Edwards gives new voice to roots rock Daughter of a diplomat, Kathleen Edwards spent much of her childhood on the move. Her family always returned to Canada and she credits summers in Northern Ontario with influencing her musical direction. "I spent my summers in one of those canoe camps that had no showers and no running water and you were dirty from day one. It was bliss for kids. And I found that growing up with those kids definitely affected the kind of music I was listening to. The counsellors knew Neil Young and Bob Dylan - those were the songs that we learned. "I remember learning a John Prine song sitting in a canoe with my counsellor and not even knowing it was a John Prine song. I sang it at one of my first gigs and someone said 'that's so cool, you played John Prine.' I just thought it was a camp song." Her debut album Failer puts that life back in motion with intense insight and passion. After hiding out in the countryside to write the material the 24-year-old Ottawa singer/songwriter came back to civilization to record the CD with producer Dave Draves. one track, Hockey Skates, was featured on the Men With Brooms soundtrack earlier this year and served notice that Canada had a new roots rock diva. Failer has it all, including a crack band that follows Edwards into all the corners of her psyche. "(Guitarist) Jim Bryson's been a huge influence. I saw him play before we became friends. He just floored me - every note, every song, every vocal melody - something really clicked for me. I had butterflies in my stomach every time I saw him play. He's just become a very integral part of my sound. If he likes something, I figure I'm doing ok." Other great musicians on the disc include bassist Kevin McCarragher, Fred Guignon on guitars and Peter von Althen on drums. Edwards plays acoustic guitar herself and also adds a soulful violin on a couple of songs. "I studied it for 12 years. I can pretty much pick it up at any point and be back on track. I was playing this summer with Jim Cuddy and his solo band. Just filling in for somebody who couldn't do some fiddle shows. And I play at weddings once in a while. If I go home for Christmas and we're sitting around the piano, I will pull it out and play." For someone who grew up moving around she has mixed feelings about being on the road. "For the last couple of years I've kind of been settled in Ottawa, and have this place up in Gatineau Hills - five acres in the middle of nowhere. I do miss that. Touring is a lot of fun too - I love going into new towns." Tonight Edwards makes a stop in Vancouver at the Railway Club with just her and her guitar. Working solo, she is freer to experiment and may include more new songs in her set. Considering that Failer will be released in the United States in January on Rounder Records, this may be one of your last chances to see her in such an intimate environment. John Goodman North Shore News				Album reviews Feature articles Interviews Show reviews