Contributed
“Part glitzy pop, part avant-pop, and part fun” (More Than a Feeling), Sidney York began as the long-distance relationship of three former band geeks: opera singer Brandi Sidoryk (“Sid”), oboist Sheryl Reinhardt, and bassoonist Krista Wodelet. Brought together in part by high school honor band, and in part by a serendipitous connection on a certain friendly Canadian airline, they join forces to create an avant-pop renaissance of the unusual instruments they grew up with. Sidney York’s three frontwomen deliver a live experience that rollercoasters from bubbly, clap-and-whistle-along pop to sweet and sexy vocal harmonies, and their powerful onstage presence always leaves audiences wanting more.
Sidney York’s album Apocalyptic Radio Cynic, released May 2011, is a creative experiment of mixing their ghosts of musical past with the current influences of their independent music contemporaries. Created with like-minded visionaries including producers Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother, Hannah Georgas), Josh Rob Gwilliam (Ghosts Of Modern Man, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald) and Russell Broom (Jann Arden, The Dudes) and mixed by Howard Redekopp (The New Pornographers, Mother Mother, Hannah Georgas), Apocalyptic Radio Cynic infuses classical woodwind sonorities on an avant-garde foundation of upbeat and sparkly indie pop.
Named Best Untapped Newcomer at the Calgary Folk Fest, Sidney York has also performed at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, South Country Fair, Canadian Music Fest, NXNE, and Vancouver Jazz Fest, and has shared the stage with notable artists Chad VanGaalen, Rich Aucoin, and Carly Rae Jepsen. In June 2012, they were one of ten bands invited by CBC Radio 3 and Green Couch Productions to Tracks on Tracks, a cross-Canada music showcase and documentary aboard a ViaRail train. With featured rotation on the Bravo channel’s video playlist as well as 150 live shows across Canada in a single year, Sidney York’s prowess and dedication are more than paying off.
“Dick & Jane”, the first single off of Apocalyptic Radio Cynic, has charted on Vancouver’s Peak 100.5 FM top 30 playlist and its catchy shot-in-one-take music video has received over 33,000 views on YouTube. Songs from Apocalyptic Radio Cynic are in rotation on CBC Radio One, CBC Radio 3, Vancouver’s The Peak 100.5 FM (for over 8 months), UP! 97.7 FM (Calgary), 103.5 FM The Bridge (Nelson), CKDU (Halifax), and CJSF (Burnaby); and have been featured on Live 88.5 FM (Ottawa) and The Zone FM (Victoria).
From the opera stage and the orchestra pit into indie music, Sidney York is proof that band geeks are cool.
