Genre: Singer-songwriter
Formed: 1997
Full-length recordings: Clay George (2001), Cherry Bank Hotel (2006)
Website: www.myspace.com/claygeorge
Juror comment: His songs stand next to the all-time greats, in my opinion.
Like the truest of musicians, Clay George doesnt much like talking about himself.
Too his credit, others have no problems whatsoever singing his praises. George, 38, received perhaps the highest praise of any performer during the voting process. One said he was deserving of great things, retroactive to 2005 while another dubbed him the best singer-songwriter in this city, period.
High praise, indeed. And yet, despite the good graces of his peers, George remains somewhat unknown to a wide swath of local music fans. The tall singer-songwriter with the country-folk bent fully accepts his inability to raise his profile beyond those in-the-know.
In this old town, Ive tried to play my cards right, he sang on This Old Town, a highlight of his 2006 recording, Cherry Bank Hotel. But my luck aint faithful.
George arrived on these shores, from his native Burlington, Ont., in 1993. He has flirted with leaving plenty of times his travelogue includes stops in Nelson, B.C., New Orleans, and Austin, Tex. but he remains in Victoria, despite his desire to move elsewhere.
He has slowed his rate of performances, although those keeping score will catch George from time to time, either on his own (he played a sterling set at this years Rifflandia festival) or occasional gigs with Rugged Uncle or the Grand Old Country Band.