“A collective fresh breath was taken as Tragedy Ann took the stage and emanated romance, harmony and joy with such charm and dynamic interplay that the hush became palpable. The applause rose in wave upon wave throughout their set.”
Tragedy Ann is a Forward-looking Folk duo from Guelph, Ontario.
Braiding organic vocal harmonies with organ, accordion, singing saw, and guitars, Tragedy Ann’s arrangements are as delicate as they are driving. Their concerts emanate “…the honesty and enthusiasm of people who can’t help but create and perform.” (Jon Farmer, Georgian Bay Roots).
With their new album Heirlooms, Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan issue a call for deeper connection with each other and with the natural world.
The answer to this call is reflected both in the collaborative creation process and the meaningful ways in which Heirlooms is being shared. Setting these intentions rooted them and provided the insight needed to nourish the project and create something lasting.
We want Heirlooms to encourage listeners to question their individual choices and
reconsider the experiences of others in their communities, provoking critical thought
rather than merely expressing our opinions. In order to encourage this in others,
we must do so ourselves.
Heirlooms is an opportunity to reconnect, share stories and learn.
The album is a follow up to their 2018 release Matches which garnered them two ‘Songs from the Heart’ songwriting awards (Folk Music Ontario), international critical acclaim, Canadian folk/roots radio charting, and syndication on CBC Radio and Stingray Music.
Tragedy Ann has performed at such venues as the National Arts Centre, Haliburton Folk Society, Brampton Folk Society, Cuckoo’s Nest Folk Club, Blue Skies Music Festival, Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival, Home County Folk Festival, and Egersund Visefestival (Norway). They have gratefully received sponsorship and financial support from the Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR, SPARC, and Stonebridge Guitars.
In addition to their musical endeavours as a duo, they can also be seen on-stage with The Lifers, heard on their peers’ albums, and found facilitating songwriting workshops and music lessons.
At home, their musical and personal lives are inevitably married - both literally and figuratively. Cazzola and Phelan are passionate about community-building, gardening, and culinary adventure. Braden is the president of the Guelph Arts Council’s board of directors, and Liv is a founding member of the Canadian chapter of Music Declares Emergency. Dedicated to living gently and ethically in community, they attend meetings, town halls, and demonstrations organized by local environmental and social justice organizations.
“...chockfull of talent and things to say... lovingly crafted, no note out of place.”
