The Wanted

Sunday June  9, 2:00pm

MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald's Corners

 

“Beautifully blurring the lines between Folk and AltCountry, with that Canadian ‘edge’ and trademarked ‘cool’ that is so difficult to put into words.”* For over a decade and a half now, The Wanted have built a reputation for writing honest and gritty roots songs, infused with a spirit that’s darkly haunting, incisively witty, or just plain fun. It’s an approach the band has honed since their early days, cutting their teeth at storied roots venues and releasing their self-titled debut album, tallying close to a half-million Spotify streams. For Strange Flight, their new album, The Wanted enlisted Michael Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies, whose trademark sonic approach emphasizes live group chemistry. And that was indeed the result when Natalie Rogers (vocals, guitar), Jeff Rogers (vocals, guitar) and Richard Henderson (acoustic lap steel guitar, vocals) emerged from The Hangar, the Junkies’ recording studio, with Strange Flight’s 10 tracks. The Wanted forge a fresh sound by finding common ground in diverse musical influences— reconstructing roots music, one song at a time. This is full-throated, full-throttle swamp americana, with edgy licks, infectious rhythms and soaring harmonies— a “performance worthy of The Ryman on a steamy Saturday night.”*

* The Rocking Magpie (UK)

 

The Wanted announce the 2021 release Strange Flight has been nominated for Album of the Year at the 2022 Ontario Folk Music Awards.

Comprised of Natalie Rogers (vocals, guitar), Jeff Rogers (vocals, guitar) and Richard Henderson (lap steel guitar, vocals), The Wanted turned to Cowboy Junkies' Michael Timmins to produce Strange Flight, and his trademark sonic textures enhanced the band's live-in-the-studio approach, aided by bassist Dan Mock and drummer Kyle Sullivan, on loan from Jerry Leger’s band The Situation.

When asked to describe Strange Flight, Natalie says, “The songs chosen for this album are a true reflection of how our sound has evolved over the last few years as a result of streamlining what each of us brings to the group, both as songwriters and performers. I liken it to a distillation process that has been happening to The Wanted since our last album, and this is the refined product. A little aged with a smoky finish.”

Indeed, The Wanted's honest and gritty approach to roots music has greatly evolved since they released their self-titled debut album in 2010. That record has since tallied over a half-million Spotify streams while earning them appearances at the Mariposa Folk Festival, Folk Alliance International, and the Canadian Country Music Awards.

However, the essence of their sound has remained consistent since The Wanted formed in 2003 out of informal songwriter gatherings centred around Toronto clubs the Cameron House and the Tranzac. They bonded over a shared love of classic roots artists such as Gram Parsons and Townes Van Zandt, and that connection continues to guide them nearly 20 years later.

With Strange Flight, The Wanted pay homage to tradition while expanding upon it, with the end result being an album that offers a musical experience sure to appeal to fans across the roots music spectrum.

Tickets are $30 plus fees available at TicketsPlease.ca

The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald's Corners