Member Profile

Alyssa Wright
Don Bray

"A couple of musical powerhouses... charismatic charm... experienced, gifted, original and extremely likeable." [Castlegar News, BC]


What do you get when two well-established singer-songwriters and instrumentalists band together? Alyssa Wright and Don Bray shine together as The Brights. As one musical colleague said: "A little him, a little her, a little them. Much more than the sum of the parts” [Paul Court, Orillia Folk Society].

Roots music -- tinged with gospel, country and blues -- is accompanied by guitar, cello, Hawaiian king, accordion, mandolin, cajon, and whatever new sounds have recently tickled their fancy. With soulful harmonies and sensitive arrangements, The Brights offer original songs in an easy-going, timeless style, equally at home in kitchen party or concert hall.

The Brights released their debut CD, Live Love Dream, in 2009 at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. Live Love Dream is a collection of twelve original tunes (eleven songs and one instrumental), and includes three co-writes that “show the best of both” [Jennifer Ives, music promoter]. The album stays true to their live duo sound, albeit with Patrick McPhail's bass and a few harmony and instrumental layers thrown in on the occasional track.

Recent performance highlights include Live From the Rock Festival, the Mariposa Folk Festival and BarrieFolk Festival, and Toronto City Roots. The Brights have also shared their rootsy musical stylings and playful banter across Canada, in such venues as BC's Duncan Garage Showroom and Merlin's Sun Theatre, Alberta's Haven Social Club, Saskatchewan's 23 Main, Manitoba's Bhigg House and Avalon Arts, Ontario's Vital Spark Folk Society, Staircase Theatre and Stephen Leacock Museum, Quebec's Church Street Concerts, Nova Scotia's Harbour Folk Society, Mersey House, The Carleton and The Company House, New Brunswick's Broadway Cafe and Crumbs Cafe. They've also performed with the New Tecumseth Singers as their own personal gospel choir, and held workshops for schools and ensembles.

This past year saw The Brights venturing out for their first two western tours, as well as their fourth tour to the Maritimes. Still to come, another return to the East Coast, a unique collaboration with classical ensemble the Cellar Singers (writing and performing roots songs to mirror Bach Cantatas), the Blue Skies Festival, and more of their favourites – house concerts!

As their fan Robert Rountree exclaimed: “drop everything but your drawers and go see this group!”.