Jessica Rhaye
AND The Ramshackle Parade
The Ramshackle Parade is a Canadian folk-rock band that formed in 2018, originally assembled to support Jessica Rhaye's album Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan (2019). Jessica describes this ensemble as her musical family, a blend of intimate singer songwriter, alt-country, Americana, folk-rock, and straight-ahead rock'n'roll music.
Among the band's primary members are Jessica Rhaye (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano), Christopher Braydon (electric & baritone guitars, electric bass), Sandy MacKay (upright and electric bass, mandolin, piano, vocals), Bill Preeper (electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, vocals), Clinton Charlton (drums, percussion), Dale Murray (producer, guitars, pedal steel) and Jordi Comstock (drums, percussion).
Each member of The Ramshackle Parade brings diverse influences and talents, including current and former memberships in folk acts, punk and rock bands and solo performances, the band's music is inspired by a wide range of artists and styles. Although the band initially formed around a love of Bob Dylan’s classics, their rehearsals evolved into what has been described as a love of free-flowing jams, with each member bringing ideas to the floor as their sound developed.
Just Like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan, is the group’s first recording together, capturing a hot mix of musicians, no click tracks and very few overdubs, true to Dylan's earlier recording style. The results are a fun folk-rock album with psychedelic undertones and engaging new interpretations of the master’s works.
During the first album's recording sessions, and their subsequent tour, the band gelled so well that Jessica Rhaye enlisted the guys support to write and record Sunshine Baby (2023), their second album under The Ramshackle Parade banner. The results have been what Grid City Magazine calls, “Musical collaborators that have struck gold as a group of players who compliment and elevate each other on stage.”
“Our band name ‘The Ramshackle Parade’ is borrowed and bent from a tune on Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros’ Streetcore album. That name felt like a good fit for the sound that we came up with while making this record.”
RELEASES
TOUR DATES
Just Like A Woman
Songs of Bob Dylan - LIVE SHOW
This rollicking folk-rock interpretation of Dylan's classics and hidden gems transcends the concept of a simple tribute album.
Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan - LIVE with Jessica Rhaye and backed by The Ramshackle Parade is an evening of folk-rock interpretations of Dylan's classics and hidden gems, professional musicians performing live together - true to the style of Dylan’s earlier work in Woodstock, the days of the Basement Tapes. The result is a fun folk-rock show with psychedelic undertones, with folkie ballads, a conversation between rockabilly and swing, and engaging new interpretations of the Master’s works. The music from this band flows naturally but is also derelict, delicate and pure.
“There is something about Bob Dylan’s songs that we connect with...the melodies and Dylan’s simple ease of delivery when singing and performing his songs, we feel like there’s an invitation, like it’s ok to feel like they can be our songs. Dylan always approached production with a minimalist hand. The real people, the noises of the shirt buttons, chairs scraping the floor or mistakes people made, these were allowed to stay in the final tracks, rather than cut out on the editing floor. These features always made Dylan’s work accessible...you could always tell, there were real people somewhere in a room playing these tunes together. That’s what we hope listeners take away from this record.”
LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEOS
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EAST COAST (CANADA)
Imperial Theatre - Saint John, NB
Charlotte Street Arts Centre - Fredericton, NB
Capitol Theatre - Moncton, NB
The Carleton Music Bar - Halifax, NS
Evergreen Theatre - Margaretsville, NS
Astor Theatre - Liverpool, NS
The Osprey Arts Centre - Shelburne NS
Trailside Music Hall - Charlottetown PEONTARIO
National Arts Centre (4th Stage) - Ottawa, ON
Red Bird Live - Ottawa ON
Hugh’s Room Live - Toronto, ON
The Dakota Tavern - Toronto ON
Doghouse Studios - Napanee, ON
The Cove Country Inn - Westport, ON
The Station Theatre - Smiths Falls ON
Mills Hardware - Hamilton ON
Aeolian Hall - London ONQUEBEC
Casa Del Popolo - Montreal QC -
“Thank you Jessica and band for an amazing show, one of our best of 2019!” - Evergreen Theatre, NS
“Loved everything about the night. Come back!” - The Cove Country Inn, ON
“Great show friends!” - Astor Theatre, NS
“Jessica and the band sounded great!” - National Arts Centre, ON
“The show (Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan) tonight - a total success!” - The Carleton
“Great concert! The audience loved it!” - Lansdowne Concerts, promoter of Charlotte Street Arts Centre
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Ring Them Bells
Sad Eyed Lady of the Low Lands
As I Went Out One Morning
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
It's All Over Now Baby Blue
One More Cup Of Coffee
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
Blowin' In The Wind
Lay Down Your Weary Tune
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Queen Jane
Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You
Girl From The North Country
Hard Rain
To Make You Feel My Love
This Wheel’s on Fire
Standing In The Doorway Crying
Maggies Farm
If Not For You
Just like a woman
songs of bob dylan (2019)
1 - Ring Them Bells
2 - Sad Eyed Lady of the Low Lands
3 - As I Went Out One Morning
4 -I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
5 - It's All Over Now Baby Blue
6 - One More Cup Of Coffee
7 - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
8 - Blowin' In The Wind
9 - Lay Down Your Weary Tune
“Jessica Rhaye’s got a new collection of Bob Dylan reinterpretations coming out this fall, one of the best I’ve heard since Tim O’Brien’s excellent collection from back in the 90’s. I especially love to hear women’s voices singing Bob’s music—-there’s something about the female perspective that seems to complete the Dylan message, as if his songs are notes left in a bottle needing to crash on the siren’s rock before they can be fully released. Mavis Staples is one of those sirens, as is Joan Armatrading, and now, thankfully, Jessica Rhaye.”
