Yellowknife (Feb 17/06) - Old Town singer/songwriter and music community organizer Brodie Dawson finished recording a 10-song CD in Dancing Skies Studios last weekend. Closer To Ready will be available this summer.

Brodie Dawson and the Woodyard Crew finished recording two songs in Dancing Sky Studios last week. Jen Walden, Ronna Kingsley and Azure DeGrow played on the CD. Dawson is known for her strong voice and her talent for bringing musicians together. - photo courtesy of the Woodyard Crew

The disc has been years in the making. Dawson drove up to Yellowknife from Montreal in 2004, shortly after splitting from a six-year relationship.

She and her ex, musician Roger Myre, composed and recorded eight tracks that remained unpublished for a few years. The relationships Dawson formed in the North are helping her to finally release those songs, along with two new ones she wrote in the North.

OIOve grown tremendously in Yellowknife,O she said. OThe community here just really welcomed me with open arms. People have been so supportive and encouraged me to really go into myself and find the gems inside.O

A year ago, Dawson hooked up with other women musicians living in the shacks and house boats in Old Town. She formed Brodie Dawson and the Woodyard Crew after jamming with classically trained percussionist Azure DeGrow, rhythm guitarist Jen Walden and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Sandy Pringle.

OThere was some magic that happened there that night,O Dawson said. OWe were all really connected.O

Keyboardist Ronna Kingsley and former Yellowknife violinist Kirsten Larson also joined the band. They played last yearOs Aurora Festival, the Relay for Life, Folk on the Rocks and other substantial gigs North and south.

Dawson has also worked with veteran artists like Tracey Riley and Dancing Skies producer and bluesman Rick Poltaruk, singing backup at live shows and on recording projects. She sang on Stephen KakfwiOs debut CD, In the Walls of His Mind.

OBrodie is a crowd pleaser with an amazing voice,O Poltaruk said. OPeople fall right into place when they work with her.O

In June, Dawson and her Woodyard Crew will perform on Stuart MacleanOs Vinyl Cafe at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. The live concert will broadcast nationally on CBC radio.

The Woodyard Crew spurred a lot of new beginnings, with members branching into solo projects and prominent bands like Transience, Redhouse Union and the Lazy Suzanz. Brodie Dawson and the Woodyard Crew will perform together on March 17 during the Dream Weavers concert at NACC.