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TRACK LISTING:
All I Know’ is a confessional, a fearless introduction to Elliot C Way and his journey through love and life's strange and wicked ways. After fifteen years of writing, living hard, playing hard and trying to find his place in the world. The road has been long and rough along the way but that road has led to this moment in Way’s life, to this very personal collection of songs.
As a child, Way like so many was failed by the school system. Struggling with conventional learning he turned to music, finding a place of comfort and identity. From a young age Way dedicated himself to carrying on the traditions of the great ones he idolized and learned from, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt; the songwriters for whom words were of the greatest importance.
As a young man Way formed and nurtured a number of rock bands throughout the years, playing solo and acoustic always felt like a homecoming, a place of warmth and comfort.The songs that he had collected during the most difficult of times, the confessionals, he set aside waiting for the right time to share with the world… NOW. These therapeutic, hopeful, and sometimes tragic songs are the culmination of Elliot’s walk through this human experiment of life.
In 2016 After a short lived stint in Austin Texas, and a longer stint in a Van back in Vancouver, Elliot found himself back in his home town of Fort Langley, BC. In a small old farm house he dubbed ‘Old Man Mountain’. Replete with a wood burning stove, a porch, and a stunning view of the valley, Elliot made the little shack home for a few bliss filled years. Eventually life took some turns as it always dones in Way's story and he decided to move back to the big city. But before leaving, he knew that ‘Old Man Mountain’ would be the perfect setting and backdrop,so he turned his little country home into a makeshift studio. Inspired by the home studio recording techniques of Springsteen's ‘Nebraska’, Neil Young’s ‘Harvest’ and Link Wray’s self- titled album, Elliot set out to record these very personal songs. Enlisting the help of good friend, bass player and producer, Erik P.H. Nielsen as well as fellow songsmith Bob Sumner, the three friends cleared out the bedroom, moved some couches around and dusted off a few cobwebs. They spent a week recording in this little shack on a hillside. The band The Wild North along with a few friends hanging around, they spent their days and nights sculpting this old but fresh batch of personal folk songs into cosmic country funky grooves. In every song you can hear shades of Townes, Waylon, Kristofferson, Dylan, and Springsteen. After a week of recording at ‘Old Man Mountain’, and sleeping at Way’s favourite dive bar motel down the road (The West Country Inn), the EP was finished. Everyone involved could sense that something special had just occurred.There is palpable and natural magic that can be heard and felt in these recordings.As fate would have it, Elliot moved back to East Vancouver just as the pandemic hit, which put the brakes on the release of the record. Producer Erik Nielsen decided that they could use this time to their advantage, intuitively knowing that there was more gold to be mined. He asked Elliot to write a second side to match the first, a task that seemed an impossibility to Way considering the first batch of songs took a decade to write and collect. Life does have its funny ways however, and for better or worse around this time a wave of turmoil would strike Elliot’s personal life.
After leaving his home with nowhere to go, he took shelter at the 2400 Motelwhere he would write 5 songs in 3 days. These songs became the perfect companion to the Old Man Mountain recordings, reminiscent of life’s tough lessons that can be hard in the first half of All I Know. Erik and Elliot's his dream team of players would then embark on the final chapter of this record , and together at Erik’s new studio in East Vancouver they would complete the sonic journey and put the final touches on these new but familiar songs giving us Elliot C Way’s long overdue introduction to the world..... All I Know.
Please enjoy. North Country Collective Warning! This record contains music and lyrics that might express feelings of loss, heartache and love and might cause you to feel emotions. Listener discretion is advised.
Released November 27, 2024
All Songs written by Elliot C. Way Side A recorded at Old Man Mountain, Langley B.C. Canada Side B recorded at Hoj Loj Recorded and Produced by Erik P.H. Nielsen Mixed by Erik P.H. Nielsen and John Raham Mastered by Graemme Brown Zen Mastering Photography by Victoria Black & Mandy Lynn Art design by Erik Grice
Vocals / Acoustic Guitar - Elliot C. Way Backup Vocals - Kendel Carson Fiddle - Kendel Carson Acoustic & Electric Guitars - John Sponarski Bass Guitar - Erik P.H. Nielsen Piano / Organ / Pedal Steel Guitar - Matt Kelly Organ - Geoff Hillhorst Drums - Leon Power
TRACK LISTING:
Ben Arsenault’s songwriting is inspired by his country Acadian roots, and the west coast wilderness, where he grew up. Ben released his sophomore album “Make Way For This Heartache”, on July 11, 2024 with the North Country Collective. Since its release, it has been garnering all the right kind of praise for a classic country album. “One of this year’s most comforting country records” said Holler, who included Ben in their list of 10 artists you need to know for July 2024. “This is what country music should sound like” said Americana UK.
