The Great Lake Swimmers love affair with the 1000 Islands Region continues this June as they announce two very special shows in the area.
Friday June 4th - Brockville, ON @ Brockville Arts Centre w/ Photographer Ian Coristine
Free Event - All Ages www.brockvilleartscentre.com
"Tall Ships Landing Presents: A Special Evening with Great Lake Swimmers & Ian Coristine"
TSL is proud to announce A Special Evening with Great Lake Swimmers & Ian Coristine on Friday, June 4th at the beautiful Brockville Arts Centre in the 1000 Islands City of Brockville, Ontario.
Presented by Tall Ships Landing, the evening will include a concert by Great Lake Swimmers and a special Audio/Visual presentation by bestselling author and photographer Ian Coristine, who will present his fifth book of photography titled "The very best of Ian Coristine's 1000 Islands". Through the generosity of Tall Ships Landing and the Fuller family this night of celebrating the Thousand Islands through music and images will be open to the public without charge.
Saturday June 26th - Clayton, NY @ Clayton Opera House w/ Photographer Ian Coristine
Tickets TBA - All Ages www.claytonoperahouse.com
"Clayton Opera House Presents: A Special Evening with Great Lake Swimmers & Ian Coristine"
COH is proud to announce A Special Evening with Great Lake Swimmers & Ian Coristine on Saturday, June 26th at the historical Clayton Opera House in the 1000 Islands City of Clayton, New York.
This marquee event will be a highlight of the Clayton River Festival and will include a concert by Great Lake Swimmers and a special Audio/Visual presentation by bestselling author and photographer Ian Coristine, who will present his fifth book of photography titled "The very best of Ian Coristine's 1000 Islands".
Clayton River Festival will run from Thursday, June 24 til Sunday, June 27th, more events to be announced on their website soon.
BANDWIDTH SESSIONS #20: GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS 2010.02.08
When Great Lake Swimmers were in Belfast for a show at the Speakeasy last November, frontman Tony Dekker did two special acoustic performances for Bandwidth Sessions, filmed by Will McConnell.
This special instore concert will be streamed live in it's entirety courtesy of Social Media Week
Third Instalment of Great Lake Swimmers' China Blog2010.02.05
Jan 11, 2010 - 11:15am
Yesterday we traveled from Wuhan to the city of Shanghai, the latter of which is known as “The Pearl of the Orient.” The venue we played at is called Yuyintang and has the reputation of being the most important live music venue in Shanghai. It was an honour to have a concert there and as we stepped inside I was quickly impressed.
Coming in from the airport we were told that we were most likely the first western band to travel the new express highway, which had only opened to traffic the day before. It was built in anticipation of the crowds that will converge on the city for the World Expo, which starts in May. There are a number of remarkable exhibition buildings in the distance.
Before the show we had a photo shoot and interview with one of the major Chinese music magazines, Hit Music. The amount of high-level media attention has been really encouraging. The coverage in the English entertainment magazines Time Out Shanghai as well as Time Out Beijing has brought a lot of English-speaking foreigners out to the shows, but it's the large number of Chinese residents in attendance at that I'm most impressed with, as is our tour promoter. It’s also interesting to note that we were introduced to a promoter who recently had fellow Canadian bands Fucked Up and DOA in China for tours.
When the doors finally opened, a steady stream of people filed in. For a Sunday night I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from the feeling in the room and the shoulder to shoulder crowd, it already seemed like the night was a success. And clearly, it was to be the best show of the tour for us, with an extraordinarily enthusiastic but attentive crowd. It’s amazing to me that there was such a great audience for us in this part of the world. Afterwards, we were taken out to the Bund, a great neighbourhood in Shanghai. In a bar there, we discovered that they had a CD by our Canadian brothers The Russian Futurists in their play list, which quickly became the soundtrack to our evening.
Jan 12, 2010 - 2:00pm
Today was our last day in China, and I’m so appreciative that we were able to fit in a visit to the Forbidden City. It is a hugely complex and ornate imperial palace, and former home to the Emperor of China. It has to be seen to be believed. Our trip there yesterday after returning to Beijing was also followed by a giant farewell dinner, where we shot some ad hoc footage, using two digital cameras, that could very well turn into a video for our song “Everything Is Moving So Fast.” As the words of the song imply, this trip was over too soon. It’s been extremely insightful and rewarding, and I feel that we’ve been able to have a true exchange of cultures and ideas the way I had hoped. With any luck, we’ll be able to return again soon to see our new friends in China.
We had a wonderful time!
P.S.
Special Thanks to Al Di (AL D TV), Jesse at Icon Promotions, and Phil Klygo at (weewerk) for working hard to put it all together for us.
New Lost Channels Deluxe Vinyl In The Works - Help Us Make It2010.01.28
With the original pressing of Lost Channels on vinyl nearly sold out, Great Lake Swimmers are planning to re-release a Lost Channels deluxe vinyl later this Spring. As we plan the release, we wanted to know what you would including in your dream Lost Channels vinyl pack? Digital album? Tee shirt? Exclusive artwork? Bonus tracks? Lyrics? Extra 7"? Digital EPs? Lithograph? Hidden golden ticket redeemable for merch?
As we look to get the new vinyl into production soon, please help us determine what we can do to make this special piece as great as we possible can by listing your ideas here.
Road Report From China - Part 2: Chengdu & Wuhan2010.01.19
Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More - Just $2.992010.01.14
Great Lake Swimmers are featured in today's Daily Deal on Amazon with their contribution of "Pulling On A Line" to the Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More non-profit comp. For just $2.99, music fans receive this incredible compilation featuring Peter Bjorn And John, State Radio, and The Walkmen, while also sending a mosquito net to help a family in Africa. RED is donating 100% of the proceeds to Malaria No More. Please click here to download.
Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015. Malaria kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds, even though it is treatable and preventable. Individuals worldwide are helping keep children safe from the deadly bite of a malarial mosquito with a simple mosquito net. The World Health Organization’s 2009 World Malaria Report shows promising progress in the global effort to end malaria deaths and you can help by simply purchasing Indie Rocks! A Benefit Album For Malaria No More today!
Please click here to purchase the comp and send a mosquito net to help a family in Africa for only $2.99!
Road Report From China - Part 12010.01.11
While the Great Lake Swimmers are on tour in China, they'll be blogging about their experiences on Spinner.
On Wed, February 3rd at 8 p.m. on WHYY's TV12 and at 9 p.m. on WHYY Y Arts Channel, ON CANVAS features GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS and their live performance at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia from last September. This episode will re-air Sunday, February 7th at 2 p.m. on WHYY-TV 12. You can view this complete episode of On Canvas online at whyy.org/oncanvas beginning Thursday, February 4th.
Exclusive “Song Sung Blue” Stream On Friday2009.12.09
Subscribe to the Great Lake Swimmers newsletter now to get sent an exclusive first listen of new track “Song Sung Blue” from the Song Sung Blue EP out December 22nd. Click here to subscribe now. Current subscribers do not need to re-subscribe to get the track.
And if you haven't already, please make sure to check out the Legion Sessions Interactive Palm; an early holiday present from Great Lake Swimmers to all the fans that have made this year a great one.
Great Lake Swimmers Early Holiday Gift To Fans2009.12.05
The holidays are here early for Great Lake Swimmers fans. As a token of appreciation for the overwhelming support from fans across the globe this year, Tony Dekker & Co. would like to thank you with the Legion Sessions Interactive Palm.
The Legion Sessions Interactive Palm showcases the creation of the Legion Sessions with full streaming of every Legion Session video. Discover the 9 Legion Session videos by moving your mouse around the palm map. Click on the revealed points to view the videos. Find all 9 videos to download a free unreleased Great Lake Swimmers song.
Click here to check it out now & please share with friends.
The Legion Sessions were directed by Scott Cudmore with sound by Graham Walsh and filmed by Scott Cudmore & Michael Leblanc. All tracks off the Legion Sessions come from Lost Channelsavailable everywhere now.
iTunes Selects Lost Channels as One of Best of 20092009.12.01
iTunes has selected Lost Channels from Great Lake Swimmers as one of the best records of 2009 from the Singer/Songwriter genre. The album is currently featured on the iTunes Indie Spotlight with a discounted purchase price of $7.99 and a free song in the Indie Spotlight Playlist featuring tracks from Andrew Bird, Bon Iver, M. Ward, and more. Click here to check out the feature.
Lost Channels Named #1 in Exclaim! Year in Review2009.11.25
Public Service Announcement for Tennessee Riverkeeper2009.11.23
Tony Dekker from Great Lake Swimmers' public service announcement for Tennessee Riverkeeper
Tennessee Riverkeeper and Lake Ontario Waterkeeper are among the 190 Waterkeeper organizations worldwide. The mission of Tennessee Riverkeeper is to protect the Tennessee River and its tributaries by enforcing environmental laws and educating the public. For more info please visit www.TennesseeRiver.org or www.Waterkeeper.org
European Tour With Molina & Johnson Cancelled2009.11.21
We are very sorry to inform you that the Molina & Johnson European tour which Tony Dekker was to join has been cancelled.
The following dates will be solo shows and have not been cancelled:
28 Nov 2009 - Toutpartout 15 years @ Botanique, Brussels, BE
29 Nov 2009 - Le Guess Who? Festival @ Tivoli, Utrech, NL
30 Nov 2009 - Frits Philips @ Eindhoven, NL
Great Lake Swimmers Dates in China2009.11.18
Thanks to our superfriend Al D and Icon Promotions GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS will debut live in CHINA in January 2010.
Confirmed Dates
Jan 7th - Beijing @ Yu Gong Yi Shan
Jan 8th - Chengdu @ Little Bar
Jan 9th - Wuhan @ VOX
Jan 10th - Shanghai @ Yuyintang
Tony Dekker Solo Acoustic Interview Session with Telegraph TV2009.11.18
Tony did a special acoustic interview session with Telegraph TV while in London before the Great Lake Swimmers show at Jazz Cafe.
Polls to remain open until Sunday, November 29th @ 12AM. Listeners can vote once per day until they close, so help GLS out by voting often.
Winners will be announced in a special live broadcast of Grant Lawrence Live on Wednesday, December 9th, on cbcradio3.com and Sirius 86.
Win an Autographed Copy of the New Townes Van Zandt Tribute Album, Featuring Great Lake Swimmers2009.11.16
Visit weewerk.com to find out how you can win an autographed copy of the new Townes Van Zandt compilation put out by UK indie label For the Sake of the Song. This compilation features Great Lake Swimmers cover of “Our Mother the Mountain”.
Great Lake Swimmers on Simple Folk Radio — Rescheduled!2009.11.12
Tune in to Simple Folk Radio (97.2FM) in Brighton, England next week for a recent studio session with Great Lake Swimmers. Find out more at radioreverb.com or Simple Folk Radio on Facebook.
The Final Countdown to the 2010 Winter Games begins, and Great Lake Swimmers will be there!2009.11.04
As part of the celebration to mark the 100 days til the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Resort Municipality of Whistler is pleased to present Whistler Live! - an outdoor network of stages, screens and performance sites in Whistler Village that will provide unique and FREE programming throughout the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Great Lake Swimmers are proud to join the likes of showcasing artists; Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, Corb Lund, Elliott Brood, Hey Rosetta & Sam Roberts, among others on this momentous occasion and hope you can join us in the festivities.
Great Lake Swimmers will perform on the Whistler Village Stage on Saturday February 13th, for more details please visit www.whistler2010.com
New Video for Palmistry2009.11.03
The video was shot in the 1000 Islands region of Ontario with video director Sean Michael Turrell (Tegan & Sara, Mstrkrft, Brendan Canning).
For behind the scenes photos from the shoot, please click here.
Special Thanks to Bytown Brigantine and the Fuller family for the use of the tall ship Fair Jeanne, and to Ian Coristine.
Folk Music Award Nomination, War Child and West Coast Tour Dates2009.10.22
The Great Lake Swimmers announce brand new Canadian tour dates, as the accolades surrounding the group’s latest album Lost Channels continues to roll in. Fresh off a Short List Nomination for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, the Toronto indie folk group has been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Awards for Contemporary Album Of The Year.
The band is also set to perform at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto on November 5th as part of the Dakota Nights for War Child Benefit series (warchild.ca). The unique concert series features very intimate performances with celebrated artists, with all proceeds going to support War Child Canada. Previous participants include Ron Sexsmith and Sloan.
West Coast dates are next on the list for the band, including a long awaited return to Victoria, their first since the release of Lost Channels. Vancouver fans will be treated to a show at the Vogue Theatre before the band ventures north for a stop at the Cold Snap Festival in Prince George.
Upcoming Tour Dates as Follows:
Thurs Nov 5th - Dakota Tavern - Toronto (War Child Benefit)
Wed Jan 27 - Alix Goolden Hall - Victoria
Fri Jan 29 - The Vogue Theatre - Vancouver
Sat Jan 30 - Cold Snap Festival - Prince George
Sat Feb 6 - Trinity St. PaulÕs United Church - Toronto
Tony Dekker Solo Shows - Supporting Will Johnson & Jason Molina2009.10.14
(weewerk) is proud to announce that Tony Dekker of Great Lake Swimmers will be opening support for the special Jason Molina and Will Johnson European tour promoting their new collaborative album. After the Great Lake Swimmers full band tour winds down on November 27 in Dachau, Germany, Tony Dekker will join the Molina/Johnson tour. These solo performances by Tony will give GLS fans a chance to hear this troubadour's unique voice in all its naked and intimate glory.
Confirmed Dates:
Nov 28 - Toutpartout 15 years @ Botanique - Brussel (B)
Nov 29 - Le Guess Who? Festival @ Tivoli - Utrecht (NL)
Nov 30 - MC Frits Philips - Eindhoven (NL)
Dec 01 - Railway Inn - Winchester (UK)
Dec 02 - The Garage - London (UK)
Dec 03 - Deaf Institute - Manchester (UK)
Dec 04 - Emporium - Rouen (F)
Dec 05 - Le Scopitone - Paris (F)
More dates TBA
Great Lake Swimmers Nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards Contemporary Album of the Year2009.10.13
Great Lake Swimmers, a finalist for this year's Polaris Prize, is up against Nova Scotia roots rocker Joel Plaskett, Vancouver blues singer Ndidi Onukwulu, and two others for the contemporary album award at this year's Canadian Folk Music Awards. The awards will be given out at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., on Nov. 21.
GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS RETURN TO EUROPE IN NOVEMBER!2009.09.15
11/11/09 : Komedia - Brighton (UK)
13/11/09 : Crawdaddy - Dublin (EIR)
14/11/09 : Speakeasy - Belfast (UK)
15/11/09 : Glee club - Birmingham (UK)
16/11/09 : Deaf Institute - Manchester (UK)
17/11/09 : Metropolis - Bristol (UK)
18/11/09 : Scala - London (UK)
19/11/09 : GlazÕart - Paris (F)
21/11/09 : Le Vauban - Brest (F)
23/11/09 : Molotow - Hamburg (D)
24/11/09 : Festsaal Kreuzberg - Berlin (D)
25/11/09 : Steinbruch - Duisburg (D)
26/11/09 : King Georg - Kšln (D)
27/11/09 : Friedenskirche - Dachau (D)
28/11/09 : Toutpartout 15 years @ Botanique - Brussel (B)
"I Will Never See The Sun" by Great Lake Swimmers. Featured in Short Film by Anita Doron - Debuts @ TIFF!2009.09.15
"Shooting inside the Toronto Transit Commission system is actually not as difficult as it might seem: TTC brass are quite welcoming to film-makers, their policies as reasonable to navigate as the Bloor-Danforth line. But how to make the subway magic, to capture the ethereal beauty of a Great Lake Swimmers song? Director Anita Doron knew what to do, and it involved taking Tony Dekker in an unexpected direction, dimension." - Anitra Doron
Polaris Music Prize Nominee's Great Lake Swimmers Prepare For US Fall Tour2009.08.12
The Great Lake Swimmers are currently enjoying buzz-band status this summer as they tour their native Canada’s festival circuit. Having been chosen for the Short List of the esteemed 2009 Polaris Music Prize, the band joins a list of previous nominees that includes Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene and Feist, among others. The Edmonton Journal proclaimed, “Great Lake Swimmers are fast becoming a bold new voice in Canadian folk music… Dekker is already seen as a powerful songsmith, one that belongs up there among some of Canada's classic voices like Cohen and Lightfoot.”
The group will continue it’s hot streak throughout the US this fall, starting with a string of choice Radio festival events in August and continuing with headline dates through October.
From being interviewed by NBC’s Brian Williams to performing at Bob Boilen’s Tiny Desk on NPR, the accolades continue to roll in for Great Lake Swimmers and their latest album Lost Channels. “The band's songs alternately rise and fall, prickle and soften, offering a comforting yet stirring refuge from the daily grind.” – The Washington Post.
A new milestone was reached last week when YouTube featured the Swimmers on their front page. Choosing a live song the band released this summer from their “Legion Sessions” series, the video has quickly shot to over 100,000 views. Check out the stunning track “Stealing Tomorrow”.
Great Lake Swimmers Make Polaris Music Prize Short List2009.07.08
It is with great pride that we announce the Great Lake Swimmers have made the “Short List” of nominees for the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. The band joins an esteemed group of musicians in this year’s nominees and past, as they are nominated for their fourth album Lost Channels. To read the complete press release, please click here. Lost Channels is available now on iTunes and retailers everywhere.
