Mark Davis

Sharing the reins with Shuyler Jansen, Mark Davis guided the band Old Reliable through fifteen years and four recordings. He has appeared on no less than twenty different releases. Mark released his third solo record, Eliminate the Toxins, in June 2011. His most recent 2 CD release - Don't You Think We Should Be Closer? and Mistakes I Meant To Make (2007) was praised as "a two album tour de force" (Exclaim, Penguin Eggs) and "the roots release of the year" (Eye); and was lauded internationally by an abundance of four- and five-star reviews.

Mark released his third solo record, Eliminate the Toxins, in June 2011. His most recent 2 CD release - Don't You Think We Should Be Closer? and Mistakes I Meant To Make (2007) was praised as "a two album tour de force" (Exclaim, Penguin Eggs) and "the roots release of the year" (Eye); and was lauded internationally by an abundance of four- and five-star reviews. UNCUT magazine (London, UK) called the dual release "stunning" and Le Cri Du Coyote (France) called the song "By the Time" "one of the most beautiful songs of the century."


On the strength of his dual release, Mark became the most-played Canadian roots artist on the CBC's Galaxie satellite radio for 2007, spent several weeks atop the National Campus and Community Radio roots chart, and made the year's top 10 lists of both the NCCR and Exclaim magazine.

In the studio, Mark has collaborated with Joey Burns and John Convertino (Calexico, Giant Sand), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Corby Lund, Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco, Freakwater), and
Romi Mayes. Mark has toured throughout North America and has performed in nearly every major urban centre in Canada. He has performed at myriad music festivals and key industry conferences. In the process he has shared billings or stages with such luminaries as Guy Clark, Alejandro Escovedo, K'naan, Fred Eaglesmith, Kathleen Edwards, The Great Lake Swimmers, Gurf Morlix, The Corb Lund Band, Ray Condo, Giant Sand, The Sadies, Richard Buckner, Patty Griffin, and Pieta Brown, to name a few.

All of Mark's and Old Reliable's recordings are part of the Saved By Radio catalogue.

Mark has contributed music to feature-length and short films as well as a popular television series.

Mark is an arts instructor at The Robin Hood Association, where he has recorded New Day Dawning, a CD of songs he has co-written with several adults with developmental disabilities. He is a recipient of the City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence Committee Performance Award "for receiving significant recognition for furthering artistic practice."

Some of Mark's favourite musicians (and influences) are Townes Van Zandt, The Kinks, Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Richard Thompson, Will Oldham, Motorhead, Husker Du, Guided By Voices, Pan American, The Screaming Trees, The Velvet Underground, Billy Joe Shaver, Sonic Youth, Red Red Meat, Giant Sand, Richard Buckner, Kris Kristofferson, The Band, Sebadoh, Big Star, and Lucinda Williams. John Lennon - The Plastic Ono Band, Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska, Pink Floyd - The Final Cut, Giant Sand ? Glum.