Recording: Isla & The Sorry Brothers

Artist: Isla & The Sorry Brothers

Songs: Long Vermont Roads [The Magnetic Fields cover] + Silver Dagger [trad. arr. Joan Baez]

Recorded at Dina's Tavern, July 24, 2026.

Isla & The Sorry Brothers - Long Vermont Roads

Isla & The Sorry Brothers - Silver Dagger

While Karsten Stryker and Kurt Newman kept up their nimble guitar interplay, Isla Craig prowled the stage like a spurned lover patiently awaiting a proper moment for vengeance. Heading out of the protective environs of the Tranzac, it was a delight to see this trio being given a warm and attentive welcome by a crowd unfamiliar with them as they played an opening set at someone else's gig. Finding the bluegrass essence of a diverse range of songs, it was also exciting to witness a fair turnover in the setlist from previous encounters.

Recording: Charter of the Forest

Artist: Charter of the Forest

Songs: Come All Ye [Fairport Convention cover] + Big White Cloud [John Cale cover]

Recorded in The Sun Room at 918 Bathurst, January 18, 2026.

Charter of the Forest - Come All Ye

Charter of the Forest - Big White Cloud

Opening up an afternoon of investigations into folk music, this was a real all-star group, bringing together Isla Craig (voice), Karsten Stryker (acoustic guitar), Kurt Newman (low-volume electric guitar), Pete Johnston (bass), and Blake Howard (percussion). The musical approach was a jammy take on folk-rock, though more Fairport Convention (whose Liege & Lief was a primary touchstone) than Grateful Dead — though also with some bluegrass flourishes. The material also hewed towards "traditional songs of the British Isles", though in some cases the traditions reached back to more recent rolling minstrels such as those heard here.

You can check out some more from this set over on youtube: