Croxton Records

RON HAWKINS

IF YOU'RE SITTING ON THE FENCE ABOUT BUYING RON'S ALBUM,
CHECK THIS OUT... IT'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE PUSH OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE.

After a 17 year recording career, Ron Hawkins (Canada) has finally had one of his fine records (Chemical Sounds) released in Australia and has just completed a month-long Australian tour as very special guest on the WPA reunion jaunt. We're talking about The Other Ron Hawkins here - not the tireless blues stalwart and cohort of The Band from Arkansas - but the articulate, powerful contemporary songwriter hailing from downtown Toronto.

With Ron's solo album Chemical Sounds out this year on his own Victimless Capitalism label in Canada and the Weddings taking to the road again in Australia, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Croxton Records to introduce another great Canadian artist to Australian audiences hungry for a musically and politically articulate voice.

And what a voice it is! Powerful and exuberant, aggressive and heartfelt, the songs are philosophical, biting and soulful but most of all they are real. And it's the realism of these songs that hits you like a freight train.

Ron has spent much of his career fronting Lowest of the Low - a fine passionate, lyrical rock band that released two fantastic albums in the 90's, broke up, reformed, released another couple of records, broke up again and were finally inducted into the Canadian Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. More than anything they were known for the strength of their songs and the outspoken larrikin verve of their frontman. They toured relentlessly across their native Canada, making occasional forays to their pockets of support in the United States. They were a hell of a band and Ron is a hell of a songwriter.

Around about 1992, after six years of slogging back and forth across the Trans-Canada Highway, Weddings, Parties, Anything came through Toronto on their final tour of Canada. They played a couple of nights with Lowest of the Low at Lee's Palace in Toronto, striking up a camaraderie and mutual respect that has lasted to this day.

The Australian release of Chemical Sounds has an extra track (War Without End) plus a whole load of video introductions which should be essential viewing to those coming to this fantastic singer-songwriter for the first time as well as for long-time fans.

Kudos & Reviews

Lowest of The Low were inducted into the Canadian Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and their debut SHAKESPEARE MY BUTT is #7 on Chart Magazine's Greatest Canadian Albums List.

In 2000, Ron was voted Best Local Songwriter in Toronto's Now Magazine Reader's Poll.

"Hawkins' second solo album is a solid effort that showcases his intellect, social conscience and knack for clever turns of phrase... Hawkins doesn't need airplay to prove his worth as an artist."
Steve McLean Chart Attack (Can)

AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES 2008
MARCH
Fri 28 FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE WA w/ WPA
Sat 29 FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE WA w/ WPA
Sun 30 THE OXFORD HOTEL LEEDERVILLE WA w/ WPA
APRIL
Thu 3 THE RETREAT BRUNSWICK VIC W/ Nick Barker
Fri 4 THE GAELIC CLUB NSW w/ WPA
Sat 5 THE GAELIC CLUB NSW w/ WPA
Wed 9 THE LOFT WARNAMBOOL VIC w/ Justin Keenan (GO-SET)
Thu 10 THE RETREAT BRUNSWICK VIC w/ Dan Warner & Dr Bellows
Fri 11 THE ZOO BRISBANE QLD w/ WPA
Sat 12 THE ZOO BRISBANE QLD w/ WPA
Wed 16 THE CORNER HOTEL RICHMOND VIC w/ WPA
Thu 17 THE CORNER HOTEL RICHMOND VIC w/ WPA
Fri 18 THE CORNER HOTEL RICHMOND VIC w/ WPA
Sat 19 THE CORNER HOTEL RICHMOND VIC w/ WPA
Sun 20 THE CORNER HOTEL RICHMOND VIC w/ WPA

TAKE ME TO THE OFFICIAL RON HAWKINS WEBSITE

CHEMICAL SOUNDS
Album 2008 (croxt039)

Purchase
the Australian tour release of
CHEMICAL SOUNDS
online through Paypal here..

$27.45 incl.GST+Postage & Handling

Track Listing:
1. From The Alta Loma Hotel
2. Sofa Star
3. Born To It
4. Anonymous
5. A Brief History
6. 1-800-Radio
7. Smile and Wave
8. Flicker
9. Out Of The Black
10. Peace And Quiet
11. 1994
12. Hang On To Your Id

13. War Without End (bonus track)