Ryan Malcolm delights County fans

Ryan Malcolm delighted County fans attending the BIA/Arts Councils' Performances in the Park program at Benson Park, Sunday. Sue Capon photo

He’s come a long way since his reign as the first Canadian Idol, but there’s always “Something More” in the wings for Ryan Malcolm – and his fans.
Malcolm delighted a few hundred County fans Sunday afternoon, singing favourites, signing autographs and posing for photographs.
“We have a great fan base around the Quinte area,” Malcolm said during a quick break to fix a guitar string. “I’ve been coming to the Sandbanks since I was a child. I still visit here often with my girlfriend Natasha (Pasternak). The band’s first show ever as Low Level Flight was at the Tip of the Bay” Motel.
And there’s more to look forward to as Malcolm’s band will release its sophmore album – as yet untitled – in the fall.

Fans were thrilled to meet Ryan Malcolm, and get autographs and photographs after his performance in Benson Park, Sunday. Sue Capon photo

Malcolm’s debut single, “Something More” was released on radio the day after his Canadian Idol win in 2003. It went four times platinum on the first day of its release and stayed at #1 on the Canadian Singles Chart for 14 consecutive weeks. His debut album, Home, was released that year and earned a Juno nomination for Best Pop Album.
That December he placed sixth in World Idol, sharing the stage with Elton John and Victoria Beckham and returned to Europe two more times to perform with Annie Lennox at Royal Albert Hall in London as well as to perform in Prague.
He  spent some time traveling in Africa and South America, where many of Low Level Flight’s songs were inspired.  The five-piece alternative rock band released its debut album Urgency in 2007 and toured across Canada, Mexico, the United States and India.

The crowd clapped and cheered for more from mother/daughter performers Suzanne and Natasha Pasternak. Sue Capon photo

Along with fronting LLF, Malcolm is a partner in I Heart Records, a Toronto-based label he co-owns with Michael Rosenberg. The band recorded the new album with renowned producer Gus Van Go (The Stills, The Trews, Priestess).
Low Level Flight’s website promises the new LP comes from a more mature and artful direction than on the band’s debut.

Video for Low Level Flight’s third single ‘Turnaround’ off the album ‘Urgency’. Directed by Ante Kovac. The video is in support of Kids Help Phone Canada, where sales from the video on iTunes (Canada) are being donated to the organization.

Picton’s long weekend fun continues Sunday when the first Canadian Idol Ryan Malcolm shares the Performances in the Park stage with the kids and faculty from The Kids Performing Arts Initiative 2010 Rock Camp Aug. 1 from 2-4 p.m. in Benson Park (just behind the Main Street).