Interview with Lori Yates

Not many artists come up with the best work of their career three decades in, but happily Lori Yates has done just that. 

Sweetheart of the Valley, her 7th recording, shows that the honky-tonk heroine is at the very top of her game. This stellar collection of new songs showcase her twin talents as a compelling songwriter and the possessor of a voice that few can equal.

When it came time to record a follow up to her award-winning acoustic "The Book of Minerva", she called in roots heavyweights & bandmates Hey Stella! - Bazil Donovan (Blue Rodeo, Doug Paisley), David Baxter (Justin Rutledge, Kim Beggs), Michelle Josef (Etta James, Prairie Oyster).  The results are being heralded as "An dark alt-country masterpiece." Lori Yates reclaims her title as queen of Canada's country singer-songwriters". (GR, Hamilton Spectator)

This enigmatic, rebellious and hard to pin down veteran singer/songwriter, Yates adeptly blends country, folk, rockabilly and cow-punk to create her own award-winning sound and style of writing. (Songwriter of the Year & Alt-Country Album of the Year, Hamilton Music Awards 2007).

One of Canada's roots/americana pioneers, she still has the same scrappy spirit and determination as she did when she first burst onto the Toronto Queen St. W. scene of the late '80"s as the "cowgirl singing her heart out in the rock clubs". Lori has been called "alt-country" long before the phrase existed.

This is as artist who met Johnny Cash, hung out with Tammy Wynette, wrote with Guy Clark, jammed with Jerry Jeff Walker, partied with Harlan Howard, recorded with Greg Allman and ate jelly beans with Roy Acuff!