Singer-songwriter Aaron MacDonald comes from Mabou, on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, but his musical adventures have taken him all over the country. He released his first album in 1998 and toured extensively with his band for five or six years, building a strong following on the East Coast and attracting fans across Canada with his alt-country-folk-rock sound.
After releasing three albums and an EP in six years, establishing himself in the bar/pub scene, and living in Vancouver, Toronto, Windsor and Halifax, Aaron took some time off to concentrate on his songwriting and recording. He returned to the stage in 2008 with a fresh set of tunes, and a new album, “John Prine’s Advice”.
“The title track, and inspiration for the album, was written after a final tour stop in Montreal,” says MacDonald. “When I got back to Nova Scotia, I wrote the tune and decided to go back to my roots, beautiful Cape Breton Island, and get back to the basics of writing songs.”
Now settled back in his hometown of Mabou, it’s looking like a well-timed, good move. The album was nominated for a 2009 East Coast Music Award in the Pop Recording of the Year category, and the first single, “Drizzle”, reached Number 1 on the East Coast Countdown. The tune was also selected for Las Vegas internet radio station RadioRNR’s "New Faces, New Music Volume 3" compilation CD.
As a result of his years playing music on the road, his time spent living in different cities across Canada, and his east coast upbringing, MacDonald’s music comes across as something between the funky, positive-vibe tunes of someone like Jack Johnson and the East Coast country-contemporary sound of Jimmy Rankin.
It’s easily accessible music that appeals to audiences of all ages and wouldn’t sound out of place at a festival, in a soft-seat theatre setting, or even at a full on rock show, as evidenced by the wide range of artists he has shared the stage with over the years-Blue Rodeo, Jimmy Rankin, Gordie Sampson, Jimmy Swift Band, The Trews, Joel Plaskett, Bruce Guthro, Ron Hynes, Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Great Big Sea, Matt Andersen and Slowcoaster.
This universal appeal has been recognized most recently by the United Way of Nova Scotia which has commissioned MacDonald to write their new campaign song, “United (We Can Carry On)”. The song has been chosen by the United Way of Newfoundland and Labrador as well.