Just Like a Woman captures a hot mix of professionals - no click tracks and very few overdubs - true to the recording style of Dylan’s earlier work. With producer and multi-musician Dale Murray at the helm, it was free flow. All band members brought ideas to the floor. They imagined working in the style of Dylan in Woodstock, the days of the Basement Tapes and Big Pink, in the wake of the motorcycle crash. The result is a fun folk-rock album with psychedelic undertones, with folkie ballads, a conversation between rockabilly and swing, and engaging new interpretations of the Master’s works.
The album covers some of Dylan’s early career, some tracks from the late 60’s when Dylan was moving from the political to the mystical and the lyrical imagery was painting pictures in the minds of young fans like Rhaye. The record works into the 70s and 80s as well- still Dylan’s ‘early career’!
The album includes I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight(John Wesley Harding ’67), As I Went Out One Morning(John Wesley Harding ’67), I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine(John Wesley Harding ’67), Lay Down Your Weary Tune(Written for The Times They Are A-Changin’ ’63 / Released on Biograph ’85), Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands(Blonde on Blonde ’66), It’s All Over Now Baby Blue (Bringing It All Back Home ’65), Blowin’ in the Wind(Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan ’63), one track from the 1970’s, One More Cup of Coffee(Desire ’76) one track from the 1980’s Ring Them Bells(Oh Mercy ’89).
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"Jessica Rhaye's got a new collection of Bob Dylan reinterpretations coming out this fall, one of the best I've heard since Tim O'Brien's excellent collection from back in the 90's. I especially love to hear women's voices singing Bob's music---there's something about the female perspective that seems to complete the Dylan message, as if his songs are notes left in a bottle needing to crash on the siren's rock before they can be fully released. Mavis Staples is one of those sirens, as is Joan Armatrading, and now, thankfully, Jessica Rhaye." - Ketch Secor - Old Crow Medicine Show
“The modern folk trio offered their skills to the famed Dylan track (Blowin’ in the Wind) in this string-laden rendition. Rich with golden vocals, acoustics, and even a mandolin, Rhaye, and her group would make Baez and the rest of the ’60s decade proud with this heartfelt version.” - American Songwriter Magazine
“In a Stan-worthy move only the biggest Dylan diehard could pull, New Brunswick folk queen Rhaye has spliced, examined and re-assembled ol’ Bob’s songbook. The result? A collection of covers that attempts to emulate the legend’s Basement Tapes-era energy while seeing some of the best songs about women ever written showcased through a woman’s gaze.” - The Coast
"Love what you did on the album. Especially love that you and the band did not simply recite the songs but interpreted them and made them your own" - Michael Tearson, DJ, - Sound Museum | World Wide Dylan www.rtds.ca
"Nice work with the Dylan tunes, especially liked hearing Lay Down Your Weary Tune" - Ron Sexsmith
"I like it a lot. Very cool project." - Dr. Rob Bowman, Grammy-Award-Winning Professor of Ethnomusicology
“Rhaye’s vocals are straight from the heart here and they’re gorgeous. And her band delivers big-time. It’s one of my favourite records of 2019 so far.” - Doug Gallant, The Western Star
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• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Group Recording of the Year (Sunshine Baby)
• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Fans’ Choice Video of the Year (Come A Little Closer)
• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Visual Artist of the Year
• Music NB 2024 Nomination - Recording of the Year (Sunshine Baby)
• Music NB 2024 WINNER - Video of the Year (Reaching Out To You)
• Music NB 2024 Nomination - Song of the Year (I Feel Fine)
• ECMA 2021 Nomination - Group Recording of the Year (Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Recording of the Year (Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Live Act of the Year (The Ramshackle Parade)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Fans’ Choice of the Year
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Video of the Year (Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands)
• Music NB 2020 WINNER - Visual Identity of the Year -
For press photos + more info about Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade please visit:
Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade’s version of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind has generated over 20 million views on YouTube!
“The modern folk trio offered their skills to the famed Dylan track (Blowin’ in the Wind) in this string-laden rendition. Rich with golden vocals, acoustics, and even a mandolin, Rhaye, and her group would make Baez and the rest of the ’60s decade proud with this heartfelt version.”
