Esdaile combines a spoken tale with analogue warmth and a sonic quality that blends the genres of folk, rock, and soul. Esdaile - formed in Dartmouth, presenting a distinct and spirited personality to their community, inspired by the likes of Canadian heroes such as The Tragically Hip, Big Wreck, Joel Plaskett, and Matt Mays.
The four boys (Colin, Ian, Leo, Keegan) originally met in high school, translating their inseparable connection into love of life and music. The band shared a middle school music teacher (Nick Pettipas) in earlier years. It can be speculated that Esdaile's formation, sound, and style was a clever result of Nick’s teachings to the boys in their teenage years. The band's primordial jam was in 2020, where they won a Bronze Medal in a high school fundraising talent show called, ACTS4AIDS, working under the name “Mystery Van”
Colin (vocals) started songwriting in the collegiate years, curating his craft by recording his life experience into songs. After a 4 year hiatus, Esdaile took its current form on a Thursday night in July of 2024. Featuring a liberatingly mythical jam session that was compassionately recorded in band members notebooks as; “That tune that got away” The wheels for the project were undoubtedly in motion, preparing for their debut show at New Scotland Brewing, with Jake Ballard.
From the time of their inception, they have brought their authenticity and captivating performances to the people of Nova Scotia. Including multiple sold-out shows at the Sanctuary Arts Center, The Carleton, Seahorse Tavern, and most recently at Seaport Hall. A highlight for the band was backing their idol Joel Plaskett at Steele Wheels Motor Museum. After months of countless miles, late studio nights, gallons of coffee, and shaping a sound that is uniquely their own, Esdaile released their debut storytelling EP Many Miles, July of 2026. The title track, "Many Miles" inspired the name of the record, drawing on the story of a travelling man while also symbolizing the growth and distance from origin the band has covered since its formation.
Esdaile is a proud and cultivated musical presence, providing transparency between artistic performance and audience experience.
