed Sutherby)

Colleen Power- ukulele, vocals, percussion
Aneirin Thomas – bass
Jason Whelan- guitars
Ed Sutherby – drums
Geoff Panting – synths

Mixed by Spencer Crewe
Mastered by Jason Whelan
Recorded by Colleen Power at Baygirl Music, except guitars recorded by Jason Whelan at Sound Solution & synths recorded by Geoff Panting

Keep an eye out for a Kickstarter pre-sales page over the next few days and more details about the new album, coming Spring 2020!!

It’s Summer! No, it’s not! Yes, it is! No, it’s not!

YES IT IS!

Believe it or not, it’s summer in NL and we’ve got a dandy show lined up at Quidi Vidi Brewing company on August 24, along with one or our favourite NL performers, Dave Penny!

This is a show not to miss! We’ll play new songs, old ones and we’ll do our best to take your request! And Dave Penny is one clever, hilarious guy!

Love to see you there!

– Colleen

Hello!

I am very excited to announce a show I will be hosting coming up in a fantastic new live music room right on George Street!

A special day is planned for Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Oderin Hall at the Trinity Pub on George Street to celebrate the talent the Placentia Bay area has spurned out over the decades, and highlight the heritage of the area.

For years, I wished there was an event like this in St. John’s. So many of us have moved to town and the surrounding area. It’ll be fantastic to host this afternoon variety show and have everyone in this beautiful room right on historic George Street

The show will take place early in the day, from 1 – 5 PM so you still can have a chance to go to Nan’s for Sunday supper!

Performers from all around Placentia Bay will take part in the matinee, with music by Placentia’s Larry Foley & Mock Greene, East isle Wind (from Little Bona), Kevin Hartley & Whisky in the Shade (from Dunville), and Kevin Pomeroy and friends (Merasheen), There will be a special reading by poet Agnes Walsh (from Placentia), with stories and Oderin Hall dedication by Gordon Lake.

The afternoon will see the new Oderin Hall dedication by Gordon Lake, relative of owner/operators Bern and Mick Manning. Bern Manning says, “We named the space after the birth home of my Father and his family. It is important to pay tribute to where we have come from. It is meant to pay homage to the people of Oderin as well as all people of Placentia Bay.”

Tickets for the Placentia Bay Matinee are just $15 and are on sale now at The Trinity Pub.

Placentia Bay Matinee
Sunday, April 7, 2019
1-5 PM
Oderin Hall in the Trinity Pub
Tickets $15

This video is dedicated to Afterwords Bookstore. The bookstore is an iconic fixture in downtown St. John’s for more than 45 years that went out of business in recent weeks. To David Benson, Catherine McCausland and family, for the much-loved gems I discovered in your wonderful store with my three girls over the years. I will miss you the most for Christmas shopping.

I chose to sing Pat Murphy’s Meadow because of the feeling it bestows. The song is about loss. It’s sentimental, but not too sentimental. I don’t want Afterwords to be forgotten, or the importance of small business, and I also don’t want people to forget the magic that books and bookstores bring to our lives. I am honoured to have David and Afterwords in the video, in what I know must be a very hard time for him and his wife Catherine. A heartfelt thank you to David and Catherine for letting us shoot this little video in such sad times. Downtown St. John’s, to quote Joni Mitchell, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”

Pat Murphy’s Meadow was written by John Martin Devine from King’s Cove, Bonavista Bay, NL. The song is also available on Raised on This, available at Fred’s Records & O’Brien’s Music. Downloads are available on my Bandcamp page.

Starring David Benson as himself
Colleen Power: Vocal
Jason Whelan: Guitar
Greg Walsh: Fiddle

Directed by: Colleen Power
Camera/Editing: Ben Smith
Sound Recordist: Neil Conway

Here is the video link:

https://youtu.be/FfTtbNWWVsE

Hi there,

It’s been a while, so I thought I would share some upcoming shows!

This Saturday, the CP Band is at the Fat Cat. It’s been a long time since we played on George St., so we’re really looking forward to it. Aneirin Thomas is on the bass and Ed Sutherby is on the drums! Jason Whelan is playing lead guitar in the band now, and he will be performing a set of songs to open the night! Jason released his deadly album, ‘Connection’ last year and you can check it out here: https://www.jasonwhelan.com/connection/.

I am very happy to be performing a couple of shows at the new Coleman’s grocery store, coming up on Saturday, December 2 from 2:30-4:30 P.M. and on Friday, December 16 from 4:30-6:30 P.M. I shopped there the day after it opened and I have to say, it’s a fine NL owned and operated store, with lovely produce and everything under the sun. I felt proud to be a Newfoundlander after I left. This store can compete with any mainland chain and beat it out, hands down.

Last but not least, we’ve got our Annual Christmas show coming up at the cozy Black Sheep Pub on Friday, December 29. We hope to see you there.

In other news, we’re heading into the studio soon to start recording unreleased material!

Have a great Fall everyone!

Cheers and thanks for the support!

Colleen

Colleen will be a busy gal at the 41st annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, scheduled for this weekend in Bannerman park. Power will be performing two completely different sets of music — in both official languages — along with a songwriter workshop.

“It’s a perfect co-incidence for Canada 150,” says Power, who regularly performs in the Francophone tent every year, along with other local and visiting Francophone acts.

“It’s also my 20th year performing with Aneirin Thomas on bass, who’s my main man for French conversation, being a Francophone himself. I believe we’re so lucky to live in a bilingual country. We are blessed to have a double opportunity in Canada with two official languages, both for employment and expression, and to connect with our history.”

On Saturday, Aug. 5th, Power will take the stage for a concert in the Espace Franco (Francophone Tent) from 3:45-4:30 p.m. She’ll be performing along with Jason Whelan on lead guitar, Aneirin Thomas on bass, and Elliot Dicks on drums.

On Sunday, Aug. 6th, she will be up early for an 11 a.m. performance of “Oh Lonesome Me — Tales of Lovers Lost” in the Oral Traditions tent & Dance Stage, along with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Sharon & Bram, and Peter Willie Youngtree.

Power, an award-winning singer/songwriter, will feature songs from her latest album, Raised on This, on the TD Main Stage at 3:50-4:30 p.m. on Sunday, along with Jason Whelan on guitar, Aneirin Thomas on bass, Ed Sutherby on drums and Rob Brown on whistles and Uilleann pipes. Raised on This is a collection of Newfoundland, Irish and Celtic songs that are close to Power’s heart.

Raised on This, along with her two Francophone releases Terre-Neuvienne and Le Bonheur Domestique will be available at the Fred’s Records tent all weekend.

Hi there,

Newfoundland Spring is here, so I’m back playing some shows!

Coming up this Wednesday evening starting at 7 PM at Erin’s Pub, it’s Women, Beer and Resistance.

I’ll be performing with Aneirin Thomas on bass, who has been performing with me 20 years this year. I am so glad to have him do this duo gig with me. I am also excited to hear Singer/Songwriter Amanda Squires, who will open the show.

Thanks to the St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre for asking me to perform and kudos to Erin’s Pub for their ‘Ask Seamus’ poster to support women having a safe and enjoyable night out in their pub.

See you there and Happy Spring!

Colleen

Related show

• Artist: Colleen Power & Aneirin Thomas
• Date: 04/26/17
• Time: 7:00pm
• Venue: Erin’s Pub
• City: St. John’s
• Address: 186 Water Street
• Country: Canada
• Admission: FREE
• Age restrictions: No Minors
• Notes: Fundraiser for the St. John’s Women’s Centre. Admission by Donation. Corner Brook’s Amanda Squires will open.