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    Scott Cook

    • shows
    • tunes
    • press
      • bio
      • resources
      • hi-res press photos
      • press quotes
    • travelogue
    • videos
    • words
    • politics
    • contact
    • store
    • fellow travellers
      • subscribers-only content

    bio

    bio

    In 2007, Albertan songwriter Scott Cook quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan and moved into a minivan. He’s made his living as a troubadour ever since, touring almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year, and releasing seven albums of plainspoken, keenly observant verse along the way. His latest collection Tangle of Souls comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations, equal parts introspection and insurrection. The album spent two weeks at #1 on Alberta's province-wide community radio network CKUA, and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, for English Songwriter of the Year. Its second single "Say Can You See" was the second most-played song of 2020 on Folk Alliance International's folk radio charts, and took top honours for the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. In 2022 he's touring the album all over North America, believing more than ever that songs can change your life, and your life can change the world.

    "As good a modern folkie as we have these days.  A voice perfect for the genre.  An understanding beyond the norm."  –No Depression

    "Damn, this is a gorgeous album. Scott Cook’s voice – vocally and lyrically – is as clear-eyed, optimistic, and straightforward as ever...  Tangle of Souls is the medicine we could all use right now." –Rachel Cholst, Adobe and Teardrops

    "He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own... Truly one of Woody Guthrie's children." –RnR Magazine

    resources

    Scott Cook stage plot 27.2 KB
    Scott Cook and Pamela Mae stage plot 48.3 KB
    Scott Cook and the She'll Be Rights stage plot 24.5 KB
    Scott Cook and the Second Chances stage plot 23.5 KB
    Scott Cook bio/onesheet 283 KB
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    1. 1
      Pass It Along 4:53
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      Pass It Along

      Scott Cook

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    2. 2
      Dogs And Kids 5:16
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      Dogs And Kids

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    3. 3
      Further Down The Line 5:33
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      Further Down The Line

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    4. 4
      Fellas, Get Out The Way 3:30
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    5. 5
      Goin' Up to the Country 4:38
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    6. 6
      While the Party's Still Going 4:56
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      While the Party's Still Going

      Scott Cook and the Long Weekends

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    7. 7
      The Ramblin' Kind 4:38
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      The Ramblin' Kind

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    8. 8
      The Lord Giveth (and the Landlord Taketh Away) 4:37
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    9. 9
      When We're Back Around 4:00
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    10. 10
      People, Please 3:19
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    11. 11
      Learning To Let Go 4:56
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    12. 12
      One More Time Around 4:51
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      One More Time Around

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    at Blue Skies Festival in Ontario, Canada, photo by Chad Kirvan

    at Blue Skies Festival in Ontario, Canada, photo by Chad Kirvan

    In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, photo by Oscar Sun

    In Kaohsiung, Taiwan, photo by Oscar Sun

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    hi-res press photos

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    press photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    Scott Cook at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, photo by Gerard Hudson

    Scott Cook at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, photo by Gerard Hudson

    at Wild Mountain Music Festival in Hinton, Alberta, photo by Donna Mair

    at Wild Mountain Music Festival in Hinton, Alberta, photo by Donna Mair

    Scott Cook and Pamela Mae at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, photo by Gerard Hudson

    Scott Cook and Pamela Mae at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, New Zealand, photo by Gerard Hudson

    at Cultuurhuis Heerlen, Netherlands, photo by Theo Looijmans

    at Cultuurhuis Heerlen, Netherlands, photo by Theo Looijmans

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    Scott Cook and the She'll Be Rights at River Folk Festival in Warburton, Australia,, photo by Kate Baker

    Scott Cook and the She'll Be Rights at River Folk Festival in Warburton, Australia,, photo by Kate Baker

    Scott Cook and the Second Chances, photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    Scott Cook and the Second Chances, photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    Scott Cook and the She'll Be Rights, photo by Kate Baker

    Scott Cook and the She'll Be Rights, photo by Kate Baker

    Scott Cook and the Indoorables playing a yard concert in Edmonton, photo by Fish Griwkowsky

    Scott Cook and the Indoorables playing a yard concert in Edmonton, photo by Fish Griwkowsky

    at Artswells Festival in Wells, BC, photo by Arianne L-S

    at Artswells Festival in Wells, BC, photo by Arianne L-S

    at Sasquatch Gathering, Evansburg, Alberta, photo by Brian Zahorodniuk

    at Sasquatch Gathering, Evansburg, Alberta, photo by Brian Zahorodniuk

    photo by Gerard Hudson

    photo by Gerard Hudson

    Scott Cook photo by Richard Nunn with quotes

    Scott Cook photo by Richard Nunn with quotes

    Scott Cook and the Second Chances logo, photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    Scott Cook and the Second Chances logo, photo by Steven Teeuwsen

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen with name

    photo by Steven Teeuwsen with name

    press quotes

    “He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own... A good eye for imagery, a gentle human touch, a wry sense of humour, a whole lot of integrity, a warm, rugged voice and a bunch of memorable lines... Truly one of Woody Guthrie's children.”

