Boreal is the musical collaboration of Tannis Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley and Angie Nussey—three gifted singer-songwriters whose individual voices and award-winning careers blend together to create something truly magical. Their performances are known for their exquisite harmonies, emotionally resonant songwriting, and captivating storytelling, forging a deeply intimate yet powerful connection with their audience.
In the words of four-time Juno award winning songwriter, David Francey: “I’ll give you three good reasons for catching Boreal in concert. There are three wonderful writers in this band, and three beautiful voices. That’s two reasons. The third is the magic that happens when these three women combine those wonderful songs and voices on stage. Each brings their own brilliance to the whole. Magical’s the word. I was transported.”
The trio first came together in 2006 with a shared vision of creating a winter-themed show, Songs for the Snowy Season. What started as a small touring project quickly gained a devoted following, expanding into soft-seat theatres across Ontario. This eventually led to their 2014 album Winter’s Welcome. After the retirement of founding member Jude Vadala in 2019, Angie Nussey stepped in, adding a fresh dynamic to the trio’s sound, bringing new energy and depth to their music.
During the challenges of the pandemic, Boreal embraced new ways of collaborating, working remotely to record and release Snow Falls Down, Katherine Wheatley’s song that marked the first collaboration of the new trio. Angie’s contributions, including Shepherd of the Road, Snowball Fight of ‘92, and Warm Hands, laid the groundwork for their most collaborative work yet: Winterbirds, their highly anticipated sophomore album.
2024 was a milestone year for the trio, as they recorded and released Winterbirds, featuring 10 original tracks and a Gordon Lightfoot cover. The physical album was released in November, just in time for their 12-show Ontario tour, Songs for the Snowy Season. The album’s first single, Shepherd of the Road—a moving story about a kind truck driver who helped Angie find her way home during a fierce snowstorm—has been gaining momentum, earning airplay on CBC and numerous other stations across Canada and the US.
With two more singles lined up for release in the coming months, and the full digital album set to release on March 7th, Boreal is riding a wave of excitement and recognition. Their Songs of Renewal tour kicks off on March 21st in Meaford bringing their captivating harmonies and dynamic storytelling to audiences across the country.
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