Double set by Americana/psych/country-rock four piece CANYON RYDE. First full debut NZ gig at the COMMON ROOM in HASTINGS, HAWKE'S BAY. 8.30pm till late! Original cosmic americana/rock - like a love child of Neil Young/Pink Floyd/The Byrds/Nick Drake - sort of songs that let you close your eyes and get lost in.
Reviews for first LP release 'Free to Be' - released in the UK and then worldwide in 2014.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR ‘FREE TO BE’
GARY LOURIS, THE JAYHAWKS: ‘The songs are amazing and beautifully recorded… I’m proud to be part of such a cool sounding record’.
MARK OLSON, FOUNDER OF THE JAYHAWKS: ‘Shining Warmth Of The Sun” is a very high class pop-rock song. This reminds me of a radio friendly Replacements… The whole album displays incredible writing and craftsmanship, this album is a classic and will sound great 30 years from now’.
4 STARS MAVERICK MAGAZINE: ‘CANYON RYDE is the vehicle for North Devon-based singer-songwriter Phil Lively-Masters and his superb songs that are evocative of America’s West Coast countryish pop-rock of the late 1960s and early 1970s… with acclaimed players such as singer songwriter Peter Bruntnell and Gary Louris…It is a gorgeous listening experience, especially on the captivating ‘Marine Drive’.
8/10 AMERICANA UK: ‘’Subtle and dreamy country boasting a host of Americana luminaries... ‘Canyon Ryde is the chosen vehicle of singer songwriter Philip Lively-Masters, ably assisted on this record by the legendary guitar talents of Gary Louris. ‘Free to Be’ is a great country record that is subtle in its approach, gentle in its intentions and presented in a fine packaging that shows that Canyon Ryde is more than a band, more than an album, it’s an experience that they want you to join them in’
SONY/EMI Music Historian Richard Havers: ‘Big Names in The Making’… the opening act on the main stage – named Sweet Home Alabama, was the intriguingly named Canyon Ryde, featuring the exquisite songs of Phil Lively-Masters. Imagine you’ve been stranded on a California hill farm circa 1969 and you get the vibe. Their music is just so damned catchy!’