The Legion Sessions - Stealing Tomorrow2009.07.06
Enjoy "Stealing Tomorrow" from The Legion Sessions. The video was directed by Scott Cudmore with sound by Graham Walsh. The video premiered on MSNBC in conjunction with the BriTunes webisode featuring Tony Dekker.
You can purchase all Legion Sessions videos now on iTunes and download the lyrics to "Stealing Tomorrow" here. "Stealing Tomorrow" will be available in iTunes shortly.
To watch all Legion Sessions videos, please click here.
Great Lake Swimmers Selected for The Verge Music Awards2009.07.06
Great Lake Swimmers have been selected as finalists in this year's The Verge Music Awards presented by XM Satellite Radio. Vote now for Great Lake Swimmers as Artist of the Year and Lost Channels as Album of the Year.
Dekker Interview With With NBC's Brian Williams2009.07.03
Great Lake Swimmers front man Tony Dekker recently stopped by 30 Rock in New York City for a very special sit down with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams to tape an interview for his much buzzed about video blog BriTunes.
The two set up shop in the music editing room for Saturday Night Live, where they had a chance to chat about musical influences and the new album, Lost Channels.
Please click here to watch the Great Lake Swimmers BriTunes webisode and here to stream the full album and a collection of videos.
Lost Channels Makes Polaris 2009 Long List2009.06.22
Sit Down Feature With GLS On Tourdates.com2009.06.15
While overseas on their recent Euro invasion, Tony and the band sat down with Mark Grassick of Tourdates to discuss the making of Lost Channels. Click here to get the behind the scenes story on how the record came together.
NPR Tiny Desk Concert With Great Lake Swimmers2009.06.08
All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen invites Tony Dekker to his tiny desk for an intimate solo session, showcasing tracks "Everything Is Moving So Fast," "Pulling On A Line," and Boilen favorite, "Various Stages." Coined the Tiny Desk Concert, Dekker and Boilen discuss the appeal of a guitarist playing the harmonica and performing in the office atmosphere while going in and out of song. The performance was taped on April 14th in Washington, DC shortly before the Swimmers performance at The Black Cat. Click here to watch the Tiny Desk Concert and read the feature recap by NPR's Stephen Thompson.
Great Lake Swimmers iTunes Live Session EP2009.06.03
During a recent visit to the iTunes Live studios, the Swimmers cut a seven-song set, exposing new colors for "Your Rocky Spine" and "I Am Part Of A Large Family" and adding a live heartbeat to the new songs "Pulling On A Line," "She Comes To Me In Dreams," and "Concrete Heart." Full track listing below:
Your Rocky Spine (Live)
Pulling On A Line (Live)
She Comes To Me In Dreams (Live)
I Am Part Of A Large Family (Live)
Concrete Heart (Band Version Live)
Changing Colours (Live)
Put There By The Land (Live)
Great Lake Swimmers on Good Morning America2009.06.01
This past weekend, Great Lake Swimmers track "Pulling on a Line" was used in the "My Three Words" segment on Good Morning America
Great Lake Swimmers Place #1 On CBC3 And Do Session2009.06.01
For the second straight week, Lost Channels placed as the #1 record on the CBC Radio 3 charts. The band visited the CBC studios while in Vancouver to check in and play some tunes. For the full feature, please click here. To download the complete MP3 session with live music and interview, please click here.
Want more? Check out these great web features on The Swimmers: The Musicologists Ten Albums Feature, Filter Mag Album Review, 97 Rue Du Rock Video and Feature (feature in French).
Vimby Backyard Session With Great Lake Swimmers2009.05.28
Enjoy the Vimby Backyard Session with Great Lake Swimmers above. The session was shot in Los Angeles in early 2009 and features a solo Tony Dekker performing "Pulling On A Line." Tony guides the song with in-between commentary on his musical background, upbringing, and new album.
Norwegian TV Films "Everything Is Moving So Fast" By The Pool2009.05.27
Our Norwegian friends at NRK filmed and featured this wonderful acoustic performance of "Everything Is Moving So Fast" prior to the Swimmers recent performance in Oslo. The video was shot poolside and offers great, single-take camera work. Norwegian friends - please click here to view the full feature.
The Legion Sessions - Still2009.05.19
Enjoy "Still" from The Legion Sessions. The video was directed by Scott Cudmore with sound by Graham Walsh. The video premiered with our good friends at Paste and can be viewed here.
You can purchase the video now on iTunes and download the lyrics for free here.
To celebrate the release of this video, limited Starbucks locations will be providing download cards for a free audio MP3 of Still on iTunes all this week. Pick one up before they're gone.
To watch all Legion Sessions videos, please click here.
The Legion Sessions - She Comes To Me In Dreams2009.05.15
Enjoy "She Comes To Me In Dreams" from The Legion Sessions. The video was directed by Scott Cudmore with sound by Graham Walsh. The video is now available on iTunes. You can download the lyrics for free here. Look out for new Legion Sessions videos rolling out all summer long and watch the current ones on YouTube (Turn on the HQ) or Vimeo.
TALL SHIPS LANDING PRESENTS GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS AT MASTS, MOTORS & MUSIC CONCERT JUNE 62009.05.14
Tall Ships Landing is honoured that Great Lake Swimmers will be presenting a complimentary concert in support of the Maritime
Discovery Centre of the 1000 Islands in Brockville on Saturday, June 6th. The Toronto band is currently on an international tour promoting their new
album "Lost Channels". The album was recorded in and named for the 1000 Islands, which they have come to greatly appreciate. Tracks were recorded
at Singer Castle, St. Brendan's Church in Rockport and the Brockville Arts Centre.
