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The Wailin’ Jennys
~ Bright Morning Stars ~
Release Date: February 8, 2011
The Wailin’ Jennys are pleased to announce the February 8, 2011 release of Bright Morning Stars, the band’s
highly anticipated new studio album. One of today’s most popular folk-roots bands, the trio has made a name for
itself releasing three award-winning albums, two of which spent over a year on the Billboard Charts. Now The
Wailin’ Jennys join the ranks of Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, recording their new studio album Bright
Morning Stars with Grammy-nominated producer Mark Howard. Co-produced by frequent Jennys collaborator
and Juno Award-nominated David Travers-Smith, the album combines fresh and innovative sounds with the
band’s signature harmonies--a perfect mix of Americana, pop and traditional folk that is certain to be an instant
classic.
Bright Morning Stars is a sparkling collection of heart-filled songs that speak to the world around us and the
heavens above. The album takes its name from a traditional song that The Jennys perform a capella--a beautiful
Appalachian hymn that laments the passing of loved ones. Like this ethereal title track, many of the songs are about
searching for what has been lost, whether it’s a once-whole heart, a lover gone or family that is far away. From the
soulful pop of “Swing Low Sail High” to the gut-busting gospel of “Storm Comin’” to the sultry jazz of “Cherry
Blossom Love,” the album sparkles with a light and energy that is “guaranteed to soothe your soul with its unique
blend of earthy passion and heartfelt compassion” (Creem). Even amidst songs about loss, there is a quiet elation
underpinning the album that is present in such tracks as “Bird Song” (a fan favorite with lyrics co-written by
Heather Masse and Nicky Mehta), giving hope and courage to weary souls and broken hearts.
All three band members--Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta and Heather Masse--each contribute to the twelve original
songs, singing and playing a variety of instruments (acoustic guitar, accordion, banjo, ukulele) to create a
shimmering tapestry of rich vocals and instrumentals. Joining The Jennys are Canada’s finest session players,
including Bill Dillon (Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel), Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), Colin Cripps (Kathleen
Edwards), Richard Moody (The Bills) and frequent Jennys sideman Jeremy Penner on fiddle. Recorded in a
cottage near Haliburton, Ontario, Bright Morning Stars has a warm, intimate quality, as if The Jennys were singing
their celestial songs just for you. Sure to be a favorite on folk, Americana and AAA radio, the album confirms that
The Wailin’ Jennys are stars of the first order.
The Wailin’ Jennys will embark on a tour in February 2011, supporting the release of this new album. More
information about their schedule and the members’ solo dates can be found at www.thewailinjennys.com.
BIOGRAPHY
The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse—three distinct voices that together make
an achingly perfect vocal sound.
Starting as a happy accident of solo singer-songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny
guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today's most beloved
international folk acts. Founding members Ruth Moody and Nicky Mehta along with New York-based Heather
Masse continue to create some of the most exciting and exquisite music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their
musical game with each critically-lauded recording and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.
In 2004, The Wailin’ Jennys released their first full-length album 40 Days in the to great critical acclaim, and in
2005 it won them a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. Bolstered by
their frequent appearances on Garrison Keillor’s public radio show A Prairie Home Companion, The Jennys
exploded onto the roots music scene, performing at packed venues across the Canada, the U.S. and throughout the
world. Their next CD Firecracker was a powerful follow-up to their debut album and found The Jennys stepping
out of the folk realm and into the world of alt-country, pop and rock. Garnering much attention, it was nominated
for a Juno Award and won a 2007 Folk Alliance Award for “Contemporary Release of the Year.” It charted for
over 56 weeks on the Billboard charts and was followed up by their 2009 release Live at Mauch Chunk Opera
House, which also spent over a year on the Billboard bluegrass charts. It captured the magic of their live
performances with show-stopping harmonies, impressive instrumental prowess, breathtaking songs and witty stage
banter. Now, The Wailin’ Jennys join the ranks of Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris, recording their new
studio album Bright Morning Stars with award-winning producer Mark Howard. Co-produced by frequent Jennys
collaborator and Juno Award-nominated David Travers-Smith, the album combines fresh and innovative sounds
with the band’s signature harmonies--a perfect mix of Americana, pop and traditional folk that is certain to be an
instant classic.
Although known primarily as an acoustic outfit, The Wailin’ Jennys have a wide range of musical backgrounds that
have formed their musical sensibilities. Soprano Ruth Moody (vocals, guitar, accordion, banjo, bodhrán) is a
classically trained vocalist and pianist known as an accomplished, versatile singer of traditional and Celtic music
and as the former lead singer of Juno-nominated roots band Scruj MacDuhk. She recently released her first fulllength solo album The Garden, whose title track was the #4 most played song of 2010 on international folk radio.