    — RnR Magazine

    “One of Canada's most inspiring and imaginative storytellers... beautifully written lyrics, intricate chordal patterns and a refreshing plain-spoken vocal clarity... there isn't a bad song on here. ★★★★” - Emily Saxton

    — Maverick Country

    “Scott Cook has distilled his travels down into songs powered by a sharp eye for imagery, a healthy dose of humanity, and that unforgettable voice, that at the same time intones the rigors of the road and the most comfortable couch you have ever slept on.”

    — David Francey, 3x Juno-winning songwriter

    “★★★★. Rich in plainspoken, poetic expression... Unapologetically honest words and music crafted from a keen observer's perspective.” - Donald Teplyske

    — Lonesome Road Review

    “One of the finest Folk albums of the last 30 years... This needs to be heard by as many people as possible. The lyrics are heart-felt. The arrangements are beautifully sparse, and they highlight Scott's voice. This is pure, accessible folk.” - Dan Joseph

    — CKWR radio

    “Absolutely brilliant... A forward-thinking role model for the upcoming generation... This will be an album that will be eagerly awaited by old fans but will easily manage to draw in new fans too.” - Kayleigh Dann

    — Maverick Country

    “Alberta troubadour Scott Cook has been crisscrossing the globe for the past 10 years, sleeping in his van and making his living playing his earnest and sympathetic folk songs to appreciative audiences worldwide. On his sixth full-length release, Further Down the Line, Cook once again puts his altruistic view of the world not only on his sleeve, but also to the test, with folk songs that conjure the spirit of his protest-folk influences, while leaving his signature on the form... Cook has travelled far and wide to find the heart of an increasingly agitating world, and his genuine hope for it is palpable. He brings dark stories to life under the guise of pleasant, and excellently played folk music, which is just as subversive as screaming it over the roar of full-throat punk rock.” - Michael Dunn

    — Beatroute

    “As hard traveling a man as he is, Scott Cook doesn't give into the usual world weary platitudes associated with the 21st century wandering singer-songwriter. He's a thoughtful guy, throwing a hard look at his home province (Alberta, You're Breaking My Heart), and fellow bros (Fellas, Get Out the Way), though still finding space to hilariously celebrate that most venerable of late night dancing and drinking institutions (Kitchen Dance Party On). His Edmonton-based back band The Second Chances (Bramwell Park, mandolin, banjo; Melissa Walker, bass) supply their usual sturdy and inventive backing, with pianist Dana Wylie, drummer Matt Blackie and violinist Adam Iredale-Gray adding nice touches throughout. Cook's sixth full-length release also finds him leaping forward in songwriting craft, bringing him closer to the echelon he so clearly reveres: John Prine, Corin Raymond, Greg Brown. As with his last release, Scott Cook and the Long Weekends Go Long, he's charted out his songs in the accompanying thick booklet, chords at the ready, along with a little friendly advice on how to proceed as a folk musician.” - Tom Murray

    — Penguin Eggs

    “It's a great, soulful and inquisitive album from the get-go, the opener a love letter to Woodie Guthrie... The disc comes in a simply beautiful package — an annotated photo book with chapters on recording, Cook's life so far in both words and pictures from the road, including lessons on how to use the Nashville numbering style of chord progressions. This look under the hood is amazing and very generous. Fellas, Get Out the Way is especially thought-provoking, jazzy and lovely, too, like this whole acoustic ride a pleasure. Alberta, You're Breaking My Heart personifies our complex province as an ex-girlfriend who's using and destroying herself, while Dogs and Kids cheerfully acknowledges the inevitable passage of time, and for whom we make memories. If He Showed Up Now questions how Christ would be received today (imagine him as an immigrant refugee, for example), and Walk That Lonesome Valley takes a look at the courage of Sojourner Truth, Father Daniel Berrigan and Chelsea Manning, the last one recently pardoned by President Obama. Look them up if you don't know their tales, or better yet buy this album. One second short of 42 minutes, this record is a real trip — Cook speaks of self-doubt in this book, but a lot of us are thankful for his ongoing courage to let us know about the courage of others in song.” - Fish Griwkowsky

    — The Edmonton Journal

    “I don’t know which is more impressive, the music or the 132-page book of lyrics, observations and photographs that accompany it and document Canadian troubadour Scott Cook’s decade of globe-trotting and the experiences that came with it. Fortunately, you get both. Working with his acoustic trio The Second Chances and a smattering of other collaborators, he recorded it live off the studio floor. It’s a departure from the honky tonk rowdiness of his last album, and sees a return to his earlier, starker and stripped back sound in its exploration of hope, despair and heroism, expressively delivered in his wearied dusty tones... This album kicks hard.” - Mike Davies

