Cowboy Junkies

Yeeha! Toronto’s finest traditional rockers have released a new album as they go on tour across the UK.

Alternative band, Cowboy Junkies take their influences from classic blues and folk but also the punk of their youth and their new 3-LP collection of songs, “Open to Beauty – The Best of the 21st Century” via Cooking Vinyl, will revisit selected tracks from albums “Open”, “One Soul Now”, “Early 21^st Century Blues”, “At The End of Paths Taken”, “Renmin Park”, “Demons”, “Sing In My Meadow”, “The Wilderness”, “All That Reckoning”, “Songs of the Recollection” and “Such Ferocious Beauty”.

Formed in 1985 by Margo Timmins, she was joined by siblings Michael Timmins on guitar, Peter Timmins, drums and Michael’s lifelong friend Alan Anton on bass to begin a journey that has evolved over 29 albums.

The result is beautiful music which has stayed true to its beginnings. One of their best known songs “The Trinity Session” was so successful due to its gentleness compared to the flash and noisy tunes from the late 80’s.

The classic recording combined folk, blues and rock in a way that had never been heard before and went on to sell a million copies.

Fans love the fact the band communicates volumes before the lyrics kick in and while most singers chase trends, the Junkies have stayed the course and maintained a low-impact excavation of melody and evocative language.

Michael said:

“The expectations and responsibilities of our roles are a big part of the band’s ethos. We’re still amazed that we’re doing things our way and continuing to grow the band, but the longer we are at it, the more fun it’s become. We don’t take it for granted.”

Margo agrees:

“We do what we do, and it feels right for all of us. After 30 plus years of playing together, the band and its music are more important to us than ever. The music we make brings each of us a great sense of contentment, a knowledge of place, and a sense of doing what we were meant to do.”

The album coincides with a tour across the UK and proves the enduring power of the band whose music was featured in the final episode of the Netflix TV series “Stranger Things”.

Speaking about the new collection, Michael added:

“We are now 25 years into this century, the beginning of which saw us leave the world of major labels and return to making music as an independent band. We figured this was as good a time as any to look back, reassess, and reflect on the music that we have recorded over these past two and a half decades and, hence, Open to Beauty – The Best of the 21st Century.”

The tour is at The Fire Station on 6^th May, Birmingham Town Hall on 7^th May, Howard Assembly Rooms, Leeds on 9^th May, New Century, Manchester on 10^th May, The Palladium, London on 11^th May, The Stables on 13^th May and at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on 14^th May 2026.

For more information on the Cowboy Junkies and their new album, please visit: www.cookingvinyl.com.

Author Bio:

Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.

Photograph courtesy of Cowboy Junkies