Monday, November 21, 2016

Enjoy Christmas Favourites From Bing to Bocelli

The Nostalgic Ken Lavigne Christmas Radio Road Show Promises Audiences Music, Magic, and Merriment

Ken Lavigne has charmed his way into the hearts of concert-goers across North America with his exciting blend of classical tenor sound and modern style. A founding member of The Canadian Tenors and co-founder of the tenor trio ROMANZA, he has been touring and recording solo since 2008. Since performing at Carnegie Hall in 2009, Lavigne has worked extensively with famed LA producer David Foster and performed for Prince Charles. Now Ken is celebrating the holidays and bringing his popular Ken Lavigne Christmas Radio Road Show to Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, December 10 for two performances: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Music, merriment and magic will fill the air at the Christmas Radio Road Show as Ken takes a loving look back to the great radio shows of old. You will be transported with this nostalgic and enchanting musical tour through the 1940s and golden age of radio with Ken's band and special guests Alison MacDonald and Daniel James White.  Audiences will enjoy traditional and modern Christmas tunes like “What Child Is This”, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”, “Christmas in Killarney” and many more favourites, bringing you the best from Bing Crosby to Andrea Bocelli!  Let Ken’s luscious, silken honey tenor vocals and hilarious stories fill you with the joy and spirit of the holiday season!

Embrace the magic and add a little “Fa la la la la” to your life; come and see The Ken Lavigne Christmas Radio Road Show at Horizon Stage on Saturday, December 10. A limited number of seats are available for the 7:30 p.m. performances but there is still an excellent selection for the 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $40 for adults and $35 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 at ticketpro.ca.

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

The Eastern Belles Weave Sweet Harmonies with Their Magical Voices

East Coast Folk and Roots Music by three of P.E.I.’s Finest Singer-Songwriters at Horizon Stage on November 27

Sit quietly in a darkened theatre and let some of the sweetest harmonies that you have ever heard wash over you. Listen as The Eastern Belles’ stunningly beautiful voices stand powerfully alone then join together to create vocal magic. Catherine MacLellan, Ashley Condon and Meaghan Blanchard are award-winning songwriters who have toured extensively as solo acts. Each has developed her own large fan-base and helped put their home province of Prince Edward Island on the big musical map. But, when they come together as The Eastern Belles to sing and write songs, there’s a chemistry that cannot be denied. Enjoy the Eastern Belles Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Sunday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m.

“The Island” is where Catherine, Ashley, and Meaghan have chosen to live and create while pursuing their musical careers, and it is where the idea for them touring together was first formed. Their shared a love of old country, folk and Americana music made the collaboration a natural fit. Growing up on an island of 134,000 people produces a fishing boat-load of tales that these ladies are happy to share. An Eastern Belles concert is a night of solo and trio performances, interwoven with stories and playful banter.

Catherine MacLellan has been a perennial fixture at the top of Canada’s Roots Music charts since releasing her first album in 2004. She has received praise from both domestic and international media, won a Canadian Folk Music Award and a Juno Award. Catherine’s sweet tones weave gracefully throughout pensive lyrics that ponder relatable internal dilemmas—balancing work and family, love blooming and fading away, and evaluating one’s own personal strength.

With two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations and multiple P.E.I. Music Awards, Ashley Condon has been winning audiences over with her larger-than-life stage presence and down-to-earth charm. Raised between two potato fields, she is the grandchild of Bill Leblanc, a Canadian country music pioneer who once spent the night in jail with Hank Snow. Ashley has release two albums and is celebrated for her ability to make audiences feel as though they are sitting cozily in her living room.

Meaghan Blanchard draws a lot of her inspiration for performing and songwriting from her grandparents and the memories of the Saturday night dances at the community hall where she heard them play. It was by sitting side stage at her grandmother’s performances that she also came to know and love some of the greatest female country singers of our time; Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton are huge influences on her music even to this day. Meaghan has released three albums, won two East Coast Music Awards and six Music P.E.I. Awards.

Experience folk and roots music at its best, delivered in an intimate setting by three of the finest singer-songwriters that Eastern Canada has to offer. Don’t miss The Eastern Belles at Horizon Stage on Sunday, November 27. Tickets are just $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.

