Album of the Week – Ruth Moody – ‘These Wilder Things’

Ruth Moody is no stranger to success. The folk songstress rose to fame as a founding member of ‘The Wailin’ Jennys’ and hasn’t looked back since. 2010 saw the artist release the fruits of her solo side project ‘The Garden’. Produced by David Travers-Smith, the release saw Moody receive multiple nominations including two Juno Awards, a Western Canadian Music Award, and most notably three Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Spurred on by ‘The Garden’s’ warm reception from critics and fans, Moody follows up the release with ‘These Wilder Things’ (2013). The album features guest appearances from Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas, Aoife O’Donovan, Mike McGoldrick, John McCusker, and of course, her sisters from The Wailin’ Jennys. Moody truly expresses her years of dedication to her craft, cementing her as the world-renowned triple threat that she is; a multi-instrumentalist, ethereal vocalist and perceptive songwriter.

The album covers a divers range of issues, from the depths of undeniable eternal love in ‘One and Only’, to the social, political and economic injustices of the world in ‘Trouble and Woe’. The albums single sees Moody cover Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’. A far cry from the originals synthesized riffs and Springsteen’s signature rough vocals, Moody enriches the track with her sweet subtle vocals set against an acoustic string engine room of guitar, mandolin, viola and double bass, sprinkled with a light horn section phrase from time to time.

Since being released, Moody has toured the album across the globe, including as a support for Mark Knopfler in Europe seeing her grace the stages of The Royal Albert Hall in London to name a few. Eastside Radio is proud to announce that ‘These Wilder Things’ will be heading to a venue near you. Straight after show’s in Auckland, Moody heads to Camelot Lounge, Marrickville on the 19^th of February. Following this show, she will be appearing at the Milton Theatre on the 20^th and Candelo Town Hall on the 21^st.

Victorian listeners can catch Moody on the 22^nd at Indi Valley Music, the 25^th at The Red Room, the Melbourne Folk Club on the 4^th of March, the Caravan Music Club on the 5^th of March and from the 6th – 8th of March at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Ruth Moody will also be performing for one night only at the Trinity Sessions on the 26th of February.

The band will feature Adrian Dolan on fiddle, mandolin, viola, mandola and vocals; Adam Dobres on guitars, ukulele and vocals; and Sam Howard on upright bass and vocals.

For more information be sure to head to FACEBOOK, @ruthmoodymusic, YOUTUBE or her website www.ruthmoody.com

Ruth Moody is, without question, one of the most gifted folk songwriters of her generation” – about.com- folkmusic


“A voice as lovely as springtime’s freshest daisy” –Huffington Post


“Classically elegant” –Sing Out!