Kick of the Christmas Season with Some Smokin’ Hot Blues Music

Catch Big Hank’s Tribute to the Blues Songs of Christmas Featuring Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band December 2

Big Hank Lionheart is known for his powerful voice and, whether he’s performing with gut-wrenching drive or gently caressing a moment of musical tenderness, you’ll feel the magic right down to your toes.  Last seen at Horizon Stage in 2014 with his show Fist Full of Blues Christmas, Big Hank is back with his Tribute to the Blues Songs of Christmas Featuring Uncle Wiggly's Hot Shoes Blues Band on Saturday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. 

This new show is a collection of traditional Blues Christmas tunes from the 20s to the 60s, by the likes of Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, BB King, Eric Clapton, Charles Brown, Etta James, and more. It’s not the standard collection of carols, rather it’s a tribute that gives you a look into the souls of fabulous music legends sharing their Christmas Blues. A refreshing take on a holiday concert, it has played to sold-out houses and received rave reviews across British Columbia.

Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues band are former RCA recording artists and members of the Victoria Music Hall of Fame who toured extensively in the 80s, sharing stages with legends like Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, and Paul Butterfield. They continue to keep the blues alive in Victoria and beyond, packing dance floors wherever they play. They released a new CD in 2013 called “Still Burnin it Up”, have successfully toured Alberta and BC, and played hot sets at the Island Folkfest and the Vancouver Island Blues Bash. To top it all off they won the right to represent BC at the International Blues Challenge in White Rock in July 2014 and traveled to Memphis in January of 2015 to compete.

For their Spruce Grove show the band will be made up of Big Hank Lionhart, a.k.a. Uncle Wiggly, on vocals, Mark Comerford on guitar, Andy Graffiti on drums, and Lonnie Glass on bass along with three special guests, Edmonton-based musicians Dennis Meneely on keys, Don Berner on sax, and Doug Berner on trumpet.

Take a turn off the ‘traditional’ path and enjoy a glimpse into the heart and soul of Christmas from a Blues point of view with Big Hank's Tribute to the Blues Songs of Christmas Featuring Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band at Horizon Stage on Saturday, December 2. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca. Horizon Stage is collecting for the Parkland Food Bank in December so please consider bringing a donation when you see this show and help spread the Christmas spirit! 

Lizzy Hoyt’s Music Rooted in Celtic and Folk Traditions

Multi-Instrumentalist Brings Her Soaring Melodies and Pure, Angelic Voice to Spruce Grove on November 27

Acclaimed songwriter Lizzy Hoyt is one of Canada’s most powerful Celtic-folk artists. Known for bringing Canadian history to life, her songs “Vimy Ridge”, “White Feather”, and “New Lady on the Prairie” have garnered multiple awards and nominations while also connecting strongly with audiences across the country. In 2013, Lizzy was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Governor General of Canada for her outstanding contribution to commemorating Canadian veterans and history through music. Lizzy is a full-time musician who was based in Edmonton until a recent move took her to Winnipeg. She is returning to Alberta for a tour at the end of November and will be performing at Horizon Stage on Monday, November 27. 

Lizzy travels and tours throughout Canada with her trio. She has performed at renowned folk festivals (Edmonton Folk Festival, Montreal Folk Festival, Goderich Celtic Roots Festivals), folk clubs (Calgary Folk Club, Nickelodeon Folk Club, Northern Lights Folk Club) and through performing arts networks across the country. She has released four independent albums and two music videos.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Lizzy toured for ten years as a side musician before pursuing her own projects. She has been praised for her mastery of the fiddle, guitar and harp and her voice has been described as “otherworldly”, “angelic", “sweet”, and “pure”. As a singer she has also been recognized for her clarity and precision.

Lizzy’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal may be the icing on her cake to date but her music and projects have received other impressive awards and nominations. These include an International Acoustic Music Award (Best Female Artist), a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination (Traditional Singer of the Year), and finalist standing in two international songwriting competitions (John Lennon Songwriting Contest, USA Songwriting Competition).  Lizzy’s “Vimy Ridge” video received twelve awards at eight international film festivals in North America.

Enjoy a night filled with soaring melodies and fantastic fiddling by Lizzy Hoyt at Horizon Stage on Monday, November 27. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

"Hoyt's mastery of the fiddle seems effortless. Her chatter is engaging 

and her songwriting seems to flow from her soul." 

- Roger Holmes, Star News

"Lizzy Hoyt is a clean and energetic player who performs with animation." 

     - Jerry Ozipko, SEE Magazine

"Lizzy Hoyt could make it as a fiddler in the best of bands." 

- Nick Lee, Edmonton Journal

Local Canadian Veteran Shares Personal Stories Through Song

Horizon Stage Presents Tim Isberg: Singer, Songwriter, Soldier, on Friday, November 17

From Rwanda to Afghanistan, Canadian Army veteran Tim Isberg has faced the challenges of living and working in different cultures and conflicts amid the best and worst humanity has to offer. As a singer-songwriter, Tim weaves sincerity and a natural sense of humour through the fabric of his well-crafted stories and songs. With a voice and style similar to Lennie Gallant, Ryan Adams, and Rodney Crowell, Tim makes each and every listener feel connected. Less than a week after Remembrance Day, Tim will share his incredible life experiences through his contemporary folk and country music at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 17.

Originally from southern Alberta, Tim’s path has been long and twisty. He started playing, performing, and writing at a young age but pursued an education in environmental sciences. Tim was encouraged to join the Reserves in Lethbridge, which he really enjoyed, so he later joined the Canadian Army and went off to see the world.

About 10 years ago Tim picked up the guitar again. Since then he has re-launched his career as a folk/country singer-songwriter and he has toured internationally. His album Tears Along The Road was recorded with celebrated JUNO award-winning producer-engineer Miles Wilkinson, and was selected by Music Canada as one of their Top 25 favourite Albums of 2015. His song "Devil on Your Back", about revenge on the western Blackfoot Plains, was a finalist in the Best Song of Alberta for the Calgary Folk Music Festival. In 2016 Tim was honoured to be nominated for a Male Artist of the Year Alberta Country Music Award.

Tim is very well rounded! With a formal education in global studies and political and environmental sciences Tim also trains horses and writes more than just music. One of his stories is featured in the book "Everyday Heroes" which was published by Simon and Schuster in October 2017.

See life through the music of a Canadian veteran - get to know Tim Isberg at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 17. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

"Tim Isberg's humour, heart-felt stories and authentic music captured our audience from the first song... many say it was the best show they'd seen at the club..." 

Joe Duperreault, New Moon Folk Club (Edmonton)

"An evening with Tim is like sitting by a fire with friends listening to great stories with an exceptional guitar player and an even better story teller". 

Patrick MacIntyre, Ironwood Stage & Grill (Calgary)