Originally published by CBC News on January 15, 2018
By Heather Barrett
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
The Celtic rock band Rawlins Cross has settled into a comfortable groove of playing a few gigs every year, but recently, says guitarist and mandolin player Dave Panting, the band has picked up the tempo.
"Ian McKinnon phoned us up in 2016 and said 'you know, we should do a new record,' said Panting.
About a year ago, the band members gathered to record six new songs, which make up the fresh Rawlins Cross EP Rock Steady.
Formed in the '80s
Rawlins Cross formed in the mid-1980s, when Panting, and his brother Geoff met bagpipe and whistle player Ian McKinnon at a house party in St. John's.
The trio added added a rhythm section, and settled on the band's current lineup of Dave Panting, guitar and mandolin, Geoff Panting, keyboards and accordion, Ian McKinnon, highland pipes and whistles, Joey Kitson, vocals, bass and Chapman stick player Brian Bourne, and drummer Howie Southwood in 1994.
That was at the height of mainstream music industry interest in Celtic rock from the East Coast of Canada.
"[It was] pretty cool," said Dave Panting of that time.