MUSIC VIDEOS
Behind the Songs and Making of…
Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan:
Just Like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan captures a hot mix of professionals performing live together - no click tracks and very few overdubs - true to the recording style of Dylan’s earlier work. With producer and multi-musician Dale Murray at the helm, it was free flow. All band members brought ideas to the floor. They imagined working in the style of Dylan in Woodstock, the days of the Basement Tapes and Big Pink, in the wake of the motorcycle crash.
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Ring Them Bells (Oh Mercy - 1989)
Our version of this song takes on a gospel rock groove. When Dale played the piano and organ parts, he followed the approach of ‘organist’ Al Kooper on “Like a Rolling Stone”. Kooper, who was not an organ player but wanted very much to be on the record, didn’t know how to play the song and played late on all the chord changes, creating a signature sound. “I didn’t learn the chords,” says Dale, “just kinda played along - that was my approach on the organ and piano on everything here.” We loved watching Chris prep and play the guitar break on this track - an eel’s nest of cables and pedals to create the dual guitar lead that sounds like a waterfall and the result is a great take with a fun loose feel! The intro is a short guitar piece of Dylan’s “Duquesne Whistle” from ‘Tempest’ - played by Bill and distorted by Chris. -
Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Blonde on Blonde - 1966)
The original is 5 verses long and takes up the whole side of Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’ album. We trimmed it down to just the first 2 verses. Originally, we tried for an old-style folk sound, but that was too close to Joan Baez’s arrangement. Clinton came up with this pop arrangement, breathing new air and a unique feel on a song that Dylan says was the best song he ever wrote. -
As I Went Out One Morning (John Wesley Harding - 1967)
Chris introduced us to Wovenhand’s tenor guitar version from a live performance he found. From Wovenhand, we borrowed and adapted the “Hey Ho Na Di Do” lyric and then put a dark psychedelic spin on the whole thing. This tune captures a moment in time as the protagonist agrees to help a slave flee, and they’re caught before a single step is taken. When we first played this tune live, we were starting to spread our rock’n’roll wings and nervous about alienating some of our folky fans. One of our fans came roaring up to us after the show, saying “I love that song, what was that, where did that come from?! I love it!” -
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine (John Wesley Harding - 1967)
“This is the first Bob Dylan song I fell in love with as a kid, while lying in the back of my parents’ old station wagon driving to early morning Judo class. I always picture Van Gough’s ‘Starry Night’ when I listen to this song” says Jessica. Chris’ beautiful guitar solo, along with the delicate cymbal work and bowed bass gives our version of this epic song a lush dreamy feel. Dylan talks about the John Wesley Harding album, and his increased interests in painting and his work to sharpen the imagery in his lyrics at the time. -
It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Bringing It All Back Home - 1965)
Someone said, “Let’s rock this out like a Traveling Wilburys' tune!” and so we did. Bill and Dale played dueling 12-string and 6-string acoustic guitars around 1 microphone in the recording studio to get that feel, and we all did hand claps. Like many Dylan tunes, there’s a wealth of lyrics with crazy images and characters challenging the singer to remember everything! -
One More Cup of Coffee (Desire - 1976)
Clinton kicked off this cut with a slinky rhythm to give this song a seductive gypsy, psychedelic feel. The organ adds a touch of Phantom of the Opera. There are 2 versions of this song. The short version is on vinyl and the full version can be picked up in the virtual world. -
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (John Wesley Harding - 1967)
We enjoy the flirtation that happens between Chris’ rockabilly electric guitar and Dale’s old time country pedal steel. It’s like a conversation going on between these two instruments, each one bringing a voice from a different era. This is another tune we had to trim to fit on vinyl so there are 2 versions - short version on vinyl and full version on digital. -
Blowin' In The Wind (Free Wheelin’ Bob Dylan - 1963)
“This is the first song my mom taught me to sing and play on guitar,” said Jessica. “ When kids in Jr. High were lip-synching to the latest radio hits at school variety shows, I was singing ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ and strummin’ my guitar.” Bill, Sandy and Jess recorded this song ‘live off the floor’ in one room, all instruments and voices in one live take (well, it took a lot of takes but you get the drift), then the bass was added afterwards. We wanted to get a live folk vibe for this tune. -
Lay Down Your Weary Tune
(Written for The Times They Are A-Changin' - 1963 / Released on Biograph - 1985)
To wrap up this record, we wanted a fun Sunday gospel-feel-good tune. Some say this song represents Bob Dylan’s shift from politics to mysticism. Jess, Sandy and Bill share the verses and by the end of it, everyone’s in on the chorus in a big noisy party fashion. This tune features Bill on accordion - he learned his part on his grandmother’s 100-year-old button accordion. This was the last tune we recorded and it captures perfectly how excited we were feeling by the end of these sessions.
CONTACT:
MANAGEMENT:
Scout Music Group
BOOKING (CANADA):
Scout Music Group
Mark Marshall
PUBLICITY:
What’s The Story
Beth Cavanagh