Rawlins Cross
Biography
Rawlins Cross, one of Canada’s most accomplished Celtic bands, rekindles the magic with the national release of Anthology (Ground Swell/Warner Music), collecting a dozen of its best-known songs along with four brand new tracks into one beautiful new package. With an extensive essay on the history of the band and gorgeous artwork by French/Newfoundland painter Jean Claude Roy, Anthology is a must-have addition to the Rawlins Cross discography.
The band was formed in St. John's in the late 1980s by songwriting brothers Dave Panting (guitar and mandolin) and Geoff Panting (keyboards and accordion) and Ian McKinnon (highland pipes and tin whistle). Since then, Rawlins Cross has been at the vanguard of the fusion of Celtic traditional music with the rhythms of rock, pop and worldbeat music. Equally at ease with a soulful Highland Air (MacPherson's Lament) or a raucous party song (Colleen, Wild Rose, Reel 'n' Roll), Rawlins Cross never fails to electrify its faithful fans. Rawlins Cross is always a “fan favorite” on the North American and European music festival circuit consistently earning return engagements.
The band burst onto the East Coast recording scene in late '89 with its first indie recording, A Turn of the Wheel and a video for the single Colleen. Just weeks after its release, Colleen scored a top ten radio slot on Toronto's influential CFNY station and Rawlins Cross was on its way.
In 1992, the band released Crossing The Border, which further developed the ground-breaking fusion of highland bagpipes, mandolin and accordion with a rocking rhythm section. A year later the band recorded Reel 'n' Roll, which would prove to be its best-selling commercial success and launch a national radio hit with the title track. With the solid rhythm section of Halifax bassist Brian Bourne and Ontario-based drummer Howie Southwood, Rawlins Cross enlisted PEI singer Joey Kitson to complete its signature sound.
Already one of the top concert draws in the region, and with a growing fanbase across Canada and in Europe, Rawlins Cross released Living River in 1996, which garnered two Juno Award nominations. The band toured Canada three times that year and signed a licencing deal for its music in Europe.
Rawlins Cross performed live on the nationally-televised East Coast Music Awards before an audience of two million viewers. The band expanded its international audience by headlining the 9th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration Festival in Germany and also representing Canada at the Expo Cumbre de las Americas in Santiago, Chile.
Two more albums followed: Celtic Instrumentals in 1997, a retrospective collection and the studio album Make It On Time, which would prove to be the band's last album for more than a decade. With total album sales topping 100,000 units, Rawlins Cross has been one of the region's most successful bands.
Now the band is back with Anthology, with concert tours and festival performances planned for 2009.
(Note: a more extensive band history may be found on the band's website: www.rawlinscross.com)
Instrumentation
Joey Kitson — lead vocals, harmonica
Dave Panting — mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica, bouzouki, background vocals, songwriting
Geoff Panting — accordion, keyboard, background vocals, songwriting
Ian McKinnon — bagpipe, tin whistle, bodhran, trumpet, percussion, jaw harp
Brian Bourne — Chapman Stick, bass, background vocals
Howie Southwood — drums
Discography
Anthology (2008)
Make it on Time (1998)
Celtic Instrumentals (1997)
Living River (1996)
Reel 'N' Roll (1993)
Crossing the Border (1992)
A Turn of the Wheel (1989)
Links
http://www.rawlinscross.com
Rawlins Cross on MySpace
Rawlins Cross on Facebook
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