aaamusic | On 26, Apr 2012

Woods is a blend of many influences, not quite folk, not quite pop, but contains qualities of both to create a sound all his own. The Widowmaker’s profound artistic statement continues to move the listener’s expectation forward with regard to what one can expect from Donovan Woods. A masterful storytelling and sparse musical tapestry, combining the happy and the sad, the heavy and the light, and creating an ongoing narrative between the artist and the listener.
Clever and engaging, clear and succinct, the music of Donovan Woods draws a listener in and asks you to take your coat off and stay awhile. An eviscerating singer-songwriter in the vein of Damien Rice and Iron & Wine, Woods invites us into his world through crafting meticulous tales full of triumph, rejection, and love.
“…there is something magical about a man and a guitar that doesn’t need tricks to make you keep listening. Donovan Woods has that magic.” Hero Hill
“A fine multi-instrumentalist … keeps his tunes brief and spare, while his husky vocals and smart lyrics pack the emotional punch “ Now Music
Donovan grew up singing with his local church choir in Sarnia, Ontario. Named after legendary musician Donovan Leitch (“Mellow Yellow”), Woods was introduced to folk music at an early age. “We’d listen to Arlo Guthrie, Canned Heat, or Paul Simon for hours,” recalls Woods. “In the beginning I hated it, hanging out with Dad, but now I wish I could go back and hear what we were getting into”.
In his songwriting, Woods firmly believes in simplicity, something he attributes to touring with The Andy Kim Band. After being handpicked by Kim, Woods joined the band in a national tour in 2006. Working and touring with the writer of the American classic, “Sugar, Sugar” had a profound influence on him and resulted in the release of his first studio album, The Hold Up (2006). The Hold Up received critical and public attention within Canada and the United States. Having a song with such atmospheric national pride as “My Cousin has a Grey Cup Ring” on the album didn’t hurt, either. For two years (and counting) the song has been broadcast in its entirety during CBC’s televised coverage of the Grey Cup.
As we invite you to make your own mind up about this stunning new album, maybe the final word is best left to Wood’s “I want to write songs that stick around, solid songs that age well. A lot of songwriting these days is cheap. I’m trying to write the expensive stuff; the stuff that only comes out when there’s company coming”.

May 14th
Birbeck Tavern
45 Langthorne Road London, E11 4HL

May 18th
The Constitution,
42 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0QT

www.bestsongwriterever.com myspace.com/donovanwoods twitter.com/donovanwoods