Blue Fox is the collective name for Winchester boy Ryan O'Reilly and Canadians Tyler Kyte and Nick Rose. You may well have encountered Ryan as a solo performer who's been touring his way around the more intimate venues and festivals of this fair land of late. And if you've been impressed by his live show, you'll be blown away by the magic of this self-released EP. It's beautifully recorded. The songs are gentle, evocative and surprisingly self-assured. Ryan's voice is edged with woodsmoke, the harmonies fit like jigsaw pieces, and celtic and bluesy hints invigorate a classic style of songwriting. Whether he's pacing the cold streets of New York or treading the lonely London pavements trying to escape his past, Ryan (and his Blue fox boys) are surely on their way towards a bigger league. Catch them,now, before they're busy dating movie stars. H.K
EP REVIEW - in ROCK'n'REEL magazine - March/April 2008
"BLUE FOX, an Anglo-Canadian three-piece offer a welcome taster of a future album on their self-titled four track EP. Fronted by the show-stealing voice of Ryan O'Reilly who, on the evocatively sublime opener 'St Mark's Hotel' possesses some of the magic of Jeff Buckley. The three-piece offer an unhurried and effortlessly bewitching take on Americana; what emerges - as on the madolin, banjo and perfectly paced 'Elizabeth' - are songs that match the strength of Steve Earle at his rootsy best." S.M
EP REVIEW - on RawRip.com - July 2008
This trio have earned their worth in such an old fashioned way it’s inspirational. Winchester native and Blue Fox front man Ryan formed the band when meeting fellow, likeminded, musicians on his travels throughout Canada and has infused that Americana, or Canadana if you will, into his grassroots British folk foundation to make a vibrant and stimulating sound likeable to Neil Young. Far more classic country than the likes of Conor Oberst, they’re no less important to the adolescence of folk culture, making songs ubiquitous with youthful articulation and playful vocal melodies. You could argue this band hold a torch towards Fleetwood Mac, and such a comparison would not leave you dissatisfied by any means, the sense of epicness attained sending shivers up your spine, back down again and right into your pants.
BLUE FOX Bio -
In the summer of 2004, Ryan O’Reilly, an 18 year old singer/songwriter from Winchester, England travelled to Canada for a couple months to visit relatives in Toronto. Most of his time, however, was spent roaming the city playing every open mic he could find. It was at one such event, at the Free Times Café, that he met future friend and collaborator Tyler Kyte, a 20 year old actor/musician from Lindsay, Ontario who had recently transplanted himself in Toronto to pursue a music career of his own. The two instantly bonded, and spent the remaining month of O’Reilly’s visit writing and performing songs together. A year later, during Kyte’s requisite early twenties European sojourn, he and Ryan were reacquainted, and the two spent a few weeks traveling together throughout England, France and Spain. During this time, they performed at various coffee shops and open mics along the way, several new songs were written, and Kyte even played a few shows as a guest guitarist/singer with O’Reilly and his band the Raindogs in Winchester. Spring of 2006 saw O’Reilly return to Toronto for a month where he shared a house with Kyte and Nick Rose, another actor/musician. The three began playing and writing new songs together in the basement of the house, and then spent a week in a remote northern Ontario fishing camp called Blue Fox where the band officially took shape. In July 2007, O'Reilly returned to Canada for a Blue Fox summer tour to Prince Edward Island and another trip into the northern Ontario wilderness. In August, Blue Fox recorded their inaugural EP at Canterbury Music, Toronto. Spring 2008 brought Nick & Tyler east to reunite Blue Fox for a tour of England and Ireland. On the way Blue fox played in Camden Town, Bath, Winchester, The Isle of Wight, Dublin, Wicklow, Leytonstone, Islington, recorded two new songs and went busking in Temple Bar & Covent Garden.
Hi Ryan, Tyler, and Nick! I love your music (and have done a few covers!). I can't wait to see you guys when you come to New York (a.k.a. my neck of the woods). Thanks for making such inspiring music! Keep on playing and good luck with your respective music careers!
i know that there is not a chance in hell you'll ever come to indiana. there's not much here. but i'll be checking up to see if blue fox does any shows up in toronto. see if i can make it a weekend trip and see you guys live. i love the music i'm hearing on the page.
Every time I log on here and visit you boys, your genre has changed. One day your country/folk/blues the next your americana/roots/celtic. Just call yourselves "the whole lot" or the "whole sha-bang". :)