    — Folk Radio UK

    “I knew as soon as I heard the album. He's as good a modern folkie as we have these days. A voice perfect for the genre. An understanding beyond the norm... The album has a string of originals and co-written originals, every one an excellent example of the genre. Straight vocals in a sort of campfire setting, practically made for Cook's voice. Some chucklers, some political, some from the heart... This used to be what a large percentage of folk music was all about. Correcting injustice. Fighting inequality. I'm pretty sure Cook is right. Look what we have done to the world. Perhaps we should all line up behind him and sing in unison. It may be the last real chance we have.” - Frank Gutch, Jr.

    — No Depression

    “On Scott Cook's sixth album, Further Down the Line, his songcraft has reached a beautiful maturity, each take sincere, authentic and meaningful. Thematically compassionate, it suggests that there's hope amid the bleakness, in uplifting tales from across the globe, given clarity by Adam Iredale-Gray's uncluttered recording... The accompanying lavish booklet oozes artistic generosity too, brimful of songwriting tips, guitar chord charts, and pictures from Cook's enlightening, inspirational trip of discovery.” - David Innes

    — RnR Magazine

    “It is Scott's unbridled passion, as well as his resonant baritone voice and fluid guitar playing - and personable stage presentation with lashings of wry humour - that make him not just another singer-songwriter. He wears his heart for all to see on his sleeve and thinks deeply about life and the world that he travels. With Woody Guthrie a hero his songs are adroitly lyrical and soul-searching. Melodic, subtle instrumentation both in live performance and on record never obstruct... Songs range from poignant to philosophical and political - and hilarious ('Kitchen Dance Party On' just has to be seen live).” - David Johnston

    — Rhythms Magazine, Australia

    “As hard-working a DIY songwriter as any in the game... A Scott Cook song contains the extra work done by a carpenter who cares. Work the carpenter doesn't have to do. Work only other carpenters will likely even notice... One of the best songwriters this country has. A working artist who's taken enormous risks in order to make something which offers strength to anyone who takes the time to listen... I believe that over the years this album will prove to be a benchmark in Canadian folk music, as well as a signpost pointing the way for younger artists. I believe that young songwriters will write better songs because of it. ” - Corin Raymond

    — Raymond Unrushed

    “This Canadian troubadour's CD is a veritable work of art: 120 pages of beautiful photographs, mingled with eloquent ruminations on life - something Scott Cook calls his 'love letter to the world'. Taking a leaf out of Woody Guthrie's book with the title track, Cook's lonesome vocals ride over his guitar and banjo, as he recalls his travels and ponders 'aren't some people just famous for being famous?' Honesty isn't in short supply: humanity shines out of Scott's songs like the gentle 'Alberta, You're Breaking My Heart' and on 'Dogs and Kids'. In the sea of singer-songwriter angst, Scott's happy vibe is a welcome ray of sunlight.”

    — Acoustic Magazine

    “Edmonton songwriter Scott Cook is the love child of Woody Guthrie and Steve Goodman. No, seriously. One of Canada's most inspiring and imaginative storytellers, he's a slightly subversive roots balladeer, applying his wry humour liberally to contemporary issues with keenly observant lyrics, some fierce fingerstyle guitar and clawhammer banjo, and a warm, rugged voice that keeps you hanging on every word.”

    — Canmore Folk Music Festival

    “Edmonton's Scott Cook has spent more than a decade as a full-time road warrior, armed with his trusty acoustic guitar, averaging 160 shows a year in venues across Canada, the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia. Along the way, Cook has never stopped writing, translating the experiences of road life into engaging songs that highlight his deep sense of honesty and humanity... The affable trio are pros when it comes to engaging audiences and getting folks to smile or maybe even sing along. Lyrically astute and undeniably warm, part of Cook's gift is his unwavering positivity, even as he delves into complex subject matters. This is a man who has seen a lot, and with any luck he'll continue to share as he continues on down the road.”

    — Calgary Folk Music Festival

    “Scott Cook's latest album is as much a manifesto as a musical work... The Edmonton-based singer/songwriter/visual artist includes extensive liner notes--a dying art to his way of thinking--and cites everyone from Walt Whitman to Woody Guthrie to internet activist Aaron Schwartz to stake out his position against the cultural hegemony that would turn every creative expression into a commodity... However shareable it is, it sounds pretty good as played by Cook and his talented retinue of players and singers, delivered with a gentle, tuneful croon with tasteful trimmings. If it helps you locate it on the folk spectrum, Greg Brown's The Poet Game fits in seamlessly with the slate of Cook originals that teem with wry observations and hopeful life lessons. Isn't that what folk music is all about?” - Scott Lingley

    — Penguin Eggs

    Sample Video

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