Their tour has brought attention to the region in cities across Europe including Brussels, Paris, London and Madrid. The free concert will coincide with a day of racing at the 2nd annual Thousand Islands International Regatta and Festival on the city's waterfront. The public is invited to Tall Ships Landing to enjoy the free concert, which also includes an opening
performance from Brockville's Healy & Orr. It starts at 2:30 p.m. with the St. Andrew Street gates opening at 2:00.
Bytown Brigantine's tall ship Fair Jeanne, which provides adventure voyages, will serve as a floating stage for the concert prior to her departure for an international tall ship festival in Halifax.
Thousand Islands photographer Ian Coristine contacted the band to suggest they record in the area after hearing their music on CBC radio's Vinyl Café Coristine, a member of the Maritime Discovery Centre's steering committee, said it's an honour that the Great Lake Swimmers will return to the Thousand Islands to celebrate the city's riverfront revival and the album they recorded here.
"When I first heard their haunting folk/rock music I was captivated and figured that sound might make a perfect match to the beauty of this area, so suggested they come to discover it. They did and the rest of the story is still being written. It was terrifically gratifying when Tony Dekker, the band's lead musician shared with me how deeply impressed he was by his Thousand Islands experience. The fact he named the album 'Lost Channels' and that they are coming here straight from Madrid after a grueling international tour says it all." Press Release
2009.05.11
Great Lake Swimmers' new video for "Pulling On A Line" is up for voting all this week on mtvU's The Freshman. Please click here to place your vote. There is no registration required and you can vote as many times as you would like. Voting ends Friday. Thanks for all of the support and if you haven't seen the Legion Sessions video yet for "Pulling On A Line," click here.
Exclusive Paste Download2009.05.09
Tony Dekker stopped by Paste to deliver a solo performance at the Paste Studios for their VIP download of the week. The live recording of "Pulling On A Line" is from April 10th and available for download here. While the album version features mandolin, electric guitar, organ and full percussion, the track offers a whole new song when reduced to an acoustic guitar. This download is only available for Paste Digital VIP members.
In additional Swimmers web news, LaundroMatinee is featuring an exclusive video session with the band and to our friends in the Netherlands, enjoy this show review from the recent gig at Paradiso.
The Legion Sessions - Pulling On A Line2009.05.07
Enjoy "Pulling On A Line" from The Legion Sessions. The video was directed by Scott Cudmore with sound by Graham Walsh. The video is now available for download on iTunes. Look out for new Legion Sessions videos rolling out all summer and watch the current ones on YouTube (Turn on the HQ) or Vimeo.
Spinner Presents "Pulling On A Line" From The Legion Sessions2009.05.06
Continuing with the roll out of videos from The Legion Sessions, Spinner has premiered the Legion Sessions video of "Pulling On A Line" as their video of the day. Click here to watch. For information on the Legion Sessions, click here and look out for more video content and Legion Sessions news coming shortly.
Summer Festivals & New Shows For The Swimmers2009.05.04
This summer, Great Lake Swimmers are hitting the road, riding the circuit of Canada's finest folk festivals. The band has also scheduled a few headlining gigs and special shows with good pals, Timber Timbre. For a complete list of tour dates and to RSVP, please click here. Look out for a full tour late summer/early fall.
New Summer Dates
June 6th - Brockville, ON @ Fair Jeanne (Tall Ship) - RSVP
June 13th - Niagara Falls, NY @ Boundary Waters Treaty Festival - RSVP
June 18th - Peterborough, ON @ Gordon Best Theatre - RSVP
June 19th - Ottawa, ON @ First Baptist Church - RSVP
June 20th - Montreal, QC @ Theatre Plaza - RSVP
July 9th - 12th - Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival - RSVP
July 18th - 19th - Vancouver, BC @ Vancouver Folk Festival - RSVP
July 25th - 27th - Guelph, ON @ Hillside Folk Festival - RSVP
August 7th - 9th - Edmonton, AB @ Edmonton Folk Festival - RSVP
September 4th - Grafton, ON @ Shelter Valley Folk Festival - RSVP
Great Lake Swimmers Feature On CBC2009.04.30
Sarah Liss of CBC News wrote a glowing feature with interview on Great Lake Swimmers as the lead story in today's Arts section.
This four song, double split 7" vinyl album comes packaged in a beautiful handmade triple-gatefold sleeve, with artwork by lenxxx.
It all started when the bands met while touring the Netherlands. Erik gave some banjo lessons and Tony invited audiotransparent to sleep at his place while touring in Canada. After recording the audiotransparent song "You Are A Movie" together, the idea for a split single was born. Beside this co-operation, you get an Elvis Presley cover, "Don't Be Cruel", and the newly written song
"Send Me A Letter", which was written for and is also featured on the Canadian "Friends Of Bellwoods II" benefit compilation release for The Daily Food Bank in Toronto.
audiotransparent contributes a new interpretation of the seventies love song "Never Let Her Slip Away" by Andrew Gold, as well as the wonderful song "You Are A Movie", featuring T.Dekker on duet vocals.
Great Lake Swimmers Present Palmistry From The Legion Sessions2009.04.27
During the month of February 2009, while the city of Toronto was busy battling against the wind, snow and all around miserable conditions that keep residents firmly indoors as often as possible, the Great Lake Swimmers decided to hunker down in one of their country's most esteemed locations, a Royal Canadian Legion Pub. Soon dubbed "The Legion Sessions", GLS chose the hallowed local in-which to capture live, many of the new songs from their freshly minted new album Lost Channels. The group enlisted the help of gifted young director Scott Cudmore to create a raw and intimate window into the subtle power of the group's sound. On board capturing the music resonating within these cozy surroundings was none other than Graham Walsh from the experimental electronic group Holy F**k.
In celebration of all the great support that Great Lake Swimmers have received around the release of their new album Lost Channels, we are posting the very first video from this fantastic series, fittingly the first song from the album "Palmistry".
And for anyone out there who hasn't picked up Lost Channels, exciting news; the acclaimed new album is available now for only $2.99 TODAY as the Amazon Daily Deal. Click here to purchase it now on AmazonMP3. Please note that AmazonMP3.com is currently only available to US customers.
