Hello Friends!!

We hope this reaches you all and finds you well, and enjoying whatever sort of winter you are finding yourself in! Since Nathan and I have relocated to Ontario, we are slowly adjusting to how cold it is...and this is only the beginning! As I sit and write this blog, I am wearing a scarf around my neck (indoors!) because I can't quite get warm...isn't that ridiculous? Apart from the cold, though, we are savouring the beginnings of the christmas season, with the warmth of festive glowing lights glistening off sparkling new-fallen-snow.

We are also very warmed inside by learning that Kensington Prairie has been chosen by National Public Radio as the #3 Folk Album of 2008!!! We wanted to share that great news with you, our friends,family and fans...and wanted to thank you for listening and for making 2008 a great year :)

1. Here is the NPR link to check it out:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97822712



The Vue Weekly in Edmonton, also added Kensington PRairie to a list of Canadian Indie Bands that you might want to check out for the holidays...

2. Here is the Vue link: (you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page)

http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=10449

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Kensington Prairie performances this week at the Casbah, Hamilton and the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville- we had a great time:) We also want to thank our two new Kensington Prairie Ontario members, Steve and Jeff, who rocked!

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with joy and peace.

becca and nate

Hey Folks,

We have a very very exclusive offer:   I have 25 of Maplewood Lane's 'Autumn on the Radio' CD available.   Each copy is hand-cut, hand-numbered, autographed. 

For those who are unfamiliar with our musical history....here is a paragraph that sums up our lives and gives the history to 'Autumn on the Radio':

We used to be called Maplewood Lane.  MWL released 1 full length, 1 e.p., and 2 demo CD's.

In the year 2001 we recorded a demo CD titled 'Autumn on the Radio'.   We only released 100 copies of Autumn on the Radio, as shortly after recording the demo we headed into the studio and began recording Maplewood Lane's Self-Titled Album.  All 100 copies were handmade CDR's.  We recently moved and I rediscovered the artwork, so I decided to hand-make another 25 copies.  Once these are gone.....well then, they are gone.  Please remember...this is our musical history and although the recording is not perfect, it definitely shows where we came from and how we were able to record Kensington Prairie's Captured in Still Life.

Maplewood Lane Discography

Songs for the Wounded - Demo CD - 1999

Autumn on the Radio - Demo CD - 2001

Self-Titled - CD - 2003 Anniedale Records

The Golden Skies - EPCD - 2005 Anniedale Records

This CD is available through our myspace only.  Just click the ADD TO CART button and you are good to go!!

Price: $ 11.99

-  includes shipping to anywhere in the world.

Thanks for reading and listening.

Nate.

Heya,

Thanks to everyone who made our first few shows in Toronto a very fun and engaging affair.

We're getting to know the Spadina-College-Bloor-Kensington Market area fairly well now, having come in a good handful of times to that area- and it is very cool.  We've had yummy sushi at "Sushi on Bloor" (thanks Dee), we've experienced our first $30. parking ticket (thanks city of T.O.) and we've gotten to play at The Supermarket and the Free Times Cafe.

Coming from Vancouver, a beautiful city nestled between the mountains and the ocean, Toronto has a beauty all of it's own....the glistening skyline reflecting an early evening pinky-orange sunset, and the CN Tower casting it's shadow upon a white-sail boat spotted Lake Ontario.  I must also say, that Toronto crowds seem very attentive and interested in the shows they go to see...it was kind of wierd to play to a quiet, listening audience!  A month or so ago, Nathan went to a Joseph Arthur show in vancouver, where j.a. accused vancouverites of only coming to shows to talk on their cellphones!  It was actually quite a rant...(perhaps an interesting story for another time)...But anyway, all that to say, thanks for our warm welcome to toronto.

I was stoked to find out that Ron Sexsmith started out playing at the Free Times Cafe...so, it was fun to play in that little room and imagine him honing his style and songs there.  It was also fun to learn almost everybody's names, and their most embarrassing moments, by the end of our show at the Free Times...so, thanks everyone for making it so fun (shawn, alexis, leanne, amber, paul, dee, roger, graham, kelsey, steve....and a few more?).

Looking forward to seeing some of you again and meeting new friends along the way.

becca

Hello Friends!

We hope that you've all had a wonderful summer, that you've soaked up enough sun to last you the whole winter through.  Here we are, with leaves of autumn just starting to whisper their thoughts of turning...and we find ourselves in new territory.  Nathan and I (becca) have taken the long journey across the Great Canadian countryside and have relocated from the mountains of British Columbia, to the Great Lakes of Ontario!  It was quite a sight to drive through the Rockies and to leave their grande white-tipped expanses behind...then to wade through the vast and endless yellow fields of the Prairie's....and then to re-emerge into the rocky, tree-laden arms of Lake Superior and make the endless trekk down, down, down, through Ontario (and all this, with two toddlers in tow!). 

