Spend an Afternoon with the Kings of Alberta’s Polka and Waltz Scene

Limited Seats Available for The Emeralds Weekday Matinee on Thursday, February 7 

Back by popular demand, The Emeralds are looking forward to ‘polkaing up a storm’ at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 7 at 2 p.m. As one of our province’s best-known and beloved bands, their music has been a staple at weddings, hall parties, and school dances for many years. This will be The Emeralds 7th concert at Horizon Stage since 1999 and Spruce Grove loves them!

Since their formation in 1970, The Emeralds have recorded 29 albums - six went gold, two went platinum, and one went double platinum!  They have been nominated for four Junos, won an Alberta Achievement Award, and were inducted into the City of Edmonton's Cultural Hall of Fame in 1997. The band has toured the world - but they always enjoy performing for their home audiences the most.

Currently, the Emeralds’ five members are Allan Broder on tenor saxophone and vocals, Wallis Petruk on tenor saxophone, violin, flute, clarinet and vocals, Don Remeika on drums and vocals, Terry Kole on rhythm guitar, banjo, vocals, and voice impressions and Rick Morgenstern on keyboards, bass, vocals and voice impressions. Together, these talented musicians will get your toes tapping, your hands clapping, and your whole body moving.

Always fun and full of pep and energy, an Emeralds concert features favourites like “Blue Hawaii”, “Cotton Eyed Joe", “In The Mood”, “Amazing Grace”, “Clarinet Polka” and “Waltz Across Texas”.  But it’s their biggest hit, “The Bird Dance”, that was featured on the Hollywood movie sound track for Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius that gets the most recognition. Fans of all ages love to shake their tail feathers when they hear that iconic “na na na na na na na na”.

So be prepared to dance in your chair, or take a spin around the front of the stage (we encourage it), and spend a wonderful afternoon with The Emeralds at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are just $25 for all ages 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. There are less than 40 tickets left so don’t wait too long to get yours!

A Curious Tale of Fingerpickin’ Fury - Hit Fringe Show Comes to Horizon Stage

Chase Padgett brings Nashville Hurricane to Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 2

 Legendary Fringe performer Chase Padgett (Six Guitars) returns with another masterful one-man play with some music mixed in. 40 years ago a mysterious acoustic guitarist appeared out of nowhere, conquered the music industry, and vanished without a trace… until now. Padgett becomes manager, mother, mentor, and the prodigy himself, as each tells their side of the rise, demise, and resurrection of the best damn guitar player you’ve never heard of; the Nashville Hurricane. Horizon Stage is excited to present Nashville Hurricane on Saturday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m.

During the course of this 75 minute show the audience learns about Henry Waltrip, aka the Nashville Hurricane. From his humble trailer park beginnings alongside his white-trash mother, Brenda, to the crazy gigs on the road with his blues playing mentor, Tyrone, the stories and songs unfold into hilarious rants about love and music, ending with a blazing acoustic version of “Devil Went Down to Georgia” that will blow you away!

Chase Padgett has been an actor and musician for over 15 years. While attending the University of Central Florida he studied and worked at the Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando Fl, one of the best improv companies in the southeast. After graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music he worked at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in various comedic and musical roles including custom song writing for special events.

In 2010 Chase premiered his first solo show, 6 Guitars, which quickly became one of the most successful shows in the history of the North American Fringe Festival circuit; receiving numerous awards and setting box office records in almost every town it plays in. His second solo show, Nashville Hurricane, has received a similar amount of awards, accolades, and audience attendance levels. In 2014 Chase was hand-picked to perform a sketch comedy showcase for NBC in Los Angeles where he worked with some of the best comedy talent in the field. When not touring or auditioning in L.A. he resides in Portland, OR where he can be seen working with the Curious Comedy Theatre as a writer, performer, improviser, and musician. Chase recently became a honourary Albertan when he got engaged to an Edmontonian. 

Don’t miss Nashville Hurricane, a riveting tale about the dark side of show biz, at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 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.

“Nashville Hurricane is a force of nature. Don’t let it pass by without you.”

★★★★★

- CBC

“Padgett had the audience hanging on every note and word.”

★★★★★

- Winnipeg Free Press

“Chase Padgett is nothing short of an electrical storm.”

★★★★

- Edmonton Journal

From Nostalgic Ballads to Upbeat Anthems Their Harmonies Are Stunning

The Young Novelists Bring Quirky, Rootsy, Rocky Folk Music to Horizon Stage on January 25

The Young Novelists are a Toronto-based band fronted by husband and wife Graydon James and Laura Spink. Since 2009 they have played stages across the U.S. and Canada, released four full-length albums, won numerous awards, and received continuous praise for their unmatched, effortless harmonies. With a sound that has been compared to everyone from The Band to ‘pre-weirdness’ Wilco, their personal mission is to create sad songs for happy people — whether that means nostalgic ballads or upbeat anthems. The Young Novelists’ ability to tell familiar stories with a modern folk edge make them, and their songs, instant classics. The Young Novelists are touring Alberta in January 2019 and will be performing at Horizon Stage on Friday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m.

When they first met, Graydon and Laura had no idea that they would be married one day — much less touring the world together. They both grew up in Ontario; she in Peterborough and he in Verona, a small eastern town with a population of a mere 1,800. They both moved to Waterloo for university, where they met via community theatre; but it wasn’t until Graydon decided to refocus his career from drummer to front man that they combined their talents musically. After recruiting some musicians, and touring the east coast as a six-piece, the band became Graydon James & The Young Novelists. Between 2011 and 2012, they released two albums: live at dublin st. church and in the year you were born. However, it soon became clear that Laura was taking on more lead vocal duties. By the time they recorded their 2015 album, made us strangers, it made the most sense to simply shorten their name to The Young Novelists. Happily,  made us strangers, landed them a Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist, a nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, and reached top 20 on both !earshot and Stingray Music folk charts.

2016 was a huge year for The Young Novelists — Laura quit her job as a scientist, they packed their things (and their five year old son Simon), and went on a massive North American tour. After over 100 shows, including a 10-week stint on the road, the pair returned to Toronto to start working on their next album and draw inspiration from their travels. They recorded their 2018 album, in city & country, with the help of JUNO-winning producer Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen, The Wooden Sky). Recorded at Bilerman’s Hotel2Tango studios in Montreal, the duo returned to their classic him-and-her vocals, with Graydon playing acoustic guitar and Laura on percussion and vibraphone. 

Don’t miss The Young Novelists at Horizon Stage on Friday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. 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.

“Reminiscent of Canadian heavyweights such as k.d. lang, Cowboy Junkies, the Sadies and, in a way, Bruce Cockburn.”

~ PopMatters

“Like the Decemberists but rockier and less quirky, like Americana but quirkier and rockier, a talented Toronto outfit.”

~ rock nyc

“beautiful, soaring, rootsy Canadiana”

~ herohill