PEACENIK collective
Peacenik Collective are a superband, composed of dedicated, performing songwriter/musicians drawn together by a mutual desire to create and share music that connects people to one another and to themselves.
When www.uniteuslive.com asked Bruce Coughlan to assemble a cast of performers for a "Songs of Peace" broadcast, he immediately reached out to his friends Marc Gladstone, Cherelle Jardine & Scott Jackson of the band Stone Poets, who were just releasing their new album "Human", and whose music particularly fit the bill.
From there, Bruce reached out to long-time friend, songwriter, vocalist and bassist Gord Maxwell, whose songwriting also features a humanistic quality. Friend and drummer/percussionist Greg Stuart added his wealth of experience and the core band was born for the broadcast.
It took very little time for these like-minded individuals to band together, to create a project that uniquely reflects their common interests, hence, Peacenik Collective was formed!
Samples below were captured at the group's inaugural concert “A Season for Peace & Love” on December 8th, honoring the memory of John Lennon.
*digital art by Rick Leche, photographs by Fred Armstrong.
band members
Bruce Coughlan is a career performer. A songwriter, recording artist, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, compere, and storyteller par excellence with nearly five decades of experience.
Bruce Coughlan has written hundreds of songs and performed at thousands of venues, ranging from coffee houses and folk clubs to a Canada Day performance on Parliament Hill! He’s recorded 14 albums of original and adapted traditional music across a broad range of the Roots Music genre.
Along with his band Tiller's Folly, Bruce has been welcomed internationally as a touring artist. His eclectic mix of original Roots-based songs are honest, timeless & authentic. His storytelling is intriguing, matched by his expressive voice and masterful guitar work. www.songsmith.ca
Marc Gladstone delivers the anchor of music and melody for the songs, derived from an extensive history of musical experience. He has played piano/keyboards since he was seven years old. His playing and singing has been heard on many recordings, live, as well as television appearances. Marc performed with Doug and the Slugs from 1998 until 2005 as well as Nick Gilder and did a Canadian tour with Toronto, Brandon Paris Band and Abandon Paris. Marc is a piano teacher at Long and McQuade in Port Coquitlam BC.
Currently Marc plays keys with Prism, Stone Poets, and In my Life, The Abbey Road Rockers - a tribute to the Beatles. www.marcgladstone.com
Scott Jackson draws from a sphere of influence a little different from the other two members of Stone Poets. His background in English literature, specifically in Elizabethan poetry, provides a somber and moody depth to the lyrics. Like his Stone Poets collaborators, Scott draws from extensive experience in the songwriting world.
Scott's solo career has seen the release of two CDs titled “My World” and “Distractions”. Scott’s musical library garnered extensive radio play across Canada and the USA. 4 songs from “Distractions” are still spinning on CBC across Canada. In 2010 Scott joined Marc Gladstone in the rock/reggae band Abandon Paris and in 2011, tripped into the collaborative magic of Stone Poets. www.scottjacksonmusic.com
Cherelle Jardine has been writing and recording since 1995. She’s released 13 cds during her career including her 4 solo albums and albums with Stone Poets and The Jardines. Her beloved Stone Poets is her heart and soul, where she joyfully writes songs of peace, love and human connection.
Jardine was honoured with 2 prestigious awards, the Ethel Tibbits (Woman of Distinction Award) and The Richmond Art Award (Cultural Leadership). She's toured in North America and the UK and has worn many hats in the music industry including President of Pacific Songwriters' Association. www.cherellejardine.ca