Hillside 09 – Image © V. Saavedra '09
Hillside Festival 2009 at Guelph conservation area this past July was at turns terrifying weather moments and amazingly inspired music moments all combined into an immensely enjoyable and intense weekend
We watched Buffy St. Marie do her thing on the Lake Stage, and Loreena McKennitt awed the crowds under the star lit sky with her haunting vocals and incredibly versatile music style on the Main Stage on opening night.
But it was Dala – the Toronto based dynamic all girl duo comprised of Sheila Carabine & Amanda Walther – whom I had the innate privilege of watching live at this years festival that left me absolutely dumb struck
Dala Hillside 09 – Image © V. Saavedra '09
Two girls, two guitars (and sometimes a piano) and something changed in the air…
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been listening to Dala for about a year now, and I’ve always thought they were great, but I had never had the opportunity to hear them live and boy were we in for an incredible treat. From the moment they stepped onto the main stage to perform Sheila and Amanda’s witty and honest banter was as much fun to listen to as was the music that was to come.
Their set was opened by “Levy Blues” one of their newest tracks from their latest release “Everyone is someone” and from the second they began to sing the crowd seemed in complete awe – the truth is – when you hear those perfect harmonies – you feel completely drawn into a different world. There is something innately pure and goosebump inducing when they decide to come together on stage and belt out the beauty of their poetry.
Amanda Walther Hillside 09 – Image © V. Saavedra
Songs such as “Levy Blues” and “Marilyn Monroe” are so perfectly innocent and fun you can’t help but feel uplifted. But it’s songs such us “Horses” – in which Sheila plays a flawless piano – that show that these girls are anything but just fluff and fun. The pain and sadness of the songs protagonist came through with such passion and beauty that many in the crowd had to wipe away at tears… now if that’s not moving…
It’s been a very long time since someone of the caliber of Sarah McLachlan has graced the female music scene on Canadian soil. But these girls don’t just have the down pat vocals and inspiring lyrics going for them, they’re the modern answer to Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.
Sure I could tell you to go buy their newest album which is stunning in its delivery… but don’t stop there, no recording can do these girls justice, you’ll need to catch them live in order to fully appreciate the enormity of their talent. I’ll help you out with that, here’s the link to their tour dates – Dala Tour Dates – now, how lucky are you?
Sheila Carabine Hillside 09 – Image © V. Saavedra
Dala Girls Official Site: www.dalagirls.com
My Space Music: www.myspace.com/dalagirls
Facebook: Dala