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Billboard

Somewhere north of the 52nd parallel, in the town of Swan River, Manitoba, lies a shady hotel that inspired Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury to name their band Twilight Hotel. Hailing from the fertile music scene of Winnipeg Manitoba, Twilight Hotel have been compared to such memorable folk duos as Ian and Sylvia and Johnny and June because they radiate that certain elusive chemistry that can only come from two people in love singing together. But this isn't your average mom and pop folk duo, Twilight Hotel's sound runs the gamut from bluesy electric guitar-driven roots to European accordion-infused cabaret, all the while centered around rich vocal harmonies. Their original repertoire combines songs of innocent love and tales of worldly heartache inspired by their off stage life together. They have crafted songs that clearly demonstrate their writing ability and musicality and are informed by their uniquely Canadian sensibilities. These tunes resonate with audiences whose demographic can range from sixteen to sixty. Couples that make music together rarely find harmony in their relationships; Zdan and Quanbury are hoping to buck the trend with their personal and musical partnership in Twilight Hotel.


Quanbury and Zdan met in 2002 at the Trout Forest Music Festival in Ear Falls, Ontario. He had recently left his successful rock group, Tequila Mockingbird, and she had recently graduated from high school and was working on developing a music career after several years of playing live. Needless to say, the sparks flew in a fever, and they realized the power of combining their talents. In the fall of 2003 the couple recorded a hasty and harmonious eight-track debut, aptly titled "Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury."

Twilight Hotel's first album "Bethune" was released in January of 2006 and continues the duo's provocative love story. With images of black velvet paintings, hearts torn to shreds and cigarette stains, the album's 'noir' sound has been likened to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and a modern recreation of Bertolt Brecht. The 12 original songs showcase everything from the duo's characteristic dark twang and circus cabaret to honky tonk rock 'n' roll, with a host of guest musicians providing piano, horns and double bass. On stage, however, Twilight Hotel continue to perform as a duo, with their electric/acousitc guitars, accordion and rich vocal harmonies taking centre stage. "Bethune" received a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 2007 (American) Independent Music Awards and a nomination for a Western Canadian Music Industry award. The album spent most of 2006 on Canadian campus/community charts reaching #1 on several stations, breaking the top 100 on the national Earshot chart. "Bethune" has recieved airplay on American stations in Minnesota, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and Austin.

In the spring of 2007 Twilight Hotel teamed up with Canadian producer Colin Linden (Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams) to record their sophomore album. The album features prolific guest musicians including pianist Richard Bell (Janis Joplin, The Band), drummer Gary Craig (Tom Cochrane, Kathleen Edwards), bassist Dave Roick (Johnny Cash), and drummer Steve Hodges (Tom Waits). A Canadian & US release is planned for early 2008. Constant touring in the U.S. and Canada is continuing to bolster the duo's profile. In 2006 they played over 100 North American tour dates and showcased at the 2007 North American Folk Alliance (Memphis, TN), as well as other regional showcases in the U.S. and Canada.

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Cumberland Hotel Jun 5

Last night the drive was a good one. Usually I don't like driving at night because my eyes get so tired so quickly and Dave ends up doing the driving, but last night was an exception. Spring is in the air and as we were leaving Baltimore, I felt that fever running through my veins. We were driving into an amazing lightening storm, which added to my alertness.

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all-time plays - 86

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Band Members - see all 2

• Brandy Zdan - Singer, Songwriter, guitarist, accordionist

• Dave Quanbury - Singer, Songwriter, guitarist

Discography - see all 1

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  Bethune