Wanda Crocker, Gerry Strong, Jean Hewson and Rick West are all long-time contributors to the Newfoundland traditional music scene. They have played with each other in sessions and in various combinations on stage over the years without unfortunate incident. So, why not answer Newfoundland's desperate need for another traditional band and find fame and fortune before geezerhood takes over entirely? "What odds, may as well", they thought and hatched WHAT ODDS in the (very early) spring of 2013. The rest is unwritten history.

Wanda Crocker (fiddle and mandolin) was a member of seminal folk band BARKIN' KETTLE in the 80s, as well as the bands THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTERS and the SUB-SISTERS.  With BARKIN' KETTLE, Wanda performed at most of the major Canadian folk festivals including: The Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Vancouver Folk Festival, and the Festival of Friends in Hamilton, Ontario. The band also represented Canada at the Cultural Festival affiliated with the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986. Wanda took a long break from performing to become a self-made business woman, but luckily for us, she has brought her tremendous fiddle and mandolin talents back to local stages. 

Gerry Strong (flute, whistle) is well known for his work with the award-winning bands, TICKLE HARBOUR and A CROWD OF BOLD SHAREMEN, and his recent retirement from Eastern Health has enabled him to refocus his energies on performing, touring and promoting his recent CD, Velvet in the Wind. As one of Newfoundland's foremost musicans, he is in constant demand as a studio musician and has contributed to a large number of albums including those by Paddy Keenan, THE FABLES, IRISH DESCENDANTS, Ed Kavanagh, Jenny Gear, Jean and Christina, Bob MacDonald, Shirley Montague, Tony OLeary, Phyllis Morrissy and John White. For more information on Mr. Strong, go here !

For more than thirty years, Jean Hewson (lead vocals and guitar), has brought the music of Newfoundland and Labrador to the world stage. She has toured extensively throughout Canada, the UK and the States, with various artists, including: MAHERS BAHERS, BARKIN' KETTLE and Christina Smith (website). Her work with Smith garnered her two ECMA award nominations for their albums Like Ducks and August Gale (1998 and 2005, respectively). She is considered one of the finest guitar accompanists in the province, and has toured with many of Newfoundland's top instrumentalists, including Christina Smith, Daniel Payne, Gerry Strong, Rufus Guinchard, and Frank Maher. In 2006 she was nominated in the Traditional Singer of the Year category by the Canadian Folk Music Awards. She is also a passionate researcher and teacher, and has presented seminars and classes in Newfoundland traditional music at conferences, festivals and music camps all over the world.

Rick West (bodhran) played and was executive producer for Snotty Var, nominated for an ECMA in 1998.  Since 1999 he has been a member of MAHERS BAHERS, led by accordion-master, Frank Maher.  Their album, Mahervelous, received Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for best traditional and best solo-instrumental album (2005). Studio work includes that for albums by All-Ireland uilleann piper, Eamonn Dillon; flautist, Erin Cassidy; Atlantic Union, The Step Fiddlers, Dave Penny, and Jean and Christina. With Frank Maher and often with MAHERS BAHERS, he played on TV programs including those broadcast by RTE (Ireland), Vision TV (Steeplechasing) and BRAVO (Celtic Roots Festival). Radio appearances include those on CBC (Canada Live, Performance Hour, Musicraft, The Music Room and Sounds Like Canada) and RTE.