PLAIN FOLK

by Les Pearson
Eileen Laverty: Living in a State of Grace

The rumours emerged earlier this year. The most troubling: Eileen Laverty was back in the classroom. If it was true, had her "full-time" singing career floundered? Anyone who owns her "Dancing with Angels" CD would see the pity in that. This is a singer-songwriter with special grace. Her lyrics are fresh and powerful; her voice, sweet and lilting. The classroom's gain would be a folk fan's loss.

Last week I talked to Eileen. I knew she was on a British Columbia tour and that was heartening. School is "in." If Eileen was "out" on the road, her career must be "on" stream. My first questions related to her work world.

Her reaction? "What is a 'day off'!" Eileen accepted a half-time leave from teaching two years ago. In practice, this means that she works one full semester, then takes a semester off. Last Fall was her teaching time. But, judging from her two tours to Ontario before Christmas and her work for CBC's "Sounds Like Canada," no one could guess that her music career had slowed to a gallop.

The truth is that last year was gratifying. Ervin Drake, composer of "For Every Drop of Rain That Falls," invited Eileen to record a version of his new 9/11 song, "Who Are These Strangers." She has opened doors to American markets through independent broadcasters and with Christine Lavin as capable doorperson. With "...more gigs than ever," Eileen faced the end of the first school semester exhausted and exhilarated.

To add to this roiling mix, she got married! In February she inextricably linked her career to Greg Hargarten, the producer of her CD and an accomplished musician in his own right. Greg is one of Eileen's accompanists at Saturday's Folk Club concert. But back to her singing career.

This June she must decide. Her school board needs to know. Teacher or entertainer? Eileen admits that she loves performing, making people happy, and interacting with folks at live concerts. While her first CD is introspective and somber, all the people she has met while performing "will inform" her next. Teaching is taking time from her composer's craft and she knows it.

She has never given song writing its due. Every one of her original songs has been "...a muse knocking on my skull," she laughs. "Each song has been a gift." She knows new songs will need craft, work, and time. The most pressing project is the second CD that Eileen hopes to record in April or May. Those first semester paycheques will help finance this costly, vital, venture.

So is she Irish or Canadian? Is she a roots or Celtic musician? "The Irish connection will always be there," she admits. "The narrative tradition is Irish." And, yes, there are Celtic elements to her music. But for Eileen, Celtic means traditional Irish music. As for labels, Eileen affirms, "Labels aren't useful." Life will unfold as it should. Good music will prevail. And those of us lucky to share Eileen Laverty's laughter and song, even briefly, share her special state of grace. The Eileen Laverty trio will appear on Saturday at the Medicine Hat High School Theatre at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for this concert may be available at JD Colour, Java Bytes, or from the Customer Service kiosk at Medicine Hat Mall.

Visit Eileen's web site at www.eileenlaverty.com