The Gertrudes are a busy band. In August 2023, the alt-folk ensemble released their fifth studio album, and it seems they haven't sat still since. Having just wrapped up their February residency at The Toucan in Kingston, The Gertrudes are rolling right into the release of their next album with a new single and video, Lone Coyote, at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival's Slaight Music Video Showcase on on March 1 at Kingston Grand Theatre (web link).

The pre-release single is from their forthcoming LP, City Noise (Wolfe Island Records/Outside Music Canada), which takes The Gertrudes into new territory by blending their contemporary folk-rock music with choral traditions.

A highly collaborative recording project, City Noise features numerous special guests, including Poet Laureate Sadiqa de Meijer, guitarist James Taylor, singers/keyboardists Grace Dixon, Danielle Hope Edwards, saxophonist Jonathan "Bunny" Stewart, vibraphonist Greg Runions, drummer Liam Cole, and singer-songwriter Jon McLurg.

Notably, the album includes songs recorded with members of Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, a renowned community-based charity focused on music education and artistic excellence. The project gave Cantabile’s choristers—some as young as 10 years old—the opportunity to engage in contemporary music creation and recording. Their groups' year-long creative journey will culminate with a live performance, The Great Canadian Songbook: Songs of Icons, on March 1, 2025, at The Spire in Kingston (web link).

The album art for City Noise was created by Cree-Katarakwi-Kingston artist Lee Stewart (from Kashechewan). City Noise will be available for digital download or online streaming March 14. Posted: Feb 28, 2025