Thursday, November 03, 2016

Intimate and Unplugged East Coast Folk Music

Get Up Close and Personal with Séan McCann at Horizon Stage on November 19


Séan McCann’s love for Newfoundland and Labrador folk songs shot him to international fame as a founding member of Canadian super-group Great Big Sea. After 20 years with the band, millions of albums sold, countless hit songs, and record-breaking tours around the world, he realized that he had to stop. While he believes that music is meant to connect, heal, and bring happiness, Séan was slowly losing his own way, so he left the band and started over. He is now touring the country as a solo artist in intimate venues where he can sincerely connect with his audience in the way he always hoped to—face to face. Don’t miss the only Edmonton-area stop on Séan McCann’s current tour, at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m.

In January 2014 Séan released his first post-Great Big Sea album. Produced by Joel Plaskett, Help Your Self is the sound of a man facing his demons and ultimately overcoming them. The songs helped him deal with his own issues of addiction and abuse and showed him how to find strength in pain. He found himself using music as therapy; working with people who face physical, mental, and addiction challenges.  Séan has also become a sought-after speaker; trying to help others to help themselves find light through the darkness.

Séan’s journey to find his own peace, love, and happiness continues through his music. His newest work, You Know I Love You, is a happy collection of songs sung by a man intent on sharing his joy directly with you. His world has changed. Today the only thing left between Séan’s music and those who wish to share it, is a cellphone or a computer. Despite how small social media has made the world, and how it has included all of us into the same conversation with a simple hashtag, the basic human quest for a connection to something real is too difficult to fit in just 140 characters. Luckily, through the years of technological advancement and subsequent social change, two universal energies remain constant— Music and Love.

Connect with Séan McCann Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on November 19. Tickets are just $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.

“It truly is a joy to see Séan McCann live, [where] he can interact directly with his fans like he never could at a show with 10,000 people.” – The Review

Jake’s Gift is Deeply Moving and Profoundly Personal

Multi-Award Winning Play about the Legacy of Remembrance Returns to Horizon Stage on November 18


Jake’s Gift is a multi-award winning Canadian play about a World War II veteran’s reluctant return to Normandy, France, for the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day landings. While revisiting the shores of Juno beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old from the local village. Isabelle’s inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts – most notably the war-time death of his eldest brother, Chester, a once promising young musician. Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and it makes the story behind one soldier’s grave deeply personal. Extend your Remembrance Day celebration and experience Jake’s Gift at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 18.

In June 2004, Julia Mackey traveled to Normandy, France, for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. It was one of the most moving and powerful experiences of her life. During that week long journey, Julia interviewed dozens of Canadian, British and American WWII veterans who had returned for the ceremonies. The stories they shared with Julia and her own life-long interest in Remembrance Day inspired the development of Jake’s Gift.  She also drew inspiration from the grave of a real Canadian soldier buried in Bény-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery when creating the character of Chester.

Since 2007 Jake’s Gift has played at festivals and theatres in over 220 communities across Canada, including Edmonton (2008, 2010 & 2013) and Spruce Grove (2011). They have toured internationally to Washington State, the United Kingdom, and to Normandy, France, for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day in June 2014. The 2016/17 Season marks the start of their 10th year of touring, and Juno Productions and Jake’s Gift continue to garner awards and rave reviews whether playing in small rural towns or big city centers.

Surprisingly funny and profoundly moving, Jake’s Gift pays tribute to an important part of Canadian history. Don’t miss Jake’s Gift at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are just $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


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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Jake’s Gift.  Mark it down. Get your tickets right away.”
– Colin Maclean, Edmonton Sun

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Julia Mackey is an eminently watchable actor and her transformation
 between characters are stunning and nuanced.” – Bryan Birtles, Vue Weekly

“Jake’s Gift is as near a perfect play as I’ve ever seen.”
– Jackie Flanagan, Alberta Views Magazine

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

They’re Not Your Average Classical Trio

Joe Trio Promises to Play Classical, Popular, Jazz, and Rock Tunes at Horizon Stage November 15