So, we are excited to be on a new adventure and to make new friends and to see new sights.  We are also eager to get to know the music scene out here, abundant with venues and bands passing through.  So, if any of you are in the general sort of area, we'd love to hear from you...go to a show, or play a show with you!

This up-coming month of October, our Kensington Prairie song "bluebirds", will be on the paste music magazine sampler- so, make sure you check that out :)

http://www.pastemagazine.com/

Also, here is another review that we recieved in august from Scene and Heard: 

Hi friends!

Nathan and I have just returned from a small jaunt to the greater Toronto area, where we played a great house show in Milton, and had a TV taping, and a few smaller chances to play and network.  The weather was delicious, it felt just like florida to us water-logged west coasters..so we soaked up the sun, got in a few rounds of golf, and visited with family and friends.

While we were in Ontario, we found out that Paste was interested in having us on their sampler...so Kensington Prairie will have a song in the October issue of Paste Magazine, which we are very stoked about.

We also were happy to find that KP has a nice review in the july issue of Exclaim...  

 http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=123&csid2=850&fid1=31992

Captured In Still Life
By Josiah Hughes

As the singer and songwriter for Vancouver's Maplewood Lane, a band that have had their songs featured everywhere from Degrassi to an Atom Egoyan film, Rebecca Rowan has had many opportunities to demonstrate her unique talents. Still, her Kensington Prairie project takes these a step further, marrying her perfect melodies with lush string arrangements and a stripped down backing band that include her husband Nathan Rowan and producer Jon Anderson (of Jonathan Inc. and Radiogram). From the calm tone of opener "Time on Our Side" to the gentle drive of "Disappear From View," Captured in Still Life takes its cues from the Innocence Mission and Canadian contemporaries like Hayden. Subtle but rewarding, this debut from Kensington Prairie is a quiet winner. (Anniedale)

 

Some more good news on the radio front:  Kensington Prairie was 7 nationally on the Radio charts, under Roots!  Thanks everybody :)

http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/2008/May/frb.cfm

Well, we hope you all have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you sometime.

becca

 

 

 

hello friends,

Here are a couple more reviews that have come in this week :)

                 -----------------------------

 

1. Beyond the Ear. com

http://www.beyondtheear.com/Site/beyond_the_ear.../Entries/2008/5/13_kensington_prairie_-_captured_in_still_life_album_review....html

.kensington prairie - captured in still life album review...

captured in still life, the debut album by kensington prairie, is a wonderful blend of softened harmonies and picture-painted lyrics, built around the tenderness of lead singer rebecca rowan. all of the songs on the album hover with a gorgeous aura of nostalgia, relaxed snapshots of days-gone-by, and a front-porch style flow that basks the listener into some beautifully enchanting melodies.

hailing from vancouver, rebecca rowan is the lead singer of maplewood lane, who were formed in the late 1990's and are based around the same city. after releasing two albums with the band, she has finally released her debut album under the name kensington prairie. the songs are haunting yet beautifully authentic, bringing to mind the sweetness of emmylou harris, or the poignancy of iron and wine. the entire album envelopes an easy-going feel. mellow, yes, but with substance and a daydream-like quality that never fades throughout the ten tracks.

songs such as time on your side and snowflakes and great lakes sparkle with rowan's soft voice and subtle simplicity, beautifully arranged in a lightly-tinged array of acoustic guitar, harmonica, and organ. tracks like a million skies, bluebirds, and golden days offer a gentle, familiar melancholia with a feel-good background. at times, rowan's voice emanates with cheery moods, as if you can visualize her smile within the notes of the songs. photographs and letters that i send both harbour a relaxing feel that conjures up memories of better days and happier pasts, melded together with simplistic romance, buttery chords, and a wistfulness that floats through the lyrics from beginning to end.

a feel-good album to be sure, captured in still life is a mature yet playful collection of songs that create imagery through crafted lyrics, warm strings, and a spectrum of moods that are sure to please any fan of the genre.

-review for beyond the ear by mike degagne.

2. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/58495/kensington-prairie-captured-in-still-life/

Kensington Prairie

Captured in Still Life

(Anniedale)

US release date: Available as import

Canada release date: April 2008

by Filmore Mescalito Holmes

Happy surprises like this are what make writing reviews worth all the flaming poop bags on my doorstep. Coming out of nowhere, the debut album from Vancouver's own Kensington Prairie is a slice of happiness pie. Centering on the sweetly nostalgic voice of founding Maplewood Lane chanteuse Rebecca Rowan, Captured in Still Life joins the teenage wistfulness of Sixpence None The Richer, the contemplative indie nature of Young & Sexy, and the alt. country twang of The Buttless Chaps. On top of that, they pack in a touch of organ, mandolin, piano, and a laundry list of vibraphones, xylophones, and what-a-phones. These are not the songs of the revolution and won't noticeably change the world, but they are addictively sweet and very impressive for Vancouver unknowns. In fact, they're solid enough that two tracks have already been picked up for a new CBC prime-time series called Heartland. Rebecca's vocals are more moving than anything in the Feist catalogue, while her arrangements (heavily featuring producer Jonathan Anderson) are charmingly rich but not swamped. Simply put, it's a nice CD, no more, no less.

                                 --------------------

               Our album is also available through Amazon.com and is finally up on   i-tunes now...so there are ever increasing options to digitally download the tunes :)

Thanks for keeping in touch,

becca

hello!

I was having a sleepy morning, since our two girls aged 3 and 2, decided that 5:50am is the perfect time to get out of bed....and as I was slowly sucking back my coffee for all it was worth, I stumbled accross these two May reviews, much to my delight :), so I thought I would share them with you:

1. Americana UK:

http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/modules.phpop=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=3695

Gentle, intelligent pop from Canuck songstress

Rebecca Rowan of Vancouver's electric pop rockers Maplewood Lane is the guiding force behind this simple collection of warm and reflective songs. The album opener 'Time on our Side' signals the intent with a beautifully crafted layer of sounds built on a string refrain that cascades into the harmonies of the simple chorus. Gorgeous.

'Snowflakes and Great Lakes' follows this pattern by building sounds and rhythms towards a chorus with a sense of both purpose and deliberation. 'A million skies' highlights Rebecca's voice, at once indie songbird a la Beth Orton and yet not that simple to tie down. There is a singularity that is difficult to identify but one that guarantees notice will be taken.

'Bluebirds' is an affecting meditation on age and the quicksilver slip of time on all our lives – mandolin driven with banjo assistance creating a track that would serve as a comparison to NY's 'Old Man' in sentiments and in spirit. Lovely.

This album is supposedly the side project for Rebecca Rowan after Maplewood Lane. I would humbly suggest a change in priorities as this is a rich and uplifting experience. Interesting and well constructed songs, lyrics with depth and a tight sounding band topped by a dynamic singer/songwriter.
Music with a bit more soul and intelligence than usual - phew, what a relief!! keith hargreaves

2. Youthink: http://www.youthink.ca/reviews/localbands/08MayLocal/KensingtonPrairie.html

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Kensington Prairie

KENSINGTON PRAIRIE Captured in Still Life By Nicole Clark – New West Secondary, New West BC Langley's Kensington Prairie will capture listeners' attention in "Captured in Still Life." Kensington Prairie's debut, "Captured in Still Life," is filled with dreamy ballads that can best be described as ambient folk-indie pop. The album incorporates instruments from piano and guitar to vibraphone and cello, which are perfectly orchestrated to complement Rebecca Rowan's enchanting vocals. Rebecca Rowan got her start in 1999 when she formed Maplewood Lane with her brother Joel and husband-to-be Nathan. While Maplewood Lane started off as "acoustic and folk-y," according to Rowan, the band now exhibits an "electrified and euro-pop-ish" sound; whereas Kensington Prairie, her solo project, she describes as a happy medium between the two. On her solo debut, Rowan set out to record, "a really honest set of songs that would give the listener a sense of hope and peace," and this album definitely wins its listeners over due to its ability to evoke emotion. As for her future in the music industry, Rowan says, "Music is just something I love to do, so whether or not there is a future in it, I will always love to play." Nicole's fave track: "Crooked Things Straight"   So, thanks again for reading this, and hopefully you didn't have to wake up as early as I did this morning! becca

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Hello friends,

Thanks for coming out to our CD release show and making it a really fun night :)

We were happy to recieve some good press last week in the Courier and the Province, as well as to discover that in our debut week, Kensington Prairie's new album, "captured in still life" charted at 3 in the Roots section, for national radio play! 

