Media Quotes

Barrie Advance (Leigh Blenkhorn), September 17, 2009

Mountain Musicians

Local duo Don Bray and Alyssa Wright, known collectively as The Brights, use guitar and cello to create a unique sound.

The two describe their music as roots, tinged with gospel, country and blues is accompanied by guitar, cello, Hawaiian king, accordion, mandolin and whatever new sounds they feel like making that day.

Bray said the best part of any festival, aside from entertaining the crowds with their unique music, is the interaction with other musicians.

“A lot of musicians are really busy being musicians, so we don’t get a lot of time to see each other,” he said. “Festivals are a great chance to catch up with folk that you haven’t seen in a long time, and to meet new ones that are like minded are really cool as well and see what’s new and what happening in the folk music world.”

Orillia Packet & Times, June 24, 2009

Performers set to shine
FOLK FESTIVAL: Mariposa is celebrating its 10th year back in the Sunshine City with this year's festival

The Brights are an exciting new duo formed by established singer-songwriters and respected instrumentalists, Don Bray and Alyssa Wright. Roots music, tinged with gospel, country and blues is accompanied by guitar, cello, dobro, accordion, mandolin, and whatever new sounds have recently tickled their fancy. Bray and Wright have shared their musical stylings and playful banter with audiences at the Orillia and Newmarket Folk Societies, Museum on the Boyne, Sunflower Studios, Mersey House, and a variety of house concerts in Ontario and the East Coast.

Oshawa-Whitby This Week (Christie Chase), February 20, 2009

Concert Brightens Up Weekend

There's a bright spot in Brooklin this weekend.

It's the Vital Spark Folk Society's latest concert which features The Brights, a singer/songwriter duo. Don Bray and Alyssa Wright, partners on stage and at home, will perform...

The duo has been performing for just over a year, said Wright. "We had been accompanying each other for quite some time," she said, and decided it was time to perform as a duo.

Both are well-known and respected singers, songwriters and instrumentalists and have performed on their own for years. Now they are making music together, performing roots music with gospel, country and blues tinges.

Wright plays a number of instruments, chief being the cello, which she admits is not normally considered a folk, roots or pop instrument. But she's made it so, calling on her years of jamming with her musical family.

"I started off classically," she said, adding she still plays with a classical trio.
Bray, who's been playing guitar for 44 years, said he enjoys playing folk society concerts, adding the Vital Spark is one of the larger venues.

"It's wonderful," he said. "All the folk societies are Godsends to people like us. We love doing this." The Brights are working on a debut CD now and hope to have it out this spring. "It's rootsy," Bray said. "There's a tinge of gospel in it, and blues. "I like all the roots music but I'm not into pure blues or pure soul."

Buzz about The Brights

Drop everything but your drawers and go see this group! [Robert Rountree, fan]

WOW! I heard you guys on CBC the other day and was absolutely blown away. [Darcy Good, fiddle player and fan]

It really touched my soul – your music reached deep down. [Bill Kayelich, owner, Crumbs Cafe]

A little him, a little her, a little them. Much more than the sum of its parts. [Paul Court, Orillia Folk Society]

[The audience was] very impressed with your performance and it was great to have such a successful night to kick off my new venue. [Maggie Scott, owner, Brookside Cottage (NS)]

You guys are a treat for the senses! [My guests] were raving about the wee house concert! Thanks again for the treat. [Kathryn McIntosh, house concert presenter (NB)]

Buzz about Live Love Dream

I’ve listened to the Brights’ Live Love Dream several times, now, and each time it was over too soon. The thoughtful lyrics and musicality of the compositions and accompaniments engaged me fully and made the time fly too quickly. Creative, unique approach (and unique is good!). Highly recommended. [David Joyce, Newmarket Folk Society]

This album is your perfect Sunday morning music – thoughtful, heart-ful and hopeful lyrics combined with strong, well-performed instrumentation that stays on the mellow side, for the most part. While having lots in common with many contemporary folk music productions, this cd also has that lovely singularity that makes playing it over and over a real probability. A dynamic sympathy between these (usually solo performer) singer-songwriters has produced the best kind of collaboration. They sail. [Susan Braedley, Take Note Music Store fan review]