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mvyradio’s Barbara Dacey Speaks with members of the John Henrys before their set at the Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest.

The John Henrys may be a new band to the general public and the typical country music fan, but to the alt-country and roots music fans in Canada who are out seeing new bands regularly at the clubs and are all about what is hip, the John Henrys are the next big thing.

Already in demand and currently on tour in the USA, hitting markets like Austin, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Nashville, and Cleveland, the John Henrys are getting heard in places that are far from their hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, in support of their new album, ‘Sweet as the Grain’. Produced by the band themselves at their rehearsal-turn-studio space, the album features songs like ‘Lost in the Canyon’ and the title track are sweetly laid back alt-country, while the angry ‘New Years’ and tongue-in-cheek ‘No More Rock n Roll’ and ‘Ain’t Gonna Drink No More’ keep the album interesting with variety and humor.

Released on the bands own 9LB Records imprint, distributed by Universal Music, it hit #1 on iTunes Canada Roots Music Albums the week of release, and #1 on the Exclaim/Earshot National Campus and Community Radio Folk Roots chart. It is being released in the USA and internationally this summer. Although four band members contribute to the songwriting - songs that are rich in storytelling tradition, it is the band’s unmistakable musicianship that suggests The John Henrys are not as traditional as the legendary character of their namesake.

The John Henry of popular folklore, and immortalized in dozens of traditional folk songs, was a giant of a man who labored laying railway tracks and digging tunnels. He challenged the first steam powered drilling machine to a race to determine what was stronger - man or machine. His superhuman effort won him the race, after which he immediately died of exhaustion.

“We picked The John Henrys for our name because the story has so many undertones that we can relate to”, says vocalist/guitarist Rey Sabatin Jr, whose Ojibway, Pilipino and Irish heritage, along with his background in the craft of lutherie (Guitar making) are reflected in the band’s sound influenced yet precise musical arrangements. Rey, along with Steve Tatone (keyboards) Doug Gouthro (Guitar) Darryl Quinlan (Bass), and Geoff Ward (Drums) have been creating music and working together since 2003, writing, arranging and rehearsing so many songs that they have trouble deciding what to play in a live set.

Their debut album, released locally in their Ottawa in 2004 went all the way to #1 on the influential college radio station CKCU, and was featured on CBC radio, who asked the band to perform on their nationally broadcast ‘Definitely Not The Opera’ program. Over the next few years the band performed selectively - more concerned with writing songs than being road warriors - accepting invitations to perform with in-the-know artists like The Sadies, Cuff the Duke, The Golden Dogs, Elliot Brood, and FemBots, all the while writing and arranging the songs that would eventually be recorded and released on ‘Sweet as the Grain’.

Upcoming shows:
2008-08-23 Hoe Down Festival Barrymores Ottawa, ON
2008-09-05 Southside Shuffle Mississauga, ON
2008-10-03 ONE Music Festival Greenwood, AL
2008-10-03 ONE Music Festival Greenwood, AL

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