The Gertrudes
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Kingston, Ontario , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
| Website | www |
The Gertrudes represent a Canadian indie folk ensemble originating from Kingston, Ontario, established in 2008. From 2009 through 2012, they gained significant recognition on campus music rankings, embarked on tours across Canada, and secured the top position on the CBC R3-30 charts. Between 2013 and 2020, their performances and releases occurred intermittently, often connected to local social causes. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic marked a renewed creative period for the group, culminating in the albums Emergency To Emergency (2021) and Just to Please You (2023).
History
Formed in Kingston in 2008, The Gertrudes derived their name from the grandmother of one of the founding members. The principal lineup includes Greg Tilson (guitar, vocals), Annie Clifford (banjo, vocals), Jason Erb (piano), Matt Rogalsky (guitar, mandolin), Josh Lyon (trumpet, piano, accordion), and Pete Bowers (percussion), among others. Amanda Balsys (violin, vocals) became part of the group for their debut full-length album, Dawn Time Riot (2010), which featured contributions from artists associated with PS I Love You. This record received acclaim from Exclaim!, described as "a meticulously crafted spectrum of modern folk sound."
Their track "All the Dollar Bills Sing Hallelujah" reached number one on the CBC Radio 3 R3-30 chart during summer 2013. Several of their albums also charted on the !earshot campus and community music listings. In 2012, they appeared at the closing event of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, performing alongside the Tao Rodriguez-Seeger Band.
Throughout 2013 to 2020, The Gertrudes periodically reconvened for projects centered around community engagement and activism. These included composing the soundtrack for a 2014 documentary addressing prison farm closures in Canada, issuing a protest song in 2015 critiquing Prime Minister John A. Macdonald's policies, and opposing a proposed road expansion through Douglas Fluhrer Park in 2016.
With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the band intensified their songwriting and recording activities remotely from members’ homes and outdoor spaces. They released singles such as "Parham," with proceeds benefiting the Canadian Mental Health Association, commemorating a tragic incident in Parham, Ontario. Their album Emergency To Emergency was launched on November 26, 2021 under Wolfe Island Records.
In 2023, they followed up with their fifth studio album Just to Please You, also issued through Wolfe Island Records.
Singles and EPs
- This Be Our EP (self-released, 2008) EP
- Hard Water (Apple Crisp Records, 2009) EP
- Emergency to Emergency (2020) Single
- The Other Side (2020) Single
- Parham (2021) Single
- New Carolina (2021) Single
Studio albums
- Dawn Time Riot (Apple Crisp Records, 2010)
- Till the Morning Shows Her Face to Me (Apple Crisp Records, 2011)
- Neighbourhood (Apple Crisp Records, 2013)
- Emergency To Emergency (Wolfe Island Records, 2021)
- Just to Please You (Wolfe Island Records, 2023)
See also
- Music of Canada
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
- Category:Canadian musical groups