Mezzo Nicky Mehta (vocals, guitar, harmonica, drums, ukulele), a trained dancer raised on classical music, 70's a.m.
radio and heavily influenced by alternative pop, was nominated for a Canadian Indie Music Award for her solo
album Weather Vane. In July 2009 she became the proud mother to twin boys, Beck and Finn, who join the band on
tour as the newest Jennys roadies. Alto Heather Masse (vocals, upright bass) is a Jazz Voice graduate of the New
England Conservatory of Music, who has performed in Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing, Darol Anger’s Republic of
Strings and is a regular guest on A Prairie Home Companion. She has also toured with her own band, supporting
her 2009 Red House release Bird Song. With their varying backgrounds, each of the Jennys is unique in their
individual expression. Together they forge a unified folk-pop sound—all delivered with the irresistible vocal power
of three.
For more information about The Wailin’ Jennys, please visit www.thewailinjennys.com.
DISCOGRAPHY
The Wailin’ Jennys (EP) – 2003
40 Days – 2004
Firecracker – 2006
Live at Mauch Chunk Opera House – 2009
Bright Morning Stars – 2011
QUOTES
“This trio is the most powerful vocal outfit I’ve heard in years!”
- Relix
“The Wailin’ Jennys are post-modern purveyors of old-fashioned folk songs...beautiful and mesmerizing”
- Cleveland Plain Dealer
“The Wailin’ Jennys offer gorgeous harmonies with spare...rustic elegance” *****
- Goldmine
“Like Gillian Welch or Alison Krauss, they can make new songs feel traditional and old songs sound brand new.”
- All Music Guide
“Their sweeping melodicism defies boundaries, feeling at once edgy and familiar, delivered in harmonies that could
melt a Manitoba February.”
- Boston Globe
“a timeless quality...the songs could have been written last week, or at any point in the last two centuries.”
- PopMatters
“heart-stopping harmonies...The Jennys’ sound remains as pure as a mountain stream”
- The Washington Times
“Winnipeg, the current wellspring of some of Canada’s brightest new folk, roots and indie-rock acts, has yielded
another winner in the Wailin’ Jennys.”
- No Depression
“Like the trio Nickel Creek, The Wailin’ Jennys take the instruments and the harmonies of folk and country and
transform them into something entirely different....melodic magic.”
- Christian Science Monitor
“honeyed three part harmonies...guaranteed to soothe your soul with its unique blend of earthy passion and heartfelt
compassion.”
- Creem
“Harmonizing with a soothing grace that belies their name, these grievous angels weave gorgeous vocal tapestries
that elegantly decorate original cuts of sun-dappled roots-pop, blues and Celtic folk.”
- Winnipeg Sun
“one of the most exciting new folk bands”
- Barnes & Noble
“With pristine voices, exquisite harmonies, fine songwriting and smart direction…this is a winner from the Red
House label.”
- Dirty Linen
“all wonderful singers...outstanding” ****
- Irish Times
“Count The Wailin’ Jennys as the most melodious trio in Americana music.”
- Knoxville News Sentinel
2011 TOUR DATES
Thursday, February 3 - Myrna Loy Center (Helena, MT)
Friday, February 4 - Ellen Theater (Bozeman, MT)
Saturday, February 5 - Alberta Bair Theater (Billings, MT)
Tuesday, February 8 - Center for the Arts (Crested Butte, CO)
Friday, February 11 - L2 Arts & Culture Center, presented by Swallow Hill (Denver, CO)
Sunday, February 13 - Rialto Theater (Loveland, CO)
Wednesday, February 16 - Wheeler Opera House (Aspen, CO)
Thursday, February 17 - Ft. Lewis College (Durango, CO)
Friday, February 18 - KiMo Theatre (Albuquerque, NM)
Thursday, March 17 - Messiah College (Grantham, PA)
Friday, March 18 - Juniata College (Huntington, PA)
Saturday, March 19 - Arden Guild Hall (Arden, DE)
Sunday, March 20 - Infinity Music Hall (Norfolk, CT)
Wednesday, March 23 - Bergen Community College (Paramus, NJ)
Thursday, March 24 - Sussex County Community College (Newton, NJ)
Friday, March 25 - Emelin Theatre (Mamaroneck, NY)
Saturday, March 26 - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Troy, NY)
Sunday, March 27 - Somerville Theatre (Somerville, MA)
Wednesday, March 30 - The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA)
Thursday, March 31 - The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA)
Friday, April 1 - Montpelier Arts Center (Laurel, MD)
Saturday, April 2 - The Weinberg Center (Frederick, MD)
Sunday, April 24 - Mountain Stage (Charleston, WV)
Tuesday, April 26 - Virginia Arts Festival (Norfolk, VA)
Thursday, April 28 & Friday, April 29 - Merlefest (Wilkesboro, NC)
Saturday, June 25 & Sunday, June 26 - Kate Wolf Festival (Laytonville, CA)