The Once in Sharbot Lake - their “home away from home”

Mar 18, 2015

Judging by the enthusiastic welcome The Once, a folk trio based out of St. John's, Newfoundland, received at their sold out show at The Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake on March 16- it's no wonder that band member Andrew Dale quipped to the crowd, “You guys are our home away from home.“ The trio returned to the Crossing Pub at the Sharbot Lake Country Inn, one stop of many in their cross-Canada and European 2015 world tour.

The evening opened with a short and lively set by Swedish-born, singer songwriter Sarah MacDougall, who is now based in Whitehorse and is joining the trio on their cross-Canada tour. MacDougall accompanied herself on guitar. She has two CDs to her credit to date, "The Greatest Ones Alive" (2011) and her latest titled "Grand Canyon". Many of the songs on the latter were inspired by her new surrounding in the Yukon. Tunes like “The Story of Pippi and Lion Heart” and “It's A Storm - What's Going On” demonstrate her brave desire to write from a very personal place and her pitch perfect delivery and spot on rhythm guitar prove she is a vibrant and dramatic talent.

Following Sarah's set, The Once took to the stage and were greeted like old friends back for a long awaited visit. The trio is comprised of Phil Churchill on guitar/back ups, Andrew Dale on mandolin/bouzouki/back ups and Geraldine Hollett on lead vocals/percussion. They opened appropriately with an a capella tune “Coming Back To You”, which showcased their impressive harmonies that are a huge part of why this trio has gained such world wide recognition.

Geraldine Hollett leads the trio and her exceptional voice can do anything and everything. She is a bright light - a soulful, charming and barefoot singer who has been compared to the likes of Allison Krauss, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and other famed songbirds. Hollett possesses a down home truthfulness and compassion that in no way diminishes her effervescent joie de vie. She has no fear about going for broke on songs like their second of the night titled “The Town Where You lived”, a tune written by Churchill about his father, who died over a decade ago, and whom he described as “truly the most amazing man that I have ever met.”

Hollett demonstrated how she can sing sweet and soft then turn effortlessly on a dime and come on as strong as a tidal wave. The song kicked up the energy in the room instantly and demonstrated the band's rich and lively sound.

Their latest CD is titled "Departures". It is their first with Nettwerk Records and is a collection of originals (their most to date) as well as covers. While their original material covers a lot of ground from Dale's heart-felt love song “You Lead I Will Follow” and "Birthday Song for Fred", the trio are also master interpreters of old time classics. Their version of “Can't Help Falling In Love” was goosebump inducing. They also played a number of their favorite east coast traditionals like “Jack the Sailor” and the Newfoundland drinking song "A Round Again", which got the crowd pumped up. You can be sure if there had been space to dance, moves would have been busted.

They played for close to an a hour and half straight and as always they peppered their set with lots of lively and entertaining banter. Geraldine spoke of how the band came to the attention of famed crooner Passenger and were invited by him personally to tour with him internationally. They completed a 17-month world tour where they played 75 shows in 19 different countries. Now they are back home and their adopted family in Sharbot Lake no doubt will be waiting with bated breath for their next visit. For more information visit www.theonce.ca