Mark Perry

Mark Perry BIO

Mark Perry is one of Canada’s great bard’s, known and loved for his socially-narrative, good-humoured and thought-provoking songs. He sweeps you up in animated tales of Canadian characters and events, getting introspective or paying homage to the creative resilience of rural townsfolk ​ — the stuff that shows up when mills, mines and fisheries are shutting down, rivers are rising, and when buying the family car means trading “two cords of wood and 24 beer”. This popular songwriter is releasing his 14th album, ‘Glimpses’, in Spring of 2024. He is a storyteller of time & place, connecting us from coast to coast.

“New Jersey has Springsteen, New York has Billy Joel, northern BC has Mark Perry.” ~ Frank Peebles.

Long Bio (click to expand & collapse)

Mark Perry is one of Canada’s great bard’s, a folk-rock balladeer known and loved for his socially-narrative, good-humoured and thought-provoking songs. He sweeps you up in animated tales of Canadian characters and events, getting introspective or paying homage to the creative resilience of rural townsfolk — the stuff that shows up when mills, mines and fisheries are shutting down, rivers are rising, and when buying the family car means trading “two cords of wood and 24 beer”. He draws us in to reflect or to laugh at ourselves, connecting us from coast to coast. 

“New Jersey has Springsteen, New York has Billy Joel, northern BC has Mark Perry. These are the storytellers of their times and places.”
salutes music reviewer Frank Peebles.

This popular songwriter is set to release his 13th album, ‘Northwest’, October 29, 2021. While multiple generations of northern BCers have grown up singing his lyrics by heart, Perry has recently branched out on a national level. After performing at Folk Alliance International in Montreal and New Orleans, he saw a surge of interest and international airplay in places like New Zealand, the UK, and across North America– from Alabama to New Jersey, New Brunswick to Alaska.. In 2020 he was recognized by Roots Music Canada for his 2019 single premiere of “Cold Road” in their Top 10 most popular reads.

Perry has been writing, recording and performing since the mid-1990s when he recorded his first album with Roy Forbes and Shari Ulrich, then headed out on to tour with Connie Kaldor as her opening show. These days he sells out his own theatre shows, primarily in western Canada, and tours with a variety of talented accompanists including Mark Thibeault (Hungry Hill), Tobin Frank (Spirit of the West), Ian Olmstead (Alex Cuba) and Mip (Mip Power Trio). With over 200 songs recorded, he has a huge repertoire of both contemplative and lively tunes to suit his audience, from dirt road ballads to river-rising frolics.

Discography

Mark Perry produced his 1st album in the 1990s with his west coast hero Roy Forbes (Bim) and recorded the next 10 with acclaimed producers Steve Dawson, Hugh McMillan, Bob Hamilton, Joby Baker & Jordy Walker. In 2019, Perry released a collection album, “Recollections”, re-recorded his single “Queen of the North” and released a new single “Cold Road” which premiered nationally on Roots Music Canada. In 2020 he released a single and accompanying home video, ‘Flatten out the Curve’, at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic which went slightly viral on Facebook with over 30,000 views and 1,000 shared in its first few days.

Leading up to his 13th album release, Northwest, Perry released three singles in 2021 – ‘Golden Spruce‘, ‘Fish Boats‘, and ‘Who Am I?

2021 Northwest (Album/Jordy Walker)
2020 Flatten out the Curve (Single/Jordy Walker)
2019 Cold Road (Single/Jordy Walker)
2019 Recollections (Album/collection)
2018 Right Here (Album/Jordy Walker)
2016 Northern Waters (Album/Steve Dawson)
2013 People & Places (Album/Jordy Walker)
2011 West (Album/Joby Baker )
2008 RR7 (Album/Jordy Walker)
2005 In Every Town (Album/Bob Hamilton)
2002 Aldermere (Album/Mike Lent)
1999 View From The HighRoad (Album/R. Jenne/M. Perry)
1996 Vera’s Café (Album/Hugh Macmillan)
1993 Still Around (Album/Roy Forbes )
1990 Dreams of the Highway (Album/Roy

Influences

As a kid growing up in a small northern BC town in the 70s, Mark Perry got his start when he tuned in to the scratchy, barely audible, late night AM radio waves coming from Vancouver and heard CCR, the Rolling Stones, Eric Burdon and Gordon Lightfoot. He traded an old lawnmower for what he calls an “electric(ish) guitar” and into the neighbour’s basement he went, guitar in hand, determined to play that music. He earned his calluses playing consecutive 6-nighters with his road band, and started writing and crafting his own popular songs. In between raising a family and working for the Canadian railroad, he’s produced 13 albums and performs to a growing fan base.

These days Perry has left the railyard and is more focussed than ever on writing and creating music in his home-based studio. He runs a small horse farm with his wife Jane in a beautiful mountain valley outside Smithers BC.

 

What They Say

“Mark Perry had our audience captivated through the entire show. His heart shines through in his voice and his songs. Mark Perry’s performance is a ‘must-see’ and a ‘must-see again’.”

~ Bruce Champion, Terrace Concert Society

“Mark Perry is to the Northwest what Gord Downie was to Canada – he captures our hearts by telling our stories in a way no one else does.” 

~ Nathan Cullen, MP Skeena-Bulkley Valley

“The soundtrack for my life is taken from Mark Perry’s music. His song-writing, musical expression and stage presence emanates the very best, most magical qualities…. Perry’s music invites me in to sit by his fire and feel like a cherished neighbour for a while.” 