“Make Way For This Heartache” has allowed Ben to catch the attention of key venues for independent country music in the States. In November 2024, he was down in Nashville where he played Dee’s Lounge with local mainstay, Mose Wilson. In March 2025, he will be making a trip to Austin for gigs at the White Horse and Sagebrush. Ben will be releasing new music in 2025, including a fresh spring single “Motel In Southern Idaho”.
TRACK LISTING
Bob Sumner believes that music is made to evolve. On latest work, Some Place to Rest Easy, you’ll hear countrypolitan strings alongside ambient sensibilities; tasteful synth tracks followed seamlessly by numbers with dobro and steel guitar. It's an album that takes as much inspiration from the audio production of Randy Travis as it does the lyrical soul of Big Thief’s Adrienne Lenker — a melding of eras, sounds, concepts, and stylings that’s informed by the past, but never bound by it.
Released September 6, 2024
All songs written by Bob Sumner except ‘Bridges’, ‘Forty Years’, ‘Baby I Know’, ‘Familiar Feeling’ written by Bob Sumner with Etienne Tremblay. ‘Didn’t We Dream’ written by Bob Sumner with Elliot C Way. ‘Is it Really Any Wonder' written by Bob Sumner with Willy Tea Taylor. ‘You Can Stay Here’ written by Ilya Zalubniak.
String arrangements by Trent Freeman and Erik P.H. Nielsen
TRACK LISTING:
Johnny 99 is a songwriter and session guitar player based in Toronto,Canada.
99 spent his formative years touring as one half of the stellar songwriting duo Portage and Main, which won much acclaim for it's two albums of heartfelt roots-rock. After the band parted ways, John began to make a reputation for himself as one of Vancouver’s premier guitar players, an in-demand session player working on countless records and backing up artists like Aaron Pritchett, Ben Rogers, and Elliot C. Way.
John has been a touring member of City and Colour since 2021 and played on the bands 2023 album “The Love Still Held Me Near."
Under the guise of “Johnny 99”, however, John takes center stage, writing and singing songs that feel timeless. Although there is a clear nod to heroes like Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, and Willie Nelson, the songs still fit firmly in the here and now. His lyrics are honest and penned with his heart worn right on his sleeve. Johnny 99 put out an EP in 2016 via the Light Organ Records “Railtown Sessions,” his first full-length album “Words Left Unsaid” in 2021 on North Country Collective, and he is poised to release his second full length album in 2025.
Designed by Jon of @matchbookparadise who has worked with Ben Arsenault on his album, release poster and merch. This design was made exclusively for Hot Country Night Out 3, and once these t-shirts are gone, they are gone for good! Get yours now!
Here is a little about Jon and his art: “Influenced by mid-century design and the aesthetic from old-time printing techniques, Matchbook Paradise (Jon Janzen) brings a nostalgic quality to the contemporary landscape of illustration, lettering, and branding.
Jon’s strongest creative inspiration—by a country mile—comes from music, so collaborating with artists in the music industry comes naturally. Matchbook Paradise is based at the mouth of the mighty Fraser River in Ladner, BC.”
For all the Honky Tonk Angels out there, @northcountrycollective couldn’t be luckier to have a longstanding partnership over the years with the sweet, wholesome, and wonderfully talented @oliviamahoneydesigns.
Kingston, Ontario’s Olivia Mahoney is an artist with a time machine. Specializing in graphic design, her acute technical skill, expertise in color theory, and proficiency in modern mediums allow her to breathe life into her vintage yet timeless visions. Building community across the country—from her beloved years on the west coast, to her home in Ontario, and all the travels in between—she embodies the spirit of a digital nomad. Drawing inspiration from her love of music, patterns, nature, and all things retro, Mahoney continues to keep the vibrancy of old ways alive in modern times with her one-of-a-kind works. This design was made exclusively for Hot Country Night Out 3, and once these t-shirts are gone, they are gone for good! Get yours now!
One of our favorite local artists and good friends, Maya, AKA @motel.motek, who absolutely knocked this ZZ Top-inspired design for @thenorthcountryclub out of the park.
“Born and raised in Vancouver, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, Maya Bar-Elan is a graphic designer and illustrator with over a decade of experience creating for local musicians, artists, and community events. Their work spans painting, illustration, and digital graphics, rooted in connection and creativity.” This design was made exclusively for Hot Country Night Out 3, and once these t-shirts are gone, they are gone for good! Get yours now!
Designed by Jon of @matchbookparadise who has worked with Ben Arsenault on his album, release poster and merch. This design was made exclusively for Hot Country Night Out 3, and once these t-shirts are gone, they are gone for good! Get yours now!
Here is a little about Jon and his art: “Influenced by mid-century design and the aesthetic from old-time printing techniques, Matchbook Paradise (Jon Janzen) brings a nostalgic quality to the contemporary landscape of illustration, lettering, and branding.
Jon’s strongest creative inspiration—by a country mile—comes from music, so collaborating with artists in the music industry comes naturally. Matchbook Paradise is based at the mouth of the mighty Fraser River in Ladner, BC.”
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