Lion Bear Fox (also sometimes stylized as The Lion The Bear The Fox or LBF) is a Canadian

folk rock Folk rock is a fusion genre of rock music with heavy influences from pop, English and American folk music. It arose in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom in the mid-1960s. In the U.S., folk rock emerged from the folk music re ...

band from British Columbia. The band was formed in May 2012 by singer-songwriters Christopher Arruda of

Nanaimo, British Columbia Nanaimo ( ) is a city of about 100,000 on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. "The Harbour City" was previously known as the "Hub City", which was attributed to its original layout design with streets radiating fr ...

, Cory Woodward of

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, and Ryan McMahon of

Ladysmith, British Columbia Ladysmith, originally Oyster Harbour, is a town located on the 49th parallel north on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The local economy is based on forestry, tourism, and agriculture. A hillside location adjacent t ...

. In 2013, the lion the bear the fox was named a Top 20 finalist in 102.7 The Peak FM's Peak Performance Project and released its debut self-produced EP, ''We’d Be Good Men.'' In February 2017, LBF released its self-titled debut "Lion Bear Fox."

Career

Formation

The lion the bear the fox formed after Christopher Arruda, Cory Woodward and Ryan McMahon toured together in 2012 as solo artists. They started joining in on each other's songs after an impromptu show in Winnipeg. “I know I certainly had no interest in starting a band previous to going on the road with these two, but the events of the tour were something that couldn’t be ignored,” said Arruda. Combined, the singer-songwriters have three decades experience between them. “All three of us gents have been at this for over 10 years apiece, and I think that for some reason the timing was right,” said McMahon. “I believe that in many ways, we were all up in arms about our solo missions, and we all happened to join together at a very critical time. Instead of ‘I give up,’ it was like ‘Man, can you help me?’”

Recording and touring

Since forming, the lion the bear the fox has shared the stage with artists such as

Lee Harvey Osmond Lee Harvey Osmond, stylized as LeE HARVeY OsMOND, is a Canadian psychedelic folk project fronted by musician Tom Wilson. History The act first took shape with Wilson in his LeE HARVeY OsMOND persona, backed by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkie ...

Elliott BROOD Elliott Brood (often stylized as Elliott BROOD) is a three-piece Canadian alternative country band formed in Toronto in 2002. It consists of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, harmonica and kazoo, Casey Laforet on guitar, lead ...

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and The Steel Wheels. “When we perform, people experience three powerful, honest and soulful voices that will take them on a roller coaster ride of dynamically pleasing songs,” said Woodward. “Each one’s a journey, and we welcome everyone with open arms to dance wild, scream and sing into the night and experience one of the greatest self-made gifts we can give ourselves – pure uninhibited joy.” The lion the bear the fox released its debut EP, ''We’d Be Good Men'', 8 October 2013. Featuring six originals and a cover of

Ray LaMontagne Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne (; born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. LaMontagne has released nine studio albums: '' Trouble'', ''Till the Sun Turns Black'', '' Gossip in the Grain'', '' God Willin' & the Creek Don ...

’s “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame),” the album was produced and mixed by Arruda and Woodward and mastered by 2013

Juno Award The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's mu ...

nominee Joby Baker of Victoria. “I love that we’ve had the opportunity to do it this way,” said Woodward. “It gave us the chance to do some guerilla-style recording in the 30-odd locations that we set up shop to track in. I’ve learned so much about common recording techniques and have had a blast creating my own. All of this has added a certain honesty to the record, a lovability that has made me happy to say it’s the best record I’ve been a part of to date. I look forward to the next one immensely.”

Members

* The Lion: Christopher Arruda - vocals, organ, percussion * The Bear: Cory Woodward - vocals, guitar, bass, percussion * The Fox: Ryan McMahon - vocals, guitar, percussion

The Bandwagon Project

In fall 2013 LBF entered into a partnership with the Vancouver, British Columbia-based charitable foundation Music Heals to raise funding for the Bandwagon Project. The project draws its name from a mobile recording studio named the Bandwagon, which is specifically designed for music therapists to use with critically and terminally ill patients. Items used in the Bandwagon include microphones, instruments, a computer, and recording software. Funds raised would allow for the band to bring the studio to

Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest ...

hospitals for the first time. The project was inspired by

Megan McNeil Megan McNeil (September 7, 1990 – January 28, 2011) was a Canadian singer. The only child of Dave and Suzanne McNeil, she was diagnosed in 2006 with adrenalcortical carcinoma, a rare type of adrenal cancer when she was 16 years old. She studi ...

from

North Delta, British Columbia North Delta (founded as Annieville) is a largely middle-class commuter town situated in the Lower Mainland, of British Columbia, Canada. The community is the most populous of the three communities (North Delta, Ladner, British Columbia, Ladner, ...

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patient that had been battling the disease since she was 16 before passing away at 20 years of age. McNeil wrote a song called ''The Will to Survive'' as a tribute to other children fighting cancer, and McMahon helped McNeil arrange and record her song in 2010. Of McNeil's influence on the project, McMahon stated that "Megan’s ''Will to Survive'' song, video and entire campaign wouldn’t have seen the light if not for music therapy". Currently there is one stationary Bandwagon at B.C. Children's Hospital and one that travels around Greater Vancouver for six-week residencies.

Discography

* ''We'd Be Good Men'' (2013) * ''Lion Bear Fox'' (2017)

References

External links

*
The Bandwagon Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lion The Bear The Fox, The 2012 establishments in British Columbia Canadian folk rock groups Musical groups established in 2012 Musical groups from British Columbia