Greeley's Reel releases The Valley Road Sessions

The Upper Island Cove band Greeley's Reel is in the middle of launching their second CD at several venues.
The Upper Island Cove group started out as a Greeley family band about eight years ago, playing festivals, clubs - all the usual band venues, says Justin Greeley.
Michael and Tom are singers/guitar players; Aubrey plays fiddle and accordion and Justin sings, and plays mandolin, accordion, bodhran.
Justin Greeley explains the band evolved from several family members getting together "for fun" once a week in a kitchen or basement.
The first time they played publicly together was for a fundraiser at St. Peter's School, where they performed three or four numbers.
"We got hooked, people started calling and it took off from there."
In 2004 the Greeleys decided to put together an album.
"We went with 500 copies - and we're proud to say we sold them all," Greeley says with an easy smile.
Since then bass player/singer Jack Smith and Tony Menchions, who sings and plays five-string banjo have joined the band.
"They've added a lot," says Greeley. "They've made it a totally different band. Both are exceptional singers, so we went from three singers to five."
Greeley's Reel launched The Valley Road Sessions at McNally's in Carbonear last week and at O'Reilly's on George Street, St. John's the week prior to that. Another launch is planned for Bay Roberts at the end of the month.
The band has enjoyed success locally and been on stage with some well-known names in music, both in the province and across the country.
In August 2005 they played at Baccalieu Collegiate in Old Perlican with Rex Goudie.
Greeley says the band was overwhelmed by the response from both young and old.
"We were kinda worried how it would go over. We knew there were a lot of teenagers there to see Rex. And we kinda thought the parents and grandparents would enjoy it; we didn't know how the teenagers would take to us."
It turned out the worry was needless. Everyone loved the music and clapped, danced and sang along.
"We're going back down to do a show there in January. The least we can do is give them a show, as a fundraiser for the school," says Greeley with appreciating.
This year the band will perform at the Christmas Spectacular, hosted by Catherine's Dance Studio during the winter festival in Bay Roberts. Proceeds from the Dec. 7 show to take place at Amalgamated Academy will go to the TPC Health Foundation.

See this weeks Compass for full story.