Joe Trio never wants to be thought of as an ‘average’ classical trio. They strive for diversity, versatility, humour, and unpredictability in everything that they do and their live concerts are no exception. Their repertoire consists of the classics – from Haydn to Shostakovich - new works by contemporary composers, and their own arrangements of popular, jazz, and rock tunes. And they're not afraid to mix together so many styles of music into a single piece that it makes your head spin. More than virtuosi, the Trio's members are fantastic performers who engage the audience in a way few classical musicians can. Witty, charming, and tremendously talented, Joe Trio leaves their audiences with a new appreciation for classical music. Enjoy Joe Trio’s classical concert with a twist at Horizon Stage on Tuesday, November 15.

Trio members Cameron Wilson (violin), Charles Inkman (cello) and Allen Stiles (piano) are all accomplished musicians from the Vancouver area. Since forming Joe Trio in 1989 they have presented hundreds of concerts throughout Canada and the United States. They have recorded three CDs, been nominated for a West Coast Music Award, and toured BC and Alberta with CBC storyteller Stuart McLean.

Violinist Cameron Wilson is member the gypsy jazz quartet Van Django, the Hard Rubber Orchestra, Pastiche, Mariachi Del Sol, and Tambura Rasa. His cSupernatural Noir, wrote the score for the 2014 short film The Mary Contest, and was recently commissioned by Chicago’s Lyrebird Ensemble to write a jazz inspired work for flute and harp.
ompositions and arrangements have been performed by symphony orchestras and ensembles across North America. Cameron co-wrote the film noir opera

Charles Inkman has been playing cello since he was eight. He has a Bachelor of Music Degree in performance from the University of British Columbia, is a long-standing member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and teaches at the VSO School of Music. He is also the music director and conductor for the North Shore Chamber Orchestra. Charles has recorded for movies and television, performed in Broadway musicals, and played with John Denver, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Brian Wilson.
Allen Stiles plays with the contemporary music ensemble Standing Wave and is a founding member of The Little Chamber Music Series That Could Society. He holds a Masters Degree in piano performance from UBC. Allen currently teaches at the Langley and Richmond schools of music and the the Douglas College Community School.

Spend an unpredictable, fun, and music-filled evening with Joe Trio at Horizon Stage on November 15 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 ticktpro.ca.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Edmonton Taiko Duo Will be Drumming up Fun in Spruce Grove

Booming Tree Taiko Launches Horizon Stage’s 16/17 Family Matinee Series

Taiko drumming is a powerful example of stamina and endurance. Dynamic drum beats celebrate the strength and power of the human form. Founded by Gregory Shimizu and Twilla MacLeod, Booming Tree Taiko is an Edmonton-based contemporary drum duo that specializes in taiko, the art of Japanese drumming. Their spectacular, high energy performances thrill and delight audiences of all ages. Experience the joy and wonder of taiko for yourself at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 5.

Performing as a duo for seven years Greg and Twilla have wowed audiences at the Edmonton Fringe Festival, the Kaliedo Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, Nextfest, The Works, Edmonton’s Heritage Festival, the Calgary Stampede, and many other events across our province. They have toured to Ottawa, Los Angeles, Virginia Beach, and Toronto, and have collaborated with ProCoro, Viter Ukrainian Dance and Choir, National Stiltwalkers of Canada, Hong de Lion Dancers, VibeTribe Gypsy Circus, Kita No Taiko, and many other arts and cultural organizations. Their song ‘Heart-Beat-Boom’ provides the sound track to a Travel Alberta commercial.

Booming Tree Taiko’s Family Matinee concert at Horizon Stage will be full of spectacular drumming. It will take kids on a music-filled journey into the history of taiko, teaching about the important role that taiko plays in Japanese culture and how it is used in theatre, combat, and religion. Free pre-show crafts and activities start at 1 p.m. and the hour-long performance starts at 2 p.m. Rumor has it some lucky audience members may even get to play along!

