The Presbyterian Church's very own Lost Pilgrims have just released a CD. The self-titled debut is a mix of folk, country gospel, bluegrass and old rock, with covers of people like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and Hoagie Carmichael.
“It's very exciting for us to have some of our favourite tunes on CD,” said Rev. Hugh Donnelly. “These are stories we love to share, and it's rewarding for us to be able to have them heard between gigs by willing ears!”
The band first met at Presbyterian Music Camp in Muskoka, and five years ago decided they liked playing together so much that they should try going beyond the camp setting. In addition to Donnelly, who plays guitar and mandolin, and is minister at Beaches, Toronto, the band consists of Scott Cooper (banjo and mandolin, and clerk of session at St. Andrew's, Port Credit), David Linderman (guitar, whistle, fife and mandolin), and Rev. Stephen Kendall (bass, and the church's principal clerk). Earlier this year, the band met John Dymond, bass player with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, who agreed to produce their CD—something fans had been asking for.
“We picked up the finished product at the end of August and are delighted with it,” said Kendall. “Each of us brings songs we love to the group and together we work out the arrangements in our own style. It's hard to describe our music, but it's easily accessible to a wide variety of tastes.”
“We don't like to be referred to as The Lost Pilgrims,” said Donnelly, “but only as Lost Pilgrims; after all, we are only four of the multitude of lost (and found) souls on this pilgrimage through life.”
The band has played in churches, art galleries, folk clubs and pubs about once a month over the past couple of years. To learn more about Lost Pilgrims, to order their CD, or to request a booking, visit www.lostpilgrims.ca.
