Rawlins Cross
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
| Founder | Dave Panting, Geoff Panting, Ian McKinnon |
| Headquarters | St. John's , Canada |
Key people | Joey Kitson (lead vocals), Dave Panting, Geoff Panting, Ian McKinnon, Brian Bourne, Howie Southwood |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
| Website | www |
Rawlins Cross is a Celtic music group established in 1988 within Atlantic Canada, comprising members originating from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario. The band's name derives from a notable junction located in St. John's, Newfoundland.
Formation and early history
The band was initiated in St. John's by siblings Dave Panting (guitar, mandolin) and Geoff Panting (keyboards, accordion), alongside Ian McKinnon (highland pipes, tin whistle). They were later joined by drummer Pamela Paton and bassist Lorne Taylor. Their debut independent album, A Turn of the Wheel (1989), included the track "Colleen," which achieved a top ten ranking on Toronto’s CFNY radio station. Following personnel changes—with Derek Pelley stepping in for Taylor on bass and Tom Roach replacing Paton on drums—Brian Bourne became the bassist in 1992.
Popularity and mainstream success
The 1992 release Crossing The Border further developed their blend of Celtic instrumentation with rock elements. After incorporating drummer Howie Southwood and lead vocalist Joey Kitson from Prince Edward Island, they launched Reel 'n' Roll (1993), their highest-selling record featuring a nationally recognized title track. Before Kitson's addition, lead vocals were performed by Dave Panting.
Their 1996 album Living River garnered two Juno Award nominations. That year, Rawlins Cross toured across Canada three times and secured licensing agreements for Europe. Their performances included appearances at the East Coast Music Awards, Germany’s St. Patrick's Day Festival, and representing Canada at Expo Cumbre de las Americas in Santiago, Chile.
Later projects consisted of the compilation Celtic Instrumentals (1997) and the studio album Make It On Time (1998), after which the group took a six-year break. They reunited in 2008 to release Anthology, followed by Heart Head Hands in 2010. Their most recent album, Rock Steady, recorded at Codapop Studios in Halifax, was issued in December 2017 and featured the single "Hold You Tonight".
Style
Rawlins Cross combined elements from Scottish, Irish, Celtic traditions with rock 'n' roll influences. Their musical range spanned Celtic instrumentals, blues, and folk genres, characterized by robust rhythms and a fusion of modern songwriting with traditional storytelling and instruments. The primary composers were brothers Dave and Geoff Panting.
After Joey Kitson joined as lead singer in 1993, several tracks from their initial two albums—including "Turn Of the Wheel," "MacPherson's Lament," "Colleen," and "Open Road"—were re-recorded featuring Kitson’s vocals for subsequent releases.
Current band members
- Joey Kitson — lead vocals, harmonica (1993–present)
- Dave Panting — mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica, bouzouki, backing vocals, songwriting (1988–present), lead vocals (1988–1993)
- Geoff Panting — accordion, keyboards, backing vocals, songwriting (1988–present)
- Ian McKinnon — bagpipes, tin whistle, bodhran, trumpet, percussion, jaw harp (1988–present)
- Brian Bourne — Chapman Stick, bass, backing vocals (1992–present)
- Howie Southwood — drums (1993–present)
Past members
- Pamela Paton — percussion (1988–1991)
- Lorne Taylor — bass guitar (1988–1991)
- Derek Pelley — bass guitar (1991–1992)
- Tom Roach — percussion (1991–1993)
Studio albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1989 | A Turn of the Wheel |
| 1992 | Crossing the Border |
| 1993 | Reel 'N' Roll |
| 1996 | Living River |
| 1997 | Celtic Instrumentals |
| 1998 | Make It on Time |
| 2008 | Anthology |
| 2010 | Heart-Head-Hands |
| 2017 | Rock Steady |
| 2019 | Flying Colours |
| 2022 | Sunrise |
Singles
| Year | Track | Chart Rankings | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN AC | CAN | |||
| 1994 | "Reel 'N' Roll" | Reel 'N' Roll | ||
| "Long Night" | 60 | |||
| 1996 | "When My Ship Comes In" | Living River | ||
| "The Long Way Home" | 49 | 58 | ||
| 1998 | "You Will Always Be My Love" | Make It on Time | ||
| "Where Would I Be" | 56 | |||
Honors and nominations
- Nominated for two Juno Awards in 1997: Best Roots/Traditional Album and Best Album Design, both for Living River
- Recipient of the 1999 East Coast Music Award for Best Roots/Traditional; also nominated that year for Entertainer of the Year and Best Group of the Year
External links
- Rawlins Cross Official Website