Already own the album? Be a pal and tell your friends!
Video Interview With Baeble Music2009.04.24
Earlier this week, Tony Dekker meet up with Baeble Music to discuss the new album, Lost Channels. Click here to watch the full video interview about life on the road as Great Lake Swimmers and the recording of Lost Channels. You can even win an autographed copy of Lost Channels just by watching the video interview.
Lost Channels is available now for only $2.99 at AmazonMP3 for a limited time only! Please note that AmazonMP3.com is currently only available to US customers.
Lost Channels On Sale For $2.99 - Limited Time Offer2009.04.23
Please note that AmazonMP3.com is currently only available to US customers.
The blogosphere acclaimed new record from Great Lake Swimmers, Lost Channels, is available in it's entirety at only $2.99 for a limited time only. Click here to purchase it now on AmazonMP3 before the offer expires. The record features new single "Pulling On A Line" and fan favorites "Everything Is Moving So Fast" and "Concrete Heart." Download the album now!
"A spellbinding mix of country-tinged melancholy and a poetic economy that resists saccharin statements, or maudlin indulgence, the ghostly voice of lead Swimmer, Tony Dekker crosses vast oceans of loneliness and undercurrents of heartache to impressive effect... Amidst such up-tempo sunshine there's moments of an altogether darker splendour." - BBC
"Lost Channels... dips into new territory, forgoing pretty but plain melodies in favor of more key changes and greater instrumental variety. "Pulling on a Line" exemplifies Great Lake Swimmers' beautiful simplicity..." - NPR
"The group has a gentle, vulnerable sound that is most notable in the high-pitched, aching voice of the front man Tony Dekker, who recalls another Ontarian, Neil Young." - THE NEW YORKER
"There are very few voices in this world that cut as deeply as Tony Dekker's, and if any could fill up a hollow place, it would be his. Perhaps seeking that very thing, the Swimmers have done fragile, nostalgia-tinged odes to near aural perfection by paving rapt attention to acoustic reverberations." - FILTER
"On (Lost Channels) the pristine intonations and detailed lyrical threads of Tony Dekker are surrounded by flute, guitar, drums, bass, pedal steel, (and) other voices." - STEREOGUM
Concrete Heart Live Video From Calgary2009.04.16
Enjoy this live video of "Concrete Heart" from Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary. The video was shot on the band's current Lost Channels tour and submitted to us by a fan. Please send us your live GLS video footage by emailing greatlakeswimmers@nettwerk.com. To check for local Lost Channels tour dates and to RSVP, please click here. Can't make it to a show? View live photo's here and add a caption for your chance to win an autographed Lost Channels CD.
Lost Channels is available now on digital retailers and at record stores everywhere.
Jam Base Live Review2009.04.13
The fine folks at Jam Base came out to a recent Great Lake Swimmers show at Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, CA on April 3rd. A complete show review can be read here.
For a full list of upcoming tour dates in North America and Europe, click here.
If you are attending an upcoming show, we want you to film the band! Click here for more details.
Can't make it out to a show? Click here for a gallery of live photos to see what you missed. Add a caption to any live photos for your chance to win an autographed CD!
Live Photo Caption Contest2009.04.06
As Great Lake Swimmers' set off across the globe, city hopping from show to show, we have been collecting a ton of live photos and video content. To flare up the photos, we were hoping that we could get some help with the picture captions in exchange for an autographed copy of Lost Channels. Interested? Here is how it works:
Click here and select the 'Great Lake Swimmers Live' gallery or 'Fan Photos' gallery and choose any live picture(s).
Comment on any live photo with your best caption by May 4th. Make it funny, serious, clever, or witty. You're open to go any route you would like. You can attempt an unlimited amount of captions.
That's it. Pretty simple, right?
On May 5th we will pick our top 5 favorite captions and send each winner an autographed copy of Lost Channels. Don't see a picture that works for you? Head out to your local show and add your picture/caption to the 'Fan Photos' gallery.
Great Lake Swimmers will be on tour all Spring. For a complete list of tour dates, please click here.
Art Bergmann to Open Toronto Show April 25th2009.04.06
Great Lake Swimmers are pround to announce their Opening Guest Performer for the Toronto Show on April 25th....Lengendary Punk Rocker / Singer Songwriter ART BERGMANN. Art will be performing a special acoustic set of music to open the Swimmers home-coming show after a five week tour of Western Canada and the United States.
Great Lake Swimmers All Over The Interweb2009.04.03
Aquarium Drunkard enjoys Lost Channels so much that they decided to present the LA show tomorrow.
Lost Channels Video Commentary On Quicktime2009.04.02
Head over to our Quicktime Listening Party for a special listening of Lost Channels. At this listening party, you'll get video commentary from Tony Dekker as he recounts each track on the record with personal insight to how it came about.
Lost Channels is available now on iTunes and record stores everywhere. You can view the new video for "Pulling On A Line" here and view tour dates here.
Lost Channels, the new album from Great Lake Swimmers is out now! Pick it up at your local indie record store or preferred online retailer. You can also download the album on Amie Street all this week for only $5.00. The full record is streaming now on Myspace.
Great Lake Swimmers On Simple Folk Radio2009.03.28
Check out Brighton, UK radio station Radio Reverb as they present a special audio postcard from the Great Lake Swimmers on April 1st. The band will be performing the following songs:
Everything Is Moving So Fast
She Comes To Me In Dreams
Pulling On A Line
Moving Pictures Silent Films
Where In The World Are You
Concrete Heart
Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley Cover)
Listen online here or locally on 97.2 FM. For additional information, air dates, and to RSVP, please click here.
Lost Channels will be available everywhere on March 31st. You can pre-order now on iTunes Canada, Amazon CD, or Amazon Vinyl. For a complete album listening party, tour dates, and to view the new music video for "Pulling On A Line," please click here.
