[mplpost] BOREALIS recording artist AENGUS FINNAN launches new CD!!

[Shelter Valley Productions]

For Immediate Release

Aengus Finnan's sophomore album "NORTH WIND" (on BOREALIS Records) will be
released in:

Cobourg	Thurs Oct 3	Victoria Hall		8pm (opener: Stephanie Corby)
Toronto	Fri Oct 4 	CITY TV			7am BREAKFAST TELEVISION
Toronto	Fri Oct 4 	Hugh's Room			8:30 (opener: Stephanie Corby)
Brantford	Sat Oct 5 	OCTOBERFOLK			all day indoor festival
St. Jacobs	Sun Oct 6	Church Theatre		7pm (opener: Kristin Sweetland)
Peterborough Thur Oct 17 Gordon Best Theatre 	8pm (opener: Ed Pearson)
Ottawa	Oct 18/20	OCFF Conference		Borealis Suite
Wakefield 	Oct 20 	The Black Sheep Inn 	8pm (opener: Alan Rody)

US Release Concerts (Nov. Dec. Jan.) see www.aengusfinnan.com/tour
A Cross-Canada Tour with the trio will take place in March, 2003


THE ALBUM

Collected and written at truck-stops, graveyards, orchards, nursing homes,
derelict barns, old railway lines, and a lover's door, "NORTH WIND" is a
raw, dramatic, tender, and wild glimpse of the day-to-day, historical, and
gripping inspiration of Canada's young troubadour.

In addition to 10 original songs (including the award winning
"O'Shaughnessy's 's Lament"), his new album also features a rare Ontario
lumber-camp ballad, a cover of "Orphan Hand" written by Juno nominated Maria
Dunn, and a radio drama adaptation of American songwriter Slaid Cleaves'
song "Breakfast in Hell".

The album features Aengus and his touring band (David Rogers and Trevor
Mills) with special guests Serena Ryder, Joey Wright, Jeremiah McDade, Dick
VanRaadshooven, and Curly Boy Stubbs.

Produced by Paul Mills and Aengus Finnan this album is set entirely in
Ontario and draws on the legends and lives, past and present, backroads and
bedrooms, of small towns visionaries, tired heroes, and quiet dreamers.

Track 13 - Winner of the NEW FOLK Songwriting Award, Kerrville Folk
Festival, Texas
Track 1 - Honourable Mention, 2002 O.C.F.F. "Songs from the Heart" Award

"Heartbreaking....Classic Songwriting" - Penguin Eggs
"A Travelling Archivist" - SATURDAY NIGHT Magazine
"Storytelling Fire and Rural Voice" - UPTOWN, Winnipeg
"Disarmingly Artful" - The Toronto Star


THE STORY

Aengus came onto the Canadian folk music scene 5 short years ago with a
fairly innocent, if not naive, email to BOREALIS Records from his apartment
above the school workshop in Moosonee. TAMARACK had just paid a visit to the
community of Moose Factory (also on the James Bay coast) and there, in a
songwriting workshop, James Gordon and Alex Sinclair sealed his fate but
telling Aengus they liked his brand new song "FLY AWAY". (Little did they
know it was his only song at the time). Their words of encouragement were
the deciding factor for him and his long held dream to follow the path of so
many other musicians travelling the country with songs became something
real. The fact that he lived in an isolated community, had never taken a
lesson, or even knew another musician were mere details, and they certainly
didn't stop him from asking to record with BOREALIS. A polite reply was sent
on May 18th 1998 explaining the nature of the Canadian music scene, the
rather limited profile folk music had, and the reality of making a career as
a songwriter.

The reply was perhaps as naive as the initial message for it struck Aengus
like lightning that anyone replied at all, and that was more than enough
encouragement for a dreamer! He decided to quit his job, forsake his
teacher's pension, and take to the open road. Bags packed before dawn he
travelled south again to the Shelter Valley area where he grew up and began
writing. He had to "pay-his-dues" he figured, and prove his worth to the
folks at BOREALIS. Unsure how the public would respond to his music he
road-tested songs on streetcorners and farmers markets; singing where he
could, playing to anyone who would pause to listen, sleeping in his car as
he travelled the province, and sweet-talking his way into every tavern,
open-stage, church basement, and country fair he found.

Then, by coincidence one rainy night in Toronto, (lost after trying to meet
with Liz Foulds, who had also left a teaching position in Moosonee, and is
currently a Thunder Bay area presenter/promoter) he stumbled upon the Free
Times Cafe, seeking shelter from the storm, so to speak. There he met his
soon-to-be producer Paul Mills and came face to face with one of BOREALIS'
front men, Bill Garret. Unable to afford the $10 ticket into their show,
Aengus asked to play a couple of songs as his admission. Bill and Paul took
him downstairs to hear if this young buck could put two notes together
and....the rest is history. That was 1 album, 2 guitars, 3 cars, and 4 short
years ago (and a few hundred thousand kms thrown in for good measure).

"fool's gold" was released to critical acclaim on Oct 31, 1999 and Aengus
set to work touring relentlessly across Canada. 6000 copies were sold out of
the back of a number of cars, and audiences grew steadily in nursing homes,
prisons, artic schools, coastal heritage centres, community colleges, and
the folk club and festival circuit.

With a love for stories, a romantic attachment to Canada, a dramatic flair
for tragedy, a poetic eye for humble moments, and a sense of pride for the
everyday and forgotten, Aengus has crafted a new collection of thoughtful,
searing, tender and intense songs.

Self propelled, managed and promoted for the last 4 years it is with great
excitement that his own company "Shelter Valley Productions" is now working
in partnership with US Agency "Noteworthy Productions" and Canada's premier
Folk/Roots label BOREALIS Records.

A family affair, Shelter Valley Productions is still operated out of
Cobourg, Ontario (not far from Shelter Valley where Aengus grew up).
Pregnant sisters run the "Sticking Labels on Posters" wing of the company. A
fearless father plasters posters over Northumberland county day and night
and now labours over press releases (such as this one - in the trademark
lengthy Finnan fashion), and an ever supportive mother continues to
distribute flyers, push tickets on bewildered local townsfolk, and call into
radio stations to anonymously request her favourite song.

We would like to express SPECIAL THANKS TO....

The Ontario Arts Council for their support of the New Recording.

The Canada Council for the Arts for their support of the album, support for
Market Development, support for Artist Training, and support for Aengus'
International Showcases.

BOREALIS Records for their initial reply, patience, encouragement, and
interest in Aengus' work.

The CBC and folk DJs across the country who have keep the music that matters
on the air and who played Aengus' independent debut "Fool's Gold". May you
find as much humour, passion, and landscape in the new album. Promotional
radio copies can be requested through info@borealisrecords.com

Cobourg web designer BRENDAN ALBERT has worked wonders for us and we are
thrilled to also announce the launch of www.aengusfinnan.com

Cobourg based graphic designer Marc Mireault is to be thanked for the
beautiful work on the new album cover and promotional material.

Cobourg photographer Peggy McCarthy is to be thanked for her compelling
portrait shots.

Aengus' private email is now artist@sheltervalley.com (effective
immediately)

All media, Canadian Booking, and promotional inquiries can continue to be
made through info@sheltervalley.com

Thank you for your time

Mark Finnan
Publicist, Shelter Valley Productions

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