‘Snowbird‘ is the lead off track of the new album ‘Great Blue North‘ by Canadian Bluegrass Band Special Consensus. ‘Snowbird‘ pairs Special Consensus’ guitarist/lead vocalist Greg Blake’s smooth baritone vocals with guest vocalist Claire Lynch‘s descant harmony vocals. It’s a beautiful take on the 1970 Anne Murray hit, written by Gene MacLellan. It’s a fitting start to the album, which is a collection of Canadian songs – some well known like this and some more obscure choices too. The album also features quite the array of guests including fellow Canadians Pharis & Jason Romero, April Verch, Ray Legere, Leonard Podolak, John Resichman and The Jaybird Trio and John Showman alongside an impressive array of US bluegrass notables including Claire Lynch, Rob Ickes, Dale Ann Bradley, Darol Anger, Amanda Smith.
Band leader Greg Cahill has said that: “Special Consensus has toured regularly in Canada since our earliest days and counts many great Canadian bluegrass players and singers among our musical friends. After we released Cape Breton-based J.P. Cormier’s song ‘Blackbird’ last year, we began to think that recording an album of all Canadian songs would be a great way to tip our hats to the immense talent in the Canadian bluegrass community. Getting to collaborate with some of our northern friends on the project was the icing on the cake.”