"Pulling On A Line" Video Premiere On Pitchfork2009.03.25
Head over to Pitchfork for the music video premiere of "Pulling On A Line," the new single from the Great Lake Swimmers. Like what you hear and want more? Check out Last FM for the exclusive Lost Channels album listening party. The single, "Pulling On A Line" is available now on iTunes or Amazon. A physical preorder of Lost Channels is available here through Amazon. Lost Channels will be available everywhere on March 31st.
Exclusive Lost Channels Listening Party Live On Last FM2009.03.24
The Great Lake Swimmers and Last FM have teamed up to bring you the official album premiere of Lost Channels, the new record from the Great Lake Swimmers. Click here to stream the entire album plus bonus track by track commentary on each song.
Lost Channels will be available everywhere on March 31st. To catch the band on tour, please click here. For live footage, music videos, and more, please click here.
Lost Channels Bonus iTunes Canada Pre-order + New Song Stream2009.03.17
Starting today, you can pre-order Lost Channels off iTunes Canada for the low price of $9.99. The pre-order includes the complete record as well as 4 exclusive bonus tracks. Pre-order now and your music will be delivered instantly on 3/31. For those who don't pre-order, iTunes Canada will still offer 2 of the 4 exclusive bonus tracks with purchase of the complete record. You may also pre-order in physical format worldwide through Amazon.
In additional Great Lake Swimmers news, the new track "Concrete Heart" can be streamed in full by clicking here. You can also check out a new interview with Tony on Slowcoustic. And of course, check out Great Lake Swimmers as they tour North America and Europe throughout the Spring. Full dates can be found here. Follow the tour Twitter here.
Great Lake Swimmers Live Pictures, Video, & Preorder Info2009.03.16
As the first leg of the Great Lake Swimmer tour in Eastern Canada comes to an end, we thank everyone who came out to the shows and hope you had a great time. For those who couldn't make it, you can click here to see a live video of "Bodies And Minds" from The Capital. The video comes to us courtesy of Christian Hapgood. We've also uploaded a set of pictures to our Facebook page from The Ship performance courtesy of Mark Bennett. We welcome all user generated tour pictures on our Facebook Live Gallery and would appreciate any live footage to be sent to greatlakeswimmers@nettwerk.com. For a complete list of tour dates as GLS continue throughout North America and Europe, please click here.
Look out for more live videos, new song leaks, and iTunes preorder news shortly.
You can preorder Lost Channels now on Amazon and Amazon MP3 now.
Fan Generated Tour Footage + Twitter2009.03.04
As the Great Lake Swimmers get set to hit the road to tour North America and Europe over a 60 plus show span, Tony and co. will be showcasing new tracks, visiting new places, and meeting new fans. To bring the live experience to life, we are asking you, the fans, to help document the tour every step of the way by shooting live footage. Capture the crowds, the venues, the energy and the songs. We will take your footage and add it to the Great Lake Swimmer's YouTube Channel to bring the live experience to the online community, night after night. Furthermore, we are looking for fans to send us footage of "Pulling On A Line" and "Stealing Tomorrow" - two new songs being played on tour. With those songs, we will merge various fan footage into a 100% fan sourced stop motion live video. Fans can submit footage throughout the tour to greatlakeswimmers@nettwerk.com.
For a complete list of tour dates and to RSVP, please click here.
Can't make it to any of the shows? Follow Tony's twitter as he plays show to show.
Great Lake Swimmers Get Lost On Paste Magazine2009.02.24
Click here to check out a GLS Paste Magazine web feature by Natasha Richardson. The article features the tracklisting, tour dates, and more. You can purchase the first single, "Pulling On A Line," now on iTunes
"Everything Is Moving So Fast" Free MP3 Exclusive2009.02.20
You Ain't No Picasso has premiered the new track, "Everything Is Moving So Fast" off the forthcoming record, Lost Channels, as a free MP3. Click here to check it out and download the song. Lost Channels will be available everywhere on March 31st. The new single, "Pulling On A Line," is available now on iTunes.
"Pulling On A Line" Now On iTunes2009.02.18
The new single, "Pulling On A Line," is available now on iTunes. The track comes off the forthcoming album, Lost Channels, available everywhere on 3/31. Read more
DEBUT of Great Lake Swimers "Pulling On A Line" on The 'Gum Drop2009.01.29
The first single from “Lost Channels”, Pulling On A Line is featured on Stereogum's The 'Gum Drop, as well as some words from Tony about the song. Read more
Camera Music hits the road with Tony Dekker from Great Lake Swimmers for 3 special live performance segments "Moving Pictures Silent Films", "Your Rocky Spine" & "Concrete Heart". Read more
Great Lake Swimmers - “Lost Channels” Release Date March 31st, 2009
Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world—though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen—Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it.
To record LOST CHANNELS, Dekker and company went upstream on the St. Lawrence River to the Thousand Islands, halfway between Toronto and Montreal, a historic and picturesque area that straddles the Canadian/American border, and has been designated a World Biosphere Region. Great Lake Swimmers arrived at the invitation of fan and Thousand Islands photographer/regional historian Ian Coristine (www.1000islandsphotoart.com).
Coristine was able to arrange for the band to record in a number of acoustically unique spaces within the region, including one of the area's most storied landmarks, Singer Castle on Dark Island, near Hammond, NY (www.singercastle.com); as well as the historical Brockville Arts Centre (www.brockvilleartscentre.com); and at St. Brendan’s Church in Rockport, ON.
Additional recording took place at Halla and the Lincoln County Social Club in Toronto and the album was woven into a cohesive whole at the House Of Miracles, in London, ON, with long-time Great Lake Swimmers collaborator, Andy Magoffin.
