Wailin’ Jennys

Soprano Ruth Moody and Mezzo Nicky Mehta were pursuing their own solo, singer/songwriter careers when they took the stage in a Winnipeg record store, along with Cara Luft, for what was supposed to be a two-night gig. Their natural harmonies were so impressive that they kept on going, forming the Wailin’ Jennys, writing new music and merging their voices with the sound of the vast array of instruments played all three women. Their debut full-length album, 40 Days surprised the field by winning the JUNO Award (the Canadian version of the Grammy) for Best Roots/Traditional Album – Group, beating a list of music veterans. After original member Cara Luft left the band, Alto Annabelle Chvostek was recruited from Montreal to fill the pivotal third spot. With their new album, Firecracker, the Wailin’ Jennys have been touring their native Canada, as well as the U.S., U.K. and Australia. They have also been frequent guests on Garrison Keillor’s influential U.S. public radio program, “A Prairie Home Companion,” heard across the country and around the world on Armed Forces Radio.