Raised in a military family, Terry is based in the Upper Ottawa Valley and has worked as a grocery boy, farm hand, golf course greens man, forest fire fighter, tree planter, clerk and forest technician.
Major influences in McLeish’s music and writing have included Steve Goodman, Ian Tyson, John Prine, Bob Dylan and Steve Earle. Bluegrass has also been a strong influence that can be heard in many of the songs on his self-titled, album, “Terry McLeish”. His music career has taken him from folk, rock and blues bands to folk/roots singer-songwriter and performer and his songs have been heard on CJOH television, CBC, CHCR radio, CHIP and Valley Heritage radio, CKCU radio, other artist’s albums and projects, compilation cd’s and a musical tour of the Upper Ottawa Valley’s Opeongo Line. Over the years, Terry has shared the stage with Colleen Peterson, Valdy, Long John Baldry, Reverend Ken and the Lost Followers, Jack De Keizer, Sneezy Waters, Ian Tamblyn, David Essig, Donnie Walsh of Downchild Blues Band, Paul Brandt, Ronnie Hawkins, Prairie Oyster, Leahy and many more. He has performed at festivals, clubs, kitchen parties, fairs and events of all kinds.
Recently, Terry was invited to act and perform in The Stone Fence Theatre’s current production of “The Opeongo Opera” which ran throughout the summer and into the fall of 2011 and again in 2012. Three of his songs were chosen to be featured in this acclaimed two-act musical as well. In early 2012, 2013 and 2014, McLeish hosted The Terry McLeish Show; an eight week live stage show featuring some of Canada’s best folk/roots, singer-songwriters. Terry was featured in a short film in the winter of 2014 entitled Not Without My Guitar.
Terry McLeish is currently recording his second studio album with producer/engineer, James Stephens at Old Stove Studios. He has been performing with guitarist extraordinaire, Terry Tufts, Canadian fiddler great, Peter Dawson and bassist Grant Tomkinson.
Contact:
Email – tmcleish@nrtco.net
Phone – 613-587-4217
Opening with Marc Audet
Marc Audet is a Canadian folk music singer/songwriter, active in performing in pubs, restaurants and festivals throughout the Ottawa Valley. Marc took up guitar at an early age, but his involvement in music grew later in life after moving back to his home town Deep River (Ontario) where, like many communities in the Ottawa Valley, a broad diversity of live music was abundant. It was from this musical culture and spirit that Marc’s songwriting emerged. From influences such as John Prine, Neil Young, and contemporary folk music artists such as David Francey, Jason Isbell, and Dave Gunning, Marc’s songwriting speaks to a range of life experiences; love, loss, decisions, struggle. In many songs, Marc pays tribute to the heritage of the Ottawa Valley, with the stories of settlement and development being true to many other areas of Canada. A debut album is in the works with a hopeful release date of January 2019. At venues, Marc's contemporary folk music guitar/vocal act is an acoustic presentation of older and contemporary folk, rock and pop songs (in some cases with liberal re-interpretation). Marc’s view of music is simple and wholesome; it is a fundamental element of our soul that unites us and brings peace and happiness.
