Just in time for things to warm up seasonally is a new tour and album by B.C. one-man band Shane Philip, who makes his way to the North Okanagan next week.
The new album, Life.Love.Music, is Philip’s fourth production, concentrating on themes of environmentalism, family life and love.
“When a musician puts out an album, it’s part of themselves they’re putting out to the world,” Philip told The Comox Valley Record recently. “It’s exciting because it’s celebrating what’s going on in my life. I have a two-year-old boy, and a lot of it was written when he was young, at a time in my life that was very uplifting.”
A Quadra Island native, Philip blends together an album of soft ballads and upbeat tribal sounds, including a heavier take on Bob Marley’s Exodus.
His signature didgeridoo is present on nearly every track.
Produced by Victoria’s Joby Baker, who’s collaborated with Philip on previous albums and also plays bass and drums on the album, Love.Music.Life was recorded in only eight days. Said to have a very clear, polished sound, songs such as Lies feature Philip’s prowess on didgeridoo, while another track, Best Friends, showcases his trademark Weissenborn-style slide guitar.
Philip combines both instruments with electronic drums, percussion and accompaniments, often played all at once, in his live show.
He will be touring both the Canadian festival circuit and will be at a number of outdoor shows in the B.C. Interior this summer. Some of those include the Revelstoke Music Festival June 25, Riverside Park in Kamloops July 29, and nearby Sun Peaks Resort July 30 and 31.
Philip hits up the wilds of Ashton Creek with an intimate show at Lorenzo’s Café, east of Enderby at 901 Mabel Lake Rd., Thursday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Call (250) 838-6700 to reserve a seat. Visit www.shanephilip.com for more info.
