A new compilation celebrating the music of The Weakerthans and songwriter John Samson Fellows brings together 21 artists from Canada's independent music scene.
Titled Left and Leaving, Together: A Tribute to The Weakerthans & John Samson Fellows, the collection was released November 1 through independent label Pamphleteer Records. It features reinterpretations of songs from the Winnipeg band's catalogue and Fellows' solo career, with contributors spanning indie rock, folk and punk.
Notably, former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page takes on "Heart of the Continent," while Great Lake Swimmers covered "Winter Wheat," and Rheostatics member Dave Bidini contributes a version of "Elegy for Gump Worsley."
The Flatliners' Chris Cresswell also appears with "Fantasy Baseball at the End of the World," while Best Ex takes on "Leash." Other contributors include Evening Hymns, Jon Snodgrass, Arms Aloft, Kiri Oliver, Future Attractions, Joe McMahon and American Daughters.
''This brand new compilation brings together an incredible lineup of independent artists, folk singers, and punk musicians to honour the storytelling, prairie melancholia, and unforgettable lyrics of John Samson Fellows and The Weakerthans,'' Emma Robichaud, head of Pamphleteer, told PunkNews. ''Whether you've memorized every word on Reconstruction Site, wept over “Virtute the Cat”, or hold a special place in your heart for the streets of Winnipeg, this collection is a love letter written directly to and for you.''
The 21-track project has a charitable component as well, as Pamphleteer Records has confirmed that proceeds from the compilation will go to Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that helps LGBTQ+ people escape persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
The release follows One Great Tribute! A Love Letter to The Weakerthans, a 23-track compilation issued in 2019. The earlier project featured artists such as Frank Turner, Lowest of the Low, Austin Lucas and Skye Wallace.
Once the frontman for Propagandhi and The Weakerthans, two of Canada's most important rock acts, Samson Fellows has since announced he was retiring from the music business.