Horizon Stage’s 16/17 Family Matinee Series is affordable family-friendly entertainment. All three shows are perfect for 4 - 12 year olds and their grown-ups. This season’s matinees include Booming Tree Taiko on November 5, Axis Theatre Company’s Hamelin, A New Fable on January 22, and Mr. Fish’s Super Circus Stuff on April 29. Our three-show Family Matinee Packages include one ticket per show, cost $30 per person, and are available until November 5. Single tickets are just $12 per person regardless of age.

So spend an afternoon, or three, with your family at Horizon Stage. Tickets 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 though Ticketpro.ca.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Fans of Gritty, Hard-Edged Rock and Roots Music Will Fall in Love

Spend the Night with Terra Lightfoot at Horizon Stage on October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Called a cross between Joan Jett and Bob Seger, Terra Lightfoot is a Canadian rock goddess on the rise. Her original music fuses hard-edged rock with roots, blues, soul, and jazz. From slow-burning ballads to gritty rock numbers, Terra’s songs tap into raw emotions: love, lust, loneliness, and temptation and her husky voice and stellar guitar skills will blow your mind! Don’t miss the chance to see Terra Lightfoot Up Close and Personal when she makes a stop at Horizon Stage on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m.

On stages in France, Germany, the UK, the US, and across Canada, Terra Lightfoot has been wowing audiences for years.  She has performed alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Grace Potter, Betty LaVette, Randy Bachman, The Sadies, and Daniel Lanois. Edmonton audiences couldn’t get enough of her when she opened for Blue Rodeo at the Jubilee Auditorium last January.

When writing and recording her 2015 album, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, Lightfoot set out to push her limits as a performer and challenge herself creatively. Where her 2011 self-titled debut album had slower, softer songs and a subdued vibe, her new album crackles with immediacy and demands attention. While holed up with headphones and a stack of vintage pop and rock albums, she pulled apart songwriting mechanics, mastered tonic chords and middle-eights, and learned to craft memorably sticky choruses. She spent weeks honing her new songs - working and reworking them until they were taut and lean. And the results have her fans, and many in the Canadian music industry, standing up and taking notice.

Lightfoot’s musical and song-writing influences include roots groundbreakers Maybelle Carter and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, blues legends Leadbelly and Lightnin’ Hopkins, soul greats Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, and jazz titans Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. And she magically melds their sounds together to create her own unique, remarkable results.

Rock ‘n’ Roll the night away with Terra Lightfoot at Horizon Stage on October 14. 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.

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

A Paul Simon Tribute Concert Experience Like No Other

Hang onto your seats because we’re Going to Graceland on September 17

Graceland is American musician Paul Simon’s most successful studio album. It has been praised by critics and public alike, won the 1987 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and sold over sixteen million copies world-wide. The recording features an eclectic mixture of musical styles, including pop, rock, a cappella, zydeco, isicathamiya, and mbaqanga. It includes collaborations with many South African musicians and groups, particularly Ladysmith Black Mambazo, as well as prominent North American artists Linda Ronstadt and Los Lobos. Tracks include such popular songs as “Graceland”, “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” and “You Can Call Me Al”.  Now, Edmonton-area Paul Simon fans can experience Going to Graceland, a pivotal concert experience that includes covers of all eleven album tracks along with some of Simon’s other hit singles, at Horizon Stage on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Released in August 1986, Graceland transcended racial and cultural barriers. It was a bridge between cultures, genres and continents, and a global launching pad for the musicians whose popularity been suppressed under South Africa’s white-run apartheid rule. Rolling Stone Magazine called it "lovely, daring and accomplished” and The Village Voice said that it was "a tremendously engaging and inspired piece of work”.  In the past 30 years it has continued to influence, and be covered by, a wide variety of singers and bands, and in 2012 it placed 71st on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

In Going to Graceland a nine-piece group of Edmonton-based musicians have deconstructed and recreated Simon’s genius-level compositions to make them their own. Starting as an idea for a New Year’s show, this amazing tribute concert has been selling out venues around the province. It has allowed band members to connect with audiences of many ages and share the album that they all grew up hearing their parents play for the first time in 1986.

