Maria Dunn - Can You Blame the Poor Miner? (Live) Copyright Maria Dunn, 2002

http://www.mariadunn.com - Song inspired by coal miners in Alberta in the early 1900s. Available on Maria Dunn's CD "We Were Good People" at: http://www.mariadunn.com , http://www.outside-music.com
"We Were Good People" (released 2004) is a concept CD of songs inspired by the vibrant people's history of Western Canada--stories of the resilience and hope through experiences of internment, the Depression, immigration and poverty.
Reviews of "We Were Good People":
- Mike Ross, Edmonton Sun "...remarkable singer-songwriter, think of her as a distaff Woody Guthrie"
- Mare Wakefield, Performing Songwriter Magazine "honest narration and lilting tone...exquisite album"
Other quotes:
- Rich Warren, WFMT Chicago and Sing Out! Magazine "An arrestingly powerful singer-songwriter from Canada who writes great historical and social commentary."
- Dugg Simpson, Vancouver Folk Festival, 2003 "She combines the storytelling of James Keelaghan with David Francey's ear for melodies that fit seamlessly into the tradition. The results are songs that already sound like people have been singing them for years."

Maria's musical influences include: Hazel Dickens, Nanci Griffith, Dick Gaughan, Tim O'Brien, David Francey, Eric Bogle, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, Altan, Solas, Paul Brady, Danu, Catherine Ann MacPhee and too many others to mention. She has released three independent CDs to date with another on the way (Spring 2008). All are produced by Shannon Johnson of Juno-award winning band The McDades (http://www.themcdades.com ). Other musicians she has recorded and performed live with include: Craig Korth (http://www.craigkorth.com ) and members of The Carol Project, an Edmonton songwriter version of Dickens' story "A Christmas Carol"; these include: Bill Bourne (http://www.billbourne.com ), Terry Morrison (http://www.terrymorrison.net ), Kevin Cook, Al Brant, Dale Ladouceur, and Tom Roschov (see
http://www.carolproject.com for more info on the Carol Project).
Please visit: http://www.mariadunn.com for more information.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• Canadiana
• Americana
• songwriter
• accordion
• mining
• coal
• Alberta
• history
• labour
• distantwhisp
• maria
• dunn

[bb3ca201]

I notice that you refer to Catherine-Ann MacPhee (the Gaelic singer, I'm presuming) as one of her influences. Does Maria understand Gaelic?

[distantwhisp]

Tha beagan Gaidhlig agam :-) -- a meagre amount. I've listened to many hours of Catherine-Ann's beautiful singing and the arrangements on her CDs and am continually inspired by the wonderful melodies in Gaelic song.

[bb3ca201]

Yes it was! (And by the way, I understood the Irish that you used, too!)

[Doniedaff]

Is that scots gaelic you used there? I noticed the similarity to Irish, but with slightly different words. We would say An-Mhaith or Iontach mhaith and lean ar aghaidh for cum ort. Nice to hear a bit of scots.

[bb3ca201]

Glé mhath! Tha thu a' déanamh gu brèagha -- cum ort!

(Good for you! You're doing beautifully -- keep going!)

There are many other artists that you could listen to, many via the internet: James Graham, Mary Ann Kennedy, Kathleen MacInnes, Runrig (the group). Give them a try; if you need help with the Gaelic, we can help you...

[Mhairecobhthaigh]

Just been introduced to your music. Folk at its best; a story needing to be told and retold!

[agnikalaya]

Maria is one of those truly sincere and talented artists who has so many gifts to share. I am lucky that I get to hang out with her occasionally at her house concerts here in Rochester, NY. It is a joy to be around her!

[FreshWaterOtters]

Yeah, I believe you. YOU would know. I'd love to catch one of your show's too!

[nathanstansson]

I do this song in my shows. One of the best written in this country in the last 20 years. As a student of folk music and a performer, I can tell you there are few out there like Maria Dunn. She's also one hell of a nice lady.

Nathan

[FreshWaterOtters]

This is great. Come to Northern Ontario.