That the album was created in both rural splendour and urban Ontario makes perfect sense for a band that has always navigated the parallels between natural and urban rhythms. River imagery recurs throughout LOST CHANNELS; the title of the album is a reference to a certain passage of the St. Lawrence, close to the recording locale, where a reconnaissance boat from a British warship went mysteriously missing in 1760. There’s no specific reference to the incident in the lyrics, though there are plenty of night skies, howling winds and raging rivers in almost every song which captures an elusive sense of mystery. As the album closes, Dekker sings the final lyrics—“Like the unstoppable river… Your beauty is gentle/ but forceful, and fast”—before the band ends on a suspended note. There is no resolution there, only eternity, a continuum, an endless river.
LOST CHANNELS also features the talents of Julie Fader (flute/backing vocals), Greg Millson (drums), Darcy Yates (bass), with appearances by Erin Aurich on violin; Mike Olsen on cello; and Paul Aucoin on vibraphone; along with special guests / Swimmers collaborators Serena Ryder with vocals on “Everything Is Moving So Fast” and Bob Egan on pedal steel.
Four albums into an already-rich and storied career, Great Lake Swimmers’ live show has won them ever-expanding audiences in the United States and Europe, and of course their native Canada. In 2008 Great Lake Swimmers shared the stage with an impressive list of artists, including Feist, Bela Fleck & The Sparrow Quartet, Hayden, Goldfrapp, Bill Callahan of Smog, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.
Great Lake Swimmers at 2nd Annual Hillside Inside
Great Lake Swimmers are confirmed to play the 2nd Annual Hillside Inside on Sat Feb 7th at Sleeman Centre in Guelph ON. More info and tickets can be found at this link: www.hillsidefestival.ca.
GLS Featured in Thousand Islands Life Magazine
Great Lake Swimmers, whose folk rock music has drawn critical acclaim and comparisons to Neil Young, recently recorded at the Rockport church after spending several weeks in the area. They also used the Brockville Arts Centre to record songs for their next release." From The October issue of Thousand Islands Life Magazine.
New Interview With Stereo Subversion
Anybody who has ever been to Schuba's would understand why Dekker likes performing here so much; it not only suits the Great Lake Swimmers' sound, but also their fans... Read more
Great Lake Swimmers Announce New Album, Tour Dates
Canadian folkies Great Lake Swimmers had a busy summer. They've been touring since May, mostly north of the border, including one date when they opened for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in GLS's hometown of Toronto. They performed at charity concerts and focused on building community. But when Tony Dekker wasn't busy scoring a documentary, paying homeage to Canadian concrete, or playing drill sergeant in folk boot camp, Great Lake Swimmers began creating new material. Nettwerk just announced the anticipated release of the band's fourth album, set for early Spring 2009.
They're also gearing up for the premiere of the Great Lake Swimmers HD Concert Special, which was filmed last September in Toronto. On Nov. 5, the hour-long episode will be screened at select Cineplex Odeon Theaters (all in Canada), alongside the Joel Plaskett Emergency Concert Special. In the meantime, they've worked in a handful of concert dates. The four U.S. performances will take place later this month, in New York and Massachussetts. The band will play Canada during the month leading up to their big-screen debut. - Paste Magazine
2010 North American Dates
May 1
"The Legion Sessions", EP Release, Candian Legion, Toronto, ON
201 Niagara Street, Toronto
Free entry with purchase of any Great Lake Swimmers CD at Criminal Records, Rotate This, Sonic Boom, Soundscapes Extremely Limited Tickets Available
Doors open at 9:30pm, Jesse T. Reid Opening
May 3
Hot House Café in Toronto, ON
"FACTOR's 8th Annual Panty Schmooze" w/ Jully Black & Aaron Prichett Tickets & Time Info
May 4
Fourth Stage at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, ON
"BLUEBIRD NORTH" Tony Dekker w/ Chris MacLean, Andrea Simms-Karp, Ian Tamblyn & Leif Vollebekk Tickets & Time Info
May 30
La Foret Conference & Retreat Center in Colorado Springs, CO
All Ages w/ Daniel Romano + Photographer Ian Coristine
Presented by SWIM DRINK FISH
Tickets Available: Fargo's General Store, Grad Club, Brian's Record Option
& online at www.ticketscene.ca
Tall Ships Landing is honoured that Great Lake Swimmers will be presenting a complimentary concert in support of the Maritime
Discovery Centre of the 1000 Islands in Brockville on Saturday, June 6th. The Toronto band is currently on an international tour promoting their new
album "Lost Channels". The album was recorded in and named for the 1000 Islands, which they have come to greatly appreciate. Tracks were recorded
at Singer Castle, St. Brendan's Church in Rockport and the Brockville Arts Centre.
Fifty-five years ago, Marilyn Bell took a plunge and traversed Lake Ontario. Back then, being a Great Lake swimmer was a big deal; now, it's an astonishing physical feat taken for granted. It's a rapidly forgotten part of history, like a faded map or a tattered photograph. Or a lost channel.
Tony Dekker's Great Lake Swimmers have spent the past seven years performing on stages around the world—though, like Bell, they should never be taken for granted. LOST CHANNELS, their fourth album set for release on March 31st, finds them once again recording at historic locations. This time in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York state, telling tales of hidden histories, still "mining for light in the dark wells," still "tuned to an instrument of greater and unknown design."
The instrument in question is the singular voice of Tony Dekker, a voice that summons ghosts from times past. It’s a voice that is capable of conveying heartache and comfort all in the space of a single phrase. Though his supporting cast has changed over the years—with the exception of longtime right-hand man Erik Arnesen—Dekker has always encircled him self with sympathetic players who value spacious arrangements that frame his vocals. Over time, the band has evolved from a sparse, delicate and hushed unit into a well-rounded folk rock band, sacrificing none of their original intimacy while upping both the volume and tempos when necessary.
Dekker chooses to record in old churches, community halls, abandoned grain silos and rural locations. It's easy to hear why. His voice doesn't need any studio embellishment, standing at its strongest when bathed in natural reverb and enriched by the historical context surrounding it. 
