Cod Gone Wild Neighbourhood Rounds Tour

Cod Gone Wild released its Christmas album entitled The Neighbourhood Rounds last December. With that release a tradition was born based around the Newfoundland tradition of the Neighbourhood Rounds, where neighbours go house to house to celebrate the season. This year Cod Gone Wild will be embarking on a sixteen stop British Columbia tour connecting and celebrating with their own extended neighbours right here at home across the province. This Celtic inspired band is focused on giving traditional music a modern edge. They blend the varied talents of musicians whose classical, folk, rock and jazz backgrounds fuse together to create a dynamic and unique sound that instantly connects and resonates with audiences. Through their uplifting energy, tight vocal harmonies and remarkable stage presence, they weave together a tapestry of tales that evoke a nostalgic experience of days gone by.

Based out of BC's Okanagan Valley since 2009, when lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Andrew Mercer, transplanted from Newfoundland, the Cods are recognized as one of Canada’s top Celtic acts. With him he brought his passion for Newfoundland, the rich culture and the deeply rooted music he grew up with. Joining Mercer are musicians Susan Aylard (fiddle), Sean Bray (electric guitar, Dan Fogarty (bass), and David Mihal (Drums).

When asked about the story behind The Neighbourhood Rounds, lead singer Andrew Mercer had this to say. “I grew up in a small neighbourhood street called Newfound Lane, in the town of Bay Robert’s Newfoundland. On this street there lived a tight knit group of neighbours, who regularly got together to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Years ago, a tradition was started at Christmas time to go around the neighbourhood and visit each house, taking the time to have a drink, some food, and to spin a few yarns (tell stories) at each stop along the way.” The tradition of the neighbourhood rounds, continues today and Mercer has written the title track of the album to not only keep the tradition alive, but to remind people to come together this holiday season. “It is my hope that in the spirit of the season, despite this tumultuous world that we live in, that people can come together. Visit your neighbours, check in on a friend that you haven’t spoken to in a while, and most importantly, make time for family,” says Mercer. The album features a mix of original songs and Christmas songs that Mercer grew up listening to on the east coast. “Growing up in Newfoundland and being exposed to traditional music at a young age, there will always be a strong Newfoundland influence in Cod Gone Wild’s music,” Mercer describes, “having musicians from various musical backgrounds allows us to create something a little more modern and edgy that will have a broader appeal to audiences across the country and around the world.”