1. The courier:

http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/artsandentertainment/story.html?id=ddf6073f-e6d2-4862-a1ea-c0285933f0f9 

INDIE BABES RULE, OK

"A comparison to the Sundays' folk-pop masterpiece Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic is nothing to sneeze at. But in the case of Kensington Prairie's Captured in Still Life, the praise is warranted. The winsome voice of Rebecca Rowan and her subdued, pretty tunes make for one of the best local discs of the year. She plays a CD release party May 2 at the Media Club."

2. The province:  there are a few errors on this one - Nathan was apparently renamed Mason much to his chagrin :)

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/story.html?id=cdd4753b-1e6b-4dfe-a5e2-254893be3ad3

3. chart attack:

http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=107

 

For those of you who were unable to make the CD release party at the Media Club, we will be playing NEW MUSIC WEST next week, with some very exciting international acts:

THURSDAY MAY 15TH
THE LIBRA ROOM, commercial drive

Osh10 (AUS) 7:45pm
The Tiger and Me (AUS) 8:45pm
Kensington Prairie 9:45pm
Sprengjuhöllin (ICE) 10:45pm

We hope you are enjoying the spring, with it's freshness and colourful blooms, and the scent of summer in the air... see you soon!

becca rowan

PS. i-tunes has had some technical difficulties with getting our album live (it was supposed to be up and running last week at the latest) and they are working on it as we speak...so, it should be available there soon.  For now, check Napster, Rhapsody, and Groupie Tunes.

Hello Friends!

We are excited about our CD Release Party at the Media Club in Vancouver, on May 2nd, beginning at 9pm...it will be a fun night of good music with Sheree Plett, Andrew Y. Lee (IMR) and Jon Inc.,  and you'll be able to get the new Kensington Prairie album, hot off the press!

We are also happy to announce that we will be playing the New Music West festival in Vancouver, on Thursday May 15th at the Libra Room at around 9 pm...and supposedly we are playing with a cool icelandic band that sounds a little like Belle and Sebastian, so that'll be fun.

We were pretty happy to get a great review on Chartattack.com the day of our cd release, as well as another great review on Folkalley.com....here's what they said:

chart attack.com : april 22, 2008

KENSINGTON PRAIRIE Captured In Still Life (Anniedale)
Kensington Prairie is the side solo project from Rebecca Rowan, the vocalist/guitarist of Vancouver indie pop darlings Maplewood Lane. The two endeavors have a lot in common, but if there's any glaring difference, it's that Kensington Prairie takes a decidedly more heart-on-sleeve approach. As with many solo debuts these days, there's a lot more going on here than just a girl and her guitar: A few friends show up to add bass, drums, mandolin, banjo, Wurlitzer and more. Rowan's most identifiable talent is that her voice handily manages to keep potential clutter in check. Occasional male back-up vocals add a welcome variety to this disc, but it's clear that Rowan can comfortably hold her own with contemporaries like Jenn Grant, Rebekah Higgs or Basia Bulat. With Captured In Still Life as corroboration, feel free to add Rowan's name to the ever-growing list of great, current Canadian singer/songwriters. Scott Bryson

 

www.folkalley.com : april 19,2008

Kensington Prairie ~ Captured in Still Life  With the number of submissions to Folk Alley increasing every month (easily over 200), it has become cumbersome to find the good ones. An artistic eye-catching cover can help. That's what made us notice the Kensington Prairie CD, and the group is being rewarded for their detail, because once we heard what was inside we knew you had to as well.  The overall mood is dreamlike, yet thoughtful. The instrumental mix is unusual: guitar, cello, vibraphone, harmonica, Wurlitzer, glockenspiel, and an unconventional and understated banjo. The various combinations support singer and writer Rebecca Rowan who is the main focus of this band (or maybe orchestra?). Rowan uses her imagination well. In "A Million Skies" she looks up on a clear night and sees another's eyes in the stars. She smartly uses analogy in the song "Bluebird," comparing a slipping memory to the fleeting bird. During "Crooked Things Straight" she helps us realize that we can't always change sadness, but she provides kindness through a wish.  Kensington Prairie may eventually be referred to as Vancouver's version of Brooklyn's "Hem," the easiest comparison for me to make. Listening to Captured in Still Life is like being treated to a new restaurant where every meal is rewarding. This CD is that good.  Jim Blum

 

Cool :) We are also excited to be getting some radio play on CBC radio and on college radio...so if you guys like a particular song and want to request it at your favorite radio shows, that would be much appreciated, too. 

Thanks for taking the time to check this out...and we'd love to hear from you.

becca

Kensington Prairie

 

P.S.  Oh! yes...we also have our new album available on Rhapsody and Napster and it should be up on i-tunes in the next week as well...so for those of you mp3/ipod savvy people...you can download the tunes :)