F.P.W.A.S. Dave McCann & the Firehearts

Fisher Peak Winter Ale Concert Series
Wednesday January 16 at 7:30 pm
Tickets $27.50 | $25 Members
Opener: Alphonse Joseph

The long and rolling lines of moon-lit silence that stretch across the Great Northern Plains. The spirit that folds the beautiful, sweeping, haunted, wind-torn hills of Blackfoot Country. This is the medicine that marks the fifth, full length release from Dave McCann and the Firehearts. Produced in collaboration with alt-rock songsmith Leeroy Stagger and built at The Rebeltone Ranch in Southern Alberta, “Circle of Light” brings an aggressive evolution of Blues-tinged Southern Roots that unleashes the scorching honesty of pure hand-built Rock and Roll.

The recording kicks off with the unshakable jolt of “Wooden Wings” and winds its way through new musical terrain. New songs defined by their dynamic lyrical force, solid musicianship and a collaborative, creative spontaneity that finds itself the grounding force behind the recent release. Originally slated as a stripped down acoustic effort “Circle of Light” crept it’s way beyond the folk quality and twang based statements of previous efforts to a renewed, saturated, almost elemental sound. A slight sonic departure that doesn’t completely abandon history. Fans will still feel the old sparks from “Beautiful Road” and the Soul-bent acoustic warmth of “Lend Myself to Love”. Given the sonics and the song craft on “Circle of Light” this recording will widen the universal hold with audiences for Dave McCann and The Firehearts.

Gaining ground as regional luminaries in the Western Canadian roots-rock scene, Dave and the Firehearts have always given fame the backseat to the idea of making creativity and musical impact a priority. They have shared the stage with many great artists over the years, Willie P. Bennett, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Neko Case, Naomi Shelton, Melanie Safka, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Joe Pug, Kieran Kane, The Skydiggers, Geoff Muldaur and more. The Firehearts line up is based on long time guitarist Dave Bauer and award winning Blues Harmonica Ace Ethan Shorty Askey. Dave McCann and the Firehearts are based in Southern Alberta.

Born in Toronto and raised in Peterborough, Ontario, Dave found his musical roots when he relocated West to Calgary, Alberta twenty years ago and started Dave McCann and the Ten Toed Frogs. They released three critically acclaimed recordings “Woodland Tea”, “Country Medicine” and “Shoot The Horse” (a live recording captured at the historic Sidetrack Cafe, one of Alberta’s fondest and long gone venues). 2009 brought a name change and took Dave McCann and the Firehearts to Nashville to record with Americana guitar icon and producer Will Kimbrough (Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Mavis Staples, Todd Snider). The resulting work “Dixiebluebird” was released a year later and brought rave reviews. “Dixiebluebird” was a benchmark recording for Dave McCann and the Firehearts and it is clear to see “Circle of Light” shares the same optimistic charms.