Rory McLeod

Rhythmic storyteller, multi-instrumentalist,…telling unpalatable truths about broken hearts…social injustice…in songs, that are percussive, bold, lyrical, deeply personal …and have an unexpected edge to them, accompanied by spoons, harmonica, guitar, trombone and-tap-dancing shoes.

A one-man soul band, poet and storyteller, singing his own unique upbeat dance stories. A modern traveling troubadour using tap shoes, acappella, harmonica, guitar, trombone, spoons, finger cymbals, bandorea, djembe and various percussion instruments!

Rory has traveled the globe for different reasons at different times, from Asia to the Middle East from Gambia to Cuba, Central America, Australia, North America, Canada, Europe and other nooks and crannies of the earth.

An ex-circus clown and fire eater in an Azteca Mexican Circus, Rory has played harmonica and guitar with Ani Di Franco, Michelle Shocked, Michael Franti, Townes Van Zandt, Butch Hancock, with the West-African guitarist ALI FARKE-TOURE and TAJ MAHAL; and Madagascan group TARIKA. He's enjoyed creative collaborations with Hassan Erraji, Kathryn Tickel and Paul Rodden-virtuosos, respectively, of the Moroccan Oud, the Northumbrian pipes and the Irish banjo.

"....informal, soul-baring, colorful observations, cracking tunes, sharp narratives"
"a hugely endearing yet provocative album that synthesizes McLeod’s long history disrespecting conformist styles and artificial genres."
"an intriguing amalgam of moods concocted here- whenever Morgan puts lips to clarinet you think of Klezmer, every pluck of the Rojas harp takes it into Latino territory and McLeod’s songs acquire the robes of the chameleon."
"Plenty of glee here and no little spark either." Colin Irwin