The current Going to Graceland ensemble consists of Neil MacDonald (lead vocals and guitar), Jason Kodie (accordion, keyboards, and vocals), Nathan Carroll (guitar and vocals), Thom Golub (bass), Lindsey Walker (vocals and keyboard), Chris Budnarchuk (drums and vocals), Ben McNab (percussion), Brock Tyler (trumpet and vocals), and Laura Craig (saxophone).

Spend a Saturday night experiencing and enjoying some of the best music of the 1980s at Horizon Stage on September 17. Tickets for Going to Graceland are $40 for adults and $35 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 at Ticketpro.ca.

Monday, July 11, 2016

Our 2016/17 Season!

September
17           Going to Graceland
24           Six Guitars

October
14           Terra Lightfoot
15           The Paperboys

November
4             Washboard Union
5             Booming Tree Taiko
15           Joe Trio
18           Jake’s Gift
19           Séan McCann
27           The Eastern Belles

December
17           Ballet Victoria: Nutcracker

January
13           God is a Scottish Drag Queen



February
3             The Piano Men 2: Starring Jim Witter
9             The Wardens
24           Ellen Doty

March
11           Wayne Lee

April
11           Duo Milot & Bareil
7             Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars
9             Everything Fitz
29           Mr. Fish’s Super Circus Stuff

Thursday, March 31, 2016

From Folk, to Jazz, to Pop, to Soul David Myles Does It All

Contemporary East Coast Musician Brings His Eclectic “Style” to Horizon Stage on April 15

Hovering somewhere between James Taylor and Justin Timberlake, David Myles has built his own path, embracing pop, folk, roots, and soul music. He is a songwriter who transcends genres, going from jazz to Latin, and passing through country, folk, doo-wop and bluegrass. However, if there are two things that have never changed during his eclectic career it is his love of music and his exceptional ability to entertain. Touring Alberta this April, he will be making his only stop in the Edmonton-area at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m.

David grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick. As the youngest of four brothers, everyone in his family played an instrument and David learned trumpet and piano. After getting a political science degree and going briefly into politics, David deviated from his plans to go to law school. During his third year of college, while he was studying in China, he spotted a red and green plywood guitar for sale and $30 later he was writing songs.

More than a decade later David has had a steadily growing career as a successful musician, hosting The East Coast Music Hour on CBC Radio, touring his home country, and winning numerous accolades and honors - including multiple Music Nova Scotia and East Coast Music Awards. He has released nine albums that have included hits like "So Blind", "How'd I Ever Think I Loved You", and "Simple Pleasures".

In 2013 David worked with rapper-producer Classified on “Inner Ninja”, an anti-bullying song featuring kids in the chorus. The song become a giant hit, going quadruple platinum, and making it the biggest selling hip hop single in Canada. It even netted them a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.

David’s song “Need A Break” just won first place in the Folk/Roots/Americana category at the International Acoustic Music Awards this past February and the video for his song “Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo” has been nominated for two 2016 East Coast Music Awards.

Inspired by the essence of the music of his favorite pop icons - Sade, Smokey Robinson, OutKast, and many others, David continues to shape an artistic vision of its own. His new CD, Here Now, (release date April 8), explores new territory with an irresistible energy and musical integrity that are unique. It is a sophisticated pop album that aligns perfectly with the “David Myles style", coordinating intuitively catchy melodies and rhythms and including another collaboration with Classified.

Spend an evening Up Close and Personal with David Myles at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $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 at ticketpro.ca.

Monday, February 22, 2016

A Diverse Evening of Early Folk and Bluegrass Music

Jayme Stone brings his 2016 Juno-Nominated Lomax Project to Horizon Stage


Two-time Juno-winning banjoist and composer Jayme Stone makes music inspired by sounds from around the world. His award-winning albums both defy, and honor, the banjo’s long and historical role in the world of music. Stone is the consummate collaborator, unearthing musical artifacts and enticing other talented artists to work with him. And now, with the help of some of North America’s most distinctive and creative musicians, he is opening the archives of folklorist and field recording pioneer Alan Lomax. Focusing on Lomax’s extensive collection this project revives, recycles, and re-imagines traditional folk and bluegrass music, Bahamian sea chanties, African-American a cappella music, ancient Appalachian ballads, and energetic fiddle tunes.  Nominated for a 2016 Juno Award - Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project is touring North America, stopping in the Edmonton area at Horizon Stage on Sunday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m.

