Heather Kelday - Biography

Considered a blend of folk, jazz, blues and bluegrass, Heather Kelday writes in the creative spirit of indie-pop music, while rooting her songs in folk melodies. Heather’s strong voice, multi-instrumental talents (including banjo, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin and piano), and lyrical passion for the natural world carve a unique place for her in Canada’s music scene. In September 2007, after 6 years of touring and performing with bands "Barefoot' and 'A Band of Owls' she is hitting the road solo.

Heather’s songwriting has spanned many genres over her ten year career in music. She began writing songs in 1998 and formed the folk/rock/jam band ‘Barefoot’ in 2001. Barefoot independently booked four cross-Canada tours and released 3 albums including ‘Road 2’ in 2002, ‘The Rabelstein E.P.’ in 2004 and ‘Migration’ in 2005.

‘Barefoot’ changed its name to ‘A Band of Owls’ in the fall of 2006 when they released a folk//bluegrass album titled "Of wood and water, stars and song". Since its release, the album has been receiving nation-wide attention on CBC’s Vinyl Café and Fresh Air programs, as well as college and independent radio programs, and is featured on a compilation for the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto.

Whether on the road, in a local theater or hosting a barn show, Heather and A Band of Owls have co-billed and opened for artists such as Annabelle Chvostek, Craig Cardiff, Kim Barlow, Old Man Leudecke, David Myles, Mark Reeves, Mr. Something Something, Burt Neilson Band, Ember Swift, and Luther Wright and the Wrongs.
Heather has also been featured in festival songwriting circles, accompanying and jamming with popular musicians such as Bruce Guthro and Rylee Madison at the Ross Creek Festival in 2004, The Wailin Jenny’s at Thundering Woman’s Festival in 2004, Rita Chiarelli and Guy Davis at the Live from the Rock Festival in 2007 and Joel Plasket, Mary Gauthier, Annabelle Chvostek and Andrew White at the Deep Roots Music Festival in 2007.

Heather is now looking forward to the release of her first solo album in over a decade titled "The Hitchin' Post" scheduled to be released in the spring of 2008.

Deep Roots Music Festival in Wolfville NS in September 2007
Live from the Rock Folk Festival in Red Rock ON in August 2007
Evolve Festival in Antigonish NS in 2006
Deep Roots Music Festival in Wolfville NS 2005
Islands Folk Festival in Duncan BC in 2005
Ross Creek Arts Festival in Canning NS 2004
Thundering Woman’s Festival in Thunder Bay ON in 2004
Canadian Tulips Festival in Ottawa ON in 2003
The Come Together Festival in Durham ON in 2002, 2003
Kokanee Beer Festival in Creston BC in 2002

Shows 2007

Monday August 13th @ Loplops, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
August 10-12 @ Live from the Rock Folk Festival, Red Rock, ON
Wednesday August 8th @ Pic River Guest Suites, Pic River, ON
Tuesday August 7th @ Serendipity Gardens, Ross Port, ON
Friday August 3rd @ The Now Lounge, Toronto, ON. With Emma Cook
Thursday August 2nd @ The Dalby House, Elora, ON
Wednesday August 1st @ The Button Factory, Waterloo, ON
Tuesday July 31st @ The Moonshine Cafe, Oakville, ON
Monday July 30th @ Bytown Tavern, Ottawa ON.
Sunday July 29th @ Le Divan Orange, Montreal QC.
Friday July 27th @ Sessions Cafe, Rothsay NB
Saturday July 14th @ Lunenburg Arts Festival
Sunday July 1st@ Ross Creek Canada Day Festival
Friday June 1st @ Front Porch Music Winsor NS. with Jamie Junger
Sunday May 20th @ The Barn Owl house show with Annabelle Chvostek
Saturday March 17 @ Old Orchard Barn - Wolfville with Ember Swift
Sunday March 4 @ Le Divan Orange - Montreal with David Myles
Saturday March 3 @ Dalby House - Elora with Big Love
Friday March 2 @ The Now Lounge - Toronto with Janine Stoll
Thursday March 1 @ Red Dog - Voices of Burma Fundraiser
Friday February 23 @ Al Whittle Theater -0 Decades show with Mike Aube and Rick MacNab
Thursday February 15 @ ECMA 72 Hour Jam
Wednesday February 14 @ The Wardroom - Halifax
Friday February 9 @ Union St. Cafe
Monday February 5 @ Paddy's - Wolfville
Friday February 2 @ Gingers Tavern - Halifax, NS
Saturday January 27 @ The Underground Cafe - Fredericton, NB
Sunday January 21 @ The Pearl Theatre Lunenburg NS
Friday January 19 @ Annapolis Arts Centre
Thursday January 18 @ Acadia University
Friday January 13 @ One World Cafe - Halifax

