Vancouver-based country and bluegrass songwriter continues decades-long career with haunting new release rooted in Prairie storytelling
VANCOUVER — Canadian country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Mary Garnett Edwards has released her latest single, Boneyard, a dark and emotionally charged track that showcases the veteran artist’s storytelling approach while offering listeners a preview of her forthcoming album, Madhouse.
Now based in North Vancouver after growing up in Edmonton, Edwards has spent more than 50 years writing and performing original music. Her latest release draws listeners into a rural setting marked by poverty, betrayal and tragedy, reinforcing the narrative-driven songwriting that has defined her career.
Produced by acclaimed Canadian guitarist Andreas Schuld, Boneyard combines traditional country and bluegrass influences with a cinematic sense of storytelling, supported by an experienced group of Canadian and American musicians.
New Single Highlights Veteran Songwriter’s Storytelling
‘Boneyard’ Explores Hardship, Loss and Consequence
The newly released single paints a vivid picture of life in a struggling small town, culminating in a dramatic ending that reflects themes of desperation and justice.
At the emotional centre of the performance are the lyrics:
“I walk the road as the moon shines bright, I hear the spirits in the forest night, I feel my knees they are a quiver.”
The song showcases Edwards’ distinctive raspy vocal style, delivering a performance built on emotional depth and lived experience rather than polished commercial production.
Boneyard serves as the latest preview of Madhouse, an eight-song album currently in development.
Experienced Musicians Bring the Recording to Life
Canadian Talent Anchors the Studio Sessions
The recording was produced by Andreas Schuld, one of Canada’s most recorded guitarists, whose career includes collaborations with Long John Baldry as well as his own project, Schuld & Stamer.
The supporting lineup features several respected musicians from across Canada and the United States.
Pat Steward, known for his work with Bryan Adams and The Odds, performs on kick drum, while Stu MacDonald, whose credits include Crawfish Fiesta and Sue Leonard, plays acoustic bass.
Background vocals are provided by Gord Maxwell, whose career includes performances with Chilliwack and One Horse Blue, while Nashville-based Chas Williams, recognized for recording with David Gates and Nanci Griffith, contributes dobro.
Recording sessions took place at Studio Downe Under in Abbotsford and Coa’s Hideaway in Maple Ridge, with engineering handled by Soren Lonnqvist and Schuld.
Career Built on More Than Five Decades of Songwriting
From Edmonton Coffee Houses to Vancouver Studios
Edwards began writing songs and learning guitar at the age of 10 before performing original material at Edmonton’s Barricade Coffee House just two years later.
After relocating to British Columbia, she became a familiar presence at Vancouver-area open mic venues, including the Classical Joint, Soft Rock Cafe, and Kits House, continuing to develop as both a songwriter and performer.
In the early 1970s, Edwards recorded with songwriter and guitarist Doug Mix at Psi Chord Studio and became a member of the rock band Breeze, where she performed alongside vocalist Tasi Sharpe.
Those early recordings, produced by Robin Spurgin, would later influence the next stage of her career.
Following the death of her husband, musician Doug Edwards, in 2016, Edwards revisited recordings from those early sessions and decided to bring many of the songs back to life.
The result was White Lightning, released in 2019. Produced by Andreas Schuld and recorded with Soren Lonnqvist, the album included Robin’s Song, dedicated to a longtime friend, along with compositions by Vancouver songwriter John Holbrook.
One of the album’s tracks, I Had a Dream, was later featured in the award-winning documentary The Circle of Eagles.
‘Madhouse’ Continues a Legacy of Honest Songwriting
Throughout a catalogue that also includes Street Spirits and Garnett Edwards First Stone, Edwards has remained committed to writing songs shaped by personal experience, resilience and authentic storytelling.
Her latest release continues that tradition, pairing vivid narratives with seasoned musicianship and a voice that reflects decades of performing across Western Canada.
With Madhouse scheduled to include eight original songs and additional singles expected in the coming months, Edwards continues to build on a career spanning more than half a century.
For listeners of Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music, Boneyard offers another chapter in the work of a songwriter whose music remains grounded in honesty, lived experience and the enduring tradition of storytelling through song.