Heckman Downes

John the Revelator
Wandering Boy
The Shaggy Dogs’ CD One Runs at Midnight begins with a visitation from one of the lost:
I was sleeping in the garden
You came and whispered your love to me.
And in the night when I lay waiting in the empty dark
I heard you singing in the street.
The collection this song, “I Am Loved”, introduces is a potent stew of alt. country, swamp blues, and brand new 400 year old folk tunes.
Dann Downes and Grant Heckman are Heckman Downes (formerly the Shaggy Dogs). Dann plays National steel guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, banjolin, and mandolin. Grant plays acoustic and electric guitars, slide and lap steel guitars, and harmonica. They are joined on stage and in the recording studio by a cast of musical friends.
Dann was a regular on the Queen Street scene in Toronto during the 1980s as a lead guitarist and singer-songwriter in bands such as Company Town and Conditioned Response. A UNBSJ professor, broadcaster and author, Dann is currently researching the role of the Irish folk tradition in the music of New Brunswick.
Grant's most recent solo CD is From Saints' Rest (2001). He has recorded six other CDs, produced a number of recordings including the Juno-nominated Rites of Passage by Georgette Fry, and is co-author, with playwright Jim Garrard, of the musical Sir John, Eh?, which was nominated for a Dora award in 1999 after four productions, including one at Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille. He is an author and a writing tutor at the University of New Brunswick.
Reviewing One Runs at Midnight on CBC radio, Bob Mersereau said, “Two fine singers, two fine songwriters . . . always a sweet string mix comin' at ya . . . no mongrels among them: these puppies bring their scholarly breeding to the lyric sheet too, with thoughtful words—even a Samuel Beckett reference.” Chris Morris of The Canadian Press wrote, “The Shaggy Dogs are creating excitement in the Maritime music scene with their cool mix of blues and folk,” and Nelson Hansen, writing in Here magazine, said, “The songs on this disc are well crafted, honest and believable. They are also familiar after the first listen. The pair's considerable experience as working musicians and songwriters is evident. . . . Many New Brunswickers have yet to hear from this talented Saint John duo but owe it to themselves to take a listen. Like fellow NB'ers Hot Toddy, the Shaggy Dogs have the potential to build a career based on musical integrity and darn good songs.”
Recent gigs include the harvest jazz and Blues Festival, a show with Matt Andersen at the 2009 Cops for Cancer benefit in Saint John and CBC Information Morning's Christamas show live from the historic Saint John Market. The boys are in the studio this winter working up new songs. They are also gigging and recording with Karen Palmer, Babette Hayward and others.