"Ontario fiddler and vocalist April Verch wrote a tune that sounds as old as the hills, with a metric hiccup as her bright voice climbs through the verse. But the dark undertone of this song feels current: the sounds of the past stained by the troubles of today." Canada's premiere newspaper the Globe and Mail, selected the title track of her new album (an original song) as one out of Four Essential Songs (September 2011)
 

April Verch Band

It's Holiday Time!

With the holidays and the new year (already?!) just around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to drop you a note, say hello and share some news!  This has been one of our most exciting years the AVB has ever had!  It was our busiest year to date, and in addition to touring Canada and the USA like crazy, we toured in China for the first time, did our first “music cruise” (to Alaska!) and recorded and released a brand new CD!  We’re looking back on those memories fondly and at the same time looking ahead with excitement to 2012.  We’ve got some changes and new projects coming up (read on!) but before we get to that, let us first say THANK YOU to all of you for your continuing support of our music and our careers.  We love what we do and we love that you let us share it with you.  Our best wishes to you all for safe and happy holidays and a wonderful new year!
 

Farewells & Welcomes


With the end of this year comes a goodbye to our good friend and amazing guitarist, Clay Ross.  Clay joined the band in the spring of 2009 and brought with him a wide range of musical influences that added immensely to the AVB’s stage show and sound.  Audiences around the world were amazed by his kosikas (aka red balls!)  We’ve spent a lot of time together, on stage and off, and are really going to miss him.  Even though we’re sad to see him go, we are celebrating the fact that it’s for good reason.  Clay is excited to focus on his band “Matuto” which mixes the best of bluegrass and brazilian music for a sound that’s like a “Carnaval in the Appalachian mountains” as well as other projects.  Thanks for the great times and music Clay, and here’s wishing you all the best!

We are honoured to welcome back our wonderful multi-instrumentalist and ex-AVB guitarist
Isaac Callender in January 2012.  Isaac has agreed to grace us with his presence and skills until May (including our Australian tour!) when our new full time guitarist will join us!

Welcome Hayes Griffin to the mad-touring life of the AVB!  Hayes was raised in central Ohio and started playing guitar at the age of nine.  Inspired by the sounds of Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs and Tony Rice, Hayes completely immersed himself in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music at a young age.  As a teenager, Hayes gained local recognition as two-time champion of the Dan Emmett Flatpicking Competition.  Around this time his musicals interests began to broaden and he studied not only bluegrass but also jazz music at Denison University, where he earned a B.A. in Music Performance in 2010.  More recntly, Hayes has been an active member of Boston’s vibrant acoustic music scene, while pursuing a masters’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory (which he will have earned by the time he starts touring with the AVB next May!)
 

April Verch’s Heartland Expedition


The April Verch Band is excited to announce a new collaboration that will begin touring next year!  The trio will be joined by three special guest musicians of first rank for this intriguing project, which explores the historical connection between the traditional music of the Appalachians, Quebec and the Ottawa Valley.  Riley Baugus (vocals, banjo) - a North Carolinian genius who performed on Grammy winning albums for Alison Krauss/Robert Plant and Willie Nelson, Stephen “Sammy” Lind (fiddle) - a founding member of the Oregon based Foghorn Stringband, and Andre Brunet (fiddle) - a 10-year veteran of La Bottine Souriante and current member of De Temps Antan. Together, these musicians will turn heads and delight hearts. “It’s a journey down the Appalachian trail, starting with the roots of this music in the south, then traveling along and picking up the other styles that evolved from and around it,” says April. “It’s  fantastic music, and what’s so exciting is that we get to tell this story with these musicians who are the real deal - who will tell it from their hearts. And that is what is so touching.  There will be variety and energy and unbridled passion - it’s going to be amazing.”  Read more about the project here and like them on facebook. Keep an eye on the tour schedule in 2012 to see when AVHE might be performing near you!


 
 

From Santa’s Workshop...


The elves just wanted us to remind you that our new release, “That’s How We Run”,  and heck, our previous recordings too, okay...and our fiddle tune books!  They all make great presents!  Visit our music page for the complete selection and links to order the whole gamut!


 

AVB Christmas Trivia

Favourite Christmas gift?
 
Clay: money
April: book
Cody: giant fresh oranges

 
Favourite Christmas dessert?


Hayes: sweet potato pie
 
Favourite Christmas cocktail?


Isaac: toss up...Tom & Jerry or eggnog with rum
 
Favourite Christmas song?


Clay: White Christmas
April: Christmas in the Valley
Cody: Christmas Time is Here (Peanuts)




Copyright © 2011 April Verch, All rights reserved.
Contact information:
www.aprilverch.com
office@aprilverch.com
For a complete list of all tour dates click here