Shows 2006

Saturday December 2 @ The Bus Stop Theater - Halifax

Thursday November 23 @ On the verge Wolfville with Caledonia

Sunday November 19 @ One World Cafe Halifax

Saturday November 18 @ Kings Theatre Annapolis Royal

Thursday October 26 @ Al Whittle Theater (Acadia Cinema Coop)

Tuesday October 3rd@ The Underground Café Fredericton NB
Thursday the 5th @ The Red Dog Peterborough ON

Tuesday October 10 @ Cest What Toronto ON 67 Front St. East

Wednesday October 11 @ The Moonshine Café

Thursday October 12 @ Pharmacie L'esperanza Montreal QC r

Friday August 4~Sunday August 6 EVOLVE FESTIVAL Antigonish, NS

Saturday July 8th @ Wolfville NS.

Saturday June 3rd @ White Rock

Sunday April 23rd @ The NOW Lounge - Toronto

Wednesday April 26th @ The Red Dog Tavern, Peterborough ON.

Saturday March 18th @ Gingers Tavern, Halifax, NS

Heather Kelday with live Drummer - Jay Jutzi - Opening for Free Flow

Saturday March 4th @ Avant Garde Bar, Ottawa, ON
Heather Kelday with live Jay Jutzi
Opening for Stephen Franke and Noises from the Toolshed

Thursday January 5th with DJ Kid Bomba @ Ginger's Tavern, Halifax NS.

Shows 2005

Friday September 23rd @ Al Whittle Theater, Wolfville NS- w/ laser show extravaganza!!
Saturday September 24th @ Ginger's Tavern,Halifax NS.
Friday August 12th @ The Wilno Tavern, Wilno ON.
Monday August 8th @ The Apollo, Thunder Bay, ON.
Monday August 1st @ The Rose and Crown, Banff, AB.
Saturday July 30th @ The Abbey, Cumberland, BC.
Thursday July 28th @ Gorge Hall, Cortez Island, BC.
Tuesday July 26th @ Agricultural Hall, Mayne Island, BC.
Friday to Sunday July 22-24th @ The Island Folk Festival Duncan, BC.
Thursday July 21st @ The Grove Pub, Vancouver, BC.
Saturday July 16th @ The Royal on Baker, Nelson, BC
Friday July 15th @ The Roadhouse Tavern, Golden, BC.
Thursday July 14th @ The Canmore Hotel, Canmore, AB.
Saturday July 9th @ Naturally Superior Kayaking, Wawa, ON.
Friday July 8th @ The Town Hall
Thursday July 7th @ The Blue Moon, Toronto, ON.
Wednesday July 6th @ The Spill Cafe, Peterborough, ON.
Tuesday July 5th @ Langdon St. Cafe, Montpelier, VT
Friday July 1st @ The Bread Factory, Montreal, QC
Thursday June 30th @ Capital Bar
CD Release and Tour Sendoff Show-SOLD OUT!
Friday May 6 @ Ginger's Tavern Halifax NS with Horry Leden
Saturday April 30 @ Art Can Gallery, Canning, NS
Friday April 29 @ The Knot Pub, Lunenburg, NS
Friday April 1 @ The Grad House at Dal, Halifax, NS
Saturday March 26 @ Ginger's Tavern, Halifax, NS
Sunday March 6- @ Bread Factory � Montreal, QU
Friday March 4 @ University of Waterloo,Bombshelter Pub, Opening for Craig Cardiff�s CD Release Party
Thursday March 3 @ Grad Club, Kingston, ON-Opening for Craig Cardiffs CD Release Party
Wednesday March 2 @ Café Dekcuf, Ottawa, ON-Opening for Craig Cardiffs CD Release Party
Tuesday March 1 @ Cest What, Toronto, ON