jessica rhaye and the ramshackle parade

Jessica Rhaye and the ramshackle parade

With the release of Sunshine Baby, Jessica Rhaye’s second album with The Ramshackle Parade, the New Brunswick-based singer/songwriter expands her reach as a lyricist and vocalist with a set of alternately personal and observational songs that manage to be incredibly intimate and cinematic in scope simultaneously. While Rhaye illuminates the darker corners of her world on some tracks, the album’s lead single and title track makes it clear she’s never lost sight of the possibility for redemption and hope. The result is a beautiful and powerful album – one that telegraphs the joy and depth of connection Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade have found in working together in equal measure.

“Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade have conjured up their own distinct style of country and rock.” - Spill Magazine

“This recording 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

Who are the Ramshackle Parade?

“Our band name - The Ramshackle Parade - is borrowed and bent from a tune on Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros’ Streetcore album. That name feels like it’s a good fit for the sound that we came up with during the recording process of Just Like a Women – Songs of Bob Dylan” ~ JESSICA RHAYE

JESSICA RHAYE (Lead Vocals / Acoustic Guitar / Piano)
Jessica Rhaye is an independent singer/songwriter/performing and visual graphic design artist based in New Brunswick, Canada.
Her list of musical accolades includes 7 full-length independent albums: Sunshine Baby (out May 5, 2023), Just Like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan (2019), Song In Me (2016), Far Gone Lullabies (2013), Good Things (2009), Short Stories (2006), Jessica Rhaye (2000), that have garnished a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, multiple East Coast Music Award nominations, multiple Music New Brunswick awards and song placements in television series Unstable (CMT) and Heartland (CBC).
Her songs have twice been a finalist in the Canada Music Week National Song-writing competition as well as a finalist in the folk category of the John Lennon Song-writing Contest.
Jessica’s notable co-writing partners include Ron Sexsmith, Ken Tobias, Steve Poltz, Brent Mason, Royal Wood, and Matt Andersen.
Jessica has graced many prestigious stages including the National Arts Centre, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Canadian Music Café, Hughs Room, Hotel Café, and Half Moon Putney.
As a visual graphic design artist, Jessica Rhaye has won both the ECMA for graphic artist of the year and Music NB visual artist of the year for her design work for on her own music projects and in collaboration for numerous musical artists.
CHRIS BRAYDON (Baritone Electric Guitar + Electric Guitar / Vocals)
Chris plays Baritone electric guitar and electric guitar with the Ramshackle Parade. His melodic approach provides some of the band’s sweet feels. Chris uses a variety of pedals along with his mystical sense of melody to create weird and beautiful sounds. Chris is also a gifted songwriter in his own right.
SANDY MACKAY (Double + Electric Bass / Mandolin / Piano / Banjo / Vocals)
Sandy plays double bass, piano, mandolin, banjo and sings harmonies with the Ramshackle Parade. Over a 40-year musical career, Sandy toured widely, performed on stages and streets, did theatre work, writing and recording solo and group work.
CLINTON CHARLTON (Drums + Percussion)
Clinton is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His solo releases include "These Stars We See...Are Never Gonna Fall" (2006); "Parade" (2009) which received airplay on CBC and numerous college stations; and his most recent post-rock/ambient album “Sydney, Can You Hear Me” (2022) . To date, Clinton has contributed to over 40 releases and is the drummer and percussionist in The Ramshackle Parade.
BILL PREEPER (Electric + Acoustic Guitars / Accordion / Banjo / Mandolin / Vocals)
Bill Preeper has been very content playing folk songs in kitchens, coffee houses and benefits for the last forty years while working a day job at CBC and raising a family with his wife Kathy. Bill plays 6 and 12 string acoustic and electric guitars, accordion and mandolin and sings harmonies with the Ramshackle Parade.