Broomsticks & Hammers - Mirror Box

Broomsticks & Hammers ’ second album, Mirror Box, is scheduled for release in Fall 2017. This is your opportunity to pre-order the new album and get in on some sweet advance perks and rewards as a thanks for your support! If you know and love us already, please look to your right for a list of perks. (If you choose an option with a T-shirt, please include your size in a message and we'll confirm with you closer to release date).

If you want to know more about our history and the recording of Mirror Box please, read on!

     Broomsticks & Hammers, 2016

Following the success of their 2016 debut album, Postcard , Broomsticks & Hammers were awarded the Jack Richardson London Music Award for Best Folk Artist in 2016. Their rising profile on the Canadian roots music scene was bolstered by a line-up change that introduced electric elements to their sound. This was followed by packed performances on the main stages at the venerable Canterbury Folk Festival and at the prestigious Home County Music and Arts Festival .

     "Svetlana," Home County Music & Arts Festival, 2016

The band started pre-production their second album in mid-2016 by rehearsing a selection of new songs from principle songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and vocalist Bill Needham. The band rehearses (usually all seven of them) on Friday nights at bassist David Jury’s rehearsal studio.

Those nights are usually filled with laughter and humour verging on the absurd (and OK, sometimes slightly...dirty).  In between bouts of giggles and good-spirited friendship, the band, somewhat to their own surprise, discovered that they really had something special to offer. The decision was made to record the album at London’s Sugar Shack Studio with Juno-nominated producer/engineer and international man of mystery, Simon Larochette.

     Bill Needham, lead vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriter

Recording took place November 2016 - January 2017. During this time Breck Campbell’s driving drums and David Jury’s thumping and funky (yes, folk-funky!) bass lines, and Bill Needham’s acoustic guitars and lead vocals were augmented by Paul Aitken’s searing electric guitars, Michael Bonnell’s soulful piano, organ, and accordion parts and the sweet and spicy flavours of James Lefave (acoustic guitar) and Jeff Gardiner (mandolin) to help complete the texture of the new record.

Mirror Box is both partially an homage to and a sonic departure from the sound the band developed on 2016's Postcard. Fans old and new can look forward to a broader, more eclectic, and at times more assertive sonic pallette that augments and extends the themes for which the band is already known: great stories about fascinating people, quirky observations about our world, and tales from the wellspring of Canadian folklore and contemporary history.

     Breck Campbell, drums, vocals

For the final recording session, the band will host fans, friends, and family as they join in a giant celebratory singalong that will be recorded and included as part of the song “Madame Clarke.”

Mirror Box is expected to be released in Spring 2017.

     Paul Aitken, electric guitar

What is a Mirror Box ? It's about helping those in pain, those who suffer ghosts, it's about encouraging self reflection, about gaining new perspective, and about seeing things differently in order to make something better. Just like the music of Broomsticks & Hammers.

     Broomsticks & Hammers original "Postcard" T-Shirt

     Broomsticks & Hammers coffee from Patrick's Beans is a base of Sumatran beans with Ethiopian Sidamo and like all of Patrick's Beans is all organic and fair trade.