artist Colleen Eccleston

Hi, I am very pleased to announce this concert at the Metro Studio Theatre in Victoria. Joining me will be some very special guests including Karel Roessingh and Marc Atkinson. There is a visual component to this concert as well created by John Carswell and featuring outstanding photographs by Laura Akers, Sean McCullough and Cindy Eccleston. Hope to see you there. Tickets are available through Ticket Rocket 250-590-6291 and at the door. $22. Doors at 7:30

The Garden of Chaos I’ve known Colleen for years, and I still remember the first time I heard her sing. Her voice contained sunshine and fresh ocean breezes, a lilt to make your day a happy one. Thankfully, that hasn’t changed one bit! This latest release is a wonderful work, and it will be seeing a great deal of playtime around here. I compared Colleen’s vocals to those of the fabled Sirens with her first solo release “In Essence,” and I wasn’t wrong. In fact she’s still holding true, with a voice that will lure you in and hold on until the last note has come to a close. A dangerous blend of skillful song writing and gorgeous vocals makes Colleen an artist whose work is timeless and a must have for any true music aficionado’s collection. With “Feels Like Home” I am transported to the coast and the Island where I spent my life until moving to the prairies ten months ago. I can almost taste the salt laden winds as the track opens up with waves lapping at the shore. A perpetually “happy” song, this contains the heart of the west coast within its notes. The rest of the world is big beautiful and worth exploring, but the Island… Ahhh, the Island. “This could very well be, the place where I’m meant to be… out on an Island like a jewel in the sea… oh, it feels like home…” “My Boy Says” is a wonderfully realistic look at life and the good that can come from bad. A bright hopeful second generation sprung from a darker first. “All we are is just the chances that we take… How can I tell him that his heart is gonna break… would that I am wrong, and he is born to a different fate…” The melody itself enchants and captures, simple yet memorable. The pairing of music and lyrics achieves something so many seek – near perfection. There is hope contained within the very melody. You can almost feel the sun breaking through the clouds and shining down. Colleen’s voice is showcased in an a cappella treat - “The Garden of Chaos.” Accompanied only by bird song and the sharp caw of either a raven or a crow, a light breeze and what could be a distant bell, Colleen sings of a break from reality. “It [the Garden] knows the balance between all work and no play.” There’s almost an old time gospel feel to this track, quite suited to the vocal strength of this talented songbird. I think I would like to spend some time in that particular garden! “The Garden of Chaos” is an exceptional display of vocal talent, and the music is great, too! If you’d like to know a little more about Colleen’s release “In Essence” you can find the review here at Linear Reflections. I would definitely suggest adding this CD to your collection as soon as humanely possible. APT = 41 mins Feels Like Home My Boy Says A Good Place True Love Nothing’s Fair Boy With Hungry Eyes Under the Sun The Sounding Bone The Wrong Hands Love Moves The Garden of Chaos The Players: Colleen Eccleston – guitar, vocals Scott White - bass Joby Baker- drums, keys, percussion, bass and string section, guitar Lester Quitzau- slide guitar Marc Atkinson- guitar, electric, color commentator Article by: Naomi De Bruyn posted:02 Feb 2011

Hi. I have spent an extraordinary amount of time driving across Canada in my life. When the Ecclestons were on the road playing in Smithers BC and we were in the middle of sound check for the show I started writing Feels Like Home. I was thinking about the great Mark Perry who is from Smithers and the first verse wrote itself. The second verse is about the prairies and Betula Lake in Manitoba in the White Shell where we would all hang out with cousins and canoe through the wild rice and jump off the pier into the water. The last verse is about Vancouver Island where I have lived for many years and raised my sons. Ironically it works for Newfoundland as well where I grew up. There is just something about an Island. . . This recording has a snippet of Mark Perry phoning in the hook from his Under Northern Skies song. Hope you enjoy it. By the way the boxes of CDs have arrived and are officially for sale. Mail order at the moment. I will keep you posted. All the best! Colleen

When you work for world peace and you march against war and you listen to Russian Generals talking about their own time in Afghanistan and how the troops there now are merely repeating the experience and there truly is no hope of any other outcome you have to wonder why we are still there? As a songwriter I cannot sit by and not say anything. So enjoy this song Under the Sun and bring our soldiers home. We are Peace keepers at heart after all.

I realized that alot of my songs are environmental because that is where my heart is.I have always admired David Suzuki and how tirelessly he works for the health and survival of this planet. This recording of The Circle of Life was done with the Vic High Neighbourhood Choir, Mark Hellman, director while I was guesting with them. It was a wonderful evening. Hope you enjoy it!

Here is a song for all the meals you cook and the mountains of laundry you do and how much you love and give every day. Without Mothers imagining it would be a dull world indeed. To every little detail you attend to. Happy Mother's Day. An anthem from me to you!

I am excited to announce the first glimpse of this new recording. I will release the songs slowly to tease first and the official release will be announced. This record is all original and features the wonderful playing of Scott White on bass, Joby Baker on drums, keys, percussion, bass and guitar. Lester Quitzau on slide and electric and Marc Atkinson on guitar. Happy Listening and I welcome your comments.