GORDIE TENTREES - NEW ALBUM ‘DANDELION BLUE’ - OCTOBER 20TH
Multi-award-winning Canadian songwriter Gordie Tentrees announces the release of his new album ‘Dandelion Blue,’ due for release on October 20th. Gordie is excited to return to the UK this Aug / September, with Kieran Poile on fiddle, for a string of live dates (full tour details below).
It’s been a busy time for International touring artist Gordie since his first UK tour in 2010 as the opening act for Fred Eaglesmith, with two new records: Double Takes (May 2025) and his upcoming new record ‘Dandelion Blue’. It was recently announced that his song ‘Gratitude’ won the 2025 IAMA (International Acoustic Music Award), repeating the same feat he was awarded a 2023 IAMA for his song ‘Every Child’.
TELEGRAPH VIDEO
Filmed at Ganaraska Recording by Tim O'Reilly- Sound Still Productions
‘Telegraph’, the second single released from the album, was inspired by Father Jean- Marie Mouchet who carved out a unique path in the Yukon. The guitar Gordie used in both audio & video once belonged to famed Canadian Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. Custom-built originally for Gordon Lightfoot by Ed McGlincy from New Jersey in 1977. One of only 12 custom guitars Ed ever made; 2 others from this collection were built for David Bromberg & Bob Dylan. Lightfoot gifted it to Terry Clements, his lead guitar player of 40 years, who passed away in 2011, and this is the lead acoustic guitar you hear on hits "Sundown, Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, High & Dry and Rainy Day People"
Gordie’s new album ‘Dandelion Blue’ was recorded live off the floor in (Ontario Canada) with Jimmy Bowskill (Blue Rodeo, Sheep Dogs), and Steve Marriner (Colin James, Harry Manx) over 5 days in a farmhouse, with vintage 1930-50’s microphones, amps, and vibes - conjuring up a record Tentrees has been making in his mind for 10 years. This road poet has performed over 5,000 concerts in 11 countries, armed with 5 instruments (Foot Bass & Snare Tam, Harmonica, Resonator & Acoustic Guitars), bringing light from the dark with masterful storytelling.
Speaking on the making of the album, Gordie explains, “For this record I felt ready to create a live-sounding record with minimal overdubs that sounded like a couple of pickers on a front porch the listener happens to stumble upon with a sound that surrounds you, feels intimate, raw and real. I wrote Jim Bowkskill & Steve Marriner, who loved the idea, and after my first sessions, I realised they were absolutely perfect for recording like this. Their studio, Ganaraska Recording (an old farmhouse) in Baltimore, Ontario, really set the tone for magic. I went in with 6 tunes, and in quick succession, we had guts for this record. I am in a place where I now feel comfortable singing and playing guitar/harp all at once in a studio without overdubbing. Jimmy & Steve were incredible at laying down drums/upright bass with me immediately, then adding instruments as needed, often overdubbing 2 (Mando/Harp) at the same time. It’s a unique-sounding record, 3 guys laying it down well together. It's important for me to try new things, and I enjoy failing along the way. I feel something special happened here. Vintage instruments & mics were abundant.”
For the past 5 years, offstage, Gordie has been part of an indigenous-led healing team (Shawthan Nazhi), supporting families and writing healing songs focused on intergenerational trauma. The program was awarded the Arctic Inspiration Prize. His love for teaching/hosting workshops for youth/adults runs deep.
Tentrees has toured extensively with friends Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Kelly Joe Phelps, Danny Michel, Ray Wylie Hubbard & Steve Poltz with special appearances at Celtic Connections (UK), National Folk Festival (AU), Woody Guthrie Folk Fest (USA) and Auckland Folk Festival (NZ). Catch Gordie in concert and see a master musician at work.
GORDIE TENTREES & KIERAN POILE UK TOUR DATES TICKETS HERE
AUG. 25 PHYLLIS MAUD - NEWPORT
AUG. 26 CAFE No 9 - SHEFFIELD
AUG. 27 MECYCLE CAFE - SOUTHPORT
AUG. 28 INDIGO - BIRKENHEAD
AUG. 29 SQUARE & COMPASS - WORTH MATRAVERS
AUG. 30 SQUARE & COMPASS - WORTH MATRAVERS
SEPT. 2 ARTESIAN TAP - STOKE ON TRENT
SEPT. 3 THE BORDER CLUB - HAWICK
SEPT. 4-6 BAA FESTIVAL - BELLINGHAM
SEPT. 7 THE CLUNY - NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
SEPT 8 ABERDEEN ARTS CENTRE - ABERDEEN
SEPT. 9 AN CRUBH - ISLE OF SKYE
SEPT. 10 TRAVERSE THEATRE - EDINBURGH
SEPT. 11 VILLAGE HALL - COLDINGHAM
SEPT. 12 HANGING GARDENS - LIANIDLOES
SEPT. 13 VILLAGE HALL - ASHMORE