The Once

Named for a distinct Newfoundland phrase that means "imminently," the Once are a Canadian folk trio known for their succinct, three-part harmonies -- often performed unaccompanied -- and their compelling mix of traditional and original material. Both understated and emotionally rich, the Once have proven to be just as adept at adapting to other folk-friendly genres like country, indie pop, and Americana, something they did with great aplomb on the Juno-nominated albums Row Upon Row of the People They Know and Departures. The idea for the group was hatched in 2006 when Geraldine Hollett, Phil Churchill, and Andrew Dale met at a summer theater company. Evenings spent singing together at the kitchen table eventually revealed a natural chemistry that they would soon reveal to the world at large via their eponymous 2009 Atlantis Music Prize-nominated debut, which was largely paid for by a stranger who offered the band $5,000 to record an LP after attending one of their performances. They signed with Borealis for their acclaimed 2011 sophomore effort Row Upon Row of the People They Know, and followed that up with the independently released, holiday-themed collection This Is a Christmas Album in 2012. After hearing the group perform at the Vancouver CelticFest, Nettwerk Records CEO Terry McBride signed the band to his label, resulting in the release of 2014's Departures, which delivered a set that leaned more heavily on original material than previous outings. The 2016 We Win Some We Lose EP arrived after a long tour with Passenger (aka Mike Rosenberg) and introduced some contemporary instrumentation into the mix. That stylistic shift from a largely acoustic to a more folk-pop sound was made even more apparent on the group's fourth long player, Time Enough, in 2018. ~ James Christopher Monger