Two singer-songwriters who have built reputations for writing powerful, honest songs are joining forces for an eight-show British Columbia tour this March and April.
Dayna Manning and Ryan McMahon are hitting the road together for the first time, and they’ll wrap up their province-wide tour Saturday, April 7 at Joe’s Garage in Courtenay.
Manning was born to musical parents in the artistic community of Stratford, Ont. At age 18, she had a major label recording deal for her debut album of entirely original music. Her future held a Juno nod, tour on Lilith Fair, shows with acts like Joe Cocker and Radiohead, and favourable reviews by everyone from Rolling Stone to Billboard.
Her three albums to date feature big names in the music business like Sean Ono Lennon and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
Manning’s guitar stylings are not easily matched, and her soaring voice is unmistakable.
Now a resident of northern B.C., Manning has built a career writing unique and accessible takes on everyday life and delivering them with the utmost sincerity.
“I tried music full-time, and I had nothing to write about,” says the modest singer. “I have always found that the less my life was like a performer’s, the better my writing was, which has always been most important to me – the writing and connection through it to my audience.”
The writing has always been very important to McMahon as well, and the Ladysmith musician is receiving accolades for his honest writing and for his passionate vocal performance.
McMahon has been nominated for five Vancouver Island Music Awards this year — the most of any Island musician. McMahon is up for Artist of the Year, Male Songwriter of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, while his album All Good Stories has been nominated as Album of the Year, and the official video for “One Way” is up for Music Video of the Year.
“Like Neil Young, I’m an epileptic who loves both the scream of distortion and the peace of the acoustic,” says McMahon. “Like Eddie Vedder, I wear all of my influences on my sleeves, where Tom Waits, Buddy Holly, Warren Zevon and Bruce Springsteen all reside.”
For the past decade, McMahon has been writing and performing in Vancouver and his hometown of Ladysmith. He released two full-length albums in the past year – the stripped-down, acoustic All Good Stories, and the full-band Put the Past in a Flask and Drink It.
Manning and McMahon are performing this Saturday at Joe’s Garage at 8:30 p.m.
Joe’s Garage is a licensed restaurant, with the kitchen opening at 6:30 p.m. on show nights. Be sure to come for an intimate dinner before the show and ensure your seats. Dinner reservations can be made by e-mailing milo@joeson5th.ca or calling 250-702-6456. Joe’s Garage is a cash-only venue, and the menu for the evening can be viewed at www.joeson5th.ca.
Advance show tickets are $15 at Bop City Records or $20 at the door if available.
For more information about Manning, visit www.heartist.ca. To learn more about McMahon, go to www.ryanmcmahon.com.