Willy Blizzard is riding a musical journey that remains true to their roots.
A touring band from Vancouver, the acoustic trio plays original music in the folk/roots genre featuring beautiful vocal harmonies, guitars, banjo and stand-up bass. Their original music is included on the album “Celebrating the Best in BC Music”.
Fronted by lead vocalist John Hough, the band’s principal songwriter has shared the stage with David Rea, Jesse Winchester, and Canada’s beloved Valdy. He has opened for Tom Russell at Vancouver’s Rogue Folk Club, and his performance credits include the Vancouver Folk Festival, the Mission Folk Festival, the Filberg Festival, Harrison Festival of the Arts. John’s former Celtic band Under The Moss brought his warm baritone vocals to wider audiences when his band was the feature at the Expo 86 Folklife pavilion.
John Hough – lead vocalist, guitar, van driver
Fran Madigan – lead guitar, banjo, vocals, hammer and nails
Andrea Law – upright bass, piano, washboard, vocals, boss
The trio is fronted by principal songwriter / vocalist John Hough, “the richest baritone west of The Rockies” (Vancouver Province).
Winning his first singing competition as an underage performer in Toronto’s old Cariboo Club, John has performed at every major folk festival in B.C. In a classic Canadian twist of fate, his music appears in Gordon Lightfoot’s only feature film.
Lead guitarist Fran Madigan‘s musical influences were formed in the burgeoning folk milieu of Toronto in the sixties.
His childhood vocal talents were recognized when was offered a place in the St. Michael’s Choir. Whilst still a teen, he successfully negotiated the purchase of the original Hammond M-3 organ from Toronto’s Club Blue Note.
Bassist Andrea Law is a third generation professional musician who brings great stage presence and impeccable rhythm to Willy Blizzard. Andrea honours the memory of her father’s and grandfather’s musical careers.
Keeping the beat with wit and humour, Andrea has found the perfect dance partner in her big bass bull fiddle.
Willy Blizzard’s album In From The Cold is essential Americana. Its rich detail has met with generous praise in Canada and Europe. Touring extensively, the band logged over 26,000 km. in the last year alone.
As the principal songwriter for Willy Blizzard, Hough’s music has garnered airplay on many CBC Radio programs like North By Northwest, Morningside (Peter Gzowski), The Early Edition, Vicki Gabereau, Folksounds (KBCS). A true nature lover since long before today’s environmental movement took hold, John draws deeply from his academic background in Life Science and Environmental Education. The song “Hallie” was nominated for Best Canadian Lyric for its use of the term symbiotic parasite.