With its keen focus on old-time, traditional, and retro original material, Slowdrag is as rootsy as it gets. This band of stage veterans can barrel through a rockin’ honky-tonk number as easily as they spin an original dusty tune that weeps as much as it rolls.

From the first time they sat down to sing and play together seven years ago, singer-songwriter-guitarists Koralee Tonack and Craig McKerron have continuously explored the roots of early country and bluegrass music. Their voices combine in a seamless and unique blend to recreate the powerful harmonies of a bygone era and then some. Joining Koralee and Craig is Paul Bergman on upright bass, laying down a solid anchor for Slowdrag’s rural southern sound.

All three are seasoned stage and recording performers in a number of musical settings, and highly regarded by enthusiastic audiences. Craig, a former member of Vancouver’s Flatland 6, has an extensive country blues background, an eclectic solo album released in 1999 and an album with pedal steel and dobro whiz Charlie Hase released in 2001.

Koralee Tonack is one of the West Coast’s most versatile singers, moving easily from acoustic roots to jazz, to the original pop music of her band Spygirl and beyond.

Paul Bergman is equally well-rounded with many years of blues, bluegrass, jazz and pop experience in numerous ensembles.

Slowdrag has played the Vancouver Folk Festival (1999 & 2005), the Victoria Rootsfest (2000), the Shady Grove Bluegrass Music Festival in Nanton, Alberta (2001), the Granville Island Bluegrass Festival (1997-99), the Slocan Valley Music Festival (2001), the Peace Bluegrass Festival (2005), the Vancouver Sun Concert Series (2001), Vancouver’s WISE Hall, Vancouver East Cultural Centre and the Railway Club among other gigs including live performances on CBC’s North by Northwest, Richardson’s Roundup and CFRO’s In the Pines.

The band has two albums to their credit. In June of 2000, Slowdrag teamed up with esteemed mandolinist/producer John Reischman to record their first album, Ploughin’ It Right To The Fence. It was recorded (almost) live in an old church with John guesting on mandolin along with highly-regarded banjo man Nick Hornbuckle. Their second CD, Slow-Fidelity, released in September 2005, is another collaboration with Reischman as co-producer. The new album captures the evolution of Slowdrag's sound: it is spare and beautiful. On a few cuts, Slowdrag is joined by renowned Bay Area resophonic guitarist Ivan Rosenberg and Vancouver rockabilly veteran Steve Taylor on high-hat percussion. Both recordings are stellar collections of old and original songs that span the boundaries between traditional Americana and contemporary roots music.