~ Carolina DeRyk, Host, CBC Radio

“This singer/songwriter from Smithers is one of our  finest. In a world of so much artifice, he’s one of the real things.” 

~ J.P.M., The Province, Vancouver, BC

“His mature songcraft, pleasing, jaunty baritone, and ability to deliver a maritime-tinged song with all the character it demands… Let’s hope the end of the pandemic will spell an opportunity for more of us to see him live.”

~ Roots Music Canada

“It’s the little added observations in Perry’s songs that make his contributions so important and significant.”

~ Bruce Swan, Programmer & Producer WPKN & WRFR CT, ME, NC USA

“New Jersey has Springsteen, New York has Billy Joel, northern B.C. has Mark Perry. These are the storytellers of their times and places.”

~ Frank Peebles / Prince George Citizen

Promo Photos

click to enlarge, right-click to download

Performances

Theatre Concerts, Community Halls, Festivals

2024 Show Dates

March 1, 2024
Terrace, BC • Sherwood Hall

March 2, 2024
Prince Rupert, BC • Harbour Theatre

March 3, 2024
Hazelton, BC • Skeena Blend @ MountainView United

March 8, 2024
Smithers, BC • Della Herman Theatre

March 9, 2024
Burns Lake, BC • Heritage Church Theatre

May 15, 2024
Smithers BC • NCLGA Conference

July 2-3, 2024
Terrace/Prince Rupert, BC • Cassiar Cannery Skeena Adventure

July 4-5, 2024
Terrace/Prince Rupert, BC • Cassiar Cannery Skeena Adventure

Summer Festival Dates announcing soon…

2023 Show Dates

March 24, 2023
Houston, BC • The Plaza Theatre

March 31, 2023
Fort St John, BC • North Peace Cultural Centre

April 1, 2023
Quesnel, BC • Quesnel Live Arts

June 30-July 2, 2023
Smithers, BC • Smithers Midsummer Music Festival

July 21, 2023
West Coast BC • Private Event

August 18, 2023
Burns Lake, BC • Burns Lake Centennial

August 26, 2023
Bulkley Valley, BC • BV Exhibition

December 27, 2023
Driftwood, BC • Annual Songwriter Night, Driftwood Schoolhouse

2022 Show Dates

Apr 22, 2022
Smithers, BC • Della Herman Theatre Tix & Info

May 14, 2022
Bulkley Valley, BC • Logpile Sessions

June 10, 2022
Prince Rupert, BC • Moose Lodge Hall

June 11, 2022
Bulkley Valley, BC • BVX

Aug 27, 2022
Smithers, BC • Bulkley Valley Fair & Exhibition

March 2023
Quesnel, BC • TBA

2021 Show Dates

“NORTHWEST” ALBUM RELEASE TOUR

Oct 29, 2021 • 7:30pm
Smithers, BC • Della Herman Theatre POSTPONED
hang on to your ticket or get a refund where you purchased your ticket – details here»

Nov 2, 2021 • 7:30pm
Quesnel, BC • Quesnel LIVE Arts
, The Occidental POSTPONED

Nov 3, 2021 • 7:30pm
Quesnel, BC • Quesnel LIVE Arts, The Occidental POSTPONED

Nov 5, 2021 • 8pm
Vancouver, BC • Rogue Folk Club,
Mel Lehan Hall at St. James

Nov 12, 2021 • 7:30pm
Calgary, AB • Calgary Folk Club,
Dalhousie Community Association

Nov 13, 2021 • TBA
Nanton, AB • Mosquito Creek Music,
Nanton Community Hall

August 28, 2021 • 8pm
Smithers, BC • BV Exhibition Headliner

March, 2021 • International, Private Livestream Concert

February 4, 2021 • 7:30pm
Prince George, BC • Coldsnap Festival Online Concert

2020 Show Dates

2020 March-December Shows POSTPONED due to Covid-19 Pandemic

Feb. 8, 2020
Kitiimat, BC • Mount Elizabeth Theatre Kitimat Concert Association

March 28, 2020
Smithers, BC • Hudson Bay Mountain Resort
, Whiskey Jacks – POSTPONED

June, 2020
Prince Rupert, BC • Skeena Adventure, Cassiary Cannery – POSTPONED

July & August, 2020
BC & Alberta, Summer Music Festival Circuit – POSTPONED

August 29, 2020
Bulkley Valley, BC • Northern BC Fair & Exhibition, BVX – POSTPONED

September 17, 2020
Nanton, Alberta • Mosquito Creek Music, Nanton Community Hall – POSTPONED

September 18, 2020
Calgary, Alberta • Calgary Folk Club, Dalhousie Community Association – POSTPONED

September 19, 2020
Cochrane, Alberta • St. Andy’s Rhythm and Roots, St. Andrews United Church – POSTPONED

September 20, 2020
Carstairs, Alberta • Music at the Museum Concert Series, Carstairs Heritage Centre – POSTPONED

 

To Book or for more info

Contact Sandra Smith • sandra@plaidpeoplemusic.com • 250-643-6221

Music

Videos

2020/21 Quarantine Releases

Online

For the artist’s sake, please purchase and download before you stream. Thanks!

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Discography

I recognize with respect and gratitude that, in Smithers, the land on which I live, work and play is the unceded traditional territory of the Gidimt'en Clan and the Wet’suwet’en people. em>

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