The Lomax Project started with a community of like-minded musicians who were brought together by Jayme Stone to dust off old songs and renew them. They wanted to tap into a musical tree, harness the chemistry of collaboration, and make music that was influenced by tradition but not bound by it. Through the project’s outreach and educational programming audiences have been inspired by the depth, diversity, humanity, and history in musical traditions. They have experienced first-hand how music can build bridges to other cultures and make inroads to their own. Concerts, like the one in Spruce Grove, feature their historical touring repertoire and songs that highlight all the artists involved. The current touring ensemble consists of Jayme Stone, singer and composer Moira Smiley, fiddler Sumaia Jackson, and double bassist Joe Phillips.

Alan Lomax was a folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and film-maker. He is most famous for his work in the penitentiaries, plantations, and farms of the Mississippi Delta, between 1933 and 1985 where he listened, observed, and recorded night after night, year after year. He visited hundreds of places in the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe, and North Africa recording both famous and obscure musical geniuses including Jelly Roll Morton, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Muddy Waters, and the Reverend Gary Davis. He also collected songs from everyday people: sea captains, cowhands, fishermen, homemakers, prisoners and farmers. It was Lomax’s goal to revisit, and renew, the forgotten springs of human creativity. And Jayme Stone and his fellow musician are continuing that legacy.

Experience a groundbreaking piece of work and enjoy a truly inventive spin on some very old tunes with Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project at Horizon Stage. Tickets are just $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 at Ticketpro.ca.

"This project is not about the collector — it's about the songs and the way Stone and his musical team take them to new, often harmonious, heights."
- CBC Music

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

A Hilarious Comedy about the Highs and Lows of Motherhood

Anne Marie Scheffler performs Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 12

Suddenly Mommy is a hilarious one-woman show that carries its audience through the ups and downs of being a mom. Actress and comedienne Anne Marie Scheffler has jumped into a new world of funny… having kids. Sure, she thought that’s what she always wanted, but they’re so much work! It looked so easy in the brochure. Motherhood was supposed to be glamorous but Scheffler exposes the truth in an authentic and amusing way that makes you feel good about your own parenting skills.Running for one night only in the Edmonton-area don’t miss Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage, on Saturday, March 12. 

Experience the good times, the bad advice, and the difficulty of trying to do it all. From hot dates to play dates, ride the rollicking rollercoaster of motherhood. Suddenly Mommy is a touching and very funny performance the hits the nail on the head about what it means to be a parent.

Anne Marie Scheffler grew up in Orangeville, Ontario, studied acting at George Brown Theatre School and Pochinko Clowning at The Theare Resource Centre. She was a member of The Second City National Tour Co and an understudy to Second City Mainstage. Anne Marie has created and toured eight one woman shows:, Leaving Norma, Dating Myself, Not Getting It, Got it Good, Suddenly Mommy and MILF Life Crisis. She has performed them all across North America to sold-out crowds and received rave reviews. Her fifth show, Not Getting It, was produced as a one hour Comedy Now special for CTV /The Comedy Network. She also works in film, television and radio, and has over 50 commercials credits. She’s a voice artist, actress, stand-up comedian and writer. Recently, Anne Marie co-wrote and co-starred in a 50 Shades of Grey parody called Spank! But most importantly, Anne Marie is a mom. And of that she’s very proud.

So find a babysitter and take your wife, or schedule a girls-night-out, to see Suddenly Mommy at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, March 12. Doors  open at 7:15 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $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.  Warning, this show may contain mature content.

"She thought she could be the sexy show biz mom with a baby in one arm, and a movie script in the other.  Her jarring realization otherwise makes for a humourous and entertaining show!" - CBC Radio

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Death Meets His Match in Grim and Fischer

Don’t miss the battle of a lifetime at Horizon Stage on Friday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. Death will meet his match in Mrs. Fischer, a stubborn senior whose will to live is a force to be reckoned with. Equal parts hilarious and touching, Grim and Fischer by WONDERHEADS is the story of a tenacious granny who comes face to face with the Grim Reaper himself and puts up the fight of her life to escape his grasp. Called “intriguing, flawless, and utterly brilliant” this award-winning physical comedy won “Best of the Fest” at the Edmonton, Victoria, Vancouver, and Calgary Fringe Festivals in 2011, and Patrons’ Pick in Winnipeg in 2013. A profoundly fun blend of wit and pathos, Grim and Fischer confronts the inevitable question: what is it to know your end is nigh?

