Sherri Harding - Storyland

Bitrate:320K/s
Year:2026
Time:40:44 
Size:94,2 MB 
Label:Pacemaker/Fontana North 
Styles:Blues/R&B/Soul 
Art:Front 

Tracks Listing:
 1. All Around The World - 4:06
 2. Down In The Shoals - 4:01
 3. Money Man - 3:26
 4. Through It All - 3:57
 5. Rainy Day - 3:00
 6. Dark-Eyed Junco - 3:21
 7. Bad Weather - 4:26
 8. What's The Matter (With My Heart) - 3:05
 9. Tell Me You're Mine - 4:25
10. Don't Push (On An Open Door) - 3:10
11. Storyland - 3:41

Ottawa’s music scene has long been shaped by artists who straddle multiple worlds, but few embody that duality as fully as Sherri Harding. Known to many as a member of The Cooper Brothers, Harding has spent decades carving out her own identity as a powerhouse soul singer with a voice that can shift from velvet to fire in a single line. In 2026, she steps confidently into the spotlight with the release of her second solo album, Storyland, and a major launch performance at the National Arts Centre. Harding’s path to this moment has been anything but linear. After years touring across Canada and abroad—playing juke joints in the Northwest Territories, performing for the Armed Forces in Bosnia and the Middle East, and fronting bands in every kind of venue imaginable—she eventually returned home to Ottawa. Like many in the capital, she found herself working in the Public Service by day while quietly maintaining her musical life by night. Colleagues grew accustomed to seeing a guitar tucked under her desk, ready for the sprint from office to stage. Now, with Storyland, Harding is fully embracing the artist she has always been.
The album arrives June 5 on the Instant Replay Music label, distributed by Fontana North/Universal. It blends soul, blues, and R&B into a mature, emotionally rich collection of songs that reflect love, resilience, and lived experience. Harding will debut the new material live on June 16 at the National Arts Centre’s Azrieli Studio, joined by special guest Shawn Tavenier and a ten‑piece all‑star band featuring several Cooper Brothers alumni. While Storyland was recorded in Ottawa, its roots stretch deep into Alabama. Harding’s long‑standing connection to Muscle Shoals continues here, with legendary guitarist Kelvin Holly—whose credits include Little Richard and The Amazing Rhythm Aces—travelling north to play on the sessions. The iconic Muscle Shoals Horns recorded their parts in Alabama, and Grammy‑winning engineer Jimmy Nutt mixed the album at The NuttHouse, adding the unmistakable warmth and grit of the region’s sound. The album was produced and written by veteran songwriter and Cooper Brothers co‑founder Richard Cooper, whose narrative‑driven approach gives Storyland a cohesive arc. Harding’s voice sits at the centre of it all—commanding, soulful, and shaped by decades of real‑world performing. The result is a record that bridges two musical traditions: Canadian storytelling and Southern soul.
he heart. Every drive home in terrible weather at 3 a.m. after a not‑so‑great gig has been worth it to bring me to this time and place. I’ve definitely paid my dues, but I wouldn’t change a darn thing.”

Storyland