Short Bio
Lori Yates is a pioneer of alternative country in Canada, catapulting onto the Queen W. scene in the 1980s with her band Rang Tango. Her music has been described as "alt-country masterpieces, film noir on the range."The pathos of Johnny Cash, the attitude of Joan Jett and a little Lucille Ball thrown in. This fusion makes her a genuinely unique and original artist.
Her new recording, "Matador" (release date Fall 2023), sees Yates branching into an acoustic-based vibe with piano and organ support. Co-produced with Tim Vesley (Rheostatics), seven of the nine songs were written in Hamilton during lockdown, while "Time After Time," co-written with legendary Guy Clark, was re-recorded with Hey Stella at Woodshed Studio, Toronto.
Yates has released five independent CDs and has been signed with Sony Music Nashville and Virgin Music Canada. She has earned awards and nominations: Juno Awards, Canadian Country Music Awards, and the Polaris Prize (Longer List) Songwriter of the Year at the Hamilton Music Awards and has been nominated for two Lifetime Achievement Awards for her enduring impact on the music landscape.
Lori's career has been shaped by working with iconic artists such as Guy Clark, Greg Allman, Jim Cuddy, and Rick Danko, who referred to her voice as "that desperate Canadian sound," to name a few.
Beyond her role as a performer, she is the founder of "Creative Genius Songwriting" workshops and a songwriting coach, nurturing emerging songwriters. Her songwriting prowess is further celebrated through the permanent enshrinement of her lyrics from "Angels With Bloody Knees" in Hamilton's Gore Park, highlighting her cultural significance.
Notably, Lori Yates is not confined to her role as a musician; she also excels as an event organizer, producing sold-out shows like "Johnny Cash: The Original Punk" and "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad."
Concurrently, she is crafting her memoir, "Sunday Drunks," providing a personal and intimate perspective on her remarkable life and career. Lori Yates continues to be a revered figure in Canadian music, celebrated for her incomparable style and enduring impact.
