Jessica Rhaye

with
Bill Preeper & Sandy MacKay

Preeper Rhaye MacKay is a folk trio comprised of songbird and Canadian Folk Music Nominee, Jessica Rhaye, guitarist Bill Preeper, and multi-instrumentalist Sandy MacKay. They began working together in the folk-rock band The Ramshackle Parade.

This trio has developed a Maritime Appalachian Folk sound with a unique mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation. The singers deliver lush 3-part harmonies, weaving and sharing lead and harmony parts for their own compositions, along with simple, yet elegant arrangements. It's new folk music at its finest, pulling together inspiration from the likes of Woody Guthrie, Ian Tyson, and Bob Dylan. This trio is described as a modern Peter Paul & Mary, creating an intricate vocal blend.

Wood & Wire
(2024)

1 - Goin’ Back To Harlan (*Anna McGarrigle cover)
2 - Rocky Hills
3 - Waltzing To Paradise
4 - Red Rocks & Timothy
5 - Stealing Time
6 - Jared’s Mountain
7 - I Feel More Like I Do Now
8 - Sweet Night

STREAM / BUY

WOOD & WIRE is Preeper Rhaye MacKay's first album as a trio. It’s a collection of new original works and includes a special cover from the Kate and Anna McGarrigle catalogue that helps define their provenance. The album falls on the heals of the members work together with Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade on their critically acclaimed albums Just like a Woman - Songs of Bob Dylan (2019), and Sunshine Baby (2023).

The album Wood & Wire was recorded with producer/engineer Dale Murray at the board, who was instrumental in making sure the best performance was captured as the trio performed and sang each song live to record.

“We wanted Wood & Wire to capture what we do as a trio. It’s an album of folk songs with three-part harmonies” says Jessica Rhaye. “During the recording process we would play the songs over and over until we all felt like we got the take we wanted. The most we played one song was seven times. It was a very natural and refreshing process” continues Rhaye “and we achieved our goal of making a record that could have been written and recorded in the height of the Greenwich Village folk scene.”

SINGLES

Produced by Dale Murray with Bill Preeper, Jessica Rhaye and Sandy MacKay
Recorded on the Capitol Theatre stage Oxford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Recorded & Mixed by Dale Murray
Mastered by John McLaggan at Parachute Mastering
Photography by Jordan Mattie
Design & Layout by Jessica Rhaye
- MUSICIANS -
Bill Preeper
singing, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string acoustic & high strung acoustic guitars
Jessica Rhaye
singing, acoustic & high strung acoustic guitars
Sandy MacKay
singing, electric & upright bass, upright bowed bass, mandolin, banjo
Dale Murray
dobro, banjo
We recognize the support of the government of New Brunswick and Music·Musique NB.
Nous reconnaissons l’appui du gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick et de Music·Musique NB.

WOOD and wire - MERCH

MUSIC VIDEOS

MEDIA TOOLS

PRESS PHOTOS

Click on images below for high res photo
Photo credit: Jordan Mattie

BIOS

Jessica **Rhaye**

Jessica Rhaye is an independent singer-songwriter and graphic design artist with 7 full length albums to her name, including her recent album Sunshine Baby, which garnered glowing buzz from Americana UK, Americana Highways, BBC Radio, Fatea UK, Great Dark Wonder, Sirius XM “North Americana”. In a career spanning 20 years, Jessica has built an impressive list of accolades and has graced many prestigious stages across Canada including the National Arts Centre, Hugh’s Room, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Shivering Songs, and has co-written with notable artist like Ron Sexsmith, Steve Poltz, Ken Tobias, and Royal Wood.
On **Wood & Wire,** Jessica plays acoustic and Nashville high-strung guitars, sounding like a dulcimer. Her clear sweet voice provides the high harmony in the trio and her solid acoustic guitar playing rhythm forms the backbone of the trio’s sound. Jessica is responsible for the album’s artwork and promo material.

Bill **Preeper**

Bill started playing folk music in the ‘80’s while working a day job at CBC and raising a family with his wife Kathy. In 2015, upon retirement and having more time to concentrate on music, he co-founded Bonnett House leading to the release of the album “Songs From Bonnett House” in 2017. The following year, Bill became a member of Jessica Rhaye’s band, The Ramshackle Parade.
His delicate finger-picking and use of alternate tunings on guitar are inspired by the traditional and contemporary masters of folk and blues. In the vocal department, Bill shares singing with his bandmates and adds low end in the trio’s harmonies.

Sandy **MacKay**

Over a 40-year musical career, Sandy has toured widely, performed on stages and streets, theatre and session recordings for numerous artists.
Sandy is a multi-instrumentalist and on **Wood & Wire** he plays double bass, and sometimes adds mandolin and banjo. The double bass adds the bedrock to the trio’s sound, and when the bass gets bowed, brings a deep rich texture to the sound. Sandy sings tenor in the trio’s vocal mix, sometimes trading range with Jessica to reach the high harmonies in old bluegrass style.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Their version of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind has generated millions of views on YouTube
and over 50K subscribers calling out for more of this special blend of acoustic music.

“The modern folk trio offered their skills to the famed Dylan track (Blowin’ in the Wind) in this string-laden rendition. Rich with golden vocals, acoustics, and even a mandolin, Rhaye, and her group would make Baez and the rest of the ’60s decade proud with this heartfelt version.”

— American Songwriter Magazine