The WONDERHEADS are a multi-award winning physical theatre company based in Portland, Oregon, that specialize in full-face mask, a rare and whimsical form of theatre. They love nothing more than mashing comedy, beauty, irreverence, and a splash of sorrow together to create shows like no one has ever seen before. Co-Heads Kate Braidwood and Andrew Phoenix mix European larval mask traditions with character mask styles, resulting in a theatrical style rarely seen on North American stages. Audiences have described the experience as watching a living cartoon – the whimsy and imagination of Pixar or Warner Bros in live-theatre format. With a distinctive approach that blends silent storytelling, rich soundscapes, fantastical puppetry, timeless slapstick, and deft physical performance, The WONDERHEADS make it their business to step beyond words and ignite the hearts and imaginations of every audience member. Their other two productions, Loon, and The Middle of Everywhere, have also received stellar reviews and similar accolades.

Don’t miss Grim and Fischer by WONDERHEADS, an utterly unique and enchanting dramatic comedy, on Friday, February 12. Doors  open at 7:15 and the performance starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $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

“Grim and Fischer is utter magic.”
– CBC

“It’s all wonderful, original, beautiful fun to watch unfold onstage.”
– Calgary Herald

“Anyone who has lost someone they loved should expect to be deeply moved by this imaginative encounter with the Grim Reaper …You will laugh, you will cry, you will stand in awe that two mimes in masks can evoke such powerful feelings.”

– Edmonton Sun

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Spend the Afternoon with Four Charming 1940s Inspired Songstresses

Enjoy Rosie and the Riveters’ Spirited Matinee at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4

Since the Second World War, Rosie the Riveter has been immortalized as a symbol of the strength and power inside every woman; and it is that force that drives and inspires the fiercely talented members of Rosie and the Riveters. These ladies’ compelling performances combine seductive vocal arrangements with body percussion, acoustic instrumentation with scintillating dance moves, and inviting humor with a lot of charm! Attend their 2 p.m. matinee at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4 and you’ll be treated to traditional African American spirituals, beautiful bluegrass numbers, contemporary folk songs, lovely a cappella, and original material. This ain’t your wailin’ and weapin’ gospel hour! Rosie and the Riveters revisit the spirit of folk infused with the magic of the 1940s.

Alexis Normand, Allyson Reigh, Melissa Nygren, and Farideh Olsen are the four classy dames from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who make up Rosie and the Riveters.  All professional musicians with impressive credentials and projects outside the band, it’s the uplifting, vintage-inspired music that they sing together that will charm your socks off. With whoops, hollers, and mile-wide smiles, they create a feel-good concert experience that’s lighthearted and captivating for all music lovers.

Rosie and the Riveters’ debut album, Good Clean Fun!, is high-energy and versatile. It combines The Andrews Sisters vintage vocal treatment with Mahalia Jackson soul and the sweetness of the Good Lovelies. Sealed with Rosie and the Riveters’ signature vocal harmonies and humour, it features songs about everything from their deep love of thrift store shopping (“Red Dress”) to post-apocalyptic visions of the melting of the ice caps (“Watching the Water Rise”) to dancing angels (“Dancing ‘cause of my Joy”).  It is the perfect example of the group’s overarching values of love, harmony, and gratitude, with a little sass and a touch of ooh-la-la tossed into the mix.

