The Circus In Flames is pleased to announce the release of Outside America, the band's latest CD on the Northern Electric label. With this recording, Vancouver singer-songwriter Doug Andrew returns with his latest offerings and The Circus In Flames deliver their best album yet. Present again is the "dark folklore" in the group's "original, string band music of the Canadian south," a unique folk, country, blues sound driven by Andrew's songs but this time it also resonates with the influences of Gospel and R&B as well as the Anthology of American Folk Music. On Outside America the songs and The Circus are now older, wiser and grittier. In a career that began with Shanghai Dog in the early Eighties, Doug Andrew has shared bills with everyone from The Ramones to Raffi to Ramblin' Jack Elliott. He is recognized as an accomplished singer-songwriter respected by critics, peers and music fans alike. The Edmonton Journal has described his songs as having "slightly twisted, always interesting storyline lyrics" delivered "with an energetic thrust that falls just shy of reckless abandon." The Vancouver Province said he is "an untapped talent for wryly observant story-like essays" while SEE Magazine has said his songs "should shuffle him off into the Canadian musical songwriting hierarchy." Andrew first formed The Circus In Flames when asked to play at a friend's St. Patrick's Day bash. It has since grown to include various musicians, touring and appearing at several music festivals and garnering critical acclaim. Their previous recordings have also been well received: The Circus In Flames - "Four-stars" (All Music Guide) - "A strong argument for indie release of the year" (Dirty Linen) A Little Bit of Gasoline - "Brilliant. 9 out of 10" (Americana UK) In 2007 the group joined such artists as former Byrd, Chris Hillman, Blue Rodeo and Gordon Lightfoot on The Gift: A Tribute To Ian Tyson. The Toronto Star chose their version of the classic Someday Soon as the album's Top Track. On Outside America, Doug Andrew once again called on long time band members Brian Barr to co-produce and play mandolin and electric guitar and Ed Goodine to play drums Making his banjitar debut is Brian Thalken who first met Doug in the Eighties when their bands appeared on the same punk rock show in Sacramento, CA. Upright bassist, Bernie Addington who played on the self-titled Circus In Flames debut album reunites with the band in the studio while his brother Phil Addington grabbed his electric bass and became the latest musician to run away and join The Circus. There are also musical guest appearances. Outside America is an acknowledgement of the influence of American culture, especially its music. The result is something mysterious in a strange time.