Penny Sidor: Folksinger, Songwriter   Email:    250-247-7344

When Penny was 10, her family trekked from the little town of Whitby Ontario, to Toronto's Massey Hall for a concert with Pete Seeger.  It was a defining moment in her life.  From that day, she began collecting and singing songs.  The following year, she bought a guitar from a friend for $5 - a lot when your allowance is .25 a week - and by 13, she was singing in coffee houses.  Caught up in the 'folk revival' of the 60s and 70s, Penny was inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell, Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotton, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie and later  Steve Goodman,  Jerry Jeff Walker, June Tabor, Pentangle, and the Watersons.

For many years, Penny sang traditional music almost exclusively, becoming a fine ballad singer, and well-known in 'trad. anon.' circles.  She is also  known for her remarkable stage presence – she's one of those performers with a knack for making the whole audience feel comfortable, welcome and part of the music.   

From 1988 or so she began giving voice instruction, specializing in teaching singing for the terrified.  In 1995, she founded WomenFriends, a weekend music and creativity camp that ultimately generated an international network of connections among singers, dancers, writers, painters, sculptors – artists of any discipline.   Many participants considered these weekends a temporary utopia.

For Penny, songwriting did not come easily.  Then in '06 and '07, she spent a week at the Red Cedar Songwriting Camp (Pender Island, BC ) as both teacher and student.  Under the tutelage of David Essig, Shari Ulrich, Mae Moore and Lester Quitzau, songs began to flow… in torrents.  David Essig spoke of a way of laying down an entire cd in one intense week in his recording studio.  With the unfailing support of musical friends from her Gabriola Island home, Days of August was born in November of '07.

Days of August contains 9 originals, 2 covers, and one traditional ballad.  The music ranges from hurtin' songs to humour, with a dollop of politics in between.  Each song is markedly different from the other, and each one is a gem.  Have a listen:

The Songs

The Musicians:  Penny Sidor - guitar, vocals, harmony vocals, bodhran.  David Essig - bass, guitars, mandolin and kayagum.  Jeremy McDonald – fiddle, Marilyn Smith – keyboards, Rod Sauer – harmonica, Steve Elder - classical guitar, Christine McKim - flute, Deborah Vitek - oboe

Recorded and Produced by David Essig, Watershed Studio, Protection Island BC
Mastered by Simon Garber, Goldrush Recording, Vancouver BC
Graphics by Nigel Hart, Gabriola Island, BC

Yule Tide Shanty - Free Music Download

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Penny's Shows

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To Order:

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Contact Penny

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Phone Penny: 250-247-7344

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