Ashuanipi WishAshuanipi WishThe Black Spruce Tree is the most predominant growth in the whole of Labrador. It was also the name chosen when musicians Rick Burt, Mike Willcott and Willie Arsenault joined forces with Nick Kennedy, Ron Harvey and Cec Fry to research and sing the music of Labrador.
As all groups, Black Spruce is a composite of the various backgrounds of its members. All are long time residents of Labrador West and come from various Newfoundland and Maritime traditions. The repertoire of the group is largely unique with ongoing adaptations of Labrador stories and poems. Indeed, a good portion of their material originates from "Them Days" magazine, a publication of Labrador stories and poems.
From their first public performance in February 1990 the group continues to play at benefits, local, regional and provincial festivals including The annual Nfld & Labrador Folk Festival in St. John's and a week long engagement in Toronto at the CBC Atrium with other Labrador artists as a part of "Labrador on The Edge". Their most prestigious performance would be the event "A Labrador Christmas Party" in Ottawa in December of 1994.
The group presently has two recordings released the first "Love of the Land" was released in January 1992. The second "Ashuanipi Wish" was released in December 1995.
As they continue to promote and sing their songs of Labrador, Black Spruce look forward to appearing at Arts and Culture Centers and Folk Festivals throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and the Maritimes.