Stratford, ON - Canadian singer-songwriter Dayna Manning will release her new album Field Notes on May 8, 2026, a richly detailed and collaborative project shaped by community, family, and decades of songwriting.
Produced by Manning with co-producers John “Beetle” Bailey and Ben Bolt-Martin, the album balances immediacy with thoughtful craftsmanship. Martin handled arrangements, while Bailey engineered and mixed the record. The core of Field Notes was recorded live off the floor over just two days at Noble Studios, Toronto, in April 2025, capturing a spontaneous, performance-driven energy.
The album features an exceptional group of musicians, including Derek Downham - Multi Intrumentalist, Kevin Breit - Guitar, Stephan Szczesniak - Drums, Tom Szczesniak - Piano/Accordion, Russ Boswell - Bass, Andrew Chung - Violin and Laura Chambers - Flute. Additional overdubs were completed at a barn studio in New Hamburg, Ontario, where brass and string parts were recorded - many performed by musicians connected to the Stratford Festival community, whom Dayna often works with.
Family is woven directly into the sound of Field Notes. Manning’s father plays all second trumpet parts, while her mother contributes clarinet on “A World We Live In” and other moments across the record, adding an intimate and personal layer to the album’s sonic landscape.
A soft release of Field Notes took place in July 2025 at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre, where audiences received a CD preview of the album, offering an early glimpse into the project ahead of its official release.
The album is largely composed of original songs written by Manning, alongside a series of meaningful collaborations shaped both before and during the recording process. “Anytown” was co-written with longtime friend Gavin Bradley. “Better Days” and “Our Dream Lives in Your Heart” evolved into co-writes with Derek Downham after his creative contributions in the studio, while another track, "Some Women" became a co-write with Kevin Breit following his input on chord changes during recording. “Take Me to Tobermory” was written with Graham Lindsay during a visit in Stratford.
A particularly special collaboration is “From Canada,” co-written with the late Bill Lishman - known for flying with Canada geese in his ultralight aircraft - written together before his passing.
Field Notes also revisits a few songs Manning originally wrote for her work with Trent Severn, including “Jackpine,” “Save Me,” and “Freedom.” Rather than letting these songs fade with the band’s chapter, Manning re-recorded them here. “The Jackpine” is imagined as the tree itself singing to painter Tom Thomson, while “Save Me” reflects the voice of Mother Earth calling out to the world. “Freedom,” another song Manning penned for Trent Severn, carries a message about inner freedom - how dignity and the way we treat others shape our sense of being free.
Other songs reach further back in time. “A World We Live In,” written nearly 20 years ago for an earlier album but never released, finds a fitting home on Field Notes, its themes resonating more strongly than ever.
The album also includes a personal interpretation of “These Eyes,” recorded as a tribute to Burton Cummings, who first took Manning on tour across Canada while she was still in high school. During that tour - stretching from Prince Edward Island to Vancouver Island - Cummings taught her the song on piano at a soundcheck, a moment that stayed with her and ultimately inspired this recording.
With Field Notes, Dayna Manning brings together years of songwriting, community collaboration, and lived experience into a collection that feels both immediate and timeless - an album grounded in story, place, and connection.
Field Notes will be available on all major streaming platforms on May 8.
