Family band OFF THE RAILS features siblings and cousins April Irwin, Brent Cheek,  Melanie Cheek, & Judy and Lloyd Jackson. The instrumentation of the band and the rich harmonies they weave into their songs are enhanced by blood ties and years of singing together around the piano and guitar. 

OFF THE RAILS … Judy, Melanie and April’s natural, sweet vocal blend compliments  Brent’s rich tenor, while Lloyd pulls it all together with an additional layer of harmony.  Lloyd brings decades of band experience to the group as it’s backbone instrumentalist on lead & rhythm guitar and bass. Brent’s unique piano style was born from a natural talent and finely tuned ear. The girls take turns on rhythm and bass guitar, and percussion and the overall sound is further enhanced by layers of occasional mandolin, accordion, and harmonica. 

OFF THE RAILS A little old folk and pop, a little new folk and pop, and some originals! Family blended harmonies with an acoustic vibe. have selected songs from the past and the present - cover tunes and originals and pay particular homage to the songwriting of Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, James  Taylor, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, The Indigo Girls, Fred Eaglesmith and fellow Alberta based musicians Pat Hatherly, and Mike Plume & Jenny Orenstein. 

Appearances of note include Ivan Daines Picknic, 3 years running at Red Deer’s “The Hub-Live Music  Fridays”, 3 sold-out shows at The Blue Chair Café in Edmonton, Lacombe’s Music in the Park series,  Jaywalker’s Jamboree in Camrose, and 2019 was highlighted by opening for John Wort Hannam in Red  Deer for the Central Music Society. 2020 & 2021 were sadly marked by cancelled shows at Woodlea  House Concerts, Lacombe Music in the Park, Willowmist Acres Garden Party just to name a few. In  2023 we were invited back to the Blue Chair Café, Stettler Entertainment in the Park, Woodlea House  Concerts, and to Camrose’s first Octobertock Festival. 

“The audience was engaged and so very still as Off the Rails masterfully delivered one hit after another! I had goosebumps during some songs, tears in my eyes for others and felt complete joy during each song they sang so beautifully. The harmony and vocals were sweet candy to my ears!”  Gail McDonald, Podcast host on The Change Zone 

OFF THE RAILS transport themselves and their audience away - through story & song, tears & laughte