By WAYNE ARTHURSON

Rising Winnipeg band is probably inventing a new story about their name right this very minute.

The story behind the naming of Winnipeg’s Nathan is fluid and flexible, changing like the whirling eddies of a raging rapid. But before we pursue that metaphor further, a few things must be explained. First, Nathan is a band, a collection of musicians, not a single person with a one-word stage name, like Hayden. Or Cher. Or Madonna. Or Prince. A band. Remember that. Second, no one in the band is named Nathan. There’s a Keri (McTighe, one of the lead singers and founders), a Shelley (Marshall, also a lead singer and founder), plus a Devin (Latimer, on bass) and a Daniel (Roy, on drums). But no Nathan. So the band name. Please explain. 

Keri McTighe: “Shelley and I, before we met, were both dating this man named Nathan, but we didn’t know he was two-timing us. So we got rid of Nathan, and got together and named the band after him. And Nathan mysteriously disappeared. “Or Nathan is a squeegee kid who jumped off the Osborne Bridge [in Winnipeg],” she adds. “That one I think is true. But I don’t think he died, so it’s not morbid.” And a third one, just for fun? McTighe is affably keen on this game. “We make a different story each time,” she says. “In fact, I’m making them up right now as you ask. So Nathan is the middle name of Shelley’s long-lost grandfather who was lost at sea.” 

Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s explain the music. Or at least try to. Nathan songs are slippery things, seducing you with gorgeous harmonies, circus rhythms and waltzes. McTighe’s and Marshall’s voices are clear and sweet to have invited comparisons to Jewel—but only from people who aren’t paying attention to what’s going on. 

“There is a lot of darkness in the world,” McTighe says, “and we give an honest representation of what we’re siphoning through our little brains. We used to be creepier, or at least stranger, musically, than we are now. Earlier, we were pretty creepy and I love all the comments from people who get the underlying darkness. A lot of people don’t and we get the Jewel or something comparisons, and it’s meant as a compliment, but then you know they aren’t listening.” 

Well, somebody’s been paying attention, because Nathan’s 2001 debut disc wowed critics across the country and snagged the band a deal with Nettwerk in North America and EMI in the U.K. and Europe. Their second disc is due out in late August, after the Folk Fest, but the record company was kind enough to allow the band to sell discs at the CD tent. 

“It’s mind-blowing,” McTighe says of the major-label deals, “because we honestly didn’t plan for that at all. We didn’t even try to get on any label. We figured it was pointless—who’d want us? And that’s probably why people like us, because we didn’t go out in search of a deal. We all just love playing music, we just like going onstage and hanging out together. "

“It’s not overwhelming right now,” she continues, “because we’re playing to small crowds, we have a little yet loyal following. But releasing of the album in other countries will be a little bit overwhelming. Yeah, it’s really exciting and that’s the great thing about music is that it’s going to take us somewhere else.” Nathan will be at various sessions throughout Folk Fest weekend but will play their own concert on Sunday afternoon on Stage 4. Make a point of checking them out because not only will they impress you with their musical talents, but they also make their own stage costumes. There’s nothing like playing around with your identity, after all. 

Nathan Edmonton Folk Music Festival • Gallagher Park, Stage 4 • Sun, Aug 8 (1:15pm)