Dara Weiss is a Montreal-born singer and songwriter. She is a dedicated and active member of Montreal's bluegrass/country scene. Early on in life, Dara's father imbued in her a love of folk music. He taught her some chords, which she diligently practiced on his cherry Guild guitar. Her father’s guitar, made the year she was born, is the same one she plays today. The only guitar she has ever truly loved. Dara had stints in rock bands during her college years. She also obtained a performance degree in classical saxophone at McGill University. It was bluegrass music, however, that truly grabbed hold of her heart. As she began to involve herself in the bluegrass community in Montreal she drenched herself in the music of the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe. She fell deeply in love with the exquisite music of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, the voice of Tim O'Brien, the haunting blend of the clawhammer banjo and the old time fiddle. She lay her saxophone down and committed herself to the cherry Guild and mountain music. In 2005, while Dara was living in Thunder Bay Ontario, she collaborated with Cape Breton-born flatpicker Ernie Redquest. The Woodshed Sessions was recorded by Redquest and includes seven of Dara's songs. Dara's main musical project is her bluegrass group Yonder Hill (www.myspace.com/yonderhill), featuring Katie Moore and Angela Desveaux who, along with Dara, sing and write songs for the band.
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