PEACENIK collective
Composed of some of Pacific Canada’s most celebrated musicians, this six-member supergroup is on a passionate quest to spread a message of unity and community through songs that connect and reflect who we are, and what we share as humans, while promoting equality, dignity and respect for all.
From the very moment they came together and began performing each other’s songs, magic occurred; Something so intense they couldn’t ignore the call to form a band and as they like to say, “start a peace and love movement using their music as motivation.” They could no longer wait on the sidelines for change to happen so decided to toss a pebble in the pond, create a ripple effect, knowing that small changes create big changes and the profound influence of even the tiniest actions can create positive change.
BACK TO LOVE
A NEW SINGLE !
Peacenik Collective releases their very first single, “Back to Love”
"Back to Love", composed by Gord Maxwell & David Pavane, is a song that evokes the spirit of music during the peace movement of the 1960s & 70s; a time when artists expressed ideals of equality, of dignity and respect for all. A time when music opposing division, violence and war served to unify “the people”.
"Back to Love" is a compelling song that asks a lot of questions, not the least of which is, "Have we lost sight of what we believe in?" While the vibe of the song may seem nostalgic, the lyrics speak from a contemporary perspective.
SONGS THAT CONNECT & REFLECT
Bruce Coughlan
Bruce Coughlan is a career performer. A songwriter, recording artist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, compere, and storyteller par excellence with nearly five decades of experience.
Bruce Coughlan has written hundreds of songs and performed at thousands of venues, ranging from coffee houses and folk clubs to a Canada Day performance on Parliament Hill! He’s recorded 14 albums of original and adapted traditional music across a broad range of the Roots Music genre.
Along with his band Tiller's Folly, Bruce has been welcomed internationally as a touring artist. His eclectic mix of original Roots-based songs are honest, timeless & authentic. His storytelling is intriguing, matched by his expressive voice and masterful guitar work. www.songsmith.ca
Marc Gladstone
Marc has an extensive musical background with various bands and studio work. He started his formal training at the age of seven and he was finished his Royal Conservatory training by age fifteen, scoring first class honours throughout.
After cutting his professional teeth with a few cover bands straight out of high school, he landed the keyboard chair in Doug and the Slugs for the last seven years of that band, until the untimely passing of Doug Bennett in 2005. He then joined Nick Gilder/Sweeney Todd as well as a short stint in the band Toronto, playing for crowds of up to 20,000 at festivals across Canada.
The Brandon Paris band in March 2006, from their debut album titled On My Own, hit Top 20, peaking at No. 17 on the Canadian CHR charts. The second single almost reached top 40 at No. 53 CHR. Topping off an already exceptional year, Abandon Paris Band was nominated for Best New Group or Solo Artist (CHR) by the Canadian Radio Music Awards in spring of 2007. Brandon Paris later morphed into Abandon Paris with new lead singer Scott Jackson.
Marc joined Prism in 2010, is actually a cousin to John Hall (original keyboardist for Prism), and his orchestral keyboard work is a perfect match for the Prism sound. Prism is currently in pre production for a new album project. www.prism.ca
Scott Jackson
Scott Jackson draws from a sphere of influence a little different from the other two members of Stone Poets. His background in English literature, specifically in Elizabethan poetry, provides a somber and moody depth to the lyrics. Like his Stone Poets collaborators, Scott draws from extensive experience in the songwriting world.
Scott's solo career has seen the release of two CDs titled “My World” and “Distractions”. Scott’s musical library garnered extensive radio play across Canada and the USA. 4 songs from “Distractions” are still spinning on CBC across Canada. In 2010 Scott joined Marc Gladstone in the rock/reggae band Abandon Paris and in 2011, tripped into the collaborative magic of Stone Poets. www.scottjacksonmusic.com
Cherelle Jardine
Cherelle Jardine has been writing and recording since 1995. She’s released 13 cds during her career including her 4 solo albums and albums with Stone Poets and The Jardines. Her beloved Stone Poets is her heart and soul, where she joyfully writes songs of peace, love and human connection.
Jardine was honoured with 2 prestigious awards, the Ethel Tibbits (Woman of Distinction Award) and The Richmond Art Award (Cultural Leadership). She's toured in North America and the UK and has worn many hats in the music industry including President of Pacific Songwriters' Association. www.cherellejardine.ca
Gord Maxwell
Born and raised in Saskatchewan and a 45 year veteran bassist/vocalist, Gord Maxwell graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance degree (voice/opera) from the University of Alberta in 1982. In 1987 Gord moved to Vancouver to help form the reincarnation of the Juno nominated band, "One Horse Blue". He penned the first independently released single to go to number one in Canada, Hopeless Love (Savannah Records). He also wrote and sang Baby Don't Cry, which went to #4 on the Canadian country charts for two weeks.
Gord has been one of the most sought after studio vocalists in Canada. He has been a signature voice on many advertising jingles such as Safeway, Superstore, Canadian Airlines and McDonalds, and sang background vocals on countless albums including Chad Brownlee, Aaron Prichett, Lisa Brokop, Karen Lee Batten, Valdy, and Ian Tyson. He also toured and recorded with Ian Tyson for 20 years and is now the bass player/vocalist in the legendary Canadian rock band, Chilliwack. Currently, Gord is also collaborating with BCCMA hall of fame member, Laurie Thain, writing and recording children’s ESL music for Oxford University Press (NY) and National Geographic (UK) - under the heading Pure Pacific Music for Young Learners.
Greg Stuart
Greg Stuart, a long-time professional drummer in Vancouver, Canada's music scene is also an accomplished songwriter, engineer and producer.
Greg and has toured with artists as diverse as Frank Mills & Bo Diddley and has participated in many festivals and theatre productions.
A long-time accomplice in Bruce's musical endeavors, Greg is passionate about the environment and writing music to connect with audiences as well as fellow musicians.