Fast Paced World, the new CD from The Duhks, was released yesterday on Sugar Hill Records.

The Canadian band got its start in a string band format, but has since evolved into a far more eclectic and adventurous sound. Founder – and clawhammer banjo player – Leonard Podolak is still on board, as is fiddler Tania Elizabeth and guitarist Jordan McConnell, but The Duhks’ new vibe is largely defined by their newest member, vocalist Sarah Dugas.

Sarah and her brother, drummer Christian Dugas, joined the group in 2007 and her singing and songwriting are front and center on Fast Paced World.

Audio samples are available on the band’s web site, and Sugar Hill has created a video on the making of the CD which will serve as a fine introduction to the band and their music for the uninitiated.

Fast Paced World is the title of the fourth CD release from Canadian string band adventurists, The Duhks, due August 12 from Sugar Hill Records.

The band has consistently avoided easy labels, with their eclectic mix of styles and influences, though largely staying close to traditional acoustic string band instruments.

Judging by Mighty Storm, the first single released from the album (audio online), their sound is taking a bluesy turn. As Fast Paced World is the band’s first recorded project since they swapped lead vocalists, bringing Sarah Dugas in for Jessee Havey in 2007, one would have expected some changes. In fact, Dugas describes it as a conscious effort.

“We traveled from Winnipeg, locked ourselves in a Nashville basement, pooled our ideas together and invented a new sound.”

It’s likely that Nashville producer Jay Joyce, who made his name writing, recording, performing and producing pop, country and film music, also had a hand in retooling the band’s sonic landscape for the new CD. His credits range far and wide, including producing artists like John Hiatt and John Cowan as well as as the soundtracks for Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.

In addition to Dugas, the band is composed of Leonard Podolak (banjo), Tania Elizabeth on fiddle and mandolin, Jordan McConnell on guitar, and Christian Dugas (brother of Sarah) on percussion.

Their tour schedule can be found on the band’s MySpace page.

The Americana Music Association has announced the nominees for their 2007 Honors and Awards, with the winners to be announced on November 1 during their 6th Annual Americana Music Association’s Honors and Awards Show in Nashville.

Several of the nominees will be familiar to readers of The Bluegrass Blog, including Sam Bush for Instrumentalist, Uncle Earl for New and Emerging Artist, and both The Duhks and Old Crow Medicine Show for Group/Duo.

You can see the complete list of 2007 AMA nominees on their official web site, where you can also find details about the Americana Music Conference, October 31 through November 3, 2007.

It appears that lead singer Jessee Havey has left The Duhks mid-tour, with Sarah Dugas stepping in for at least the short term. The band simply indicated that Havey was “taking an extended leave from the band to pursue other endeavors. We wish her the best of luck in everything she does.”

The Duhks MySpace blog has some band feedback on how things are going.

You can find their tour dates on the band’s official web site.