The Alder Fork Festival Performance

Here is some video of The Alder Fork on stage:

Radio Radio

I’m going to be chatting on the University of Waterloo’s radio station tonight at 8pm.  You can stream it here: http://soundfm.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=78

Click on the big listen live. If you live in Kitchener-Waterloo you can also find it on the dial at 100.3 FM.

I will be playing a tune or two and chatting about music, the festival, and who knows what else!

Meet The Alder Fork

Although The Alder Fork began as a solo project, it was always intended to be a group effort.  In the last month or so several people have signed on to participate in The Adler Fork Festival gig, and for other potential appearances/recordings in the future.  The faces aren’t new to those who’ve followed my work, but they are great musicians and great friends. This post is an introduction to everyone in the group (including myself).

Peter at the bottom of the stairs

Peter Snow – Vocals, Guitar

Peter is the original member of the group. He has been involved with music since the age of 8 when he had his first solo as City Father # 1 in The Wizard of Oz.  Many musicals later he joined Urban Moon as a 15 year old and played on and off with that group through high school.  During university he played in a number of small groups, organized a lot of shows, performed many covers, and eventually formed another band, Pinstripe Mystery. Peter began The Alder Fork as a place to store some leftover and new material.  It’s now his primary musical focus.

Matt and his banjo

Matthew Blacquiere – Guitars, Vocals, Assorted

Matt and Peter met in high school and eventually became 2/3’s of Urban Moon.  Matt went on to study classical guitar at Wilfred Laurier University.  He brings his incredible guitar skills to the group, a moving voice, as well as an ability to write insightful and moving songs. Saturday Morning Cartoons is a Matt composition.  Matt is also known for his love of bluegrass and folk music.

Crystal in her Pinstripe Mystery days

Crystal Fallis – Keys, Synth, Flute, Assorted, Vocals

Crystal returns to the fold out of the ashes of Pinstripe Mystery. A French teacher with a strong background in music, Crystal is involved in a number of bands and choirs in the KW area.  She brings her immense abilities on piano, synth, voice  flute to The Alder Fork.

Dave recording tracks for The Lights I See You In Shadow

Dave Fallis – Bass, Guitar

Dave was technically the first person to come on board The Alder Fork way back in October/November 2008.  He recorded some tracks for the first album, and has consulted on the project since it’s earliest days.  A programmer by day he has offered his services on the bass for the festival gig and whenever possible in the future.  Dave has been playing guitar for many years, and is highly talented.  He was a member of Pinstripe Mystery, and took part in many coffee houses and other gigs with Peter.

All You Need To Know About The Alder Fork

The Alder Fork is a Hamilton, Ontario based band that is both a solo and collaborative music project. It is solo because its primary member, Peter Snow, writes and records the music himself. It is collaborative because a group of fellow musicians, Matthew Blacquiere, Crystal Fallis, and Ken Young among others, join Peter on stage.  Such groups as The Verve, Genesis, Radiohead, and Matthew Good influence the music.  The Alder Fork places emphasis on the texture of the music, without sacrificing listenable melodies. The arrangements mix guitars, piano, synth textures, horns, drums and bass.   From the earliest stages of the project that artwork of the Group of Seven and the beautiful landscapes of Canada have served as an artistic inspiration and starting point.

The Alder Fork began as a collection of songs left over from Peter’s last band, and quickly grew in new and exciting directions.  The first release was the web-only The Lights I See You In Shadow on November 2008.  That album was released with out much fanfare, but was well received by old fans.  After several months of recording The Alder Fork released The Colour I Remember Most, a collection of 10 songs, in July 2009. Jade Sperry of the NXEW blog has described the music as “hauntingly beautiful.” The album is available through the band, or online at The Alder Fork Shop on etsy.com and iTunes. A video for Piling Snow can be found on youtube.  The band is also on New Music Canada and Myspace.

The band is involved in organizing the annual Alder Fork Festival. The 2009 edition will take place in Kitchener on Saturday September 12, at the Registry Theatre.  The band, along with The James Clark Institute will be raising money for the Eating Disorder Awareness Coalition of Waterloo Region.  This event builds on ten years of previous shows in Hamilton and KW.

Peter Snow is available for interviews and radio appearances by contacting thealderfork[at]gmail[dot]com

The Alder Fork Festival 2009

Welcome to the info page for The 2009 Alder Fork Festival.  The details are:

The Alder Fork Festival
In support of:
Eating Disorder Awareness Coalition of Waterloo Region
Saturday September 12, 2009
Featuring the music of:
Dave Fallis
The Clark Institute
Matthew Blacquiere
The Alder Fork

The Registry Theatre
122 Fredrick St., Kitchener, Ontario
Doors at 6:30pm, Show starts at 7pm
$10 available from the acts, by emailing thealderfork@gmail.com or at the door