jessica rhaye and the ramshackle parade

Jessica Rhaye and the ramshackle parade

The Ramshackle Parade is a Canadian folk-rock band that formed in 2018, originally assembled to support Jessica Rhaye's album Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan (2019). Jessica describes this ensemble as her musical family, a blend of intimate singer songwriter, alt-country, Americana, folk-rock, and straight-ahead rock'n'roll music.

“Musical collaborators that have struck gold as a group of players who compliment and elevate each other on stage.”

— Grid City Magazine

OFFICIAL SITE

Among the band's primary members are Jessica Rhaye (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano), Christopher Braydon (electric & baritone guitars, electric bass), Sandy MacKay (upright and electric bass, mandolin, piano, BG vocals), Bill Preeper (electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, BG vocals), Clinton Charlton (drums, percussion), Dale Murray (producer, guitars, pedal steel) and Jordi Comstock (drums, percussion).
Each member of The Ramshackle Parade brings diverse influences and talents, including current and former memberships in folk acts, punk and rock bands and solo performances, the band's music is inspired by a wide range of artists and styles. Although the band initially formed around a love of Bob Dylan’s classics, their rehearsals evolved into what has been described as a love of free-flowing jams, with each member bringing ideas to the floor as their sound developed.
Just Like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan, is the group’s first recording together, capturing a hot mix of musicians, no click tracks and very few overdubs, true to Dylan's earlier recording style. The results are a fun folk-rock album with psychedelic undertones and engaging new interpretations of the master’s works.
During the first album's recording sessions, and their subsequent tour, the band gelled so well that Jessica Rhaye enlisted the guys support to write and record Sunshine Baby (2023), and the latest EP Foolish Heart (2026) under The Ramshackle Parade banner. The results have been what Grid City Magazine calls, “Musical collaborators that have struck gold as a group of players who compliment and elevate each other on stage.”
Learn more about Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade HERE
• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Group Recording of the Year (Sunshine Baby)
• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Fans’ Choice Video of the Year (Come A Little Closer)
• ECMA 2024 Nomination - Visual Artist of the Year
• Music NB 2024 Nomination - Recording of the Year (Sunshine Baby)
• Music NB 2024 WINNER - Video of the Year (Reaching Out To You)
• Music NB 2024 Nomination - Song of the Year (I Feel Fine)
• ECMA 2021 Nomination - Group Recording of the Year (Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Recording of the Year (Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Live Act of the Year (The Ramshackle Parade)
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Fans’ Choice of the Year
• Music NB 2020 Nomination - Video of the Year (Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands)
• Music NB 2020 WINNER - Visual Identity of the Year
“This tune got under my skin quickly....I'm a sucker for vintage country, and Jessica brings the sound back to life.” - Great Dark Wonder (“My Heart Belongs To You”)
"When disco rock meets well-performed folk, it sounds like this song.” - CBC London Morning (“I Was Made For Lovin’ You”)
“Another big league outing from New Brunswick’s Jessica Rhaye & The Ramshackle Parade delivering sweet vibes inspiring the senses on new 5-song collection ‘Foolsih Heart’ ” - Atlantic Axess
“Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade have conjured up their own distinct style of country and rock.” - Spill Magazine
“This album (Sunshine Baby) veers back and forth between AOR and soft country-tinged pop, reminding me, yes, of Dolly Parton in places, but mainly of Fleetwood Mac in their Nicks/Buckingham/Perfect incarnation. It's splendidly produced, Jessica Rhaye has a strong supple voice showing off some major pitch jumps at times, and the band is great.” - FATEA UK
"Jessica Rhaye's got a new collection of Bob Dylan reinterpretations coming out this fall, one of the best I've heard since Tim O'Brien's excellent collection from back in the 90's. I especially love to hear women's voices singing Bob's music---there's something about the female perspective that seems to complete the Dylan message, as if his songs are notes left in a bottle needing to crash on the siren's rock before they can be fully released. Mavis Staples is one of those sirens, as is Joan Armatrading, and now, thankfully, Jessica Rhaye." - Ketch Secor - Old Crow Medicine Show
“The modern folk trio offered their skills to the famed Dylan track (Blowin’ in the Wind) in this string-laden rendition. Rich with golden vocals, acoustics, and even a mandolin, Rhaye, and her group would make Baez and the rest of the ’60s decade proud with this heartfelt version.” - American Songwriter Magazine
“In a Stan-worthy move only the biggest Dylan diehard could pull, New Brunswick folk queen Rhaye has spliced, examined and re-assembled ol’ Bob’s songbook. The result? A collection of covers that attempts to emulate the legend’s Basement Tapes-era energy while seeing some of the best songs about women ever written showcased through a woman’s gaze.” - The Coast
"Love what you did on the album (Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan). Especially love that you and the band did not simply recite the songs but interpreted them and made them your own" - Michael Tearson, DJ, - Sound Museum | World Wide Dylan www.rtds.ca
"Nice work with the Dylan tunes, especially liked hearing Lay Down Your Weary Tune" - Ron Sexsmith
"I like it a lot. Very cool project." - Dr. Rob Bowman, Grammy-Award-Winning Professor of Ethnomusicology (Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan)
“Rhaye’s vocals are straight from the heart here and they’re gorgeous. And her band delivers big-time. It’s one of my favourite records of 2019 so far (Just Like A Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan).” - Doug Gallant, The Western Star
“Rhaye’s vocal performance is excellent throughout, displaying great range and carefully managed changes in pitch and pace and volume. It’s especially captivating when her voice is intertwined with the contrasting backing vocal” - Americana UK (“I Won’t Break”)
“Jessica Rhaye and her band of musical collaborators, the Ramshackle Parade, have struck gold. Not just through the success of their debut album, but as a group of players who compliment and elevate each other on stage.” - Grid City Magazine
“Jessica Rhaye creates an intriguing, compelling performance much the same as the most dramatic moments of Kate Bush.” - Americana Highways (Sunhine Baby LP)
“Sunshine Baby is just a wonderful album. Jessica's music is beautiful and she is an artist you will definitely hear much more of on the late show.” - The Late Show with Eve Blair on BBC Radio (“Artist of the Week” May 22-26, 2023 – BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds)
“An Apology,” & “Breathing In, Breathing Out,” is Jessica Rhaye as Jessica Rhaye...exceptional ballads that establish Ms. Rhaye’s true style compared to no one. The arrow is in the center of the bullseye with these.” - Americana Highways
“Rhaye has embraced that hybrid acoustic-electric sound…the rich instrumentation has potent and explosive moments throughout.” - Top 100 Canadian (Sunshine Baby LP)
EAST COAST (CANADA)
Imperial Theatre - Saint John, NB
Charlotte Street Arts Centre - Fredericton, NB
Capitol Theatre - Moncton, NB
The Carleton Music Bar - Halifax, NS
Evergreen Theatre - Margaretsville, NS
Astor Theatre - Liverpool, NS
The Osprey Arts Centre - Shelburne NS
Trailside Music Hall - Charlottetown PE
Boxcar Country Music Festival
Area 506 Festival
Dooryard Festival
Paddlefest
United Way - Songs of the City
ONTARIO
National Arts Centre (4th Stage) - Ottawa, ON
Red Bird Live - Ottawa ON
Hugh’s Room Live - Toronto, ON
The Dakota Tavern - Toronto ON
Doghouse Studios - Napanee, ON
The Cove Country Inn - Westport, ON
The Station Theatre - Smiths Falls ON
Mills Hardware - Hamilton ON
Aeolian Hall - London ON
The Cameron House, Toronto ON
QUEBEC
Casa Del Popolo - Montreal QC