Some people were born to walk a straight and narrow line, and some were just born to ramble. Miss Quincy and the Ramblers were born to play music in every small town and pub, on every curb-side and makeshift stage, at every barn raising and ho-down. They have been stirring up Western Canada’s folk music scene as they play their own brand of twisted bluegrass that goes down like a lemon dipped in honey. Time and place are intricately woven into the songs and stories of Miss Quincy and the Ramblers and imagery of the Peace Hills are heard in more than one tune.

Currently residing in Nelson, BC, The Ramblin’ Quincys and the Woolly Chaps bring together music from all over Western Canada. Harvesting stories from the banks of the Peace River, Jody Peck brings her rural northern roots into the stories that she sings. Wandering along side The Ramblin’ Quincys with a little country funk in his step is Brin Porter, The Woolly Chap. Growing up in Victoria, Brin was given a stand up bass and fed only bass lines.

While touring in the Peace country Miss Quincy recruited a few more Woolly Chaps from the ranks of Fort St. John’s finest musicians. Josh Giesbrecht added his sweet gypsy violin, and Derek Skauge did what he does best – set down some funky beats. All together they play a live show that is infectious with energy and sweet harmonies, undeniably toe tapping and genre-hopping exciting.

Upon completing their first summer tour Miss Quincy and the Ramblers have returned to their mountain town where they have been able to reflect on the lessons and values that the open road has instilled in them. They learned the hard way that the life of a touring musician is dictated by one vital member of the band—the touring vehicle. Now, as their songs will tell you, these “gypsies are no strangers to the road, they race trains and blow through highway towns like the breeze”, but their luck is poor and their knowledge unreliable when it comes to what lies under the hood. They started their tour driving a 20 year old Honda hatchback that would be brown if you could see through the rust. Brin tried to offset the rest of the bands tendency to pack everything including the kitchen sink by carrying only his hobo style backpack. But even his valiant effort could not help the fact that the car was packed to bursting. So they piled things on top of the car. They put the stand up bass in a coffin and strapped it to the roof and tied yet another oversized duffle bag to the coffin. By the time they had enough gear to outfit an expedition into the great unknown terrain of folk festivals, the little brown car didn’t stand a chance. It died three hours out of Nelson, right there on the side of the road.

Three more vehicles toured with the band, one replacing the other in quick succession. First a borrowed farm truck with an angry diesel engine and a jumper cable start, followed by a sleek little sports car that seats five in the same way a two person tent sleeps two. It was after these experiences that The Ramblin’ Quincys, and especially The Woolly Chap, realized that minivans were not only for soccer moms and dads in track suits.

It’s easy to spin romantic notions about life on the road from the security of a 9-5, paying regular bills, and taxes, but one of the unsexy realities, that even musicians playing late night gigs must not ignore, is sleep. Most venues will feed the entertainment but they won’t let them sleep behind the bar, and when funds are low and mechanic bills high, this can make for some creative arrangements. The band has slept on ocean beaches, office building roofs, and countless floors and couches. In a rainy Vancouver park Woolly Chap, Brin, used a borrowed tarp to shelter his stand up bass while he dodged rain drops, he said he just “dreamt of dryer lands”. Logging roads, cut lines and river banks are all fair game when the road seems long and the stars are bright. And when worse comes to worse there are always reclining seats.

Throughout the summer of short days and long nights, The Ramblin’ Quincys have learned that the road loves a rambler and their commitment to music and story telling, regardless of riches or rags, has started to pay off. Within Jody’s songwriting the Peace country travels with The Ramblin’ Quincys, and bringing their music back to the folks and land that so shaped it was like rediscovering the beauty of the Peace River valley anew.

You can expect to see Miss Quincy and the Ramblers playing tunes and singing stories through the Peace Country on their next summer tour. Until next time, travel lightly.

“Miss Quincy and the Ramblers go through whiskey like it’s water, towns like prairie wildfire and cars like they’re cheap”

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