Award-winning Newfoundland folk singer Sherman Downey has been busy. Mid-tour and with a new album on the way, it looks like Downey is going to be on the road for the foreseeable future. It’s the sort of stuff a lot of albums are inevitably crafted from; the life of the touring musician and Downey’s latest, New Beautiful, offers a glimpse at “what it’s like to wander from home and long for return.” His new single, “Front Porch” focuses more on the longing side of that equation and the realization that the relative quiet of a small town can be better than any adventure.
“Front Porch” is a classic example of the musicians paradox: when they’re home they want to be on the road, and when they’re on the road they want to be home.
“B’y, I tell people it’s a song with a character that’s closest to being like me – a fella who likes to wake up in the morning to watch his little town start the day over a cup of tea on the porch,” explains Downey. “He lets his mind wander from time to time to imagine travel and adventure with a lover who he’s on the run with… maybe a Bonnie and Clyde sorta situation; knocking off convenience stores across country. He snaps back to reality however, and realizes it’s not such a bad place to be, sitting on his front porch with his tea, watching his little town wake up.”
“People like to point out though that there’s no way I’m up with the birds every day of the week,” laughs Downey. “True, perhaps.”
It might be a while longer before Downey sees his front porch next. He’s been on the road since October 8th, and chances are there’s something to that claim of being up with the birds each morning. He’s been making the long hauls across Western Canada, and Downey has been directly subjected to whatever birds haven’t already migrated south.
“I winter camped my way across and it’s been absolutely beautiful, ducking into empty parks boiling the kettle over fires in the woods – it’s been totally inspiring. I made my way over as far as Smithers, playing shows along the way, then on down to Victoria to join Fortunate Ones on their tour back toward home. I’ll finally get back around December 20th, just in time for Christmas panic.”
Sherman Downey’s album New Beautiful doesn’t have an official release date yet, but is expected out in the coming months.
Tour Dates:
11.07.19 – Victoria, BC @ Lucky Bar*
11.08.19 – Vancouver, BC @ St. James Hall*
11.09.19 – Kelowna, BC @ Fernando’s Pub*
11.10.19 – Canmore, AB @ Communitea Café*
11.12.19 – Red Deer, AB @ Bo’s*
11.14.19 – Calgary, AB @ Festival Hall*
11.15.19 – Sherwood Park, AB @ Festival Place*
11.16.19 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigo’s*
11.17.19 – Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre*
11.21.19 – London, ON @ Aeolian Hall*
11.23.19 – Peterborough, ON @ Market Hall*
11.24.19 – Hamilton, ON @ Mill’s Hardware*
11.27.19 – Toronto, ON @ Drake Underground*
11.28.19 – Paris, ON @ Dominion Telegraph Event Centre*
*with Fortunate Ones