Shawn Lidster is a singer/songwriter from Newfoundland, Canada, who now calls Australia home. He first came to Australia in 1997 by invitation from Tasmanian band The Pale Riders, who he met in Vancouver, Canada. Within a year he won a song competition on Sydney's Radio Station Triple M, toured with Midnight Oil and met his wife Rebecca. He has had songs he has written performed for the Prime Minister of Canada, Premier of Newfoundland and Prince Charles and even had a song played on Hockey Night in Canada.
His brand new Cd The Burning was recorded in Australia at Bill Chambers Studio. Going back to his roots, The Burning,takes you on a emotional journey. 11 original songs written about Family, The Past, The Present, The Future and home in Newfoundland, Canada. Its Acoustic/Roots/Folk/Alt Country/Gospel and Blues all combined to showcase Shawn s ability to express his feelings in different styles of music that he has grown up on and is influenced by. Featuring some outstanding playing on Dobro, Electric Guitar, Weisenborn, Banjo, Mandolin, Irish Bazooky and Harmonica by one of Australia s premier alt-country guitarists, Bill Chambers. Also featuring Michael Muchow an award winning Australian guitarist who grooves along on Drums, Stomp, Percussion, Bass and Electric Guitar. Shawn s Background as a Musician Legends on the Baccalieu Trail CD In 2006 Shawn released Legends on the Baccalieu Trail CD. It was years in the making. Shawn did extensive research into the history of the Baccalieu Trail towns of Cupids, Brigus, Bull Cove, Harbour Grace and Carbonear. In addition to telling stories about the history of each of these towns, he has tried to capture the mood of each time period. The songs get right to the heart and soul of the characters he is reflecting upon, bringing the listener back to the era in which he is singing about. His ability to evoke the past of these towns illustrates his maturity as a songwriter.
Legends on the Baccalieu Trail, has been added to the K-12 curriculum through out Newfoundland & Labrador. Shawn released this CD in 2006 and has been stead fast in his pursuit to have his Cd added to this program. It is a Major Accomplishment, one in which I could not let slip by, the Cd met all the requirements and it is something I m very proud of, Lidster stated. Legends on the Baccalieu Trail contains original songs about the stories and legends of the towns of the Baccalieu Trail, most of which have histories dating back to the 1700's. Newfoundland Roots Music Newfoundland Roots Music I try to capture a balance between all of the Celtic influences that they have passed down to me from both sides of my family roots, then mix it with my own interpretations and come up with something that is old - but with a new edge. The Sealers Song,Newfoundland Summers Day,Cupers Cove, Carbonear Island, John The Pirate and On the Baccalieu Trail are all receiving airplay on CBC Radio, Jigs and Reel OZ Fm, Homebrew 97.5, Radio Newfoundland, 560 and 590 VOCM and CFBX Kamloops BC. Also have had air play on Internet Radio Stations, CBC Radio 3, SIRIUS Satellite Radio Canada, and The Celtic Folk Podcast. Pale Riders and Australia In 1995, Shawn attended Music West in Vancouver. He checked out a showcase that had the Australian band Pale Riders on the bill. They quickly became friends, exchanging CDs and tapes and vowing to keep in touch. In 1997, Pale Riders invited Shawn to be their opening act for the launch of their new CD and tour of Eastern Australia and Tasmania. Shawn jumped at the opportunity, sold just about everything he owned packed up his guitar and made the move to the land down under.
While in Australia, Shawn crafted his song writing skills. He entered a theme song competition for Sydney s rock station Triple M and won $15,000 worth of Sammy Hagar s (Van Halen) gear when his song the Ratso Man was chosen as the winner. Shawn also had the opportunity to play along with Randall Waller who is now Shania Twain s guitar player. Randall liked the Sealers Song so much he used to get up on stage and jam along with Shawn. Shawn also went on a tour with the Pale Riders when they were the opening act for Midnight Oil s 1998 Redneck Wonderland Tour. Shawn says: What a year! In 1999 while still in Australia, Shawn formed an acoustic duo with Scott Mainwaring (ex Pale Riders) called Silver Dollar. Silver Dollar played a wide mixture of songs for all ages and was a huge success in Sydney and on the Central Coast. Silver Dollar s first gig was opening act for Mark Evans (original bass playerfor AC/DC). Back Home in Brigus
In 2003 Shawn was asked by Avondale Music to do a remix of his Sealer Song for the Homebrew 4 CD. Then in 2004 they also did a remix of Newfoundland Summer s Day (recorded in Great Big Sea s studio) for Homebrew 5 CD. Both songs have had extensive play on traditional radio stations in Newfoundland and Nationally.
Shawn is currently working as Solo Acoustic Artist and as a Duo with Guitarist/Songwriter Trent Crawford called Driftwood. Playing a mix bag of originals and covers by Neil Young,Steve Earle, CCR, J J Cale, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones,David Wilcox, Blues plus many more. Contact Off The Rock Music Shawn Lidster Telephone: 0404126072 www.shawnlidster.com www.reverbnation.com/shawnlidster http://www.myspace.com/shawnlidster