The Ontario due known as Dala is coming back to the Comox Valley, this time for an intimate performance at the Cumberland Hotel after two previous outings at MusicFest.
“If you haven't been to any of our shows at the Cumberland,” says MusicFest's Doug Cox, “you should come! Cresslynn and her staff turn the pub into a lovely folk-club concert room that is a perfect venue for these shows.”
Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther first met at Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School at a high school band practice. Quickly afterwards, their friendship blossomed and they formed Dala in the summer of 2002.
Their "innate understanding of music" and "vocal range" helped propel them towards signing a five-year artist development deal with Big Bold Sun Music in November 2003, and in April 2005, Dala released their first album, This Moment Is a Flash.
On Aug. 8, 2005, Dala signed its first major record deal with Universal Music. Soon thereafter, the band released its first major album, Angels & Thieves, containing five original songs and five covers.
Immediately afterwards, Dala went out on tour to support the album, including a brief stint in early 2007 opening for Tom Cochrane. Returning to the studio after the tour, the band released their album Who Do You Think You Are with the lead single Anywhere Under the Moon entering Much More Music's rotation. Dala finished 2007 opening for Matthew Good on a cross-Canada tour.
Over the course of their career, Dala has contributed cover songs to several compilations. Neil Young's A Man Needs a Maid was released on Cinnamon Girl — Women Artists Cover Neil Young. Cinnamon Girl also included the duo's cover of Young's Ohio.
The duo released their fourth album, Everyone Is Someone, on June 9, 2009. The lead single Levi Blues was nominated in the Mainstream Adult Contemporary category at the 2010 Canadian Radio Music Awards.
The duo taped a performance for PBS in February 2010, which aired in June as Girls from the North Country. The live CD and DVD for Girls From The North Country earned Dala the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year.
The live album was nominated for a 2011 Juno Award in the Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Group category.
Dala’s latest album Best Day was released in June.
“Tickets are going fast for this show and we expect a sellout,” adds Cox. “We are thrilled to be able to present so many great shows that feature artists who were introduced to the Valley at MusicFest!”
Limited Tickets available online at www.islandmusicfest.com or in person at the Cumberland Hotel.
Tickets are also on sale right now for the next two shows: Blues Emergency with Doc MacLean and Morgan Davis on Nov. 6
and BettySoo and Doug Cox on Nov. 8.
For more information, visit www.islandmusicfest.com.
— Vancouver Island MusicFest