Amidst the loves we leave and seek, there are songs pointing to the stars and arms reaching through the blackout. We rest easy knowing that soon the sky will be filled with burning lights, our eyes brimming with wonder. Suddenly, from out of the past, a voice leans into the May wind with a heartful of harmony: “Today is Victoria Day.”

Melissa McClelland returns with her highly anticipated third album, Victoria Day. Produced by husband Luke Doucet, her Six Shooter Records debut finds McClelland deeply in touch with a sense of melody and wordplay that rivals any of her contemporaries.

Like a roadmap tracing the veins of a country one can only dream of visiting, Victoria Day is both seductive and compelling. ‘Glenrio’ invites us to a rusty locale where one can only leave with bloody knuckles. Snow falls slowly over the gentle ‘Seasoned Lovers,’ which also features a stunning vocal performance by Ron Sexsmith. McClelland’s virtuosity as a lyricist is best illustrated in ‘When the Lights Went Off In Hogtown,’ which immortalizes the Toronto blackout of 2003 with a playful and surreal command of imagery. Melissa’s song crafting skills have not gone unnoticed south of the border, where ‘Passenger 24’ from the album Thumbelina’s One Night Stand captured the title of ‘Best Americana Song’ at the Independent Music Awards.

It is the timelessness and sheer beauty of McClelland’s voice that holds our hand throughout the album, courting us with the colour of its countries. Beyond the vintage guitar tones and retro feel of the album, it is Melissa’s classic, ageless, brazenly genre-flouting voice that enraptures. Her impressive on-stage backing vocal history attests to this pure talent; Melissa has been invited to sing with Jesse Cook, Sarah McLachlan, and Luke Doucet, and was the single guest vocal appearance on Blue Rodeo’s lauded Live at Massey Hall (2008).

Melissa McClelland has constructed an album that closes and opens as though it were a season. Victoria Day is a work constituted of anthems and odes, of harlequins and hymnals, penned by a quiet poet in a corner of the bar. The songs rendered on this recording extend their hands and lean against the May wind as though the world were their shoulder. “Today is Victoria Day,” they say. “Enjoy yourselves.”

VICTORIA DAY will be available on April 14, 2009 on Six Shooter Records.

Bio written by Justin Rutledge

02.05.12 - VENLO, THE NETHERLANDS - Perron 55
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

02.06.12 - AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS - Paradiso
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

02.16.12 - DAWSON CITY, YT - Oddfellow's Hall
Whitehorse Performance

02.17.12 - 02.19.12 - WHITEHORSE, YT - Frostbite Festival
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

02.23.12 - WATERLOO, ON - Starlight
Whitehorse Performance
w/ Emma-Lee

02.24.12 - TORONTO, ON - The Winter Garden Theatre
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

02.26.12 - CHARLESTON, WV - Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

02.29.12 - CAMBRIDGE, MA - Club Passim
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.02.12 - PITTSBURGH, PA - Club Cafe
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.03.12 - CHICAGO, IL - Schubas Tavern
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.04.12 - GOSHEN, IN - Ignition Garage
Whitehorse Performance, 7:30pm

03.05.12 - MILWAUKEE, WI - Shank Hall
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.06.12 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN - 7th Street Entry
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.08.12 - ST. LOUIS, MO - Blueberry Hill
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.09.12 - KANSAS CITY, MO - Record Bar
Whitehorse Performance

03.10.12 - LITTLE ROCK, AR - Juanita's Cantina Ballroom
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.12.12 - DALLAS, TX - The Prophet Bar
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.13.12 - HOUSTON, TX - McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

03.14.12 - AUSTIN, TX - Canadian Blast BBQ
SxSW
Whitehorse Performance

03.14.12 - AUSTIN, TX - No Depression Showcase
SxSW
Whitehorse Performance

03.15.12 - AUSTIN, TX - Canada House (afternoon)
SxSW
Whitehorse Performance

03.18.12 - CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - The Southern
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

03.19.12 - HARRISBURG, PA - The Abbey at Appalachian
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

03.20.12 - NEW YORK, NY - Bowery Ballroom
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

03.22.12 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - World Cafe Live
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

03.23.12 - NEW HOPE, PA - Triumph Brewing Company
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

03.24.12 - FAIRFIELD, CT - StageOne
Whitehorse Performance w/The Wood Brothers

04.11.12 - GRANDE PRAIRE, AB - Second Street Theatre
Whitehorse Performance, 7.30pm
Tickets

04.13.12 - EDMONTON, AB - Full Moon Folk Club
Whitehorse Performance, 8pm
Tickets

04.14.12 - CALGARY, AB - Nickelodeon Music Club
Whitehorse Performance w/ Al Brant, 7.30pm
Tickets

04.15.12 - VIKING, AB - Rocket Theatre
Whitehorse Performance

04.17.12 - SASKATOON, SK - Broadway Theatre
Whitehorse Performance

04.18.12 - REGINA, SK - Artesian on 13th
Whitehorse Performance, 8pm
Tickets

04.19.12 - FORGET, SK - Anada Arthouse
Whitehorse Performance

04.20.12 - WINNIPEG, MB - WECC
Whitehorse Performance

04.24.12 - SWIFT CURRENT, SK - Lyric Theatre
Whitehorse Performance, 8pm

04.25.12 - LETHBRIDGE, AB - Geomatic Attic
Whitehorse Performance

04.26/27.12 - CANMORE, AB - Communitea Cafe
Whitehorse Performance
Tickets

04.28.12 - RED DEER, AB - The Hideout
Whitehorse Performance

05.24.12 - NOTTINGHAM, UK - The Maze
Whitehorse Performance, 7.30pm

05.27.12 - SHEFFIELD, UK - The Greystones
Whitehorse Performance w/Roaming Sons, 8pm
Tickets

Find more tour dates with Melissa McClelland & Luke Doucet at Whitehorsemusic.ca