Spend the afternoon with Rosie and the Riveters at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 4. Doors open at 1:45 and the concert starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $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 at Ticketpro.ca.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Celtic-Rock-Out with the Derina Harvey Band

Limited Seats Still Available for Their Concert on Saturday, January 30


Led by a fearless front-woman, Derina Harvey Band is a five-piece Celtic-rock group whose original jigs and reels and fresh takes on traditional tunes make them a crowd-pleaser wherever they go. With an infectious rhythmic undertow that’s layered with rock guitar, dizzying fiddle motifs, and Derina’s powerful voice, their high-energy shows have earned them an enthusiastic, loyal, and growing fan-base. Boisterous and fun to dance to, they leave their audiences out-of-breath and hollering for more! Don’t miss the chance to party with the Derina Harvey Band at Horizon Stage on Saturday, January 30.

Though now based in Alberta, 2015 saw these transplanted east-coasters travel across the country to entertain crowds at theatres, festivals, and pubs. With three tours to Newfoundland under their belts, Derina Harvey Band have performed twice at the George Street Festival in St. John's, opened  for Shanneyganock, and shared stages with Jimmy Rankin, The Irish Descendents, Pogey, The Trews, Kim Mitchell, and Trooper. They also play regularly in clubs and bars in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, and across the province.

This band continues to build their fan base by promoting their shows and their 2013 self-titled debut album. The record has garnered airplay on many radio stations including CKUA in Edmonton, K-Rock and Radio Newfoundland in St. John's, and Canada-wide on CBC. They are currently working on their second album, Rove and Go, which is due out in March 2016.

There are just 20 seats left for Derina Harvey Band’s concert on Saturday, January 30. Doors  open at 7:15 and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $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 at ticketpro.ca.  Get yours soon before they’re gone!

Tuesday, January 05, 2016

Spend an Intimate Evening with Kira Isabella at Horizon Stage

Get Up Close and Personal with One of Country Music’s Hottest Young Stars on Friday, January 22

Ottawa-born Kira Isabella is one of Canada’s brightest young country music stars. She has had multiple hit singles, toured with Carrie Underwood and Terri Clark, and won two Canadian Country Music Awards. This month she is bringing a three piece band to Horizon Stage for an intimate concert that will showcase her pop and rock-tinged country hits and her heart-wrenching ballads.  Edmonton area fans will have the opportunity to get Up Close and Personal with Kira Isabella at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Kira Isabella has been passionate about singing and songwriting since she was very young. She began playing the guitar and entering vocal competitions at age seven and started writing poetry and lyrics in grade four. She listened to and drew inspiration from everything – alternative rock, pop, hip-hop – but it was the tradition of country music storytelling that had the greatest impact on her work. Encouraged by her family, and her success at competitions, her drive and her undeniable talent landed her a deal with Sony Music Entertainment Canada in 2009.

Kira’s 2011 debut album, Love Me Like That, delivered four hit singles including its title song and the smash hit “A Little More Work”. Her second album, Caffeine & Big Dreams, was released in 2014 and highlighted both her personal and professional growth. Caffeine & Big Dreams demonstrated a new-found maturity with the bold and powerful track “Quarterback” while still and showcasing Kira’s signature sassy style in “Gone Enough” and her most recent release, "Shake It If Ya Got It".

In the past five years Kira has received multiple music awards and more positive recognition nationally. After being named 2012’s ‘Rising Star’ at the Canadian County Music Awards she received a 2013 Juno nomination for ‘Breakthrough Artist of the Year’. She was crowned ‘Female Artist of the Year’ at the 2013 CCMAs and more ‘Female Artist of the Year’ nominations followed in 2014 and 2015. Caffeine & Big Dreams was nominated for a Juno in 2015 and CBC Music listed her as one of Canada’s best musicians under the age of 25 in November. 

Opening for Kira Isabella will be Livy Jeanne. This 2013 Edmonton Music Awards ‘Rising Star’ winner brilliantly balances country twang with pop polish and an honest, organic approach. Livy launched her career in 2012 with her debut single ‘Invisible’. In 2013 her song ‘Any Other Way’ peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Canada Country chart and in 2014, ‘Wrong Side of the Dirt’ hit number 35 on the same charts. Livy released her most recent album, Dashboard Renegade, in July 2015.

Spend an intimate and interactive evening with Kira Isabella and Livy Jeanne at Horizon Stage on Friday, January 22. Doors  open at 7:15 and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $40 for adults and $35 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.